Flipping heck: Is pinball about to stage a recovery?

[zapiy]

Its an oldish article but its a fantastic read.

Twenty years ago it was almost impossible to avoid the sounds and flashing lights of pinball machines in pubs, student bars and amusement arcades.

Competition from electronic arcade machines and fruit machines helped drive them close to the brink of extinction. But now these giant mechanical tables could be set to enjoy a renaissance.

New pinball companies are springing up to reintroduce the world to the physical pleasure of flipping "the silver ball."

What's behind the apparent resurgence? Ironically it's computer games, according to Andrew Heighway, managing director of Heighway Pinball, a UK-based company that plans to release its first machine shortly.

"There's been a huge boom in pinball smartphone and console games over the last few years," he explains.
Heighway's Pinball machine Heighway Pinball's machines are designed to minimise breakdowns by tracking balls with collision-free sensors

"Many of the kids that play them have probably never seen a real pinball machine. A whole generation has missed out - but thanks to these video games, there are plenty of kids that have been primed for the real thing."

Gary Stern, president of Stern Pinball - the only company that has been manufacturing pinball machines continuously over the last decade - confirms the trend.

"We've seen sales up by 30% in the last year, so there is absolutely a resurgence in interest," he says.

Used machine prices have also shot up in price.

That doesn't surprise Andy Netherwood - a pinball repair man known in UK pinball circles as The Legend for his ability to bring almost any broken-down machine back to life. He says that the number of machines in private hands has also been growing lately.

"Twelve years ago, when I started, I used to do one or two repair jobs each week, and later it became a steady one or two day per week job," he says. "But recently I've been out doing repairs four days a week or more."
Heads-down display

Those opting for a new machine are being promised a range of innovations.

Heighway's first title features a colour LCD screen built into the playing area, or "playfield". For its second it plans a 46in (117cm) transparent video screen built into the glass tabletop.

Continue reading at the Source.

[Shadowrunner]

I'd never read it so it was new to me, and a great read for sure 
I've never been the biggest pinball fan but I do enjoy a game once in a while. Cool to see physical machines are making a comeback.

[TrekMD]

Nice read.  I've always liked playing pinball machines but they are not as easy to find as they used to be.  Good to see they are making a comeback somewhere. 

[Cryptic33]

I remember something about this in the news a while back. I believe they were going to introduce pinball machines into wine bars.

I never quite got the pinball bug though I did play a few times and my gf is a big fan of them and loves playing the virtual versions I have for the Jag. Not quite the same as the real thing but, I'm sure if I see some machines in pubs then I can take her along and she'll be a happy bunny

[Greyfox]

I do very much welcome the return of the Pinball craze, as with over here in Ireland, they were a rare find and it was mainly one armed bandits and early arcade games, but I remember playing Indiana jones pinball thinking to myself this is great fun without the beeps and blops of a computer game or arcade game.

I think this is why they are o popular at Retro gaming conventions and events, I feel that a lot of people including myself are drawn to something we missed when we were kids and now it's time to be that pinball wizard you've always wanted to be

[Cryptic33]

I must admit, I do like the mystery of pinball and there is a great satisfaction from getting the ball to hit a specific target or to be able to keep the same ball going for ages. It is a game of considerable skill and therefore has great appeal.