Toronto, ON
I just got back from the VFW Pinball Show just outside Ann Arbor, MI and thought I'd post my thoughts on the show.
In a word, brilliant. If you're interested in playing the best examples of games available, the VFW is the show for you. Not only are the games in superb condition, the army of techs keep them all running in perfect condition for the whole show. No other show I've ever been to in the last 20 years has offered up the selection of games they have available, in the condition they're in, with the limited attendance allowing a level of playability unmatched anywhere else.
Row after row of nearly perfect machines in a gloriously eclectic collection spanning the 1950's to today.
Typically, most shows offer up a for-sale or vendor area, and the VFW does offer this as well in a limited fashion. I managed to pick up some basic parts thanks to Pinball Life, and there were a number of machines for sale in the out building. That said, this show is solely focused on the player experience.
For me personally, some of the exceptional games were:
Where has this game been hiding all these years? These late 80's Williams games seem to have dropped through the cracks for me personally until now. Excellent.
I used to own a Farfalla so Zaccaria isn't unknown to me, but these games really are amazing and under-appreciated. Not only are they beautiful, but they offer a very unique playing experience.
Time Machine was particularly interesting with the rising and lowering pop bumper field. Loved it!
Where else are you going to see a line of classic Sterns like this? I certainly have never seen one, and every game played perfectly.
F2K is a particular standout for me. Super fun. I need one of these!
If you're a WPC DMD snob, you really owe it to yourself to visit this show and try the line of classic Wedgeheads. You're really missing out otherwise.
One particular standout was Gemini. A surprisingly complex playing experience that made me realize that EMs have a lot to offer.
Fireball may be the most perfect EM game ever made - the artwork is transcendent, the gameplay excellent and it has all the best features of the era. I can see why these are worth a small fortune.
On the flipside, Nitro Groundshaker wins the prize for most amazing artwork but the most boring and uninteresting gameplay - polar opposites. Glad I got to try it though.
Another stand-out Stern. Great artwork, fun gameplay. The complete package. How was Stern a second fiddle player with games like this?
Holy crap, Swords of Fury was the stand-out winner of the whole show for me. I'd never played it before and I was blown away. Another game that flew under the radar for me. It's on the shortlist for sure.
Another reminder to not just write off EMs as slow and boring. I played this one as part of the EM tournament and really enjoyed it.
The thing to remember is that the limited admission means I never had any trouble finding any of these games to play. I might have waited three or four times the whole weekend to play a machine I wanted to play. What other show can you say you've had that experience?
If you're only interested in the A-List games, well, those are all well covered. I didn't bother with most of them because I've played them all a million times. This show was about new experiences.
In closing, if you've not been, go. You won't regret it. Thanks again Clay, you really knocked it out of the park!
Saint Paul, MN
