Nicholas Gustafson Claims Victory in a Field of Flash and Fury

When the skies are scattered and the temperature’s a mellow 79°F, Tuesday night feels like it’s asking for one thing: flippers, fastballs, and a fair bit of trash talk. Enter the “Three Strike – XXX Tuesday” tournament hosted by Space City Pinball at The Game Preserve in Spring, Texas. Twelve contenders entered the Group Knockout arena, but by the end of ten grueling rounds, only one player stood unstruck.

A Community Arcade Experience

At 473 Sawdust Road in Spring, Texas, The Game Preserve stands as a community hub for gamers of all ages. With a diverse selection of classic arcade and pinball machines, the venue offers a flat-rate admission of $15 for all-day play. The arcade’s welcoming atmosphere is complemented by amenities like a snack bar and the option to bring your own food and drinks. Regular events, including themed parties and tournaments, make it a lively spot for both casual visits and special occasions.

Game Spotlight: Maiden Mayhem in Round One

Let’s talk about Iron Maiden—no, not the modern Keith Elwin-designed spectacle, but the original 1981 Stern Electronics version. This game might be a deep cut, but it’s pure attitude. Designed by Jim Patla, with art by Doug Watson, it’s got that early Stern charm: no multi-ball, barely any ball save, and a sound package that howls like a metal cassette in a tape deck set to “meltdown.”

In Round 1, this moody, single-level playfield set the tone. Gary Russell, despite being unranked, played like a man possessed, taking down three seasoned players on a game that rewards raw survival instinct more than refined technique. Lee Balusek held on for second by keeping his nudging tight and center drains at bay, while Ben Whittington and David Pollock couldn’t quite tame the table’s fast-and-loose slings.

Not every game can double as a history lesson, but this one does: Iron Maiden was among Stern’s final efforts before their original 1980s exit. It’s a rare sight in tournaments, but a welcome one.

Machines That Lit Up the Night

Out of the 28 machines at The Game Preserve, here are five that stood out in both design pedigree and tournament drama:

• Flash (Williams, 1979) – The final match’s battleground. Designed by Steve Ritchie and programmed by Eugene Jarvis (before they went on to make Defender and NARC, mind you), Flash was the first pinball game to feature background sound and one of the earliest to lean into speed as a defining gameplay feature. It’s fast, punishing, and gorgeous—especially with that strobe effect on the bonus countdown.

• Paragon (Bally, 1979) – Nicknamed “The Beast” by players who’ve been chewed up by it, this widebody fantasy adventure is known for its brutal outlanes and risky left upper flipper. The scoring is tantalizing—if you can build your bonus and survive the ball-eating beast pit. One missed shot and it’s game over.

• Cyclone (Williams, 1988) – With no multi-ball and a single-ball jackpot system, Cyclone turns every shot into a solo act of precision. It’s a theme park of quirky gimmicks—the ferris wheel, the comet ramp, and the ever-iconic Mystery Wheel—topped off with a carnival barker callout that somehow never gets old.

• Jack•Bot (Williams, 1995) – A futuristic remix of Pin•Bot with deeper rules and more layered strategy, Jack•Bot rewards shot accuracy and calculated risk. The casino-style “Hit Me” feature adds a literal game-of-chance element to tournament play. Its art package and Dot-Matrix display animations are chef’s kiss mid-’90s Williams.

• Red Baron (Chicago Coin, 1975) – This electro-mechanical relic is more of a historical experience than a scorefest. Featuring no ramps, no multiball, and a purely mechanical bell sound system, it’s a reminder of how far the game has come. And yet, every time that chime hits, your brain lights up like it’s the Fourth of July.

Top Finishers in a Wild Flash Finale

The tournament wrapped with Flash, a fitting closer that demands both precision and guts. Local favorite Nicholas Gustafson took home the crown, navigating the machine’s brutal outlanes and unpredictable rebounds with the poise of someone who’s played over 300 IFPA events—and probably seen every bad bounce possible.

David Pollock finished second, showing grit and patience all night, especially impressive after starting the night in the fourth slot on the punishing Iron Maiden. Daniel Koba, who holds a modest IFPA ranking but plays with hustle and strategy, locked in third with a clutch save in the final round. Giovanni Gamarro may not be ranked yet, but his fourth-place finish on this lineup of classics means he’s already making waves.

Texas IFPA Pinball Top 10 Standings:

The Classics Never Quit

Massive thanks to Space City Pinball for curating the chaos and to The Game Preserve for opening the doors to both first-timers and flipper fanatics alike. From Red Baron’s EM buzz to Flash’s strobe-lit finale, the night was a living museum with a competitive edge. And yes, Iron Maiden still slaps—42 years later. More tournaments, more throwbacks, and more drama to come—stay tuned.