Pinball Pandemonium at Shorty’s: 2025 Belltown Brawl

Somewhere between the glowing clown décor, sizzling hot dogs, and a chorus of silverballs colliding with flippers, the 2025 NWPAS Satellite: Belltown Brawl was in full chaotic glory on March 17th. With 54 players going head-to-head in an 8-strike progressive format, this Seattle showdown was less a brawl and more a full-blown multiball frenzy. The tournament, organized by the ever-dedicated Germain Mariolle, clocked in just under five hours—4 hours and 30 minutes, to be exact—proving once again that pinball players can turn any Monday night into a high-stakes warzone.

A Bar That Serves Hot Dogs and Pinball Dreams

Shorty’s isn’t your average corner bar. Sitting right in the heart of Belltown at 2316 2nd Ave, this Seattle staple has earned cult status thanks to a few not-so-secret weapons: old-school pinball, carnival-style vibes, and hot dogs that somehow count as gourmet. Walk in on a random Wednesday and you’ll find the place lit—literally and socially. Retro pinball tables double as cocktail tables, the walls throw clown energy at you in the best possible way, and yes, there’s even pulled pork sandwiches. It’s a place where the beer flows, the music thumps, and your high score ambitions get tested the moment you walk in the door. For pinball tournaments? Perfect.

Website: http://www.shortydog.com

Kaiju Mayhem: Round 3’s Monster Battle on Godzilla (Sega, 1998)

Let’s talk about Godzilla. No, not the current Stern juggernaut, but Sega’s 1998 version—a machine that doesn’t always get the spotlight, but in Round 3, it totally earned its stomp across the playfield. Released during Sega’s brief but fascinating pinball era (1994–1999), this machine is based on the less-than-acclaimed 1998 Godzilla movie. While the film might’ve flopped harder than a drained left outlane, the pinball machine still holds up as a fast-shooting fan layout with some seriously fun features. The standout is the mechanical “Baby Godzilla” figure that pops out during multiball and the “Rampage” mode that can throw off even seasoned players.

In this beastly brawl, James Frost-Winn absolutely lit it up. Despite being a relative underdog ranked 266th in Washington, he tamed this clunky kaiju with some shockingly consistent multiball control and smart use of the center ramp—aka the “Tokyo Escape Route.” Heather Loudon kept the pressure on with fast locks and brave shots up the right orbit, while Leslie Ruckman—currently the 5th-best player in the state—had a rare off game, possibly sabotaged by Godzilla’s notoriously mean outlanes. Joel Friedrick rounded things out, battling hard but ultimately succumbing to the machine’s less-than-forgiving playfield. All hail James for conquering the monster and the moment.

Machines That Stole the Show

Of the 17 machines in play, a few deserve a standing ovation for their flash, flair, and general pinball brilliance. Here’s a closer look at some of the stars of the tournament lineup:

Pulp Fiction (SE) – One of the most talked-about releases of the past few years, Pulp Fiction by Chicago Gaming and Play Mechanix brings an unapologetically retro vibe to modern pinball. With a brutal early solid-state feel and zero modern displays—just numeric score reels—it’s designed to play like a Bally from the late ’70s. But under the hood? It’s pure 2020s wizardry. The SE version dials back the deluxe topper and audio extras but still delivers plenty of callouts and kinetic energy. Mode stacking is absent here, so players have to commit to their shots, which made it a true test of accuracy under pressure.

Centaur – Released in 1981 by Bally, Centaur is what happens when someone decides pinball should sound like a haunted CB radio transmission from hell. Designed by Jim Patla with stunning black-and-white artwork by Paul Faris, this machine broke ground with its intimidating five-ball multiball and the ORBS target system, which was a precursor to modern combo logic. And those sound effects? They used an early speech synthesis chip that added reverb, which was groundbreaking at the time. It’s one of the first machines to use what we now call “sound design” as a gameplay element, not just background noise.

Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye (Pro) – This one’s fresh off the factory floor, released in January 2025 by Stern and designed by Keith Elwin’s protégés. It’s a fantasy-heavy experience with spell casting, dungeon maps, and a central Tyrant toy that taunts you throughout. There’s an upper mini-playfield shaped like a wizard’s tower, and players can customize spell loadouts at the start, bringing more of that D&D feel into the game. It’s got flow, depth, and just enough randomness to simulate a tabletop dice roll on the playfield.

Cactus Canyon – One of pinball’s great “what ifs.” Released in 1998 by Bally, Cactus Canyon was the final Williams/Bally game before the plug got pulled on WMS pinball altogether. Production was halted before the game was finished—meaning the code is famously incomplete unless you play the expanded remakes. Despite that, it still stands out for its colorful Western theme, fantastic humor, and animatronic shootout toys. It has a quick-and-dirty combo system and lighthearted objectives like catching bad guys and blowing up trains. For players in the know, it’s kind of like flipping through the last great chapter of a classic novel that ended too soon.

The Mandalorian (Pro) – Stern’s 2021 tribute to everyone’s favorite space dad and green goblin child (you know the one) is packed with magnets, mini-playfields, and mission-based gameplay. It’s a Dwight Sullivan ruleset, so expect layers of strategy and a stacking system that can either make you a hero or punish you for biting off more than you can chew. The upper mini-playfield lets you flip Grogu’s fate during missions like “Mudhorn” and “Escape.” Tournaments love it for its balanced scoring and satisfying loops.

The Uncanny X-Men (Pro) – The 2024 Stern release doesn’t just lean on comic book nostalgia—it’s a full-fledged flipper frenzy with mutant-powered perks. Each player selects an X-Men character at the start, each with its own scoring perk or gameplay benefit. The Pro model strips down the playfield toys but retains the core flow. It’s fast, mean, and favors players who can combo without blinking. There’s a super satisfying Magneto multiball that rewards careful timing and confident shooting.

The Addams Family – We don’t even need to introduce it, but we will. The Addams Family is the best-selling pinball machine of all time for a reason. Designed by Pat Lawlor and released in 1992, it set the standard for mode-based gameplay. The “Mansion” concept—unlocking different scenes based on where your ball goes—was a huge innovation. Players know the risk-reward balance of the electric chair shot all too well, and Thing’s flipper continues to steal balls and hearts alike.

Bobby Orr’s Power Play – Released in 1977 by Bally, this machine was one of the early “celebrity” licensed titles, featuring hockey legend Bobby Orr. With fast-paced play, a double set of spinners, and early-era sound effects, it’s a charming look back at how simple, pure, and punishing pinball could be before ramps and toys became the norm. It’s a great reminder that finesse and nudging are timeless skills.

Masters of the Multiball: The Final Four

When the final ball drained, it was Vincent Sperrazza who stood tall. Hailing from Bremerton and currently ranked 11th in the state, Vincent’s been in 463 IFPA events—so yeah, this wasn’t beginner’s luck. He played with surgical precision and the confidence of someone who’s already faced every tilt warning a machine can offer.

Seattle local Ryan Odonnell took second, showing why he’s cracking into the top 10 state rankings. Erin Malysa landed third, proving that rankings don’t tell the full story—she’s currently 80th in the state but outplayed many higher-ranked competitors with bold, calculated shots. And fourth place went to another Bremerton battler, Daron Coull, who’s climbed into the top 100 in several recent events and continues to build momentum.

Washington IFPA Pinball Top 10 Standings:

That’s a Wrap on the Brawl

The Belltown Brawl lived up to its name—fast games, tight finishes, and just enough pinball chaos to make you forget it was a Monday. Huge thanks to Germain Mariolle for running a smooth and spicy event, and of course to Shorty’s for being the kind of place where tournaments feel like parties and every table’s a throwback. That Round 3 Godzilla showdown? Still thinking about it. It’s not every night you see a Sega-era kaiju pinball game steal the show.

Stay tuned for more tournament chaos, machine deep-dives, and silverball showdowns. This is Bride of Pinbot, signing off—but always watching your flippers.