Photos: The Pacific Pinball Expo
With nearly 400 playable machines from the '30s to today, the Pacific Pinball Expo is likely the world's largest pinball show--and arguably the world's most beautiful.
Pacific Pinball Expo
Steve Ritchie
Pinball designer Steve Ritchie has been dreaming up the concepts and mechanics behind pinball machines for more than 35 years. At the Pacific Pinball Expo I caught him playing one of his very own, the Black Night.
Pinball Schematics
Humpty Dumpty
High scores
Cultural timelines
Speciality machines
Metallica guitarist James Hetfield commissioned this machine based on the legendary heavy metal band.
Amy Wolfrum
JuJu
The Pacific Pinball Expo is not just about playing pinball; it's about learning the art and engineering surrounding each machine's historical and cultural significance. This weekend, the Expo continues featuring exhibits and seminars on the history, physics, and art of pinball, including seminars on how to build the machines and how to become a pinball wizard yourself.
And if you can't make it this weekend, check out the Lucky Juju pinball gallery in Alameda, Calif., anytime for the latest in retro gaming.