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Pinburgh 2019. The year the Brits take over!
- Thread starter Wizcat
- Start date
Yeap already booked up
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- Jul 21, 2011
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Quick review - will try and not repeat what has been said!
In a nutshell, unbelievably well run tournament. Best I have attended for sure.
Format is just so inclusive. For those who don't know, it's done in a way that you always feel in with a chance.
The scoring system of 3, 2, 1 and 0 keeps players close to each other. On day 1 despite playing like a numpty, on the last series of 4 games ( late evening ) , I still had the chance of getting to C Division, D or E. If you play badly, you drop down and play lesser ranked players or other people having a bad day. So, if I had got 10 points out of 12, in the last session I would have got C. Of course, it isn't that easy and I smashed it into E division
Then on Day 2, again, even if having a bad day, and I was, the last 4 games can be make or break. Again 10 points would have got me in the play offs and again I goofed up big time! But, you just feel you are always in with a chance of a breakout.
And of course, there are medallions if you can win 4 out of 4 in your group. I got close but not close enough! Again, it's brilliant as I never felt I wasn't playing for something and this was despite playing pretty poorly.
I also love the way they set up banks of the 4 games.
One modern game, one 90's game, one SS and one EM. It means you have to constantly adapt, and be able to play all types of games. I have always had EM's in the house but haven't played them much this year and I got beat up by them!
Quick word about Max. He learnt to play pinball age 4 on a 1966 Crosstown, followed by AFM, LOTR and FT. He played his only tournament aged 10 and then lost interest for years in pinball. It was Iron Maiden that got him back into pinball and deciding he wanted to come with me.
I said he could come as long as he didn't mind playing in the E division. Of course he then goes and thrashes me by getting into the C division and missing the play offs by 5 points. LOL.
He said to me he played the older games well, as he could work out what to do. He absolutely loved the tournament and wants to go again to try and do better!
Going back to inclusivity, it's the way the tournament is set up, that it encourages people of all ages as everyone always has something to play for. You don't need to know every rule going, but equally it sure helps!
And yet, the best players dominate and the GOAT wins
I didn't get as much chance to socialise as I would have wished as had to keep on eye on Max, but it nice to meet such a great group of guys from the UK. Everyone enjoyed the event I think.
And kudos to Andy as getting to the A division play offs was brilliant. To do this, you can't just blow hot and cold, you have to play at a consistently high level over 2 days.
Lastly, the games - so many games of all eras, and there were times they were all available to play Some were set up reasonably and others were brutal. No ball saves, outlane posts removed or fully extended. Forget what you expect to score and just try and beat the other 3 players - that's it!
Oh, and for those thinking of going, practice playing on EM's and early SS games as half your games will be these types of games. In the 2 days of playing, I only played 1 game that I have owned. You end up playing games you didn't even know existed!
Got a feeling there will be a decent turn out for next year
In a nutshell, unbelievably well run tournament. Best I have attended for sure.
Format is just so inclusive. For those who don't know, it's done in a way that you always feel in with a chance.
The scoring system of 3, 2, 1 and 0 keeps players close to each other. On day 1 despite playing like a numpty, on the last series of 4 games ( late evening ) , I still had the chance of getting to C Division, D or E. If you play badly, you drop down and play lesser ranked players or other people having a bad day. So, if I had got 10 points out of 12, in the last session I would have got C. Of course, it isn't that easy and I smashed it into E division
Then on Day 2, again, even if having a bad day, and I was, the last 4 games can be make or break. Again 10 points would have got me in the play offs and again I goofed up big time! But, you just feel you are always in with a chance of a breakout.
And of course, there are medallions if you can win 4 out of 4 in your group. I got close but not close enough! Again, it's brilliant as I never felt I wasn't playing for something and this was despite playing pretty poorly.
I also love the way they set up banks of the 4 games.
One modern game, one 90's game, one SS and one EM. It means you have to constantly adapt, and be able to play all types of games. I have always had EM's in the house but haven't played them much this year and I got beat up by them!
Quick word about Max. He learnt to play pinball age 4 on a 1966 Crosstown, followed by AFM, LOTR and FT. He played his only tournament aged 10 and then lost interest for years in pinball. It was Iron Maiden that got him back into pinball and deciding he wanted to come with me.
I said he could come as long as he didn't mind playing in the E division. Of course he then goes and thrashes me by getting into the C division and missing the play offs by 5 points. LOL.
He said to me he played the older games well, as he could work out what to do. He absolutely loved the tournament and wants to go again to try and do better!
Going back to inclusivity, it's the way the tournament is set up, that it encourages people of all ages as everyone always has something to play for. You don't need to know every rule going, but equally it sure helps!
And yet, the best players dominate and the GOAT wins
I didn't get as much chance to socialise as I would have wished as had to keep on eye on Max, but it nice to meet such a great group of guys from the UK. Everyone enjoyed the event I think.
And kudos to Andy as getting to the A division play offs was brilliant. To do this, you can't just blow hot and cold, you have to play at a consistently high level over 2 days.
Lastly, the games - so many games of all eras, and there were times they were all available to play
Some were set up reasonably and others were brutal. No ball saves, outlane posts removed or fully extended. Forget what you expect to score and just try and beat the other 3 players - that's it!Oh, and for those thinking of going, practice playing on EM's and early SS games as half your games will be these types of games. In the 2 days of playing, I only played 1 game that I have owned. You end up playing games you didn't even know existed!
Got a feeling there will be a decent turn out for next year
Now that I’ve sort of got over the jet lag, here are my thoughts.
The Pinburgh tournament as a whole was incredibly well run from the organisers, tournament directors and techs. You can tell they are a well oiled machine and have done this many times now. To keep 1000 players in check and happy is no small feat.
Pretty much everyone (bar 1 jackass) I was grouped with were super cool and friendly people. It may have helped having come such a long way and not being an American player too as eveyone wanted to know what the UK scene is like.
Was really pleased to have qualified for B division for the 2nd day, had a tough first round on Thursday (nerves were really bad) but once settled in played pretty well and so nearly had a 12-0 in round 3, lost out on the last ball of the last game. Had a good round tied with Germaine Marilolle too which was good. Didn’t do so well in B on the Friday, started off decent but had a terrible round 7 and it was really difficult to pick myself back up after it. At least on the very final game of the comp I was able to plunge the last ball for an easy win
The machines were setup tough as expected although certainly not unplayable. I suppose I really need to work on my shot accuracy as the tight tilts really punished any sort of excessive saved, even modern Sterns would tilt after 1 move. Favourite machine of the comp I played was Solar Fire, what a fun multi level game. Also managed to roll Bally Kiss (which is what got me into B division for day 2), Blackout and a couple of EMs
Andy absolutely smashed it and was a joy to watch and support, he made us all very proud. The look on previous Pinburgh winner Colin Macalpines face while playing Andy in a later round on Friday was priceless, Andy thrashed him
Would love to take part again and would recommend it to anyone who has considered doing it. The rest of the Replay FX event was great too and was fun taking dollars off @DanLewell at Street Fighter 2
It was also cool to meet and chat with some of the biggest names in pinball. The whole PAPA crew were great and Bowen is super awesome, is one hell of a funny dude. Had a chance to play a game with Steve Bowden and also talk with Keith Elwin about Iron Maiden, he is such a humble bloke.
Pittsburgh itself was really nice and had a great vibe although make sure you take ID with you to well known chain eateries if you want a beer, even if you’re not far off a free bus pass they won’t serve in Hard Rock Cafe without ID.
The Pinburgh tournament as a whole was incredibly well run from the organisers, tournament directors and techs. You can tell they are a well oiled machine and have done this many times now. To keep 1000 players in check and happy is no small feat.
Pretty much everyone (bar 1 jackass) I was grouped with were super cool and friendly people. It may have helped having come such a long way and not being an American player too as eveyone wanted to know what the UK scene is like.
Was really pleased to have qualified for B division for the 2nd day, had a tough first round on Thursday (nerves were really bad) but once settled in played pretty well and so nearly had a 12-0 in round 3, lost out on the last ball of the last game. Had a good round tied with Germaine Marilolle too which was good. Didn’t do so well in B on the Friday, started off decent but had a terrible round 7 and it was really difficult to pick myself back up after it. At least on the very final game of the comp I was able to plunge the last ball for an easy win
The machines were setup tough as expected although certainly not unplayable. I suppose I really need to work on my shot accuracy as the tight tilts really punished any sort of excessive saved, even modern Sterns would tilt after 1 move. Favourite machine of the comp I played was Solar Fire, what a fun multi level game. Also managed to roll Bally Kiss (which is what got me into B division for day 2), Blackout and a couple of EMs
Andy absolutely smashed it and was a joy to watch and support, he made us all very proud. The look on previous Pinburgh winner Colin Macalpines face while playing Andy in a later round on Friday was priceless, Andy thrashed him
Would love to take part again and would recommend it to anyone who has considered doing it. The rest of the Replay FX event was great too and was fun taking dollars off @DanLewell at Street Fighter 2
It was also cool to meet and chat with some of the biggest names in pinball. The whole PAPA crew were great and Bowen is super awesome, is one hell of a funny dude. Had a chance to play a game with Steve Bowden and also talk with Keith Elwin about Iron Maiden, he is such a humble bloke.
Pittsburgh itself was really nice and had a great vibe although make sure you take ID with you to well known chain eateries if you want a beer, even if you’re not far off a free bus pass they won’t serve in Hard Rock Cafe without ID.
D
Deleted member 2463
interestingly common view seems to be that alot of the Stern DMD games were easier and some had ball save as well as some of the BW games. you could nudge much more than last year. didn't really help me though
The only 2 modern machines I saw outlane rubbers on were on Rolling Stones and Hurricane in the very same bank, wierd. Maybe whoever set that bank up wasn’t a complete sadist
The latest episode of PAPA TV Live on Youtube features the same F14 Tomcat as used in Pinburgh A division finals.
Go to 43:52 and a very familar set of initials is shown as the grand champ score on it
Go to 43:52 and a very familar set of initials is shown as the grand champ score on it
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The latest episode of PAPA TV Live on Youtube features the same F14 Tomcat as used in Pinburgh A division finals.
Go to 43:52 and a very familar set of initials is shown as the grand champ score on it
See here
https://www.pinballinfo.com/communi...he-year-the-brits-take-over.42055/post-310893
