Play unlimited games on favorite pinball and arcade machinesPlay a huge game list and variety of themes in pinball machines and classic arcade video games. Experience the sights, sounds and excitement of hands -on games. Play the classics and new favorites brought together by our gamer community. This show is made possible by this outstanding group - THANK YOU!
Mini-Hauntcade ChallengeLast year was so scary that the entire experience somehow introduced ghosts which have now literally shrunken a full size hauntcade and thrown a plethora of tiny games at the fans in a miniature graveyard!! All of this for the glory of the three grand prizes which will be amazingly weird, jaw dropping and scary as heck! Pay $10 to get your wristband for access to play all weekend in the super haunted remnants of a gaming tournament gone mad. Gawk in terror at how many small games we brought with us this year. Can you get a high score on all of them?!?
Expect the same level of thrills as the previous 9 horrorhouse fests, just catered to the mini gaming community, filled with enormous prizes. The Night Mutilator will be there to help guide you along the way while also trying to beat everyone's high scores All whilst having a lovely time at the Rocky Mountain Pinball Showdown! Get your wristbands at the Mini-Hahuntcade door. Let’s get freaaaaakkkyyy! Tempting triviaBrush up on your pinball, classic arcade, and general trivia facts with some intriguing trivia sessions. Hang out with friends, grab your beer or soda, and hide that cell phone. Friday @ 6 pm, Saturday @ 5 pm, and Sunday @ 2 pm -- all located in the community area on the festival floor near the bar.
Pinball and arcade game tournaments
Interested in a variety of casual and friendly tournaments on pinball and arcade games? These tournaments will challenge individuals, rookies, kids, parent-kid, zen, and split flipper teams.
Bring your pinball skills to win trophies and cash in the sanctioned Open, Classics, and Novice tournaments against some of the best players in the world. See below for a full slate of casual and sanctioned competitions. How to sign up for CASUAL Tournaments:
PinChats -- Meetups and Seminars: Be in the know with special guests from across the communityThe festival brings special guests from industry and the community to give you great opportunities to interact with awesome personalities, to discuss timely topics, and to learn about different areas of pinball, retro console, and classic arcade gaming.
Meetups and seminar topics are numerous in theme and format. Each year we look to bring you a fresh, in-demand perspective of our wider community. Topics range widely from player technique workshops to interactive panels with favorite guests to participation with live podcasts. See the guest list as its updated for the current festival year, and the calendar once their time slot is confirmed! What do you want to meetup about, and who do you want to meet? Let us know! >>Check the schedule of topics on Saturday |
Best of the West: Festival game awardsA special awards committee will review games and you can also cast a ballot for your favorite games. Winners receive special festival ribbons and prizes. See the history of winners in our Show Archives.
Saturday night PinBall Monster BashIts the start of the spooky season and we're celebrating with you! Saturday night rock out with the PinBall Monster Bash from 8 pm - midnight with lights-out to play games in their full illuminated glory.
Our great friend Jennie with The Front Range Theatre Company is announcing a costume contest with prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places at 8:30pm! No full face masks or weapons with costumes please. All ages and family friendly. Pinquest challenges all weekendDo you accept the challenge? The 2023 Rocky Mountain Pinball Showdown and Gameroom Expo will feature 3 Pinquest quests running all weekend: “easy", "hard", and the Gnome Hunt. Get ready to quest at https://www.playpinquest.com/player
Stuck ball contestPinball machines are famous for stuck balls. No idea how they get into those pesky spots, or wedged into that forsaken corner. That is the beauty of these amazing games! Take a picture of the craziest stuck ball at the current festival and send it and the name of the game to stuckball@PinballShowdown.com. Best photo gets an awesome festival prize!
Sunday swap meet in the parking lotJoin the swap meet Sunday morning 8-10 am. This is super casual and all depends on you bringing your arcade and pinball stuff! Bring your pinball and arcade goods to sell or trade at the swap meet outside the festival in the parking lot rain or shine. Contact Lem Scarbrough for space details at SwapMeet@PinballShowdown.com.
Sanctioned pinball tournaments: Open + NoviceAt the festival you can play in sanctioned Open and Novice tournaments against some of the best players in the world.
Read below for tournament buy-ins and detailed information. This is a community event -- all players are welcome to compete in the festival's tournaments. Tournament dates and times may change as the festival accommodates speakers and special events. Tournament Score Keepers Needed! Email Dave at tournaments@PinballShowdown.com to help out IMPORTANT: You must purchase a corresponding admission ticket to the show in order to participate in that day's tournaments. The tournament entry does NOT include admission to the show. Sanctioned Tournament Director Dave Johnson Tournament questions? tournaments@pinballshowdown.com The International Flipper Pinball Association that ranks pinball players among world competitors sanctions the Rocky Mtn. Pinball Showdown tournaments, including the Classic Electro-Mechanical, Novice, and Open Tournaments.
All tournament will follow standard PAPA/IFPA rules. Full tournament rules are available here. |
Casual play tournaments [TROPHIES]
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Team tournament• Single elimination bracket system Saturday at 3 pm
• $7 per person. Teams will be randomly selected from among entrants • Trophies awarded to first place team Rocky Mtn. Rookie pinball tournaments• Single elimination bracket system Friday at 7 pm, Saturday at 4 pm, and Sunday at 1 pm
• $7 per person • Trophies awarded to first place for each tournament • All players with IFPA ranking of 1,000+ invited Halloween Pumpkin Tournament• Single elimination bracket system Friday at 8 pm
• $7 per person • Pumpkins awarded to first, second, and third places Stall ball tournament• Stall-ball tournament is introduced to us from our Utah and South Dakota pinballers. Players line up in a row behind the first player. The objective is to get the ball in a stationary position like a lock, saucer, a scoop, a magnet, etc. Then, they leap off the game and the next person jumps in to continue. Whoever drains the ball is out; last person standing is the winner!
• Friday 3 pm; Saturday 2 pm; Sunday 2 pm • $7 per person • Trophy awarded to first place Kid's tournament• Single elimination bracket system Sunday at noon
• FREE -- Share your love of pinball with your kids 12 and under • Trophies awarded to first, second, and third places |
Zen tournament• Single elimination bracket system Friday at 5 pm
• $7 per person • Zen gardens (2) awarded to first place team Classic electro-mechanical tournament• Single elimination bracket system Sunday at 3 pm
• $7 per person • Trophy awarded to first place Split flipper tournament
• Single elimination Saturday at 7 pm
• Each player controls one of the two flippers in an awesome game of teamwork • $7 per person. Teams will be randomly selected from among entrants • Trophies awarded to first place teams Women's tournament• Single elimination bracket system, Sunday at 11 am
• $7 per person • Trophy awarded to first place Parent-kid tournament• Single elimination bracket system Saturday at 11 am
• $7 per parent-kid team. Kids 12 and under only • Trophy awarded to first place team |
Sanctioned tournaments [CASH and TROPHIES]
SIGN UP AT SANCTIONED TOURNAMENT DESK
Open tournamentQualifying:
Friday noon-9 pm Saturday 10-4 pm Finals: Saturday 6 pm • $60 per person, with 10 total game plays on a bank of 8 machines. Each player’s best score on 5 unique machines goes towards his/her ranking. • Cash prizes are net of tournament expenses and $1/player IFPA fee. Prize Payout: 1st place - trophy +30% net prize purse, 2nd place - trophy +20%, 3rd place - trophy +10%, 4th place - 8%, 5-8th places - 4%, 9th-16th places • A maximum of 100 points is available for each game. 97 points for 2nd; 95 points for 3rd; 93 points for 4th; and reduced by 1 point for 5th and beyond. • The player's combined qualifying score will be based on their 5 highest game ranking point totals • The top 16 players will advance to the finals at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday (player check-in at 5:30 pm) Open Finals• Top 16 players will compete in a PAPA-style format
• A group of 4 players will play 3 games in each round and the top 2 players will advance from each group • Player will be awarded 4, 2, 1, 0 points for 1st - 4th place finish on each game • Additional information can be found here |
Novice tournamentQualifying:
Friday noon-9 pm Saturday 10-4 pm Finals: Saturday 6 pm • Qualifying for the Novice Tournament is limited to new players and players with an IFPA ranking over 3000. This tournament does not award WPPRs (World Pinball Player Ranking points) but is designed to provide new players with the experience of competing on machines setup for high-level competition using the same, though slightly shorter format as the Open Tournament. • $20 per person, with 9 total game plays on bank of 8 machines. The player's combined qualifying score will be based on their 3 highest game ranking point totals. • The top 8 ranked players will advance to PAPA-style finals Saturday at 6:00 pm (player check-in at 5:30 pm) • Prizes: Cash prize percentage payout are determined by player participation, net of tournament expenses. 1st place - trophy + 30% net prize purse; 2nd place - trophy + 25% net prize purse; 3rd place - trophy + 15% net prize purse; 4th place - 10% net prize purse; 5th - 8th place - 5% net prize purse Novice Finals• Top 16 players will compete in a PAPA-style format
• A group of 4 players will play 3 games in each round and the top 2 players will advance from each group • Player will be awarded 4, 2, 1, 0 points for 1st - 4th place finish on each game • Additional information can be found here |