Adventure #2 - Laser love is like a kart attack

Laser love is like a kart attack

If you've ever had that crazy dream where you're driving a go-kart, while shooting lasers and flipping silver balls, read on - the dream is real!

We assembled at the Botany View on south King St Newtown for a quick warmup on the Arabian Nights machine that recently went in there. The machine's in a pretty tight little corner so there's not a lot a room to move, but the LEDs are bright and the playing is smooth



There is one major issue - when you think you're getting an extra ball after hitting the right orbit, the whole machine shuts down and resets, killing the game. The supplier knows so hopefully it's been fixed.

Botany View, King St Newtown
Tales of the Arabian Nights - $2 for 5
Supplied by Latest Amusement Games

Next a pit stop at Harry's Cafe, Princes Hwy Tempe, to fuel up. Although franchising can often see a drop in quality (e.g. Oporto), I'm happy that Woolloomooloo now isn't the only place you can get a tiger pie. For the record, my Hot Dog de Wheels was de Licious.

Valve Bar (formerly the Harp) next door to Harry's had a Star Trek machine last I was there but it's closed Mon/Tues so we missed out on pinball and some mediocre local bands.



But onwards - to a magical place in Arncliffe, just over the Cooks River and hang a right. In a darkened back street you'll find Kartatak and Laser Siege, in the same building. Both places have pinnies, but more on that later.

First we got our kart licenses (easier and cheaper than the RTA) and hit the track for some fast-paced action. The ten minutes were over too soon but it's still awesome fun.

Laser Siege is just downstairs so you can hop out of your kart, strap on your vest and start popping some caps (read: infra-red lasers) in some asses (read: the designated target zone on the vest).



The karting and lasers were sweet, but the pinball machines let us down. Upstairs at Kartatak there are two machines - Popeye and Getaway. Both are dark and dusty, Popeye didn't work at all, and Getaway was showing its age.

Laser Siege promised more with five machines, however closer inspection showed that three of them were out of order. Only Star Wars Trilogy and Street Fighter 2 were working.

This was a big disappointment as many of the machines are pretty rare in Sydney. We'll have to settle for youtube to see Apollo 13's 13 ball multiball.

The adrenalin was already flowing from the go-karts and we needed an outlet. The owner of Laser Siege, took pity on us and gave us a go on the free play arcades upstairs (Point Blank, Tekken [the original!] and a few more).

The pinnies aren't owned by Laser Siege, and apparently the maintenance guy hasn't been round in a while. It'd be great to see some proper working machines put into this amazing location, or someone could just fix the awesome machines they already have...

Kartatak - 40-50 Arncliffe St, Wolli Creek
Popeye - out of order
Getaway - $1 for 1, $2 for 3

Laser Siege - 40a Arncliffe St, Wolli Creek
Last Action Hero, Simpsons 1990s, Apollo 13 - out of order -
Star Wars Trilogy - plays pretty well, reminds me a bit too much of shitty sega South Park machine.
Street Fighter 2 - One of Gottleib's System 3 - their last run of machines. Plays pretty well apart from a week right flipper.

All Supplied by Pinball Master



We were all a bit demoralised by this lacklustre pinball experience, so we needed a way to salvage the night. The Avatar machine at the Intersection Hotel, Ramsgate, wasn't gonna cut it, and the Kogarah Hotel has gotten rid of their machine as far as I know.

Although it was late in the evening we weren't ready to let this one go. So we parked the car in Carss Park, skinned up, pulled down the soft top and then cruised across Tom Ugly's Bridge with the breeze blowing in our hair.

Sitting on the corner of Port Hacking Rd and Princes Hwy is the Crest Hotel Sylvania. A special silver treasure sits in this otherwise unassuming establishment.

Our second Star Wars machine of the night was a Pinball 2000. Star Wars Episode 1 is known as the machine that sent Williams broke. There are only a few of the 2000s around in Sydney - sources say that Adam's Tavern in Blacktown has Revenge from Mars, and Tollgate Hotel Parramatta has another Star Wars.

The 2000s feature a computer screen at the top of the playfield which interacts with the ball. In Star Wars there are a bunch of modes that mainly involve you whacking the bumpers hidden behind the screen or hitting the ramps. You build up to a Jedi battle between Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul. Plus the light saber lights up. Pretty cool.



All in all this machine is a lot of fun. It confirms the old pinball maxim: shit movie, good machine.

Satisfied, slumped in the back seat, I stared out at the lights over the Georges River on the drive home.

The Crest Hotel, Princes Hwy Sylvania
Star Wars Episode 1 - $2 for 5
Supplied by Player One Entertainment



Despite the disappointing machines in Arncliffe, Kartatak and Laser Siege are definitely worth a visit for the sheer fun factor.

If you're in Sylvania don't take the pinball treasure for granted (it's one of your only options now that they've taken all the Tron machines out of the AMFs).

Until next time!

Pinballs R Us Sale

Just got the email to hear that the Pinballs R Us mancave is closing down!

We'll have to make a trip over to Chatswood to see it before it shuts. They'll still be supplying pinnies around Sydney from their website.

This is sad news, but they're flogging off some of their machines for cheap - sale ends 24 December. Now if I only had a spare $3000...

http://www.pinballsrus.com.au/

Adventure #1 - Schnitzel, Soccer and Sydney City Pinball

Bill and Toni's - Sydney institution, home to the famous two-course plate, which tonight was a schnitzel and spag bol combo, genius. With full bellies we head downstairs for coffee and cannoli and wander over to the machines nestled in a cozy corner of the cafe.

A touching scene greeted us with a father and son enjoying their dessert and precious bonding time playing pinball. Thankfully we were able to intimidate them out of playing another game.

Bill and Toni's, Stanley St Darlinghurst

Scared Stiff - old school-style action with many a double entendre from your host Elvira. Probably the best Scared Stiff in Sydney (there are a few!)

The Simpsons Pinball Party- so much going on it's a bit overwhelming. Also we were confused about the monorail "ramp" that kept dumping the ball into the outlane. Is this supposed to happen?

$2 for 5 balls. Supplied by Player One Entertainment.

What a sweet place to play pinball!

Next we wandered across Hyde Park to the New Windsor Hotel on Park St. Tucked away upstairs are three machines. First we hit up World Cup Soccer - what an awesome machine! So much fun and, holy shit, a spinning soccer ball!!! Pinball legend John Papadiuk designed it so what more would you expect.

Creature from the Black Lagoon got a few slaps, but I was gutted to find that my ATF machine TAF seemed to be out of order. Closer examination showed that it was just switched off (genius!) - but it was too late, the pub called last drinks (and last balls) so we were back out on the street.

New Windsor Hotel, Park St CBD

World Cup Soccer (this video is freaking amazing btw!)

The Addams Family (do you really need a link for this one?)

Creature from the Black Lagoon

Good condition - $1 for 1, $2 for 3 credits - 3 balls - supplied by Pinball People.

So where to from here? With a few poor options close by (i.e. shithouse machines at Galaxy World and Timezone George St) we decided to wander down to Darling Harbour. We did some scouting of a few other locations and have made some notes:

1. Imax doesn't have a machine and the teenagers working there will appear incredulous if you ask them.

2. Someone needs to put a pinnie into Kingpin Bowling and Laser Skirmish - stat! Beer, bowling and laser tag is not enough.

3. There are too many Dark Knight machines in Sydney - it's boring.

4. Goldeneye is pretty good, for a Sega. Nice artwork (apologies to Pierce Brosnan fans - his face is obscured in this picture).

King St Brewery, King St Wharf CBD

Batman (The Dark Knight) - $2 for 5 balls

Goldeneye - $1 for 1, $2 for 3 - 3 balls

Good condition, supplied by Spy Amusements

This is where our journey ended for the night. A quick visit to the Menzies Hotel Sports Bar (Carrington St behind Wynyard) only led to a locked door. Rumour has it that there's a Scared Stiff and a Playboy in there...

So the city does have some good pinball to offer. Bill and Toni's is a must for the food, atmosphere and quality machines. The New Windsor is the perfect place for a long lunch if you're working in the city.

Until next time!

Post Pass

Welcome to Post Pass, the first (and by default, best) Sydney-based pinball blog.

At Post Pass we plan to bring you the most comprehensive ramblings about pinball possible.

We are not the pinball experts, but we'll talk to the experts (as soon as they return our calls).

Come along for the ride and we'll take you to the best pinball locations in Sydney and NSW, so that you'll know where to feed your addiction.

Stay tuned for our adventures in the land of the silver ball...