Chicago Pinball Expo - A Little Disappointed

[kastawaykid]

I guess I learned my lesson this year, that I need to go early and don't wait until Saturday. When I was there last year on Friday, most of the games were on and available to play. When I went there on Saturday this year, at least half if not more were not on.

I have been to the Midwest Gaming Classic and Pinball at the Zoo for the last few years and never experienced this ever before. Maybe I will just stick with these events in the future.

 

[Schusler]

I have to disagree about leaving sold games on for people to play throughout the Expo. If I buy a game, especially a vintage game, do I want to risk something going wrong with the boards (heat and prolonged playing time = toasty), flying balls breaking plastics, and all the other risks that come with leaving the game out?

Probably not.

I wholeheartedly disagree.... yes, it's a double-edged sword, BUT that is a risk you take. Me personally, if I bought a pin there; I would have left it for people here to enjoy.

Think about this... look how many posters here are disappointed because of this. What happens is when less pins are on people crowd the other ones working, and then you get people disgusted because the pins are being hogged. Not too many are people are outspoken to join in....

Like I said earlier.. this definitely needs to be addressed or attendance will suffer more and more. ALL pins should stay at least till SUNDAY once they set foot in the exhibit hall. I've never been to York or the Texas one, so I wonder how they have their shows oriented?

Kudos to the gentleman whom bought the Williams Starlight and still left on freeplay! *price not disclosed*

 

[jcasetnl]

I guess I learned my lesson this year, that I need to go early and don't wait until Saturday. When I was there last year on Friday, most of the games were on and available to play. When I went there on Saturday this year, at least half if not more were not on.

I have been to the Midwest Gaming Classic and Pinball at the Zoo for the last few years and never experienced this ever before. Maybe I will just stick with these events in the future.

Wow, half!? That's crazy. How many total games were there?

The only show that has that problem where I live is Pin a Go Go, however, it doesn't start to happen until Sunday around 1pm. Friday and Saturday have plenty for everyone. However, Pin a Go Go is priced cheap and it's the laid-back "flea market" show of the Bay Area. I'm surprised that's allowed to happen at one of the "premier" shows.

 

[quses]

I have to disagree about leaving sold games on for people to play throughout the Expo. If I buy a game, especially a vintage game, do I want to risk something going wrong with the boards (heat and prolonged playing time = toasty), flying balls breaking plastics, and all the other risks that come with leaving the game out?

Probably not.

I picked up a game last year at a show, and had to leave it on until the show was over. It was really nerve wracking and stressful. I'm not sure I'd buy a game under those circumstances again, but I understand why they do it.

Perhaps a compromise would be to have the games that aren't used in exchange for passes on a different row, and those subject to being taken immediately if they're sold, otherwise they stay on?

 

[dan10things]

I have to disagree about leaving sold games on for people to play throughout the Expo. If I buy a game, especially a vintage game, do I want to risk something going wrong with the boards (heat and prolonged playing time = toasty), flying balls breaking plastics, and all the other risks that come with leaving the game out?

Probably not.

That's from the buyers perspective, which I do sympathize with, but buyers are less than 1% of show attendees. From the perspective of 99% of people that pay admission, as well as show organizers, you want all the games on the floor running for people to play. I don't pay admission to a show, much less fly there and pay for a hotel, if a bunch of the games are going to be turned off. I'm surprised any show's venue owner/fire marshall/insurance allows them to pull a game while the public is in the venue during the show. I think if you want to cater the public games towards buyers, you could at least leave the games on during the day they are sold, then pull them from the lineup at night once the public leaves. That way you don't have a bunch of games turned off mocking pinball players... essentially saying "I'm here, but you can't play me!"

 

[stevenp61]

I flew all the way out from Long Island and I had a great time. I do agree about the games being turned off though, I think any game that is on the game floor that didn't break during the show should be left on.

-BB

Agree with this. It was my first Expo (but I've been to many northeast US tourneys/shows) and I really enjoyed the 'whole package' aspect: it was a balanced mix of games to play/buy, parts/miscellany to purchase that you may or may not need, EXCELLENT series of seminars (a mix of cutting-edge developments and retrospectives), a variety of tournaments, and the Stern tour and the autograph session, both of which were very down-to-earth and a chance to meet/talk with pin-celebrities.

Many pinball events focus on one or two aspects, like tournament/playing or sales of parts/games. Expo was a great mix of all aspects of the hobby, enough to keep anybody happy with their favorite part. I too wish that more games were left on (but there were also many nice games available to play in the vendors room), and I also was disappointed that the main play area was shut down pretty much all day Friday for the PinBrawl tourney.

 

[playpin35]

ALL pins should stay at least till SUNDAY once they set foot in the exhibit hall. I've never been to York or the Texas one, so I wonder how they have their shows oriented?

I've been to texas twice and that is how they do it. I got my Addams Family there and they weren't wanting me to load it up even on sunday morning. I agree it sucked to buy it and have to leave it on, but it survived and It got to be enjoyed by others.

 

[MadocOwain]

That's from the buyers perspective, which I do sympathize with, but buyers are less than 1% of show attendees. From the perspective of 99% of people that pay admission, as well as show organizers, you want all the games on the floor running for people to play. I don't pay admission to a show, much less fly there and pay for a hotel, if a bunch of the games are going to be turned off. I'm surprised any show's venue owner/fire marshall/insurance allows them to pull a game while the public is in the venue during the show. I think if you want to cater the public games towards buyers, you could at least leave the games on during the day they are sold, then pull them from the lineup at night once the public leaves. That way you don't have a bunch of games turned off mocking pinball players... essentially saying "I'm here, but you can't play me!"

If the 99% want to pay something to compensate leaving my game off or removing it, I'm happy to let them do so I don't expect any game that is listed as "For Sale" to be available for me to play, as it's not there for show attendees to play outside of tire-kicking. If there were room - and mind you, I've never gone to Expo - to place the games in a "dead row" or a separate space from the games that are there for general play, that would be the way to do it. I'm surprised the "For Sale" games and the games brought by collectors to play would be mixed together anyway.

 

[configurethis]

Bill, I'm going to against the grain on this one. I actually this year's show was better then the last three I've been to especially the selection...

I've definitely notice going on Saturday day/night is better than going on Friday because I ran into the same issue you did - pins turned off or sold. Don't know why this is abundant on Friday. So that's why I usually go on Saturdays...

As far as the people doing the four player thing... maybe I'm just outspoken, because I usually say something. I don't be rude about it; I just ask politely if I can join in. It works, believe me. Maybe I'm just intimidating!

Now, today there was some pins turned off, but I did notice later on they were turned back on...

I do agree w/ some complaints on here. The stupid hours on Saturday for one - that definitely needs to be worked out or a shorter window. Also, if you bring a pin to the show (even if it's sold) it should be mandated to spend at least through Saturday there....

On a side note, talked to Mr Dayhuff (going to his party), played about 2 dozen games on Tranformers and met some new pinheads.... Win, win scenario!

Pinball expo is different each year in some aspect or another, I should know as I have been to the last 21 shows. If you were to have attended it in 2001 and 2002, you would have been very disappointed. !! (the 911 incident really dampened it)

 

[monster kong]

1) lack of machines= more LOCALS need bring games.

LOCALS need to support local shows more than anyone else as its easier for locals to bring games period.

2) games that are sold being turned off or removed?= i am all for that 100%.
if a buyer , buys a machine on thursday...why should they have to wait till sunday to remove it? what if that buyer isnt local and wants to leave before sunday? what if the buyer doesnt want the machine they just bought *esp if just fresh shopped and restored) to get beat up by non stop play action?
not all players treat games correct.

maybe "for sale" games should be grouped together.?

3) lack of good titles?== (mm, mb, cftbl). well, those games keep climbiing in value more and more...its a big risk for a collector to bring one to a show, esp if restored or HUO. same reason newer sterns lack in free play area, that, and they are on location earning.

Im not trying to jump on the band wagon- but the michigan pinball expo has many many collectors/ops from michigan (locals) bring games and support the show. that show has tons of pins on the free play floor..and probably the nicest ones ive seen at any show (especially the em's and ss games).

more people in chi town should support their local show.

same goes for pinball at the zoo. that show could have more games in the lineup if more locals to kalamazoo/west side of michigan brought games.
instead , you have people 3 hours plus away hauling in games to support it. makes no sense.

 

[calvin12]

Went to the The Chicago Pinball Expo last night. There were many of the same vendors as in previous shows. Made a few buys.

Then on to the pin area. It seemed like the number of pins was much less than in past years. Especially this year, many of the games were either not working or if marked "SOLD" were intentionally turned off. Made for a backlog of people looking to play machines. Also this year, the rude (insert favorite plural expletive here) were in abundance. You know the type - either coin up the machine for four players even though they are the only one playing or don't even look around to see if another person is waiting to play before they start another game.

Overall, I had a good time visiting with old friends and conversations with fellow enthusiasts and playing pinball on some interesting machines that were there and operating. But far too many machines there were turned off and made for disappointment as they could not be enjoyed. If they were turned off just because they were sold, weren't they brought to be played to gain free admission?

My thanks to the people who did bring their machines to share and made sure they were operating.

Bill

Compared to 2010 there were less games this year, but of the games there, I think there was at least as many running this year as 2010. Last year had a high % turned off. There were not many off this year.