Alternate title: Air Hockey Shoulder (as in Tennis Elbow)
This past weekend, my fiance, sister and I headed up to New Hampshire to Funspot to attend the Classic Video Game and Pinball Tournament. We have been obsessed with the championships ever since witnessing the rivalry between Steve Wiebe and Billy Mitchell in the amazing film King of Kong: a Fistful of Quarters. I admit that we were predisposed to adore this movie as we have been going to FunSpot every year since we were children, but, bias aside, the movie is amazing and you should all get your hands on the DVD immediately.
I loved FunSpot even when it was a mere one room of video games and pinball machines. My favorite game of all time, a pinball machine called Haunted House, was in that room and I continued to play it only at FunSpot for the next twenty years. It was the best game ever because it had three different levels with their own flippers! Sadly it is no longer there, but I now play the Jurassic Park pinball machine instead (although this year I was denied, as it is, apparently, one of the competitors favorite games as well). If I were rich I would have a room devoted to pinball machines (perhaps an alcove off of my fabulous photo studio). And air hockey. But more on that later, as I imagine you’re here to see some photos and not to read pinball-related ramblings!
The tournament was held in this room off of the classic arcade, which also houses one of the original miniature golf courses. We were greeted by disappointment upon our arrival as we learned that there was an entrance fee of $30 to get into to the tournament. Drat!
$30 is definitely better spent on tokens, so instead of watching the competition we decided to play games!
I love the way Galaga looks as a long exposure.
This is a FunSpot still life styled by my sister. It uses some tickets, a token, and the prize she claimed after her skee-ball victories: a pink tiger-ish creature known as “Regina.”
The air hockey room is a special place. My entire family is freakishly unathletic when it comes to sports involving hand-eye coordination, yet we somehow manage to play a mean game of air hockey. My sister and I fought a fierce battle, and the next day my arm was embarrassingly sore.
There is a new game at FunSpot that involves punching ducks. I would love to meet the man or woman who came up with this concept.
Dear FunSpot, as always, it was a blast. We could have stayed for hours were tokens and energy in unlimited supply. Until next year!
by leahlar
no comments