Did a quick getaway to Las Vegas for four nights with my wife, while the kid stayed with Grandpa. I’d been to Tim Arnold’s Pinball Hall of Fame about four years ago, and I’d obviously need to return for this trip. Left my wife by the pool at the Mirage (excellent property, awesome outdoor lounge areas) and hopped on the Deuce, then the 201 down Tropicana, to get to the HoF. The place appeared popular as it was noon on a weekday and there were plenty of people young and old dropping quarters in the machines. That being said, if you like credit dots and broken rubbers, this is the place for you. The majority of these machines have been ridden *hard*, and exponentially since I was last there. Lots out of commission too...Haunted House, Black Hole, Scared Stiff, Popeye to name a few. All of the EMs still looked to be in superb condition, but all of the games I played from the late-80s and early-90s seemed to garner little attention in the maintenance department. Perhaps these machines slip through the cracks–obviously the EMs get meticulous care and the newer Sterns have to be in good working order as they make the majority of the money (at 75 cents a crack), so some pins have to be ignored or neglected and it happened to be the games that I was there to play. Conversely, maybe the EMs are in such good shape because nobody is playing them...patrons are pumping the quarters into the very games I was interested in, thus wearing them ragged at a fevered pace. It was seemingly “simple” fixes like drop targets not scoring, ball hangups, and broken rubbers laying on the playfield. Tim is only one guy, I guess, and who can blame him for having wore out machines in a popular location while making little to no money doing so. If you have to choose between fixing the high-earning LotR near the door, or the crappy old Bad Cats near the back of the museum, it’s a no-brainer which one to shop. A select few of the machines needed to be pulled from the rotation completely (IMHO) as they were in such bad shape. There was a Firepower in the maintenance department when I was there–“maintenance department” meaning the disorganized area in the rear where it looked like Starburst threw up as there were parts on every square inch of surface. I played a decent example of a Cyclone, and racked up a bunch of credits that I had to leave behind (it was on 5-ball, as many machines were). Having a go at the Pinball Circus was also neat. Great concept for the game, and I would have loved to have seen it fully realized and fleshed out with all its proposed features packed onto the main playfield. However this game, as rare as it is, is showing its status as a must-play machine at the museum, as its getting the snot kicked out of it–lots of wear and bulbs hanging loose by their wires. The Circus sits in a row with the new Sterns and heavy hitters like MB/MM/CC.
Also had time to check out the PHoF Annex at the Riviera. Boy, is the Riviera a dump. The once-proud home of Wayne Newton is now a skeleton of its former self, and has clientele to match. Great place for an “annex”, right? This looks to be the place that Tim’s pinballs are sent to die. Again, the EMs here are in good shape...everything else is in worse condition than the stuff at the HoF proper. Non-EMs were Surfin’ Safari, Taxi, Nightmare on Elm Street, Tee’d Off, that pool pin that has the cueball on the playfield, NBA Fastbreak, NBA, LotR, WPT, CSI, IM, Family Guy and two or three others. Played the heck out of the Taxi that was there, as it was the best of the bunch and you just don’t see these around too often (less too in Canada, it seems). Circus Circus across the street, also a dump, has an extensive arcade, but no pins. Seems like putting the annex in CC would make more sense, or even finding a willing participant that could lend some space on Freemont, as it goes along with the old school vibe both parties are after. But here the pins were, languishing at the Riviera, awaiting death, much like poor souls playing the video poker machines.
I need not tell you that you the HOF is worth a visit, as any red blooded pinball player would be out of their mind to go all the way to Vegas and not go in for a quick peek. Skip the Riviera annex through. Interesting side-note: WMS gaming has a newer video slot out with an Aladdin theme that looks to be heavily influenced by the artwork from TOTAN, if not stealing the art altogether. Didn’t take a picture, sorry...but I took a couple basic ones from the PHOF/Annex that I’ll attach below.
Also had time to check out the PHoF Annex at the Riviera. Boy, is the Riviera a dump. The once-proud home of Wayne Newton is now a skeleton of its former self, and has clientele to match. Great place for an “annex”, right? This looks to be the place that Tim’s pinballs are sent to die. Again, the EMs here are in good shape...everything else is in worse condition than the stuff at the HoF proper. Non-EMs were Surfin’ Safari, Taxi, Nightmare on Elm Street, Tee’d Off, that pool pin that has the cueball on the playfield, NBA Fastbreak, NBA, LotR, WPT, CSI, IM, Family Guy and two or three others. Played the heck out of the Taxi that was there, as it was the best of the bunch and you just don’t see these around too often (less too in Canada, it seems). Circus Circus across the street, also a dump, has an extensive arcade, but no pins. Seems like putting the annex in CC would make more sense, or even finding a willing participant that could lend some space on Freemont, as it goes along with the old school vibe both parties are after. But here the pins were, languishing at the Riviera, awaiting death, much like poor souls playing the video poker machines.
I need not tell you that you the HOF is worth a visit, as any red blooded pinball player would be out of their mind to go all the way to Vegas and not go in for a quick peek. Skip the Riviera annex through. Interesting side-note: WMS gaming has a newer video slot out with an Aladdin theme that looks to be heavily influenced by the artwork from TOTAN, if not stealing the art altogether. Didn’t take a picture, sorry...but I took a couple basic ones from the PHOF/Annex that I’ll attach below.
