Flipping Loud: A Look Back at the Women’s Metallica LP Finals

On February 27, 2025, at precisely 9:18 PM, four fierce competitors faced off in the FINALS – Women’s Metallica LP pinball tournament. Organized by CC Castaneda, this showdown was fast and furious, wrapping up in just 30 minutes—blink, and you might’ve missed it!

Where in the World Are We?

Somewhere in California. That’s all we know. And I have to say, writing about pinball tournaments is a lot harder when the location is a well-guarded secret. Maybe it was held in a hidden underground arcade? A high-tech pinball bunker? A rogue tournament in a random garage? Your guess is as good as mine.

Metallica Remastered (LE) Brings the Thunder

One of the night’s stand-out moments happened on Metallica Remastered (LE) by Stern, released in September 2024. This machine takes the original Metallica game and cranks it up to 11 with updated LCD animations, new song selections, and a “Blackened” Wizard Mode that separates the casuals from the true pinball rockstars. The original Metallica pin from 2013 was already a fan favorite, but this remastered edition breathes new life into the game with better visuals, improved callouts, and deeper rule sets.

Stern has been a dominant force in modern pinball, carrying the torch since its founding in 1999. However, its roots go even deeper—Stern Electronics was a major player in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, responsible for several classics that still hold up today (including one featured in this very tournament!).

The match on Metallica Remastered was a true battle of rankings and skill:

• 1st – Nicole Thornhill (Chino, State Rank: 414th, IFPA: 2308) crushed it, proving that you don’t need a top ranking to dominate when it matters.
• 2nd – CC Castaneda (Anaheim, State Rank: 301st, IFPA: 4208) showed her own machine who’s boss, but it wasn’t enough to take the win.
• 3rd – Laura Stoddard (California, State Rank: 263rd, IFPA: 2601) played strong, but this Metallica setlist wasn’t in her favor.
• 4th – Naoko Neikirk (Oceanside, State Rank: 276th, IFPA: 3916) had a tough battle, but as they say, even the best bands have an off night.

A Lineup of Pinball Greats

The tournament location may be a mystery, but the pinball lineup was stacked. Here’s a closer look at five of the classics that players had the chance to flip on:

Meteor (Stern Electronics, 1979)

If you love spinners, Meteor is your game. Every rip of the spinner adds to your bonus multiplier, making for high-risk, high-reward gameplay. This machine is also famous for its involvement in the homebrew pinball scene—many have modified it with updated rulesets, new sound packages, and even interactive lighting. Fun fact: Stern Electronics, the company behind Meteor, was founded by Gary Stern’s father, Sam Stern, after acquiring the remnants of Chicago Coin in the late ‘70s. While the company didn’t last beyond 1985, its legacy lived on when Gary founded Stern Pinball in 1999.

Totem (Gottlieb, 1979)

Totem brings wide-body madness with a unique layout and some tricky shots. Gottlieb, once the king of electromechanical pinball, was making the transition to solid-state technology around this time. Totem features in-line drop targets and a spinning target, forcing players to think strategically. The game was part of a wave of Gottlieb’s late ‘70s efforts to stay competitive against Bally and Williams, but its unique design keeps it a cult favorite among collectors today.

Super Orbit (Gottlieb, 1983)

An upgrade from Orbit, this game has a classic electromechanical feel with snappy gameplay and solid flow. Super Orbit is a single-player version of the game, borrowing from its predecessor but adding deeper rules and improved responsiveness. By 1983, Gottlieb had been acquired by Columbia Pictures and was struggling to keep up with competitors. This was one of their last major efforts before shifting towards video games.

Sinbad (Gottlieb, 1978)

With four flippers and a bunch of drop targets, Sinbad forces players to master control. The machine is available in both electromechanical and solid-state versions, making it one of the rare games that exists in two formats. Gottlieb was known for giving players multiple flippers in an era when most games only had two, making Sinbad an excellent test of reaction time and precision.

Future Spa (Bally, 1979)

This widebody game is pure late-70s weirdness—a bizarre theme, tons of drop targets, and challenging outlanes that make you work for every point. Bally was one of the dominant forces in pinball at the time, known for its fast-paced play and edgy artwork. Future Spa is a great example of Bally’s experimental phase before it became more focused on licensed themes in the early ‘80s.

And the Winners Are…

A huge congratulations to the top finishers!

• 1st – Nicole Thornhill (Chino) – With 154 IFPA events under her belt, she showed that experience pays off when it counts most.
• 2nd – Naoko Neikirk (Oceanside) – A steady player with 148 IFPA events to her name, Naoko held strong to land a podium finish.
• 3rd – CC Castaneda (Anaheim) – Juggling tournament organizing AND competing? That’s next-level multitasking, and she still managed to place in the top three.
• 4th – Laura Stoddard (California) – With a whopping 376 IFPA events on her record, she brought veteran skills to the table and rounded out the finals.

California’s IFPA Pinball Top 10 Standings

The Last Bump

Another tournament in the books, and this one was packed with killer gameplay and top-tier machines. A huge shoutout to CC Castaneda for organizing, and to our secret California location for keeping us all guessing.

Don’t miss out on future pinball tournament news and highlights—keep flipping, and we’ll see you at the next one!