Rudy, Rollergames, and the Rise of Donovan at Tik Tok’s

With the spring air hanging at a crisp 60°F and patchy clouds rolling across Bremerton, things felt appropriately dramatic for a Monday night showdown. Eight players stepped into the flipper fray at Tik Tok’s Fair Strikes 4/14, battling through nine rounds of strikes and saves. The air might’ve been cool, but inside the arcade, the action was sizzling—helped along by a lineup of pins spanning five decades, each with its own personality, attitude, and very opinionated multiball modes.

A Warm Welcome Behind the Workshop Doors

Tik Tok’s Workshop isn’t just another barcade—it’s a lovingly curated, steampunk-themed haven for pinball enthusiasts and arcade aficionados alike. Located at 1216 Sylvan Way in Bremerton, WA, this locally owned establishment boasts a rotating lineup of over a dozen pinball machines, ranging from electro-mechanical classics to modern digital marvels. The owners, passionate collectors and technicians, have been maintaining and repairing coin-operated gaming machines for over a decade, ensuring that each game is in top-notch condition for players. 

Tik Tok’s Workshop is also a hub for the local pinball community. Regular tournaments, training events, and machine walkthroughs are part of their commitment to fostering a vibrant pinball scene in Kitsap County . Whether you’re a seasoned player looking to sharpen your skills or a newcomer eager to learn, the welcoming environment and knowledgeable staff make it an ideal place to immerse yourself in the world of pinball.

Spotlight Game: Whoa Nellie! Brings the Sugar and the Sting

Round 7’s featured match unfolded on Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons (Stern, 2015), a game that confused and amused the pinball world when it dropped. Designed as a love letter to 1960s electro-mechanical tables, it ditched deep rule sets in favor of a single-level layout, old-school chimes, and yes—some very cheeky fruit humor. But beneath its flirty facade lies a game that punishes careless flipper use and rewards accurate shot timing, especially when chasing the Super Melon jackpot.

In this round, Kathleen Rush (state rank 256th) turned the tables on her higher-ranked opponents by playing precisely, hitting the saucer and side targets while managing risk better than the rest. Donovan Haga (76th), known for consistency, followed with a strong second, while Conrad Rustad (18th) and Andrew McCann (124th) fell victim to the game’s deceptively shallow playfield and classic EM randomness. The result? Proof that flashy ramps and coded callouts aren’t everything—sometimes, it’s just you, the ball, and the crate.

The Machines That Shaped the Night

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the machines that made this Fair Strikes tournament one to remember. Each of these pins brought a unique flavor to the competition, testing different skills from nudging finesse to multiball chaos management.

• Funhouse (Williams, 1990)
  Rudy, the talking ventriloquist dummy head, is iconic—and deeply unsettling. This Pat Lawlor-designed classic revolutionized interactive playfields by introducing a mechanical toy that reacts to gameplay and insults you along the way. Players had to unlock Midnight Multiball by advancing the clock, putting balls in Rudy’s mouth, and bracing for chaos when his eyes slam shut. Strategy-heavy and brutal on sloppy play, Funhouse remains a beloved test of skill.

• Rollergames (Williams, 1990)
  With music by Dan Forden and a fast, flowing layout by Steve Ritchie, Rollergames delivered peak early ’90s energy. Based on the bizarre televised roller derby of the same name, this game features a magnet-diverter, breakneck loops, and “THE WALL”—a shot you have to bank off a ramp to qualify jackpots. Players needed to balance multiball prep with skill shots while keeping up with the game’s relentless pace.

• Devil’s Dare (Gottlieb, 1982)
  A cult favorite among solid-state fans, Devil’s Dare blended a horror theme with advanced-for-its-time features like speech, timed multiball, and a drop-target heavy playfield. Gottlieb was trying to stay competitive in the early ’80s arms race against Bally and Williams, and this game’s spooky theme, cool backglass, and strategic drop-target grouping made it a standout in their lineup.

• Laser War (Data East, 1987)
  This machine marked Data East’s first-ever pinball release, and they didn’t play it safe. With a bombastic soundtrack (thanks to the first use of digital stereo sound in a pinball game), and loud, flashy artwork, Laser War was as much a declaration of intent as a game. The playfield had nothing revolutionary, but it played fast and rewarded combo shooting—plus, the sound package alone made it memorable.

• Joker Poker (Gottlieb, 1978)
  A drop target symphony. Whether in EM or solid-state form, Joker Poker is revered for its balanced scoring, clean layout, and ruthlessly punishing gameplay. It’s a pure test of shot accuracy. For tournament play, it can be devastating—there’s no hiding from bad flipper habits here.

• Eight Ball (Bally, 1977)
  One of Bally’s best-selling games ever, Eight Ball rode the coattails of “The Fonz” with a layout inspired by pool and greaser cool. It was an early hit for Steve Young’s design team and is notable for being one of the first pins to really nail a “themed” experience. In tournament play, it’s unforgiving—miss a shot and you’re likely heading straight down the drain.

Tournament Results: Power Players and Breakout Moments

1. Congratulations to Donovan Haga, who outlasted the field with poised, strategic play across a range of machines. With 207 events on his record, Donovan’s experience shone through—particularly on complex games like Funhouse, where controlled chaos is the name of the game.
2. Conrad Rustad, sitting comfortably inside Washington’s top 20, took second place with surgical shot-making and consistent positioning throughout. His experience with Gottlieb-era pins gave him a clear edge on games like Joker Poker and Devil’s Dare.
3. Andrew McCann, third-place finisher, showed off sharp game sense across a variety of eras. With over 600 events under their belt, they’ve clearly seen it all—and their ability to read a machine’s rhythm was especially evident on the faster, flow-heavy games like Laser War.
4. And hats off to Kathleen Rush—her fourth-place finish was a reminder that rankings aren’t the whole story. Her win on Whoa Nellie! was a highlight reel moment, and her EM play clearly makes her a force to watch.

Washington IFPA Pinball Top 10 Standings:

Wrapping It Up with a Melon-Sized Thank You

Major thanks go to Richard Godwin for keeping the Fair Strikes format flowing smoothly all night. And once again, Tik Tok’s Workshop proved it’s more than just a fun name—it’s a space where players can revisit pinball history one flipper button at a time. Whether you were battling Rudy, riding the Rollergames magnet, or embracing the EM chaos of Whoa Nellie!, this tournament brought out the best (and wildest) parts of competitive pinball.

Stay tuned, stay flippin’, and as always—keep your eyes on the crate. More pinball tournament coverage is just a bumper hit away