Old School Games, Cold Weather: Bremerton’s Pinball Throwdown

Tik Tok’s Fair Strikes 3/17 Classics kicked off under a blanket of overcast clouds and a brisk 41 degrees in Bremerton, Washington—a temperature that practically dares you to stay indoors and flip some silverball instead. This wasn’t your average casual flipfest, either. It was a full-blown Group Knockout tournament using the Fair Strikes format, lasting just over three hours with 8 strategic rounds. Seven players entered, but only one would walk away unscathed. Well, relatively unscathed—this is Fair Strikes, after all.

Where the Locals Flip and the Melons Are Juicy

Tik Tok’s Workshop on Sylvan Way isn’t just a pinball bar—it’s a bit of an offbeat community hub. From karaoke nights to burlesque shows, and yes, a solid lineup of pinball machines, this place mixes local flavor with retro flair. The staff gets high marks for friendliness (shout-out to Astrid!), and it’s one of the rare spots on the Kitsap Peninsula where you can catch more than just a game or two. The drink prices won’t make your wallet cry, and based on the crowd’s vibe, you’re likely to leave with a few new friends and at least one embarrassing karaoke story.

Game of the Night: Laser War Goes Full Stereo

By Round 8, tensions were mounting like a multiball on a hair trigger, and that’s exactly when Laser War decided to make its presence known. Released by Data East in March 1987, this game has the distinction of being their very first pinball machine after entering the market—and they came in loud. Literally. Laser War was the first pin ever to use digital stereo sound, giving it a booming presence that made even its modest playfield feel epic.

Conrad Rustad took command of the machine and channeled those pounding tunes into pinpoint precision. Ranked 14th in Washington and 63rd in the world, he made it clear why he’s considered local royalty. Donovan Haga, ranked much lower at 116th in the state, still gave a strong performance, securing second on the game and overall for the night. Stereo sound or not, Conrad was hearing the sweet music of victory.

These Machines Have Stories to Tell

Laser War (Data East, 1987)
Data East entered the pinball world swinging, and Laser War was their bold declaration. While its design—courtesy of Joe Kaminkow and Ed Cebula—leans on simple rules, the sound system blew players’ minds in ’87. No joke, this machine used a stereo processor from the arcade division that made the synthy, apocalyptic soundtrack feel like a mini concert. The game’s wide open layout gives it a classic early solid-state vibe, but with a little more “kick” thanks to the audio and sci-fi theming.

Eight Ball (Bally, 1977)
Bally’s Eight Ball is one of the all-time classics of the early solid-state era, and it comes with some serious historical weight. Designed by Greg Kmiec, this machine rode the wave of the Fonzie effect, with artwork and marketing leaning into the billiards-cool of the ‘70s. It became one of the highest-selling pinball machines ever at the time. No ramps, no multiball—just drop targets and strategic nudging, the way nature intended. It’s a game that rewards the calm, collected player… and punishes the flailers.

Rollergames (Williams, 1990)
This one’s a gem from the tail end of the System 11 era. Designed by Steve Ritchie and Mark Ritchie (yes, the brothers), Rollergames is based on the short-lived TV show that combined roller derby and WWE-style drama. The playfield is lightning fast, with tight loops, a magnet behind the upper flipper, and an absurdly satisfying right ramp that feeds back to the flipper. It also features one of the last original soundtracks before Williams leaned harder into licensed music. The theme may be campy, but the gameplay is no joke.

Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons (Stern, 2015)
An oddball modern release that dared to go back in time. Designed by Dennis Nordman and Greg Freres (the duo behind Elvira and the Party Monsters), this single-level, EM-style game brings fruit crate aesthetics and innuendo-laced art to the 21st century. Built on the Stern Spike system but with chimes and mechanical scoring sounds, Whoa Nellie! plays slow and brutal. Think of it as a modern nod to Gottlieb’s 1960s layouts—but with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

Devil’s Dare (Gottlieb, 1982)
Now here’s one for the cult collectors. Devil’s Dare came out during Gottlieb’s shift to System 80, a time of ambitious features and… let’s call them “quirky” hardware choices. It’s a widebody game with two- and three-ball multiball options, some truly creepy callouts (that glorious evil laugh!), and asymmetrical layout that keeps you guessing. It was one of the few horror-themed pins of the early ’80s, paving the way for future spooky classics. If you like your pinball with a side of Satan and some haunted drop targets, this is your game.

Who Survived the Storm: Final Standings

1. Conrad Rustad flipped his way through the fog and fair strikes to claim first place with the kind of consistency you’d expect from someone ranked 14th in Washington and 63rd worldwide. With over 300 IFPA events under his belt, Conrad didn’t just play well—he played smart, letting experience carry him through every multiball and misfire.
2. Right behind him was Donovan Haga, proving that rankings aren’t destiny. Despite being over 100 spots below Conrad in the state standings, Donovan held steady throughout the night and made the most of every machine. His second-place finish was a strong statement from a player who’s logged over 200 events and still climbing.
3. Chris Wilkes, repping Bainbridge Island, brought in third with a quiet but deadly consistency. At 198th in Washington, he wasn’t anyone’s top prediction—but he played with the kind of calm that frustrates more aggressive opponents, earning every point he scored.
4. And in fourth, multitasking magician Richard Godwin kept the tournament running smoothly while still flipping their way into the finals. With 562 IFPA events logged and a knack for bringing the Bremerton community together, Richard continues to be the heart of Tik Tok’s scene—clipboard in one hand, flipper button in the other.

Washington IFPA Pinball Top 10 Standings:

A Cloudy Night, but the Competition Was Fire

Despite the gray skies and chilly temps, the flipper heat inside Tik Tok’s Workshop was real. From vintage sound experiments like Laser War to weird modern throwbacks like Whoa Nellie, the lineup offered something for every flavor of player. Huge thanks to Richard Godwin for organizing a smooth and exciting tournament, and kudos to Tik Tok’s Workshop for continuing to be a place where pinball thrives with character.

Big congratulations to Conrad Rustad for taking first and keeping his name high in Washington’s competitive pinball scene. Stay tuned for more silverball drama and competitive flipper action—and don’t forget to rate the post below if you enjoyed the recap!