Pinball has been around for almost one hundred years. In that time, the game has changed significantly. From original machines that had simple mechanics powering to the modern pinball machines with special effects and full videos contained within, pinball has always been about engaging the player into a specific setting. This makes it important for the theme of whatever game is being played to be engaging and fun. This is something that Jersey Jack Pinball founder Jack Guarnieri is aware of, as he continues to produce top rated pinball machines in the modern era of pinball.
Jack started in the pinball industry as a pinball mechanic in high school. With an innate interest in mechanics and electronics, Jack spent thirty five years fixing and selling pinball machines. In 1989, he opened two different arcades filled with coin operated arcade games and of course, pinball machines. In the 2000's, many pinball companies were going out of business, limiting the diversity of what pinball games existed. When only Stern Pinball, one of the biggest and most famous pinball companies remained, Jack decided to become a manufacturer himself; causing him to create Jersey Jack Pinball. Since Jersey Jack was founded in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, Jack has been focusing on making new pinball machines based on famous IPs including The Wizard of Oz, The Hobbit, and Toy Story.
I have been involved in the pinball community since I was a child. In my house we have somewhere between eight and twelve pinball machines that are being played or worked on. Seeing that there are still creators who are willing to bring new ideas into pinball is inspiring and makes me hopeful for the future of pinball.
I thought this post was interesting because I would never have initially thought that a pinball machine could require such high degrees of creativity. In designing such a classic game, it makes sense that a huge emphasis would be put on the theme - what Jack Guarnieri describes as the component that most attracts new audiences to the game. I wonder if there are certain age ranges/audiences that he tries to specifically appeal or if he tries to capture the widest range of consumers possible. Either way, great post a very interesting read!
ReplyDeleteThis was such a fun read! I used to love going to arcades as a kid and playing the pinball machines. My favorite was a Star Trek Original Series one. I think what Jack does is very interesting because he takes already published creative works and adapts them to his own template. I would love to see a revival of the pinball genre and it makes me happy that there are people still creating these fun experiences for a new generation.
ReplyDeleteI was definitely one of the kids who played the pinball games on the old Windows systems. I have played some 'designer' pinball machines like Guarnieri's and there are certainly creative. It would be interesting to see what sort of criteria (if any) he uses when testing his own machines. Having a job as a pinball mechanic gives him plenty of material for collection and that surely influenced his interest in pinball machines. One I saw on his website that looks extremely interesting is the Godfather themed machine.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post and was surprised to know that there are so few manufacturers out there! I'm very interested in pinball machines and the work that goes into creating them. Jack Guarnier is definitely at least a pro-C creative and is continuing to keep the industry alive through his work.
ReplyDeleteI found this post extremely interesting as I believe my childhood best friend had a pinball machine made by Jersey Jack Pinball and when we would go to his house, we would play it for hours on end. I have since been a large pinball fan and love to see how he is keeping it alive and bringing it into the new generation. I think what Andrew proposed above with "I wonder if there are certain age ranges/audiences that he tries to specifically appeal or if he tries to capture the widest range of consumers possible" is interesting. My guess would be that he may know that different pinball themes will appeal to different age ranges and people and thus makes different ones with different target ages or populations.
ReplyDeleteBeing a very family-oriented person, I visit my grandma's house every weekend. While there, I often retrace the steps that my mother took in her childhood and early adolescence--pinball machines being one of them. Today, I feel that our generation is constantly searching for things that make them feel nostalgic. Jersey Jack Pinball not only reignites the feeling of nostalgia, but connects generations to each other. In doing so, the audience is expanded and bonds begin to form.
ReplyDeleteI've always thought of pinball and arcade games as being incredibly creative, but usually when I think of them I think of images of past decades, like fields of creativity that had stopped being developed in recent years. That is, until reading your blog post. One of my biggest takeaways from this class is just how much creativity goes into everything around us, from paintings to tables to pinball machines, and how all of that creative effort often goes unappreciated or just unrecognized. The story of Jack Guarnieri's efforts to bring creativity into pinball and move the game into the modern day is a perfect example of this - thanks for giving such a cool example!
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