Pinball, Pre-Pre INDISC Style: Captain’s Arcade Showroom Sets the Stage

The countdown to INDISC 2025 is on, and what better way to warm up than with the Captain’s Pre-Pre INDISC Tourney? On January 21, 2025, 37 players stepped up to the challenge, battling across four rounds of three-game sets. Hosted at Captain’s Arcade Showroom in Anaheim, California, the tournament stretched a solid five and a half hours, long enough to make even the most dedicated flipper fingers sore. With overcast skies and a cool 63°F temperature, it was a perfect evening to stay inside, surrounded by the bright lights and digital symphonies of 58 pinball machines.

A Look Inside Captain’s Arcade Showroom

If you ever wanted to relive the golden era of arcades, Captain’s Arcade Showroom is the place to be. Packed with more arcade cabinets than you can count and an impressive lineup of pinball machines, it’s a dream for anyone who grew up chasing high scores. The energy here is equal parts nostalgia and competitive drive, with a staff that knows their games inside and out. Whether you’re dropping in for a casual play session or battling it out in a tournament, Captain’s offers a solid setup for pinball action.

Check them out here!

The Game That Just Wouldn’t End

Every tournament has that one marathon match, and for this one, Rush (Pro) from Stern (2022) delivered an absolute endurance test in Round 4. Clocking in at a staggering 87 minutes, this match demanded every bit of patience and skill from the four players locked in battle.

Robert Potter came out on top, navigating the chaos of multiballs and modes with precision. Joshua Iles, one of the top 15 players in the state, put up a strong fight, but perhaps struggled to sync up with the game’s signature “Working Man Multiball.” Meanwhile, Scott Burgess held steady in third, proving that sometimes slow and steady does not win the race when Johnny Modica is chasing you down. Despite a higher ranking, Johnny found the relentless ball drains of Rush a little too unforgiving and landed in fourth place.

Tournament Guide: A Look at the Machines

With 58 pinball machines in play, there was no shortage of variety at Captain’s. Here’s a closer look at a few highlights from the lineup:

Elvira’s House of Horrors (Premium) – Stern, 2019
This game is as campy and chaotic as you’d expect from an Elvira title. It’s packed with haunted house hijinks, creepy callouts, and, of course, Elvira’s signature humor. The interactive Deadhead Crypt keeps players on their toes, while the House Lock sets up for some serious multiball mayhem.

JAWS (Premium/LE) – Stern, 2024
One of Stern’s latest releases, JAWS brought its blood-red flippers and terrifying shark animations to the tournament floor. The Orca Boat mech added an extra layer of intensity, with players trying to time their shots just right to survive the hunt. It’s a machine that rewards patience and precision, and it played a key role in the tournament’s final round.

Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast – Stern, 2018
Few games make you feel as powerful as Iron Maiden does. With its unique shot layout and four flippers, it forces players to stay sharp. The Eddie battle modes ensure that you’re always engaged, and if you don’t strategize well, you’ll find yourself drained faster than a bad encore.

Ghostbusters (Premium) – Stern, 2016
This one’s a love-it-or-hate-it kind of game, thanks to its brutal center drains and sometimes unpredictable slimer mechanics. But for those who master it, the deep ruleset offers plenty of reward. Plus, nothing beats hearing Ray Parker Jr. blaring through the speakers while you’re stacking multiballs.

Laser Cue – Williams, 1984
A throwback to the early solid-state era, Laser Cue may not have ramps or fancy toys, but it’s all about skill shots and controlled play. The drop targets and in-line bonus multiplier make or break a score here, and in a tournament setting, precision is the name of the game.

The Final Battle on JAWS

With JAWS (Premium/LE) as the last game of the night, the tournament ended on a high-stakes, nail-biting showdown. David Green, ranked 186th in California, took first place, proving that experience and a steady hand can take down even the fiercest competition. Tommy Vernieri, representing Atlanta with over 300 IFPA events under his belt, secured second place after a strong performance throughout the night. Right behind him, Dennis Eichhorn, ranked sixth in the state, played consistently well to claim third. And let’s give a special shoutout to Scott Burgess, who landed in fourth and put up a solid performance across the entire tournament.

California’s IFPA Pinball Top 10 Standings

For those keeping an eye on the California pinball scene, here’s the current top 10 IFPA standings:

Until Next Time…

A massive thank you to CC Castaneda for organizing such a well-run tournament and to Captain’s Arcade Showroom for providing an unbeatable location filled with some of the best pinball machines around. Whether you were chasing a high score, testing your skills on JAWS, or just trying to survive an 87-minute marathon on Rush, this tournament had a little bit of everything. Stay connected for more pinball excitement and recaps—there’s plenty more action on the way!