Posts By :

Sally Cohen

Playing Stern Pinball games.
Stern pinball army at play

Pinball: Run a Casual (or Professional) Pinball Tournament
Pinball: Run a Casual (or Professional) Pinball Tournament 640 646 GAD Vending

You may already be running dart tournaments, trivia games off your digital music jukebox, and Golden Tee digital tournaments. Your audience is already competitive and looking for unique experiences, running pinball tournaments is a naturally fun addition.

*The suggestions in this article are general. Make sure you check your local NE, SD, KS, MO or IO laws about gaming, awards and tournament rules before you choose the tournament type and rules that work for you.

Play Control

Try an app like Match Play to control your tournament. Players can enter their score, with you controlling the official approval. You choose the games from head-to-head, round robin, elimination, best score, ladder brackets…. This allows you to run tournaments over time. Change the type of tournament to entertain your audience. And – extend the contest so everyone who wants can participate.

If you want a simple, manual bracket game – try printing a large format bracket. Or use chalkboard paint on a wall and draw or paint a bracket.

Approachable

Think ahead to make the game approachable. Everyone likes to participate and win!

  • Grand “Prize”
  • Best Fan Club
  • Announce winners across your TV screens with AMI Ad Manager
  • Consolation “prizes” – worse ball, best flipper, etc
  • Prizes can be money, trophies, medals, gift cards, bar swag (free advertising!), or other prizes

Don’t Drag It Out – But Maybe You Can

Pay attention to how long your tournament will last. You don’t want people to get too bored and leave. Or you can’t finish within last call.

Think about your tournament running over multiple evenings or on a particular week day. Invite players back for a “best of” tournament – along with drink/food specials.

Here’s one real life example from SkyKing2301, Pinside member:

“The last tournament I held was probably more complicated than necessary, but it kept everyone interested (most of whom were just casual / rare players) and they all had a blast. Here was the format I used:

  • 16 people
  • 6 operational pins
  • First: ‘Mini-tournaments’ on each individual pin
  • Players randomly broken into two groups of 8
  • All players play 2 games. (For reasons Bugsy described — sometimes you just have a crap game, or need a chance to figure it out.)
  • Players with the top 2 scores in each group advance to a semifinal match
  • Semifinal winners play one more game to determine individual pin champion
  • Overall Finals: After all 6 pins’ champions are established, each champion then plays one more game on each of the six pins
  • Champion who wins the most games out of the six is the overall tournament winner!
  • Tournament winner receives a trophy and a few scratch-off lotto tickets.
  • High score on each machine gets a scratch-off lotto ticket.
  • Low score on each machine gets a scratch-off lotto ticket.
  • Fun is had by all!”

Start Your Own Pinball Tournament

Interested? Looking for more resources?

  1. Professional and Amateur Pinball Association (PAPA.org) guidelines.
  2. Stern Army
  3. International Flipper Pinball Association
  4. Bullshooter Dart League Downloadable Ads

Call GAD Vending office closest to you or our Omaha office at (402) 553-2812. Our staff has extensive knowledge in tournament resources

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Coming Soon from Stern
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Coming Soon from Stern 2560 1420 GAD Vending

Reviewed at Kotaku.com: The latest silver ball playground from Stern Pinball is a trio of machines based on the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon. They’ve got a spinning magnetic pizza. They’ve got a sculpted Turtle Van that can capture up to four balls. They have a floating Krang. They even play the original theme song.

A new licensed video game is nice, but a new licensed pinball game is a glorious convergence of pop culture and precision mechanical and electrical engineering, a monument to play that will one day hold a place of honor in dirty dive bars and dark, dusty arcades. I can almost see the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles machines there now. Read the full review at Kotaku.com.

 

New TMNT Pinball. Stern Authorized Dealer in NE, IA, KS, MO.

 

 

 

Stern Black Knight Sword of Rage Pinball in Omaha, Kansas City and Des Moines.
GAD Vending sells Stern The Munsters pinball in black and white.
Stern Ghostbusters Pinball at GAD Vending.

Just Say “Stern” to Save $100
Just Say “Stern” to Save $100 1261 553 GAD Vending

Just say “Stern” (as in Stern Pinball) to save $100 on any game available through GAD Vending.

Sales on for any of our pinball games – including from Stern, American and Chicago. Includes all our games – including our popular Classic-Cade and shuffleboard. And our digital darts.

Your choice of one game for $100 off, two games at $200 off, you get the idea….

Check out our current inventory in our warehouses in Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas  City. Or call us for quick ship options.

Offer ends 7/4/2020

 

Commercial Foosball

Up Your Home Gameroom
Up Your Home Gameroom 2083 2083 GAD Vending

When the entire family is looking bored – and looking bored at you – what to do? Up your gameroom!

Many families think that buying a game at a discount box store is the best, cheapest way to entertain the family. But the price, hassle for getting to your home, and assembly can all be challenging. Not to mention that many home version games are not built for long term use and abuse.

At GAD Vending, we sell to the public.

Our commercial table games are developed for establishments that get the most abuse. And, if they can hold up to that they can stand your family.

GAD Vending can disable the payment mode and set to free play. However, we have also set games to a pay setting so family members have to earn they play time.

With so many table games in stock, we can help you determine what fits your family ages, desire to play together and/or remote play, and what size space your have for games.

Choices include, but not limited to:

Foosball, Pool, Shuffleboard, Electronic Darts, Pinball, Arcade Games and more!

And, GAD Vending has a large stock of parts with trained service personnel. Our staff is located in Kansas City, Des Moines and Omaha. If your game does break, we are here to help.

So, up your game(room) with GAD Vending!

AMI – It all begins with great music!
AMI – It all begins with great music! 431 284 GAD Vending

 AMI Introduces Online Tech Support Chat for Operators

Faster Access to Resolve Issues

May 07, 2020  AMI Entertainment is pleased to announce a new, online Chat feature for operators in need of tech support. The service is available on the AMI Operator Website and through the Co-Pilot mobile app. It allows operators to chat with the tech support team, providing another way for operators to access AMI’s best-in-class service. Traditional phone support is still available, as always.

The chat feature connects operators to a live agent for real-time communication. It’s perfect for a quick resolution to common and smaller issues. In addition to solving problems faster, chat also allows operators to avoid long wait times that can occur when calling in during peak hours. AMI still encourages operators to call in with complex issues, especially those that require rebooting the jukebox.

AMI’s Chat service is powered by Zendesk, a leading CRM company. This helps ensure reliable and robust support through chat. The interface is simple to use and similar to existing chat services. Operators can access the chat feature on the lower right-hand corner of the operator website or the Account page in the Co-Pilot app. It is hosted entirely online, so operators don’t need to connect using a phone number, nor does it use SMS text.

This new feature is part of AMI’s commitment to providing the best service possible. It gives a fast, reliable, and friendly service to all operators. AMI is proud to offer the Chat feature.

GAD Vending is a stocking and servicing dealer for AMI. For equipment, service or questions in Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa, contact GAD Vending.

Crane Vending Touchless Payment Options

Retrofit Your Vending Machines To Go Touchless
Retrofit Your Vending Machines To Go Touchless 767 527 GAD Vending

With COVID concerns, unattended machines may not be as appealing to consumers as they once were. Consider this – go touchless with Crane Cashless Solutions.

As people go back to their routines, we expect a few things to change. In the past, people were twice as likely to have a phone on them vs. cash. And, 1 in 5 consumers didn’t care cash at all. With COVID concerns, expect mobile pay on even the smallest purchases to increase.

CRANE FLEXIBILITY AND CHOICE

The most flexible, user-friendly solution for cashless vending:

  • Vending consumer can use their mobile app to purchase and pay.
  • Powerful cloud based reporting and analytics tool enables performance tracking for cash and cashless sales.
  • Remote management of vending machines for improved operational efficiency.
  • Accessible deposits that correspond to the cashless sales for increased accountability.
  • Designed as a flexible solution capable of offering online services such as remote management of planograms, advertisements, cash discounts and promotions.
  • Connect to payment systems for major card acceptance, mobile pay and premium service options.

PLUG AND PLAY

The most advanced retrofit telemetry device. Crane Cashless units are module for easy upgrades. And, have multiple USB ports for additional beacons and cameras.

Crane Cashless systems can be retrofitted into most vending machines, claw game machines and more.

Consumer confidence in touchless ordering and payment are worth the retrofit alone. The added management reports, inventory management and remote capabilities are the added bonus to your machine business. Ask GAD Vending for a demonstration today!

 

Jon the game evolution with commercial foosball games

Why Your Home Gameroom is Missing the Mark (And How You Can Fix It)
Why Your Home Gameroom is Missing the Mark (And How You Can Fix It) 2083 2083 GAD Vending

Many families assume the only thing kids want to do is exercise their thumbs on video games – when so many times an interactive game with the family is the ticket to the ultimate family fun night!

Look critically at your gameroom. Is the only feature a sofa facing a TV? The only opportunity for interaction when someone breaks for the kitchen? Why not choose games that the entire family can participate in!

Stay Together. Play Together.

So many opportunities for fun! But understanding the age, room size, player ability, and longevity of the games is important. And, GAD Vending is here to answer your questions to create the ultimate gameroom for your family.

Foosball

Foosball is naturally a game that gets the family playing – and competing together. Play one on one. Play two on two. Play tournaments. Play round-robin. Hours of fun!

A commercial foosball game is more expensive but the years of gaming fun is what our residential buyers are looking for.

Golden Tee Home Edition

The Golden Tee Home Edition is the exact same game- arcade-style cabinet and all- that you have played and adored at bars and pubs for 30 years. Tailored to home use, Golden Tee comes equipped with dozens of courses and a wide variety of features and formats that make it a must-have item for every basement or man cave.

Golden Tee maintains players standing and stats. Allows for individual play, or create private tournaments. Your family can also play online.

Pinball

Pinball is available in a wide variety of titles. And, even the youngest players are attracted to the lights and sounds of a great pinball machine! Years and years of fun.

Family friendly pinball games include:

Stranger Things, Zombie Baseball, The Addams Family, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Attack from Mars, and The Munsters

Pinball machines vary greatly in price. The pinball manufacturers set the MRSP (Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price) that we are required by contract to adhere to. Price also includes: shipping, delivery, and sales tax where applicable. GAD Vending’s policy is to disclose the total price prior to sale. Credit cards, cash or check is accepted.

Pinball can be set by GAD Vending for free play prior to pick-up or delivery.

GAD Vending helps families with home gamerooms from our offices in Des Moines, Kansas City and Omaha. We can are open to the public by appointment (during COVID restrictions).

GAD Vending

Greater America Distributing (GAD Vending) is your premier marketer of vending equipment and amusement games in Mid America.  The company has been operating for over 30 years with offices in Omaha, Nebraska; Kansas City, Missouri; and Grimes, Iowa, a suburb of Des Moines.

Omaha

6161 Grover Street, Omaha,
NE 68106

1-402-553-2812
[email protected]

1-402-553-2812
[email protected]

Kansas City

3230 Roanake Road, Kansas City,
MO 64111

1-816-531-4300
[email protected]

1-816-531-4300
[email protected]

Des Moines

2105 SE 37 Street, Grimes,
Iowa 50111

1-515-278-4455
[email protected]

1-515-278-4455
[email protected]

Greater America Distributing

© 2023 Gad Vending. All Rights Reserved.

Enter your
text here