Mesa’s Pinball Scene Heats Up Despite the Rain at Atomic Age Modern

On the evening of March 7, 2025, 32 pinball players braved a light drizzle and a crisp 49°F to compete at Atomic Age Modern in Mesa, Arizona. Over three and a half hours, they battled across six rounds in a thrilling Group Match Play showdown. With Bob Kennedy at the helm as the tournament organizer, this event was a testament to Arizona’s ever-growing competitive pinball scene.

Atomic Age Modern: A Retro Playground with Pinball Perks

Atomic Age Modern isn’t your typical pinball venue. Sure, it’s got machines—good ones, too—but it’s also a mid-century modern treasure trove. Think vintage furniture, classic decor, and a killer vinyl selection. Pinball is just the cherry on top of this retro-fueled sundae. Players could sip a beer (but leave the whiskey handle at home) while flipping their way to victory. And for those craving a post-tournament meal? A highly praised Venezuelan restaurant sits conveniently next door.

Revving Up: The Hot Wheels Showdown

Round 2 delivered one of the night’s most exciting matchups, as four players revved their engines on Hot Wheels by American Pinball (June 2020). This modern-era pin has a surprisingly deep ruleset despite its straightforward theme, offering competitive players multiple ways to score big. One of its signature features is Redline Mania, a four-ball multiball mode that turns the playfield into controlled chaos.

Carlos Salcido, despite being one of the lower-ranked players in the tournament, took full advantage of the game’s combo-friendly design. He hit the RPM targets at just the right moments, ramped up his score, and secured first place. Mark Farina Jr. put up a solid fight, using his experience to keep pace, but ultimately couldn’t match Carlos’ momentum. Meanwhile, Jocelyn Bowers and Denise Peseri had solid rounds but struggled to fully capitalize on the mode stacking that this machine rewards.

Pinball Machines: A Mix of Old and New

With 23 machines in the tournament, players had a broad mix of eras to battle through. Here’s a deeper dive into some of the standout games:

Firepower (Williams, 1980) – The Machine That Changed Everything

This Steve Ritchie-designed masterpiece wasn’t just a great tournament game—it was a turning point for pinball itself. Firepower was the first game to introduce an electronic multiball system, which is something we now take for granted in modern pinball. Before this, multiball had to be manually released or managed with physical locks. It also featured lane change, allowing players to control the inlane lights using the flipper buttons—another revolutionary feature at the time.

For this tournament, Firepower played tough. The fast, brutal layout leaves little room for error, and several players found themselves trapped in quick-drain territory. But for those who mastered the upper playfield loop and multiball sequences, it was a satisfying challenge.

Mata Hari (Bally, 1977) – A Spy’s Last Stand

A classic Bally solid-state pin, Mata Hari is a beautifully simple yet highly strategic game. With artwork by Dave Christensen, it features one of the most striking backglasses of the 1970s, depicting the infamous exotic dancer-turned-spy. The rules are straightforward: light the saucer for big points, complete the drop targets for extra bonuses, and avoid careless drains.

This was one of the tournament’s sneaky trap games. Its open layout might fool casual players into thinking it’s an easy ride, but Mata Hari punishes sloppy shooting. A few players learned this the hard way, walking away from rounds on this machine with scores they’d rather not talk about.

Evel Knievel (Bally, 1977) – A Pinball Tribute to a Daredevil Legend

This game is pure 1970s Americana. Bally released Evel Knievel in the wake of the motorcycle stuntman’s nationwide fame, and the game captures his larger-than-life persona. Featuring four flippers, classic drop targets, and a fast orbit shot, it’s a great example of Bally’s golden era of solid-state pinball.

As expected, this machine was a crowd favorite. The left-side drop targets saw heavy use throughout the tournament, with skilled players cashing in on bonus multipliers.

Godzilla (Pro) (Stern, 2021) – King of the Monsters, King of the Tournament Scene

Stern’s Godzilla has quickly become one of the most beloved modern pinball machines. Designed by Keith Elwin, it’s packed with innovative mechanics, like the moving Magna-Grab bridge, a collapsing building, and incredibly satisfying combos. It’s no surprise that this game has become a staple in competitive pinball.

Several matches in the tournament were decided on this game, where players needed to master the looping shots and city destruction modes. Bob Kennedy put on a clinic during one of his rounds, cycling through Kaiju battles with ease and racking up points at an absurd rate.

Foo Fighters (Premium) (Stern, 2023) – Pinball That Rocks

One of the newest machines in the lineup, Foo Fighters has a unique, fast-flowing design that rewards players who can string together shots with precision. Developed by Jack Danger and featuring an original, sci-fi-inspired storyline, the game offers deep strategy mixed with lighthearted fun.

For this event, Foo Fighters played tough. The machine’s unique upper playfield and unpredictable ball returns tripped up several players, but those who dialed in their shots were rewarded with high-scoring rounds.

A Battle to the Finish: The Tournament’s Top Players

When the last ball drained and the final scores were tallied, Bob Kennedy emerged as the tournament’s champion. Bob is known for his adaptability across different eras of pinball, and that skill was on full display here. He crushed the competition on Foo Fighters, playing a nearly flawless round that all but secured his victory.

Alex Cardwell finished in second place, proving once again that he’s one of the most consistent players on the circuit. He had an especially strong showing on Firepower, where his quick reflexes and multiball control helped him rack up one of the night’s highest scores on the machine.

Robert Kennedy locked down third place with a particularly strong performance on Evel Knievel, showing that his shot accuracy and patience can keep him competitive even on classic machines.

Rounding out the top four was Thomas Matthews, a relative newcomer to high-level pinball. He might not have as many tournament finishes under his belt, but his fearless play on Godzilla and Foo Fighters proved that he’s a rising star to watch in future events.

Arizona’s IFPA Pinball Top 10 Standings

Til Next Time, Keep Flipping!

With the Atomic Age Modern Group Match Play officially in the books, one thing is clear—this tournament had everything a pinball player could want. From the fast and brutal Firepower to the strategic depth of Godzilla, every game brought its own challenges, rewarding skill, precision, and maybe just a little bit of luck.

A huge congratulations goes to Bob Kennedy, not just for taking the win but for hosting another fantastic event at Atomic Age Modern. Bob has been a supporter of competitive pinball in Arizona, and his efforts to bring high-quality tournaments to the local scene haven’t gone unnoticed. Whether you’re a seasoned IFPA player or just looking to play some great pins in a welcoming space, Atomic Age Modern is a must-visit.

This tournament also showcased some rising talent, with players like Thomas Matthews making a strong impression. If his performance on Godzilla and Foo Fighters is any indication, he’ll be climbing the Arizona rankings in no time. And let’s not forget Alex Cardwell and Robert Kennedy, who both played incredibly well, proving once again why they’re names to watch in the state’s competitive circuit.

For those who missed out, don’t worry—there’s always another tournament on the horizon. If you haven’t already, head over to atomicagemodern.com to check out their event schedule and get in on the action.

Until next time, keep your flippers steady, your multiballs under control, and your eyes on the prize. See you at the next tournament!