Stairway to Pinball Heaven

The sky above the arcade was a brilliant blue, filled with the sound of machines tuned to retro-futuristic channels.

Besides lunch money, I only had 50 cents on me one fine day long ago. Enough for one game. I entered the arcade and made a beeline towards my favourite pinball machine. I put in the 50 cents, and the first ball appeared. The route to my new school at the time conveniently passed by this arcade, and sometimes, I treated myself to a game or two. I was thrilled by the beeps, boops, zaps, flashes and bangs that struck my tender ears like music from the future. It was a cacophony of electronic sounds that electrified my developing sci-fi senses.

With school backpack usually still on, I learned how to play that pinball machine with dexterous skill. I had mastered the game to such an extent that I could juggle those balls as if the pinball flippers were my own two hands. I learn about balance and timing, reaction and speed, gravity and momentum, even my auditory acumen had become fine-tuned to the machine. That pinball machine and I had become one. Maybe I’m over-dramatizing a little, but you catch my drift.

My score soon went up that day, and a higher score resulted in more bonus balls. I had seven so far. That's when I saw the dude behind the cash register come up and look behind the machine. Soon after he left, the machine flickered, the lights turned off, and it fell silent.

“Hey the machine is not working,” I told him.

He shrugged.

It was time to go to class in any case, so I just left wondering what had happened. The more I thought about it, the more convinced I became that the machine crash had been no accident. I grew incensed. That son of a gun did it, I was certain of it. In any case, that was the last time I went to that arcade. 😤

It just so happens that a pinball arcade recently opened up in the metro area. So, I decided to check it out for old time’s sake.

Unlike old arcades, this one lets you play any machine, and all you have to do is pay for the amount of time that you want to spend immersed in artistic and technological nostalgia.

I found a few cool facts about this technology that has retained its appeal for a long time. Its roots trace back to a French parlor game in the 18th century called bagatelle. It wasn’t until the 1930s that the first coin operated machine was developed, reaching its Golden Age in the post-war decade. Apparently, it was also banned because of its relationship to organized crime and youth corruption.

waka-waka waka-waka waka-waka

Pinball technology has changed throughout the years moving from purely mechanical, smart electromechanical, and interactive digital. Flippers, steel balls, bumpers, triggers, and other interactive elements have been part of this technological development.

I was amazed at the level of interactivity in these new machines. I played Star Wars, Deadpool, The Walking Dead, and several others. Muscle memory took over, and I was soon rocking the machines. At one point, several balls got automatically launched onto the playfield- an innovation that didn’t exist when I first played pinball as a kid many moons ago. Never mind the interactive screens that I had no idea how to use.

It’s fascinating how arcades had become part of the urban landscape only to slowly disappear with the development of video games and other forms of interactive entertainment. Yet, they still hold an appeal in popular culture.

There is also real science behind the machinations of this entertaining technology, and it has been used for education. Early AI systems were also trained to beat games of pinball and learn from dynamic environments.

When I used to play as a kid, my entire body shook, rattled, and rocked with the machine. Now, I'm more Zen about it. Observing then acting with efficiency without smacking buttons like a wild chimp. Simplicity and economy of action. The zombies, ghosts, and even the Dark Side didn't stand a chance. 👻

There were other games besides pinball, so that was right in tune with the old arcades. It was a great silly fun experience that brought me back to the old days, including the time long ago when that dude turned off the machine on me. 😣

I used the force against the Death Star

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Images by @litguru