# TEXAS PINBALL FESTIVAL - SUNDAY **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2018-03-29 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2018/03/29/texas-pinball-festival-2018-sunday --- ## Analysis Coverage of the final day of Texas Pinball Festival 2018 (March 16-18), featuring best-in-show awards across multiple categories, machine donor prize drawings, and a grand raffle for a Guardians of the Galaxy pinball. The article highlights the event's growing size, vendor presence, and industry prominence, positioning TPF as potentially becoming the leading pinball event in North America. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Star Wars (Stern) won Best Modern (post-1999) Pinball at TPF 2018 — _Official best-in-show awards results table; Kim Keist was the machine owner_ - [HIGH] TPF show hotel routinely sells out almost immediately when promo code is announced, with adjacent hotels also booking heavily — _Article closing analysis of event growth and attendance_ - [MEDIUM] The show is positioned to become the number one pinball event, potentially surpassing Pinball Expo due to TPF's growing stature and Expo's organizational uncertainty in 2018 — _Closing editorial commentary noting Expo uncertainty and regional manufacturer presence (Deeproot in San Antonio, Multimorphic in Austin)_ - [HIGH] Guardians of the Galaxy pinball was offered as the grand raffle prize at TPF 2018 — _Explicit mention in raffle section with ticket sales at $5 each_ ### Notable Quotes > "The TPF show gets bigger every year – not just the numbers of machines and vendors, but also in stature with companies choosing the launch their new games or products there." > — **Article author (Pinball News)**, closing section > _Establishes TPF's growing industry prominence and manufacturer adoption of the event for product launches_ > "With events surrounding Pinball Expo causing uncertainty about that show's organisation in 2018 and the establishment of Deeproot in San Antonio and Multimorphic being based in Austin, the Texas Pinball Festival is well positioned to take over as *the* number one pinball event." > — **Article author (Pinball News)**, final paragraph > _Direct commentary on competitive positioning between major pinball events and regional manufacturer clustering in Texas_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Texas Pinball Festival | event | Major annual pinball trade show and competition held March 16-18, 2018 in Frisco, TX; increasingly prominent in industry for game launches | | Embassy Suites Frisco | organization | Venue hosting Texas Pinball Festival 2018 at 7600 John Q Hammons Dr., Frisco, TX; reported to routinely sell out | | Ed VanderVeen | person | Show co-organizer of Texas Pinball Festival; introduced awards ceremony | | Stern Pinball | company | Manufacturer of Star Wars pinball, which won Best Modern Pinball category at TPF 2018 | | Kim Keist | person | Owner of Star Wars (Stern) pinball; winner of Best Modern (post-1999) Pinball at TPF 2018 | | Lonny Payne | person | Owner of Jurassic Park pinball; winner of Grand Champion award at TPF 2018 | | Deeproot Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer established in San Antonio; mentioned as regional manufacturer impacting TPF prominence | | Multimorphic | company | Pinball manufacturer based in Austin; mentioned as regional manufacturer impacting TPF prominence | | Pinball Expo | event | Competing major pinball event; experiencing organizational uncertainty in 2018 according to article | | Marco Specialties | company | Vendor at TPF 2018 with booth presence being dismantled in teardown photos | ### Topics - **Primary:** Best-in-show awards and machine judging categories, Event organization and venue logistics, Industry event positioning and competitive landscape (TPF vs Pinball Expo) - **Secondary:** Attendance growth and vendor expansion, Regional manufacturer clustering in Texas ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Coverage is celebratory of TPF's growth, organization, and industry prominence. Competitive framing against Pinball Expo is neutral but implies TPF's ascendance. No criticisms or controversies mentioned. ### Signals - **[event_signal]** TPF attracting pinball personalities and industry figures beyond official speakers/events; venue becoming important social/professional hub (confidence: high) — Article notes 'pinball personalities attend the show even if they are not speaking or part of an official event. It's just a great place to hang out.' - **[event_signal]** Manufacturers increasingly choosing TPF as platform for new game and product launches, indicating event's growing importance in industry pipeline (confidence: high) — Quote: 'companies choosing the launch their new games or products there' and discussion of Guardians of the Galaxy raffle prize - **[event_signal]** Texas Pinball Festival 2018 successfully executed with flawless three-day event; positioning as potential successor to Pinball Expo as industry's leading event (confidence: high) — Closing commentary: 'Despite the packed schedule of events, the whole three days seemed to go without a hitch this year' and competitive positioning analysis - **[market_signal]** Show hotel and adjacent hotels experiencing strong demand with show hotel selling out almost immediately upon promo code announcement (confidence: high) — Statement: 'The show hotel now routinely sells out almost immediately the show promo code is announced, with adjacent hotels also getting a good number of bookings' --- ## Transcript **Date:** 16th - 18th March, 2018 **Location:** Embassy Suites, 7600 John Q Hammons Dr., Frisco,, TX 75034, USA The final day at the Texas Pinball Festival is a short one, with events wrapping up around 2:30pm with the best-in-show awards and the prize raffle draw. [![Best-in-show awards](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/163-tpf-2018-1024x689.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/163-tpf-2018.jpg) Best-in-show awards At 2:30pm all the machines are turned off and prizes are awarded to the owners of the best machines in a number of categories. First though, all machine donors are entered into a draw for cash prizes and donated goodies such as a translite and a Dead Man’s Hand tabletop game. [![](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/169-tpf-2018-773x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/169-tpf-2018.jpg) Show co-organiser Ed VanderVeen introduces the awards ceremony [![The draw for cash and prizes for machine donors](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/170-tpf-2018-1024x684.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/170-tpf-2018.jpg) The draw for cash and prizes for machine donors Then it was time for the best-in show presentations.  Each category had two runners-up and an overall winner, followed by an overall Grand Champion. The winners were chosen by the judging team of Bill Morrison, Keith Holbrook, Scott Martin and Rich Wiski. | | | --- | | **Best Classic Arcade Video Game** | | **Winner: April Pruitt** (Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters) | | Runners up: Daniel Reinhard & Tom Rohbar | | | | --- | | **Best Antique Pinball** | | **Winner: Mark Gibson** for Champion | | Runners up: Adam Vecennia Jordan & Mike and Melissa Hammer | [![Jeremy Pruitt and Mark Gibson](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/171-tpf-2018-1024x640.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/171-tpf-2018.jpg) Jeremy Pruitt and Mark Gibson | | | --- | | **Best ’60s Pinball** | | **Winner: Howard Isaacson** for Friendship 7 | | Runners up: Joe Gonzalez & Shawn Christian | [![Howard Isaacson](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/172-tpf-2018-1024x640.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/172-tpf-2018.jpg) Howard Isaacson | | | --- | | **Best ’70s EM Pinball** | | **Winner: Colin Dowling** for Pioneer | | Runners up: Joe Gonzalez & Nic Schell | | | | --- | | **Best ’70s Solid State Pinball** | | **Winner: Kevin Moore** for The Incredible Hulk | | Runners up: Dennis Moncla & Jeff Boulinger | | | | --- | | **Best ’80s Pinball** | | **Winner: Greg Campbell** for Centaur | | Runners up: Gavin Miller & Jeff Kohout | [![Kevin Moore & Greg Campbell](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/173-tpf-2018-1024x640.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/173-tpf-2018.jpg) Kevin Moore & Greg Campbell | | | --- | | **Best ’90s Pinball** | | **Winner: Roy Pennington** for Indiana Hilton Jones (WMS) | | Runners up:Eric Streeter & Kevin Moore | | | | --- | | **Best Modern (post-1999) Pinball** | | **Winner: Kim Keist** for Star Wars (Stern) | | Runners up:Brandon Harvey & Gary Stuart | [![Roy Pennington & Kim Keist](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/174-tpf-2018-1024x640.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/174-tpf-2018.jpg) Roy Pennington & Kim Keist | | | --- | | **Best Original Pinball** | | **Winner: Bob Herbison** for Ace High | | Runners up: Austin Knight & Terry Haste | | | | --- | | **Best Pinball Restoration** | | **Winner: Mike Loeckle** for Joust | | Runners up: Bobby Niefer & Sally Kammer | [![Bob Herbison & Mike Loeckle](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/175-tpf-2018-1024x640.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/175-tpf-2018.jpg) Bob Herbison & Mike Loeckle | | | --- | | **Best Custom Pinball** | | **Winner: Paul Wilson** for Polynesia | | Runners up: Mark Gibson & Doug Marley | | | | --- | | **Grand Champion** | | **Winner: Lonny Payne** (Jurassic Park pinball) | [![Paul Wilson & Lonny Payne](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/176-tpf-2018-1024x640.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/176-tpf-2018.jpg) Paul Wilson & Lonny Payne The only thing remaining was to make the draw for the grand raffle prize of a new Guardians of the Galaxy pinball.  Tickets cost $5 each from the front desk and were available throughout the show, right up until the draw rook place. [![The winning ticket is drawn from the drum](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/177-tpf-2018-1024x683.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/177-tpf-2018.jpg) The winning ticket is drawn from the drum [![The winner is verified](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/178-tpf-2018-1024x689.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/178-tpf-2018.jpg) The winner is verified [![We have a winner](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/179-tpf-2018-691x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/179-tpf-2018.jpg) We have a winner The awarding of the grand prize brought the Texas Pinball Festival 2018 to a close. [![The tear-down begins](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/180-tpf-2018-1024x683.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/180-tpf-2018.jpg) The tear-down begins [![The partially-dismantled Marco stand](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/181-tpf-2018-1024x709.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/181-tpf-2018.jpg) The partially-dismantled Marco stand [![Time to start taking machines to the staging area for loading](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/182-tpf-2018-1024x683.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/tpf-2018/182-tpf-2018.jpg) Time to start taking machines to the staging area for loading The TPF show gets bigger every year – not just the numbers of machines and vendors, but also in stature with companies choosing the launch their new games or products there.  It has got to the point where pinball personalities attend the show even if they are not speaking or part of an official event.  It’s just a great place to hang out. Then there is the number of visitors.  The show hotel now routinely sells out almost immediately the show promo code is announced, with adjacent hotels also getting a good number of bookings.  The hall was very busy on Saturday during the afternoon and evening, while the corridor outside was frequently packed with guests taking a break or getting refreshments. Despite the packed schedule of events, the whole three days seemed to go without a hitch this year.  With events surrounding Pinball Expo causing uncertainty about that show’s organisation in 2018 and the establishment of Deeproot in San Antonio and Multimorphic being based in Austin, the Texas Pinball Festival is well positioned to take over as *the* number one pinball event. _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 0f5194d3-4545-4e54-aa5e-1c0d531ee93a*