replayfx

(This article is inspired by the text, format, and structure of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Pearl Harbor speech given to Congress on December 8, 1941. Remember Pearl Harbor.)

Members of the pinball community:

Yesterday, December 7th, 2014 – a date which will live in infamy – the pinball and gaming world began a new era as the registration window for the ReplayFX event officially opened. Moments before, eager hobbyists navigated their browsers to the event page waiting for the moment of truth — the moment when massive amounts of furious mouse clicking and keyboard typing would begin.

As the hour approached and as the web servers started their inevitable slowdown, pinballers began to see what was about to happen. The previous year’s event sold out in less that two hours. On this occasion, additional spots were available but now more than five-hundred people were waiting at the starting line.

At last, the pages were refreshed, the graphics suddenly changed. The metaphorical horn had sounded.

Indeed, mere minutes after the opening of registration at high noon Eastern Standard Time, hundreds of willing participants reserved spaces on Eventbrite servers seeking to become a part of pinball and gaming history. Reports started to come in from the field: Things were running well. Registrations were coming through for the Pinburgh tournament and for the ReplayFX event by the dozens, then the hundreds. Within minutes, the four-hundred slots of last year’s Pinburgh event had been claimed.

Hours after that fateful moment, hundreds more excited gamers continued to sign up to be a part of the greatest arcade in gaming history. 

It will be recorded that the level of preparation and professionalism shown by the ReplayFX organizers makes it obvious that the execution of this daunting task was deliberately planned many weeks or even months ago. During the intervening time, they have deliberately sought to provide every opportunity for willing participants to attend and enjoy this prestigious gaming event.

The events yesterday will promote a consciousness-raising awareness of the hobby and sport of pinball and its significance to the gaming community at large. I am pleased to tell you that very many Pinburgh entries have been sold. In addition, many more ReplayFX passes have been reported as purchased by a wide variety of pinball enthusiasts from around the world.

Yesterday, Interstellar Spies revealed their presence if only for a moment, then went back into seclusion to analyze pinball tournament strategies and ways to get the best seats at the seminars.

Yesterday, Rouge Smugglers staked their claims to gaming history, while scoping out ways to acquire the premium swag from vendors.

Yesterday, Galactic Bounty Hunters planned their methods to bring home thousands in cash and prizes with the goal of seeing and doing as much as possible.

And this morning, even more registrations continue to be made.

The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. Pinball is back, alive and well. The people of the world will soon understand the implications of that fact.

As a fellow pinballer, I have hopes that all measures will be taken that will make the July-August Replay Festival Extravaganza the most amazing event in gaming history. An event that our whole world will remember for years to come.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this perceived notion that pinball is an outdated pastime of yesteryear, the pinball community in their indomitable spirit, will win the hearts and minds of the gaming community at large.

There is no blinking at the fact that the state of our community, our passion and our hobby is strong.

I ask that you spread the word about the important events happened yesterday and today, as well as those that will occur on July 30 to August 2, 2015.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, get ready for us. Expect us. We are coming.


Fun With Bonus is the home of the semi-coherent, misguided ramblings of professional and amateur pinball players.

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