Hello friends! This is the first update since we revealed NPC and I’m really touched at how many folks out there are excited for some bonus pinball this summer! Before we surfaced we talk to a lot of players, locations, vendors, the IFPA, and the like to validate this all and make sure we were sound. Since we’ve announced we’ve been talking to more players and locations. We’re doing a lot of groundwork now to get prepped for week one but we’re in good shape!
I’m happy to say we’re going to have 8 locations at this point — I’m working with a few locations and making sure they have everything they need from us to be successful, going over our differences from other leagues they’ve run, and hyping them up to the best of my ability on the @NPCPinball instagram and FB groups. At this point, we have 5 locations with Capital Pinball and the Drome in Acton joining us this week. We’ll have the full roster announced with dates and info on the location page once we have everything squared away with IFPA.
We’ve had folks reach out and ask why not this location — and inside baseball — we talked to a lot of locations. Some people just need a break! Many locations run league 3 seasons a year and want the time off in the summer to do other things than pinball. Others had other events planned (many of them sounded rad!) and others weren’t interested for myriad reasons. Please respect the folks that bring pinball to us all — it’s a very difficult job that takes a lot of effort, time, and money to do well. Also — this is all from zero at this point, and it’s just the first go round. Please support the participating locations and we can all come back after the season and improve from there.
A few folks asked about governance, and I’m really happy that they did. For Season 1, I’m acting as basically dictator of everything. We’re going to decompress a bit after the season, and the opportunity for locations to join a governing board will be posed. From there, we’ll determine what the next steps for NPC are. But I’ll say this: My hope and goal for this is to be open to change on everything. I have some pretty radical ideas from others and of my own for what S2 might look like. Everything will be on the table, everyone who wants to be heard will have a chance to do so.
Okay — enough for now. I’ve got some more locations to work with and get that info to you, and more planning to put in place. But don’t be a stranger — reach out if you want to discuss anything NPC on your mind!
-Derek
Vice Dictator, NPC