Well done playas!!

All by myself outside but THE PARTY MUST GO ON

Who wants a vodka on ice?

I’ll drink

Let’s gooooo!!!!

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Let’s goooo!

Get up here. Gates not open but tailgating has commenced

Thanks again for the tournament yesterday. I had a blast and actually made the playoffs. The QR scanners on all the games to report issues was brilliant. I do have to say I'm jealous of those trophies.

The tourney was great yesterday. Of the 16 games I played, 12 we ones I'd never played before. Some of these were games by Zacharia, Gameplan, Bell Games, and Mr. Game - games you just don't see anywhere else. And all in perfect condition. It's a competitive opportunity that is one of a kind.

Let’s get ready to ruuuummmmble

Coffee'ing up at the hotel and heading that way. Gotta pick up a styrofoam cooler for the beer I guess. Woot.

Fuckin a...let me get out of bed and do my hair...

The tournament was great, lots of players that are only in town for the show that we've never met before, I helped run the tournament instead of playing in it. Also found a snake inside!

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the tournament was great! such a great time and all the games played amazing. the variety of games here is literally unmatched. highly recommend anyone who hasn't played here yet to check it out for themselves

Hey Doug - excellent use of your CAD skills!! See you on Sunday!

Kelsey

Hi Clay!!!!

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Wife says it's too early for beer. Disagree. Line at 9ish was exactly one beer long.

… or whats left of them…retirement tends to dull certain useful skills! Looking forward to catching up with you.

Amazing stuff! Vdojaq poured a few of us a sampler, and it was very, very tasty! Even my wife (whom does not like beer) found it palatable...

Later,
EV

Had a blast again this year.
Well Worth the 3+ hour drive each way.
The construction was a bit daunting.
It was easier coming from Windsor/Detroit crossing than Port Hron/Sarnia
Hint for tomorrow Meegis

Fantastic collection. My wishlist just blew up exponentially. Plus I found the attraction in some games I'd written off because I'd never seen them play well. Seriously, fantastic to all involved

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Photo Interpretation:

The VFW repair shop in action... It looks like Centaur smoked a board. Game problems are tracked with a QR tag/code system and reported to the shop. Clay (the guy walking) sends out a qualified Tech to triage the game. Simple fixes are taken care of in place. For more complex surgery, the tech has the game pulled and rolled into the shop. *Mr. Bally* (the middle guy just above the band saw) looks to be deep into the board repair with able-bodied techs supervising. My guess is that Centaur was back in action within the hour.

More on the VFW QR Game Problem Reporting System.

Every game has a unique blue QR code sticker on the apron.

*Anyone* can report a game problem by:

1. Using your phone in camera mode, focus on the QR code box.
2. The VFW QR system is automatically recognized.
3. Snap the photo / scan and you enter the system.
4. The system recognizes the game and gives you several problem choices to click on.
5. You can also enter in some text if you desire.
6. Hit send/enter

Easy-peasy

The problem shows up in the Shop monitor within 60 seconds and a Tech is on the way.

If you don’t have a phone handy the old fashion way of waving down an *orange shirt* VFW staff member works too.

First time at VFW and it was incredible! An unparalleled collection of games and great people! The food was excellent as well! Hard to believe this was less than 5 miles from my house and I had never heard of it.

Had a blast!

Well done to all!! Looking forward to more play tomorrow. I love a show where all I have to do is play.

Terrific time again Clay and team. Loved the new repair process. Reported one issue and got it resolved immediately. Great use of technology. As always the collection and condition were beyond compare. Thank you from the Ohio pinhead. Much appreciated every year. Keep it coming!!

What about kick off? No response on that qr report

Where were you john?

Seriously? We fixed over 200 games today and you're calling it a failure because one particular game, that doesn't appear on the current report, didn't get fixed to your satisfaction? OK.

Don’t sweat the peanut gallery bullshit!
It was a stellar event!

I was just up that way, couldn't stay for this. Anyone have anymore pics to share?

Sorry, that was a joke. My friend bought a kick off that had the qr code on it, so a report may have been sent. Stellar performance on all game issues at the show.no game i wamted to play was down for more than a few minites

Thanks to all involved who put in the time and effort to make this event run so smooth
Never seen so many machines and so many smiles in one place. My GF and i were in awe. Shout out to the Stoner Doom/metal
fans on the grill. I was wearing a Weedeater
tee shirt and they knew it was a band not lawn equipment.

OK, no harm no foul. Just a bit tired. Sorry to get so frosty.

No worries. It was a fun dig at clay. The staff did an amazing job, well worth the money, and as always an amazing place

I really don't think there could possibly be a better pinball show, if what you want to do is play pinball. SO many games, arranged in logical groups, representing every possible era, all starting the day in perfectly playable shape, and mostly kept that way during the day by a dedicated squad of repair techs. Clay's QRCode system was brilliant!

Seriously, if there's a pin you've ever heard of and want to play, odds are it's there... and of course all those ones you've never heard of and didn't know you wanted to play until you did.

Other shows have seminars, or manufacturer booths, or whatever, but if it's playing pins (and related arcade games) you're after, I just can't imagine anyone will ever top the VFW. It's not to be missed.

Kick-off was sold not long ago as it does not get much play at the VFW.

I bought it. Hence the joke. Qr code was still on it. I bought it thinking id play it awhile and sell it, but man is it a frustratingly fun game. I think its actually a keeper for me

Just made the 5-1/2 hr drive home from the show today! It was my first and hopefully not the last. I knew it would be awesome and it did not disappoint. Got to see a lot of games I've only heard about or seen online but never in person, and everything worked! The staff was AWESOME. Very helpful, super friendly and ON IT when issues popped up. Very impressed. Met some very cool folks there today too. Bax1 thanks for the "hershey's syrup" brew and great conversation with you and the others tailgating before they opened. Great bunch of folks!
-Lee
aka Leebo's Pinball dude

Any chance, Duncan, that you can find time in your busy life to assemble another "lost" Harry Williams design into a working prototype playable pin?

To go along side, Typhoon and the now missing Firefly?

Amazing show! Saturday was so much fun. Thank you to everyone involved.

I have the next three playfields cut. I have a small pile of donor games. I have lots of space in my new-to-me house. What I don't have at the moment is TIME, because that house was very old and tired - wood paneling on every square inch of wall (and some ceilings!) and carpet on every square inch of floor (including bathrooms and kitchen!) I filled the largest construction dumpster they had with all that stinky stuff and am slowly marching through the place making it habitable again (while inhabiting it.)

I also need to finish Firefly - I never got the on-playfield bonus feature working before rushing it to Clay's place for the show that year.

Why can’t I just get a hug Clay? All I wanted a hug but he wouldn’t give it to me!

Very fun show as always. Was good to meet all of the out of state folks. Great times!!!

Super impressed by you guys. I got a ball stuck I couldn't shake loose, put in a ticket and pulled up to the game next to it. Someone had the glass off before I finished my first ball.

100% vouch for this being probably the best show. i'm not a competitive guy so i'm pretty happy with there not being a tournament. the $100 is steep but definitely well worth it. in years past the only machines i ever had to wait on were Big Bang Bar, Banzai Run, and TOTAN. But to me I don't need to play those. I'm perfectly happy playing BMX or Hurdy Gurdy..... just walking around and taking pictures is worth $25 to me. i couldn't make it this year and i'd hate to see the collection broken up. The facility is amazing. Definitely on my plans for next year even if it's $150

*as a side not the steep price is actually beneficial in my opinion. it keeps amateurss and little kids away which means less chances of walking up to machine with four games abandoned on it. going up in price was the best thing clay has done for the show

My wife liked the coleslaw!
She is a very picky eater.

She even mentioned next time packing some snacks and bringing some chairs for next time.

That's crazy, I am a pretty anti social guy. But a few beers and maybe....

I am in no means complaining wear happens,
I started coming in 2016, missed a few years with the border closed.
I can really see how some of the titles are wearing. For a collector, this is good for me. I know what to expect.
The Alien Poker played flawless for me, very nice playfield.

You should look into a ball sponsor
You must be buying by weight.
Ball sales could be a good side gig for the show.
Everyone could be playing with your balls....

My only issue with the qr system was lack of reliable cell signal indoors kept me from reporting.

Do you want minor issues reported too? Just for later follow up?