12B The Michigan Daily Weeken agazie - Thursday, September 26, 1996

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0 The Michigan Daily Oeekenii Magazine - TAsday, September 26, 19- 51


r-"Abou Town
Shoot 'em up at
Pinball Pete's

By Jacob Kart
For the Daily
You never know what time it is at
Pinball Pete's. Not that there aren't any
clocks - the walls are covered with the
beautiful antique neon timepieces -
but good luck trying to find one that
tells the right time. You wander into one
of its three Ann Arbor locations for a
quick study break and leave two hours
later and $20 dollars poorer. You've
become a victim of what Finn, an
employee at Pete's on South University
Ave., calls "TheTwilight Zone Effect"
But Pete's quirky ambiance is a large
part of the reason it's become the pre-
ferred arena for Ann Arbor's large pop-
ulation of video game
addicts, pinball wiz- Pinball I
ards and pool sharks.
There's the bass-heavy ~ What: A vic
mtMt, all but drown- arcade
ing out the bleeps and
bloops. There's drk- : V Where, 60
ness - video game 603 a WVill
screens are the major South Univers
light source. And if
you were happy when V Hours: 10
Amer's became non-
smoking, steer clear of Pinball Pete's -
it's one of the last bastions of smokers'
rights with an ashtray always within
arm's reach.
If you can manage to wade through
the smoke, you'll find a good time.
Students, local youth, and experienced
older gainers make for an eclectic
crowd. The newest video games are
much better looking than Pac-Man or
Asteroids - the hottest game right
now, "Street Fighter Alpha 2," offers

Disney-quality animation and speedy
gameplay.
A game like this can be intimidating
for the novice gamer, who can appraoch
and hear experienced players discuss
the relative merits of "air juggles,"
"custom chain combos" and other
advanced strategies. But the essence of
the game is simple - choose your
character (the choices range from a
chain wielding punk with a mohawk to
a cute schoolgirl in a miniskirt) - then
brutalize your opponent. Best two out
of three rounds wins. And with a little
imagination, that gray-haired karate
master you're fighting becomes your
calculus professor, and you've found a
great release for all
'ete's that college stress.
Kwesi Booker is one
'o and pinball of the more experienced
gamers at Pete's. How
did he get so good? " I
Packard st, suppso I should have
im and 1217 n studying and look-
y Ave. ing for dates;' he said.

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Instead, he mastered the r"'"" ee on'n'i"" " "'".....i y --
to 2 a.m. various games, and $3 or more during each visit. Of course,
encountered a common this offers motivation to improve your
oblem. "I was working, but I can't game, since the better you are, the less
end all my money on games. I'm a full- often you have to pump additional quar-
ne student." ters into the machine.
If today's games are better than Pac- While the trend of home arcade sys-
an, they're more expensive, too. Prices tems like the Sony Playstation and the
nge from 25 cents to a dollar and up for Sega Saturn may be damaging the com-
'deluxe" game, such as "Alpine Racer" mercial arcade industry as a whole,
hich the player controls by shifting his Pinball Pete's is regularly packed with
eight on a pair of simulated skis. gamers looking for the authentic arcade
ooker gets around this problem by tak- experience. Pete's also cashes in on the
g turns with a friend on the same quar- growing trend in nostalgic gaming,.
r, but rarely escapes without spending offering classic games from the '80s,
like "Robotron" and "Tetris"
Pete's has a number of old and new
pinball games as well. According to
Finn, pinball brings in an older crowd,
mostly "20 and up." Finn adds that pin-
I Le iiers ball "seems to be making a comeback
with the younger kids."
A recent tournament at Pete's
returned the spotlight on pinball. On
eM J3 (f(("Z Sept. 15, 40 players came from as far
away as Lansing and Ohio to enter the
S.-9 JAMMIN D.J. BY0 competition. For a $5 entry fee, each
41l player could test their skill on three of
A .1 Z U the latest machines. Each of the games
was set up "tournament style" (a steep-
er angle to make the ball move faster,
no bonuses or extra balls), and players
[t~c kers competed in either the "Pinmaster" or
"Open" bracket.
Party/Dance Steve Kramer, who was crowned
Pinmaster, said that the competition is "all

KING
Continued from Page 3B
"He almost killed me one time. In the
late '70s, Perry Bullard was our state
a ~rpresentativ, and Bllard had intr
dduced legislation to legalize marijuana.
"o hates drugs. He hates dope. He
hates everything (to do with dugs). He
is just absolutely ritid on that."
Apparently.u Bllard was in allen-
-. ~'~5~. ~ dance at a Michigan basketball game to
r' ~ present Schembechler with an award.
According to King. ullard swas doing
.i g 'q~d r it do "to get a little attention'
At hlftime, King introdued ullard
to the crowd, then walked off the court to
go get a hot dog. And then the fun began.
"So I give Bullard the mic" King
says, "and there's a great burst of
applause, because just at that same
time, Bo walks out.
"So Bullard, this guy, he takes the
mic and says, 'Thank you for that
applause. I take that as approval for my
* introduction of legislation to legalize
marijuana."' Here King pauses and
chuckles, as if he still can't believe it.
"Bo turned around and walked right
off. He just left. So there's Bullard
* standing there, looking like a fool,
which he was.
r "(Then assistant football coach) Bill
McCartney told me that o had decided
it as my fault. And he was so angr that
JON5TH5N uMER/ni,5 they didn't know what he was gonna do."
about having fun" The third-place finish King is 64 years old and semi-retired
er, who simply went by "the Impaler, now, so he has more time for golf and
claimed that "it's all about impaling your his other hobbies. He is a member of
opponent" Either way, it was definitely the University's Flying Club, and he
about playing pinball - a whole lot of has been flying planes since he was 12
pinball. "Dave," winner of the "Open" years old. Two bouts with cancer have
bracket, competed 10 hours straight for kept him out of the skies recently, but
his title. All entrants came away with his health is good now, and he says he'll
prizes provided by local businesses. get back in the air sometime soon.
The Pinball Pete's franchise originated King is also involved in the University
in Lansing before coming to Ann Arbor Musical Society, and he has emceed and
10 years ago. When asked why Pete's has htelpedjudge the Interfraternity Council's
endured while other arcades have closed "Mr. Greek" contest on campus. For
their doors, one employee simply said. I loward King. it all comes down to this:
"Look at the games." Pete's does consis- He's enjoying himself.
tently have the newest and best games And so are the people he's working
the industry has to offer with. His crew at the football games
What about that pink elephant logo? includes Fischer and four other men who
Apparently the first video arcade had an rove the sidelines in headsets, radioing
elephant on its storefront, and no one information to the press box. Not one
bothered to remove it. member of the group - not even King
And who is "Pinball Pete," anyway? .- is paid for his duties. King says what
No one seems to know - the origins of they do receive is far better than money.
the name are shrouded in Gotti-esque "There are literally hundreds of pe-o
secrecy. pe who are part of (Michigan football)
Each Pete's location offers its unique who get nothing," King says, "except
attractions. The South University Ave. they get to be part of something that's
location, the most popular Pete's loca- really very exciting, and very good.
tion, has an air hockey table, while the "The social perks that I've gotten,
East William location has three pool and the friendships that I've made have
tables for those who crave non-electron- made it more than worthwhile. I enjoy
ic competition. And that strange look- it so, so much."
ing guy in the corner at the Packard Perhaps this is best summed up by the
location, honing his skills on "Bust-A- situation of Gary Fischer, King's partner.
Move 2?" Could it be ... Pinball Pete? Several years ago, Fischer moved to
Houston. But rather than give up his press
row seat for Wolverine football games,
'p Fischer flew back to Michigan for home
games - so he could volunteer. He has
since moved back to Ann Arbor.
Y IN HOUSE SPECI LS! "t really does keep you young,"King
.9says of the job. "At least in your atti-
495 tudes, and your thinking. I love it. I don't
jular fries, homemade soup, want to quit. I want to do it as long as I
f pasta & a 20 oz. drink believe I'm meeting my standards"
CHICKEN DELUXE Judging from the responses of more
CHOR-BROILED BURGER than 100,000 Michigan football fans, it
sounds like they, too, want Howard
South State Street King to stick around for a while.

El Community Feature
Guild House provid
spiritual forum for si
By Sarah Beldo of Christ created an independent learn-
For the Daily ing institution where students could
As many students of different faiths, take non-credit courses in Bible and
attitudes and beliefs struggle to come to religious studies.
terms with their spirituality on their own, The most notable accomplishment
Guild House would like them to know under the Rev. H.L. Pickerill, serving
that a forum does exist to discuss these the Guild House from 1934 to 1957,
thoughts and ideas with others who may was the establishment of the Inter-
be experiencing the same thing. Cooperative Council, which currently
Guild House is an interfaith Christian oversees 17 co-ops around campus.
campus ministry that recognizes aware- Recently, under the leadership of the
ness, social justice and peace by focus- Revs. Ann Marie and Don Coleman
ing on the spiritual life and ethical prob- (1975-1992), Guild House concerned
lins of students at the University. It is itself with issues such as fighting
sponsored by many churches, commit- apartheid, supporting homosexual rights
tees and associations. and opposing the Gulf War.
The Board of Directors at Guild Guild House maintains itself as a
House includes members who represent non-partisan organization. "Guild
supporting local congregations and House seeks to act on what you believe
members of the campus and Ann Arbor is justice - the traditional view of rad-
community. ical politics," said Susan King, the cur-
The organization originated more rent interim director of Ministry. She
than 100 years ago, when the Disciples added students will always find a forum

esf
tudents
at Guild House to discuss their views.
In fact, one of the most popular events
that Guild House co-sponsors is the Day
of Dialogue, where students choose a
topic dealing with their lives and experi-
ences. A diverse panel of students, facul-
ty, and ministers then discuss each oth- "'' "''
ers' ideas to try and come to an under- '. "
standing about what part these issues.
play in their own lives and in the
University itself.
Guild House sponsors several weekly
programs on campus. Students Involved
for the Global Neighborhood (SIGN) a8"
begins every Sunday at 5 p.m. with a fr
dinner, then an open discussion on a top-
ical issue. The Interfaith Trialogue for
Jews, Christians and Muslims gives
members of different religions an oppor-
tunity to compare the stereotypes, tradi-
tions and ceremonies connected with
their faith and to clear up ignorance.
Guild House also sponsors two liter
ary programs. The 30-year-old
Monday night Writers' Series, which
King describes as focusing on "the
whys and bows of life, has hosted
many Hopwood award winners and the
Women's Book Group, a group that
compares multicultural women's spiria
tual experiences around the world. x ...
In October, Guild House plans to host'" -
a supper forum featuring four of the can-
didates for regent of the University, and
students will be able to ask questions.
"These are issues that will be affecting Bruce Springsteen at Hill
students' lives?' King said.
For more information on Guild Yup, It's the Boss himself, coming to our very own Hill Auditorium tonight! It Is
House Ministry, call 662-5189. Even if sold out. This concert is part of his artsy solo acoustic tour. The doors open at
you have dismissed religion as unim- 7:30 p.m. - perhaps you can catch a glimpse of him sneaking in the hack. He
portant in your life, Guild House may might be getting older, but heck, he can still "dance naked."
have a place for you.
"There is a definite difference between
religion and spirituality,' King said. "It is
important on a college campus to not
only recognize specific religious denom- e at sco re
inations, but also to deal with the under-
lying spirituality that affects us all."

.:.:

The Guild House, at 802 Monroe St.

The Daily Arts section
is still interested in writers
to cover Books, Fine Arts, Music and Theater.
Call Daily Arts at 763-0379.

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