Texas Pinball Festival 2009

There were more than 100 pinball machines set up on free play at the Texas Pinball Festival, an event I attend every year.

My daughter, Katie, playing The Flintstones.

My son, Ryan, playing Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Me playing Creature, viewed from the side to show the terrific cabinet art.

What pinball hall is complete without The Who's Tommy? You didn't have to go to Soho or down to Brighton (or anywhere in between) to play tons of machines at the Pinball Festival in Grapevine, Texas.

Me playing Godzilla, trying (and succeeding only partially) to be a Pinball Wizard.

Star Wars, nothing but Star Wars, everything's Star Wars, da da da da.

This Dolly Parton machine brought back lots of childhood memories. My brother and I used to dominate this game at Malibu Gran Prix, rack up tons of credits, and sell them for extra money to play other pins.

Ryan playing Super Mario Bros., the lesser known pinball counterpart to the popular Nintendo video game.

Ryan looking serious, trying to pop a game.

My wife, Charis, a huge fan of real roller coasters, playing a Roller Coaster pinball machine.

Me playing Dig Dug, one of my all-time favorite video games. Most of the convention room was filled with pinball machines, but Warlords, Gyruss, Marble Madness, and a few other video games were available.

What's geekier than wearing a Dig Dug shirt? Wearing a Dig Dug shirt while playing the game.

Ryan, a huge Star Wars fan, got the high score on the Episode 1 pinball machine (note the RJW initials).

Katie playing Lethal Weapon 3. All four of us went to the festival on Friday night, but Katie and I returned the next day and stayed from 10:30 Saturday morning until 2:00 a.m. Sunday.

Me playing Baby Pac-Man, a highly underrated hybrid game loaded with strategy. You have to play the pinball game below to earn energizers and other helpful items used in the video maze screen above.