Welcome to Fistful of Quarters!

The South Pole. Mount Everest. The Moon. Pinball Pete's. History is full of men who dreamed large dreams, because they could. I have such a dream. Less than three miles from me there is an arcade called "Pinball Pete's" which is full of pinball machines I have not yet beaten. Sixteen machines, in fact. This blog will record my triumphs and failures as I set out to win a free game from each of these machines.

First, the rules. A) The free game must be won by points alone; special-when-lit and matches don't count. B) I can not look up the rules or tips on the internet; but I can read the instruction card which is on display at the machine. C) I must spend at least $4.00 a week on the goal. This shouldn't be hard, most of the games have a price break so $2.00 will give you five games. D) I must record if the free game was given during an Extra Ball; in case I want to go back and win without the extra ball. E) If one of the machines is traded out before I beat it, then I can play its replacement; if a machine is removed but not replaced then I must beat a machine at a different location (i.e. local movie theater) so that the final total is sixteen. F) The machines can be played in any order, but Star Wars Episode I is last. SWI was the final game produced by Williams.

Second, the machines:
Simpsons Pinball Party
Funhouse
Pirates of the Caribeen
Medeival Madness
South Park
Star Trek the Next Generation
Lord of the Rings
Elvis
Star Wars Episode I
Spiderman
Attack From Mars
Scared Stiff Hosted by Elvira
Theater of Magic
Nascar
Monster Bash
Guns & Roses
Addams' Family
Austin Powers

Third, the estimates. On average, I estimate each machine will take three sessions to beat ($2.00 x 5 games x 2 rounds per session = $4 and 10 games per session; $4 x 3 sessions = $12 per machine; $12/machine x 16 machines = around $192). A large part of the fun (and cost) will be learning what targets and combos score big points, and what bumpers will send the ball down the drain without letting me get a flipper on it. At three weeks per machine, I should finish within 48 weeks. I've spent a decent amount of time playing three of the machines (Funhouse, Medieval Madness, and Attack From Mars), and consquently should be able to finish them in one session each. The cost of parking or taking my wife out to dinner at one of the restaurants near the arcade before a session will be omitted from this blog. I'll probably end up playing on Sundays, (fewer undergraduates jaywalking, free meter parking) and the blog will be written on Sunday/Monday and updated every Tuesday.

May The Multiplier Be With you,
Mark