Stepping into Howard Vangool香蕉视频直播檚 basement, one is greeted by a multitude of flickering lights accompanied a disjointed chorus of swooshes, clicks, gunfire and the voice of Arnold Schwarzenegger香蕉视频直播檚 T-800 proclaiming, 香蕉视频直播淚 am the future.香蕉视频直播�
The lights and sounds emanate from Vangool香蕉视频直播檚 collection of pinball machines. There are currently 10 machines, along with a vintage 香蕉视频直播渃ocktail table香蕉视频直播� arcade machine, a converted upright cabinet arcade machine, a Japanese three-reel slot machine and a pachinko machine.
While the Terminator 2 pinball machine may have been the future in 1991 when it was released, all of the machines in Vangool香蕉视频直播檚 collection are both retro yet trendy, as pinball is seeing a resurgence, both competitively and as sought-after collectibles.
香蕉视频直播淔ive years ago, pinball was basically unknown. Now, there are pinball stores running full time香蕉视频直播� It香蕉视频直播檚 actually amazing, we香蕉视频直播檙e almost at a renaissance, a new age of pinball machines,香蕉视频直播� said Vangool. 香蕉视频直播淔or pinball people, there are some machines that are coming out that are just incredible. Lord of the Rings started it off probably six or seven years ago.香蕉视频直播�
Five years ago, the Shuswap photographer picked up his first pinball machine, Data East香蕉视频直播檚 Time Machine, a game that allows players to travel back in time from the 1980香蕉视频直播檚, to the 香蕉视频直播�70s, 香蕉视频直播�60s and the 1950s when the machine simulates an older, pre-digital pinball complete with bell chimes.
Vangool got into playing Time Machine and soon after found himself responding to an ad for a used Lethal Weapon pinball machine. And so the collection began.
香蕉视频直播淚 have an electronics background, so people were phoning me and saying, 香蕉视频直播榟ey, I香蕉视频直播檝e got one of these in my basement but it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 work. Can you come and fix it?香蕉视频直播� said Vangool. 香蕉视频直播淪o I香蕉视频直播檇 go over there and take a look. Each one of these machines has its own story, basically.香蕉视频直播�
One of Vangool香蕉视频直播檚 more memorable pinball purchases took him to Rossland in the West Kootenays. It was for Comet, a Williams Electronic Games Inc. machine from 1985.
香蕉视频直播淚t was the first one (digital pinball) to have the million point shot on it香蕉视频直播� It was a big deal when it came out,香蕉视频直播� said Vangool. 香蕉视频直播淪o the guy said, 香蕉视频直播業香蕉视频直播檝e had this machine for 14 years and I香蕉视频直播檝e only made the million shot three times or four times in my life.香蕉视频直播� So I get it home and start playing it and that night I got the million point shot three times.香蕉视频直播�
With their popularity increasing, Vangool said decent old pinball machines have become harder to find. When he gets them, Vangool has no problem lifting the playing field and doing the repairs needed to get them back in tip-top condition 香蕉视频直播� provided the parts are available.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 always looking for machines,香蕉视频直播� stresses Vangool. 香蕉视频直播淚f anybody has got a machine sitting in their basement or whatever, I always offer the fairest price I can. If it香蕉视频直播檚 not working, I can香蕉视频直播檛 offer a ton of money because 香蕉视频直播� usually it香蕉视频直播檚 a board gone or something like that, boards can cost $300, and then I have to put in $200 worth of LEDs.香蕉视频直播�
Vangool has had up to 15 pinball machines and sells them from time to time. There are a few, however, that will remain staples to his collection.
香蕉视频直播淚 probably would never sell GoldenEye or Lethal Weapon and probably not Terminator 香蕉视频直播� Each one of these is worth $3,000 and probably more,香蕉视频直播� said Vangool.
Asked if there香蕉视频直播檚 a particular machine he香蕉视频直播檇 like to add, Vangool says there香蕉视频直播檚 a few, but the 1997 Williams香蕉视频直播� classic, Medieval Madness, tops the list.
香蕉视频直播淢edieval Madness is actually being remade because it was named as the number one, most wanted pinball machine香蕉视频直播�,香蕉视频直播� said Vangool. 香蕉视频直播淭hat one for sure. To find one in somebody香蕉视频直播檚 basement or something would be awesome.香蕉视频直播�
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