Looking ahead at Pinball Expo 2016

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Pinball Expo 2016 in Chicago!

It’s time once again for the annual Pinball Expo in Chicago and 2016 looks set to be the best year yet! To mark the 32nd year of the U.S. exposition, the event will be a celebration of all things pinball, featuring classic pinball machines for sale and to play from all eras alongside the latest in new technology. Attendees will be given the chance not only to play rare and brand new pinball machines, but also to meet fellow fanatics, buy pinball machine parts, brochures or even new machines, and really just soak up the atmosphere.

The four day event, which is the world’s largest gathering of pinball industry and hobby celebrities, avid and casual collectors, will run from 12 – 16 October at the Westin North Shore hotel and is sure to offer something special for everyone. Alongside seminars, autograph signings, the ExpoBrawl and a Flip Out tournament, activities on offer also include a pinball art contest and an exclusive tour of the nearby Stern Pinball factory, allowing players to see the production of machines from beginning to end.

While the late-night gaming is bound to be brilliant and the on-site pinball repair service is a very nice touch, it’s the pending announcements from some of the biggest names in pinball that have got us most excited. Taking everything—all exhibits, vendors and entertainment—into consideration, these three (predicted) big reveals are what we here at Pinball Heaven are most looking forward to.

A New Pat Lawlor Pinball Machine from Jersey Jack Pinball

Although as yet unnamed, excitement is already building up for the highly-anticipated third release from Jersey Jack Pinball, designed by legendary 90s game designer Pat Lawlor. Following the major success of the Wizard of Oz pinball machine and The Hobbit pinball machine, it’s no surprise that this killer collaboration is continuing for a third round, with artist John Youssi, programmer Ted Estes and sound master Dave Thiel all on board.

Unlike the first two games based on movies, the new machine will feature an original theme and if Pat’s track record is anything to go by, it’s likely to be something most unusual and unique. We know from this year’s Southern-Fried Game Expo that the game will not be a concept that Pat has done in the past so we are absolutely expecting the unexpected! As the exclusive distributor of Jersey Jack Pinball machines in the UK, we’ll be sharing all of the latest updates about the new game right here on Pinball Heaven.

A New 90s Pinball Machine Remake from Chicago Gaming

We may not know much about this one yet but the team behind the much-loved Medieval Madness Remake are expected to announce another remake at the expo. The 90s favourites Attack From Mars and Cactus Canyon pinball machines are both tipped as frontrunners for getting a new lease of life, but our money is on the highly sought-after 1996 classic Attack From Mars pinball machine being remade next. Whatever Chicago Gaming have up their sleeve, Pinball Heaven will be stocking the pinball machine exclusively as soon as it’s available for sale in the UK.  So if you are looking to buy Attack from Mars pinball machine – start saving!

Stern Pinball’s 30th Anniversary Pinball Machine: Batman 66

As you may have heard already, Stern Pinball have announced a brand new pinball machine based on the classic 1966 Batman TV show as part of their 30th anniversary celebration. Although there’s no image of the Batman 66 pinball machine yet, a flyer detailing some of the features has been doing the rounds online and we have to say it looks pretty fantastic. Check it out below.

Excluding the crane toy which is being lifted from their 2008 game, Batman: The Dark Knight, the machine will feature an all-new design and become the first Stern game to use a full-colour LCD display for both the backbox and the playfield, instead of the traditional single-colour dot-matrix display. Pinball designer George Gomez (known for Lord of the Rings and Monster Bash) and coder Lyman Sheats (known for Metallica and The Walking Dead) were both enlisted to help make the machine the best it could be—and expo attendees will be the first to see the results.

This collaboration between Stern and KaPow Pinball celebrates not only Stern’s own anniversary but the 50th anniversary of the original Batman TV show as well. In honour of this, anyone who preorders one of the 240 Limited Edition machines will gain entry to a special VIP meet-and-greet with Adam West, a.k.a. the original Batman! The meet-and-greet will take place as part of Stern’s Epic 30th Anniversary Extravaganza party during the expo.

Interestingly, there will be no Pro edition available, only Premium, Limited Edition and Super Limited Edition which can be purchased by invitation only. Ahead of the release in November, both the Premium and Limited Edition Batman 66 pinball machines can be preordered directly from Pinball Heaven with a £2000 deposit. See our full listing of the Stern Batman Pinball Machine here.

The list of sponsors helping to make the Pinball Expo possible includes Stern Pinball, Pinball Mike, Jersey Jack Pinball, Marco Specialities and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which attendees will have the chance to give back to at a charity auction during a banquet on Saturday night.

Itching to buy tickets yet?! Whether you make it to the big event or not, it’s certainly set to be an exciting year for pinball collectors. If you’re looking to add to your own collection, check out our current range of pinball machines for sale in the UK. To keep up-to-date with the latest pinball news, follow us on Twitter.

Pinball Heaven at the Ideal Home Show at Christmas

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Pinball Heaven comes to the Ideal Home Show in London and Manchester this Christmas all in aid of the Katie Piper Foundation.

After an initial and very successful run at the Ideal Home Show back in March, we are pleased to announce that Pinball Heaven will also be donating pinball machines for the Ideal Home Show at Christmas this November in both Manchester, Event City and London Olympia.

The Ideal Home Show is the UK’s premier interior design event, showcasing everything from home improvements to smart technology—and the Christmas edition is just as jam-packed, bringing everything you need to prepare your home for the festive season, will that special someone get a Pinball Machine for Christmas this year? The exhibition will not only be setting up in its traditional location at London’s Olympia from 23 – 27 November, but also taking over EventCity in Manchester from 10 – 13 November.

We will be bringing along and will have for sale both our Ghostbusters pinball machine and The Hobbit pinball machine to London and Manchester, giving you the chance to trial two of our bestselling games—a fantastic opportunity if you’ve been thinking if you should buy a pinball machine for Christmas. Read a little more information about them below.

Ghostbusters Pinball Machine by Stern Pinball

Travel back to the ‘80s with this vibrant, retro machine based on the classic film. Featuring the hit theme song by Ray Parker Jr., beautiful hand drawn artwork by renowned illustrator Jeremy Packer a.k.a. Zombie Yeti and custom narration from none other than Ernie Hudson — the original Winston Zeddemore — the game is specifically designed to be easy to play but difficult to master. Available for sale here.

The Hobbit Pinball Machine by Jersey Jack Pinball

A real standout from other pinball machines, The Hobbit features a lively, animated LCD screen playing CGI scenes, animations and movie clips from Peter Jackson’s latest trilogy. While this is certainly the most striking element, there are a whole host of other cool toys, targets, ramps and surprises unique to the game that really do need to be seen to be believed. Available for sale here.

All proceeds from play will go directly to the Ideal Home Show’s charity partner, the Katie Piper Foundation, who work tirelessly to support people with burns and scars. After raising over £200 for the foundation at our first show earlier this year, we’re hoping to bump that total up even more in the run up to Christmas. You can find more information about the Katie Piper Foundation here.

A key focus of Pinball Heaven is to promote pinball culture to a wider audience and we couldn’t think of a better way to do it than to showcase our pinball machines at one of the UK’s busiest exhibition venues.

If you want to get your Christmas shopping done early, you can also see our full range of pinball machines for sale here. To keep up-to-date with the latest pinball news, be sure to follow Pinball Heaven on Twitter.

Ultimate Home Pinball Arcade & Games Room!

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Have you ever dreamt of having your own home games room? Well, this is what it could look like! Check out this amazing private pinball collection belonging to one of our customers, complete with a total of 18 pinball machines.

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On one side of the room you’ll spot the ‘90s classics: Attack From Mars, Champion Pub, Cirqus Voltaire, Tales of the Arabian Nights, Bride of Pinbot, Fish Tales and White Water. On the other side, the latest Limited Edition family favourites: Star Trek Limited Edition by Stern, The Hobbit Smaug Edition, Ghostbusters Limited Edition, Walking Dead Limited Edition, Transformers Limited Edition and the Medieval Madness Remake—almost all of which are now available for sale on our pinball machines for sale page.

Our customer built his games room in 2013, opting for oak flooring, feature brick walls and even including a cinema! Initially the space was used to house a pool table, poker machine and a few arcade games, but after buying a couple of pinball machines from Pinball Heaven, he was surprised at just how much his family enjoyed them. Out went the pool table and in came more machines! But as our customer assures us, the collection hasn’t stopped growing yet, and we can’t wait to see what it looks like in another three years.

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Feeling inspired yet? If you’re thinking of building your own home games room, here are three important things to consider.

1. Variety

To get the most enjoyment out of your home games room, you’ll probably want to share it with your friends and family; offering a variety of different games for different people will keep everyone coming back for more. Appeal to the old-timers with vintage classics like Funhouse and Monster Bash, while keeping the millennial TV lovers on their toes with Stern’s Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead or retro fans will love Ghostbusters and Wizard of Oz!

2. Player appeal

If you feel like branching out to build your collection, you may find that a lot of old arcade games lose their appeal rather quickly, especially if you’re playing on your own. One of the best things about pinball machines is that they are inherently random—a surefire way to keep things exciting and keep boredom at bay and can be enjoyed on your own or as part of a group of friends battling for the high score of the night!  Pinball machines are never the same game twice unlike video games, pinball is easy to understand yet difficult to master.

3. Individuality

The best home games rooms will really show attention to detail, providing an almost other-worldly space that you just won’t want to leave. This can be achieved in many different ways, including blacklight carpet, collectibles/memorabilia and lighting effects. You can use neon signs, track lighting or even pimp out your pinball machines’ playfields with lamps and LEDS

As your games room grows bigger, reliability also becomes increasingly important, which is why we offer assistance with the maintenance and upkeep of your collection. Our free technical support and onsite pinball repair service will help you to diagnose and solve any problems, saving you from technical headaches down the road.

If you think you’re ready to take on the fun and exciting challenge of building the ultimate home games room, look no further than Pinball Heaven. With the largest stock of brand new games of any UK dealer and a 2 year onsite warranty with every purchase, we are undoubtedly one of the best sources in the UK for pinball collectors. Whether it’s your first pinball machine or your fifth, we’ll ensure you find the right machine for you.

Get started right now by checking out our current pinball machines for sale, or if you’ve already got an awesome home pinball collection, make sure to send in photos for a chance to be featured on the blog. To keep up-to-date with the latest pinball news, be sure to follow Pinball Heaven on Twitter.

Stern Premium pinball machines for sale in September

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Stern Premium pinball machines for sale in the UK landing September.

September is set to be an exciting month for Pinball Heaven with four new premium machines available from Stern. Which machine should you buy? Let’s take a closer look at some of the individual features to help you decide. Whether you’re a ghost buster or a Trekkie, you certainly won’t be disappointed with the selection.

Ghostbusters Premium Pinball Machine

Travel back to the ‘80s with this vibrant, retro machine based on the classic film. Featuring the hit theme song by Ray Parker Jr., beautiful hand drawn artwork by renowned illustrator Jeremy Packer a.k.a. Zombie Yeti and custom narration from none other than Ernie Hudson — the original Winston Zeddemore — the game is specifically designed to be easy to play but difficult to master.

Along with a motorised and fully interactive target in the form of the notorious Slimer, players will also find a colour-changing Marshmallow Man toy, an interactive ghost hologram target with animations, “paranormal” magnetic action slingshots, distinctive ramp architecture and additional custom moulded toys.

The exclusive layout features a magnetic diverter and scoring switches, uniting traditional pinball devices with unique multifunction two-way ramps. Also included is a modern take on a ball transfer target, two pop-up Scoleri Brothers rollover drop targets, a ball eject target and a captive ball target. See the full product features list here.

Following the recent reboot of the iconic series, Stern couldn’t have picked a better time to launch their Ghostbusters pinball machine. It may be all about Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy in 2016, but who could forget the original 1984 lineup of Bill Murray as Peter Venkman, Dan Ackroyd as Raymond Statz, Harold Ramis as Egon Spengler and Ernie Hudson as Winston Zeddemore?

With the Limited Edition model selling out in just 12 hours worldwide, you won’t want to waste any time now that the Ghostbusters Premium Pinball Machine is available for sale in the UK. If you think this might be the pinball machine for you, you’re in the right place—Pinball Heaven is the only UK supplier to have stock! See our listing here.

Uk based Pinball Heaven specialise in pinball machine parts, providing pinball machines to buy and rent with thousands of parts available in stock

Ghostbusters Premium Pinball Machine

Metallica Premium Pinball Machine

Stern’s collection of iconic rock and roll machines is growing, and the latest addition honours one of the world’s most influential rock bands. A must-have for heavy metal fans, the premium edition of the machine features art by Metallica’s choice artist, Dirty Donny, and a soundtrack of 12 Metallica songs—all performed by the band themselves.

Players will be able to bang both their heads and their flippers to classic Metallica hits including “Master of Puppets,” “Fuel,” “One” and “Fade to Black”, setting the tone for an exciting in-game experience. The band’s famously fast tempos and aggressive musicianship provide the perfect accompaniment to an action-packed game with unparalleled magnetic activity.

The Metallica Premium playfield is loaded with unique features including a 3 drop target inline bank, a captive ball assembly, stainless steel and wire ramps, plus a special custom moulded electric chair, snake & grave marker. See the full product features list here.

Formed in Los Angeles back in 1981, Metallica have been making iconic metal music for over three decades. What better way to celebrate their greatest hits than with this awesome machine? If you’re ready to rock your way to a new high score, Pinball Heaven is the only supplier with stock of the Metallica Premium Pinball Machine for sale in the UK. Available to order here.

Uk based Pinball Heaven specialise in pinball machine parts, providing pinball machines to buy and rent with thousands of parts available in stock

Metallica Premium Pinball Machine

The Walking Dead Premium Pinball Machine

Calling all zombie fans! Complete with a new high-definition art package, gory dot matrix animations and an authentic soundtrack, The Walking Dead Premium Pinball Machine is full of gruesome features. Players will find themselves fighting to survive the zombie apocalypse alongside series icon, Sheriff Rick Grimes.

Set to The Walking Dead’s original score, the game includes multiple zombie toys and features familiar locations used on the show, such as the Prison and Cell Block C. Players will be given the chance to defeat Prison Walkers, collect supplies, complete various game missions and play action-packed modes that are sure to heighten the excitement.

The machine presents everything fans of the show would want in a flesh-eating pinball experience, including a special-effect fish tank with illuminated sculpted zombie heads, a player-controlled motorised crossbow pinball launcher and a whole host of additional targets for adrenaline-filled battles. Watch out for the Well Walker! See the full features list here.

Holding the title of the most watched series among adults aged 18-49, AMC’s The Walking Dead is based on a comic book series written by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard. The drama stars Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, Steven Yeun as Glenn Rhee, Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon and Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier, and tells the story of the months and years following a zombie apocalypse.

Whether you’re a fan of The Walking Dead or simply a fan of gore and zombies, then this is the machine for you. The Walking Dead Premium Pinball Machine is now available in the UK and for sale here on Pinball Heaven, one of the only UK stockists. See our listing here.

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Star Trek Premium Pinball Machine

Take a seat in Captain Kirk’s chair with Stern’s first all-LED pinball machine. Inspired by the Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness films, the Star Trek Premium Pinball Machine features all the bells and whistles a Trekkie could ask for, mapping out the classic battle between the heroic Enterprise team and the villainous Khan, as well as run-ins with Nero, Klingons and the Narada.

The game includes an animated battleship, three lightning fast ramps, three flippers, resettable memory drop targets and captivating effects such as phaser flashes and photon torpedoes. Thanks to the high-definition artwork, cosmic LED lighting, classic musical scores and custom voice callouts from Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy (Karl Urban), players will feel like they are flying through space at warp speed to rescue Spock and defeat the U.S.S. Vengeance.

The play field features seven multicoloured LED paths that lead gamers on fast and fluid colour-coded routes, complete with six missions for casual players and 18 complex treks to immerse enthusiast players deeper in the game. From the very start, players will have the chance to unlock special opportunities, collect bonus features and win a series of accolades called ‘The Captain’s Chair’. See the full features list here.

If you think you’re ready to embark on a journey to protect and defend the planets of the Federation, this is definitely the game for you. The Star Trek Premium Pinball Machine is almost out of production and unlikely to be run again, meaning Pinball Heaven has some of the very last few for sale in the UK. See our full listing here.

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Found your perfect pinball match? Find our full range here.

Pinball Heaven has the largest stock of brand new games of any UK dealer. With our unique 2-year warranty, you can rest assured that your experience will be worry-free—even after the warranty has expired, you will still have access to our lifetime technical support package on your pinball machine.

To keep up-to-date with the latest pinball machines for sale, be sure to follow Pinball Heaven on Twitter.

Restored pinball machines in progress

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We love restoring and repairing pinball machines, nothing is better than taking an unloved and neglected pinball machine and making it look and play like new again, it is our passion for supplying quality refurbished pinball machines that has given us a reputation for being the best place to buy a pinball machine in the UK from.  Something we are very proud of!

So lets take a look at what we are working on at the moment.

Bally Star Trek pinball machine, this classic machine based on the original series was first made by Bally in 1979 but has spent its life in Bar’s, Amusements Arcades and such like, now at nearly 40 years old it needs a refurb!  We will replace the playfield and plastic set for a new one from Classic Arcades in Canada (for whom we are a distributor) and the cabinet will be restored using stencils just as it was originally.

belly-star-trek-pinball-machine-uk

Diamond Jack by Gottlieb.  This 1967 true classic is the add-a-ball version of King of Diamonds (but gives added balls rather than free games).  Just 600 of these were made and how many do you think still exist?  A handful.  So when this came up for sale, it had to be done.  Look at the sorry state its in as we bought it, since then we have found a brand new playfield for this game, that must be even rarer than the game itself!

Really looking forward to this one!

diamond-jack-pinball

Monster Bash pinball machine by Williams for sale (soon!).  This is one of the modern classics, such a funny game with so many features.  Unfortunately they suffer for their popularity as they are worn out when we see them, so thankfully, we are going to put a new playfield, plastic set, cabinet artwork set etc into this game and make it a beautiful fully restored pinball machine suitable for the finest of homes!  This is what it looked like when it arrived.

monster-bash-pinball-machine-uk

What’s new on the Hobbit Pinball Machine?

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With The Hobbit Pinball Machine having just been released, we thought we would celebrate our status as the sole UK distributor for Jersey Jack Pinball Machines with a blog about what makes this game outstanding.

Jack Guarnieri, founder of Jersey Jack Pinball, is already a celebrity within the pinball community and the recent release of The Hobbit Pinball Machine is only going to cement his legendary status. His creativity and passion for pinball is almost single-handedly bringing pinball up to date.

At a time when many people had written pinball off as a dying hobby, The Hobbit is helping to bring pinball to a brand new audience with the introduction of far superior technology. The Hobbit pinball machine boasts 2 lcd screens bringing 21st century video game-like graphics to this classic arcade genre.

The backglass of The Hobbit Pinball Machine is a 27” full hd, lcd monitor which helps to provide a much more in-depth story line. The screen has been described as an information station and basically guides players through the game. Of course, this screen will help to engage and teach people new to pinball how to play which is a boost to the pinball community worldwide.

Uniquely, this screen shows you all the different modes that you are going to have to complete and contains 4 different quadrants to show you what is going on. The top right quadrant is a helpful map which shows you where you are within the game.    

The second screen is smaller but no less important. Set within the play field itself, this screen is a book (including turning pages) that tells you what you tasks you need to accomplish.

Whilst these screens are the most innovative aspect of The Hobbit Pinball Machine, the team at Jersey Jack Pinball have managed to include a number of other exciting features making The Hobbit a pinball machine that you simply have to play to believe.

We currently have The Hobbit Pinball Machine due in stock around the end of Summer in Standard/Limited Edition/Smaug Special Edition.
Whether you want to look at pinball machines for sale or you simply want to talk to the most knowledgeable pinball machine experts in the UK, just get in touch as we are always happy to talk all things pinball!                               

Reset problem on Bally Williams Pinball Machines

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Is your pinball machine resetting when you hit the flippers?

Its a common problem, you press the flippers together in a mad panic induced by multiball or some other frantic flipper action and boom, the lights go off and the pinball machine will reset itself, just like when you turn it on.  The fault comes and goes but many factors affect it, line voltage, heat, load on your pinball machine but its a sign that the 5v power supply is failing.

Have a look at our short video and see if you have the same problem, this is a very common on some Bally Williams Pinball Machines, games with more flippers suffer the worst, so Addams Family Pinball Machine, Twilight Zone, Indiana Jones but really ANY Bally Williams WPC system game can have this issue.

The cause, the number 1 cause is all the 5v supply on the pinball machine failing, so you need to rebuild this (we sell a kit for this if you are good with a soldering iron) or replace parts.

Your options to resolve this issue are

1) Rebuild the 5v logic supply on you WPC Power Driver board Website Link

2) Fit a 5v reset fix kit Website Link

3) Send us the power driver board to repair!  A-12697-x Website Link

The 5v reset fix pcb (2 above) is a handy quick fix but its only supposed to be a temporary measure, many people leave it and thats fine but the long term solution would be to rebuild the 5v logic side of the PCB.  If you are not a competent with a soldering iron then please send the circuit board to us for repair as we offer a pinball circuit board repair service Pinball Repairs

The Hobbit pinball machine arrives in the UK

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After years of development, today we welcome The Hobbit Pinball Machine by Jersey Jack Pinball into the UK.

We got our distributor sample of The Hobbit pinball machine straight out of the Jersey Jack Pinball in factory in New Jersey, USA, by airfreight just in time for the 8 Bit Flip pinball gathering at Arcade Club in Bury for Easter weekend 2016.

But lets have a look at the day that was like Christmas at Pinball Heaven.  The day we take delivery of our distributor sample of The Hobbit pinball machine.  Limited Edition number 247!

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Time to open that box. WOW. Look at that artwork!

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All we have to do now is unpack the legs and bolts then attach to the cabinet and switch it on.  Wow again, beautiful!

Hobbit_playfield2Hobbit_playfield1

 

After quickly inserting the balls, its time for a few pre game checks to make sure nothing has come loose during shipping from the Jersey Jack Pinball factory in New Jersey, USA and then its time to have a game.

The first thing we notice is that by using the ring button located on the lockbar you can select 1 of 4 possible skill shots for bonus points.  Personally I liked the second skill shot which was rolling over the L O C K letters in the middle of the playfield, rolling over any one gives you a skill shot award but one shot which rolled over all 4 letters gave me 21,000 skill shot but has never been repeated since!

So spelling LOCK allows the balls to be “locked” for multiball, 3 shots up the right ramp when lit starts multiball. What this quick video for a multiball sequence!

A frantic multiball mode then starts with balls all over the place.

In each of the game modes the miniature screen guides you through your tasks and tells you time remaining in the mode etc.

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There is so much to do on this wonderful pinball machine it will keep anyone amused for hours.

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Hobbit pinball DWALF drop targets by SMAUG

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SMAUG with moving mouth and teeth “like swords”!

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Right ball popper and “barrel” jet bumpers

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Playfield detail

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Full playfield shot

The Hobbit pinball machine is for sale in 3 versions – Standard – Limited Edition – SMAUG special edition and can be ordered here.

Finally, game over looks like this.

 

 

Whether you want to look at pinball machines for sale or you simply want to talk to the most knowledgeable pinball machine experts in the UK, just get in touch as we are always happy to talk all things pinball!

Pinball Heaven at the Ideal Home Show

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Pinball Machines at Olympia London

Taking place between 18th March and 3rd April, the Ideal Home Show is the UK’s premier interior design event showcasing everything from eco builds to smart technology. With over 500 exhibitors at London’s Olympia, Pinball Heaven were thrilled to be asked to take part.

“The organisers approached us to see if we would like to install pinball machines into the Duke’s Head pub for the duration of the exhibition and we were happy to be able to say yes,” said Pinball Heaven’s Managing Director, Phil Palmer.
“A key focus of my business is to promote the pinball culture to a wider audience and what better way to do this than to have our pinball machines showcased at one of the UK’s busiest exhibition venues during the Ideal Home Show.”

Whoa Nellie and Spiderman Vault

After discussions with the organisers, who had decided to go for a retro feel, Pinball Heaven have donated Whoa Nellie and Spiderman Vault, two games which Phil thinks will suit the Duke’s Head location.

Pinball Heaven Supporting the Katie Piper Foundation

In supplying the machines, Pinball Heaven are also helping to support the Katie Piper Foundation, the Ideal Home Show’s charity partner for the second year running, who work tirelessly to make it easier for people to live with burns and scars. Each machine costs just £1 to play, with 100% of the money raised donated to the charity.

Phil said, “I am pleased to be able to work with the event organisers to support such a worthwhile charity and I hope people visiting the show enjoy playing the games we have supplied.”

You can find more information about the Duke’s Head Pub by visiting the Ideal Home Show website http://www.idealhomeshow.co.uk/ and, if you want to support the Katie Piper Foundation, their website is http://katiepiperfoundation.org.uk/

Whether you want to look at pinball machines for sale or you simply want to talk to the most knowledgeable pinball machine experts in the UK, just get in touch as we are always happy to talk all things pinball!

The Passion Behind Pinball Heaven

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Phil Palmer from Pinball Heaven Ltd has been a pinball fan since he was little but he is one of the lucky few who have been able to turn their passion into a livelihood. With over 25 years’ experience in pinball machine restoration and sales, Phil is already a well known and highly respected figure within the UK pinball community but we wanted to find out a little bit more about what makes him tick.

Phil bought his first pinball machine at the age of 14 and rapidly realised that he loves fixing and restoring pinball machines as much as he likes playing them. The process of taking apart his own machines led Phil to realise that there were a few things he didn’t know about electronics so he started a college course to rectify that. In true entrepreneurial style, however, he simply learned what he needed to know before leaving to concentrate on the already growing business.

“I already knew that fixing and restoring pinball machines was what I wanted to do for a living so with the business taking off rapidly, I made a decision to leave college and concentrate on building Pinball Heaven and, luckily, I haven’t looked back since.”

A big part of the Pinball Heaven Ltd business is restoring pinball machines so we asked Phil to provide a little more detail about this service.

“Our reputation for excellent restoration jobs goes before us and I think that is partly down to the passion I have instilled in the team. We are a small company which has played an important role especially in the restoration process. We don’t, for example, have a quick 20 point checklist that is simply an exercise in going through the motions. We take time on each restoration project checking everything from the top to the bottom. When a restored pinball machine leaves the Pinball Heaven premises we are confident that it is in an “as new” condition.

My favourite restoration to date is Funhouse, partly because it is one of the first machines I played in the arcade just as I was getting into pinball. Dating from 1991, many of the Funhouse machines are quite worn out by now and I find restoring this classic machine really satisfying.”

Whilst Pinball Heaven Ltd was primarily started as a pinball restoration business, Phil’s ever growing customer base began to ask if he could supply the small parts needed to make minor repairs themselves. The website now boasts over 2000 small parts that customers can order online and, if you are looking for a part that isn’t on the website, customers can simply contact Phil who will help source the necessary item.

Pinball Heaven supply and restore pinball machines the length and breadth of the UK and, of course, we asked about celebrity clients however, Phil’s reputation for discretion precluded him from spilling the beans except to say that he has seen some fabulous games’ rooms over the past 25 years.

Speaking of games’ rooms, we asked if Phil has one of his own?

“With so many pinball machines going through the business, it would be easy to have the house full all the time, never mind just a room so what I tend to do is take them home on a rotation basis. Obviously, this does mean I am lucky enough to play different pinball machines on a regular basis but it also means that I increase my knowledge and understanding of each game.

It’s paramount to me as an individual, and also a crucial part of my business, that my customers know I have a deep knowledge of the pinball world; that gives them confidence when, for example, I am asked to restore a machine or even if someone just wants to ask a question.

I do have a favourite pinball machine though and that is The Shadow. It happens to be the first game I ever bought brand new and it’s a very strategic machine which is what I enjoy.”

Finally, what does the future hold for Pinball Heaven Ltd?

“The parts’ side of the business is very busy so I am continuing to expand that. This area is ever-changing as new machines are brought out and new manufacturers come to the market place. I am also excited to announce that, for the first time, we are operating pinball machines on location, in cafes for example, across the country. This ties in with my passion for pinball as it’s crucial for the survival of the game that new people are introduced to it all the time.

We are also distributors for most new pinball companies and products in the UK and will be continuing to build relationships with both the manufacturers and our customers.”

Whether you want to look at pinball machines for sale or you simply want to talk to the most knowledgeable pinball machine experts in the UK, just get in touch as we are always happy to talk all things pinball!

This article also appears http://www.coin-opcommunity.co.uk/news/14412-focus-on-pinball-heaven/

Stellar Performance from the Stern Star Trek Pinball Machine

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Stern’s Star Trek Pinball Machine has been the best selling pinball machine of the last two years and, at Pinball Heaven, we can understand why. Designed by Steve Ritchie and based on the JJ Adams films, the Star Trek Pinball Machine has been a perennial favourite, standing the test of time for pinball fans in both the UK and worldwide.

Before we take a look at the pinball machines itself, let’s explore the Star Trek pinball machine story because the gameplay really is a classic in terms of good versus evil. Players are in the hot seat straight away, embarking on a journey to protect and defend the planets of the Federation. Your specific goal is to defeat the U.S.S Vengeance, rescuing Spock and other Starfleet colleagues in the process.

So, on to the gameplay. The Star Trek Pinball machine playfield features seven multicolored LED paths that lead gamers on easy-to-understand color-coded routes. There are six missions for casual players matched by 18 complex treks to immerse enthusiast players deeper in the game. As players attack an oncoming threat with three action-centered flippers, the all-LED playfield will captivate onlookers and enhance the player experience with features like phaser flashes and photon torpedoes.

With several different missions to choose from and superfast gameplay, the Star Trek Pinball Machine really does provide an immersive gaming experience including voice clips taken from 2 movies as well as custom speech by Karl Urban; Stern sent the actor a Star Trek Limited Edition as a thank you. In the opinion of everyone at Pinball Heaven, having custom speech from actors involved in the Star Trek films really adds to the game play and enjoyment.

The machine features a deep rule set, provides excellent flow and, should you wish, there are many modification options available that will allow you to customise your Star Trek pinball.

Of course, we couldn’t write a blog about Star Trek Pinball without a brief nod to Captain James T Kirk, so as an aside, does anyone know what the “T” stands for? Answers in the comments section if you do.

Does Pinball Heaven have Star Trek Pinball Machines for Sale?

Pinball Heaven currently has both the Pro Star Trek Pinball and Premium Star Trek Pinball  machines in stock and ready to grace the games’ rooms of pinball fans across the UK. Whether you want to look at pinball machines for sale or you simply want to talk to the most knowledgeable pinball machine experts in the UK, just get in touch as we are always happy to talk all things pinball!