Hello everybody,
Michael Grant, here - the recently hired Sales and Marketing Manager for American Pinball.
I will be here to engage with you guys, listen for feedback and answer any questions I am able to.
First, a little bit about me:
This is my 3rd week with API and I've hit the ground running. I just moved out to Chicago from Central Maine 3 weeks ago. I drove the 19-hour drive in two days in my Tacoma with Maine PINBALL tags, along with my 16-year old cat Jack as my co-pilot, off to begin my dream job with American Pinball.
I played pinball off and on as a child, but as location pinball faded in my area, pinball retreated to my subconscious. Then one day in the 2010s, an episode of Ingenious Minds aired and they did a segment on my favorite competitive player from Vancouver, and suddenly I remembered pinball again.
That summer, I went to Canobee Lake Park in NH and found the pinball arcade. Played LOTR, got a multiball, and felt an adrenaline rush I hadn't experienced since my childhood. "I remember pinball!," I thought to myself. "Wow, how could I have forgotten?"
I hopped on YouTube and looked up various games I remembered enjoying; Twilight Zone, World Cup Soccer, Williams Slugfest, and others.
Then I found the enthusiast groups on Facebook and suddenly realized, "Hold up... I can have MY OWN pinball machine?!" Within a year I had acquired more than 10 games.
I was a regular New England Pinball League participant and tournament player for five years, competed in Pinburgh twice, and had the priveledge to play in two separate state championships (RI & MA).
I am so proud and excited to be able to promote our hobby and represent American Pinball.
But enough about me, what about you?
Seriously though-- Hot Wheels. Over the past few weeks I've been getting to know the game, I've watched it progress, and I can tell you as a pinball fan, I am confident this game will speak for itself. It leaves me with that "one more game" feeling. Yes, I am biased, but this is my personal opinion, and if I like it as much as I do, I know I won't be the only one.
Hot Wheels pinball is greater than the sum of its parts. Pinball is more than just complicated mechanisms; it's a tactile, engaging, and immersive experience. The rules of HW, sound package, animations, colorful art (inner cabinet art is standard), lightshows, shot geometry, (& shaker motor), all work together to add to the gameplay experience and bring the Hot Wheels City-universe to life.
I don't need to sell you on it. The game will speak for itself.
So stay tuned, and check it out when you can.
I look forward to updating you guys on all the latest happenings at American Pinball.
Peace, Love & Pinball
-Michael