For the past few months, pinball enthusiasts from around Australia have been busy practicing their flipper moves in preparation for the nation’s biggest ever Pinball Expo happening right here in Penrith this weekend.
The Australian Pinball Expo, which gets underway today and runs until Sunday at Penrith Panthers Exhibition Marquee, is expected to attract thousands of enthusiasts from all over Australia. Pinballers will be able to view and play 180 pinball machines representing every era since the 1940s with classic arcades, ‘lock-in’ nights and pinball trade stands also featuring.
The Expo commences tonight, Friday, November 14 with a lock-in event from 7pm to 4am where pinball wizards will compete in the Australian Pinball Expo Championships. The tournament is IFPA (International Flipper Pinball Association) endorsed with points qualifying for the World Pinball Player Rankings.
Expo co-organiser and IFPA Country Director Daniel Robar said most of the highly ranked players will be there this weekend with many from interstate and New Zealand.
“We are expecting a very high standard of play. For the past three years, we’ve had the two highest ranking Australian players compete in the IFPA World Championships, which this year were held in Denver, Colorado,” Mr Robar said.
“Pinball is experiencing a big surge in popularity around the world but especially in Australia where these visually spectacular and hugely entertaining machines are replacing pokies in more and more pubs and clubs.”
The Expo will display the colourful history of pinball with games from every era, many sought-after by collectors for their incredible artwork indicative of popular culture at the time. Well known games include James Bond 007 and the Amazing Spider-Man from the 80s, Dr Who, Indiana Jones and The Addams Family from the 90s, and more recently AC/DC, Metallica and X-Men.
The Australian Pinball Expo is on this weekend at the Penrith Panthers Exhibition Marquee from 9am to 5pm. General admission passes cost $30 and family passes cost $75.
Entry to the ‘lock-in’ events happening tonight and Saturday night from 7pm to 4am is by purchasing a $165 Access Pass only. For more information visit http://www.pinballexpo.com.au.
