Replay Arcade’s mission is to help save pinball.
Q: Why save pinball?
Pinball is an essential part of American Art History. I once heard someone say that pinball is “Art that you can play.” Each pinball machine has a unique design, that captures the art and sound of its era. We can’t simply observe pictures, sounds, or movies of pinball machines on the Internet (or reproduce them virtually) to fully experience a game. To truly know the brilliant design of a game, there is only one way to experience it: You must play the pinball machine in person for yourself to experience the genius that went into designing the game.
Pinball machines are a scarce and limited resource for us to enjoy. There are a limited number of machines produced of each pinball game designed, and every effort should be make to rescue neglected machines from ending up in the dump. Just like aging works of art from the great masters, pinball machines should be rescued and restored when possible before they reach a state where restoration is no longer desirable. Machines get neglected in basements and abused by routers. Every machine that gets thrown away is another piece of history lost.
Q: How can Replay Arcade help save pinball?
Two ways:
1. Inspire people to have fun playing pinball: (Play!)
2. Inspire the rescue, and restoration of pinball machines. (Rescue and Restore!)
Q: How will Replay Arcade try to achieve those two core aims?
Replay Arcade will do the following things to try and promote playing and rescue/restoration:
Play!
1. Teach Pinball Skills. Teach people how to improve their pinball skills set so they have more fun playing.
2. Enthusiasm. Be enthusiastic about playing and restoration. Clone my enthusiasm: Inspire people to celebrate their pinball collections online by celebrating my collection well online.
3. Inspire Challenge. Inspire friends to play and challenge themselves. The Replay Arcade web site will keep track of all their high scores. In the future a pinball league may be hosted.
4. Pinball Locations. Help people find places to play pinball.
5. Pinball Tutorials. Teach people how to play the games in my collection.
Rescue and Restore!
6. Teach buying & selling. Guide people to buy and sell machines efficiently. Ideally, pinball machines should get out of the hands of neglectful operators, and into the hands of hobbyists that want to maintain them well.
7. Inspire and assist people to restore, upgrade, and maintain their machines.
