Pinball Wizards : Jackpots, Drains, and the Cult of the Silver Ball

"Pinball's history is America's history, from gambling and war-themed machines to the arcade revolution and, ultimately, the decline of the need to leave your house. The strangest thing about pinball is that it persists, and not just as nostalgia. Pinball didn't just stick around--it grew and continues to evolve with the times. Somehow, in today's iPhone world, a three-hundred-pound monstrosity of wood and cables has survived to enjoy yet another renaissance. Pinball is more to humor writer Adam Ruben than a fascinating book topic--it's a lifelong obsession. Ruben played competitive pinball for years, rising as high as the 80th-ranked player in the world. Then he had children. Now, mired in 9,938th place--darn kids--Ruben tries to stage a comeback, visiting pinball museums, gaming conventions, pinball machine designers, and even pinball factories in his attempt to discover what makes the world's best players, the real wizards, so good. Along the way, Ruben examines the bigger story of pinball's invention, ascent, near defeat, resurgence, near defeat again, and struggle to find its niche in modern society. "--Page [4] of cover "Pinball's history is America's history, from gambling and war-themed machines to the arcade revolution and, ultimately, the decline of the need to leave your house. The strangest thing about pinball is that it persists, and not just as nostalgia. Pinball didn't just stick around--it grew and continues to evolve with the times. Somehow, in today's iPhone world, a three-hundred-pound monstrosity of wood and cables has survived to enjoy yet another renaissance. Pinball is more to humor writer Adam Ruben than a fascinating book topic--it's a lifelong obsession. Ruben played competitive pinball for years, rising as high as the 80th-ranked player in the world. Then he had children. Now, mired in 9,938th place--darn kids--Ruben tries to stage a comeback, visiting pinball museums, gaming conventions, pinball machine designers, and even pinball factories in his attempt to discover what makes the world's best players, the real wizards, so good. Along the way, Ruben examines the bigger story of pinball's invention, ascent, near defeat, resurgence, near defeat again, and struggle to find its niche in modern society"--Amazon.com MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict Front Cover 1 Title Page 2 Copyright 3 Dedication 4 Contents 6 Introduction: Ever Since I Was a Young Boy, I Played the Silver Ball 8 1. Admirable Occupations for Reasonable Creatures 18 2. A Vicious Form of Amusement 30 3. Come to PAPA 50 4. “It’s More Fun to Compete” 76 5. How Josh and Zach’s Dad Saved Pinball 90 6. Space Invaders 112 7. Come (Back) to PAPA 136 8. The Day Pinball Died 148 9. Everything Nobody Needs 170 10. Backglass to the Future 192 11. PAPA19: Judgment Day 220 Epilogue: Insert Coins to Continue 242 Updates 252 Appendix 256 Acknowledgments 262 Index 264 About the Author 272 Back Cover 273 Front Cover......Page 1 Title Page......Page 2 Copyright......Page 3 Dedication......Page 4 Contents......Page 6 Introduction: Ever Since I Was a Young Boy, I Played the Silver Ball......Page 8 1. Admirable Occupations for Reasonable Creatures......Page 18 2. A Vicious Form of Amusement......Page 30 3. Come to PAPA......Page 50 4. “It’s More Fun to Compete”......Page 76 5. How Josh and Zach’s Dad Saved Pinball......Page 90 6. Space Invaders......Page 112 7. Come (Back) to PAPA......Page 136 8. The Day Pinball Died......Page 148 9. Everything Nobody Needs......Page 170 10. Backglass to the Future......Page 192 11. PAPA19: Judgment Day......Page 220 Epilogue: Insert Coins to Continue......Page 242 Updates......Page 252 Appendix......Page 256 Acknowledgments......Page 262 Index......Page 264 About the Author......Page 272 Back Cover......Page 273