The Addams Family Marathon and a Battle for First at Pinball Gallery’s Winter W3

When the temperatures outside drop to a bone-chilling 17°F, the best place to find warmth isn’t by a fireplace—it’s in the heat of competition at Pinball Gallery. Forty players packed into the arcade, flipping through a one-round, five-game battle where every ball counted. The games moved fast, but some matches felt like they might never end (we’ll get to that in a minute).

A Pinball Collection in Malvern

Tucked along Lancaster Avenue, Pinball Gallery is a paradise for pinball enthusiasts. This isn’t just a spot to play a few games—this is a massive collection of pinball history, spanning from electro-mechanical classics to the latest high-tech Stern releases. If you want variety, you’ll find it here. Some players spent their entire visit locked in on a single machine, while others tried to take on as many tables as possible. The noise level? Exactly what you’d expect from a room full of clacking flippers and high-stakes competition. But that’s just part of the fun—after all, if you’re playing pinball in total silence, you’re probably doing it wrong.

The Never-Ending Game: The Addams Family

The longest battle of the night unfolded on The Addams Family, Bally’s 1992 classic that’s no stranger to marathon play. This legendary machine, known for its chaotic multiballs and addictive ramp shots, lived up to its reputation—one game in Round 1 stretched a staggering 103 minutes, proving that some players had the patience (and endurance) of a true Gomez Addams.

So, how do you score big on this fan-favorite?

1. Tour the Mansion – Completing the Mansion awards some of the best scoring opportunities, especially if you can stack multiple modes before collecting the bonus.
2. Lock in Multiballs – Thing’s flips and the Bear Kicks ramp are your best friends. Locking in multiballs and stacking them with Mansion rewards is the key to a high-scoring run.
3. Train the Swamp – The Swamp kickout can be deadly, so nudging skills are essential. Keep control, and don’t let Thing steal your ball without a plan.
4. Stay Calm in Seance Mode – The outlanes on this game love to drain your hopes. If you hit Seance mode, be sure you’re ready for some serious ball control.

When the game finally came to a close, Jamme Thomas from Phoenixville, PA, took first place with a masterclass in control and strategy. Brandon Dayan, Guy Merrill, and Karl Lodwick followed behind, proving that even in an endurance round, consistency pays off.

Standout Machines That Kept Players on Their Toes

With 77 machines available, players had a wide selection to test their skills, but a few games stood out as defining battlegrounds of the night. Whether it was the strategic depth, punishing outlanes, or satisfying shot flow, these machines made a serious impact on the competition.:

Elvira’s House of Horrors (Stern, 2019) – Shot Flow for Days

Elvira’s back, and her House of Horrors provided some of the most dynamic gameplay of the night. With fast ramps, interactive crypt locks, and some of the best callouts in modern pinball, this game is a rollercoaster of humor and chaos. The key to scoring big? Players had to light up the House Party Multiball, where jackpots stack fast and the chaos ramps up even faster. Strategic use of the Deadhead modes also proved critical—clearing out the mansion’s undead occupants led to massive scoring opportunities. Those who could cycle through Elvira’s movie modes without missing key shots saw their scores skyrocket.

Oktoberfest (American Pinball, 2018) – A Multitasker’s Nightmare

Oktoberfest may be a celebration of beer, bratwurst, and Bavarian culture, but in pinball form, it’s an exercise in controlled chaos. This game is loaded with features, side objectives, and some of the most varied modes in pinball. Players had to balance tent modes, stein collecting, and roller coaster shots to build their score. The biggest challenge? Not getting lost in the madness. Some players locked into multiball too early, losing out on higher-value scoring opportunities. But those who could juggle all the moving parts without getting overwhelmed? They left the game with festival-sized scores.

Centaur II (Bally, 1983) – A Brutal Classic with No Mercy

If Centaur II had a personality, it would be the tough but fair teacher who never let you off the hook. This Bally classic is as unforgiving as they come, rewarding controlled play and smart nudging. The game’s Orbs Multiball is its defining feature—players who could skillfully hit the captive ball to release their minions had a chance at huge scores. But for those who played recklessly? They were sent straight to the outlanes of despair.

Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (Bally, 1975) – Drop Target Heaven

This wide-body Bally classic is a true test of flipper control. With five drop targets dominating the playfield, the only way to rack up points was to carefully aim and avoid bricking shots off the posts. It may look simple, but one mistimed flip and the ball would rocket into an outlane faster than an Elton John guitar solo. Players who mastered controlled, deliberate shooting found themselves racking up points, while those who tried to force their way through the drops ended up watching their ball disappear into the abyss.

A Hard-Fought Victory for the Tournament Champions

Forty players entered, but only one walked away as the Winter W3 champion—and that was Frank Egitto. With an impressive tournament run, Frank proved why his IFPA experience (64 total events) made a difference. He kept cool under pressure, putting up consistent performances across all five games, securing just enough points to take the title.

Coming in second, Jamme Thomas built on her momentum from The Addams Family marathon. With 126 total IFPA events under her belt, she knew how to grind out tough matches, and tonight was no exception. A few well-timed nudges and sharp multiball plays kept her in the fight, nearly claiming the top spot.

Jason Patterson, with only 14 total IFPA events, was the surprise story of the night. Despite being a relatively new name in the competitive scene, he played like a seasoned pro, making clutch shots and holding his own against some of Pennsylvania’s best. A podium finish this early in his career? Expect to see him making waves in future tournaments.

Finally, Matt Zwitkowits secured fourth place, adding another strong showing to his resume. His IFPA ranking may sit at 1806, but he proved that he could hold his own against top-ranked competition. Expect him to be a serious threat in the next league round.

Pennsylvania IFPA Pinball Top 10 Standings

Final Thoughts

The Southeastern PA Pinball League – Winter W3 delivered another night of heated competition, and a big shoutout goes to Bill Disney for organizing the event. The Pinball Gallery continues to provide a top-tier location for players to battle it out on some of the best machines in the game.

And let’s not forget The Addams Family, which refused to let go of the ball for over 103 minutes—a true reminder that in pinball, sometimes the real battle is just keeping the flippers moving.

Stay tuned for more tournament coverage and pinball action—because the next big flip is always just around the corner!