Pinball Ambassador 2016

What’s that sound?  It’s a long overdue article about our Pinball Ambassador for 2016!

In December 2016, we held a poll to nominate and then elect a ‘Pinball Ambassador’ for 2016 – our little way to combat some of the negativity in the hobby.  We had an outstanding response and complied a long list of wonderful folks as nominees for the title.  Ultimately, the winner, BY A LANDSLIDE, was Nicholas (pin)Baldridge of For Amusement Only – The E.M. & Bingo Pinball Podcast.

(Photo courtesy of someone.  Found during a Google image search.)

WHY WAS NICK NOMINATED/ELECTED?  Well, that’s why I’m writing to you all today.  It’s time to shovel accolades on the most humble genius in the hobby.  Nick is a young-ish dude with a very old soul.  Most of us like pinball not only for what is now, but for the nostalgia and fun we derived from playing in our childhood or younger years.  What makes Nick unique is that he THRIVES on games that existed BEFORE HE DID.  Nick is one of the leading authorities on EM Pinball and coin-op machines, sure, but he’s REALLY a leading authority on electromechanical bingo machines.  Most pinball people have never even seen a working bingo machine, nevertheless played one.  They were commercially successful for decades, but the bingo industry completely died off in the 70’s.  I don’t mean in the way pinball died off in the 90’s and only 1-2 games a year came out… I mean NO MORE BINGOS (though I think some bingo game came out ‘recently’, more on that later.)  That means Nick became an authority on a subject he wasn’t even alive to experience firsthand when it was a viable industry.  He’s like those dudes on Pawn Stars that are 32 years old and get called in when someone finds a sword from the 1400’s, because they’re experts in their field.

Nick is like DaVinci.  He sleeps 20 minutes a day and never stops moving.  He’s brought many games back to life, and maintained even more to keep them running and entertaining people for years to come.  I only recently met Nick in person (less than a month ago), but we’ve been friends on Facebook for several years.  Nick doesn’t just return some messages when I’ve had issues with EM games, he’s literally talked me through some issues on the phone in the middle of the night.  He’s just a swell guy, and he’s honestly interested in keeping these games alive, even long-distance.

(Nick in 2D by Ryan Claytor.  Also courtesy of Google Image Search)

Nick has hosted a couple podcasts, but is most well know for his show For Amusement Only – The E.M. & Bingo Pinball Podcast, a show that EXCLUSIVELY discusses electromechanical games.  In fact, Nick was a guest on our podcast (Episode 63 – possibly my personal favorite episode) and he was excited to talk about NOT EM GAMES.  Not only does he still release an episode every two weeks, he also released an episode EVERY DAY for a year straight!  That’s right, his first 365 episodes were released daily, in order.  And they’re still available.  I’ve often mentioned that his show is a great resource.  If there is an issue you’re having, odds are that Nick did an episode about it.  He also did a lot of great interviews with gaming luminaries (*cough* like Don and Jeff *cough*), and did many shows that focused on individual machines.  Much like the This Old Pinball/Pinball Ninja archives that many of us ran into during out early days in the hobby, Nick has built a resource that should keep games running and keep bringing new gamers going with technical support.

Not only all of that *whew* but Nick also designed and invented the Multi-bingo Machine!  He created a virtual/physical hybrid bingo machine that emulates dozens of rare bingo games from yesteryear, in one cabinet!  Read all about it here on Pinside.  It’s a modern marvel and a TON OF WORK.  And if that’s not enough, he and his artistic sidekick Ryan Claytor of ElephantEater.com are working on a brand new electromechanical game!  Read all about ROBO-FRENZY here.

Seriously, the dude sleeps 20 minutes a day.

(Yeah, yeah, yeah…there was a typo and I misspelled nic-H-olas on his trophy.  I FEEL SHAME.)

Kudos to Nick for his tireless enthusiasm and the wave of positivity he brings to our hobby.  He’s a soft-spoken gentleman and a knowledgable tutor.  It’s so easy to get caught up in the drama in our hobby (for whatever reason), but it’s also easy to overlook the brilliant innovators that keep our hobby always moving forward as it’s woven itself into the ‘fabric of life’.  Without guys like Nick, AND SPECIFICALLY NICHOLAS BALDRIDGE HIMSELF, we’d have a lot more games collecting dust in our garages/landfills, and a lot less folks smiling when they score that hard-earned ‘Special’ or as they watch their children roll a game over for the first time.

Thank you, Nick,

xxoxoxoxoxoxoooxXOxoOxxoxox,

Don (and Jeff and the rest of the pinball community)

Episode 100 – Live from Flipperspiel Underground

This week, Don and Jeff recorded live, side-by-side at Flipperspiel Underground in Las Vegas.  Pretty sure we forgot to thank the most important person involved…YOU!  Thank you all for listening and supporting the show for 100 episodes!  Five and a half years of mediocre pinball ranting. Thanks again for joining us!  Special thanks to Daniel and Hollywood Nate at NiftyLED.com for throwing the party, to Adam at Flipperspiel Underground for hosting us in his great arcade, to Ryan Claytor for his fantastic Episode 100 artwork, and thanks to Nick, Lee, Chris, Scott, David and Leeann of ULEKStore.com, the membership of FU, and the NiftyLED Mrs’es for joining us in Vegas.

(from left to right – Hollywood Nate, Ryan Claytor, Nick Pin-Baldridge, Lee, Jeff, Scott, Adam from FU, Daniel from NiftyLED, Don-kneeling)

The second half of the episode is a discussion with Adam from Flipperspiel.  We discuss the club, membership and their newest addtion…a GIANT Killer Queen arcade set-up.

Don’t forget to join the ULEKStore MatchPlay Selfie League Contest!

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Support our sponsors!

The Pinball Podcast is sponsored by NiftyLED.Click the banner to check out the new and improved NiftyLED.com!

 

rxEuUlPyIX5qTIutCqKsIA-MEZELmodsMezelMods.com is offering the code MAUDE for 15% off any Mezel-made items in their store!  Enter code at checkout.desktop-logo

ULEKstore.com us offering the code TPP for free shipping on pinball orders over $30!  Enter code at checkout.

Episode 99b – Self-Absorbed Narcissists

This week, Don and Jeff ONLY TALK PINBALL FOR THE FIRST 25 MINUTES, then in this bonus episode leading into Episode 100, we answer questions about our personal lives.  RIVETING. *cough*  Whatever, Episode 100 is coming next week, and we will be back to regular pinball talk.  Join us in Vegas at Flipperspiel Underground for the recording/tournament!

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Support our sponsors!

The Pinball Podcast is sponsored by NiftyLED.Click the banner to check out the new and improved NiftyLED.com!

Click the banner to check out the killer selection of mods from Tilt Graphics Inc!

rxEuUlPyIX5qTIutCqKsIA-MEZELmodsMezelMods.com is offering the code MAUDE for 15% off any Mezel-made items in their store!  Enter code at checkout.desktop-logo

ULEKstore.com us offering the code TPP for free shipping on pinball orders over $30!  Enter code at checkout.

Episode 99 – Meet Punky Willy…His Boy Elroy…

This week, Don and Jeff are joined by Jessica DeNardo to discuss new pins, THE WEATHER, our favorite and least favorite solid state Gottlieb’s, and answer a bunch of listener comments.  Join us as we whisk you off to dreamland…

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New Gameroom Magazine

Coca Cola Pinball game

Support our sponsors!

The Pinball Podcast is sponsored by NiftyLED.Click the banner to check out the new and improved NiftyLED.com!

Click the banner to check out the killer selection of mods from Tilt Graphics Inc!

rxEuUlPyIX5qTIutCqKsIA-MEZELmodsMezelMods.com is offering the code MAUDE for 15% off any Mezel-made items in their store!  Enter code at checkout.desktop-logo

ULEKstore.com us offering the code TPP for free shipping on pinball orders over $30!  Enter code at checkout.

Episode 98 – We give Transformers more lip service on this episode than our previous 97 episodes combined.

HOOOOLY CRAP.  We totally forgot to hype up the Vegas party in a month.  Crazy.  SORRY NIFTYLEDDOTCOM.  Go.  To Vegas.  February 18th.  For our final episode.

This week, Don and Jeff are joined by Jessica DeNardo to talk about new pins and new designers (the latter of which hasn’t happened since we were in middle school in the early 90’s).  We also talk about our favorite and least favorite games from a company that ships 99.9% of all pinball machines ever of all time*cough*.

There might possibly be some clips from Joe Zenkus on this episode, but possibly not because we went long as hell and HATE LONG ASS PODCASTS.  TIGHT 90, BRO.  Maybe next time.  Sorry, Joe.

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Pre-order your 100th Episode POSTER here!

Support our sponsors!

The Pinball Podcast is sponsored by NiftyLED.Click the banner to check out the new and improved NiftyLED.com!

Click the banner to check out the killer selection of mods from Tilt Graphics Inc!

rxEuUlPyIX5qTIutCqKsIA-MEZELmodsMezelMods.com is offering the code MAUDE for 15% off any Mezel-made items in their store!  Enter code at checkout.desktop-logo

ULEKstore.com us offering the code TPP for free shipping on pinball orders over $30!  Enter code at checkout.

Episode 97 – The Ghosts of 2016 have come for us.

To cap 2016, our audio took a giant dump like Mariah and we could barely hear each other.  You’re welcome to suffer through the mess with us.

This week, Don and Jeff are joined by Jessica DeNardo to talk lots of recent personal pinball events as well as our personal persons playing personal pinball in 2016.

STAY TUNED AFTER THE SHOW FOR JOE ZENKUS’ PINBALL POPCORN!

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Pre-order your 100th Episode POSTER here!

Listen to win a Pin Ball tee from OakCityPinball.com!

Fly High Pinball on ipdb.  NOT XANADU PINBALL.

NicHolas Baldridge’s Ambassador Trophy via ULEKstore.com

Support our sponsors!

The Pinball Podcast is sponsored by NiftyLED.Click the banner to check out the new and improved NiftyLED.com!

Click the banner to check out the killer selection of mods from Tilt Graphics Inc!

rxEuUlPyIX5qTIutCqKsIA-MEZELmodsMezelMods.com is offering the code MAUDE for 15% off any Mezel-made items in their store!  Enter code at checkout.desktop-logo

ULEKstore.com us offering the code TPP for free shipping on pinball orders over $30!  Enter code at checkout.

Episode 96 – Meatier

This week, Don and Jeff are joined by MichaelPaulSchmidt to talk Ghostbuster coffins, operating games, Meteor and weeping softly while making hesitation marks.  It’s a rollercoaster of a show.

STAY TUNED AFTER THE SHOW FOR JOE ZENKUS’ PINBALL POPCORN!

 

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Pre-order your 100th Episode SHIRT here!

Pre-order your 100th Episode POSTER here!

Support our sponsors!

The Pinball Podcast is sponsored by NiftyLED.Click the banner to check out the new and improved NiftyLED.com!

rxEuUlPyIX5qTIutCqKsIA-MEZELmodsMezelMods.com is offering the code MAUDE for 15% off any Mezel-made items in their store!  Enter code at checkout.desktop-logo

ULEKstore.com us offering the code TPP for free shipping on pinball orders over $30!  Enter code at checkout.

Episode 100 Shirt/Poster/Event Details!

Hello Listeners!

It is my honor to announce the impending 100th episode from our favorite pinball discussants and tangeteers, Don and Jeff, co-host extraordinaires of THE Pinball Podcast.

This post is gonna be a doozy, but we wouldn’t have it any other way for the second-longest-winded pinball podcast on the interwebs *a-hem*TaylorAndTommy*a-hem* …excuse me. Something in my throat there. Anyhow, here’s what you can expect:

A) Custom Commemorative T-shirt Art
B) Limited-Edition Screen Printed Poster
C) Episode #100 Grand Hootenanny in Las Vegas (!??!)

– — — ———- — — –

A. Custom Commemorative T-shirt Art

All joking aside, I’ve been wanting to create some artwork for Don and Jeff for years now, and I’m excited to release this new design I illustrated in celebration of their 100th episode. The guys and NiftyLED are sparing no expense. The design will be screen-printed (with 4 colors) on a bougey ring-spun cotton (very soft) navy T-shirt from American Apparel.

We are opening a month-long window for pre-orders that will close on Dec. 31st, 2016. Shirts will be $20 each for sizes S-XL and $23 for sizes XXL-XXXL (+ $5 shipping in the U.S. and $15 shipping outside the U.S. Multiple shirts in one order will not increase shipping cost.). During the pre-order window we will also be accepting orders for female fitted shirts…

…also $20 for sizes S-XXL. Shirts will be ready by mid-February (see “Episode #100 Grand Hootenanny in Las Vegas” below). To secure your shirt, place your order through NiftyLED here:

https://www.niftyled.com/pinball-podcast-100th-episode-shirt/

B. Limited-Edition Screen-Printed Poster

Unlike the commemorative T-shirts, which WILL BE PRINTED regardless of how many are ordered, these signed, hand-numbered, limited-edition prints MIGHT BE PRINTED…if we receive at least 20 pre-orders by Dec. 31st, 2016.

These posters will be screen-printed (just like a good ole’-fashioned playfield or backglass) in a limited run of 50 on high-quality 100# French paper with a nice standard size of 18”x24” (easy to find a frame for). Posters will be sold for $25 each (+$15 shipping inside the U.S. and +$25 shipping outside the U.S.). For delivery, the print will be nestled inside craft paper wrap (to ensure a safe delivery) and snuggled inside a big, fat, 3” diameter tube (for minimal warping).

We were not originally going to offer these prints, but I begged and pleaded because I love The Pinball Podcast, and I’ll be honest, I’m pretty taken by this design. So, let’s make this a reality by placing a pre-order at NiftyLED here:

https://www.niftyled.com/pinball-podcast-100th-episode-print/

In the unfortunate event that we do not receive 20 pre-orders by Dec. 31st, 2016, pre-order money will be refunded in-full and the posters will not be printed. *sad emoji* #firstWorldProblems

C. 100th Episode Grand Hootenanny in Las Vegas

As if all this artsy stuff wasn’t enough, the guys are recording their celebratory 100th episode LIVE in Las Vegas at Flipperspiel Underground on Saturday, Feb. 18th, 2017. Damnit that sounds cool. Excuse me for a moment…

*sets a Travelocity search notification*

Okay, I’m back. So, this is really a thing. You, too, can be a part of this wonderous occasion in the City of PIN, Las Vegas, NV. …and if you act fast, you can probably even find tickets to the same Ween concert that Don will be attending.

——–
Details
——–
Where:
The Flipperspiel Underground
6000 S Eastern Ave. #4D
Las Vegas, NV 89119

When:
Doors open at 1:00 PM, admission to play games is $10.00 – Over 20 Pinball Machines and over 15 Video games, all set to FREEPLAY

Don & Jeff will start recording at 3:00 PM until whenever they finish or pass out.

Grand Hootenany Tournament Registration opens at 6:00 PM, Tournament starts at 7:00 PM $10 entry fee goes to the pot for the winners! This will be an IFPA points event (because Don and Jeff are super-knowledgeable about tournament stuff).

Alright, I think that about does it for the info dump. From Don and Jeff, thanks for the listenership. I know they’re all hopped-up to connect with each of you lucky folks in Vegas. From Daniel at Nifty, he supports your choice to make pinball purple again. From me, thanks for all your support and interest in my work. I can’t believe you’ve made it possible for me to illustrate over a dozen designs and counting for this incredible hobby. You all rock!!!

Vegas or Bust,
Ryan Claytor
Elephant Eater Comics
https://www.ElephantEater.com

Episode 95 – Good Movies and Bad Dogs

This week, Don and Jeff are NOT joined by Steve Frisvold, but still talk about pins we’d like to see turned into films.  We also complain about stuff for a long time so… pretty much same old, same old.

Pinball Ambassdor 2016 Poll is up!

https://goo.gl/forms/VXH55v0znn7oRtBv2

Go vote!  Yes, you need a google account!  Sorry/not sorry.

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Pre-order your 100th Episode SHIRT here!

Pre-order your 100th Episode POSTER here!

 

 

Support our sponsors!

The Pinball Podcast is sponsored by NiftyLED.Click the banner to check out the new and improved NiftyLED.com!

rxEuUlPyIX5qTIutCqKsIA-MEZELmodsMezelMods.com is offering the code MAUDE for 15% off any Mezel-made items in their store!  Enter code at checkout.desktop-logo

ULEKstore.com us offering the code TPP for free shipping on pinball orders over $30!  Enter code at checkout.

Episode 94 – Belles + Bad Movies

This week, Don and Jeff are joined by Jessica DeNardo of Belles + Chimes Portland to talk good pinball and bad movies!

Pinball Ambassdor 2016 Poll is up!

https://goo.gl/forms/VXH55v0znn7oRtBv2

Go vote!  Yes, you need a google account!  Sorry/not sorry.

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Support our sponsors!

The Pinball Podcast is sponsored by NiftyLED.Click the banner to check out the new and improved NiftyLED.com!

rxEuUlPyIX5qTIutCqKsIA-MEZELmodsMezelMods.com is offering the code MAUDE for 15% off any Mezel-made items in their store!  Enter code at checkout.desktop-logo

ULEKstore.com us offering the code TPP for free shipping on pinball orders over $30!  Enter code at checkout.