Why is pinball regaining popularity?

Over the past several decades, pinball and other arcade games have had to reckon with the booming popularity of computer and home video games. However, the pinball business is gaining popularity as both young and old generations fall back in love with the skill-based game.

Pinball’s Golden Era

For many years, pinball has been about nostalgia and reminiscing about one’s childhood, with countless hours spent in front of a pinball machine. Vintage pinball is a growing market fueled by pinballers hoping to reconnect with their favorite pastime. Pinball museums are proliferating as old pinball enthusiasts seek to play and admire the pinball machines from their childhood.

The pinball comeback also brings in a younger crowd, perhaps unfamiliar with the nostalgia and history behind the pinball machine. Video games have captured the hearts of the latest generation, but pinball offers a unique entertainment outlet as they come of age. Pinball is somewhat of a novelty to younger people, but it combines novelty with a familiar gaming platform.

Why Pinball is Making a Comeback

The increase in pinball play has had a ripple effect on the industry, and now more pinball machine companies are designing and selling modern versions of the pinball machine. Increased competition has led to a revolution in pinball design. Stern Pinball has expanded its production capacity due to increased demand, launching several new and exciting titles. Stern Pinball is always on the cutting edge of providing players with the biggest titles on the planet (or, in this case, the galaxy!), constantly offering players a wide range of hit properties such as Stranger Things, Avengers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Led Zeppelin, and Dungeons & Dragons!

A piece in Newsweek featured this excerpt from Stern, What draws folks to play these seemingly antiquated games, especially when free ones are just a button-push away in our pockets? Zach Sharpe, director of marketing at pinball manufacturer Stern, credits phones and video games with driving people to seek a more tangible, mechanical pastime. “It’s an entertainment device that can’t be replicated,” Zach tells Newsweek. “While video games are fun, you don’t get that same tactile action you experience with a pinball machine.”

Where is it happening?

The latest pinball trend originated in the Pacific Northwest, where younger hipsters combined the arcade game with a craft brewery, but it is now starting to catch on across the nation. A newfound fixation with vintage and retro gaming has, in part, sparked the comeback of pinball in the States.

One way to track the success of pinball is to look at the spread of pinball museums. Museums dedicated to pinball and its history can be found in Seattle, Las Vegas, New York City, and Asheville, North Carolina.

The revitalized interest in the game has spread from pinball-specific foundations to general food and entertainment establishments. Savvy business owners realize pinball’s potential and incorporate it into their entertainment offerings. 

 

How to Add Pinball to Your Business

Pinball can connect a new audience to your business, whether you want to reinvent your bar’s theme or add new entertainment options. The more active, young crowd is looking to engage their gaming prowess on a night out, and older pinball enthusiasts will enjoy the nostalgia that pinball machines offer.

More than just a recreational activity for some, competitive pinball and pinball tournaments are growing throughout the United States. The International Flipper Pinball Association holds events in nearly every state and is expanding its presence nationally and internationally. Tournaments are held in bars, restaurants, and cafes, offering a unique opportunity to connect with the local community.

Arcade bars are also spreading into more recreational settings to connect patrons around their shared love of gaming. Themed arcade bars attract an audience seeking more from a bar than the familiar trappings. Simply having a machine offers customers a fun and engaging game to play while waiting between purchasing food and drinks.

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