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My 2019 Chicago Pinball Expo Experience Pt. 2

Cary Hardy·video·11m 28s·held·Oct 26, 2019
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Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.023

TL;DR

Cary Hardy covers 2019 Chicago Expo booth setup and Pinball Live charity auction events.

Summary

Cary Hardy recounts his Thursday and Friday experiences at the 2019 Chicago Pinball Expo, focusing on setting up a large Pin Stadium Lights booth with 17 machines and attending community events. He describes the booth setup logistics, Pinball Live's charity auction for juvenile diabetes research (featuring a special Medieval Madness (Remake LE) #1 that sold for $16,000), and his first experience playing Jurassic Park (Premium).

Key Claims

  • Pin Stadium Lights booth had 17 machines to set up (versus typical 10), all initially upright and requiring dolly, PinStadiums, canopies, and a 75-inch TV installation

    high confidence · Cary Hardy describing Thursday booth setup work

  • Jurassic Park (Premium) was still not widely available yet; only a few units were getting out in the field at the time of the 2019 Expo

    high confidence · Cary Hardy noting limited Jurassic Park (Premium) distribution during Expo visit

  • Medieval Madness (Remake LE) #1 (Doug Duba's personal game owned by Chicago Gaming) sold for $16,000 at Pinball Live charity auction

    high confidence · Ryan (Chicago Gaming) and auction auctioneer describing the special Medieval Madness (Remake LE) #1 sale

  • Total Nuclear Annihilation charity machine sold for $7,100 at Pinball Live auction

    high confidence · Auctioneer announcing auction results for Total Nuclear Annihilation

  • Medieval Madness (Remake LE) #1 received custom upgrades including RGB LEDs, powder coat trim, commissioned Sideshow Collectibles topper, Back Alley Creations painting, Chris Frenchy back panel, and extra large display

    high confidence · Ryan from Chicago Gaming detailing the restoration/upgrade work on Medieval Madness (Remake LE) #1

Notable Quotes

  • “If you have ever been to a show, then you know that Pin Stadium Lights has a booth that catches the eye and draws in the crowd.”

    Cary Hardy@ 0:24 — Establishes Penn Stadium's reputation as a notable booth presence at pinball shows

  • “We were kind of worried that we were not going to be able to finish in time for the expo to begin which begins at six o'clock p.m and we started probably around the 9.30 to 10 o'clock range.”

    Cary Hardy@ 3:10 — Describes the tight timeline and logistical pressure of booth setup

  • “By the skin of our teeth, seriously, we were putting the last canopy over the final row of machines, literally when people were starting to walk up to the booth to play games.”

    Cary Hardy@ 3:46 — Emphasizes how close they came to missing the 6 PM opening deadline

  • “This is Doug Duba's personal game, the owner of Chicago Gaming. This is Medieval Madness (Remake LE) number one. It was built, it was manufactured, and it was put in a box for years inside Chicago Gaming.”

    Ryan (Chicago Gaming representative)@ 6:40 — Establishes the provenance and special status of the Medieval Madness LE #1 being auctioned

  • “We recently pulled it out of the box because, well, Doug is a firm believer on going to the community, and he wanted to update his game to look like his Monster Bash.”

    Ryan (Chicago Gaming representative)@ 6:57 — Reveals Doug Duba's philosophy on community engagement and his decision to restore/upgrade the machine

  • “That machine sold for... $16,000. Thank you so much.”

Entities

Cary HardypersonPin Stadium LightsproductChicago Pinball Expoevent[name withheld pending review]organizationDoug DubapersonChicago Gaming CompanycompanyMedieval Madness (Remake LE)product

Signals

  • ?

    event_signal: Penn Stadium booth required significantly larger setup (17 machines vs. typical 10) taking entire day (9:30 AM to 6 PM opening); tight completion timeline created pressure but booth was operational by public opening

    high · Cary Hardy's detailed account of Thursday booth setup requiring dolly work, PinStadium installation, canopy setup, and 75-inch TV mounting with barely meeting deadline

  • ?

    community_signal: Pinball Live organized charity auction event with significant community participation; machines sold substantially above retail value ($7,100 and $16,000) with proceeds benefiting juvenile diabetes research, demonstrating community's philanthropic engagement

    high · Two machines auctioned at Pinball Live party generating combined $23,100+ for charity; Cary Hardy's reflection on pinball community's good works beyond gameplay

  • ?

    product_launch: Jurassic Park Premium was in early distribution phase at 2019 Expo; Stern had not yet shipped widely despite machine being on the line; limited units were beginning to reach the field

    high · Cary Hardy noting 'Jurassic Park Premium which is still not on the line yet only a few of them are going out they're starting to get wind and get out there' and this being his first time playing it

  • ?

    design_innovation: Medieval Madness LE #1 underwent significant custom restoration featuring RGB LED conversion, powder coat trim work, commissioned artist topper design, professional back panel artwork, and extra-large display upgrade, demonstrating high-end restoration practices in community

    high · Detailed description by Chicago Gaming's Ryan of RGB LEDs, powder coat trim, Sideshow Collectibles topper commission, Matt (Back Alley Creations) painting, Chris Frenchy back panel, and extra-large display installation

Transcript

youtube_groq_whisper · $0.034

0:00
I've got one day of Chicago under my belt and there is still so much to do and see. It's now Thursday. Pinball Expo is hours away from opening to the public and I have a booth to set up. Not just any booth either. If you have ever been to a show, then you know that Penn Stadium has a booth that catches the eye and draws in the crowd. But will we get this set up in time?
0:36
Oh man, that is the good thing about doing videos with YouTube from usually the waist up, is that I could be wearing pajama pants and no one would be the wiser. I'm totally wearing pajama pants right now.
0:54
What's up guys and welcome back to my channel where I talk and do everything pinball. So if that sounds interesting to you then hit that subscribe button down below. I'm back with the next video for this series and that is going to be on to Thursday of Pinball Expo. So I wake up and I go down to have my breakfast. which, honestly, for a hotel of this caliber, I'm expecting it to be a free, full-on buffet continental breakfast, because that's what I'm used to going to the Embassy Suites for Texas Pinball Festival, is a smorgasbord of all-you-can-eat breakfast, which is like my favorite thing ever. So I go down there, and sure enough, there is not, I wouldn't say a smorgasbord or a giant thing, but you had your essentials, you had your eggs, you had your bacon, you had your sausage, and some other stuff. I didn't care. I just wanted the meat and I wanted the eggs. So that's what I filled up on. The thing is, the breakfast wasn't free. No, no, no. And they don't tell you that. It's kind of a little surprise whenever they hand you the check. Now, I didn't know that it had to be paid for. So Thursday and Friday morning's breakfast never got paid because I never got a ticket. I don't think they saw me come in, grab breakfast and then leave because I just assumed it was free and but Saturday's a different story and I'll let you know what the price of that breakfast retails for on the next video. So after breakfast I head to the vendor hall to start setting up this massive booth that we have to. Now typically on a festival or a pinball gathering of sorts with Penn Stadium because I've helped before there's usually about 10 or so machines and the people that bring the machines set the machines up and we may have to set up a couple of sets of Penn Stadiums on these machines. But this time was a little different This time we had like 17 machines None of them were set up They were all upright on the other side of the damn hall that we had to go dolly over get them up all on fours install pin stadiums get the canopies up get the 75 inch screen tv that he had up on the table and it was one of those things where it literally took all day and we were kind of worried that we were not going to be able to finish in time for the expo to begin which begins at six o'clock p.m and we started probably around the 9.30 to 10 o'clock range. We worked at it all day, but the question is, did we get it up in time for the public?

[name withheld pending review]@ 7:51 — Announces the final auction price for Medieval Madness LE #1, significantly above retail value for a charity cause

  • “Both machines sold way over what retail would it go for so all of that money once again is going to the research for juvenile diabetes very great cost that just goes to show you that pinball is not all just about playing pinball there's a lot of good things that come out of this hobby too”

    Cary Hardy@ 8:02 — Reflects on the community aspect and charitable impact of the pinball hobby beyond gameplay

  • “I got to go into their inventory and just peruse and shop as if I was looking for groceries at a grocery store.”

    Cary Hardy@ 8:55 — Describes Pinball Live's parts inventory access, a significant vendor perk at the event

    • Jurassic Park Premium
    product
    Total Nuclear Annihilationproduct
    JJ Game Exchangesorganization
    Elviraproduct
    Deadpool Premiumproduct
    Monster Bashproduct
    Attack from Marsproduct
    Ryanperson
    Back Alley Creationsperson
    [name withheld pending review]person
    Sideshow Collectiblescompany
    Texas Pinball Festivalevent
    Spearsvenue
  • ?

    business_signal: Chicago Gaming owner Doug Duba's strategy of personally contributing and updating machines for community events; held Medieval Madness LE #1 in inventory for years before deciding to restore and donate for charity, indicating long-term commitment to community relationship-building

    high · Ryan's statement: 'Doug is a firm believer on going to the community' and decision to pull the game from long-term storage specifically for community benefit and Expo visibility

  • ?

    vendor_signal: Pinball Live provided extensive inventory access during Expo allowing attendees to shop for parts/supplies similar to a retail experience; Cary Hardy expressed restraint in purchases due to temptation of extensive inventory availability

    high · Cary Hardy describing inventory shopping as 'peruse and shop as if I was looking for groceries at a grocery store' and noting he was glad he limited purchases despite availability of many items

  • ?

    event_signal: Expo included organized vendor parties in hotel rooms (room 330 at JJ Game Exchanges) featuring playable machines, beverages, and socializing; functioned as after-hours networking and gameplay experience for attendees

    high · Multiple references to room 330 party with Elvira, Deadpool Premium, Monster Bash, Attack from Mars, and Jurassic Park Premium available for play with drinks and social gathering

  • ?

    operational_signal: Chicago Pinball Expo hotel breakfast service was not complimentary contrary to attendee expectations; Cary Hardy encountered surprise charges not clearly communicated upfront, creating confusion about included amenities

    medium · Cary Hardy noting breakfast was not free and 'They don't tell you that. It's kind of a little surprise whenever they hand you the check' and missing charges for Thursday/Friday due to confusion about complimentary status

    • 3:35
    Of course we did. But by the skin of our teeth, seriously, we were putting the last canopy over the final row of machines, literally when people were starting to walk up to the booth to play games. We ran that booth until around, I think, the 11 o'clock range is when the expo ended for that day, when the vendor hall closed. Then we went to Spears, a restaurant located in the parking lot of Expo. and then we went to the party room located in room 330 this is jj with game exchanges room that had about five machines elvira which is brand new then you had your deadpool premium your monster bash and an attack from mars and of course the jurassic park premium which is still not on the line yet only a few of them are going out they're starting to get wind and get out there but But, you know, Premium is pretty much brand new as well. And this is the first time I got a chance to play the Jurassic Park Premium. And I love it. I want this game. We partied there for a couple of hours. And then we hit the sack and wanted to get ready for the next day. So Friday comes along. I wake up, have my supposed free breakfast. And then I make my way to the Pinball Live party.
    5:40
    Hey Kevin Along with having all of these games and activities with drinks and unlimited meatball subs they auctioned off two very special machines. And all the money was going to a great cause for juvenile diabetes research. You had the very final total nuclear annihilation, and that sold for... How about we'll start the bidding at $1,000. Who wants to give $1,000 for that? All right, a crap ton of people. Let's just move on.
    6:20
    All right. Okay, guys, well, if it's 71, going once, going twice, sold. Right here. $7,100. Thank you, sir. Thank you very much. Then you had a very special medieval madness with all the new fixings. I'll let Ryan go over all the details of why this machine is so special. This is Doug Duba's personal game, the owner of Chicago Gaming. This is Medieval Madness LE number one. It was built, it was manufactured, and it was put in a box for years inside Chicago Gaming.
    6:57
    We recently pulled it out of the box because, well, Doug is a firm believer on going to the community, and he wanted to update his game to look like his Monster Bash. So we went ahead and put in RGB LEDs. We did a full powder coat trim on it.
    7:14
    We commissioned an artist from Sideshow Collectibles to design the topper. The topper's been painted by Matt from Back Alley Creations. The back panel was done by Chris Frenchy. That is one of the three original prototype toppers that is coming with this game. It has the extra large display in it Full RGB's It is ready to go And it can come home with you It does have the Medieval Madness LE number 1 plaque It has never been played It has been sitting in a box For years guys And that machine sold for Sold $16,000 Thank you so much
    8:02
    Thank you Both machines both machines sold way over what retail would it go for so all of that money once again is going to the research for juvenile diabetes very great cost that just goes to show you that pinball is not all just about playing pinball there's a lot of good things that come out of this hobby too But one of my favorite things at Pinball Live that really got me excited, like I was walking into like Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, was the fact that I got to go into their inventory and just peruse and shop as if I was looking for groceries at a grocery store.
    9:25
    Thank you. so that was awesome i got a few items that i know i needed for my games and I'm kind of glad that I only got what I did because I could have easily spent a lot of money there but I'm glad I didn't. After the pinball lot party concluded I headed back to the hotel back to the vendor hall and continued helping out with pin stadiums until the end of the night. Once again we partied in room 330 and then again we called it a night. That's gonna wrap up this video guys so I've got maybe one more video in this series to conclude my pinball expo experience. If you like what you've seen here, then hit that like button down below. And if you haven't already, do not forget to hit that subscribe button down below. That way you can be notified of whenever I upload something for your viewing pleasure.
    11:02
    Until next time, guys. Peace out. Thank you.