A Scorching Summer Throwdown in Mesa
Friday night in downtown Mesa, the heat was still blazing at 106°F, but inside Atomic Age Modern, the only thing hotter than the weather was the competition. Forty-one players packed into Bob Kennedy’s vintage-meets-pinball haven for an evening of group match play that blended old-school charm with modern firepower. Kennedy not only organized the event but also keeps this quirky venue alive—a store where you can browse retro décor, then step into a lineup of tournament-ready machines that span five decades.
Atomic Age Modern has built a reputation for its hospitality and pristine pins. Players describe it as “a trip down memory lane,” but don’t be fooled: this is no casual arcade night. Arizona’s sharpest flippers were out in force, ready to grind through four rounds of head-to-head action.
A Lineup Spanning Decades of Pinball
Atomic Age Modern doesn’t just put out games — it curates eras. With twenty-seven machines in play, players bounced from the early Solid-State age to the cutting edge of Stern’s 2025 releases, sometimes in back-to-back rounds. It wasn’t just variety for variety’s sake; the lineup forced players to adapt constantly, making the tournament as much about versatility as raw skill.
The Classics (1970s–80s):
Older Bally and Stern titles set the tone early. Dolly Parton looked friendly with its pink cabinet and country theme but turned vicious when drains came fast and multipliers slipped away. Paragon, a notorious widebody, punished sloppy control while rewarding smart bonus-building across balls. And Flight 2000, with its futuristic audio and early multiball, reminded everyone why it was Stern’s crown jewel of the era.
The 90s Quirk Factor:
Tucked among the workhorses was The Party Zone, Bally’s bizarre mash-up of talking heads and chaotic humor. Its colorful art and unusual objectives created a mental whiplash compared to the razor-sharp classics — the kind of game where laughter in the group could just as easily end in a tilt warning. The Getaway: High Speed II also made an appearance, keeping the adrenaline high with its iconic supercharger loop that still makes the crowd lean in when the ball takes flight.
The Modern Stern Staples (2018–2023):
Stern’s recent hits anchored the field. Godzilla (Pro) has become the competitive king, with secret skill shots worth millions and Kaiju battles that can swing a game in one shot. Rush (Pro) gave players plenty of time to get lost in modes and multiballs, while Foo Fighters (Premium) delivered blistering fast flow that turned mistakes into instant punishment.
Fresh Off the Line (2024–25):
Few local tournaments can boast machines this new. JAWS (Pro) had players hammering the chum bucket to light harpoons before launching into shark-chomping multiball chaos. John Wick (Pro) tested players on fresh code that rewards chaining combos with deadly efficiency. The Uncanny X-Men (Pro), released just weeks before, put its sentinel bash toy into action in tournament play, and Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye added a touch of fantasy flair, still unfamiliar enough to catch even seasoned players off-guard.
Put together, this lineup was more than just eye candy — it was a gauntlet. One round you needed the patience of a control player on Paragon, the next you needed the combo flow of a Stern pro model, and by the end of the night you’d better hope your shotmaking held up on brand-new code. It’s the kind of mix that makes Atomic Age Modern stand out in the Arizona pinball scene.
Dolly’s Big Moment
Round 3 will be remembered for one thing: Dolly Parton (Bally) stealing the spotlight. Four players lined up on this pastel country classic — Alexander Phillips, Brian Pinney, Kevin Burns AZ, and Adam Horton — and the game delivered the night’s biggest twist.
On paper, Pinney was the clear favorite. At IFPA #310, he came in as one of the strongest players in the room. Phillips, meanwhile, was ranked far down the list, a relative unknown. But Dolly is a game that doesn’t care about rankings. With its wide flipper gap, punishing outlanes, and a ruleset that’s all about building and multiplying bonus, it strips play down to accuracy and composure.
Phillips played it steady — controlled shots, safe nudges, no wasted balls. Pinney pushed harder, chasing multipliers, and a couple of quick drains proved costly. In the shuffle, Kevin Burns AZ slid into second with some clutch shot-making, while Adam Horton never found rhythm and rounded out the group. When the dust settled, Phillips had not only won the game but also toppled one of Arizona’s top-ranked players in the process.
It was the kind of upset that rippled through the room. A late-70s Bally with a smiling Dolly on the backglass had just flipped the tournament standings on their head, reminding everyone why these older titles remain tournament staples: they’re great equalizers, where nerve and discipline matter more than pedigree.
Rivalries Across the Floor
The heart of this tournament wasn’t just the final standings, but the individual showdowns that shaped the path there.
For Brian Pinney, it was a gauntlet from start to finish. Ranked #310 and one of the top seeds, he couldn’t avoid tough pairings. Early on, he locked horns with Shawn Barnett on The Uncanny X-Men (Pro) — a match that gave Barnett momentum toward his eventual tournament win. Pinney also saw veterans like Jim Smith AZ and newer faces like Andrew Kohtz, making his run one of the most challenging schedules of the night.
Meanwhile, Christy Kohtz carved out her own storyline. Across the evening she matched against Gabrielle Craft, Noah Suchoff, and Matt JohnsonAZ — all rising competitors. Their one-off meetings, often on Metallica Remastered, became little tests of nerve that showed how quickly Arizona’s newer players are sharpening their game.
Alexander Phillips was the breakout name, and not just for his upset on Dolly. He also crossed paths with Chris Stoltenberg and Dante Fishell on Foo Fighters (Premium), games that had the room leaning in as Phillips kept proving his upset win wasn’t a fluke.
And then there was Jocelyn Bowers, who didn’t get a marquee match but still made noise. She posted the biggest rank climb of the night, grinding through her groups and picking off stronger-ranked players in the process. It wasn’t one rivalry that defined her — it was a steady rise over everyone she faced.
The Players Who Shined
The podium told its own story:
- Shawn Barnett (AZ, IFPA #1811) – Barnett has logged 227 events in just three years, usually finishing mid-pack. Here, he broke through with steady play and clutch wins late in the night, claiming the top spot.
- Paul Blanco (Chandler, IFPA #561) – a six-year veteran with nearly 300 events under his belt, Blanco leaned on experience to take second. He’s no stranger to the podium, but consistency kept him ahead of younger challengers.
- Amanda Kennedy (Mesa, IFPA #4164) – a rising local who’s already carved out six top-3s in the past two years. Her third-place finish here was her strongest result yet in front of a home crowd.
- Brian Pinney (Mesa, IFPA #310) – one of the strongest players in the field, Pinney battled back from the Dolly setback to secure a top-four finish.
The podium told its story, but the rest of the field added depth:
- Alexander Phillips – The underdog assassin. Ranked far outside the top tier, Phillips made headlines by upsetting Brian Pinney on Dolly Parton. That win alone gives him a storyline players won’t forget.
- Jocelyn Bowers – The climber. She made the biggest rank leap of the night, showing steady improvement and proving she’s more than just a familiar name on the entry list.
- Jim Smith AZ – The ironman. With over 670 events under his belt, he brings unmatched experience. Every time his name comes up in pairings, newer players know they’re getting a master class.
- Jason Barre – The threat. Ranked #291, the strongest on paper in this field. He didn’t podium, but he racked up wins across the night and reminded everyone why he’s such a measuring stick in Arizona pinball.
Wrapping It Up
By the end of the night, Atomic Age Modern had lived up to its reputation: a shop that’s equal parts nostalgia trip and competitive crucible. Under Bob Kennedy’s stewardship, the games were dialed in, the brackets ran smoothly, and the players walked out with fresh stories to share—and maybe a new rivalry or two to carry into the next event.
Arizona pinball thrives because of nights like this: sweaty, crowded, a little chaotic, but absolutely unforgettable.