This article was taken from the May 2015 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
Andrew Heighway wants to reinvent pinball. The Wales-based entrepreneur was dismayed to discover that, despite the popularity of pinball apps and the 1,000-strong attendance at the annual UK Pinball Party -- an event in Daventry that he organises -- the number of machines being manufactured worldwide has plummeted by 92.5 per cent since the mid 90s. "For it to become current again," says Heighway, 43, "I realised we had to rebuild it from the ground up."
So Heighway Pinball was born.
With inductive switches below the surface instead of fragile microswitches and just 30 metres of internal wiring (traditional pinball machines can hold up to 800 metres), his tables are much less likely to break down and cheaper to run. Crucially, the entire play area can be lifted out of the cabinet to be switched for a new game, cutting changeover costs by 40 percent.
The company began full-scale production in February at its factory in South Wales, and has already launched its first table, the motorcycle race themed Full Throttle; its next title, based on the Alien franchise, is due in May. Heighway remains bullish about his chances. "We want to be the biggest in the world," he says. Worth a tilt.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
