Regular readers know I am a strong believer in the adage “better late than never.” So with the new season beginning in just a few hours, what better time to report on May’s post-season Zen (split flipper) tournament? Look, I went to Europe almost right afterward on important philosopher business. And then the rest of June I… er… nevermind, let’s talk about the tournament.
A row of Zen hopefuls.
Super-Ball is a tradition that goes back to the first season of the Lansing Pinball League: a post-season, just-for-fun, tournament in which people are partnered up and each take one flipper. Since attendance was low, Mike S. suggested a round robin tournament instead of the previous double elimination bracket, followed by a final best-of-three playoff between the teams with the best record. Teams were formed by pairing the top seed with the low seed, the second-highest with second-lowest, and so on.
An odd number of participants left us with a problem which Mike S. resolved by suggesting that the lowest seed could be on two teams. The lowest seed, Greg, didn’t want to be on two teams, fearing he would have to stay too late. Matt made an executive decision: since it was Mike’s idea, Mike would be on two teams. Mike S. ended up paired with both me and Mike B.
Zen tournaments are as fun to watch as to play in.
Naturally this ended up with the most ridiculous possible situation. Both Mike S. teams ended up playing each other in the finals. Mike S. promised he would not favor either team but would play his best in each case, and he played the same flipper with each person. As a result the “Mike factor” was equalized as much as possible and it pitted me against Mike B. in a sort of grudge match, since Mike B. was the one to knock me out of the end-of-season playoffs in B division. Mike S. and I ended up narrowly edging out Mike S. and Mike B. to take home the trophies.
Chris calculates what went wrong for his team while others watch Mike B. and Mike S. playing one of the final games.
The trophies this time were topped with pseudo-Grecian athletes holding laurel wreaths. I have named mine “Alcibiades.”
Afterward there was a Theio’s after-party, which Chris failed to show up at despite promising he would get to Theio’s at least once this season. We’ll have to get him in Season 5.
Mike S. and Mike B. challenging Mike S. and me for the trophy.Nothing beats the wonderful feeling of accomplishment you get from ending a ball!
As usual, you can find more photos in the photo gallery. See you next season!
It’s time to begin another season of the Lansing Pinball League. It’s hard to believe, but this is going to be the fifth season. I joined during the third meeting of the first season, and it hardly seems like so much time could have passed already. The league is still going strong – growing, in fact. Capital City pinball is here to stay!
It’s traditional to play anything that’s new to the Avenue alongside the usual random selections. Iron Man has recently been moved into the Avenue in place of Monster Bash, which although I am sorry to see it go, had not been usable for league recently due to straight-down-the-middle scoop shots. Here are the selections for the night, barring contingencies:
Iron Man. Woe is me. This is the game that got me starting off the last Arcade League playoffs with a leaden thud.
Tales of the Arabian Nights. I hope the sound is working because it honestly throws my game off a bit when it isn’t. This is not a suggestion about how to sabotage me…
Austin Powers. Don’t feed quarters into the left slot. Or was it the right? One of them eats quarters. I’m going with left.
Junk Yard. Go on, Mike S. and Chris… give it a little nudge!
I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at the Avenue tomorrow at 7 p.m. for the grand opening of Season 5.
Season 5 of the Lansing Pinball League is set to begin on July 7. This season is the first with a new semi-monthly format, as opposed to our previous biweekly schedule. This change has been made so that we will not meet the same weeks as the semi-monthly Grand Rapids League. This season’s meetings are as follows: July 7, July 21, August 11, August 25, September 8, September 22, October 13, and October 27. In addition, we will continue having final playoffs as we started doing last season, and they will be held on November 10.
Presumably there will also be a Zen (split flipper) tourney at the end of the season, but the date for it will be determined later.
If you have been considering joining us, the start of a new season is a great opportunity! I hope to see you there. Feel free to send e-mail if you have any questions about the league.
Tonight at 7:00 p.m. is the traditional post-season Zen Tourney. This is a split flipper tournament in which each partner may only touch one of the flipper buttons. The tournament is usually handicapped by pairing the top finishing player with the bottom, the second with the second-to-last, and so on. Because it’s impossible to know exactly who will show up, the teams are anyone’s guess until the tournament starts. Unless Matt P. makes any rules changes this time around, it will be double elimination, best two of three, with every team playing the same three games.
The Zen Tourney is just for fun and has no effect on the season’s rankings. No one takes it too seriously; it’s really just a chance to unwind at the end of the season, drink some beer, and enjoy each others’ company. I always have a great time. I hope to see everyone there!
Season 4 came to an exciting conclusion on May 5, as Chris narrowly edged out Alex to continue as the league’s undefeated champion. Aaron, who kept merrily declaring that he did not care how he finished, nevertheless took third.
You’d be bored too if you were playing Austin Powers. Good thing Chris can play it in his sleep.
This was the first time the Lansing Pinball League has determined final standings with a tournament. Previously, ranks were assigned based on total points earned by the end of the regular season. This time, points determined seeding for the playoffs instead. The top 8 seeds played in A division and everyone else in B, with trophies given out for the top three in each division. A similar format to the one used in the Arcade and Marvin’s leagues was used: best two of three, double elimination. The rules for game choice differed a bit from those other leagues. Matt P. decided that the higher seed would choose game or order, the loser of the first game would choose second game or order, and the higher seed would again choose the last game/order if necessary. This resulted in some cases in the same person choosing all three games. There also was no rule against choosing the same game twice.
Russell looks intense as always, but refrains from punching Austin Powers.
This season resulted in the closest race for first that has ever happened in this league. Chris broke his regular season winning streak by finishing second to Alex by a few points, but the new tournament format allowed him to fight his way back to victory. After fighting his way out of the swamp (the second chance bracket), Chris had to battle Alex over and over for the title. At one point, Alex almost but not quite pulled off a third ball miracle against Chris on Lord of the Rings. At the very end, it came down to a deciding game on The Walking Dead. The winner would get first, the loser second. Alex went first and at the end of his Ball 3, he had 80-some million against Chris’s 18. I really thought it was over. Then Chris stepped up and, in the most amazing third ball recovery I have ever seen, came from behind to win. By the time it was clear that he had won and he let it drain, I believe he had crested 100 million. It was an extremely exciting finale to the season. Congratulations to both Alex and Chris for their wins and thanks for putting on such a great show for us spectators.
Yeah, baby! Actually, I take that back. No, baby, no, please make the Austin Powers stop.
B division came to a tense conclusion by a different route. After I got knocked out by Mike “the New Mike” B., letting me take home third, Danny and Mike had to battle it out for first and second. The double elimination bracket resulted in them having to play each other (if I understand things correctly) in three best-of-three rounds, the first one when Danny knocked Mike into the swamp, the second when Mike got back out of the swamp to once again play the undefeated Danny, and the third when Danny, with one loss now to Mike, got to immediately play Mike again for his second chance. The exact same sequence happened to me at Marvin’s League’s B division finals, so I know how crazy it gets. Unfortunately, they somehow lost track of how many games they had played and their recollections did not match. When the disagreement became irresolvable, Matt made a ruling that they were to play one more best-of-three on a single game he would choose at random, and which turned out to be Getaway. Danny won the final match and was crowned the B division champion, with Mike B. taking home second.
Chris with his first place trophy and Alex with his second. Aaron had already gone home.Heather, Mike B., and Danny, the B division third, second, and first place winners, respectively. (Photo by Joseph.)
The new style trophies – classy glass arcs with the league logo inscribed on them – were well received, and since they cost less than the previous seasons’ marble-based silver championship cup, Matt P. was able to get three for each division instead of just the one as in last seasons. And, so no one would feel left out, Matt brought out a box of ribbons for everyone else…
Good job, everyone!
I have the complete results for you too, and lots more photos. See you at the Zen Tourney tonight!
The final results for Season 4 were determined by a double elimination tournament. Those not attending the final tournament are ranked below the tournament participants.
April 21 was the eighth and final regular season meeting for Season 4. As Addams Family had been repaired, and in keeping with the tradition of always playing games that are new (or in this case, newly returned) to the Avenue, it was selected to be one of the league games for the night. World Cup Soccer did not repeat the mid-game resetting issue that had hit Joseph and me three times in a row during our previous night’s practice, so it made the cut too. Indiana Jones, on the other hand, was now resetting instead (I blame the gremlin), so it got turned off and removed from the night’s lineup. Also in the mix for the night were Getaway and Medieval Madness.
Greg wants you to know he is definitely not up to no good.
We had not played Medieval Madness in a while and I was glad, but nervous. Although it had once been my best game, in recent times I have been in something of a slump. I decided to play a practice game on it. This broke my superstitious rule against playing a game in practice that I’m going to play in league (a good game in practice seems to predict a bad game in league), but I decided it was worth it to check on how the ball was hitting the flippers today. Then my game started going on a while. Then I hit a replay. Then I was on the fifth castle. “Joseph,” I yelled with genuine dismay, “my game is going too well.” Afterward, Mike S. reminded me that I had broken the rule against practicing games before league play. I tried to brush it off with a show of optimism.
Mark surprised me, Matt, and Joseph with some gifts from his pinball memorabilia collection. He had promotional plastics from The Machine: Bride of Pin-Bot and Fish Tales, and gave Matt first choice, with the suggestion that he could use it as a prize for the Zen Tournament. Matt chose Fish Tales, so Mark presented me with the Bride. I was delighted to have it, as I quite like that game, and touched by Mark’s generosity. He was apologetic because he had once offered to give me the plastic Rudy head that he knew he had somewhere, but ultimately was not able to find it. I told him it was just as well, because my brother had given me that very Rudy for Christmas. (It now sits on a shelf in my office, where it provides silent backup and moral support. My officemate has not yet complained of nightmares.)
“Um, Alex, I think Chris was just messing with you when he told you about the secret upper flipper buttons.”
Mark also had a small gift for Joseph: his very own pinball. Unfortunately, he has not figured out any way to add it to The Simpsons to make his own multiball.
Medieval Madness, or as I called it afterward, “Medieval Sadness,” proved to be cruel to a lot of people. Before I stepped up to play, Joseph tried to calm my nerves by pointing out that Chris had managed a score of around 11 million. Lucky Chris. I managed to get a score of about four and a half million – just about exactly a tenth of the score I had done during my practice game. I try not to be so superstitious, but circumstances keep encouraging me like that. I was so dismayed to end my night and my season on such a disappointing game that I almost went home without going to Theio’s, but Joseph convinced me I should go anyway and after a short time of chatting with the rest of the Theio’s regulars (minus Mike S., who had to leave early) I felt back to my old self.
Russell fueling up.
The regular season ended with Alex taking first place back, Chris knocked to second, and Matt P. in third. This is the first time the season has ever finished without Chris in first place, but this is also the first time final rankings will be determined by playoffs. In the first three seasons, the final rankings were based entirely on the number of points earned during the eight regular meetings. The end-of-season “Zen” (split flipper) tournament was just for fun. This time around, prompted by a suggestion from Mike S., we will instead have a double elimination tournament. Seeds will be based on points earned during the regular season; the tie for fifth will be resolved by a one-ball tiebreaker between Joseph and Aaron prior to the start of play. A division will be the top eight seeds, and everyone else will play in B division.
Will Chris manage to battle back to first place, and continue his undefeated reign over the Lansing Pinball League? Or will he have to hand his pinball crown to Alex? There is going to be a crown, right? Does B division get a tiara instead? Find out the answer to these questions and many others on Tuesday at the first ever Lansing Pinball League final tournament! You can view the seeds for the final tournament by checking the most recent results and sorting by overall standing.
The points are now final for the regular season. Final positions will be determined by playoffs on May 5. Players receiving 0 for the week were absent.
The seventh meeting of Season 4, on April 7, was very sparsely attended; I think it was the fewest attendees since the early days of Season 1. Quite a few stalwarts were missing, including Matt (Aaron took over organizing duties again). Joseph and I had our first absence since joining the League, as we were seeing Walk the Moon in concert at the Fillmore in Detroit. Since I was absent, I cannot report on the events of the night directly; I have, however, spent the last two weeks interviewing witnesses and am now ready to report on the events that transpired.
It was just another ordinary night at the Avenue as the league members warmed up for the night’s competition. Suddenly, the front door flung open, a shot rang out, and the music stopped as the iPod fell dead. In walked a rough-looking character wearing a duster, a black hat, and a bandolier full of pinballs. Someone whispered, “It’s Blackball Bill, the meanest pinball player in six counties!” Two people jumped behind the bar, three dove under tables, and most of the rest went running out the back door, as Bill and his two shady sidekicks strode toward the pinball alcove.
Bill sized up the league members with a cold stare, then said, “Take your little league and get out of here. This is our saloon now.”
Some of the heroes of the Lansing Pinball League. Photo by Chris Tabaka.
Aaron matched his stare with a sardonic sneer. “Oh? Can I see your title? I’ll wait while you go get a certified copy from the Ingham County Register of Deeds.”
The three people who had been hiding under tables decided it was time to make a break for it, and ran out the front door. But the Lansing Pinball League stood their ground. “I tell you what,” said Blackball Bill. “I’ll show you what gives me the right. We’ll have a showdown. Me against one of you, one on one, fair and square.”
It was agreed, and soon Chris stepped forward, or (according to some accounts) was shoved forward by unknown parties. A deal was struck: one game on Indiana Jones, with the loser agreeing to leave the Avenue for good.
Blackball Bill went first and as the rest of the league stood in silent suspense, started a multiball and shot somewhere above a dozen jackpots. His two sidekicks looked at each other and smirked. Chris stepped up, cool and collected, and nearly matched Bill. But on Ball 2, Chris began falling behind. As he casually launched Ball 3, Bill said, “You folks had better start packing.” And then he proceeded to ring up a score so mind-bogglingly high that witnesses were unable to recall exactly what it was. They could only say that the sight of the number filled them with sublime terror and a deep sense of their cosmic insignificance.
Despite the immense deficit between the scores, Chris looked unfazed. He walked up, scrubbed the glass until it shone, then got to work. He shot the mode start, to the amusement of Blackball Bill. “A mode’s not going to save you now,” he scoffed, as the Well of Souls started. But Chris just smiled and then did a complicated series of button presses that no one could quite remember afterward, finishing with a few knocks on the side of the cabinet. The DMD strobed, then spelled out “SOUL SECRET MANIA” as 24 balls exploded into play at once. Chris began hitting the flippers in such a frenzy that the playfield looked like a blur of silver and flashing lights.
Bill stared in shock, then turned and gestured at one of his sidekicks, who nodded understanding and then walked right into Chris’s peripheral vision and began leaning distractingly toward the table.
Sarah yelled, “Hey! That’s playing dirty!” and proceeded to pick up a chair and break it over the offender’s head. The other sidekick rushed toward Sarah, and Alex shoved a table in his way, causing him to sprawl onto it, leaving him helpless as Russell smashed a mostly-empty Mason jar over his head.
“Uh,” said Greg, “It’s not supposed to be doing that, is it?” Everyone looked over and saw smoke beginning to curl out of the machine as Chris kept playing. The 21 balls still in play were causing the bumpers to heat up to such a degree that they were beginning to smolder. After another moment, flames started to dance under the glass.
“Get away, it’s going to catch on fire!” yelled Alex, but Chris shook his head.
“I’m almost there, can’t quit now.” He kept shooting as the fire began to spread, then, just as it reached the flippers, his score passed Bill’s. The rest of the league cheered as Chris let go of the flippers and waited for the balls to drain. Everyone rushed to hug him, but he held a hand up, then turned back to the flaming table and quickly darted his fingers in to tap the melting flipper buttons in order to put up his Grand Champion initials. Then he backed away just in time. With a huge whooshing sound, Indiana Jones was consumed in a fireball. Blackball Bill and his companions slipped out the back door in shame while no one was watching, and Cattie ran over with a bucket of water and doused the fire.
That is what happened at the meeting I missed, as well as I can determine.
The next day, Wednesday, several of the people who had missed on Tuesday did a makeup session – so many, in fact, that it felt like a mini league night. I got put into a group with Sam and Jake, and Joseph joined a group with Mike S. and Matt P. Joseph’s group was also joined by a newcomer to the league, Matt’s friend Avik. As predicted, we did not get to play The Addams Family, as it was still failing to load balls. I had one of my worst nights of the season, about which I think the less said the better. Particularly disappointing was my bad game of Theatre of Magic. I love that table and used to feel pretty handy at it, but lately things always seem to go wrong. Later I watched Avik really put me to shame on Theatre of Magic, doubling my score or better despite it being his first time playing it.
This was my first time bringing my new bunny beer cozy to the Avenue. Months ago I had posted a link to a pattern for a crotched bunny Mason jar cozy on Facebook, and joked that someone needed to make it for me so I could tell my beer from other people’s at league night. I had forgotten all about it until I arrived at my mom’s house for Easter and she presented the finished cozy to me. She knits very well but did not know how to crochet, so she had to teach herself from videos online in order to make it for me. She informed me that she expected to see it on a jar of PBR. Well, here you go, Mom…
Adorabeer.
I have to get up early on Thursdays so I told everyone up front that there would be no Theio’s for me tonight. Mike worked on me all through the evening and eventually, and predictably, I ended up being cajoled into going to Theio’s with him, Joseph, Jake, and Sam. By the time I got home it was past my bedtime.
That’s all for my unorthodox league night update. I have a few photos from the makeup session in the photo gallery and I have also posted the results for the week.
