Taking My Game to Next Level

Hillsboro, OR

Next Level Pinball Museum

Today Donna and I drove out to Hillsboro, OR to visit The Next Level Pinball Museum.  Next Level has the largest pinball collection I have ever seen.  They have around 220 pinball machines on free play and another 220 video games with more in their collection that don't currently fit in their current space.  Even better, is that they all play great.  We were there for 4 hours and then I returned for another 3 and we saw an army of people walking the floor, wiping down machines, and doing repairs.  I only found 2 machines with issues and one was fixed right after I found the issue.  They really do a great job at keeping these machines working.  I can't say enough about how great this place is.

Our day there started at Noon.  It's $22 to get in and you get a wristband so you can go in and out all day.  Our plan, as usual was to play a couple hours and then move on.  I can play pinball all day but Donna, like most normal people, has a limit.  It turns out that limit goes out the window when there is a new machine you have never played next to two more machines you have never played.  We ended up playing for 4 hours.

The whole place is perfectly decorated like you would want.  Even starting in the parking lot.

They have some retail in the front and they also sell machines which aren't on display.

The walls are lined with all kinds of collectibles including lunch boxes, Funco Figures, framed VHS boxes, movie posters, video game memorabilia, Action Figures, 80s and 90s magazines and comics, and other things.

They arranged their machines by maker and era.

Jaws (Limited Edition) was on my list of machines to play.  I use Pinball Map to get an idea of what might be at a location.  It is user generated so it isn't perfect, but it is better than nothing.

They even had a bunch of mini "Cabaret Cabinet" machines.  The biggest collection I have ever seen.  These machines are around 3.5 ft. tall.

They have two NBA Fastbreak machines linked.  You can compete head to head while playing at the same time.  It was awesome!  A fellow pinball nerd friend of mine, Bob, pointed this unique chance out to us.  I might not have known how special this set up was if he hadn't told me.  

Some head to head action!

This is "Dark Escape 3D".  There was a warning sign posted on it talking about its graphic violence.  I was going to check it out, but there was someone in it.

Jaws is the newest release from Stern (the current leading pinball manufacturer).  They had a Pro and a Limited Edition side by side.  They both play great but the Limited Edition has a more complex playfield and is autographed by the designer.

Maybe when we settle down our Livingroom will look like this.

I am less motivated by video games at this point in my life but they have a ton of games here for those that want to play.

The original plan for the day was to play for a couple of hours and then hit another top 40 restaurant for early dinner and then drop Donna off and head back for the tournament.  This plan went out the window when Donna asked what time it was and I told her and then she responded, "I've been playing for 4 hours?" We changed plans and headed home and made some dinner and then I headed back out for more pinball.

 Back to The Next Level!

I got back to Next Level at around 6:30.  The tournament started at 7 so I played some more games after entering. 

32 players gathered around while the tournament director gave us the details.  It was a well run tournament and everyone seemed to have fun.  After 2.5 hours of play there would be a finals for the top 8.

I blew up my first round.  I had been playing Tri Zone during the day and really liked it and luckily it was my first draw.  I put up a giant score on ball one and sometimes that deflates the players that have to follow you.  

This is the door to their new 7000 Sq. Ft. expansion.  They say they will have another 70 pinball machines and almost 70 arcade games to play.  It opens March 21st and next weeks tournament will be entirely in this room.  I can't wait!

Hot Hands and Storm Trooper Butts!

I took this photo of Street Fighter collectibles because it reminded me of Jerry, a former coworker, who had is office decorated in some amazing Street Fighter collectibles.

I ended up 19th out of 32.  My goal at this point is top 50% worst but shooting for top 33%.  

I didn't make either, but when you look at the scores I was closer than it looked to me at first.  Top 50% would be 16th and top 33% would be around 11th or 10th.  I ended up at 32 pts. and was only 2 pts. away from top 50% and 3 pts. away from top 33%.  I could have easily won my Nugent game which would have put me in the finals.  There are also other scenarios where I had a chance to get 2-4 more points so after writing this post I feel a lot better about my placing.  The field was really tight.  

Here is the sheet for all of my games today.  I played 90 games of pinball, but I am still thinking, "when can I go back?"  For those of you that like financial numbers, that's about 24 cents per game.  Not bad!

That's it for today.  If you missed, Rip City!, check it out.  We went to a Trail Blazers game and learned some stuff.