Pokémon fans and pinball enthusiasts gathered at Fertile Ground Beer Co. in Jackson for the Pokémon Pinball Launch Party Tournament, bringing the two communities together.
The event featured the new Pokémon-themed pinball machine, and participants could compete in an International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA) sanctioned tournament. Players had to qualify before moving on to the finals, and both new and veteran players supported their Pinball hobbies as they played the new machine, a highly anticipated release by the pinball community.
For organizer Stephen Thaxton, the event was about more than competition. It was also about introducing new people to the growing world of pinball.
A New Pokémon Pinball Experience
“When they launch a new pinball machine, if you have a location where you have pinball machines and you give them a new one, they sponsor what they call a launch party,” Thaxton said. “Pokémon is the new machine that just came out, so they send you promotional materials and giveaways just to promote the hobby of pinball and their new machine and everything.”
The release marks a long-awaited crossover between one of the world’s most recognizable entertainment franchises and the pinball community.
“Back in the day, they used to have a Pokémon pinball game for Nintendo or something,” Thaxton said. “People for years have been asking why not have the real pinball.”
Thaxton saw the partnership as a natural fit.
“They thought it would be a great marriage because it would bring pinball people together and Pokémon people together and probably some in between and be a great seller,” he said.
That combination was evident throughout the tournament as longtime pinball enthusiasts mingled with Pokémon fans curious to try the new machine.
Competition and Community
While the tournament offered IFPA ranking points, organizers welcomed players of all skill levels and encouraged everyone to participate. Tournament information encouraged both first-time players and experienced competitors to participate, reflecting a philosophy that Thaxton said is central to the hobby.
“It’s a little bit of both,” Thaxton said when asked whether the event was a competition or community gathering. “We like to say that everybody’s welcome.”
Thaxton described pinball as a game where luck and skill exist side by side.
“Pinball’s a little bit of luck and a little bit of skill,” he said. “Even if you’re one of the best players in the world, things can happen.”
The IFPA maintains rankings for players around the world, allowing competitors to earn points through sanctioned tournaments. Yet despite the rankings and competitive structure, Thaxton said the atmosphere remains remarkably friendly.
“Everybody gets along,” he said. “My four-year-old plays and my eleven-year-old plays. The social aspect is a big part of it as well.”
The barrier to entry is intentionally low. According to Thaxton, participants only needed to pay the tournament’s small IFPA sanctioning fee and be willing to have fun.
“You have to have a dollar for the IFPA fee because it’s a sanctioned tournament and a willingness to have fun and get along with people,” he said.
For newcomers, entering the tournament also means immediately becoming part of the organized pinball community.
“If you’ve never played pinball before, the first time you play, you will be a nationally ranked pinball player with the IFPA,” Thaxton said.
Growing the Pinball Hobby
Among those competing was Byram resident Richard Chapman, who has participated in tournaments for more than five years and introduced his son to the hobby at a young age.
“I’ve participated in these tournaments for the past five or six years,” Chapman said. “My son’s been doing them since he was three years old.”
Chapman said the community atmosphere keeps him coming back.
“I love them,” he said. “They’re wonderful. It’s a great place to get friends and family together and have a good time. It’s different from your normal competitive scene because even when you lose here, it’s still kind of fun.”
The Pokémon launch tournament carried special significance because it brought a highly anticipated machine to the region.
“We’ve got a brand new pinball machine that just got released recently,” Chapman said. “We’re going to get on it and see how people do.”
According to Chapman, local enthusiasts previously had to travel hours to find the machine.
“This is the first time one of these machines has been located in this area,” he said. “The closest one is three hours away in Memphis. It’s really exciting to reveal this to the public.”
Pinball’s Resurgence in Mississippi
Thaxton said events like the launch party play an important role in sustaining and growing the hobby.
“In Mississippi, it’s a little slow-growing,” he said. “It had died out in the late 90s because people were home playing on their home consoles. The resurgence later, tournaments helped bring it back.”
Today, he sees signs of continued growth.
“It’s been steady, having a great comeback,” Thaxton said. “We hope to raise awareness and grow the hobby.”
Chapman believes pinball offers something increasingly rare in modern gaming: face-to-face interaction and a welcoming environment.
“I talk to people at work all the time,” he said. “I tell people it’s about getting back to the roots of what gaming is supposed to be. Nobody gets mad, and the fun is still here.”
As competitors lined up to test their skills on the new Pokémon machine, the tournament showcased more than a game. It highlighted a community built around shared interests, family participation, and a passion for keeping pinball alive for the next generation.
For organizers and competitors alike, the launch party represented both a celebration of a new machine and another opportunity to introduce newcomers to a hobby that continues to gain momentum across Mississippi.
Editor’s Disclaimer: This article is based on on-site reporting and interviews conducted at the Pokémon Pinball Launch Party Tournament held at Fertile Ground Beer Co. in Jackson, Mississippi. Editors have revised quotes only for clarity and length where necessary without altering their meaning. William Barber took the photographs accompanying this article for Presence News.
