โ๐๏ธ Pinball Machines at Events, Conventions and Expos in Sydney
By Alexander Visotin
๐ I consider myself to be a bit of a "pinball evangelist". I think an important part of the pinball hobby is to share it with others so that everyone can experience the joy of the silver ball. As well as hiring my machines out so anybody can experience a pinball machine on a short-term basis, I also take every opportunity to bring my machines to events, conventions, expos and other shows or events at which pinball machines are welcome. This allows the general public to see and experience pinball on a casual basis, and keeps pinball a part of the modern zeitgeist. When pinball fades into obscurity and irrelevance, it may disappear for good. It has almost happened several times in the course of pinball's history, but it won't happen again if I have anything to do with it! Event Reports on our โ๏ธ Blog document all of the events we have taken machines to in detail.
Machines contributed to events, conventions and expos as at April 2026:
People who have been exposed to pinball at the events, conventions and expos we have attended:
๐ฅ Unfortunately, I see a lot of people with huge pinball machine collections that sit dormant and rarely get played, if at all. This is a tragedy; a pinball machine is happiest when it is being played by as many people as possible! I think it's important for pinball hobbyists to seek out local events that are amenable to hosting pinball machines and offer their own machines up for a day or two. It certainly isn't worth it for the fame or the money (hint: there is none!). But it's worth it to keep pinball alive now and into the future.
โ๏ธ Surviving any of these events is an achievement for these machines, as they often get played more than they ever have since they were first released. It's not uncommon for games to be played for eight hours straight at some of these shows, so it's important to make sure the game is serviced and "bullet-proofed" as much as possible before the event. Failures and breakdowns do occur, of course, but as long as someone is there to keep things up and running then people can continue to enjoy the machines for the duration of the event. If you have an event or expo happening sometime soon in Sydney and you'd like to feature pinball machines or arcade games as an attraction or activation at the show, please ๐ฌ Contact Us!
🎖️ The Honour Roll
โThe list below records which pinball machines we have taken to events. This list includes appearances at large expos and shows that are open to the public, rather than private hires.
Super Mario Bros. (Gottlieb, 1992)
Super Mario Bros. (Gottlieb, 1992)
As the first Gottlieb machine to feature a dot-matrix display, this game brings Nintendoโs Mushroom Kingdom to life with iconic sound effects and a vibrant playfield heavily inspired by Super Mario World. The game challenges players to defeat Bowser by "destroying" a rotating blue castle at the top of the playfield and rescuing Princess Peach across seven different worlds. Unique features include a Yoshi-themed elevated mini-playfield, warp pipe-style kickers, and a special Video Mode where players use the flipper buttons to help Mario run and jump through a classic platforming level.
Super Mario Bros. has survived 8 deployments to date, including:
- Collectfest 2026
- Collectfest 2025
- Aus Collectables Expo 2025
- TCXPO 2025
- Collector Con 2024
- Oz Comic Con 2024
- Comic Book Day 2024
- Pinfest 2022
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Data East, 1991)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Data East, 1991)
Capturing the peak of "Turtlemania," this Data East classic brings the four brothers to life with vibrant artwork and original voice callouts that reflect the charm of the 1987 cartoon. The playfield's main attraction is a motorized spinning pizza disk that physically grabs and flings the ball in random directions, perfectly mimicking the unpredictable chaos of a ninja brawl. Players work to hit the Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo targets, then hit the Sewer hole to start a high-energy multiball, all while trying to defeat Shredder and Krang to save the city.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has survived 7 deployments to date, including:
- Pinfest 2025
- Collectfest 2025
- Aus Collect Expo 2025
- TCXPO 2025
- Collector Con 2024
- Oz Comic Con 2024
- Pinfest 2024
The Getaway: High Speed II (Williams, 1992)
The Getaway: High Speed II (Williams, 1992)
Designed by the legendary Steve Ritchie, this high-octane sequel to the 1986 classic High Speed puts players in the driverโs seat of a Lamborghini for a frantic police chase set to the tune of ZZ Top's "La Grange." The cabinet features a unique gear shift lever in place of a traditional plunger, requiring players to physically "shift" during gameplay to increase their scoring multipliers and reach Redline Mania. Its crowning achievement is the Supercharger, a magnetic loop accelerator that whips the ball around at incredible speeds to lock it for a high-intensity, three-ball multiball.
The Getaway has survived 7 deployments to date, including:
- Collectfest 2026
- Collectfest 2025
- NPA Pinball Pop-Up 2024
- Collector Con 2024
- Nerd Con 2019
- Pinfest 2017
- ACT Pinball Championships 2017
Fish Tales (Williams, 1992)
Fish Tales (Williams, 1992)
Reeled in by Williams in 1992, Fish Tales is a high-speed, light-hearted game that challenges players to catch "monster" fish and shamelessly "stretch the truth" about their size for bonus points. The machine is instantly recognizable by its animatronic thrashing-fish topper and a unique fishing rod-shaped autoplunger that launches balls toward a central, captive-ball on the boat mini-playfield. Players must master the criss-crossing boat ramps and the rotating "Caster's Club" reel lock to trigger a chaotic multiball, all while navigating the gameโs notoriously difficult, slightly shorter "lightning" flippers.
Fish Tales has survived 6 deployments to date, including:
- Collectfest 2026
- Collectfest 2025
- Collector Con 2019
- Nerd Con 2019
- Pinfest 2019
- Pinfest 2018
Johnny Mnemonic (Williams, 1995)
Johnny Mnemonic (Williams, 1995)
Based on the cyberpunk thriller, this Williams machine is legendary among enthusiasts for its blistering speed and its debut as the first solo design by the iconic George Gomez. The game's centrepiece is a motorized, magnetic "Cyberglove" that physically snatches the ball from the playfield, allowing players to manually move it and drop it into a matrix to setup scoring combos. To reach the "Powerdown" wizard mode, players must navigate a series of high-flow ramps and loops to upload data into Johnnyโs brain before his storage capacityโand the gameโruns out.
"Johnny" has survived 6 deployments to date, including:
- TCXPO 2026
- Collectfest 2025
- Aus Collect Expo 2025
- Oz Comic Con 2024
- Pinfest 2024
- NPA Pinball Pop-Up 2024
Tee'd Off! (Gottlieb, 1993)
Tee'd Off! (Gottlieb, 1993)
Released by Gottlieb in 1993, Tee'd Off is a vibrant golf-themed machine that serves as a thinly veiled (and very funny) parody of the classic film Caddyshack. The gameโs standout feature is the animatronic, trash-talking gopher topper that mocks the player's performance, adding a layer of personality and humor to every round. Players aim to complete the "World Tour" by hitting a variety of ramps and targets, including a unique mini-playfield at the top of the board where they can sink a hole-in-one for a massive jackpot.
Tee'd Off! has survived 4 deployments to date, including:
- Collectfest 2026
- Collectfest 2025
- Pinfest 2023
- Nerd Con 2019
Demolition Man (Williams, 1994)
Demolition Man (Williams, 1994)
Based on the high-octane action film starring Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes, this Williams widebody is renowned for its incredible flow and blistering speed. The machineโs most distinctive feature is its pair of ergonomic "trigger" grips mounted on the cabinet, allowing players to control the flippers and fire the magnetic "Cryoclaw" with a tactile, cinematic feel. To succeed, players must navigate a complex series of ramps and loops to activate multiple multiball modes and eventually trigger the high-scoring Demolition Jackpot.
Demolition Man has survived 4 deployments to date, including:
- Collectfest 2026
- Collectfest 2025
- Pinfest 2021
- Collector Con 2019
Judge Dredd (Bally, 1993)
Judge Dredd (Bally, 1993)
Released by Bally in 1993, Judge Dredd is a high-energy "SuperPin" widebody based on the iconic British comic strip from 2000 AD. The game is famous for its unique, fast-paced layout that replaces traditional pop bumpers with four flippers, steep ramps, and a rotating "Deadworld" planet that utilizes a magnetic robotic arm to lock balls. Players can choose between standard play or the "SuperGame" mode, which offers an intense six-ball multiball and a variety of missions to bring order to the chaotic streets of Mega-City One.
Judge Dredd has survived 3 deployments to date, including:
- Collectfest 2026
- Collectfest 2025
- Comic Book Day 2024
Maverick (Data East, 1995)
Maverick (Data East, 1995)
As the final machine released under the Data East name before the transition to Sega, Maverick is a card-playing themed powerhouse based on the 1994 Western film starring Mel Gibson. The game's most impressive physical feature is a motorized, rotating paddle wheel on the Lauren Belle riverboat that scoops the ball off the playfield to lock it for multiball. To win the "All Rivers Poker Championship," players must use four massive banks of drop targets to complete poker hands, all while utilizing the first-ever extra-large 192x64 "Super DMD" for cinematic animations and high-stakes mini-games.
Maverick has survived 3 deployments to date, including:
- Collectfest 2026
- TCXPO 2026
- Pinfest 2025
Star Wars (Data East, 1992)
Star Wars (Data East, 1992)
Exploding onto the scene during the height of the 90s pinball renaissance, this game is famous for its bombastic John Williams soundtrack and a motorized R2-D2 that physically jumps and swivels on the playfield. The game features a detailed "Death Star" moon that rotates and opens its moon-gate to swallow balls for a cinematic multiball. Everyone's favourite characters are featured in the game, whether on the playfield, in the dot-matrix display animations, sounds, or all three! Players can also use the plunger's Fire Button to shoot down TIE fighters in an interactive dot-matrix display video game.
Star Wars has survived 2 deployments to date, including:
- Collectfest 2026
- TCXPO 2026
Eye of the Tiger (Gottlieb, 1978)
Eye of the Tiger (Gottlieb, 1978)
Released in 1978 as a rare two-player electro-mechanical version of the hit machine Sinbad, Eye of the Tiger is a direct tie-in to the fantasy film Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger. The game is a "drop target loverโs dream," featuring ten targets across four colored banks that players must clear in a specific sequence to maximize their bonus multipliers. With a distinctive layout that includes four flippers and a double-sided spinner, this machine offers a classic, tactical experience that rewards precision over raw speed.
Eye of the Tiger has survived 1 deployment to date, including:
- TCXPO 2025
🛡️ New Recruits
The games below haven't yet been able to prove their mettle at a large scale event yet or are still awaiting restoration so they play like they should. Keep an eye out for them at future events!
Stars (Stern Electronics, 1978)
Stars (Stern Electronics, 1978)
A true cult classic of the early solid-state era, Stars is celebrated for its deceptively simple yet addictive "one more game" appeal and its iconic, chime-like electronic sound effects. The playfield's primary challenge centers on three central drop-target banks that players must clear to light the "Star" rollovers and progressively build a massive end-of-ball bonus. Despite its lack of complex ramps or toys, the game remains a competitive favourite due to its tight geometry, twin spinners that can be ripped for huge points, and a satisfyingly symmetrical layout.
Time Machine (Zaccaria, 1983)
Time Machine (Zaccaria, 1983)
This Italian masterpiece is a standout of the early 80s, featuring a breath-taking "time travel" mechanic where the entire back section of the playfield physically rises and falls. When players "travel through time," the game transitions from a modern solid-state game into a classic electro-mechanical style, complete with authentic chime sounds and a hidden set of retro-themed targets. With its vibrant neon aesthetics, Time Machine remains one of the most innovative and visually striking machines ever produced by the Bologna-based manufacturer.
Out of Sight (Gottlieb, 1974)
Out of Sight (Gottlieb, 1974)
Rescued from a backyard, where it had been kept under a tarpaulin for several years!
This classic "wedgehead" single-player electromechanical machine is a masterpiece of 1970s design, famous for its vibrant, psychedelic, space-themed artwork. The gameโs primary objective revolves around two banks of five drop targetsโone on each side of the playfieldโwhich players must clear to light the "Special" and maximize their end-of-ball bonus. With its wide-open layout, satisfying chime box sounds, and the high-stakes challenge of completing the "Out of Sight" target sequences, it remains a gold standard for purists who love the tactile "click-clack" era of pinball.
Orbit 1 (Hankin, 1978)
Orbit 1 (Hankin, 1978)
Rescued from underneath a pergola and originally destined for the tip!
Produced by the Australian manufacturer Hankin, Orbit 1 is a rare and highly sought-after space-themed machine that stands as a testament to the brief but vibrant era of Australian pinball production. The machine features a classic wide-open layout centreed around a large spinning target and multiple banks of drop targets that players must clear to advance their "orbit" multipliers. With its distinctively bright, cosmic backglass art and solid-state chime sounds, this machine offers a quintessential late-70s experience that rivals the American giants of the time in both build quality and gameplay flow.
The Addams Family (Bally, 1992)
The Addams Family (Bally, 1992)
Rescued from a backyard, where it had been kept for a few years. Smashed glass, water damage, and a totally destroyed cabinet floor. This one is going to be a lot of work, but will shine like new soon enough!
As the best-selling solid-state pinball machine of all time, this Pat Lawlor masterpiece perfectly captures the spooky charm of the 1991 film with original voice acting by Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston. The game is legendary for its "Thing" handโa motorized prosthetic that emerges from a box to physically snatch the ball off the playfieldโand "The Power," a set of magnets under the playfield that erratically hurl the ball during high-stakes modes. Players strive to tour the mansion by completing twelve distinct rooms, eventually aiming for the frantic, high-scoring Tour the Mansion wizard mode while the iconic theme song snaps along in the background.