The Great British Pinball Podcast Episode 37! The UK Pinfest Aftermath!

UK Pinfest 2024 recap: venue transition, Stern's debut, game reviews, and community compassion.

Synopsis

Scott Rundell and Neil McRae reflect on UK Pinfest 2024 (held at Daventry Mercure Hotel), discussing the event's growth, venue challenges, and notable game experiences. Key topics include Stern's first official presence at the event, competitive game releases (Bon Jovi, Sonic, Harry Potter, Beetlejuice), and emotional moments including well-wishes for community member 'Pudsey Pinball Dave' facing glioblastoma treatment. The hosts announce Pinfest's relocation to Leonardo Hinckley Island and discuss the emerging competitive landscape with manufacturers like ElectroCoin and Pinball Heaven.

Highlights

• This was the last Pinfest to be held at the Daventry Mercure Hotel; the next event will relocate to Leonardo Hinckley Island
• Stern had official company representation at UK Pinfest for the first time ever, with Lloyd (Marketing Operations Europe) setting up and running prize giveaways
• ElectroCoin was present at Pinfest, marking notable competition arrival in the UK market
• Bon Jovi is Jersey Jack Pinball best game to date, with strong theme integration and flowability
• Harry Potter pinball has excessive on-screen visual noise and poor movie sequence logic (players can jump between different films randomly)
• Sonic pinball was extremely loud at the event, drowning out other machines, particularly TNA
• Pinfest always struggles with timing new game availability, with new releases typically arriving in early September just before or after the event
• Glioblastoma is a fast-declining brain cancer, and community member 'Pudsey Pinball Dave' is raising funds (£50k goal) for treatment access
• Van hire costs for transporting pinball machines to Pinfest have increased significantly (from £300 to £480 for a Luton van)
• The Leonardo Hinckley Island hotel has the same carpet design as the Daventry Mercure and Hyatt hotels, suggesting a shared supplier/design standard for hotel function rooms

Entities

• ElectroCoin· company
• Jersey Jack Pinball· company
• Pinball Heaven· company
• Stern Pinball· company
• UK Pinfest· event
• Bon Jovi· game
• Harry Potter· game
• Northern Lights Pinball· organization
• Andy B· person
• Chops/Chopper· person
• Conrad· person
• David· person
• Daz· person
• Holly· person
• Lloyd· person
• Neil McRae· person
• Peter Cullen· person
• Phil· person
• Pudsey Pinball Dave· person
• Rob· person
• Scott Rundell· person
• Terry· person
• Tim Curry· person
• Tommy Gunn· person
• Daventry Mercure Hotel· venue
• Leonardo Hinckley Island· venue