Episode 43 - MEGALOCATIONS!

Mega locations (100+ game arcades) are transforming pinball accessibility but sacrifice intimate venue vibes.

Synopsis

Alan and Alex from the Wedgehead A Pinball Podcast discuss the rise of "mega locations": large pinball arcades housing 100+ games open to the public. They define the phenomenon, visit Pastimes Arcade in Ohio (393 machines), Next Level in Oregon (308 machines), and Wizard's World/Fort Wayne Pinball in Indiana, analyzing what makes these venues appealing, how they impact local scenes, and the trade-offs between scale and atmosphere.

Highlights

• Pinball is more accessible on location now than it has been in at least 30 years
• Approximately 18 mega locations exist globally (14 in US, 3 in Europe, 1 in Japan)
• Pastimes Arcade has the most impressive collection of European solid state import games he's encountered
• Next Level has won Twippies (pinball industry awards) for best pinball location for four years running
• Mega locations must locate in warehouses/suburbs due to square footage and cost requirements
• Mega locations can cultivate a warehouse vibe that lacks the intimacy of smaller arcade bars
• Pastimes Arcade opened about one year prior to this episode recording
• Wizard's World/Fort Wayne Pinball has every solid state setup 'hard as fuck' with no maintenance complaints

Entities

• Pinball Expo· event
• Twippies· event
• District 82 Pinball· organization
• Flipper Arcade Museum· organization
• Freddy's Pinball Paradise· organization
• Joshua Clay's VFW Pinball Museum· organization
• Next Level· organization
• Pacific Pinball Museum· organization
• Paris Pinball Museum· organization
• Pastimes Arcade· organization
• Pinball Hall of Fame· organization
• Pinball PA· organization
• Wedgehead Pinball Podcast· organization
• Wizard's World / Fort Wayne Pinball· organization
• Alan· person
• Alex· person
• Charles· person
• Joshua Clay· person
• Mike Hale· person
• Rob Burke· person
• Rosie· person
• Tim Arnold· person
• Coindrop· product
• Rain City Free Play· product