San Francisco Avatar Launch Party - Oct 15, 7-11pm

jcasetnl

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You're invited! Pinball! Prizes! Free Stuff! Food!

Come play STERNS newest game, AVATAR, and meet STERN's newest distributor, Audio Images, at the San Francisco Launch Party on October 15th from 7 - 11pm.

Location: Audio Images, 735 Bryant Street, San Francisco (nearest BART station is Powell)

Avatar will be available on Free Play.

A special fun tournament will be held with trophies and prizes for experts and novice. Entry is $5. All entrants will receive a 2-for-1 entry coupon to Playland not at the Beach in El Cerrito. (a $15 value).

Other prizes will be awarded by our sponsors and a second tournament (either Split Flipper or 3-minute Time Attack tournament) is being planned. Hope to see you there!

Questions? Either "Reply to Author" or email: jonnynacho AT gmail DOT com

Sponsored by:

STERN Pinball
International Flipper Pinball Association
Playland not at the Beach
Pacific Pinball Museum
pinballmachine.org
 
If you're a bay pinhead, come on out. Meet fellow pinheads. Have fun and meet other hobbyists, players and collectors. There's a Guns 'n Roses and Tommy available for play. We're giving out tons of tons goodies, too.
 
I've spent ~3 hours on Avatar. Literally me playing for 3 uninterrupted hours.
The game is fun to the extent that it is new. But I guess I have to be honest and say that it's fun to drop a few bucks into but it's not the type of game that will find its way into my game room. I suppose I should simply state that it just doesn't have the "stay power" quality in a small collection. In a large collection - because it is simple and fast paced it would fare much better. Because of the physical appearance alone people will be drawn to it more so than a classic pin. The limited shots will also keep the game moving forward and give the player a sense of accomplishment.
Stern did a wonderful job from the stand point of easy and quick fun. Longevity wise - I rate it a fail. But sadly this is the new "normal" for pinball.

And Jcasetnl awesome of you to do this! good luck with your event!
 
I've spent ~3 hours on Avatar. Literally me playing for 3 uninterrupted hours.
The game is fun to the extent that it is new. But I guess I have to be honest and say that it's fun to drop a few bucks into but it's not the type of game that will find its way into my game room. I suppose I should simply state that it just doesn't have the "stay power" quality in a small collection. In a large collection - because it is simple and fast paced it would fare much better. Because of the physical appearance alone people will be drawn to it more so than a classic pin. The limited shots will also keep the game moving forward and give the player a sense of accomplishment.
Stern did a wonderful job from the stand point of easy and quick fun. Longevity wise - I rate it a fail. But sadly this is the new "normal" for pinball.

And Jcasetnl awesome of you to do this! good luck with your event!

Thanks! I hope it goes well and people show up. Or I'll be eating nachos and caesar salad for the next month.

I think your assessment of Avatar is on-target. There's no doubt they are simplifying the rules and making it more "quick sprint" versus "train for a marathon". I freely admit there are a lot of things that I don't necessarily agree with on BBH and IM, and I haven't played enough avatar to form an opinion yet on that one. But, I also have to say that EVERY casual player I have put in front of IM has liked it a lot.
 
Don't forget! Tonight's the night! Help me eat this food or I have to take it to the soup kitchen up the street.
 
Everyone who entered and paid their $5 came out ahead with a 2-for-1 pass to Playland not at the Beach worth $15.

pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/35597103@N08/sets/72157625176823774/

Split-Flipper Doubles (12 entries):

SPLIT FLIPPER CHAMPS: Tim Hansen and Chris Heileg

2. Mads Kristensen and Jon Olkowski
3. Alex Samonte and Stephen Kleckner
4. Kevin Johnson and Josh Lehan

AVATAR Tournament (26 entries):

NOVICE / UNDER 250 FINAL:

CHAMPION: Mike Haffner (phishrace): (Trophy + $25 Family Pass to Playland not at the Beach + Pacific Pinball Museum Club Card)

2. Ryan Avery ($25 Family Pass to Playland not at the Beach + Pacific Pinball Museum Club Card)
3. Mark Altvater ($25 Family Pass to Playland not at the Beach + Pacific Pinball Museum Club Card)
4. Kevin Johnson

EXPERT:

GRAND CHAMPION: Neil Shatz (Trophy + $52)

2. David Joud (Trophy + $39)
3. Mads Kristensen (Trophy + $26)
4. Alex Samonte ($13)

(continued results - IFPA results sorted by qualifier score, not Novice Final order)
5. Kevin Johnson
6. Mike Haffner
7. Mark Altvater
8. Ryan Avery
9. Eugene Gershtein
10. Jon Olkowski
11. Chris Heilig
12. Stephen Kleckner
13. Louise Swainson
14. Tim Hansen
15. Eric Waggensonner
16. Mike Spears
17. John Lautmann
18. Michelle Rockholt
19. David Rockholt
20. Andre Massenkoff
21. Mitch Tunick
22. Josh Lehan
23. John Haydn
24. Teresa Altvater
25. Walter Hurwitz
26. Jeannie Rodriguez


Thanks to all who attended. Around 40 people showed up for the event. Jim Chen is toying with the idea of a Chinese NBA launch party so maybe we can do it again soon. :)

Thanks to Pacific Pinball Museum and Playland not at the Beach for donating hundreds of dollars' worth of Passes and Club Cards which were awarded as prizes to the novice winners, given out in the raffle and given to every tournament entrant. Thanks to Jim Chen of Audio Images for hosting the event and to all the volunteers for helping run the tournaments and setup/cleanup.
 
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