What is the Pinside?

robin is the founder of Pinside

A pinhead since the late eighties, I vividly remember awing over all the bright lights and that fascinating world under glass. Pinside was inevitable I guess. I do my best to make this place the funnest and most complete pinball site on the web, and am grateful for everyone who's a part of it!

Martijn is the co-founder of Pinside

A short bio will follow soon. Right now, you can check here!

gweempose is a Pinside moderator since late 2011

I played a lot of pinball growing up in the 70's and 80's, but I really developed a love for it when I was in high school. That's when games like Pin*Bot and High Speed sparked a resurgence in pinball on location. I continued playing a ton of pinball in college. We had a Twilight Zone and an Addams Family in the Student Union, and I probably spent more time playing those games than actually going to class. Fast forward to 2009, when I first entered the hobby as a collector. My family bought me a TZ for my birthday. From there, the addiction just grew and grew. One game turned into two, which quickly doubled to four. Next thing you know, I've got a room full of them.

I came into the hobby with no background whatsoever in mechanical engineering, electronics, etc ... Heck, I had never even held a soldering iron before. Thanks to the internet, and Pinside in particular, I was able to learn the skills required to take care of my collection. I was also fortunate to meet some great local pinheads that were always willing to lend a helping hand. This is the aspect of the hobby that I have come to appreciate the most. Some of my closest friends are people that I wouldn't have even known if it wasn't for pinball. Being a moderator on Pinside is my way of giving back to the hobby that has brought me so much joy over the years.

pmWolf is a Pinside moderator since July 2014

I've been collecting arcade games since 2000, and have been a member of Pinside since 2010. I'm a High School teacher by day, and I live in a small town with my wife Julie (HumanFemale) and our son Parker (born in June 2014). Our collection is kind of out-of-control, but in a good way. We've added on to our house to accommodate our growing collection, and I had a bunch of Amish guys help me build an elevator. (Hey, I'm not going to be young forever, and these things aren't light). I love everything about the hobby...finding a new awesome game, working on things, or just meeting new people that share the same interests!

SealClubber is a Pinside moderator since early 2011

Joined in 2009. Moderator since 2011. I am an Armor (Tanks and Bradleys) Major in the U.S. Army. I have been collecting pins since 2005, but like most people, I have been playing them since I was a kid. I enjoy fixing and tinkering with the machines as much as I like playing them. I go to tournaments but mostly to hang out with the other Pinheads. Luckily my wife and kids enjoy playing pins or I wouldn't have this nice little collection.

The_Dude_Abides is a Pinside moderator since mid 2012

I began collecting Pinball machines in 2008 just before I joined Pinside. How I got addicted to the silver ball was by going to my first Pinball Expo with my brother and friends. I had a blast and soon after owned my first pin TOTAN. I quickly realized that if I was going to stay in the hobby I would have to learn to fix the pins I owned when they broke. I joined Pinside and at the time only about 15-20 others would be actively online. However, when I needed a helping hand those few were there to steer me in the right direction quickly. I can't tell you how great it felt to have that support it really is the reason I was able to stick to collecting machines. Thank you all that helped me! Soon after I started collecting I started spreading the pinball addiction to friends and family.

TigerLaw has been a moderator for Pinside since 2013

Born in the 70's, TigerLaw acquired his first pinball machine (a Doctor Who) from his father in 1992 and the pinball addiction has never abated but really picked up steam in 2008 when he acquired his first modern Stern. TigerLaw currently has 13 titles in his collection and likes to keep a diverse collection between games from the 80's, 90's, and 21st century.

Born and raised in Louisiana, TigerLaw is a proud graduate of Tulane University and currently resides in both New Orleans and Lake Charles, dividing time between the two fine Louisiana cities.

TigerLaw is a commercial transactions and regulatory compliance attorney and also has a strong background in the gaming, oil & gas, and healthcare sectors.

Xerico is a Pinside moderator since October 2014

I am a child of the late 70s/early 80s. I have fond memories of the arcade scene. However, I did not play pinball. I actually did not care it since playing one always made my wrists sore for a few days.

Fast forward to 2005. I am attending my first SuperAuction in Atlanta, GA after buying my first home. I am seeking a Cyberball or Street Fighter II for my basement. I'm new to the auction scene and I want to establish myself as a buyer to the auctioneer. Since pinballs were first on the auction block, I decide to get my feet wet. So I make the first bid on a FREDDY pinball machine. I assumed someone else would bid. Nobody else did. So now I own a pinball machine. I have every intention of selling it quickly to buy that Cyberball or SFII.

Fast forward to this year. I am now a full fledge pinball junkie. I am the Texas Representative for IFPA. I am the Tournament Director for Flip Off Hunger Charity Events and the Houston Expo. I have bought & sold well over 100 pinball machines. Pinball is my passion and promoting pinball is high on my priority list. I am always willing to "pay it forward" as I had a great group of guys introduce me into this wonderful world. And I intend to help as many people as I can enjoy this great hobby.

jlm33 is a Pinside moderator since February 2016

I started to play pinball in the 70's. My first years were full of chimes and bells and they are still ringing in my head! I remember the features I enjoyed the most at that time: the central up-post! Eternal life…That was so cool – especially when the right outlane gate was open as well. Fast forward to 2016… still love EMs but also enjoy the latest games. Got a soft spot for boutique pins and Bally's from the 80's. Trouble is… there are so many pins I love and so little space! I spend some time organizing pinball tournaments (even if I am a mediocre player myself) within our regional league in South-West France called Aquiflip. Feel free to PM me if you plan to visit the area.

Other random stuff:
- jlm are my initials – JL stands for Jean-Louis. So please call me John, not Jim
- My Avatar corresponds to the logo of Massive Dynamics, the company supporting weird research in the TV series "Fringe". Let me just say I have a lot of sympathy for Walter Bishop, being a half-mad scientist myself. Still considering hosting a living cow in the lab, to get some fresh milk every day...
- Of course I love Bordeaux wine!

ForceFlow is a Pinside moderator since February 2016

I was an avid pinball player back in the '90s until pinball machines started disappearing from locations and arcades starting closing. Pinball slowly faded from memory. Many years later, I discovered the Pinball Arcade app, which renewed my interest. Then I discovered an entire community dedicated to collecting, repairing and playing real pinball machines, and eventually bought my first (non-working) game. That was quickly followed by a second, third, and several more machines. Obviously, I was hooked.

Since I have a technical background and have always liked taking things apart to see how they worked, I've found that I've enjoyed bringing dead games back to life as much as playing them. I also enjoy passing on what I learn, so I've become a regular contributor on Pinside, as well as Pinwiki in order to help others bring games back to life.

Jodester is a Pinside moderator since August 2018

No bio written yet...