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s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
Notes from the car, day 13 (end of the road & thank yous) #arcade #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
April 27, 2026 at 2:51 PM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
Day 12, stop 6. Pinball Pete's, downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan. Looks like a Fremont Street casino. Filled with two floors of games of all kinds. Quarters and tickets live on here! The biggest line in here... is for the ticket eater. #arcade #pinball #rhythmgames #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
The facade for Pinball Pete's. A place called Pinball Pete's? They BETTER have pinball... and that they do. They also have a four player linked Daytona USA 2 motion cab setup. Well, three at the moment. A lot of random machines here are currently off. Unfortunately, they have three DDR cabs, and not a single one is currently working.
April 27, 2026 at 1:21 AM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
Day 12, stop 5. Back at The Arcade in Brighton, MI again for a little bit more gaming tonight, especially since their new and *p*retty *c*omplex rhythm game is now up and running. And I love it. No further hints... go check it out for yourself! #arcade #pinball #rhythmgames #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Exterior of The Arcade, this time in daylight! I didn't even mention how tightly packed their sitdown, enclosed, and environmental cabs are in here. And they have quite a few. See what I mean? That's Lost Land Adventure all the way in the back, btw. Four of the best pinball machines of all time. Don't @ me.
April 27, 2026 at 12:07 AM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
Day 12, stop 4. Arcade Marvels @ Oakland Mall, Troy, MI. The smallest of three arcades in the mall, and by far the least impressive. 3 unique arcade games, and the rest are prize redemption machines. #arcade #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
The exterior of Arcade Marvels near the Oakland Mall food court. A pair of Mario Kart Arcade GP cabs. A pair of Sno Cross cabs. And the aforementioned prize games. Very much an afterthought compared to the two Sparks locations upstairs.
April 26, 2026 at 10:11 PM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
Day 12, stop 3. Sparks Passport @ Oakland Mall, Troy, MI. The smaller arcade across the hall has a distinct focus on Japanese import games, including a number of rhythm games, sitdown cabs, and a few distinct Sega rarities! #arcade #rhythmgames #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
The entrance to Sparks Passport. Sega's Flash Beats, or, what happens when a tanning bed starts listening to J-core. Sega's Air Trix, a rare spiritual successor to the fan favorite Top Skater. A trio of rare rhythm games, including Mambo A Go Go, Crackin DJ Part 2, and the Korean Beatmania-inspired EZ2AC.
April 26, 2026 at 10:08 PM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
Day 12, stop 2 (after wrapping up at the VFW show); Sparks Pinball Museum @ Oakland Mall, Troy, MI. One of two arcades literally across the hall from each other. This one mostly focuses on pinball and retro games, and has an excellent lineup! #arcade #pinball #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Exterior of Sparks Pinball Museum, Troy, MI. A small portion of the lineup at Aladdin's Castle -- I mean, Sparks Pinball Museum! The only other place I've seen both the Sega Hologram games has been at Galloping Ghost, so Sparks is in pretty good company! I have never seen Battlezone in a cabaret configuration before!
April 26, 2026 at 10:02 PM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
The last couple photos from the Ann Arbor VFW Pinball Show, before I head off to my next few stops. #arcade #pinball #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
An unpopulated playfield from Tales of the Arabian Knights hanging on one of the hallway walls. Two extremely early Data East games, Torpedo Alley and Secret Service. One of my favorites that I rarely see out in the wild, Alien Poker from Williams. The last unplayed Bally in the building. Got a quick game in to check it off my list!
April 26, 2026 at 7:28 PM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
A few more photos from the Ann Arbor VFW Pinball Show, before I head off to my next few stops. #arcade #pinball #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Faces by Sonic. The playfield just gets creepier and creepier the longer you stare at it. Surf'n Safari by Gottlieb. I want to go to that water park! A remake of Capcom's ill-fated Big Bang Bar. A rare prototype edition of The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard by Data East. Some distinct changes between this and the production version.
April 26, 2026 at 7:28 PM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
A few last sets of photos from the Ann Arbor VFW Pinball Show, before I head off to my next few stops. #arcade #pinball #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
A pair of old school Bally EMs that I had never played before here; Trail Drive and Little Joe. Another ancient Bally, this one called "Star-Jet" which has a very Jetsons-esque feel to it. ABC Monday Night Football from Data East, complete with referee topper. A quartet of Sega Pinball classics, spanning the wide gamut of licensed properties they were known for in the Nineties.
April 26, 2026 at 7:28 PM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
Notes from the car, day 12 (burnout feet) #arcade #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
April 26, 2026 at 6:22 PM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
Day 11, stop 2. (In case you forgot, stop 1 was the second day of the VFW show.)

Last Level Bar & Games, Fenton, MI. Nice to see a place open late around here, even better when it's got some awesome rarities and all time classics! #arcade #pinball #rhythmgames #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Exterior of Last Level. Pokemon pinball LE, Pac-Man Battle Royale DLX, and 4 player X-Men, amongst other games on the floor! Chunithm, DDR, and an extremely rare Para Para Paradise 2nd Mix cab. Only the second one I've seen in public on my travels over the past several years! The old man has wisdom.
April 26, 2026 at 4:25 AM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
I am pleased to announce that the infamous Pinball Arby's in Fenton MI still in fact has their Guns N Roses machine

I am dismayed to announce that the dining room has since closed for the evening

(CC: @kineticist.com @pinballmap.com)

#arcade #pinball #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
The Arby's in Fenton MI. A Jersey Jack GNR machine and a Ms. Pac-Man cabaret cab in the corner of Arby's.
April 26, 2026 at 2:51 AM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
And if you haven't seen the walkthrough from last night's VIP hours at the Ann Arbor VFW Pinball Show yet, allow me to link it below! #arcade #pinball #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip

youtu.be/QVuOSa4qwqE
Ann Arbor VFW Pinball Show (Brighton MI), April 2026 full 4K arcade show tour & walkthrough
YouTube video by S1ckH4ndsRBN
youtu.be
April 25, 2026 at 8:07 PM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
Day 2 of the Ann Arbor VFW Pinball Show is currently in progress. I am playing hella games today. So many brand new games and PBs under my belt! Great running into friendly faces too, like @halldoc1.bsky.social, & the entire Red Hook Pinball Museum gang! #arcade #pinball #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
April 25, 2026 at 8:07 PM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
Some looks at individual titles of interest here at the VFW Pinball Show, batch numero tres. I think this is gonna have to be it for the night. Back with more tomorrow (and a walkthrough at 10 AM ET). #arcade #pinball #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Playfield of Nine Sisters, a Harry Williams design from 1953. The first game to have a ramp! Also, multiple kickbacks, a saucer, and only one single solitary flipper. What a wild design! For Typhoon, the entire hurricane in the center of the playfield is constantly rotating. I have never heard nor seen this game before in my life. Similar to Doodle Bug in as if you hit a specific target, it will cause the captive ball to move and score points. Another absolutely insane layout of Bally's from way back when. Again with zipper flippers!
April 25, 2026 at 4:40 AM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
Some looks at individual titles of interest here at the VFW Pinball Show, batch numero dos. #arcade #pinball #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Motor Show, circa the late 80s, potentially the first game with a full video screen in its backbox (not counting those that used them for video game portions like Baby Pac or Caveman). Does this playfield layout look familiar? If you looked at it and said "Hey, that's Harlem Globetrotters", you'd be correct. Custom version of the original unlicensed Predator pinball game that adds a full screen with movie clips and sounds, etc.
April 25, 2026 at 4:40 AM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
Some looks at individual titles of interest here at the VFW Pinball Show, batch numero uno. Warning; one of the titles is decidedly NSFW or the younger set. #arcade #pinball #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
This is very interesting. A darts themed pinball machine. It starts your score at 301 and you get lower with every shot you make, mimicking an actual game of darts. Very unique! Game Plan's "Pinball Lizard". This has some of the strangest sound effects I've ever heard. "Draw me like one of your French girls", the game. The person who did the artwork for Mata Hari and Capt Fantastic, amongst others, also did this X-rated retheme of Big Deal.
April 25, 2026 at 4:40 AM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
A few more highlights from night 1 at the Ann Arbor VFW Pinball Show. I'm sure I'll be taking dozens more photos throughout the weekend, naturally. #arcade #pinball #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Classic woodrail games from the fifties. Even more woodrails, including several I had never played before. (There's a LOT of games like that here.) Classic 80s Gottlieb titles in this row. It's not all ancient games; there is actually a wall full of more modern machines, mostly Stern titles.
April 25, 2026 at 4:40 AM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
Going to post a few highlights from tonight's first night at the VFW show, and will work on getting a walkthrough up ASAP. The cell service over there is abysmal so pretty much all my posts will have to wait until I'm back at the hotel. #arcade #pjnball #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
A room full of super old flipperless games! One of these pinball machines is not like the others; can you spot the odd man out? "Oops! All Drop Targets". A trio of head-to-head games, including A.G. Soccer Ball, Hockey Champ, and Joust.
April 25, 2026 at 4:40 AM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
Day 10's big stop was the Ann Arbor VFW Pinball Show for Spring 2026. This is opened up to the public two weekends each year. I missed out on it last year; no chance I'm missing it this time. I'll be here all weekend long. It's simply amazing. #arcade #pinball #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
The exterior of the VFW buildings, home to the biannual Ann Arbor MI Pinball Show. In this case, the VFW acronym has been repurposed to mean "Vintage Flipper World". An aisle of dozens of vintage pinball machines on either side; lots of solid states and DMDs in this aisle. Even more aisles of pinball in the main hall here. The Friday night portion of the show is an exclusive for VIP ticket holders, and attendance is limited to a maximum of 100 people. With over 500 machines across the buildings, you're going to always have a choice of games to play. A Tusken Raider and a Mandalorian walk into a pinball show...
April 25, 2026 at 4:40 AM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
Day 10, stop 3. "The Arcade" (yes, that's the full name), Brighton, MI. Last minute visit after stop 2 (and no you didn't miss it, I just didn't post it yet... cause it's gonna be A LOT). This place? Small, but crammed with some cool stuff! #arcade #pinball #rhythmgames #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Exterior of "The Arcade". Games on the floor at "The Arcade". Some rhythm games are available for players to check out, including one very specific rare title that I can't really talk about here but needless to say I geeked the hell out when I saw it. ABBA pinball is a game that makes you question your place in the universe.
April 25, 2026 at 3:06 AM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
A few more photos from Tilted 10, Rockford, IL. After this, I'm gonna get back on the road and probably not stop until I hit Ann Arbor. See ya soon, Michigan! #arcade #pinball #rhythmgames #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Unexpected classic Bally games on the floor here, as well as a Beatles on the background. I've heard people call Dance Battle a DRS ripoff. No, that honor goes to this game, DanceLive, which is unashamedly a blatant copy of Dancerush Stardom. This old DDR cab is still kicking! Like I mentioned, very much a clawcade upstairs.
April 24, 2026 at 4:54 PM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
Day 10, stop 1. Tilted 10 @ the Cherryvale Mall, Rockford, IL. Another 2 floor location of theirs. This one is almost entirely all clawcade upstairs, but downstairs? They have 30 pins. Wasn't expecting that. #arcade #pinball #rhythmgames #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Logo for Tilted 10. It's a claw machine Recognizer! A couple of the Tilt greatest hits, an OutRun2 SP SDX quadruple cab setup and a SDX Transformers Human Alliance. Here's the shocker. An actual legit GOOD pinball section in a Tilt location. 30 machines, mostly new stuff but a couple classics too. Met one of the volunteers helping keep the machines in good shape while I was there. Thanks for doing what you're doing, Josh!
April 24, 2026 at 4:54 PM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
Notes from the car, day 10 (going to Michigan!) #arcade #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
April 24, 2026 at 2:32 PM
s1ckh4nds.bsky.social
Day 9, stop 5. Final stop of the night, probably. Round1 Bowling & Arcade, Greendale, WI. I've lost count of how many different R1s I've visited in the course of my travels. This one has a pretty interesting layout & good games overall. #arcade #pinball #rhythmgames #roadtrip #arcaderoadtrip
Exterior of Round1 at the Southridge Mall. Even R1 is not immune to the power of Perfect Pump and Odin's Hammer Strike. The small, modest, respectable pinball corner. I forgot to eat dinner, so Round1 takoyaki and ramune to the rescue!
April 24, 2026 at 3:20 AM