The following is an email I sent today to a Pinball Arcade in the San Francisco Bay Area. Yes, I am totally serious about doing this!
Hey there. Remember me? I’m the guy who wants to break a World Record for playing pinball!
I would like to meet up to discuss this idea in person, but for the moment I’m going to jump in with both feet and just send you my proposal with all the deets…
In a nutshell:
This year I am going to attempt to break the world record for the longest time playing pinball. The current record is 32 hours and 2 minutes. I will attempt to play for 33 hours.
These world record attempts are always done in conjunction for fundraising. The last attempt collected donations for a children’s hospital. I am talking to a couple of charities at the moment.
Here’s the link for the story on the last world record:
https://www.wpr.org/milwaukee-man-breaks-pinball-world-record-raises-funds-childrens-wisconsin
What’s in it for you?
The major reason you’d want to do this is publicity. These events are always covered by local media, newspapers and TV news stations, and the event is also going to be broadcast live on a streaming service, most likely Twitch. Plus the charity involved will also announce the attempt through their own media and social media outlets. It will also put (name of pinball arcade) in the Guiness Book of World Records, should I achieve the record.
I will also acknowledge right here and now, and later on in more formal ways and forms, that I know what I am attempting is a very taxing physical and mental feat, and that in no way, shape or form would I hold (name of pinball arcade) responsible for any physical or emotional injuries or distress that I accrue during the attempt. That is, if my foot falls off or I can’t move my hand for a week afterwards or I start to see flying elves from sleep deprivation, that’s on me for trying to play pinball for 24+ hours! You are free from any liability!
I will make myself responsible for social media promotion and also for contacting media outlets, not only local ones but national ones as well.
What makes me think I can do this?
I am not only a pinball enthusiast, but also a long distance runner. I ran seven marathons last year and am in training for more this year. I have also participated in long distance relays in which I have been up for more than thirty hours.
I am confident that I have the physical and mental stamina to accomplish this feat,
The Rules:
I am allowed one five minute break every hour, and I can bank break minutes. That is, if I play for two straight hours with stopping I can take a ten minute break. The attempt must be tried on one game. Not necessarily the same machine, but the same game. The latest attempt was done on a Black Knight Sword of Rage machine with a second BKSOR game as a backup in case the first one malfunctioned.
I also must have monitors, people who hang out and are willing to sign statements that I did indeed play pinball straight during certain hours. This is usually done in shifts: One volunteer hangs out for two hours, another for three, and so on. I would be responsible for finding and organizing volunteers. Usually volunteers are found through the participating charity. The last guy who broke the record actually found more volunteers than he needed!
As far as the full rules and details, the Guinness Book of World Records will not release those until I have a place, date, and time set.
When do I want to do this?
Obviously not super soon, as I want to spread the word, organize media and volunteers, and maybe take a training day or two. (Hanging out all day at [name of other Bay Area pinball arcade] in other words…) I’m thinking sometime in April or May might be good. I can be flexible!
So that’s it! Let me know what y’all think!
Jeffrey Matucha
The last world record attempt was set by a man who co-owns an entertainment center in Wisconsin, so he already had his own pinballs machine to use. I am relying on the kindness of strangers, AKA people who own arcades and businesses that also have pinball machines!
