3rd place out of 30-40 is a good finish, so really challenge yourself at PAPA. Enter A division and place some side bets against anyone named Bowen, Lyman, Cayle or Daniele.

Seriously though, enter in the lowest division and read up on the scoring/qualifying system.

Your experience is totally up to you. What Division will you be playing in?

What to do: Play pinball. Keep in mind that every day there is a classics tournament, along with other stuff like Split Flipper, so you may want to allow yourself time to do everything.

What not to do: Nudity, excessive drunkenness, violence, stuff like this is discouraged.

Best of luck I wish I could go!

My only advice is this: Go into it with a good, positive attitude, and play just to have a good time. Because, invariably, if you have any luck like I do (none), you'll get your ass handed to you by some 12-year-old girl. You'll also have to deal with some douchebags who take the whole thing FAR too seriously.

Sign up for D division (I think you have to choose a division in advance for PAPA), do your best, and have a great time!

format is totally different this year. Used to be a ticket was 5 games (out of 10 in a bank) and favored consistency of putting a ticket together without any dogs.

Starting this year it is a complete pump and dump where consistency means little.

My suggestion is to enjoy the experience but do not be overly obsessed with the competition. The BEST part about PAPA is that there are really not too many people there and only about 50 of the 400+ games are used for the competition.

I would show up each morning, put in a few games on your D bank while you are fresh. Then go spend the majority of the day playing on the oddball title you wont see elsewhere in the general population. do NOT spend you time playing the A listers which you can find anywhere. Go explore the classics and oddballs that are only found at PAPA. Head back to the D bank in the afetrnoon/evening and put in a few more tickets.

I definately suggest trying the classics tournament the first day to see if you like it. Last time I went the lines were WAY too ling to be fun for me, but that may change with the new main format.

You don't. You can make your decision when you show up. You can also move up in division during the tournament if you decide, but not move back. I'd probably suggest doing the lowest division possible - I did C my first year and won it. I would have done D if I could have, but if you have played virtually ANY IFPA pinball you won't be eligible for D.

also, definately play in D dividion. DO not go up to C just because you like the games better. You are inexperienced and should be in D. You will get more out of it if you play against similar caibur people.

If at some point in the weekend you realize you are not going to make D playoffs, then no harm in shifting to a higher division for shits and giggles. Granted with the pump and dump format you would have to be committed to really make finals.

Well, okay...point taken. But when I said "in advance" I meant before you actually begin competing. So when you get there and buy some cards.

Absolutely have some advice here: After a full day of qualifying there aren't many good places to eat after midnight. I believe there's a place called "Pizza Milano" a mile up the road from the hotel... excellent pizza at 1am.

6532 Steubenville Pike, Pittsburgh, PA 15205
(412) 494-9494

Open until 1AM

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/5100+Campbells+Run+Rd,+Pittsburgh,+PA+15205/''/@40.4436828,-80.1597147,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x88345922f1219e81:0xce61c6384104d540!2m2!1d-80.1516354!2d40.4389629!1m5!1m1!1s0x883459375bbc4937:0x61c9f6bcef37e11e!2m2!1d-80.1615236!2d40.4496218

(copy/paste that URL into your browser for the map)

Most likely.

D is for absolute beginners and if you have a couple IFPA events under your belt you are probably restricted to C.

Seems a little soon to ask for advice for the tournament 90 years from now

My advice in that case is: Live forever

Are there any vendors/distributors at PAPA (a la Pinburgh), or it is strictly business (so to speak)?

It's the business of competitive pinball and not much else. There are many many games to play in the non-competitive areas and awesome video games too.

They have 2 machines of the ones they have 2 machines of.

My recollection is that they only have 1 Robocop, but I could be wrong or that could have changed

If they only have one, there will be no practice on it.

Even if they have 2 of a machine, the one in competition is likely gonna play much tougher.

$1 a play ..

Might as well make it count in case you have an epic "practice" game.

In this format , it doesn't make much sense to practice too much.

Robocop , shoot the spinner and the ramp. Dont die . You're welcome.

Can any speak to parking at PAPA headquarters?

Looking at google maps, PAPA's lot seems quite small. For anyone traveling in, where is the best place to park? I was also thinking of staying at the extended stay hotel and walking in. Can anyone comment if Carnegie is shady if making the walk back at night?

Parking is always an issue at PAPA due to the small parking area. Which is a place all by itself during PAPA!
Previously there have been shuttles to the hotels(last call at midnight or walk).
I personally do not think that Carnegie is all that crime ridden, although I never have minded being on most any street at night especially in the Pittsburgh area.

There isn't enough parking, but it's kind of a quiet area. I'd bet you could park a ways down the road (along side the main road) and be fine with a little walking distance. Neighborhood is fairly good and quiet.

I can't wait to get better and hopefully compete here someday. I think I want to try to fly into Michigan, then drive down with friends and make it a blast.
Road trip. I'll get there brothers...

First time going and I know they've changed the rules this year so I'm sure if anyone will know the answer to this but I assume you have to pay the $20 just to walk into the door, is that correct?

I plan on making the trip down with the old lady who has zero interest in playing anything but wouldn't mind checking out the facility before she heads to IKEA. Is this a possibility?

Correct on the $20 entry fee.

Ask ninjadoug about the latter, although I'd assume no.

I don't remember paying to get into the building, but maybe they've changed that. If all machines are on free play, that's a possibility. (Previously they were tokens)

If parking is such a problem, yes I was thinking of doing Uber. I hope they post the discount code soon.

What about restaurants in the area? Any suggestions?

Pizza place. Open until 1AM. Mentioned earlier.

Also there are some cool upscale sports bars across from the hotel in that shopping plaza... if you get there early enough.

The issue is getting out of PAPA early enough to eat something. There are no restaurants very close... all seem to be at least a mile away. (Unless someone has built one in the area in the last couple of years)

Bump. In for answers. Please respond.

There's been one food truck the last few years. A few more options would be great for sure.

I recall a small truck that sold a limited menu. Hot dogs, etc.

How about parking? It seems like PAPA's lot would fill very early. Is there metered parking in the town? If so, do they have a limit? Any parking lots with all day parking?

Parking along the streets/roads is free (non metered). Relatively low traffic, decent area in terms of crime. Not heavily populated. It's an old industrial area.

Park where you can find a spot. Not a ton more to say than that. Lot fills up fairly quickly. There's a side street around the drivers right that offers some makeshift parking. Do not park in front of neighboring businesses. As has been said, you can park for free a little ways away. I have personally never looked for parking for more than 5-7 minutes, but I usually arrive early or carpool/uber. There has been a food truck the last few years and there are some snacks/unhealthy things inside in the past. See ya'll soon!

Play earlier in the day to avoid lines. Lines get really long in C--especially on Saturday afternoon and evening. Enjoy!

Hopefully lines will be less this year with queuing added. PnD might negate that, but here's hoping.

Can you explain what you mean by queuing being added? I hadn't heard about this.

Software that runs on an iPad or your phone where you can add yourself to a line and buy tickets for the machine you want to play.

Cool--thanks so much. It won't apply to me because I'm still operating on my original dumb flip phone, but this is good news.

Is alcohol allowed anywhere inside the venue? Such as where people are allowed to eat?

It is not.

Good places to eat are Bob's Diner, about 1/2 mile from PAPA:

http://eatatbobsdiner.com/menu/

Raya's Pizzeria (I believe they deliver), about 1 mile from PAPA:

https://www.allmenus.com/pa/carnegie/34280-rayas-pizzeria/menu/

and the Irish Pub Riley's Pour House, about 1 mile from PAPA

http://www.rileyspourhouse.com/

There are more places in Green Tree (about 3 miles away).

There is usually a caterer on-site at meal times, with grilled food, but it varies each year.