Foo Fighters and Ferris Wheels: Pinball Variety Reigns in Surprise

The Arizona evening might’ve been cloaked in scattered clouds, but inside Player 1 Arcade, the only thing cloudy was the decision to go for one more multiball or cradle up and play it safe. With the temperature at a toasty 87°F and the tournament clock set for just over two hours, the Player 1 Arcade 2025 S3 Side Tournament brought sixteen flipper fanatics together for five rounds of 1-game match play. The format was quick, the machines were unforgiving, and Tournament Organizer Jim Smith once again proved he knows how to turn a Monday into a major moment.

The Vibe at Player 1 Arcade

Player 1 Arcade in Surprise, AZ has the kind of old-school soul that’s increasingly hard to find. It’s all dim lights, comic book wall art, and rows of machines begging for that perfect plunge. No food? No problem—this isn’t a dinner date, it’s a flipper fight. Instead, you’ll find $1 happy hour drinks, candy behind the counter, and a local community that lives for league night. Most of the pinball lineup leans toward modern Sterns with just enough classic Williams chaos sprinkled in to keep things spicy.

It’s the kind of place where you might walk in for a casual game of Cyclone—and leave having unknowingly stepped into a mini-tournament hosted next to a Foo Fighters machine that looks like it was beamed in from a parallel dimension.

Round 3 Mayhem: Iron Maiden’s Pharaonic Duel

Round 3 gave us a heavy metal duel on Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast (Stern, 2018), a game that blends blistering fast shots with a progressive ruleset that rewards intelligent play. Based on the band’s mobile RPG (yep, that’s a real thing), it’s a battlefield of undead warriors, Egyptian tombs, and Eddie—always Eddie—taunting your every flip.

Robert Paluc unleashed his fury early with a precision combo run that unlocked “Number of the Beast” mode before anyone else could blink. The upper left flipper—trickier than it looks—was his secret weapon, allowing him to chain ramps and orbits while stacking Trooper Multiball with Mummy Multiball like he was scripting a concert encore. Luke Hulsey gave chase but couldn’t quite stage a comeback in the underworld. Alicia Schad held her own, triggering a strategic mode play via Cyborg Eddie, while Milliana Bizzi gamely braved the punishing outlanes—arguably Iron Maiden’s most brutal legacy.

The layout, designed by Keith Elwin in his debut for Stern, remains a fan-favorite for its balance of flow and chaos. It’s a tournament staple for good reason—fast, deep, and relentlessly fair.

Machines That Made the Night

Let’s talk about the lineup, because this wasn’t just a “whatever’s on the floor” night—it was a curated mix of nostalgia, challenge, and some very fresh code:

• Foo Fighters (LE) – Stern’s 2023 surprise hit, with a layout by Jack Danger and coded to perfection with callouts from Dave Grohl himself. The custom mechs, especially the jump ramp and Deadpost ball save feature, make it one of the most kinetic games in recent memory. This machine plays fast but rewards players who understand stacking modes and managing Area 51 battles.

• The Uncanny X-Men (LE) – The ink’s barely dry on this late-2024 release, and already it’s earning its keep in tournaments. With a new LCD display style and comic panel transitions, it’s a visual feast. The standout mech is the Danger Room magnet setup—think Metallica‘s Sparky meets Doctor Strange’s Portal Lock. Still early in its life cycle, but it’s shaping up as Stern’s most strategic code since Star Trek (2013).

• Tales of the Arabian Nights (Williams, 1996) – John Popadiuk’s masterpiece. Known for its lavish artwork and mechanical spinning lamp, this game combines asymmetrical playfield layout with one of the best use of magnets in ‘90s pinball. Tournament players know it’s high-risk, high-reward—especially when chasing the “Rescue the Princess” wizard mode. If you don’t time your genie hits perfectly, the ball will punish you with brutal side drains.

• Cyclone (Williams, 1988) – The middle child of Williams’ amusement park trilogy (Comet, Cyclone, Hurricane), this one is a slow burn. No multiball, no ramps to spam—just a deceptively simple layout, skill shot mastery, and strategic use of the ferris wheel and mystery wheel. It’s a brilliant change-of-pace game in a sea of fast modern pins.

• The Walking Dead (Pro) – Stern’s 2014 gore-fest remains a tournament favorite for its ruthless layout and shot discipline. The prison and Well Walker features dominate early play, but the real action happens when you start stacking modes during Siege Multiball. TWD punishes sloppy control, and rewards calculated aggression.

Brains and Bumpers in the Final Match

The final game took place on The Walking Dead (Pro)—because if you’re going to end a tournament in Arizona heat, why not do it fighting zombies? Tommy Bizzi took command early, exploiting the crossbow and stacking multiballs like he was running the CDC. His control during Siege mode was textbook, nudging to trap and reset shots into the arena while his competitors chased futilely from behind.

1. Tommy Bizzi – With nearly 400 IFPA events in his graveyard, Tommy turned in a veteran performance. Smart, strategic play and confident nudging gave him the edge—he didn’t just win; he survived.

2. Brittany Daniel – Strong through all five rounds, Brittany capitalized on earlier games on Jurassic Park and Guardians of the Galaxy, both of which reward high-risk mode stacking. A sharp run that easily could’ve flipped the other way with one more multiball in the finals.

3. Jeremy Reiman – Representing Peoria and already making waves with only 40 IFPA events, Jeremy’s command of modern Sterns is undeniable. His best game? Foo Fighters, where he leaned into Area 51 chaos and racked up jackpots like a seasoned alien hunter.

4. Luke Hulsey – Luke had a tournament to remember. His Iron Maiden performance in Round 3 was top-tier, and with only ten events logged, this finish is a clear sign that Arizona pinball might be seeing a new regular rise in the ranks.

Arizona IFPA Pinball Top 10 Standings:

Flipping the Final Page

From battling the Well Walker to conjuring genies and surviving alien invasions, this side tournament at Player 1 Arcade packed more storylines into two hours than most Netflix shows. Big thanks to Jim Smith for orchestrating another Monday masterclass, and major kudos to Tommy Bizzi for walking away with the win—and possibly a few new pinball scars.

If you’re ready to test your skills or just want to drink a soda under dim lights while playing Cyclone, head over to Player 1 Arcade’s Facebook page for the latest on events, leagues, and machine drops. More tournaments await, and you better believe I’ll be there, hovering in the wires, watching the tilt warnings light up.