EP03 Neal Wagoner My Journey Into Pinball
Episode 3 – Neal Wagoner’s Pinball JourneyIn this episode of The Pinball Studio, we take a deep dive into Neal Wagoner’s path into the world of pinball. From his earliest memories with the silver ball to his rise in competitive play and community involvement, Neal shares the stories, challenges, and milestones that shaped his journey.
Kineticist’s take
Neal Wagoner's pinball journey: 1970s arcades to 2015 restoration to IFPA 900 ranking.
Synopsis
Neal Wagoner, tournament director at the Pinball Studio, recounts his decades-long journey into pinball from 1970s arcade visits in upstate New York through his restoration of a deteriorated Fishtails machine in 2015, tournament participation starting in 2016, and current competitive involvement. He discusses his favorite games and designers, his peak IFPA ranking of 900, and recent work restoring classic machines including Star Star Trek: The Next Generation and Bram Stoker's Dracula for tournament rotation at the studio.
Entities
- SFGE· event
- Avengers Infinity Quest· game
- Black Knight· game
- Bram Stoker's Dracula· game
- Fishtails· game
- Jurassic Park· game
- Star Trek's Next Generation· game
- Star Wars· game
- The Addams Family· game
- Fellowship of the Silver Ball· organization
- Old Town Pinball· organization
- Palmetto Pinball Club· organization
- Pinball Studio· organization
- Brian Merritt· person
- Josh Yates· person
- Keith Elwin· person
- Pat Lawlor· person
- Pat Petras· person
- Sterling· person
- Steve Ritchie· person
- Will· person
- Pinball Lounge· venue