Hello. Those that know of me via Facebook or Pinside know me by my internet name, Xerico Pinball. Those of you who have met me, either online or in person, know me as Marcus. I am the Texas Representative for the IFPA. I am the tournament director for the Texas Pinball Festival. I am the main organizer for Flip Off Hunger Pinball Style.I am a pinball collector from Rockwall, TX. But above all, I hope at least, I am an ambassador for Pinball. My pinball story really didnt start until I was 32 years old. I played pinball occasionally during my arcade rat years. But I never really appreciated the game. My common memory of playing pinball during the late 80s & early 90s was that my wrist always hurt after playing. So for the entire 90s & early 2000s, I ignored pinball entirely. Then one day in January 2005, I attended an arcade auction known as Super Auction with the intention of buying a Pac-Man, Donkey Kong or Cyberball for my newly acquired Townhome in Alpharetta, GA. Since it was my first auction, I wanted to make sure that the auctioneer knew I was there to buy a game. As fate would have it, the first things being auctioned were Pinball Machines. The first game, a WMS Indiana Jones, had furious bidding before ending up at a whopping $2,300. The second game, A Bally Twilight Zone, also had furious bidding and ended up at $2,800! So I felt pretty confident that I could get the first bid in on the next machine,Gottlieb Freddy: A Nightmare on Elm Street, and the bidding would go crazy again. I would have announced my presence to the auctioneer and someone else would go home with the game. So when the bidding starts, I raise my card for $800 and then look around for the next bid. None came. As I gazed around in shock, I hear Sold for $800 to number 118. I was stunned. I had no interest in pinball and I was the new owner of a pinball machine. Later in that auction, I bought a Force II for $200. And just like that, I became a Pinball Collector. I went full throttle after that. In the next 2 years, I would amass a collection of 26 games that included every B/W A Game with the exception of TAF & TOTAN. Along with every modern Stern beginning with Monopoly and ending with POTC. I met my wife in 2006 and married in 2007. By 2008,I sold most of my collection to help with my move back to Texas as well as funding my wedding. I then attended the 2008 Texas Pinball Festival, and my pinball life changed. I was exposed, for the first time, to competitive pinball. I started attending the two Texas Pinball Shows. This led to me running local tournaments for Dallas area players. It was the beginning of my ascension to TPF Tournament Director and tournament mentor for other tournament directors. I also started the charity pinball event, Flip Off Hunger, which is my proudest achievement in Pinball. Another goal is to grow competitive pinball in the states of Texas, Louisiana & Oklahoma. Another is to stimulate Pinball Parties and gatherings around the area. I have also developed some adequate skills with pinball repair. I am by no means an Evan Smith or Eugene Mosh. But I know my way around a machine. If it is an EM machine, I can definitely offer some help! Above all, I enjoy the camaraderie of my local pinball nuts. I love talking pinball, I love playing pinball. I love competing in tournaments. I love coming up with unique approaches to tournament play. If anyone ever needs advice on how to ship a pinball machine, or an opinion on fair market prices, or simply to talk playing strategies, then please reach out to me. Im always available to help a fellow pinball nut!
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 12:57:44 +0000
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