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Category: Essay

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Archer Plays Pinball

  • November 16, 2016

This story was written during Transatlantic Storytelling Summer School in Portland in August 2016, made possible by FJUM Vienna in cooperation with University of Oregon (School of Journalism and Communication). Archer approaches the machine, always…

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Robert Glashüttner
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Pinball in the public

  • August 2, 2015

I just came back from a pinball tournament in Lower Austria. It took place inside an old barn, beautifully restaurated, which is host to about 15 playable machines. They are not in perfect but overall…

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Robert Glashüttner
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Neglected machines

  • April 16, 2015

I just came back from a visit at one of the few game arcades that still exist in Vienna. I went there after watching a film. Both the movie theater and the arcade are located…

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Robert Glashüttner
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Catwalk beauties

  • March 8, 2015

Pinball machines have always been eye-catcher. In fact, a lot of people use them primarily as decoration objects. It makes sense: A pinball machine is big and colorful, features a lot of artwork as well…

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Robert Glashüttner
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  • Pinball Culture

Strike a pose! A tribute to expressive body english in pinball

  • December 22, 2014

It’s always in your head. With everything you do, the road to success lies in your own confidence, persistance, patience and tenacity. Skill, knowledge and craftiness can only flourish if you believe in yourself –…

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Robert Glashüttner
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Ride the Comet

  • November 13, 2014

I am sure most of you have followed the landing of “Philae” yesterday, the mobile science lab of space probe “Rosetta” sent out by the European Space Agency in 2004. Aside from this groundbreaking scientific…

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Robert Glashüttner
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Sensory overload

  • October 29, 2014

The sensation of playing pinball lies in indulging in a beautiful mess of fast ball movement, colorful blinking lights, illuminated surfaces and a neverending symphony of sound effects, ranging from the ringing bumpers and slingshots to…

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Robert Glashüttner
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Welcome to Xenon

  • October 14, 2014

Note: There is now (April 21st, 2020) also an Italian translation of this text, courtesy of Federico Croci. If Sir Peter Ustinov invites you to “playful experiments of electricity”, you should probably accept. Digital entertainment…

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Robert Glashüttner

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