# MIDWEST GAMING CLASSIC 2018 **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2018-04-14 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2018/04/14/midwest-gaming-classic-2018 --- ## Analysis Midwest Gaming Classic 2018 (April 13-15) was held at Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, featuring 200+ playable pinball machines across multiple halls, with strong representation from major manufacturers (Stern, Jersey Jack, Spooky, Chicago Gaming). The event showcased new releases including Pirates of the Caribbean, Total Nuclear Annihilation, and Alice Cooper's Nightmare Castle, alongside classic machines, arcade games, vendor booths, and custom builds. The pre-show Friday was lightly attended while Saturday drew large crowds; attendance remained manageable despite capacity. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Almost every new pinball machine title is at the show, plus rows of older pins — _Author's direct observation of the show floor; standard industry expectation for MGC_ - [HIGH] Marco Specialties had approximately 50 new Stern pins available — _Photo caption: 'Marco Specialties' pyramid canopy towering over 50 new Stern pins'_ - [HIGH] Well over a dozen Iron Maiden pins were available to play — _Photo caption explicitly states 'Well over a dozen new Iron Maiden pins available to play'_ - [HIGH] KingPin Games brought all Jersey Jack pins including the new Pirates of the Caribbean — _Photo caption: 'KingPin Games had all the Jersey Jack pins to play including the new Pirates of the Caribbean'_ ### Notable Quotes > "Buying a pre-show ticket for Friday night was very nice because the giant third floor hall – where the pins were – was lightly attended. It was easy to play all the new and older pins." > — **Article author** > _Describes the value of pre-show access and experience quality difference between Friday and Saturday_ > "The quantity, quality and variety of pins at the MGC was incredible. I look forward to going back next year." > — **Article author** > _Overall positive assessment of the event and commitment to attendance; indicates MGC is a marquee event_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Midwest Gaming Classic | event | Annual gaming convention held April 13-15, 2018 in Milwaukee at Wisconsin Center; major pinball industry showcase with 200+ machines | | Wisconsin Center | location | Venue for MGC 2018 at 400 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI; houses third floor pinball hall and multiple smaller second-floor rooms | | Marco Specialties | company | Pinball parts distributor with major booth presence at MGC 2018; exhibited approximately 50 new Stern pins under distinctive pyramid canopy | | KingPin Games | company | Pinball distributor at MGC 2018; brought complete Jersey Jack inventory including Pirates of the Caribbean and Chicago Gaming remakes | | Stern Pinball | company | Major manufacturer with significant presence at MGC 2018; Marco Specialties and vendors exhibited numerous new Stern titles | | Jersey Jack Pinball | company | Premium pinball manufacturer; Pirates of the Caribbean was recently released and featured at MGC 2018 | | Spooky Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer with booth at MGC 2018; exhibited Total Nuclear Annihilation and Alice Cooper's Nightmare Castle | | Chicago Gaming Company | company | Pinball manufacturer specializing in classic game remakes; had machines at MGC 2018 via KingPin Games | | Pirates of the Caribbean | game | New Jersey Jack Pinball release featured prominently at MGC 2018; described as newly available to play | | Total Nuclear Annihilation | game | New Spooky Pinball title exhibited at MGC 2018 | | Alice Cooper's Nightmare Castle | game | New Spooky Pinball title exhibited at MGC 2018 | | Iron Maiden | game | Jersey Jack Pinball title; well over a dozen units available to play at MGC 2018, indicating strong production/allocation | | Jeremy Wilson | person | Custom pinball builder who completed a completely custom Hot Rod pinball machine exhibited at MGC 2018 | | Svengoolie | person | Chicago TV legend who visited the Spooky Pinball booth at MGC 2018 | | Dirty Donny | person | Artist selling artwork at MGC 2018 | | Rob Anthony | person | Operator/collector with 'Rob Anthony's Pinball Classic' room on second floor of MGC 2018 | | Pincades | company | Vendor at MGC 2018; exhibited Houdini pinball machines (4 units displayed) | | Arcade Legends | company | Arcade operator in DeKalb, IL; filled a second-floor room at MGC 2018 with arcade games from their location | | Galloping Ghost | company | Arcade operator in Brookfield, IL; filled a second-floor room at MGC 2018 with arcade games | | The Shadow | game | Classic vintage pinball machine; displayed with greatly-improved translite mod at MGC 2018 | ### Topics - **Primary:** Event logistics and venue, New pinball game releases and availability, Manufacturer presence and booth displays - **Secondary:** Collector and vintage pinball machines, Custom and homebrew pinball builds, Aftermarket modifications and ColorDMDs - **Mentioned:** Arcade video games and adjacent markets ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Author expresses strong satisfaction with event quantity, quality, and variety; praises accessibility despite Saturday crowds; commits to returning next year. No criticisms or concerns noted. ### Signals - **[business_signal]** Strong distributor and operator participation indicates healthy market demand; Marco Specialties, KingPin Games, Arcade Legends, Galloping Ghost all committed to significant booth presence (confidence: high) — Multiple major distributors/operators maintained large booths with 50+ machines (Marco), complete manufacturer lineups (KingPin), and dedicated game rooms - **[community_signal]** Custom builds and aftermarket mods prominently featured (Jeremy Wilson Hot Rod, translite mods, ColorDMD conversions), indicating active hobbyist ecosystem (confidence: high) — Multiple displays of custom and modified machines; 13 pins with ColorDMDs displayed; custom Hot Rod pin highlighted as 'fantastic' - **[event_signal]** Pre-show ticket option created less crowded Friday experience; Saturday attracted significant crowds but remained playable (confidence: high) — Author notes Friday was 'lightly attended' with 'easy to play' experience; Saturday 'much more crowded' but 'fairly easy to play a desired game' - **[event_signal]** MGC 2018 confirmed as major industry showcase with nearly complete new-release inventory from Stern, Jersey Jack, Spooky, and Chicago Gaming (confidence: high) — Author states 'Almost every new pinball machine title is at the show' with specific photo documentation of multiple new releases - **[market_signal]** Iron Maiden production volume appears robust with 'well over a dozen' units available to play at single show booth, suggesting strong manufacturing capacity and allocation (confidence: medium) — Photo caption: 'Well over a dozen new Iron Maiden pins available to play'; multiple units indicates either large production run or major allocation to distributor --- ## Transcript **Date:** 13th - 15th April, 2018 **Location:** Wisconsin Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53203, USA This weekend is the [Midwest Gaming Classic](https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/) show in downtown Milwaukee, in its new home at the Wisconsin Center at 400 W.Wisconsin Ave. in Milwaukee. [![The Wisconsin Center](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/001-mgc-2018-1024x576.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/001-mgc-2018.jpg) The Wisconsin Center The show is held on Saturday April 14th and Sunday April 15th, but there was a pre-show ticket available for Friday night, April 13th. [![A giant greeting sign by the hall entrance](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/007-mgc-2018-1024x576.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/007-mgc-2018.jpg) A giant greeting sign by the hall entrance [![Items for sale outside the main hall](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/002-mgc-2018-1024x576.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/002-mgc-2018.jpg) Items for sale outside the main hall The show features both video games and pinball machines, an while classic home and arcade video games are a big part of the event, pinball machines seem to be the biggest feature of the show. Almost every new pinball machine title is at the show, plus rows of older pins. [![A long row of new-in-box Stern games during show set-up](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/101-mgc-2018-1024x716.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/101-mgc-2018.jpg) A long row of new-in-box Stern games during show set-up (Picture: Gary Flower) [![Marco Specialties' pyramid canopy towering over 50 new Stern pins](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/014-mgc-2018-1024x576.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/014-mgc-2018.jpg) Marco Specialties’ pyramid canopy towering over 50 new Stern pins [![Well over a dozen new Iron Maiden pins available to play](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/013-mgc-2018-1024x576.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/013-mgc-2018.jpg) Well over a dozen new Iron Maiden pins available to play [![KingPin Games had all the Jersey Jack pins to play including the new Pirates of the Caribbean](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/011-mgc-2018-1024x576.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/011-mgc-2018.jpg) KingPin Games had all the Jersey Jack pins to play including the new Pirates of the Caribbean [![Chicago Gaming remake pins also brought by KingPin Games](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/010-mgc-2018-1024x576.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/010-mgc-2018.jpg) Chicago Gaming remake pins also brought by KingPin Games [![Some of the new pins from Spooky pinball including Total Nuclear Annihilation and Alice Cooper's Nightmare Castle](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/012-mgc-2018-1024x576.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/012-mgc-2018.jpg) Some of the new pins from Spooky pinball including Total Nuclear Annihilation and Alice Cooper’s Nightmare Castle [![Four Houdini pins at the booth from Pincades ](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/016-mgc-2018-1024x576.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/016-mgc-2018.jpg) Four Houdini pins at the booth from Pincades Buying a pre-show ticket for Friday night was very nice because the giant third floor hall – where the pins were – was lightly attended. It was easy to play all the new and older pins. I was told that on Saturday the place gets very crowded with gamers. [![Donny Gillies (Dirty Donny) selling his artwork](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/003-mgc-2018-1024x576.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/003-mgc-2018.jpg) Donny Gillies (Dirty Donny) selling his artwork [![Some of the 200-plus pinball machines at the show on Friday](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/015-mgc-2018-1024x576.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/015-mgc-2018.jpg) Some of the 200-plus pinball machines at the show on Friday [![A greatly-improved translite mod for The Shadow](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/005-mgc-2018-1024x576.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/005-mgc-2018.jpg) A greatly-improved translite mod for The Shadow [![E.T. - one of the many virtual pin titles from Pinball FX](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/006-mgc-2018-1024x576.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/006-mgc-2018.jpg) E.T. – one of the many virtual pin titles from Pinball FX [![Long row of tables with classic home video games](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/008-mgc-2018-1024x576.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/008-mgc-2018.jpg) Long row of tables with classic home video games There is another hall on the second floor and a vendor hall that is open on Saturday and Sunday. [![The vendor hall being set up](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/004-mgc-2018-1024x576.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/004-mgc-2018.jpg) The vendor hall being set up [![One of the many home video game displays](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/009-mgc-2018-1024x576.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/009-mgc-2018.jpg) One of the many home video game displays The Saturday show really brought out the game enthusiasts. [![Excellent security at the event](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/018-mgc-2018-1024x670.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/018-mgc-2018.jpg) Excellent security at the event [![Back to the Future DeLorean car in the vendor hall](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/017-mgc-2018-1024x634.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/017-mgc-2018.jpg) Back to the Future DeLorean car in the vendor hall It was much more crowded than the Friday pre-show, but even with that much larger crowd it was fairly easy to play a desired game. [![A row of 13 pins with ColorDMDs](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/019-mgc-2018-1024x612.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/019-mgc-2018.jpg) A row of 13 pins with ColorDMDs [![The fantastic completely custom Hot Rod pin just finished by Jeremy Wilson](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/020-mgc-2018-1024x661.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/020-mgc-2018.jpg) The fantastic completely custom Hot Rod pin just finished by Jeremy Wilson The second floor of the Wisconsin Center building held 14 smaller rooms of mostly video games. Arcade Legends in DeKalb IL and Galloping Ghost in Brookfield IL each filled a room with games from their arcades. [![Chicago TV legend Svengoolie stops by the Spooky Pinball booth](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/021-mgc-2018-1024x647.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/021-mgc-2018.jpg) Chicago TV legend Svengoolie stops by the Spooky Pinball booth [![Rob Anthony’s Pinball Classic room on the second floor of the show](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/022-mgc-2018-1024x576.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/mgc-2018/022-mgc-2018.jpg) Rob Anthony’s Pinball Classic room on the second floor of the show The quantity, quality and variety of pins at the MGC was incredible. I look forward to going back next year. _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 4326393c-5911-454c-913f-a5af22c69d94*