Keystone Oaks Sophomore Builds Pinball Machine

art show was full of fantastic pieces Thursday evening, but there was one piece of art—or technology, or both—that people could play.

Sophomore Klay Huebner stole the show outside the auditorium with a full-scale, arcade-style, computerized pinball machine.

“It’s a recreation of the classic pinball games,” Huebner said. “Arcade games are in decline because everyone has home games and aren’t playing the classics anymore.”

Huebner built the computer that runs the machine from scratch, and then constructed the wood case that holds it. A flat screen computer monitor hooked up to the computer displays the score, and a long screen inside the case displays the game.

The machine is playable—the games are free, internet pinball programs that are available for public use. Players operate the games through a computer keyboard, but only until Huebner has time to finish wiring the traditional pinball buttons he installed.

“It’s a lot to take in, but you get the hang of it,” Huebner said.

Huebner’s dad, Rich, helped with the heavy lifting, but Mr. Huebner said his son is responsible for the rest.

Huebner built the pinball machine as part of his Research and Design class. First-year students typically build skateboards or hockey sticks, and second-year students, such as Huebner, are given more design freedom.

The pinball machine definitely tops Huebner’s first-year project—a shadow box that housed a 12-foot snakeskin—and he’s already starting to think of how to top himself next year.

“I’m not sure how to top this,” he said. “I might make a stand-up arcade unit, with Street Fighter or some other classic game.”

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