# TON TON XL 2016 **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2016-04-06 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2016/04/06/ton-ton-xl-2016 --- ## Analysis Ton Ton XL 2016 was a large European arcade event held in Amsterdam in March 2016, featuring 51 pinball machines, 12 air hockey tables, and numerous arcade games across two weekends. The event was a return engagement after a successful 2015 inaugural event that drew over 14,000 visitors. Owner Serdar Tonkas improved the experience by increasing game variety based on 2015 feedback, and featured special installations like Balls for Cthulu and Pinball Pianola alongside popular titles like Stern's Game of Thrones and Time Crisis 2. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Ton Ton XL 2016 featured fifty-one pinball machines in a single venue, making it the biggest arcade in Europe for those two weekends — _Event description states venue was 'turned into the biggest arcade in Europe for two weekends in March' with '51 pinball machines' among other arcade games_ - [HIGH] The 2015 inaugural Ton Ton XL event drew more than 14,000 visitors and was overcrowded — _Owner Serdar Tonkas directly states 'That event was overcrowded, with more than 14,000 visitors' and notes people 'often had to wait an hour before being able to play a game'_ - [MEDIUM] Tonkas predicts Time Crisis 2 will be played more than 1,000 times each day during the event weekends — _Tonkas states: 'I think it'll be played more than 1,000 times each day during these weekends' regarding Time Crisis 2's expected popularity_ - [HIGH] Stern's Game of Thrones pinball was featured at Ton Ton XL 2016 and expected to be highly popular — _Article explicitly states 'the newest games like Stern's Game of Thrones get lots of attention' and shows photo caption confirming 'Stern's Game of Thrones was expected to be highly popular too'_ - [HIGH] Ton Ton Club operates year-round at two locations in Amsterdam: Westerpark and the red light district — _Closing statement: 'Ton Ton club continues to operate all year round in its two locations in Westerpark and in Amsterdam's red light district'_ ### Notable Quotes > "I'll be back!" > — **Arnold Schwarzenegger (Terminator 2 machine voice)**, Opening > _Sets the tone for the event, referencing the iconic Terminator 2 pinball machine featured prominently_ > "At Ton Ton we look for the ideal mix of playing, food, and drinks. But it was overcrowded last year; you often had to wait an hour before being able to play a game of Mario Kart. That's not funny." > — **Serdar Tonkas (Ton Ton Club owner)**, Mid-article > _Explains operator's design philosophy and feedback loop from 2015 event to improve 2016 experience_ > "Those machines for which people really travel to Amsterdam. They are being played non-stop all day. Like Time Crisis 2. Everyone who loves arcade games has played Time Crisis 2. I think it'll be played more than 1,000 times each day during these weekends." > — **Serdar Tonkas**, Mid-article > _Identifies Time Crisis 2 as a key draw and most-played game; demonstrates operator's understanding of player preferences_ > "If people are not able to play a game now, they are welcome to do so over the coming months in our regular facility here in Westerpark. Game of Thrones will be there as well." > — **Serdar Tonkas**, Late article > _Shows operator strategy of using event machines as draw for regular venue traffic_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Ton Ton Club | organization | Amsterdam-based arcade and pinball venue operator with locations in Westerpark and red light district; organizes Ton Ton XL event | | Serdar Tonkas | person | Owner of Ton Ton Club; operator and organizer of Ton Ton XL 2016 event | | Ton Ton XL 2016 | event | Large European arcade festival held March 11-13 and 18-20, 2016 in Amsterdam's Westergasfabriek venue; second annual edition featuring 51 pinballs and 1,000+ arcade games | | Westergasfabriek | organization | Amsterdam venue/industrial space that hosted Ton Ton XL 2016; housed the arcade in its 'Clearing Hall' | | Stern | company | Pinball manufacturer; Game of Thrones was featured game at Ton Ton XL 2016 | | Game of Thrones | game | Stern pinball machine that was newest title at Ton Ton XL 2016 and generated high player interest | | Terminator 2 | game | Pinball machine featured prominently at Ton Ton XL 2016; classic title that remained popular with visitors | | Time Crisis 2 | game | Light gun arcade game predicted to be most played game at Ton Ton XL 2016 with 1,000+ plays per day | | Mortal Kombat 2 | game | Fighting game arcade machine at Ton Ton Club; owner's personal favorite; recurring draw for international visitors like Nick | | Balls for Cthulu | game | Special installation art piece at Ton Ton XL 2016; pentagram-shaped pinball machine for five players with guitar construction and drum machine integration | | Pinball Pianola | game | Special art installation at Ton Ton XL 2016; hybrid art object and game using piano keys to control flippers and piano strings as targets | | Roy Del Vecchio | person | Photographer credited for pictures in Ton Ton XL 2016 event coverage | | Winfred de Ruijter | person | Translator for Ton Ton XL 2016 event article | ### Topics - **Primary:** Arcade Events & Festivals, Pinball Machine Venues & Operations - **Secondary:** Player Demographics & Preferences, Arcade Game Popularity & Curation, Venue Management & Capacity Planning - **Mentioned:** Art Installations & Experimental Pinball ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.82) — Event coverage is enthusiastic and celebratory. Tonkas expresses satisfaction with improvements and player engagement. Visitor feedback (through Nick anecdote) is positive. No critical commentary or complaints present. Tone is promotional but not overly sensationalized. ### Signals - **[event_signal]** Large-scale community arcade event drawing international visitors; demonstrates sustained interest in arcade/pinball tourism and venue experiences (confidence: high) — 2015 inaugural event drew 14,000+ visitors; 2016 repeat event indicates established demand; Nick anecdote shows international visitor travel patterns - **[event_signal]** Ton Ton XL 2016 successful return event with 51 pinball machines and 1,000+ arcade games representing largest European arcade venue for event weekend (confidence: high) — Explicit claim of 'biggest arcade in Europe for two weekends in March' with detailed game counts and venue information - **[market_signal]** Stern's Game of Thrones pinball generating strong player demand at major European venues; indicates successful IP licensing and market reception (confidence: high) — Article notes Game of Thrones 'get lots of attention' and was 'expected to be highly popular' at major venue event --- ## Transcript Date: 11th-13th & 18th-20th March, 2016 Location: Ton Ton Club XL, Westergasfabriek, Pazzanistraat 37, Amsterdam, Netherlands Translation: Winfred de Ruijter Pictures: Roy Del Vecchio Arcade Games & Pinball on Location: 1,000 Games per Day With fifty-one pinball machines, twelve air hockey tables, and an immense number of racers and shooters, the ‘Clearing Hall’ of the ‘Westergas Factory’ in Amsterdam was turned into the biggest arcade in Europe for two weekends in March. This was the return of Ton Ton XL. “I’ll be back!” says the voice of Arnold Schwarzenegger, as the display of Terminator 2 shows ‘Game over’. Terminator 2 is one of the fifty-one pinball machines in the line up of Ton Ton XL this year. ![A few of the many pinballs at Ton Ton XL](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/ton-ton-xl-2016/7.jpg) A XL The first edition of Ton Ton XL took place in 2015 . That event was overcrowded, with more than 14,000 visitors. ‘We learned from that experience,‘ says owner Serdar Tonkas. “At Ton Ton we look for the ideal mix of playing, food, and drinks. But it was overcrowded last year; you often had to wait an hour before being able to play a game of Mario Kart. That’s not funny. Therefore we now have eight Mario Karts in the line-up, instead of two”. ![Plenty of other racers too](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/ton-ton-xl-2016/8.jpg) There are plenty of other racers too Mini Dance Floors At the entrance you immediately notice the Dance Dance Revolution square. Twenty mini dance floors, all connected on one stage. Twenty people dancing at the same time, on a great beat. Tonkas likes this view, and at the same time he touches a Mortal Kombat 2 machine. He really likes that one. “This was one of the first machines we bought for our Ton Ton Club two years ago. On the night of the opening, an English tourist called Nick came by. He played that machine the whole night. Although he since moved to Chicago, he visits Amsterdam five times each year; the only reason is to play Mortal Kombat 2”. The Popular Games Nick is such a typical Ton Ton visitor. Aged 30, a decent job, knows pinball machines and arcade games from the earlier days, and for him this weekend feels like a trip down memory lane. “Mortal Kombat 2 is a great game, but it’s not the most favourite this weekend,” says Tonkas. The most popular one? “Those machines for which people really travel to Amsterdam. They are being played non-stop all day,” he says. “Like Time Crisis 2. Everyone who loves arcade games has played Time Crisis 2. I think it’ll be played more than 1,000 times each day during these weekends“, predicts Tonkas. ![The most popular game in the hall?](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/ton-ton-xl-2016/11.jpg) The most popular game in the hall? Pinball On the other side of the hall people are queuing to play pinball. Not only Terminator 2 is popular, but also the newest games like Stern’s Game of Thrones get lots of attention. ![Stern's Game of Thrones was expected to be highly popular too](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/ton-ton-xl-2016/12.jpg) Stern’s too Tonkas smiles. “If people are not able to play a game now, they are welcome to do so over the coming months in our regular facility here in Westerpark. Game of Thrones will be there as well.” Specials During Ton Ton XL a few specials were in the line up as well: Balls for Cthulu A pentagram-shaped pinball machine for five players. The outer case is constructed out of guitars, while the bumpers in the middle are connected to a drum machine. ![Balls for Cthulu](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/ton-ton-xl-2016/9a.jpg) Balls for Cthulu Pinball Pianola This pinball was more an art object than a game as such. By playing the piano keys you could control the flippers. The targets were the piano strings, and by hitting the various objects on the playfield you could switch effects such as echo, delay and fuzz, on or off. ![Pinball Pianola](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/ton-ton-xl-2016/10a.jpg) Pinball Pianola Ton Ton XL may have finished for this year, but the Ton Ton club continues to operate all year round in its two locations in Westerpark and in Amsterdam’s red light district. _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 508e8fdf-7831-40a6-a857-61d78c627749*