Author: skquinn

Come join us for great pinball and great drinks at The Little Dipper (304 Main Street, Houston, Texas)! The tournament format will be a strikeout tournament, as follows:

• Up to 5 players: heads-up, three strikes
• 6 or 7 players: heads-up, two strikes
• 8 to 12 players (max): group strikeout (bottom two in three- or four-player group get a strike), two strikes

The game lineup is Spider-Man, Family Guy, and The Walking Dead.

Tournament dates on the first (or second, due to holidays) Mondays as follows (all at 7:00 pm unless noted):

• February 7
• March 7
• April 4
• May 2
• June 6
• July 11*
• August 1
• September 12*
• October 3

If tournaments start to fill to capacity (12 players), additional tournaments may be added on the second Mondays (March 14, April 11, May 9) with priority given to those who did not play in the previous week’s tournament.

IFPA fees sponsored by Q Factor Entertainment. No entry fee for February.

I know it’s been quiet here. I regret that I have not been able to try to organize more events; I had hoped to put something together before the end of the year but it apparently just wasn’t meant to be. I would like to acknowledge the ownership at Speedy’s and their willingness to host events in the past. Unfortunately, judging by the (distinct lack of) attendance, it just wasn’t going to work out.

Anyway, a new year brings new beginnings. The Bayou City Pinball League is starting 2022 with a non-tournament, non-competitive social gathering.

Where: Little Dipper, 304 Main Street, Houston, TX
When: January 3 24, 7:00pm until we get tired of playing (likely to be at least 10:00 pm, bar closes at 2:00am).
Who: Anyone currently in good standing with the Bayou City Pinball League, 21 or over.
Why: To meet, greet, and play some pinball in preparation for the following months’ tournaments (to be announced shortly).
What pinball games: Spider-Man (Stern), Family Guy, The Walking Dead, The Machine: Bride of Pin-Bot
What to bring: Quarters for games (bar can make change for smaller bills, $1 or $5; all games are 50¢ per play). Credit/debit card for drinks (bar is cashless for drinks). A positive attitude, a great personality, and a willingness to make new friends (of course).

I realize this is a 21+ venue; I do have plans for events where younger players will be welcome in the futrure.

UPDATE: League has been cancelled. The original announcement prior to cancellation is left intact below for historical interest only.

In case you missed the big announcement, IFPA endorsements are back! Come be a part of Bayou City Pinball League’s first IFPA-endorsed and WPPR-ranked weekly league starting August 18, at Speedy’s Fast Track, 11440 Hempstead Road, Houston, Texas (see map below). Meetings will be Wednesday nights: August 18, 25, then September 1, 8, at 7:00 pm, with playoffs on September 15 with start time TBD (likely 7:00 pm as well but may be moved up to 6:30 pm). Space will be limited to twenty-four (24) players. (Once 24 unique players have registered and played at least one week, priority will be given to returning players over new players.)

Format for each weekly meet will be four games of group match play with 7-5-3-1/7-4-1 scoring per weekly meet. The lowest score of the four weeks will be dropped. Format for the playoffs will also be match play with A division and B division sizes as set forth in the rulebook. Players who play in at least two of the four weeks will be eligible for playoffs.

For this season, the IFPA endorsement fees of $1 per player will be sponsored by Q Factor Entertainment and no dues will be collected, with the only cost to play being the “coin drop” (price per game).

For those that missed the announcement, IFPA will resume endorsing events in August.

There are events in the planning process. Expect a weekly league (5-week mini-season) on Wednesday or Thursday night starting in late August or possibly early September, and possibly a couple of tournaments (which may become regular events) in September. Stay tuned…

UPDATE: League has been postponed. The original announcement prior to postponement is left intact below for historical interest only.

It’s official! Our first weekly league will be at Speedy’s Fast Track (11440 Hempstead Road, between Antoine Drive and West 34th Street) on June 7, 14, 21, and 28, with the playoffs on a date yet to be decided (July 5, 7, or 12). There will be no dues for this league, in part because the IFPA is still not endorsing leagues or tournaments at this time.

There will be only four games per week; this differs from (what will eventually be) the usual number of five games stated in the rulebook. Scoring will still be IFPA 7-5-3-1/7-4-1, and the lowest of the four weeks will be dropped to determine ranking for playoffs.

This league will be capped at a maximum of 24 players per meet, with players having played in previous weeks getting priority.

Edit: dates updated to reflect cancellation of original May 24 meeting due to low attendance.