**Date:** 21st - 23rd March 2025
**Location:** Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center, 7600 John Q Hammons Drive, Frisco, TX, USA
Hello and welcome to our coverage of the 2025 Texas Pinball Festival, held once again at the Frisco Convention Center and at the adjacent Embassy Suites hotel.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/001-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The main show hotel for the Texas Pinball Festival
We arrived at the show hotel on Wednesday afternoon. The full Texas Pinball Festival (TPF) doesn’t begin until 4pm on Friday, but we’re here early to preview the show and document how it all comes together.
**WEDNESDAY**
The venue is a combination of the Frisco Conference Center and the Embassy Suites hotel. The hotel is the primary accommodation for show attendees, but the block of rooms allocated to the show sells out in a matter of seconds once they become publicly available at the discounted TPF rate.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/002-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The boundary between the Embassy Suites and the Conference Center
Although joined, there is a clear line of demarcation between the hotel and the Conference Center. The hotel is run by the Hilton Group, whereas the Conference Center is run by the City of Frisco.
Much of the show effort goes into the planning which stretches back from today for several months. Although the venue only comes together a day or two before the doors open to the public, much of the planning has been taking place ever since the previous year’s show closed.
There were other events in the main hall and the side rooms earlier on Wednesday, meaning the TPF organisers and vendors could only start bringing in their wares later in the day.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/003-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
An early look into the main TPF hall
Some banners and a few pinball machine boxes from American Pinball and Euro Pinball Corp were on the show floor by 5pm, but nothing else.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/004-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The few pinballs brought into the hall so far
The main part of the hall remained largely empty so far.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/005-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Looking into the main part of the show hall
Outside the main show doors, the corridors were eerily quiet, while some action took place inside the ticket office.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/006-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The seeaing area and corridor leading back to the hotel on the left registration office with the right to the seminars room
On the corridor back to the hotel, there is a small staircase leading to an upper level where the tournaments have been held in previous years.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/008-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
This way to the tournaments
We returned to the show floor around 11pm to check on progress.
Show organiser Paul McKinney was busy measuring and taping the floor to mark out the boundaries of each booth.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/009-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Taping the floor to show each booth’s boundary
He was working from the overall floor plan for this year’s show.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/013-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The Man with the Plan
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/016-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The floor plan for the 2025 TPF
Some vendors were setting up their stands already. Marco Specialties has a large area to show ten new Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye machines along with a bunch of other recent titles.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/010-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Building the Marco Specialties stand
Nitro Pinball had some machines set up, including *The Blues Brothers* and *Evil Dead*.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/011-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The Blues Brothers from Homepin and Evil Dead from Spooky
Mayfair Amusements also had some of their spares in the hall, along with wooden batons to build their backglass display racking.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/014-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
A small part of the Mayfair Amusements stand
Work carries on into the night to continue preparing the Conference Center’s main hall for this year’s Texas Pinball Festival.
**THURSDAY**
By Thursday morning nothing much in the hall had visibly changed, but that soon began to change as machines and vendor stands started to arrive.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/100-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Inside the main hall on Thursday
Here’s our look around the main show hall on Thursday afternoon.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/101-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Jersey Jack Pinball setting up their stand
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/102-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Some of the games on the Fun!/Marco Specialties stand showcasing their Stern Pinball machines
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/107-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
More new Stern Pinball games
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/103-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Mayfair Amusements’ stand is slowly coming together
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/104-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Planetary Pinball’s stand is raising the roof
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/105-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Some of the new games which will be available to play
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/106-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The area for homebrew pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/108-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The CoinTaker stand featuring a The Big Lebowski pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/109-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Some new-in-box machines are hard to get out of their box
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/110-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The Chicago Gaming stand is coming together
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/115-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
This The Addams Family is a remake based on the TV series rather than the movie
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/116-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
This neighboring Bride of Pinbot must be another contender for the Best-in-Show awards
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/111-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The view from the main doors on Thursday afternoon
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/113-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
At the loading doors, machines are checked in as they arrive
Recent arrivals are staged here until they are ready to go into position in the main hall
Not everything at the Texas Pinball Festival takes place in the main hall, of course.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/112-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
More games being set up in the corridor behind the main hall
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/118-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The registration booth outside the main hall issues badges, wristbands and show guides
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/119-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The Seminars Hall where the AV system is being installed
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/120-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Upstairs, the tournament area is also coming together
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/124-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Tournament players line up to get some early practice on the machines
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/121-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Inside the tournaments area
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/123-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Some of the tournaments machines
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/122-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
More tournaments machines
**FRIDAY**
By Friday morning, the show was really starting to take shape.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/229-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The show banners hung in the corridors and lobby area
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/210-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The show floor on Friday morning
The show opens to the general public at 4pm today, but a limited number of special VIP passes were also available which allowed access from midday. So, the pressure was on to get the show floor completed in the remaining few hours.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/213-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Spooky Pinball had a number of Evil Dead machines along with many of their earlier titles
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/220-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Jersey Jack Pinball were setting up their stand with Avatar and Elton John in the spotlight alongside their other games
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/215-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Stern Pinball were represented by Marco Specialties and FUN!
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/222-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Multimorphic had three of their new Portal games together with multiple other P³ machines with assorted game titles
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/239-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The three Portal machines
When they are first powered up and made available to play, there were many who wanted to see the game for the first time.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/240-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Checking out the new Portal game
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/221-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Barrels of Fun had four of their Labyrinth machines available to play
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/214-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Turner Pinball had two copies of their new Merlin’s Arcade game plus two Ninja Eclipse machines
We stopped by the Turner Pinball to talk to Chris Turner and play their new Merlin’s Arcade game.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/201-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Merlin’s Arcade is the new game from Turner Pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/202-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The playfield from Merlin’s Arcade
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/208-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The cabinet artwork
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/204-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The Merlin sculpt features fabric clothing
The ‘bobblehead’ characters on the pop bumpers are character in the arcade game behind and appear in the pinball’s video mode
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/205-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The video game only lights up at the moment – perfect for the game modders
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/206-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The Morgan Le Fay sculpt
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/207-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The barrel ball lock
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/209-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The Legendary Edition numbered plaque
Elsewhere in the hall, the other stands were also getting show-ready.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/216-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The homebrew section
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/217-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Nitro Pinball had games from various manufacturers
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/212-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
This helicopter pilot game is now available in a new guise
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/218-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
It’s not all new pinball though, with plenty of classic titles available to play
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/219-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Classic videos too
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/211-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
More classic pinballs
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/242-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
For real classic games, check out the History of Pinball stand
At the far end of the main hall, another regular feature of the show was getting warmed up.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/243-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The familiar DeLorean was paired with a Back to the Future pinball
Outside the entrance to the main hall, the entry desk was doing brisk business as guests bought their entry tickets, raffle tickets and show merchandise.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/230-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Buying show tickets
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/231-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Some of the show merch on sale
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/232-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
More shirts and caps
Next door to the registration desk was Rob Antony’s *Pinball Classics* room for cleaning essentials, parts and mods.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/238-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Rob with his Pinball Classics room
Upstairs in the tournament area, the qualifying rounds for the Texas Wizards event were underway.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/228-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
This way to the tournaments
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/224-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Qualifying in the tournaments area
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/226-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
More qualifying machines and players
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/225-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The registration and streaming desk
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/227-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Some of the trophies to be won
Friday also saw the start of this year’s seminars programme.
All the seminars are available to watch either on the live stream or on recordings on the Twitch channel at [twitch.tv/texas\_pinball\_seminar](https://www.twitch.tv/texas_pinball_seminar).
**4pm – ‘How To’ Series: Pinball for Everyone – Jim Austin, Rusty Key, Jennifer Swanson**
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/244-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Jim, Rusty and Jennifer
Jim, Rusty and Jennifer described the development of adaptive flipper controls to allow players with limited physical abilities the opportunity to enjoy the game through the use of specially developed plug-in controllers, giving examples of the different types available and examples of how they help connect the player to the game.
**5pm – ‘How To’ Series: Refurbishing a Pinball Machine – Imoto Harney, Matthew Tally, Phil Forrester**
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/246-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Imoto, Matthew and Phil
Imoto, Matthew and Phil talked about the common issues found when refurbishing a pinball machine and gave numerous hints and tips to get the best results and the best products to use.
**6pm – Jersey Jack Pinball – Jack Guarnieri & Mark Seiden**
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/248-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Jack Guarnieri
Jack began the seminar by talking about the company’s history and future titles they have in development. To everyone’s surprise, Jack not only confirmed the rumour that their next title is based on the Harry Potter movies, but said they had access to all seven movies and all the assets were available to use. He said it had taken ten years of negotiation to secure the licence.
Mark then took over.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/249-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Mark Seiden
Mark spoke about the concept and creation of JJP’s Avatar: The Battle for Pandora which is their current title, showing original playfield ideas and early designs, comparing those with the design of the final playfield.
**7pm – Barrels Of Fun Pinball – David David Van Es, Brian Savage & Butch Peel**
Butch, David & Brian
David told the audience about a new programme whereby all existing owners of Labyrinth machines can register and be entered into a prize draw to win a new game 2. He explained how this will be a rolling process where the same draw will be made when game 3 is ready.
Butch then talked about the making of the manual for Labyrinth and how he collected all the details and chose the best way to present them. The manual will be available as both a printed version and a PDF together with numerous links to the relevant text.
**8pm – Multimorphic – Gerry Stellenberg, Brad Brad Albright Ian Ian Harrower & Stephen Silver**
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/251-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Gerry Stellenberg
Gerry presented to the audience the latest Multimorphic game title, *Portal*, and then introduced three of the team members how created it – artist Brad Brad Albright and co-Creative Directors Ian Ian Harrower and Stephen Silver.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/252-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Brad, Ian and Stephen
They described the creative processes which led to the design, the features they wanted to include from the video games, Portal and Portal 2, and how the title was such a good match for the P3‘s unique ball feed mechanisms.
9pm – The Uncanny X-Men Live Tutorial – Steven Bowden
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/253-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Steven Bowden
In this tutorial, top tournament players Steven Bowden worked his way through the The Uncanny X-Men game, giving tips on the best strategy to maximise points and to progress through the game’s ruleset.
Steve’s presentation was the final one of the day. However, the main show hall remained open until 1am for play on all the machines.
In addition, four food trucks were set up in the parking lot and served hot meals and snacks throughout the evening.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/127-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
One of the four food trucks outside the venue
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/126-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Another of the food trucks outside the venue
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/125-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Another of the food trucks outside the venue
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/128-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The final food truck
**SATURDAY**
Saturday traditionally begins with the swap meet, located in the car park right outside the Conference Center and organised by the DFW Pinball & Arcade Club.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/303-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Saturday’s swap meet
After several years with an official 8am start time, last year’s move to a 6am start continued for 2025. Even with that 6am start, several people told us if you wanted the best deals you needed to be there for 5am.
We didn’t make either of those times, but waited until 7am to check out the items still available.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/300-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
An overview of the swap meet
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/301-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Donuts and coffee were freely available, if you got there early enough
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/302-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
There were all kinds of gaming-related items available
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/304-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Some were laid-out in front of you
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/306-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Others required a little more sorting through
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/305-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
A potential Aladdin’s Cave for someone
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/307-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The parking garage entrance sported TPF banners on either side
Saturday’s seminar programme began at 10am with a look at a product from Evolution Mods.
10am – Product Spotlight: Pinnunciator – Brad Oldham
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/308-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Brad Oldham
Brad described the functions of his company’s Pinnunciator system which is designed to hook into switches, lamps and solenoids on a game and from those signals drive a range of pinball mods, such as LED light strips, shakers, animatronic motors, additional solenoids, or anything else you might wish to add to your game.
10:30am – How To: Troubleshoot Your Pinball Machine – Matthew Tally, Phil Forrester & Imoto Harney
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/309-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Matthew, Phil & Imoto
This extended pinball repair seminar began with a general look at how to troubleshoot faults in pinballs. Matthew and Phil described the basic tools any pinball technician should carry with them, their functions, and how to use them to diagnose problems in a game.
12pm – How To: Do A Flipper Rebuild – Matthew Tally, Phil Forrester & Imoto Harney
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/310-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Matthew, Phil & Imoto
The repair seminar continued with a special session dedicated to rebuilding your flippers. This included the types of solenoids, the use of diodes and the functions and correct way to re-gap the end-of-stroke switches.
1pm – How To: Homebrew – Making Pinball, Making Friends – Aaron Davis
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/311-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Aaron Davis
Aaron Davis of FAST Pinball invited the makers of the machines in the homebrew section of this year’s Texas Pinball Festival to talk about why and how they created their game, the special challenges they faced and how other members of the homebrew community often helped them overcome the hurdles they faced.
2pm – How To: Touch Up Playfields – Keith Holbrook
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/313-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Keith Holbrook
Keith spoke about his techniques for playfield repair, including the initial cleaning and the products he uses, the repair and replacement of damaged or loose playfield inserts, and then the types of paint available and which ones he prefers to use. He also discussed methods for mixing paints to achieve the best colour match possible.
3pm – How To: Build A Custom Pinball Machine – Imoto Harney, Gerry Stellenberg & Aaron Davis
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/314-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Imoto, Gerry & Aaron
Gerry’s company, Multimorphic, makes the P-ROC/P3-ROC board system, while Aaron’s company makes the FAST Pinball system. In this seminar they compared the hardware and software environments available, the support from fellow homebrew or mod makers, and how anyone thinking about making their own machine should begin the process.
4pm – Autograph Session
The traditional autograph session with industry guest took place at 4pm in the Convention Center’s lobby area.
Show guests brought items such as backglasses, translites or flyers, to be signed by those who helped create them.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/320-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
George Gomez heads up the signing table
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/321-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
(L-R) George Gomez, Mike Mike Vinikour, Brian Eddy, Dwight Sullivan, Stephen Silver, Brad Brad Albright
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/322-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Corwin (Bug) Emery, Spooky Luke, Jack Guarnieri, Steve Ritchie & Mark Seiden
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/323-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The line of guests for the autograph table
5pm – So You Think You Know Pinball? – Martin Ayub & Jonathan Joosten
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/319-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Martin & Jonathan
(picture: Marcel van Kessel)
Martin and Jonathan returned for another edition of their popular pinball trivia quiz. They had four tables piled with prizes donated by generous sponsors to give away to those audience members who could string together a few correct answers to their pinball-related questions. By the end, they had given away almost all the prizes, and given consolation prizes to those who hadn’t yet won anything.
**6pm – How To: Run A Pinball Location – Imoto Harney, Matthew Tally, Brian Haskell, Nic Schell & Phil Forrester**
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/315-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Matthew, Brian, Nic & Phil
In this seminar, the panel explored the potential pitfalls when opening a pinball location and how to avoid them. They also looked at maintenance issues, how to price games to avoid alienating players, rotating games and how much revenue a machine needs to make to earn its keep.
**7pm – Spooky Pinball – Cary Hardy, Hilton Jones, Spooky Luke, Corwin (Bug) Emery, Christopher Franchi, Ben Heck**
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/316-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Hilton, Luke, Bug, Chris, Ben & Cary
In this seminar, the Spooky Pinball team talked about the development of their *Evil Dead* pinball, from first getting the licence to securing the voice talent, creating the art package and designing the playfield. They were also able to announce they had fully sold out of all the 888 units they said was the maximum number they would be producing.
**8pm – Stern Pinball: Dungeons & Dragons – Brian Eddy & Dwight Sullivan**
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/318-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Brian and Dwight
Brian and Dwight spoke about their latest collaboration, Stern Pinball’s current title, *Dungeons & Dragons: They Tyrant’s Eye*. Brian showed the development of the playfield design, from a very basic layout to adding in the dragon, which was initially positioned under a ramp. Dwight then explained his take on the theme, the elements brought in from the board game and the large number of possible paths through the ruleset.
The number of vendors meant there were even more stands in the corridor outside the main hall. So, let’s begin our coverage of the sellers there…
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/400-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Pinball Shack were opposite the entrance to the Seminars Room
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/401-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
NTX Pinball had machines and tournaments on their stand
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/402-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Brickitecture has lots of Lego parts, sets and models
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/403-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The Comic Wreck stand
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/404-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The TPF Gift Shop
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/405-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The Creepy Coasters stand
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/406-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Pixel Art paintings and stickers
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/408-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The Artsy Ninja stand
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/407-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The Pinnovation Design stand
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/409-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Tobie’s Comics and Collectibles
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/410-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The TPF Concierge was on hand to help
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/411-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Beer, wine and spirits were available in the corridor too
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/412-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
On the opposite side of the main hall entrance, Wormhole Pinball has a large stand
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/413-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Electric Playground were showing their new Pulp Fiction topper
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/414-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The Last Quarter Arcade’s stand
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/415-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Mack Gyver’s stand
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/416-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The Warped Pinball stand
Now, let’s dive into the main hall as we work our way around the vendor stands.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/417-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Comet Pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/418-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Starship Fantasy
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/419-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Starship Fantasy
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/420-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Headsup Pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/421-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Pinball Wheezer
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/422-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Bobby Perez, A.K.A. Rotten. A.K.A. RAAD, A.K.A. Rottenapple, A.K.A. Rottenapplehead
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/423-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Rocket City Pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/424-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Precision Pinball Products
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/425-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Las Vegas Playfields
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/426-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Back Alley Creations
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/427-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Evolution Mods
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/428-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
CoinTaker
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/429-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
BBZ Customs
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/430-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Kimballs Pinballs
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/431-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Arcade Things
Multimorphic were showing their latest *Portal* game for the P3 with three machines alongside eight other P3s with assorted game modules installed.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/432-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Multimorphic
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/433-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Multimorphic
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/434-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Multimorphic
Turner Pinball had only announced their second title, *Merlin’s Arcade*, a few days before the show, but had two machines on their stand alongside two of their *Ninja Eclipse* games.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/435-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Turner Pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/448-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Turner Pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/436-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
XPin Pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/492-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
PinSound
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/493-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Machines showcasing PinSound’s Pinvision speaker lights
Jersey Jack Pinball’s large stand lead with their current title, *Avatar: The Battle for Pandora*, but also included many *Elton John* games and other recent titles.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/440-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Jersey Jack Pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/439-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Jersey Jack Pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/438-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Jersey Jack Pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/441-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Jersey Jack Pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/442-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Steve Ritchie and Jack Guarnieri
Stern Pinball were represented by Marco Specialties and FUN! Superstore. Their stand has dominated by Stern’s current title, *Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye*, although other recent titles were available to play as well.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/443-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Stern Pinball/Marco Specialties/FUN! Superstore
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/444-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Stern Pinball/Marco Specialties/FUN! Superstore
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/446-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Stern Pinball/Marco Specialties/FUN! Superstore
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/447-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Stern Pinball/Marco Specialties/FUN! Superstore
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/445-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Stern Pinball/Marco Specialties/FUN! Superstore
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/457-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
FUN! Superstore
FUN! Superstore
Spooky Pinball also had a large display of games – in this case, mostly their *Evil Dead* game which had already sold out its maximum run of 888 machines.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/449-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Spooky Pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/450-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Spooky Pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/451-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Spooky Pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/452-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Spooky Pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/462-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Spooky Pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/456-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Houston Arcade Expo
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/491-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Mirco Pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/460-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Barrels of Fun
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/463-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Brad Brad Albright
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/464-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Ayscrim Studios
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/465-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Titan Pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/461-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Pinlights from 86 Pixels
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/466-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Wizard Enterprises
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/468-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Lighted Pinball Mods
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/474-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Pinverse
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/469-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Homebrew Section – The Greatest Showman Pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/470-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Homebrew Section – Black & White The Addams Family
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/471-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Homebrew Section – Pinball in Wonderland
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/472-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Homebrew Section – Mad Max: Fury Road
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/473-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Homebrew Section – Tony Hawk’s Pro Pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/475-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The Pixelized Princess
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/476-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Super Skill Shot
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/477-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Pinball Pimp
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/478-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Disco Dunks
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/479-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Flint’s World
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/482-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
ColorDMD
American Pinball were not present at the Texas Pinball Festival, although Pinball Traders did have a selection of American titles on their stand.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/484-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Pinball Traders/Planetary Pinball Supply
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/485-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Pinball Traders/Planetary Pinball Supply
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/487-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Pinball Traders/Planetary Pinball Supply
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/486-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Nitro Pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/488-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Chris Munro
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/483-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Game Preserve
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/490-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Game Preserve
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/480-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Mayfair Amusements
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/481-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Mayfair Amusements
The History of Pinball exhibit returned to the Texas Pinball Festival with another wide selection of pre-flipper games for guests to enjoy playing.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/499-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The History of Pinball
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/494-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Pinballs from the History of Pinball display
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/495-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Pinballs from the History of Pinball display
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/496-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Pinballs from the History of Pinball display
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/497-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Pinballs from the History of Pinball display
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/498-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Pinballs from the History of Pinball display
There were also plenty of free play pinballs and video games around the whole show. Here are a few of them.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/453-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Free play machines
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/455-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Free play machines
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/489-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Free play machines
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/500-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Star Trek through the ages
Finally for Saturday, here is our Forty Minute Tour video walk through the entire show area, including the main hall, corridors, seminars and tournaments.
VIDEO
**SUNDAY**
The final day of the Texas Pinball Festival is a shorter one, with the main show hall opening at 9am and closing at 2pm.
The finals of the main tournament also take place on Sunday.
We mentioned the tournaments area a little earlier and showed you around in our video above, but we haven’t included any details yet. There were several tournaments, with the main being the Texas Wizards.
In the Texas Wizards A Division, the final four were Jack Revnew, Nick Mueller, Garrett Shahan and Preston Moncla. They played a three game final on *Flash Gordon*, *F-14 Tomcat* and *Rush* with 4-2-1-0 scoring.
Garrett won on *Flash Gordon* with Preston second. Preston won on *F-14* with Nick second. That meant, going into the last game, Preston led with 6 points, Garrett was on 4 points, with Jack and Nick on 2 points each.
On *Rush*, after disappointing first balls from all four, Jack put together a decent second to lead going into everyone’s final ball. His third ball was even better, giving him the win on Rush and 6 points overall. If Preston ended fourth and Garrett second or lower, there could be a 3-way playoff on 6 points.
It looked possible going into Preston’s third ball, with Jack leading, Garret second and Nick third. However, Preston had a decent third ball, starting multiball and ending in second place on Rush to win overall with 8 points.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/600-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The top 4 in the Texas Wizards A Division: Preston Moncla (1st), Jack Revnew,(2nd), Garrett Shahan (3rd) & Nick Mueller (4th)
(picture: Elizabeth Dronet)
You can watch the final rounds on the Wormhole Pinball Twitch channel at: [twitch.tv/wormholepinball/video/2413275678](https://www.twitch.tv/wormholepinball/video/2413275678)
In the women’s Texas Takedown tournament, the final four were Ariel Dutton, Dawnda Durbin, Mandy Peel and Kelly Moncla.
Dawnda won on the first game, *Volley*, with Ariel second, Mandy third and Kelly fourth.
Game two, Attila The Hun, suffered a technical issue with the flippers, so standby game, *High Speed 2: The Getaway*, was used instead. This proved to be a welcome substitution for Mandy who won, with Kelly second, Ariel third and Dawnda fourth.
Going into the final game on *The Walking Dead* it was wide open, with Mandy on 5 points, Dawnda on 4 points, Ariel on 3 points and Kelly on 2 points.
Nobody got a good first ball, but Dawnda managed to get a decent second to hold a modest lead going into ball three.
Ariel looked like she might challenge, but Dawnda’s prison multiball and blood bath gave her an unassailable lead. Mandy ended second overall and, after a playoff on Jaws, Ariel was third and Kelly fourth.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/601-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Texas Takedown top four: Dawnda Durbin (1st), Mandy Peel (2nd), Ariel Dutton (3rd) & Kelly Moncla (4th)
(picture: Elizabeth Dronet)
We’ll be back to bring you details of the other tournaments right here very soon.
When the main hall closes, attention turns to the Seminars Room where the Best-in-Show awards are presented and the draw takes place for the raffle.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/341-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Inside the Seminars Room for the end-of-show presentation
After thanking the many people and vendors who worked hard to make this year’s show a success, organisers Paul McKinney and Robert Harris turned the ceremony over to Bill Morrison for the Best-in-Show awards.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/325-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Brad Brad Albright, Paul McKinney and Robert Harris
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/340-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Best-in-Show plaques and cash awards
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/326-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Bill Morrison presented the Best-in-Show awards
Awards were presented in a number of categories for the best machine. In most categories there was one or two runners-up and a winner, with all recipients receiving a plaque and a cash award.
Here are the winners in each category.
| Best Antique (Pre-1960) |
| --- |
| **Winner: Bryan Redshaw** (*Baffle Ball*) |
| Winner of the Best Antique (Pre-1960) category, Bryan Redshaw |
| Runners-Up: **Bob Herbison** (*Straight Shooter*) & **Becca Frick** (*World’s Series*) |
| Best 1960s |
| --- |
| **Winner: Ken Head** (*Diamond Jack*) |
| Winner of the Best 1960s category, Ken Head |
| Runners-Up: **David Kemp** (*Flipper Fair*) & **Colin Wood** (*Heat Wave*) |
| Best 1970s (Electromechanical) |
| --- |
| **Winner: Ken Head** (*Jet Spin*) |
| Winner of the Best 1970s (Electromechanical) category, Ken Head |
| Runners-Up: **Steve McMullen** (*Volley*) & **Jim Martin** (*Spanish Eyes*) |
| Best 1970s-1980s |
| --- |
| **Winner: Tommy Skinner** (*Meteor*) |
| Winner of the Best 1970s-1980s category, Tommy Skinner |
| Runners-Up: **Brian Baker** (*Silverball Mania*) & **Chris Nava** (*KISS*) |
| Best 1990s |
| --- |
| **Winner: Eric Smith** (*The Machine: Bride of Pinbot*) |
| Winner of the Best 1990s category, Eric Smith |
| Runners-Up: **David Kemp** (*Tales of the Arabian Nights*) & **Brandon Haney** (*Apollo 13*) |
| Best 2000s |
| --- |
| **Winner: Brandon Haney** (*Playboy*) |
| Winner of the Best 2000s category, Brandon Haney |
| Runner-Up: **Matt McNeil** (*Austin Powers*) |
| Best Modern |
| --- |
| **Winner: Kim Keist** (*Jaws*) |
| Winners of the Best Modern category, Cory and Kim Keist |
| Runners-Up: **Richard Harvey** (*Queen*) & **Harrison Maxwell** (*Foo Fighters*) |
| Best Original |
| --- |
| **Winner: Wormhole Pinball** (*Devil King*) |
| Winners of the Best Original category, Wormhole Pinball |
| Runners-Up: **Stephen Brown** (*Xenon*) & **Todd Foger** (*WWF Royal Rumble*) |
| Best Newcomer |
| --- |
| **Winner: Paul Brown** (*Mr. & Mrs. Pac-Man Pinball*) |
| Winner of the Best Newcomer category, Paul Brown (and family) |
| Best Restoration |
| --- |
| **Winner: Ben Bassinger** (*Future Spa*) |
| Winner of the Best Restoration category, Ben Bassinger |
| Runners-Up: **Cary Hardy** (*Last Action Hero*) & **Rick Ward** (*Pinbot*) |
| Best Custom Pinball |
| --- |
| **Winner: Lisa Sue & Jeffrey Jones** (*The Greatest Showman*) |
| Winners of the Best Custom Pinball category, Lisa Sue & Jeffrey Jones |
| Runners-Up: **Flipnik Pinball** (*Tony Hawk’s Pro Pinball*) & **Nate G** (*Mad Max: Fury Road*) |
| Best Classic Video Game |
| --- |
| **Winner: Brian & Kathy Smith** (*Punch-Out!!*) |
| Winner of the Best Classic Video Game category, Kathy Smith |
| Runners-Up: **Estil Vance** (*Mayday*) & **Nelson** (*Hard Hat*) |
| **Best Classic Video Game** |
| --- |
| **Winner: Ismael Rodriguez** (*Tekken 7: Fated Retribution*) |
| Grand Champion Best-in-Show |
| --- |
| **Winner: Damon White & Aaron Mabau** (*Bram Stoker’s Dracula*) |
| Winner of the Grand Champion category, Damon White |
With the Best-in-Show awards presented, the only thing remaining was the draw for the raffle prize.
Each year the Texas Pinball Festival raffles a brand new pinball machine with proceeds going to support the [National Videogame Museum](http://nvmusa.org/). This year it was a Stern Pinball *The Uncanny X-Men* Pro, with entry tickets available to purchase at the show registration and merchandise desk. All tickets went into a drum which was brought into the Seminars Room.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/342-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The drum containing all the entries
The draw was made by TPF seminars organiser, Pam Heffern.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/343-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The winning ticket is drawn
The winning ticker holder needed to be present in the room to receive their prize and, fortunately, that winner wasn’t very far away.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/344-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The winner was Brandon Haney who had also just won the Best 2000s award
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/324-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Brandon with his The Uncanny X-Men prize
With the raffle prize awarded, this year’s Texas Pinball Festival really was over. Out in the main hall, disassembly of machines and stands was already well underway.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/346-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Time to load up the machines
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/347-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
Vendor stands were also dismantled and packed away
Those eagle-eyed visitors might have noticed that the reverse of the banners hanging in the corridor displayed the dates for the 2026 show.
[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2025/349-texas-pinball-festival-2025.jpg)
The dates for the Texas Pinball Festival 2026
We’ll be there, of course, but before that we’ll be back with much more from *this year’s* Texas Pinball Festival right here at Pinball News. Check back here for all the latest updates.