I would actually say it is up to us to decide where to best put our efforts for the long term growth of the hobby and where our voulenteered time is best spent/ whom really benefits from that. I was told how profitable this show has been for the organizers and it honestly amazed me how much was made on the backs of voulenteers that are doing it for the hobby.

I have heard a rumor at this point that next year there is a chance of am alternative show, one that will bring in the possibility for more community support, and more about actually growing and taking things in a new and rejuventaed direction.

I woudl suggest that by supporting some shows and bringing in profits for some people that the community could be hurting itself in the long run.

You can come play mine as soon as I have it. It will be going on route at Alt Brew (1808 Wright St in madison, WI)

Let me know when you want to come up and I'll play a few games with you, on the house.

Are you able to put dividers in the vendor hall. Maybe you could block off areas.

1 area for vendors with games for play and that also want to be open for most sales. 1 area with reduced hours to allow for smaller vendors to participate.

this is silly.

of course there is. It is work and obviously there is money in it.

That does not mean anyone needs to be a dick while they do it. The show has run for so many years and the 1 main point of feedback is always the same. Some people are incapable of change.

did TPF change venues?

The audience and people paying to attend Expo has shifted (like the whole of pinball world has) but nothing has been done to really evolve the show.

Outside of that, it is the same problem every year after Expo and that has not changed.

If it was not for JJP#4 (and my desire to support Eric by being there) combined with my plans to already pick up games in the parking lot, then I would not be going at all.

Honestly Mikes need to thank JJP big time for this year as that game #4 will be responsible for a good chunck of ticket sales.

Aside form that he should be thankful for PBLife. That is also getting many people into town.

It is clear that many people are only coming this year to see those few things and see some buddies they only see 1 or 2x per year.

cant wait to see it in person!!!!!!!!!!!

thanks for doing this one!

now get BW screen size so somebody can do that one

yup, lol

milwaukee.craigslist.org link

I would not say the free play area is exactly alomost filled...

About 60% and lots of space to fill currently

Some fun games though

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Actually free play room was only 114 pinball machines as of midnight. Of those, 24 were turned off and not functional (many of those were off from 6pm when the doors opened).

Last year i think there were 145 games on thursday at midnight.

Vendor hall was about 60% capacity of last year.

Disappointing but also expected.

I am looking forward to PBLife party

Nope. We sell swag to anyone tha wants to buy it. Lots of people that support so could have been any number of awesome guys having a good time last night.

Appreciate the update. Under 100 playable games on friday night is just sad.

23 unplayable games and the lead tech was at pinball life party for most of the afternoon... Was really suprised to see that wheni saw so many broken games on thursday night and friday morning.

Oh well... expo is not the show to go for to play lots of games and we knew that.

Glad JJP4 made it worth it to spend the cash to travel, hotel,and show ticket.

Not really. If you are the advertised on site repair person for all day thursday and all day friday then i would expect you to be on site the whole time. It took 45 min just to drive to pbl, hang for and hour, and another 45 to drive back. I was suprised to see the on site repair tech shut it down to spend the afternoon elsewhere. There were over 20 games down on thursday night and more on friday.

The stark dichotomy would be the VFW show where most games are fixed in under 30 minutes, which made it evenmore suprising to see the lead tech taking a 3 plus hr afternoon break.

Pretty obvious to anyone at expo how much changed this year compared to even last. I guess the one perk is that is was not packed at all and easy to see everything in a short time. I had fun for my 12hrs of time spent there, but am happy I am back home already and getting some work done today.

Not a bash on clay. A bash on the fact that Mike and expo were so proud to sell that they had found Robs replacement and that there was onsite repair for games all day thursday and friday.

CLay also went to pinside meet and greet at twin peaks. the show should not try to sell the idea of onsite repair when it is not the case. Mike treated people like shit, they opted not to be part of his show, he tried to sell that he found a replacement, and it was all BS.

I think it is great clay helps out and he is a grea tech, but expo did not have even remotely the previous offering.

People can have a good time at the show, like I did, and also see that it continues downhill.
If people continue to lie online and say the free play room was full, the vendor haul was packed, and there was onsite game repair then it is BS for other people that read this and go spend money at the show. In fact it does not do us or the show any good to continue down this trajectory. lieing about things is a crappy thing to do for fellow pinheads and a shame that some here are doing just that.

pics please. That is funny

fixed for the DBag to clarify this was a reply to the other DBag...

And here I thought you were being nice for once and someone had actually brought a cardboard box and tried to punk peopleby making them think there was a NIB TNA in it.

Sad to see it is your same old hack... and you wonder why people specifically won't sell games to you when you are hunting for them. Not only do you have no manners, you are hurting yourself in this hobby. Sad, because guys like you could probably use a few friends and honestly would have more fun if you made a few and then played some pinball with them.

yeah, quote of a quote system does not work well on pinside...

Your godzilla played great! Thx for bringing it!!!

ColorDMD also looked tits!!!!

I was told there is a decent chance of a competing show next year. If that happens, then I think expo is genuinely in trouble.

it could also realy help pinball as a whole