ZXSpectrum16k

Craig Cole's Video Gaming & Pinball Blog

Tag: Pinball

  • Barcade Adventures in Manhattan

    Barcade Adventures in Manhattan

    Thanks to the trusty PinMap app, we tracked down a Barcade in Manhattan—and what a find! Tucked away at 148 W 24th Street, it had a solid lineup of pins, including a couple I’d never played before: Apollo 13 and Future Spa.

    Future Spa surprised me—solid game, slick layout, and that gloriously weird retro-futuristic art. Apollo 13 was fun and we both managed to unlock the insane 13-ball multiball mode. Chaos, lights, noise—absolute madness. We were grinning like kids in a sweet shop. Honestly, I was buzzing.

    It was just a 5-minute walk from Paul’s hotel. Total fluke. Love when that kind of thing happens.

    They also had a cracking mix of machines: Black Knight 2000, Pulp Fiction, Stranger Things—and plenty of real ale on tap to keep the flipper fingers loose.

    While we were playing, we got chatting with a few locals. Turns out one of them is working on Portal, the upcoming title from American Pinball—well, her boyfriend let that little secret slip while she just smiled and stayed quiet. 😄 No juicy details, but still cool to meet someone involved in the industry.

    All in all, the place had a great vibe—good beer, great pins, and plenty of pinball nerd energy. Another top night in NYC!

  • NOOOO, Luke Just Crushed My Godzilla Score!

    NOOOO, Luke Just Crushed My Godzilla Score!

    Disaster strikes… Luke has officially dethroned me.

    He’s only gone and beaten my personal best on Godzilla, proudly locking in the new high score. He’s over the moon—grinning like he just slayed the actual kaiju—and letting me know, loudly and repeatedly, that I “won’t be beating that anytime soon.”

    I walked in the door, heard the sweet chaos of Godzilla multiball, and thought, “hmm…” Enter the room and there he is, already sitting at 1.3 billion, massive grin on his face, knowing full well he’s crushed my score—and still had a ball left to rub it in.

    The smugness is off the charts. The rematch is coming.

  • Exploring Stern’s Dungeons & Dragons Pinball Machine

    Exploring Stern’s Dungeons & Dragons Pinball Machine

    While I was in London, I dropped into Funland—and boom, jackpot! They had Stern’s Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye (Pro model) up and running. I couldn’t resist giving it a go—and wow, it totally delivered. The shots felt super satisfying, the story sucked me right in, the callouts were brilliant, and the artwork? Absolutely stunning. Multiball was a blast too—having to save the balls adds such a clever twist. Just an all-round amazing package. Honestly… I think I need one 😄

    I’ve been intrigued since the very first reveal. The idea of blending real RPG elements into pinball? Genius. I’ve binged all the videos, but nothing beats playing it in person. And that dungeon feature? Absolutely loved it. You drop into secret passageways, tackle different challenges, and uncover surprises—it’s dynamic, so every trip into the dungeon feels fresh. Huge win for replay value.

    Still buzzing. Properly impressed! 🎯🔥

    Stern Dungeon and Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye, January 2025
    Game Design: Brian Eddy
    Engineering/mechanics: John Rotharmel Thomas Malcolm
    Software: Dwight Sullivan Elizabeth Gieske

  • Godzilla Shooter Knob

    Godzilla Shooter Knob

    Just installed the official Stern Godzilla shooter knob, and it looks great! Really finishes off the front of the machine and ties in nicely with the overall theme. Part of me was hoping it might come with some integrated lighting—like the awesome illuminated Jurassic Park shooter—but sadly, no lights on this one. Still, it’s a quality piece, feels solid, and adds that extra bit of flair every time you plunge a ball into battle with the big guy.

  • Game Time with Mia and Luke

    Game Time with Mia and Luke

    Mia and Luke kicking back with a few games of pinball—Luke’s all about Godzilla, while Mia’s heart belongs to Jurassic Park. Who came out on top? We’ll never know… they’re keeping that one a secret 😉

  • Astro the Pinball Guide Dog

    Astro the Pinball Guide Dog

    Meet Astro—loyal guardian of the game room, keeping a close eye on Godzilla and Jurassic Park. The best pinball guide in the world, paws down!

  • Northern Pinball League at Alans in Leeds

    Northern Pinball League at Alans in Leeds

    Had a great day at a Pinball League event over at Alan’s place in Leeds with Luke, Andy B, and Matt B. Always a good vibe there—and this one was no different. Relaxed atmosphere, great people, and as always, Alan and Claire were fantastic hosts. The food was spot on, and the whole day had that chilled, welcoming feel that makes these meetups so enjoyable.

    Game-wise, I got the chance to properly play Tales of the Arabian Nights for the first time. What a fun machine! With a bit of advice from Paul about how hitting the lamp carries bonus across balls, I managed to string together a decent score. Felt good to get a bit more into the rhythm of it.

    Things got intense toward the end—it came down to the final game between me and Luke, who were tied in our little side challenge. Last machine of the day: Whitewater. I was quietly confident—it’s a favourite of mine, and usually one I can put up strong scores on. Luke, on the other hand, isn’t the biggest fan of it.

    But pinball had other plans.

    From ball one, it just wasn’t happening. One early drain down the middle set the tone, and I was chasing the score the whole way through. Luke stayed cool and consistent, and in the end, took the win with a solid 338 million to my 88 million. Fair play!

    To top it off, Luke even earned some tournament points. I just missed out—two places off grabbing a few myself. Ah well, next time!

    All in all, a cracking day. Good games, good company, and plenty of laughs.



  • Medusa Joins the Lineup

    Medusa Joins the Lineup

    I’ve been on the lookout for a classic ’80s machine to add some variety to my collection—and after bouncing between a few titles, Medusa came up for sale at a good price, I didn’t hesitate. Pulled the trigger!

    I’ve always thought Medusa was something special. The striking fantasy artwork, those eerie sound effects—and that voice! Just brilliant. The machine does play, but the playfield definitely needs some TLC. I’m seriously considering getting a replacement playfield to bring it back to its full glory. The mid-playfield score display isn’t functioning correctly either, so that’s on the fix-it list too.

    One of the coolest features is the upper playfield’s “Time-Locked Zipper Flippers”, which close inward, letting you nail those metamorphic drop targets with precision. And down below, the transparent lower flippers add a unique visual touch. Right between them sits the infamous center flipper, sometimes called the “savior” or “sacrificial” flipper. It gives you one last desperate chance to save a draining ball—or, if mistimed, sends it straight to its doom. Totally innovative for 1981.

    Medusa was designed by Wally Welch, with software by Rehman Merchant and that stunning artwork by Kevin O’Connor. Released by Bally in September 1981, it’s a true solid-state classic—and I’m buzzing to bring it back to life.