Inside Houston’s Competitive Pinball Scene

March 1, 2019March 1, 2019

With growing groups like the Space City Pinball League and Belles & Chimes in action, this retro sport is all the rage again.

The Houstonia Magazine features Space City Pinball in their March issue!

IMAGE: MARCO TORRES
Click the image to read the article online.

	December 2024
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
1	2	3 NASA 3X Tuesday NASA 3X Tuesday Starts: 6:30 PM Ends: December 3, 2024 - 10:00 PM Location: The Game Preserve NASA, 20810 Gulf Fwy Suite Z, Webster, TX 77598, USA Description: 3 strike knockout tournament at The Game Preserve NASA starting at 6:30 every other Tuesday night. Ten dollar admission to the venue, games are on free play, one dollar for IFPA fees. Strikes for 3rd and 4th for 4 player games, 3rd for 3 player games. Last person without 3 strikes is the winner. More details... Three Strike Tuesday Three Strike Tuesday Starts: 6:30 PM Ends: December 3, 2024 - 10:30 PM Location: The Game Preserve, 473 Sawdust Rd, Spring, TX 77380, USA Description: Players are placed in groups of 3-4 and play on a random machine. The bottom two players (bottom player in three player groups) of each game receive a “strike”. Players who receive three strikes are eliminated. More details... Einstein’s PhysXXX Study Group Einstein’s PhysXXX Study Group Starts: 7:00 PM Ends: December 4, 2024 - 10:30 AM Location: EinStein's Pub, 873 S Mason Rd #360, Katy, TX 77450, USA Description: EinStein's PhysXXX Study Group Outline Instructor: Space City Pinball League Course Curriculum : The PhysXXX curriculum includes interactions of matter and energy, velocity, accelerations, force, and momentum. Space Cadets will test their skills to manipulate physical matter using electricity and mechanical engineering constructs. Course Instructions : SCPL Cadets will assembly in small study groups of 3-4. Each group will attempt to outperform their group peers in a test of skill on one of the specialized electromechanical PhysXXX simulators available. Group failure rate is 50% in groups of 4 (bottom 2) and 33% in groups of 3 (bottom 1). Failure results in a single X (strike). After three failures you are on academic probation until the next schedule PhysXXX class. Only one SCPL cadet will prevail. Material's List: $1 for IFPA fees & coin-drop Prerequisite: age 21+, familiarity with concepts such as "fun" and "a good time" Electronic Devices: Students should be able to access http://Next.Matchplay.events/ on a personal electronic device. SCPL Cadet Handbook: http://www.spacecitypinball.com/ More details... • • •	4 Belles Ladies League Finals Belles Ladies League Finals Starts: 7:00 PM Ends: December 4, 2024 - 8:00 PM Location: 19318 Wood Village Ln, Houston, TX 77084, USA More details... •	5	6 Eureka Heights Friday Tournament Eureka Heights Friday Tournament Starts: 6:30 PM Ends: December 6, 2024 - 9:30 PM Location: 941 W 18th St, Houston, TX 77008, USA Description: Group matchplay from 6:30 to 9:30. Top 8 finals. More details... •	7 Wormhole 4X Wormhole 4X Starts: 1:00 PM Ends: December 7, 2024 - 5:00 PM Location: 2017 N Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77008, USA Description: Monthly 4X Tournament at Wormhole - April 1, 2022 Players are placed in groups of 3-4 and play on a random machine. The bottom two players (bottom player in three player groups) of each game receive a “strike”. Players who receive four strikes are eliminated. $20 More details... •
8 EinStein's Drainiacs EinStein's Drainiacs Starts: 1:00 PM Ends: December 8, 2024 - 6:00 PM Location: 873 S Mason Rd, Katy, TX 77450, USA Description: 4 Strikes Knockout 21+ More details... •	9	10 NASA 3X Tuesday NASA 3X Tuesday Starts: 6:30 PM Ends: December 10, 2024 - 10:00 PM Location: The Game Preserve NASA, 20810 Gulf Fwy Suite Z, Webster, TX 77598, USA Description: 3 strike knockout tournament at The Game Preserve NASA starting at 6:30 every other Tuesday night. Ten dollar admission to the venue, games are on free play, one dollar for IFPA fees. Strikes for 3rd and 4th for 4 player games, 3rd for 3 player games. Last person without 3 strikes is the winner. More details... Three Strike Tuesday Three Strike Tuesday Starts: 6:30 PM Ends: December 10, 2024 - 10:30 PM Location: The Game Preserve, 473 Sawdust Rd, Spring, TX 77380, USA Description: Players are placed in groups of 3-4 and play on a random machine. The bottom two players (bottom player in three player groups) of each game receive a “strike”. Players who receive three strikes are eliminated. More details... Einstein’s PhysXXX Study Group Einstein’s PhysXXX Study Group Starts: 7:00 PM Ends: December 11, 2024 - 10:30 AM Location: EinStein's Pub, 873 S Mason Rd #360, Katy, TX 77450, USA Description: EinStein's PhysXXX Study Group Outline Instructor: Space City Pinball League Course Curriculum : The PhysXXX curriculum includes interactions of matter and energy, velocity, accelerations, force, and momentum. Space Cadets will test their skills to manipulate physical matter using electricity and mechanical engineering constructs. Course Instructions : SCPL Cadets will assembly in small study groups of 3-4. Each group will attempt to outperform their group peers in a test of skill on one of the specialized electromechanical PhysXXX simulators available. Group failure rate is 50% in groups of 4 (bottom 2) and 33% in groups of 3 (bottom 1). Failure results in a single X (strike). After three failures you are on academic probation until the next schedule PhysXXX class. Only one SCPL cadet will prevail. Material's List: $1 for IFPA fees & coin-drop Prerequisite: age 21+, familiarity with concepts such as "fun" and "a good time" Electronic Devices: Students should be able to access http://Next.Matchplay.events/ on a personal electronic device. SCPL Cadet Handbook: http://www.spacecitypinball.com/ More details... • • •	11	12	13	14 Belles & Chimes Women's Monthly Belles & Chimes Women's Monthly Starts: 3:00 PM Ends: December 14, 2024 - 7:00 PM Location: 5311 Climber Ct, Houston, TX 77041, USA Description: Belles Monthly at the Dronet's - a private collection. $1 IFPA fee. Practice starts at 2pm; tournament starts at 3pm. Feel free to bring something to share. BYOB. All ages. We will collect toys to donate. Ladies are placed in groups of 3-4 and play on a random machine. We will play 5 rounds of 2 games for a total of 10 qualifying games. Top players will compete in finals. This is an IFPA sanctioned event for women's ranking. Visit https://www.spacecitypinball.com/bellesandchimes/ or https://www.facebook.com/bellesandchimeshouston/ for more information. More details... •
15 Meteor Strikes at the Little Dipper Meteor Strikes at the Little Dipper Starts: 1:30 PM Ends: December 15, 2024 - 5:30 PM Location: Little Dipper Bar, 304 Main St, Houston, TX 77002, USA Description: Space City Pinball: Meteor Strikes at the Little Dipper Four Strike Tournament 3rd Sunday of the Month 1:30 pm (Doors open at 1pm) 21+ Coin drop. Players are placed in groups of 3-4 and play on a random machine. The bottom two players (bottom player in three player groups) of each game receive a strike. Players who receive four strikes are eliminated from the next round. More details... •	16	17 NASA 3X Tuesday NASA 3X Tuesday Starts: 6:30 PM Ends: December 17, 2024 - 10:00 PM Location: The Game Preserve NASA, 20810 Gulf Fwy Suite Z, Webster, TX 77598, USA Description: 3 strike knockout tournament at The Game Preserve NASA starting at 6:30 every other Tuesday night. Ten dollar admission to the venue, games are on free play, one dollar for IFPA fees. Strikes for 3rd and 4th for 4 player games, 3rd for 3 player games. Last person without 3 strikes is the winner. More details... Three Strike Tuesday Three Strike Tuesday Starts: 6:30 PM Ends: December 17, 2024 - 10:30 PM Location: The Game Preserve, 473 Sawdust Rd, Spring, TX 77380, USA Description: Players are placed in groups of 3-4 and play on a random machine. The bottom two players (bottom player in three player groups) of each game receive a “strike”. Players who receive three strikes are eliminated. More details... Einstein’s PhysXXX Study Group Einstein’s PhysXXX Study Group Starts: 7:00 PM Ends: December 18, 2024 - 10:30 AM Location: EinStein's Pub, 873 S Mason Rd #360, Katy, TX 77450, USA Description: EinStein's PhysXXX Study Group Outline Instructor: Space City Pinball League Course Curriculum : The PhysXXX curriculum includes interactions of matter and energy, velocity, accelerations, force, and momentum. Space Cadets will test their skills to manipulate physical matter using electricity and mechanical engineering constructs. Course Instructions : SCPL Cadets will assembly in small study groups of 3-4. Each group will attempt to outperform their group peers in a test of skill on one of the specialized electromechanical PhysXXX simulators available. Group failure rate is 50% in groups of 4 (bottom 2) and 33% in groups of 3 (bottom 1). Failure results in a single X (strike). After three failures you are on academic probation until the next schedule PhysXXX class. Only one SCPL cadet will prevail. Material's List: $1 for IFPA fees & coin-drop Prerequisite: age 21+, familiarity with concepts such as "fun" and "a good time" Electronic Devices: Students should be able to access http://Next.Matchplay.events/ on a personal electronic device. SCPL Cadet Handbook: http://www.spacecitypinball.com/ More details... • • •	18	19 Space City Pinball: 8th Wonder Thursday Night Pinball Space City Pinball: 8th Wonder Thursday Night Pinball Starts: 6:30 PM Ends: December 19, 2024 - 10:30 PM Location: 8th Wonder Brewery, 2202 Dallas St, Houston, TX 77003, USA Description: 5 rounds of group matchplay (7/5/3/1 scoring). Top four play Amazing Race finals. More details... •	20	21 Monthly Matchplay Monthly Matchplay Starts: 4:00 PM Ends: December 21, 2024 - 10:00 PM Location: The Game Preserve, 473 Sawdust Rd, Spring, TX 77380, USA Description: $5 for the tournament in addition to admission to The Game Preserve arcade. 7 rounds of qualifying of matchplay Top 8 in A finals Everyone else invited to a B division 2 strike knockout All ages. All skills. All fun. Visit www.spacecitypinball.com/monthly-tournaments/ for more information! More details... •
22 EinStein's=MatchplayCompetition² EinStein's=MatchplayCompetition² Starts: 1:00 PM Ends: December 22, 2024 - 7:00 PM Location: 16733 W Airport Blvd #290 Richmond, TX 77407 Description: 7 rounds of matchplay qualifying. PAPA finals for top 8. 1 PM start. All ages welcome. $1 + coin drop. More details... •	23	24 NASA 3X Tuesday NASA 3X Tuesday Starts: 6:30 PM Ends: December 24, 2024 - 10:00 PM Location: The Game Preserve NASA, 20810 Gulf Fwy Suite Z, Webster, TX 77598, USA Description: 3 strike knockout tournament at The Game Preserve NASA starting at 6:30 every other Tuesday night. Ten dollar admission to the venue, games are on free play, one dollar for IFPA fees. Strikes for 3rd and 4th for 4 player games, 3rd for 3 player games. Last person without 3 strikes is the winner. More details... Three Strike Tuesday Three Strike Tuesday Starts: 6:30 PM Ends: December 24, 2024 - 10:30 PM Location: The Game Preserve, 473 Sawdust Rd, Spring, TX 77380, USA Description: Players are placed in groups of 3-4 and play on a random machine. The bottom two players (bottom player in three player groups) of each game receive a “strike”. Players who receive three strikes are eliminated. More details... • •	25	26	27	28
29	30	31 NASA 3X Tuesday NASA 3X Tuesday Starts: 6:30 PM Ends: December 31, 2024 - 10:00 PM Location: The Game Preserve NASA, 20810 Gulf Fwy Suite Z, Webster, TX 77598, USA Description: 3 strike knockout tournament at The Game Preserve NASA starting at 6:30 every other Tuesday night. Ten dollar admission to the venue, games are on free play, one dollar for IFPA fees. Strikes for 3rd and 4th for 4 player games, 3rd for 3 player games. Last person without 3 strikes is the winner. More details... Three Strike Tuesday Three Strike Tuesday Starts: 6:30 PM Ends: December 31, 2024 - 10:30 PM Location: The Game Preserve, 473 Sawdust Rd, Spring, TX 77380, USA Description: Players are placed in groups of 3-4 and play on a random machine. The bottom two players (bottom player in three player groups) of each game receive a “strike”. Players who receive three strikes are eliminated. More details... • •