BK 2000 is not a burger joint.

I was absolutely one of the kids in the 80s wrecking the pinball market. I'd make up excuses and blow all my money, any I could beg, scrounge, steal (seriously), or occasionally even earn, to play video games. I had dropped a quarter here and there in the ancient machines at the bowling alley, but since I considered them random and "stupid" that was where my experience maxed out.

Then, in ealry highschool, the long since dead Fun n' Games at Northgate mall in Seattle added two new titles to their utterly ignored corner wall of pinball machines; Black Knight 2000 and Banzai Run. On the way out the door, late to catch my bus home, probably at around 4:30, I happened to walk by the Black Knight machine right as it called out, "Give me your money.".

I thought, "Shit, ha, that's pretty clever. What the hell?". Needless to say, the I missed my bus, and the rest is history. I dreamt about that machine. I had that damn music in my head for weeks. My habit shifted instantly to pinball. Banzai Run and Black Knight 2000. Man. Such memories.

I've wanted to own a machine ever since. I finally bought one, a Space Shuttle, about a month ago. It's been broken for all but about two hours of that time. The man who sold it to me, for $900, as a fully shopped and excellent condition game, has done a decent admirable job at trying to help me through these growing pains, but I admit to harboring a little bit of a miff about the whole thing.

In the end it'll probably be a good thing: I'll get to learn a few skills right up front. Still wish the grand I dropped on it had bought me a few months of play before it died, though. But, with some luck, and some continued help from the friendly folks at Pinside, I'm confident I can get it working soon.

Video games? Yeah, I stll play them, but I yearn for more machines, and I want my young sons to grow up with the love of something kinetic and tangible that you just will never get staring at a screen.

Cheers, take care, and have fun.