NEWS: Twas the Night Before ZapCon!

NEWS,Pinball in Arizona,Pinball in Phoenix,Zapcon

We just returned from ZapCon Eve, and we’re still grinning. The Mesa Convention Center is packed to the gills with arcade and pinball machines, great vendors, and awesome tournaments waiting to happen. This weekend is going to be great! Don’t miss out on ZapCon!
Here’s a little preview:

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Looking out on the floor of the convention center, you truly understand what an army of machines looks like, nearly 350 this year.

Or maybe you prefer this view?

Or maybe you prefer this view?

We kind of prefer this one, actually. The first 15 or so machines are ours, nearly all for sale this weekend.

We kind of prefer this one, actually. The first 15 or so machines are ours, nearly all for sale this weekend.

Here's a close-up of that first one, our Chicago Cubs Triple Play pinball machine, lovingly refurbished in honor of our World Series champs.

Here’s a close-up of that first one, our Chicago Cubs Triple Play pinball machine, lovingly refurbished in honor of our World Series champs. We finished this one just in time for ZapCon!

Here was another exciting sight this afternoon: There were ten brand new pinball machines delivered straight to the convention center. They're all available for play all weekend (though some are in the tournament area.)

Here was another exciting sight this afternoon: Ten brand-new pinball machines were delivered straight to the convention center.

They looked even better out of their boxes! Can you believe there are so many NEW games to play?

They looked even better out of their boxes! Can you believe there are so many NEW games to play? Special thanks to everyone who made that happen!

Our kids are always excited for ZapCon Eve. Milo had fun checking out some of the vintage games.

Our kids are always excited for ZapCon Eve. Milo had fun checking out some of the vintage games.

The boss made sure to check out this Evel Knievel, amazingly restored by our friend Robert from Tucson.

The boss made sure to check out this Evel Knievel, amazingly restored by our friend Robert from Tucson.

The kids also had fun with this one, Killer Queen, a huge hit from last year, and a Best of ZapCon award winner.

The kids also had fun with this one, Killer Queen, a huge hit from last year, and a Best of ZapCon award winner. (Make sure to vote at the Firebird booth all weekend!)

But, of course, they ended up in the console room, playing Mario. This room is great, and it has a BAR on Saturday night too, hurrah!

But, of course, the kids ended up in the console room, playing Mario. This room is great, and it has a BAR on Saturday night too, hurrah!

We had fun checking out some of the early vendors, too. There's an extra row for merchandise this year, and we checked out some totally cool stuff.

We had fun checking out some of the early vendors, too. There’s an extra row for merchandise this year.

And here's the boss in our booth, down by the main entrance. It will look a lot better in the morning! We'll see you there!

And here’s the boss in our booth, down by the main entrance. It will look a lot better in the morning! We’ll see you there!