I can’t begin to tell you the amount of time and quarters I spent playing pinball when I was a teenager. Hanging out at the arcade (remember those?) with my buddies was “the” thing to do. I came across HD Pinball today, which would be the perfect addition to any basement. Hmmm…

I remember Christmas that year like it was yesterday. As his gift my friend Adrian got the super cool Fonz Pinball machine. Across the street was little me wearing his brand new itchy sweater playing the monopoly game I had just unwrapped. The Stones got it right with the lyric “You can’t always get what you want”, especially when you’re ten years old.

I have played the silver ball. I speak of pinball. Many of you are now scratching your heads and asking your parents “What is this pinball he makes reference to?” For those who don’t know, pinball used to be an integral part of any arcade and/or drinking establishment, standing proudly side-by-each with Mr. Do’s Castle and Konami’s Track and Field. But something happened along the way that pushed these blinking, bumping table tops into the warehouses to collect dust. It could be the accessibility of early home gaming consoles, or maybe pinball represented an era that lacked enough appeal to the kids to merit their quarters. Whatever the case may be, I’m one of those dinosaurs that still enjoys the mesmerizing frustration of a solid table.

For Christmas one year, when I was just a lad, I awoke to find a pinball machine sitting in the basement. I believe I peed myself a bit with glee. I was simply too overcome not to saturate my Incredible Hulk jammies. The machine was meant for the whole family, but I easily logged the most hours. It was in the basement where I honed my subtle nudges and lightning saves, skills that would transfer to every other machine that I have enjoyed and cursed since.

Many years have passed since that seminal, wintery morning, and finding any pinball machine in the general public nowadays is virtually impossible. I find this sad. I mean do we really need another 26-user linked racing game, or another iteration on a guitar or dancing game that is nothing more than a glorified Simon? So what to do if you’re a baller relic like myself? Book a trip to Vegas, baby! And print out the directions to the Pinball Hall of Fame. Sure it’s in a strip mall in one of the most un-appealing urban centers in North America, but check out the games list! I will make this trip to silver ball Mecca one day, armed with enough quarters in one pocket to make me walk in a circle. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must go change my jammies.