TEXAS PINBALL FESTIVAL 2022

After the 2020 and 2021 shows were cancelled, we’re back in Frisco for the 2022 edition of the Texas Pinball Festival. We’re in the familiar surroundings of the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center which has hosted the show since 2014.

The Embassy Suites Hotel & Convention Center in Frisco

As you can see, the weather is excellent and the temperature is good enough not to need a coat when outside in the daytime. The Embassy Suites hotel is the accommodation and dining part of the complex, but the attached Conference Center is where the Texas Pinball Festival is hosted.

The corridor from the hotel to the Conference Center

A separate team run the Conference Center, and there is a dedicated entrance at the end of this corridor for those not staying in the hotel.

The Conference Center entrance at the rear of the hotel

The show opens to the public at 5pm on Friday 25th March, but we got to the venue on Wednesday evening. Even then, the organisational team were hard at work preparing the 1,600+ show registration packets for guests who pre-purchased their tickets this year or had tickets rolled-over from 2020 or 2021 when the show had to be cancelled.

The TPF team working to prepare the show packs for pre-registered guests

On Wednesday evening the main show hall was almost completely empty but it wouldn’t be long before the first stands and machines arrived.

Sure enough, by Thursday morning there were multiple machines on the show floor, although most were still in their boxes.

A collection of Cactus Canyon remakes from Chicago Gaming

Some Halloween and Ultraman games from Spooky Pinball

CoinTaker had a display of four Alien pinballs by Pinball Brothers – two Standard Version and two Limited Version models.

Under the playfield of the Limited Version model

There is also a Funhouse game with the new Funhouse: Rudy’s Nightmare kit from Pedretti installed. This adds new rules, a colour LCD main display, a new speaker panel with upgraded speakers and sound system, and a secondary LCD on the playfield replacing the mystery mirror.

A Funhouse with the Rudy's Nightmare kit installed — A Funhouse with the Rudy’s Nightmare kit installed

Marco Specialties are representing Stern Pinball and are expected to have two dozen of the latest Stern machines on their stand. On Thursday morning the stand was still under construction.

All machines and vendor items came into the main hall through the loading doors at the rear. Games were checked in and recorded before moving to their designated spot in the staging area. This allows machines to be unloaded quickly and the truck in which they came to be moved out of the way to make space for the next delivery.

Promotional banners hang from the ceiling throughout the hall and the connecting corridor. With such high ceilings, it’s no small task to attach them.

Hanging some of the show banners in the main hall

Banners also hang in the main corridor outside the hall

The Texas Pinball Festival is run by Paul McKinney and husband and wife team Ed and Kim VanderVeen. They operate out of the organisers room which is also the ticket desk where guests can either pick up their pre-purchased ticket packages or buy daily tickets if they didn’t pre-register.

Banners for the 2019 show which did take place, and the 2020 one which didn't — Banners for the 2019 show which did take place, and the 2020 one which didn’t

This year, the tournaments have been given their own, larger space on the mezzanine level.

The schedule for the many tournaments held at TPF — The schedule for the tournaments held at TPF

When we first visited, none of the tournament machines had yet arrived, but it was clear the new space would be a good fit for tournament play.

The new Tournaments Room with Colin MacAlpine setting things up

Along with the room with the tournament machines, there is also a separate viewing room where the live stream can be watched

By Friday morning the show hall was taking shape, with just a few hours to go until the guests would be admitted. We took a look around to see the work taking place and what those guests can expect to see.

Some of the games near the Main Hall's entrance — Some of the games near the Main Hall’s entrance

It’s traditional for there to be a Safecracker game near the entrance dispensing custom TPF magic tokens, and this year is no different with a new token design for the 2022 show.

Some of the pinball set up for guests to play

The TPF usually has around 400 pinballs in total from collectors, manufacturers and distributors

The special guest at the TPF this year is Silvester McCoy who will be in the hall later

American Pinball have a mix of titles, focusing on Hot Wheels and Legends of Valhalla

Chicago Gaming have eight Cactus Canyon remake machines

Multimorphic have nine p3 machines, showcasing their latest Weird Al's Museum of Natural Hilarity title — Multimorphic have nine P3 machines, showcasing their latest Weird Al’s Museum of Natural Hilarity title

Marco Specialties are representing Stern Pinball which a big display of their latest titles

There are ten purely-mechanical pre-flipper games to play

More from the History of Pinball display

This row includes a selection of games by Barry Oursler

CoinTaker have their Alien machines in a gazebo

Along with the pinball there is a row of back-to-back arcade video cabinets too

Some of the videos along with more pinballs

Meanwhile, qualifying for the Wizards and Classics tournaments began at 10am in the new Tournaments Room. It was busy in the room right from the very start with games being played and competitors collecting their registrations.

The qualifying round of the Wizard and Classic Tournaments began at 10am

There will be a live stream available later

Friday also sees the start of the seminars at the Texas Pinball Festival. In fact, they begin even before the main hall opens with the first talk taking place at 3:30pm.

Here’s the list of seminars. We’ll add more details to them as they progress.

Friday

3:30pm – Shipping A Pinball Is Easier Than You Think – Dino Gaspari

4pm – The Forgotten Tales – Mirco Playfields

6pm – Completing Cactus Canyon – Chicago Gaming Company

7pm – Indie Pinball Designers, Inquire Within – FAST Pinball

8pm – Jersey Jack Pinball – Jack Guarnieri & Steve Ritchie

9pm – 43 Years Of Adventures In Pinball – Todd Tuckey

Saturday

12pm – How To Find, Buy & Own Your First Pinball Machine – Nick Greenup

1pm – American Pinball

2pm – Q&A with Legendary Doctor Who Actor – Silvester McCoy