Everyone’s wasted at least a handful of quarters on a pinball machine before. The flashing lights, ringing bells and constant sound create an irresistible sensory overload. The thrill of dominating a playfield, feeling the metal ball rebound through the playfield at your touch just can’t be properly emulated. You’ve got to venture into the real world, find a great machine and sink your teeth in. As a result, pinball can be difficult to invest time into.
Fortunately, Eugene features several hotspots for classic pinball action — all at just a quarter a pop.
If you’re looking for a center of nightlife that mixes all the fun of retro gaming with good old fashioned inebriation, Level Up Arcade is the place to go. This arcade is loaded to the walls with games. Old school in the front, new school in the back. In addition to the arcade cabinets, you’ll find a long stretch of pinball tables. Level Up employee Jessica Machleit notices that the selection draws a diverse crowd.
“We’ve got many different types of pinball machines, and many different types of people come in to play them,” Machleit said. “From 70-year-old men, to a little girl with her family playing a Star Trek machine. Everyone loves watching the ball bounce.”
Level Up is open until 9 p.m. for patrons under 21, and until 2 a.m. for those 21 and over.
Pinball can more than just a social novelty though. While the current word in competitive gaming these days is in MOBAs like League of Legends, the original gaming sport was pinball. The rush for a high score is simple, universal and has inspired global tournaments to find the best of the best.
For much of the ’70s and ’80s, this pursuit of glory dominated every pizza palace, bowling alley or any establishment with a table. If you’re interested in a little time travel through gaming history, there’s no better spot in Eugene than Blairally Vintage Arcade.
“We’re pin-centric. The tables are just as they were in the ’70s and ’80s. Charging 25 cents for a game of pinball doesn’t make us a lot of money, but it helps preserve something from our youth.” Blairally employee Chad Boutin said.
Every Wednesday at 8 p.m., Blairally hosts tournament play. For a five dollars, you can compete against fellow “knights of the round table.” The top three players get a payout, though you can expect consolation prizes from the various event sponsors. A similar event can also be found every Sunday at 2:30 p.m., called the “Pinball Daze,” which is kid-friendly.
Blairally’s next big event is a split table team tournament for “Ink for Autism.” Teams of two tackle one table with one on each flipper. The event is April 13, starting at 2 p.m.
Players can also take their game to the national level through monthly International Flipper Pinball Association sanctioned tournaments, which are held on the first Friday of each month.
The IFPA is an organization dedicated to competition in the arcade sport. On its website, it declares that the association believes pinball can once again be viewed as a viable form of competition, as well as an entertaining hobby for both skilled and novice players.