But, for pinball, they have an excellent lineup. You get a sweet selection of new, the hotness, and some classics. At the time of this post, Hometown Arcade in Norwood, MA, has 14 pinball machines. Check the Pinball Map app for the up-to-date listing of pinball machines.

I picked Hometown Arcade to finally get to play Avatar: The Battle for Pandora pinball by Jersey Jack Pinball, designed by Mark Seiden and featuring artwork by Lea Faske. I love using Pinball Map to find new locations and locations that have the game that I want to play. Hometown had Avatar and Metallica Remastered. This was going to be a two-for-one trip!

I got to Hometown Aracde pretty much at the opening. I quickly scanned the pinball lineup to see if the Pinball Map listing was accurate. I saw all of the games that I came to play. BUT. Avatar was the only machine turned off.

While playing some other games, someone came over and opened up Avatar. I got to take a peak at the insides of this crazy complex machine.

It turns out that Avatar was only missing a ball. The tech added a ball, turned it on, and the machine came back to life. This someone turned out to be Matt, the owner of Hometown Aracde. Matt was awesome to chat with. He had created a welcoming arcade and a great place for pinball.

Avatar: The Battle for Pandora

I got to play Avatar: The Battle for Pandora pinball a bunch of times over a few hours. This game is glorious. I will try to summarize my experience here, but it is worth seeking out and giving it a try.

First, it’s the complete package: theme, art, code, and pinball gameplay. I didn’t get into the Avatar movies, but I could appreciate that the theme tied into the game. There were a lot of Avatar words and names that didn’t resonate with me: Meuia, Eyw’Eveng, Awa-atlu, Metkayina, Omatikaya, Oel Nagati Kameie. The labels seem too arbitrary to me since I didn’t see the movies. What I know about Avatar is that the movies are spectacles set in a huge world… and the papyrus font is used on off-brand teas and multibillion-dollar movie franchises.

The pinball gameplay is excellent. There are a lot of shots; some are straightforward, and others require clean hits from both sets of flippers. This game requires some time to learn the shots so you can experience more of the story and gameplay. My first few games ended quickly.

The big pinball moment for me came when I got to have the ball travel under the playfield and interact with the two “underwater” stations. Both stations offered a unquie pinball experience. Both were surprising on how to interact with them-a pop bumper and mini ball with smaller flippers. It was satisfying to defeat the “crab” (I am sure it has some Avatar-ified name).

As I played, I discovered Eclipse mode. This is where the whole game came together for me. At some point, the lighting changed, and it felt like I was playing a different machine. The game switched to UV lighting, which revealed a new world. Incredible.

This is the first pinball machine that I had to pay attention to balls that flowed down from the top sides. There are two upper playfield flippers. On most machines with upper playfield flippers, you can choose to flip them to get to new parts of the game or let the balls flow down to the bottom flippers and shoot the normal shots. This game required me to flip them from the upper playfield flippers every time. If you don’t move the pinball off the machine’s top sides, the balls will drain and end your turn abruptly. I found that I had to pay attention to the upper flippers.

I got to set the high score… the high score of the day. I was the only one who played it that day. I like that Jersey Jack Pinball has temporal high scores. It made me feel good. On other machines, you are not likely to have a high score, and not in my area, where some of the top-rated players in the world live.

All in all… I highly recommend you check out Avatar: The Battle for Pandora from Jersey Jack Pinball. It is an elevated pinball experience that will keep you wanting to get better so you can experience more of the game.

Avatar: The Battle for Pandora

After a series of leaks and teases, we now know that Jersey Jack Pinball’s next release is Avatar: The Battle for Pandora, designed by Mark Seiden and featuring artwork by Lea Faske.

When we look between two ferns, we see some glimpses of the new pinball machine. “Prepare to immerse yourself in the world of Avatar like never before and experience the magic and thrill that only Jersey Jack Pinball can deliver.” If any company can pull this off, I put my faith in JPP. They have a track record of serving the theme well and giving us a spectacle, much like the Avatar films did for moviegoers.

I am excited to see the playfield cutouts and what they are/how they work. From the teaser clip, I noticed some waterways under the main playfield.

We’ll have to wait until September 12, 2024, to see the full reveal of the Avatar: The Battle for Pandora pinball machine. I’ll update this post when new details emerge.

Congrats, Mark!

Update: September 6, 2024 Tease

“An elevated experience awaits.”

Update: September 10, 2024 Trailer Video

Jersey Jack Pinball dropped a video trailer for Avatar: The Battle for Pandora pinball. The release will occur on Thursday, September 12th, revealing the Limited and Collector’s Editions. They also plan on having a “Deep Dive” video covering gameplay features, interviews with the design team, and a behind-the-scenes look at the game’s creation.

Update: September 2024 Deep Dive Video

Jersey Jack Pinball has launched its latest creation, Avatar: The Battle for Pandora, and a new exclusive video offers fans a behind-the-scenes look at the making of this groundbreaking pinball machine. The video features in-depth interviews with the creative team, including lead designer Mark Seiden, and delves into the inspirations and innovative technologies that shape this unique gaming experience. The video highlights the game’s innovative features and explores why it’s a must-play for pinball enthusiasts and Avatar fans. It also presents the two available editions: the Limited Edition and the Collector’s Edition, each boasting exclusive artwork, bioluminescent effects, custom Na’vi armor, and striking LED toppers. This behind-the-scenes glimpse invites viewers to see how the magic of Avatar has been translated into the pinball world, offering an experience that promises to thrill players and captivate fans of the films.

The legendary pinball designer Steve Ritchie joined Jersey Jack Pinball in 2021 and was given the Elton John theme. Along with design apprentice Mark Seiden, it took Steve three years to deliver a new pinball machine with Steve’s trademark flow. The game is gorgeous. The light show is spectacular. The music is quite impressive. Everything comes together to create an immersive pinball experience. Butter smooth.

I got to play the Elton John pinball game on the Pintastic livestream. No pressure. This is the Collector’s Edition version of the machine with a disco light topper.

My favorite part was starting the Crocodile Rock multiball!

The soundtrack is perfect. I forgot that Elton John did a famous version of The Who’s Pinball Wizard. When that sound started, it got me going.

So, find the Elton John pinball game on PinballMap, drop a few quarters, and enjoy. You’re welcome.

Update: April 20, 2024 – Setting the High Score

I didn’t get enough of Elton John Pinball by Jersey Jack Pinball at Pintastic, so I took my advice and found an on-location machine on PinballMap. I found an excellent spot and played it for a couple of hours. I set the high score at 832,628,500 points. I found some cool combos, multiballs, and moments along the way. I still love this one! This is the second-highest score that Pinside has recorded for EJ.

Pintastic is a pinball convention hosted in Sturbridge, MA. It’s definitely the largest pinball event in New England. Pintastic offers a huge selection of pinball machines set to free play, an exhibit hall, seminars, and pinball tournaments.

Jersey Jack Panel

Everyone wanted to learn more about the Toy Story 4 pinball machine from Jersey Jack Pinball. Besides a few on-location places, Toy Story 4 was making its big debut at Pintastic 2022. Jersey Jack Pinball hosted a panel and pizza party and had four of its new game set to free play. Each machine drew long lines. I got to play it about 10 times over the course of the weekend. It is a smooth shooter and reminds me a bit of Pat Lawlor’s first Jersey Jack Pinball game, Dialed In.

Homebrew Game Developers Panel

Homebrew pinball has exploded in recent years. The tech to build pinball machines is getting more accessible thanks to systems like The Mission Pinball Framework, 100% open source software for powering real pinball machines. Two homebrew pinball game designers have found fulltime employment at pinball companies in the past year. This featured a three person panel talking about their homebrew pinball design experience and fielding questions from the audience.

The panelists also had some games that you could play in the game hall. I really enjoyed Sonic Spinball and Haunted Cruise.

Meet and Greet

The designers and artists behind some of my favorite games were in attendance. Pintastic featured a meet and greet session with Pinball VIP guests. About 200 pinheads lined up to get posters and parts signed. I met John Bord, the diesner of my Iron Man pinball machine and Steve Ritchie, the designer of Airborne Avenger, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Spider-Man.

I wasn’t sure what to expect. I have been playing pinball for a very long time and watched the machines evolve quite a bit. I had two bars: 1) it had to feel like pinball and 2) it had to be fun. Metroid hit both bars and reset my expectations on where homebrew pinball could go. I spent a few hours playing Metroid Pinball, talking to Mark about pinball design, and going deep on the rules for his original game.

“I wanted to design a pinball game that I would never get tired of playing.”

Mark Seiden, Pinball Designer

I asked Mark about the metal ramps and rails. I asked, “Oh, did you have someone from the makerspace craft those for you?” Mark laughed and said, “No, I bent them and welded them myself.” This is the moment realized how crazy this was to see and play a homebrew pinball machine. It is a multidisciplinary endeavor. You have to know pinball, pinball game design, game flow, as well as, machining, 3D printing, troubleshooting, electronics, mechanics, sound design, video design, software engineering, and lighting control. Mark started Metroid Pinball years ago all the while sharing his experience live on Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and on a Pinside topic thread.

Okay, the gameplay. This homebrew pinball machine is based on Nintendo’s Metroid. Metroid is my third favorite game franchise. Mario, Zelda, and Metroid are my favorite NES games, and Metroid is like a combo Mario and Zelda game. Mark’s pinball game captures the speed of Metroid, the feel of Metroid, and the map exploration of Metroid. The rules are deep. You can start the game in different modes, there are multiple skill shots, and there are many boss levels. There are some surprising features like a side flipper shot, under-the-playfield ball movement, and satisfying ramp shots.

This is a special time to be into pinball. I can’t believe what I am witnessing with the new games and innovations coming to the market and the rise of new pinball designers. It was truly an inspiring meet-up with Mark, and I appreciated seeing what he created in his basement.

Follow Mark Seiden’s epic journey on Pinside.

Update October 5, 2021: Mark Seiden Joins Jersey Jack Pinball

OMG. I just learned that Mark Seiden joined Jersey Jack Pinball as a full-time pinball game designer! The announcement was made on Jersey Jack Pinball’s Facebook page on October 5, 2021.

Congrats, Mark!

Update October 19, 2023: Mark Seiden Credited as Designer Apprentice on Elton John Pinball Machine by Steve Ritchie

Hall of Fame game designer Steve Ritchie, along with designer apprentice Mark Seiden, created a pinball experience that will delight casual players, collectors, and enthusiasts alike. The machine showcases Elton John’s legendary career through the inventiveness and quality synonymous with Jersey Jack Pinball. The machine features hand-drawn artwork packages from artists Christopher Franchi, John Youssi, and Jean-Paul De Win. Rules and software design were led by industry veteran Bill Grupp.

Update September 5, 2024: Mark Seiden Designs Avatar: The Battle for Pandora

I have been following Mark Seiden’s design journey since the early days of his live streams on Twitch to recent panels at Pintastic pinball conventions. Mark went from homebrew pinball game design to professional pinball game design at Jersey Jack Pinball. JPP is known for its over-the-top aesthetics, light shows, and theme integration. They have produced the iconic Pirates of the Caribbean pinball game, selling for over $20k US on the secondary market.

After a series of leaks and teases, we now know that Jersey Jack Pinball’s next release is Avatar: The Battle for Pandora, designed by Mark Seiden and featuring artwork by Lea Faske.

Jersey Jack Pinball has launched its latest creation, Avatar: The Battle for Pandora, and a new exclusive video offers fans a behind-the-scenes look at the making of this groundbreaking pinball machine. The video features in-depth interviews with the creative team, including lead designer Mark Seiden, and delves into the inspirations and innovative technologies that shape this unique gaming experience. The video highlights the game’s innovative features and explores why it’s a must-play for pinball enthusiasts and Avatar fans. It also presents the two available editions: the Limited Edition and the Collector’s Edition, each boasting exclusive artwork, bioluminescent effects, custom Na’vi armor, and striking LED toppers. This behind-the-scenes glimpse invites viewers to see how the magic of Avatar has been translated into the pinball world, offering an experience that promises to thrill players and captivate fans of the films. JJP lets Mark geek out on this video.