Plunge, Flip, Bump and Score: Dr Esther Johnson featured on ABC Australia’s ‘Radiotonic’

Plunge, Flip, Bump and Score refers to the common features of a traditional pinball machine, the mechanics used in order to win. Pinball machines are a symbol of nostalgic Americana yet there is still a dedicated community of pinball players who compete in tournaments around the world.

Pinball might conjure up nostalgic images of dusty seaside arcades, but talk to a pinball expert and you will soon be reminded that pinball is a serious game. Random and never the same twice, it pits a player’s skill and patience against the machine. Dr Esther Johnson, Reader in Media Arts at Sheffield Hallam University, visited the UK Vintage Pinball Parlour to explore the world of analogue machines in an age of digital gaming and ask whether there is still a place for the humble pinball.

Esther featured on ABC Australia‘s Radiotonic, to be broadcast on 02 November 2014 at 3:05pm. You can find the broadcast here.

Esther Johnson is a Reader in Media Arts and Principal Lecturer in Film & Media Production at Sheffield Hallam University. Find out more about her work here.