Aerosmith Encore: Kamber Kirchmeier Rocks the Finals at Free Play Dallas

Bride of Pinbot reporting for duty, direct from the dimly lit, neon-buzzing wonderland of Free Play Dallas—where four contenders stepped into the ring for the Queen of the Silver Ball – April Finals. Rain may have dotted the sidewalks outside, but inside? It was all high-speed metal-on-metal glory, amplified by the unmistakable sounds of classic Williams flippers, Stern power scoops, and one particularly judgmental Beholder.

Where Pixels Meet Pinballs: Free Play Dallas

You don’t just visit Free Play Dallas—you plug into it. Hidden in the artsy brickscape of Trinity Groves, this arcade delivers the full arcade fantasy: glowing CRT screens, thumping retro playlists, and one of the more thoughtfully curated pinball lineups in Texas. The machines are kept in tournament-ready shape, with an emphasis on both modern depth and old-school charm.

Where else can you transition from the brutal brawls of Champion Pub to the high-risk rampages of Godzilla (Pro)? There’s always a lineup of machines that forces you to bring your A-game—or at least your best dead bounce. And if you’re wondering how they managed to cram a Pulp Fiction pin next to Dungeons & Dragons without starting a genre war… let’s just say the layout gods were smiling.

Game Spotlight: Kamber’s Rock ‘n Roll Rumble on Aerosmith

For the final match, the players faced off on Stern’s Aerosmith (2017), a game designed by John Borg—whose design résumé includes Tron: Legacy, Metallica, and X-Men. The pin is known for its kinetic energy and fast-flowing layout, featuring a toy box ball lock that launches balls sky-high during multiball start. It’s flashy, but not shallow. Under the glam-rock facade is a punishing set of outlanes and a ruleset that rewards precision over chaos.

In the decisive round, Kamber Kirchmeier locked into “Sweet Emotion,” one of the game’s core modes that demands clean ramp shots and relentless upper playfield control. The sequence not only gave her strong scoring momentum, it also revealed her command over Aerosmith’s nuanced rules—especially the risk-reward mechanics of ball locking and toy box timing. Her ability to maximize value from each mode placed her well above her ranking curve.

Meanwhile, Alex Moore leveraged the high-scoring potential of the elevator scoop and toy box locks to slide into second. Tricia Rodriguez gave the audience a taste of her multiball management skills, though a late drain cut her comeback short. Yeg Ghodsi had a few standout combos but couldn’t quite keep his rhythm going through the final chorus.

A Closer Look at the Tournament Lineup

With 14 machines in rotation, the finals featured an eclectic mix of design philosophies, gameplay styles, and decades of pinball evolution. Here’s a look at five standout titles:

Pulp Fiction (Chicago Gaming, 2023)
Built in close collaboration with Mark Ritchie—yes, Taxi and Fish Tales Mark Ritchie—Pulp Fiction is a love letter to early ’80s Bally pins. It rocks a throwback alphanumeric display, minimalist code, and brutal short ball times. With no modern LCD or deep progression trees, it forces players to rely on nudging finesse and careful aim. It’s an unusual choice for a modern tournament, but a welcome challenge for those who love tight, unforgiving layouts.

Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye (Pro) (Stern, 2025)
The newest kid on the block, this machine introduces a central Beholder bash toy and an RPG-style leveling system. Modes are tied to spells and dungeon quests, with stacked mini-wizard modes for those who survive long enough to string them together. The art package pulls deep from classic sourcebooks, and the playfield layout emphasizes combos and control over brute force. For fantasy fans and Stern-heads alike, it’s an exciting (and still evolving) meta pick.

Godzilla (Pro) (Stern, 2021)
Designed by Keith Elwin, Godzilla is arguably the greatest pinball machine of the modern era—and it’s not just hype. The layout is endlessly flowy, with a left ramp that feeds into a magnetic diverter and skyscraper that “collapses” during certain modes. The rules reward players who loop cities and stack modes efficiently. It’s deep, satisfying, and so balanced that it’s become a mainstay in competitive play.

Champion Pub (Bally, 1998)
A cult classic for the truly deranged (read: delightful) pinball lover. This late ’90s Bally release simulates a boxing gym, complete with a rotating fighter toy, training minigames, and an actual speed bag. The animations are gloriously ridiculous, and the ruleset encourages risk-taking with its “rumble” multiballs and corner shots. Players who know when to train and when to strike can unlock some huge scoring swings.

The Mandalorian (Pro) (Stern, 2021)
Not just a theme machine. Under the helmet, this Brian Eddy design (he of Attack from Mars fame) hides an upper tilting mini-playfield, multipliers tied to Razor Crest missions, and complex bounty-hunting mode stacks. The mini-playfield angle shift has been noted as a callback to Eddy’s earlier Shadow pin, adding both nostalgia and gameplay variation to a sleek, fast-shooting layout.

A Well-Fought Final Four

Kamber Kirchmeier brought her tournament experience (75 IFPA events strong) to bear and left no doubt who ruled the stage. Her victory on Aerosmith showcased deep knowledge of mode selection and scoring paths—something newer players might overlook in favor of chaos multiballs.

Alex Moore, playing in only het 13th IFPA event, turned heads with a gutsy performance and a cool head under pressure. Tricia Rodriguez’s experience (103 events!) was on full display as she navigated tough machines like Cactus Canyon with precision. And Yeg Ghodsi, a regional staple, proved once again why he’s always a threat to make finals.

Texas IFPA Pinball Top 10 Standings:

Final Thoughts: Flippers, Fights, and Future Legends

The Queen of the Silver Ball – April Finals didn’t just crown a winner—it reminded everyone that even a four-player bracket can bring out the best of the silver ball scene. From D&D’s magical madness to Aerosmith’s jet-fueled finale, this was a night where pinball’s past and future collided under neon lights.

Huge thanks to organizer Chris Delp for keeping things rolling, and to Free Play Dallas for their top-tier machines and unforgettable ambiance. You can follow upcoming events on their Facebook page.

Until next time, I’ll be here in debug mode—watching, waiting, and trying not to tilt in multiball. Keep flipping, kids.