General Rules
Melbourne Pinball is dedicated to bringing the joy of pinball and classic gaming to the community, helping more people discover and enjoy this exciting hobby and sport. We aim to foster a fun, inclusive, and safe environment at all our events and tournaments.
To maintain these standards, any player found to be in breach of the following rules may receive an official warning from a Tournament Official in the form of a yellow card. Repeat offenses will lead to a red card and disqualification from the competition. Disputing or verbally abusing an official following a warning or disqualification may result in the player being removed from the venue for the remainder of the event.
We enforce a strict zero-tolerance policy toward profanity, aggressive conduct, and inappropriate behavior. This includes, but is not limited to: hostile actions toward other players, officials, or machines; disruptive outbursts—particularly those involving offensive language; and any homophobic, racist, or sexist remarks.
All decisions made by Tournament Officials are final. Challenging a decision after it has been made may result in the immediate forfeiture of the current game, a yellow or red card as outlined above, disqualification from the tournament, or removal from the venue. These consequences will be applied at the discretion of the officials.
Any individuals deemed to be overly distracting to a competitor—whether intentionally or not—may receive either an informal or formal warning, depending on the judgment of the Tournament Officials.
Pinball Etiquette
In addition to the etiquette and rules outlined below, all gameplay, rulings, malfunctions, machine settings, and player behavior will be governed in accordance with the PAPA/IFPA standards, which can be reviewed here.
It is the responsibility of every participant to read and understand the guidelines set out by Melbourne Pinball, as well as those outlined by PAPA and the IFPA. A lack of awareness of a rule will not exempt a player from its enforcement.
All pinball machines in use have been generously supplied by venues and private collectors from across the country, and they must be treated with respect and care at all times.
While controlled nudging of machines is a standard part of gameplay, excessive movement—such as lifting the legs of a machine off the ground—will result in a yellow or red card in line with the General Tournament Rules.
Players who deliberately cause a tilt after a ball has drained (‘rage tilting’) or strike a machine’s lockdown bar or glass will receive an official warning (yellow or red card), as described in the General Tournament Rules and Regulations.