This post is in regards to our announcement which can be found here:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinquest-is-here
We want to know what you think! Thanks all!
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Quoted from Mbecker:I like the concept —it reminds me of what lawlor was going for with safecracker rewarding tokens that would be redeemable on location. Here in Seattle a location with safecracker does just that, with 2 for1 drinks with a token.
Tokens are easy though. Getting busy locations on board with the whole app is another thing. Rotating staff, that may or may not be interested at all in the pin aspect plus a lot of locations games are operator run. I can see a number of places (around here at least) just too busy with drinks and/or food to want to bother vetting achievements. If the app could do it automatically from the photo and stamp, and the screen pops up with the award that is then just tapped by the bartender to redeem a drink or something then that is much more realistic I think.
Definitely something we have thought about. The only way to validate with in the app would be to scan some sort of QR code at the end of a game that included the data needed. We would need game manufactures to see the value in this before we go down that road and ask for that. A location that is going to want to access this is going to have to train the staff to do a validation just like any other job task. The validation process is very quick. We are also exploring an option to email the location and or operator for validation. At that point a “prize” could be emailed or left at the bar for the individual.
We explored using smart scanning but with the variance of displays, multiple scores, scrolling scores, etc. there was just no way to
consistently validate using the technology.
Quoted from LTG:"and have a small monthly access fee for locations."
That is where you lost me. I'm pretty much out of the tournament or launch parties type stuff.
Might be great for some locations. Best wishes.
LTG : )
Thank LTG! I am a fellow operator and understand that there needs to be financial value for a location/operator to sign up. We will give everyone a free month to make sure it is a good fit. We will also have a no commitment/cancel any time agreement.
Quoted from Wolfmarsh:I really like the concept, seems very cool, but I don't know how sound your business model is.
Correct me if I am wrong, but it sounds like the intent is for bars/arcades to reallocate some of their outreach through your app, versus local marketing channels or other promotions they do.
How do you walk that fine line between giving away a bunch of free stuff to regulars, but keep the challenges low enough to entice net-new patrons to come to the location?
What kind of business case would you share with bars/arcades to convince them it's an overall positive ROI? Are there numbers on app reach and projected growth? I'd want to see how many app users you have in my geographic location and what my audience demographics are for those app users.
Since I don't want to offer feedback without a potential solution, maybe consider more of an outcome based service? Potentially where the location pays per Pinquest check-in, that way both parties are motivated to keep the challenges in the app fresh and moving.
I see one of your main competitions just being Facebook and other social media outlets, purely because those have a huge reach and are free. A bar could just promote their own "Beat X score and get a t-shirt" competition and reach a pretty vast audience today.
Like I said, I hope this succeeds because it seems like a neat concept, but I think you are facing an uphill battle in both getting app install numbers up to build that user base, and convincing the arcades that it's a positive investment for them. They will definitely have more incurred costs as far as training staff, inventory of prizes, etc...
Wishing you best of luck with the new endeavor!
All great questions and observations. Locations will not be required to give away any prize. If they simply want to host a quest with only the digital trophy to give people something to shoot for that is totally up to them. We recommend keeping the prizes simple like a drink voucher, key chain, or something extremely basic and cost effective for the basic quests. If a location wants to offer something more valuable, they will need to set up a much more difficult quest. Yes, there is the potential for incurred cost, however the possible upside would negate any additional costs. We see people spending a ton of money at big chain arcades to win the most basic of redemption prizes. Hopefully by giving someone something to shoot for, pinball/liquor/food revenues will increase as people will be spending more time trying to complete their "quests". Just like any other business decision if the costs outweigh the benefits a location can make the decision to get rid of the app. We will allow a location to cancel their subscription at any time as we do not believe in hand cuffing a business if something is not benefiting them.
To answer your questions about facebook, I have personally run facebook contests at my location in the past. It works fine but its sloppy and there is no clear way to keep promote/keep track/make sure individuals post the photo to the correct area etc.. A lot of people also hate facebook and other social outlets so it limits the appeal to many. This was built to give users a new, clean pinball only experience, with the ability to share what they have done on social media if they choose to do so.
The apps success is going to heavily depend on inside out growth. The more locations we get on board the more people will start using the app. The best comparison many people have made for the app, is that it is like pokemon go, but for pinball.
Just a side note, the app can work with really any game that offers scoring. If a location wanted to throw Pac-Man in the mix they can easily set a quest that includes a target score.
The one thing we want everyone to know is that this was created solely to help grow the hobby/passion of pinball.
Quoted from frolic:I like the concept, there's some good technology solutions at work here.
I wonder how much better the concept would work if you took the operators out of it. Asked nothing of them, and ran independently of them. Then you could sell "lures" (like Pokemon Go) if they wanted extra juice for their location. That's assuming they saw value from it.
I see the post above about validation, that's a challenge as well.
Operators are notoriously old school so this is a challenge to get them to sign on as step 1. If you removed that step, it opens the doors wide up, but it's on you to scale it up.
Good luck.
Thank you!
The issue with just signing up a location is that there are many unknown variables that we cannot track such as: Is a machine broken? Is a machine actually at that location? Does the operator have 3 or 5 ball on? The list goes on and on. We also don’t want to throw extra traffic at a location if they are not anticipating it.
Locations simply need to understand that games that had no redemption options in the past now do. Hope that helps to understand why we have decided to go the direction we have!
If you are interested in signing up your location, or if you have a location you would like to see offer PINQUEST, please contact us at [email protected] or visit our website for additional information www.playpinquest.com
If you would like to test the app, please visit our website and click the red button to launch the web app. I have set up a demo location called “PINSIDE” within the app. Please use the zip code 80205 to search for the “quest” please note I will delete this location when we officially go live.
2 weeks later
We had our first public location go live today! This will be our last test site before we go live nationwide!(Still a target date of 7/1 release)
Here are a few photos: Tilt Pinball in Louisville Colorado. Photos of the location owners, and our set up!
Gave away some awesome prizes today!
If you are interested in adding PINQUEST to your location visit our website www.playpinquest.com and fill out our form on the main page.
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What’s up pinheads! We wanted to give you a quick update on the status of the PINQUEST national launch. 7/1 has come and gone and unfortunately we did not meet our launch goal. While our system is ready to go, we need to be very careful that we comply with each individual states’ data privacy laws. That being said, our attorneys are hard at work making sure we are in compliance. Once we receive the thumbs up, we will hit the launch button! For our international fans, we do intend to release PINQUEST in select countries but it will be at a later date as international privacy law is even more complex.
Now for some good news!
We have been working behind the scenes on industry partnerships that we are super excited to tell you about in the next few weeks.
In the meantime, you can check out the weekly PINQUEST challenges on the Flip n Out Pinball or Deadflip Twitch channels.
If you haven’t heard about PINQUEST check out our website at www.pinquest.com. If you are a location that would like to offer PINQUEST, there is a form that you can fill out that will get you added to our updates/launch notifications.
Make sure you follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @pinquestpinball for updates/news and other fun pinball related stuff.
Thank you for your patience and understanding!
-Love,
PINQUEST
UPDATE (resized).pngQuoted from CNKay:Remember folks he's the first sponsor for KANEDA. So support or boycott as you see fit. I'm doing the latter.
Yes that is correct we proudly support Kaneda. Yes, he can be controversial. No we do not agree with everything he says, but everyone is entitled their opinion. We find his show entertaining and appreciate the fact that he says a lot of things that we are all thinking/are too afraid to say. Sure he stirs the pot, but ultimately I think he helps to progress the hobby as he is a voice that is heard.
We, like Kaneda only want to help the hobby grow. If you do not want to support us it is unfortunate, but we still love you as a member of the pinball community!
1 week later
Yeah, I renamed the thread when I saw that post about boycotting us in fun. We would never sponsor something that was truly harmful to anyone/anything. I personally love kanedas show. He's a good dude from my conversations with him. We don't really ask him to even mention us as a sponsor, it's more of a thank you to him for providing entertainment. All of the content creators put a ton of time and effort into this hobby with little to no financial gain. They do it simply for the love of the hobby. For that we want to support where we can. If people choose to boycott, it is unfortunate but it is what it is. We just want to do our part to help grow the hobby.
Ok, to get this thread back on topic.... good news! We are LIVE!
If you are a location wanting to sign up please visit this link https://www.playpinquest.com/owners-operators
Instagram NOW AVAILABLE HERE! (resized).pngHere are a few "how to" documents for an owner/operator and user. click the images and it will download the full document. If you know of a location you think this would be a good fit for please share this! If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out! you can get me directly at [email protected]
Pinquest How To Owner_Operator.pdfPinquest How To Player.pdfQuoted from newovad:Just a thought, but there should probably be a list, to go with the location search. I randomly typed in some cities and came up with two in the Denver area.
Thanks for the feedback! I will have a list on the website in the next few weeks. We just released to outside of Colorado last night. As we add locations I will start compiling a list!
in the mean time if you know a location you would like to see PINQUEST at please share with them! We need all of the help we can get from the community to help this grow
Thank you!
I actually didn’t change the name. I think the mods deleted “that guys” name. So I changed it back to something that didn’t specifically mention “that guy”. Lol I knew he was a hot topic but man I honestly didn’t know people got that heated about it! All good!
Quoted from InfiniteLives:remember when he started a fight all drunk at the NYC pinball championships lol.
i think pinquest could be cool. i tried to beat a quest at wonderland and Oktoberfest was broke so could not do it. is there someway you could code in a replacement game/quest for such instances for people that travel to venues to try and beat quests?
Yes! A game can be subbed out. If a machine is down it should be pulled from the quest. Only problem that can come from that is if the operator or location doesn’t know the game is down 
Quoted from majicman110:If it is any consolation i found this thread and downloaded pinquest because I heard about it on kaneda's podcast. So i guess his advertising choices work.
If you have any locations near you that you think PINQUEST would add fun/be a good addition to please share the website with them! 
thank you!
1 week later
The PINQUEST Train has started to roll. We are going to start posting as locations begin offering PINQUEST
Welcome Bite Me Cake Company!
Bite Me Cake Company
233 S. Union Ave
Pueblo,Colorado 81004
If you are in Puebla or visiting make sure you check out this location!
Welcome Buffalo Billiards!
Buffalo Billiards
201 E 6th St
Austin , Texas 78701
If you are in the Austin area make sure you check this place out!
Welcome to Arcade Super Awesome
Arcade Super Awesome
2415 SCIOTO HARPER DRIVE
COLUMBUS, Ohio 43204
If you are in the Columbus area make sure to check it out!
Welcome to Prince Arcades!
Prince Arcades
639 E. Boughton rd
Bolingbrook, Illinois 60440
If you are in the Bolingbrook area make sure to check this location out!
2 months later
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