The pinball book you have been waiting for is finally here! From those fabulous '50s & '60s, Jeffrey Lawton, Bingo Pinball Historian, presents 290+ photos, including original promotional brochures and advertisements, that showcase a fantastic collection of Bally*r Bingo pinball machines, along with a history of the evolution and excitement that surrounds this compelling hobby. All who grew up with street cars, slot machines, pinball machines, pool halls, and diners will enjoy this book tremendously! If you buy only one pinball book, this is the one to have.
Describes pinball machines both vintage and contemporary and 50 games. Each chapter outlines a game's special features, historical background, game rules, graphic images, collectibility and current value.
What do stories in games have in common with political narratives? This book identifies narrative strategies as mechanisms for meaning and manipulation in games and real life. It shows that the narrative mechanics so clearly identifiable in games are increasingly used (and abused) in politics and social life. They have »many faces«, displays and interfaces. They occur as texts, recipes, stories, dramas in three acts, movies, videos, tweets, journeys of heroes, but also as rewarding stories in games and as narratives in society - such as a career from rags to riches, the concept of modernity or market economy. Below their surface, however, narrative mechanics are a particular type of motivational design - of game mechanics.
Chronicles the development of pinball machines from the 1930s through the late 1960s, featuring exclusive interviews with some of the greatest designers in the industry. Hundreds of pinball machines from Gottlieb, Bally, Genco, Williams, United, and others are showcased, along with descriptions of the games, special features, historical significance, release dates, names of designers and artists, and current values.
This book has stood the test of time. Copies of the first edition have over the years regularly sold for many times the cover price. The full color book is once more in print. Since its original publication it has been cited in many academic papers and has since become the definitive work on the subject. It caused embarrassment to the huge American coin machine industry when it was first published in 1988- they were busy celebrating the centenary of the Juke Box in that year as an American invention whereas the book revealed that it was actually an earlier British invention. It awoke huge interest in Japan by giving them long sought answers as to the origins of the Pachinko machine (which at the time was consuming as much as a quarter of the gross domestic product in Japan). As a direct result of the book a new museum was established in the Japanese city of Kobe and for a short while the author became a national celebrity there. The book established many new facts and destroyed many of the myths that had arisen in the gaming industry during the 20th century. Originally an ancient Greek invention, the advent of the coin machine in the 19th century heralded a Victorian revolution which sought to establish a fully automated society. The visionaries of the past are the direct forbears of the all pervasive computer industries -without the gaming and coin machine industries it is doubtful as to whether today's computer dominated age would have ever happened. Most important of all, it is fun to read!
An illustrated history of pinball games in the years of the Great Depression when they first entered popular culture, covering their incredibly rapid three year evolution from small countertop marble games to table machines, mechanical marvels and payout pinballs, and the beginning of the patent wars that almost stopped pinball development.
Continuing the tradition of pinball collecting, The Pinball Price Guide, Ninth Edition by Pinballeric(TM) is the ideal reference for anyone-collector, buyer, or seller-trying to determine the current value and fair price of a pinball machine. The Price Guide, which covers the price values of over 2000 collectible games produced for the U.S. market from 1931-2012, is unique in that it breaks down pricing into three classes (1-Best, 2-Good, 3-OK), determined by the condition of a game's backglass, playfield, and cabinet. In addition to pricing averages, the book lists the most collectible games for each era of machine. In the "Collector's Corner," there are four new articles written by industry experts who discuss collecting specific types of games: Prewar (Flipperless), Bingo-style, Woodrails, and Electro-Mechanical. Besides tips on caring for and maintaining games and a list of resources of interest to pinball enthusiasts, the book provides a useful worksheet to help get organized and understand the actual costs of buying or selling a game-beyond the game itself. Whether you are an established or beginning collector, selling a game found in the basement, or looking for an addition to your home game room, The Pinball Price Guide by Pinballeric(TM) is an essential resource for buying or selling a pinball machine.
Chronicles the history of pinball games from 1970 through 1981, one of pinball's most prolific eras. Hundreds of pinball machines from Gottlieb, Williams, Bally, Chicago Coin, and other manufacturers are showcased, along with descriptions, special features, historical significance, release dates, designers, and current values. Also features exclusive interviews with some of the pinball's greatest designers and artists. A wonderful reference and a tribute to all who were part of pinball's fascinating history.
Slot machines are the backbone of most casinos. They earn the most money and determine the physical layout of the casino floor. The management of slot machines, which includes overseeing employees, selecting machines, designing the playing space, resolving customer disputes, and conducting analyses to improve operations, is a challenging field whose complexity has grown as the machines themselves have become more sophisticated. To better document the current issues in slot management--and the change the field has seen over the past four decades--the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Center for Gaming Research conducted an oral history project. Those interviewed were at all stages of their careers. Drawn from these interviews, Tales from the Slot Floor features slot managers discussing several of the most important issues in today's casino world, including: the optimal layout of a slot floor; the qualities demonstrated by both good and bad managers; what customers want from their visits to the casino; the vendor/casino relationship; appealing to millennials; and what the future holds. In addition, those with long careers share their views on the changes they have seen, and all subjects offer their advice to those embarking on a career in slot management. For those interested in becoming slot managers, or those just curious about how casinos work, Tales from the Slot Floor gives you the inside story of slot operations, from those who do it.
