| Player | Points this week | Season-to-date |
|---|---|---|
| Alex | 65 | 240 |
| Mike S. | 64 | 211 |
| Parker | 60 | 105 |
| Tim | 58 | 162 |
| Chris | 55 | 222 |
| Heather | 55 | 153 |
| Joseph | 55 | 205 |
| Aaron | 51 | 51 |
| Matt | 51 | 182 |
| Adam | 49 | 201 |
| Jimmy | 45 | 147 |
| Sam | 41 | 88 |
| Mike B. | 34 | 81 |
| Danny | 31 | 166 |
| Kristen | 28 | 62 |
| Jake | 22 | 105 |
| Dan | 14 | 104 |
| Russell | 0 | 62 |
Results may change due to make-up games.
I failed to take any pictures of league night. So here, have a picture I took in 2008.
League night #4 of 8
Games played: Terminator 3, Tales of the Arabian Nights, Jack-Bot, Monster Bash, Fish Tales.
This is going to be a rather scrawny update, which is because it was a very scrawny league night. None of the Grand Rapids players attended. Stalwart Chris and new member Parker (AKA “East Side Rodney”) were missing. Russell was present but not playing; he was just there to sit at a table with his laptop working. When I arrived (late, as usual for this season), Joseph told me that play hadn’t started yet; Matt decided to wait for me. I felt bad that I had held people up, though it was not my intention. Joseph also told me about the low attendance, and I responded plaintively that this would be a disappointing league night.
“There’s something upstairs that’s going to make you very happy,” he said.
My eyes immediately sought out the mezzanine. I knew it was unlikely, but my thoughts went straight to it nonetheless: “Is there a FunHouse up there?”
“No, no… but do you hear the sound of slightly inebriated, droll sarcasm?”
I gasped. “Aaron is here!”
That’s right, Aaron H. made his first appearance this season. He’s one of the first friends I made in the league when I joined back in 2013 and he always brings so much cheer to league nights, so I have missed his presence since his work schedule started preventing him from getting to league.
Speaking of Aaron: later in the evening I was playing Fish Tales and had been trying and repeatedly failing to get video mode going. When I finally made the necessary shots and the animation started, I leapt back to commence my “I did a thing” dance (which involves hopping from foot to foot and swinging my arms). Unfortunately, someone was walking behind me and I felt my hand fly out and clobber them. I couldn’t see who it was and couldn’t turn around before I had to start shooting water skiers, but the exaggerated yell of pain let me know it was Aaron. (He should save the theatrics for World Cup Soccer.)
I had a good game of Fish Tales and a very fun game of Jack-Bot (Casino Run FTW! I love the thrill of gambling with points). Too bad I had a truly awful game of Monster Bash in which it was pulling all kinds of TBS such as shooting the ball down the middle from the scoop (yes, that again) and catching Drac’s foot as it came from the right orbit and being diverted down the middle.
Fortunately, South Park was stealing quarters or something like that, so we didn’t follow our usual practice of playing the newest game. I don’t think anyone is all that excited to see it, even though it is nice that they keep adding games. I remember when we had only four games.
Tonight at 7 is our next league night. We have four down and four to go. And the good news for me is that I’m on Spring Break and can come early for once. I will see you all there… I hope.
| Player | Points this week | Season-to-date |
|---|---|---|
| Chris | 68 | 167 |
| Joseph | 61 | 150 |
| Danny | 59 | 133 |
| Alex | 53 | 175 |
| Tim | 53 | 104 |
| Adam | 45 | 152 |
| Mike S. | 45 | 147 |
| Parker | 44 | 45 |
| Jimmy | 39 | 102 |
| Heather | 37 | 98 |
| Matt | 37 | 131 |
| Jake | 35 | 83 |
| Kristen | 34 | 34 |
| Dan | 32 | 90 |
| Sam | 22 | 47 |
| Mike B. | 16 | 47 |
| Russell | 0 | 62 |
Results and standings may change due to makeup games.
The second annual March Hare Madness is coming! It will be a memorial tournament for my beloved rabbit Stephen, who died in December, and this time all entry fees (not including coin drop) will go directly to the Rabbit and Small Animal Rescue of Westland, where I adopted Stephen. I hope you will come and help me memorialize Stephen with your donation. The entry fee is $10 and you will also be responsible for coin drop on the games.
This will be an Amazing Race format tournament. If you’re not familiar with that format, it’s simple and fun: a number of games (as many as we can use) will be designated as the race course. Everyone starts at the first game. The person with the lowest score drops out of the race, and everyone else moves on to the next game. (Depending on how many people come, we may drop out 2 or 3 people per round for the first few rounds, so that the race won’t last all night.) This repeats until four people are left, at which time we will have a three-game final match.
Stephen under Tri Zone.
This tournament is open to novice and expert players and everyone in between. The top three will receive trophies, and everyone will receive World Pinball Player Ranking points! If you haven’t played in an organized pinball tournament before, this is your chance to meet a friendly group of people and enjoy the fun of getting internationally ranked in pinball! (It’s addictive… trust me.)
So that no one comes and gets knocked out of the tournament immediately, we will probably allow for a “second chance” on the first few games for an additional donation. We will also have some kind of “just for fun” (non-IFPA endorsed) consolation tournament.
For more information, email heather@lansingpinleague.com or join our event page on Facebook.
Stephen cutting loose.
League night #3 of 8
Games played: Metallica, Attack from Mars, The Simpsons Pinball Party, Addams Family, World Cup Soccer.
As usual for this season and my unfortunate new schedule, I rushed to league as soon as I could after work but still arrived after most people had started. Sam was waiting for me, though, since Matt had assigned him to be my partner. Actually, it’s a little more complicated than that. Matt gave the Grand Rapids Three (Jake, Sam, and Adam) a choice of playing together or splitting one person off to wait for me. Jake decided to make that choice on Sam’s behalf while Sam was at the bar getting a drink. I’m glad I had someone to play with, in any case.
Chris solves the Addams Family strobe light problem.
We were originally supposed to play Demolition Man instead of World Cup Soccer, but by the time I showed up, Demo Man had broken and WCS had been switched in. I’m pretty sure a lot of people wished The Addams Family had broken instead. The new LEDs are blinding. When the lights start strobing (during multiball, for instance) it is so dazzling that it can be almost impossible to follow the ball. If the game were in a well lit area, it would be tolerable, though probably still annoying. In the gloom upstairs, though, it’s madness. Some people (following Adam’s lead) have been setting dollar bills over the two strobe lights. Then there’s what Chris did when he and Kristen (who is rejoining the league after a long hiatus) dropped by the following week to do makeup games…
Chris’s shoes.
On the other hand, I had an unusually good league game of Addams, the best of any of the scores I saw, so maybe I should hope the light stays!
After league I went to Theio’s with Sam, Adam, Jake, Mike, and Joseph, and while we were there I realized that once again I had failed to take any photos of league night. Sam decided to help by posing. Posing as what, I’m not too sure, but here you go. There are a few more in the photo gallery.
Sam shows his muscles at Theio’s. He thought it would make a good league update photo for some reason.
My update from last league night serves, as usual, of a warning that the next league night is coming. Tomorrow (Tuesday) is our next league night, so I hope I will see you… well, not at 7, because I won’t be able to get there on time. You should come at 7. I will come as soon as I can, depending on how fast I can escape from work.
League night #2 of 8
Games played: Medieval Madness, Junk Yard, Jack-Bot, Austin Powers, The Walking Dead.
Remember last time when I apologized for the lack of photos and promised I would do better in the future? Yeah, about that…
I went to fetch the photos for the week and discovered there were no photos for the week. I forgot to take any, probably because I drove to The Avenue directly from work, immediately joined a group in progress, and never really had any down time. Unfortunately, skimpy league updates are going to be the norm until such time as I can convince my workplace that it needs to accommodate my pinball schedule better. Since my schedule is locked in at least through December, I can tell you that it won’t be anytime soon (although I’ll have a reprieve in the summer months).
League night felt extremely short for me, although I arrived around 7:30 by leaving work as early as I thought I could get away with and then going straight to league instead of stopping at home to change. Nevertheless, league play had already started (why is it the late starts only happen when I’m on time?) and I jumped into a group with Chris, Joseph, and Mike B. They had only gotten through one game, though unfortunately for me it was Austin Powers, meaning that I was alone with my misery when I caught up on it afterward.
I had not yet started Austin Powers when Adam yelled from downstairs to ask if I was ready for Theio’s. It was hard for me to believe league night was already almost over. I finished up my last game solo and went straight off to Theio’s with Mike, Jake, Sam, and Adam, meaning that I literally didn’t play a single game at the Avenue that wasn’t a league game. This brings me to the one story I have a picture for.
The talk turned to contact lenses and I explained that I only started wearing them so I wouldn’t have to worry about losing my glasses on roller coasters. Jake asserted that he doesn’t have to worry anyway because his glasses fit snugly. Suddenly everyone noticed how stunningly tight Jake’s glasses were, and someone speculated that Jake must surely have a dent worn into his head. Jake was egged on into taking his glasses off, and the sight of his glasses-grooves sent the table into an uproar. Jake had to see for himself, so he took this photo:
Jake’s glasses crease. Photo graciously provided by Jake.
Upon viewing it, he cried out, “What the hell is wrong with my head?”
Joseph, Mike, and I considered going back to the Avenue after Theio’s, but ultimately Mike decided he needed to get home, and I was too darned tired from my day in the salt mines. So that ended what felt like the briefest league night yet – though sadly I think that’s going to be a theme for me the rest of this year.
Our next league night is tomorrow at 7, games TBA. I haven’t made it out there lately, but I hear that the games have been moved around once again and some of them are now in the corner by the pool tables. I’m sure it will be very educational, as we will get to learn the answer to the question, who’s touchier about their personal space, pool players or pinball players?
| Player | Points this week | Season-to-date |
|---|---|---|
| Alex | 59 | 121 |
| Mike S. | 58 | 101 |
| Chris | 50 | 99 |
| Joseph | 47 | 88 |
| Matt | 44 | 93 |
| Jimmy | 43 | 62 |
| Adam | 42 | 106 |
| Danny | 34 | 73 |
| Russell | 31 | 62 |
| Heather | 30 | 30 |
| Mike B. | 30 | 30 |
| Dan | 25 | 57 |
| Sam | 24 | 24 |
| Jake | 22 | 47 |
| Tim | 0 | 50 |
Results and standings may change due to makeup games.
League Night #1, Season 8
Games played: Iron Man, Terminator 3, Theatre of Magic, Metallica, Lord of the Rings
Dan and Russell. Theatre of Magic was just savage to a lot of people tonight. My 63M game on it beat Joseph’s 63M game by 15K points.
The league started its eighth season on January 10 and, unfortunately, this season marks a change back to my old work schedule, which means I will not be able to come until 7:30 or 8 p.m. I had to do this for the first one or two seasons, but then I was able to get my work schedule changed so I could make it back to Lansing for league on Tuesdays. This January it changed back, and it looks like my late arrivals will be a recurring disappointment for at least a year. Due to my late arrival and the fact that by the time I finished many people had dispersed, I was not able to get nearly as many photos as I usually do. I will try to work around that in the future.
We had a rather small group on this night, just ten people, and with the games increasingly distributed across several locations in the bar, I went quite a while without seeing anyone besides fellow latecomer (and league partner for the night) Russell. I know Sam was ill and I expect he’ll be returning for tomorrow’s league night. I hope some of the other past participants will also be playing this season (paging Aaron H.!). And, of course, if you are reading this and have been on the fence or shy about coming to league… the season is still early. We’d love to see you at our meeting tomorrow!
Despite the small turnout, some of us did have the usual run to Theio’s afterward. Everyone is always welcome to come along with us on a Theio’s run. Come for the hashbrowns: stay for the pinball gossip.
As in the last few seasons, after each meeting I will be mirroring the league standings here for those who are not connected with us on Facebook. I have streamlined the table a little bit, but it can still be sorted by either points for the night or total points for the season. I will also be continuing to send my photos to the photo gallery, but as I said, I didn’t have too many for this particular night. (Sorry about that.)
Tomorrow, January 24, is our second league night, beginning as usual at 7 p.m. Our league president, Matt, has announced the tentative game list as follows: Medieval Madness (yay! Shoot the castle!), Junk Yard (shoot the dog!), Jack-Bot (shoot the visor!), The Walking Dead (shoot the walker!), and Austin Powers (shoot it in the head!). Iron Man (shoot the … oh, you can figure it out) is the contingency game if one of the other games has to be taken out.
It’s been a long while since my last update (just about two months, in fact). Does that mean everyone in the Lansing area took a break from pinball? Ha ha ha ha ha… yeah, right.
Mike plunges while partner Dan stands ready at the left flipper.
Zen winners Dan and Mike, with photobomb by Matt.
First of all, we had the traditional end of season “just for fun” tournament for the Lansing Pinball League, Super-Ball VII, better known as the Zen Tourney. Chris (partnered with non-league-member Steve, not to be confused with the Steve who does sometimes play with league) once again saw the elusive Zen trophy slip from his grasp as Mike and Dan coordinated their way to victory. Mike also joins the elite ranks of those who have won two Zen trophies (ahem). No one has yet won three…
Second, after a year of trying out quarterly Avenue charity tournaments, we had our first repeat: the second annual Silver Balls in the City on December 27. Once again the tournament’s entry fees were all donated to the Capital Area Humane Society. This year, based on the number of people who attended, we used a three-strikes rather than four-strikes format. We also started a half hour earlier. As a result, we did not end up running quite so long as last year. Yes, I can learn from mistakes: where’s my gold star?
This year’s Silver Balls trophies. Most of the glitter even stayed on them.
Mike S. came up with the idea of having a just-for-fun side tournament for $1 per entry. The side tournament was a “closest to the pin” contest on Medieval Madness. The winner would be the person who got closest to 15 million without going over or tilting. Bill L. ended up winning and I still need to get him his prize (a $10 Coldstone Creamery gift certificate donated by Mike).
In an odd coincidence, the main tournament finished on the same game as last year: Junk Yard. Fortunately the overactive slam tilt has been repaired since then. Spectators who held out until the very end were treated to the spectacle of Aaron G. starting the video mode on Junk Yard no fewer than 15 times in the final game against Adam, and in this manner, climbing his way to victory on top of a mountain of toast. Third place went to Jared A.
Rodney and Karen try out the side tournament.
Between the main and side tournaments, Silver Balls earned $217 for the Capital Area Humane Society. As most league members know, my beloved pet rabbit Stephen died on December 22 at the age of 10 and half. Joseph and I were still very shaken up and grieving when the tournament came around, but it gave us some consolation to know that the donations people made for the tournament would help other wonderful animals receive care.
Aaron and Adam with first and second place trophies, respectively.
The next Avenue tournament will be the second annual March Hare Madness amazing race tournament. The date is to be announced, but it will probably be in the last few days of March. Stay tuned here or to the Lansing Pinball League Facebook group for more information.
| Player | Points this week | Season-to-date |
|---|---|---|
| Adam | 43 | 43 |
| Alex | 40 | 40 |
| Chris | 39 | 39 |
| Matt | 31 | 31 |
| Joseph | 27 | 27 |
| Mike S. | 26 | 26 |
| Dan | 21 | 21 |
| Jake | 20 | 20 |
| Heather | 19 | 19 |
| Russell | 19 | 19 |
Results and standings may change due to makeup games.
