I cannot figure it out... help me... What's the point of this thread?

Whatever. I'd rather talk about Radio Shack ALL DAY than listen to the endless speculation on what shitty pin Stern is going to crank out next, or how many millimeters a particular scrap of PF changed on the next JJP photoshop disaster.

I think the point is that there's an Iron Man to be won at a RadioShack in Oakland. Which is kind of cool on its own.

But it should be pointed out that Kaneda is employed at Weber Shandwick (according to the Wired article on his apartment arcade). RadioShack is one of their clients. The post is also raising awareness for what I presume is a Weber Shandwick campaign to drive more pinball hobbyists into RadioShack.

But hey, free Iron Man? The thread title and the faux-mystery just seem a little self-serving and "guerilla marketing" greasy.

lol

Same point of every other Kaneda thread...
"Look at me!"

waaaat

The original poster publicly blamed his problems on our hobby a while back (among other shenanigans), so I think pretty much anything goes. No moderators around. Have at it.

It's a pointless thread. Probably the first one ever here.

Actually, I am curious about how Kaneda inquired about the legality of pinball in Oakland here on Pinside, and then a month or so later Radioshack is giving away a pinball, as mentioned in Wired - a magazine that featured Kaneda. Kaneda, have I missed that you work for Wired? If I may also ask, what then might have been your part in this pinball-at-RadioShack business?

Guys, keep on topic. Stop bashing the OP. It is not allowed and his post does not deserve that regardless of the past.

Forget to add, moving to events forum where it fits better.

Talk about an epic fail.

He never asked you if you needed any batteries.

Agree on the " 'guerrilla marketing' greasy" feeling comment. Unless Kaneda's entire internet presence, including all the back-and-forth about Fix It Felix, is an elaborate persona assumed as part of some kind of guerrilla marketing long con, in which case I can only tip my hat to his commitment to the part.

Having said that, free pinball is free pinball, so if he helped set that up, good for him and good for Oakland.

Does this machine come with a cell phone topper?

No, but Shaquille O'Neil will sit on the top and talk to you while you play.

Where? I see no examples of "bashing".

And that alone is pretty cool that you were able to arrange this.

Off topic: Why is Dis_Pinballer downvoting everything?

[edit]: Oh, I see...he was the one who made the NSFW post that everybody tilted. So now he's lashing out by downvoting everybody regardless of post content

Credit where credit is due - this promotion will net someone a nice machine! Thanks for providing more clarification. The curse of winning is paying taxes on the machine, but that's like getting a lightly used IM at a fire sale price. Unless RadioShack is covering taxes, too?

is it just me? when I saw this picture
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the first thing that came to mind was this
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Radio Shack may well be out of business before the finals. Circling the drain.

That's been a common thought for years, but they're still hanging on.

Rats, Oakland is over 2100 miles away from where I'm at in south Louisiana.
Wish I was closer. I would go play it.
Probably could even find a few components to purchase while in there.
Great tie-in promotion with the pinball ban being officially lifted in Oakland after so many years.

I hope not.

Where will I get parts for my TSR-80?

Or not.

If you have not been to a Radioshack in a while, there are just a few drawers of the most common parts and anything like a plug or jack is made with thin tinfoil lugs that can't be soldered to.

Don't think it's been mentioned in the thread... but the orange haired guy in the photo is TJ Beyer, an operator in Northern California and one of the founders and organizers of California Extreme.

TJ's good people!

Our local Radio Shacks have a decent amount of basic stuff in the drawer system they have had for a few years. They also started carrying electronic project kits again.

I was really surprised last time I went in and got a couple high fives for buying a 7805 regulator for our Asteroids. That led to a discussion about video games and pinball. One of the guys behind the counter is in the process of making a MAME machine even.

And no... not one mention of me needing a new cell phone.

If I may offer a bit of a different feel on the thread.

I think it's great what is being done but honestly, if you want to give back to the community make it a charity tournament with maybe a voucher to Radio Shack and then put the game in a local children's hospital. Making it a tournament for the game and having a starting entry of 50 million really pulls out most of the community. All that will be there is a few pinheads, whom, quite frankly probably don't really need another machine.

I really like the idea and thought but the execution could use some more work. If nothing else, make it $0.50 a play and the funds go to a charity in town. People will put some money in to try and win the game and the community gets something out of it too but I really think the game itself should go to better use if this is truly about a charitable donation.

Again, I like the thought behind it but I think you should take it a step further.

Right? It makes no sense...it's going to go to a really skilled player who probably already has 5+ machines.

So what's your solution? They only allow shitty players to qualify?

I'm not sure how you could even guarantee that.

Very simple:.

How many do you want in your playoffs? let's say 16.

You let people play for the month. At the end of the month you take the top 16 scores. 1 plays 16, 2 plays 15, 3 plays 14, etc in the first round, then you take the same logic for whom makes it through to the next round.

ok, I was wondering why everyone was bashing the guy!

I have seen plenty of people doing the same thing on here and why not, isn't this a place to show off your pins?

everyone is so quick to judge

Aren't you judging fellow pinsiders? You appear to not know anything of kaneda's history on this website yet you accuse others of "bashing" kaneda. I guess some pinsiders look down on one pinsider not paying a teenager the full agreed price of a Fix-it Felix arcade game and then blackmail said teenager (with the already owed money) into keeping his mouth shut.

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Wow that sounds really scummy...link for the curious?

The thread has been locked (with no explanation given of why) and I am pretty sure linking a thread that has been locked is not allowed. Just search "fix-it felix" or "kaneda" and you find some threads.

A lot of pros live in the bay area. It's going to be hard to give that thing away to someone "new" to pinball. Perhaps they could add a stipulation that the "winner cannot be nationally ranked"?

I do like the idea of a coin drop for charity, too. Can't hurt!

The whole idea of the promotion is to get hobby veterans back into the stores. If you're fixing games, you're likely a veteran of the hobby. Secondly, it's a tournament. Of course a noob won't win. Expecting only noobs to compete for a $5k prize doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

And I don't think folks should make assumptions about who might win. I can think of at least two world class players around here that don't own a single game. Being a good player doesn't necessarily mean you're also a collector (or can even afford to collect pins). Living in the bay area (currently 500+ games on location) means you don't have to own games to play regularly. If you play on location regularly, you'll see these guys out there eventually. Guaranteed at least one qualifier won't be a collector.

But you could do a raffle and all you need to do to enter is to play a full game.

That way kids could have a shot, wives would have a shot, some guy who has not played since college would have a shot.

A whole lot more people could enjoy the contest, and thus the promotion would have a much greater impact.

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You could still have some sort of a prize for the tournament, and for the high score all month long.

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OK I have to say this... I am endeavoring, ma'am, to construct a mnemonic memory circuit using stone knives and bearskins.

Oldest line in the book.

So then give the top x winners a gift card to keep them coming back, and either raffle the pin or donate it to someplace like a children's hospital like others have be doing. It's kinda discouraging when a pro comes in and scores 50 mil in the first game, and it's just going to beef up his/her collection.

Did you read the rest of my post?

You know what they say about making assumptions.

If people don't like the way OP is handling promotion just buy a NIB/get with Stern and work out a deal with your local Radio Shack or other retailer and make up the rules your way. The pin is on free play, anyone can walk in and play and if you post top score you win it. Im sorry but these suggestions about raffles are stupid.

Well, not everybody is a top player. I enjoy pinball, and am a pretty good player on my own, but if you put me up against folks actually competing, I fall far short. Part of the reason being that I don't have access to real machines that are working and leveled properly. Folks who get top scores usually already have easy access to machines and hundreds of hours of practice. There's basically no chance that I can compete against that. (Disclaimer: Even though I own two machines, I have yet to actually play them even once because they need to be fully restored)

I own an IMv and I got above 50mil maybe 4 times (really need to hit Do or Die bonus.) The point isn't about only someone being good will have a chance to win the pin. Its about a brand new pinball in a public retail store on free play that anyone can walk up to.

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