"Krone" on the trigger

Bar flair like back then: the return of pinball machines!

Stefan Riedler amazes in his FlippArena - the "Krone" dared to play a game (small picture).(Bild: Dworak/Wiesmeyer)

They were in every bar, and for just a few coins, experts could play them for hours and have fun: Pinball machines! In the meantime, the machines have gone quiet. Or have they? Krone+ visited expert Stefan Riedler, who has set up a veritable pinball mecca in Vöcklabruck, is experiencing a revival of the colorful machines and is even looking forward to a home European Championship.

It shines and flashes in all colors, it rustles, rings and trumpets. Pinball is more than just pressing two buttons with your index fingers and keeping a ball in play. Playing pinball means action, it means using your whole body, getting excited, hitting targets cleanly or missing them badly, cheering or getting annoyed, often getting lucky or failing unhappily.