CAX tourney lineup: Full Throttle, Hobbit, Krull, Cue, Wizard Blocks, Iron Maiden, Mario Andretti, Road Runner, Panic Park, and an EM I built in my garage.
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What no 4x4?!
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Bring your Rosa gloves for playing Throttle with that lockdown bar from hell.
I, for one, would look forward to a Full Throttle in a tournament, because itās a machine I have never played on before. I treat tournaments I can visit as more chances to play machines I had never played on before or hadnāt played much (but I know Iām weird for doing that). It Never Drains in Southern California is the one I have easiest access to, and every year Iāve been there, thereās weird stuff I had never played before. This year had Hoops, Torpedo Alley, and Laser War, for instance. And while Iām not that good at pinball, I consistently am at my best when at a machine few other people are familiar with. I started pinball way later than most of these other people and donāt play it as frequently as most of these other people, so Iād be disadvantaged at anything popular or time-tested.
It Never Drains in Southern California always has a mix of the time-tested and of the eccentric to accomodate both people testing their mettle on what they know well and peoplewho want to play the new stuff. And I think that from the perspective of a newcomer, EVERY machine is going to be new. The Addams Family would be just as unfamiliar and novel as Full Throttle. When itās obvious someone is new to pinball, this is almost always how they react when I people-watch during INDISC: Every machine is a new experience.
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The LA (non)Celebrity tourney had some epic games. Joust and Varkon I remember. There was a restored game there, think it was a MM, with like 80 coats of clear on the playfield. Literally like playing on glass. Almost unplayable.
In this case, the bizarre lineup fit the bizarre (but awesome) show. Hope that dude does it again eventually. He proved you can have a decent pinball show and tournament outdoors at a (horse) racetrack.
Where and when was this event? That sounds interesting to simply watch.
It was at Hollywood Park in '08.
http://www.ifpapinball.com/tournaments/view.php?t=1157
The games were set up under the grandstands. There were tons of retired dudes around betting the ponies at the casino there. The only celebrities that showed up were a few Laker girls. Between games, you could go out to the grandstands and relax.
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Isnāt this the place thatās being destroyed for the new Chargers/Raiders/Rams stadium?
Yep, but it was finally destroyed in may of last year. Iām still surprised this is the site for a fancy new NFL stadium. Itās a pretty lousy neighborhood really and freeway congestion in the area stinks.
Where are you getting a Full Throttle from? Jesse told Brandon he didnāt want to use any of his games.
Edit- nevermind, saw youād commented later on availability.
I have not!
The argument not to put a game is unfamiliar is really strange to me.
Does that mean that you wouldnāt put any new releases in?
One of the things I look forward to going to any comps is the chance to play games Iāve never seen before, or have little gameplay on. EVERY machine was new at some point.
If you shy away from machines youāre not familiar with you could be missing out on a game youād fall in love with.
This discussion took place on a PAPA broadcast between Bob, Pete and John and I want to say it was during last yearās circuit finals, but I could be wrong. Anyhow, the argument against using newer games was one of āfairnessā where a select group of people would have intricate rules knowledge (those who had significant access to the game) while others would only have what they could piece together from talking with others and watching them play during the competition. I found the discussion interesting, but I lean towards letting newer games in, as long as there arenāt game breaking bugs.
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one of my favorite parts of the Pinburgh tournament last year (which was my first time traveling for a tournament) was getting to play on so many games iād never played before. why would i travel 5 hours to play the same games i can play locally?
i guess if i was a top-tier player gunning for serious money, i would probably be disappointed by the ārandomnessā element of a game few people know how to play, but i think most players are fine with it or may even see it as a selling point.
the main reason i switched from playing the league at Mighty Mikeās to the league at Red Zone Grill is because it had more games i was unfamiliar with.
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Pinburgh is a huge exception. Way more games and way more competitors compared to a typical competition. Iād guess that more people compete at Pinburgh āfor funā than a typical tournament.
I seek out games Iāve not familiar with too. But not on tourney day. When I see a familiar game or two in a tourney lineup, my attitude quickly becomes more positive. Often the games donāt play like I expect them too, but at least I know the rules and strats for that game.
Look at the comments regarding the games announced for A division at Papa so far. People arenāt liking all the unfamiliar titles. Players generally want familiar games in the lineup.
I donāt think the general response has to do with unfamiliarity at all.
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You may be right. Weāll see as the lineup is completed and certainly afterward.
Papa is also a huge exception. A mostly āclassicā main lineup wouldnāt attract many out of towners anywhere else.