# NORTHWEST PINBALL & ARCADE SHOW 2018: SET-UP **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2018-06-08 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2018/06/08/northwest-pinball-arcade-show-2018-1 --- ## Analysis Coverage of the Northwest Pinball & Arcade Show 2018 setup on Thursday, June 8th at the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center. The article documents the preparation phase with photographs of the venue layout, machine arrivals, vendor setup, and detailed closeups of Homepin's Thunderbirds machines making their North American debut. The show features tournament machines, free play games, classic EM titles, and modern releases from manufacturers like Jersey Jack Pinball. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Homepin's Thunderbirds machines are making their first appearance in North America at this show — _This is the first time these machines have been shown in North American, so there is bound to be much attention on them once the show opens._ - [HIGH] The original title of Thunderbirds machines was 'Thunderbirds Are Go' but has been changed to just 'Thunderbirds' — _Note that the original title of *Thunderbirds Are Go* seems to have been changed to just *Thunderbirds*._ - [HIGH] Seminars at the show will be streamed live and available for playback online — _The seminars will all be streamed live and available to playback online, so we won't be recording them here._ - [HIGH] A Houdini machine is being raffled as the grand prize, to be drawn on Sunday afternoon — _They already had the *Houdini* machine which will be the grand prize which will be drawn on Sunday afternoon._ - [HIGH] The show features Nitro Pinball stand with latest machines and newly released titles — _Nitro Pinball stand. Nitro usually has the latest machines and this year is no different, with the big draw being two new *Thunderbirds* machines from Homepin._ ### Notable Quotes > "This is the first time these machines have been shown in North American, so there is bound to be much attention on them once the show opens." > — **Pinball News author** > _Highlights the significance of Homepin's Thunderbirds debut in North America_ > "Note that the original title of *Thunderbirds Are Go* seems to have been changed to just *Thunderbirds*." > — **Pinball News author** > _Documents a title change for the Homepin Thunderbirds machine_ > "The seminars will all be streamed live and available to playback online, so we won't be recording them here." > — **Pinball News author** > _Indicates professional streaming setup for event seminars_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Northwest Pinball & Arcade Show 2018 | event | Major pinball and arcade show held June 8-10, 2018 in Tacoma, Washington | | Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center | organization | Venue hosting NWPAS 2018 at 1500 Broadway, Tacoma, WA 98402 | | Homepin | company | Pinball manufacturer showcasing Thunderbirds machines at the show, making North American debut | | Thunderbirds | game | Homepin-manufactured pinball machine with licensed Thunderbirds theme, originally titled 'Thunderbirds Are Go' | | Nitro Pinball | organization | Vendor/distributor stand at the show featuring latest machines including Thunderbirds, Houdini, and Total Nuclear Annihilation | | Jersey Jack Pinball | company | Modern pinball manufacturer with machines being set up at the show by Butch Peel and Charlie Martin | | Butch Peel | person | Involved in setting up Jersey Jack Pinball machines at the show | | Charlie Martin | person | Involved in setting up Jersey Jack Pinball machines at the show | | Mike Lorrain | person | Set up streaming and seminar technical infrastructure with three cameras, mixing desk, and multi-mic radio system | | Houdini | game | Pinball machine used as grand prize raffle at the show, drawn Sunday afternoon | | Total Nuclear Annihilation | game | Pinball machine on display at Nitro Pinball stand | | Hercules | game | Pinball machine with distinctive artwork visible at the show | | Pinball News | organization | News outlet covering the Northwest Pinball & Arcade Show 2018 | ### Topics - **Primary:** Event setup and preparation, Homepin Thunderbirds machine debut in North America, Pinball show venue organization - **Secondary:** Modern pinball manufacturers presence, Live streaming and seminar infrastructure - **Mentioned:** Classic EM pinball machines, Arcade venue operations, Tournament machine setup ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — The article conveys enthusiasm for the show setup, excitement about Homepin's Thunderbirds debut, and appreciation for the event's scale and organization. Tone is professional and positive throughout. ### Signals - **[event_signal]** Professional streaming and live broadcast infrastructure implemented for event seminars via Mike Lorrain's setup (confidence: high) — Mike Lorrain had an impressive set-up with three cameras, a new mixing desk and a multi-mic radio system. The seminars will all be streamed live and available to playback online. - **[event_signal]** Northwest Pinball & Arcade Show 2018 featuring Homepin Thunderbirds machines in their first North American public showing (confidence: high) — This is the first time these machines have been shown in North American, so there is bound to be much attention on them once the show opens. - **[announcement]** Homepin Thunderbirds pinball machine title clarification from 'Thunderbirds Are Go' to 'Thunderbirds' (confidence: medium) — Note that the original title of *Thunderbirds Are Go* seems to have been changed to just *Thunderbirds*. --- ## Transcript Date: 8th-10th June, 2018 Location: Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center, 1500 Broadway, Tacoma, WA 98402, USA We got to the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center around 2pm on Thursday to check on the set-up, and sure enough everything was being done to get ready for Friday’s opening. ![The Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/002-nwpas-2018.jpg) The Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center The lobby was looking a little sparse, but most of the action there doesn’t take place until later in the day and early on Friday morning. The machines for the kids area were arriving, and the seminar area was fully-built and ready to go. ![The lobby where registration takes place](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/004-nwpas-2018.jpg) The lobby where registration takes place ![Some of the machines for the kids play area](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/005-nwpas-2018.jpg) Some of the machines for the kids play area ![The seminars area](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/039-nwpas-2018.jpg) The seminars area Mike Lorrain had an impressive set-up with three cameras, a new mixing desk and a multi-mic radio system. The seminars will all be streamed live and available to playback online, so we won’t be recording them here. We will be photographing them all and summarising the talks though. ![Mike's seminar control station](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/040-nwpas-2018.jpg) Mike’s seminar control station Let’s go through the main doors and see what was happening in the main show hall. ![Into the main hall](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/038-nwpas-2018.jpg) Into the main hall The main show desk is directly in front of the entrance. It is here that raffle tickets are sold and the show announcements made. They already had the Houdini machine which will be the grand prize which will be drawn on Sunday afternoon. ![Setting up the show desk](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/006-nwpas-2018.jpg) Setting up the show desk Turning left, we came to the Nitro Pinball stand. Nitro usually has the latest machines and this year is no different, with the big draw being two new Thunderbirds machines from Homepin. ![The two Thunderbirds machines on the Nitro Pinball stand](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/007-nwpas-2018.jpg) The two Thunderbirds machines on the Nitro Pinball stand This is the first time these machines have been shown in North American, so there is bound to be much attention on them once the show opens. We took a bunch of pictures, but rather than spend too long on the game here you’ll find them at the end of today’s report. Elsewhere, things were coming together. ![The view from the front left corner of the hall](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/041-nwpas-2018.jpg) The hall ![Trucks were turning up at the loading dock and being unloaded](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/032-nwpas-2018.jpg) Trucks unloaded ![Unloaded machines waiting to go into the hall](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/029-nwpas-2018.jpg) Unloaded machines waiting to go into the hall ![Pinballs to go into the hall](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/031-nwpas-2018.jpg) Pinballs to go into the hall ![Video games, carefully -wrapped](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/030-nwpas-2018.jpg) Video games, carefully-wrapped The hall was filling up, with vendors also setting up their stands. ![There's no mistaking the Hercules machine](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/042-nwpas-2018.jpg) There’s no mistaking the Hercules machine ![It's certainly not all pinball, with loads of video games too](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/033-nwpas-2018.jpg) It’s too ![But there are plenty of pinballs](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/034-nwpas-2018.jpg) But don’t worry, there are plenty of pinballs ![Tournament machines](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/026-nwpas-2018.jpg) Tournament machines ![More tournament machines](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/028-nwpas-2018.jpg) More tournament machines ![Free play machines in the central area](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/027-nwpas-2018.jpg) Free play machines in the central area ![More pinballs](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/035-nwpas-2018.jpg) More pinballs ![The show always has an impressive EM section](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/036-nwpas-2018.jpg) The show always has an impressive EM section ![But there are the latest titles too, with Butch Peel and Charlie Martin setting up the JJP machines](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/037-nwpas-2018.jpg) But machines ![Houdini, Total Nuclear Annihilation and the two remakes are here on the Nitro stand](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/025-nwpas-2018.jpg) Houdini, stand OK, so that’s what was happening in the main hall. Now we’ll take a close-up look at Homepin’s Thunderbirds game. Note that the original title of Thunderbirds Are Go seems to have been changed to just Thunderbirds. ![The Thunderbirds playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/008-nwpas-2018.jpg) The Thunderbirds playfield ![The Thunderbirds backglass which is all one piece](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/020-nwpas-2018.jpg) The Thunderbirds backglass which is all one piece ![Thunderbirds cabinet side art](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/021-nwpas-2018.jpg) Thunderbirds cabinet side art ![Backbox side art which is backlit](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/022-nwpas-2018.jpg) Backbox side art which is backlit ![The Thunderbirds cabinet front](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/023-nwpas-2018.jpg) The Thunderbirds cabinet front ![The left ramp area](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/009-nwpas-2018.jpg) The left ramp area ![The centre movable ramp shot](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/013-nwpas-2018.jpg) The centre movable-ramp shot ![The top left area](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/012-nwpas-2018.jpg) The top left playfield area ![The mid-left area](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/011-nwpas-2018.jpg) The mid-left area ![The left orbit shot](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/019-nwpas-2018.jpg) The left orbit shot ![The top rollover lanes](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/014-nwpas-2018.jpg) The top rollover lanes ![The mid-right area](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/015-nwpas-2018.jpg) The mid-right area ![The bottom right area](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/016-nwpas-2018.jpg) The bottom right area ![The bottom left area](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/017-nwpas-2018.jpg) The bottom left area ![The feature grid](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/018-nwpas-2018.jpg) The feature grid ![The whole playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/010-nwpas-2018.jpg) The whole playfield ![The instruction card](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/nwpas-2018/024-nwpas-2018.jpg) The instruction card That concludes our look at Thursday’s set-up at the Northwest Pinball & Arcade Show. We’ll be back tomorrow reporting live from the show and will be adding and updating our reports right through the weekend, so check out all our reports at the main NWPAS page. _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: e56f42b2-a9c6-4568-ac6a-d4e35c57bcc3*