Prospect Heights, IL
The pinball industry has been experiencing a “renaissance period” from an influx of new games, new companies, innovations, new talent, part accessibility and even ingenious after-market modifications. What an absolutely exciting time to be in the pinball hobby!
The internet has helped fan this renaissance spark into a flame! From Pinside, to various podcasts, to social media, to Pinball News & Pinball Magazine the community has multiple platforms to interact and exchange thoughts to promote the hobby we all enjoy.
It’s time to fuel the flame we all have been part of into a never-ending five-alarm fire! A beacon that will shine so bright that the industry will hear our collective voice, take notice, and have pride in being recognized by the community as “the best”.
Join me as we introduce The Pinsider’s Choice Awards. The Pinsider’s Choice Awards is an annual award program to recognize the outstanding achievements of people and the work of pinball culture, voted on by the community.
These awards will set the standard for excellence and help elevate the voice of the community (into one) in recognizing the exceptional achievements of the recipients and their commitment to pinball.
The awards recognize the following categories:
Best Pinball Machine
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinheads-choice-2016-best-pinball-machine-vote
Best Pinball Design
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinheads-choice-2016-best-design-vote#post-3515038
Best Software/Rules
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinheads-choice-2016-best-softwarerules-vote#post-3515115
Best Sound
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinheads-choice-2016-best-sound-vote
Best Artwork
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinheads-choice-2016-best-artwork-vote#post-3515694
Best Product Quality & Customer Satisfaction
Best Pinball Company
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinheads-choice-2016-best-pinball-company-vote#post-3515962
Best Aftermarket Mod
Best Pinball Parts Supplier
Best Pinball Distributor
This is our chance to unite our voices, throw some positive energy at the industry and recognize the achievements in pinball. Let the companies who’ve achieved excellence, as recognized by the community, be able to truly lay claim to “the best”.
Voting will be open until Jan 27th. I encourage you to use your social media contacts, leagues and other creative venues to get the word out on the voting. The larger the participation – the brighter the flame!
We’ll continue to provide updates as we evolve the awards to expand to new categories and broader media exposure. Stay tuned!
xTheBlackKnightx
Pinside member
8y 128K 4,097 137
Well there is certainly one aspect that is totally correct here.
The industry is experiencing a "never-ending five-alarm fire!", but not in the matter that is entirely positive.
The new buyer market is currently healthy and growing, but you have to look deeper regarding the industry.
There are more holes being swiss cheesed through the manufacturers circumstances, if people want to stop turning blind eyes due to "shiny".
One manufacturer is try to monopolize the market and force out competition in order to retain their supremacy. There is no love from them regarding healthy competition. There is no real industry benefit here as this just leads to continued higher prices, less new title selection, and quicker stall of the current market. On top of all this is continued reduction of basic game features to their games, and continued challenges of quality control, with little concern for final correction.
The next manufacturer is trying to capitalize exclusively to high end buyers which there are only a limited number of buyers anyway, and completely eliminate most operators from a consideration of sales except in regions of high pinball popularity.
Another manufacturer is trying to develop machine titles that are original in order to find its place in the industry and try to remain affordable. Noble goal, no doubt.
Yet another manufacturer is trying to manage to produce enough machines at all to remain profitable at all, and in limited numbers.
They have the potential to be the SECOND manufacturer to fold their tent in 2017.
One manufacturer is simply trying not declare bankruptcy as they struggle financially to build a second machine which is not ready.
It is entirely possible they will be gone even BEFORE the middle of 2017.
Finally, the last manufacturer has no established footing whatsoever, and went back to the drawing board as they were premature, not ready, and not prepared for development let alone ready to build a machine.
Whatever the voting may be for this year's designed machines, is a not entirely a cohesive moment in pinball history, EXCEPT for the factor that 2016 marked a significant negative change in the market against not only operators, but the general pinball owner. Pinball industry cannot thrive on the basis of boutique sales, but on actual volume of machines and exposure in the public. This is the same downfall that occurred in the late 1990s based on certain choices by WMS on prices alone, after the final manufacturers decided to fall.
"History remains a circle, and is bound to repeat the errors of the past, if no consideration is made."
- TBK