History Creator / RogerSharpe

While other PinballCreators are recognized for their participation in making {{Pinball}} games, Roger C. Sharpe is universally recognized as the most important '''player''' ever in the hobby.

Sharpe began to prove his assertion by playing a demonstration game on a table[[note]]''Pinball/ElDorado'' by Creator/{{Gottlieb}}[[/note]] provided by the MAA. The Chairman, suspicious of tampering by "the pinballers", demanded that he use a backup machine[[note]]''Bank Shot'' by Creator/{{Gottlieb}}[[/note]] instead. Although he had never played it before, Sharpe proceeded to do so, pointing out the strategies a player would need to maximize the score, while showing off his ball control and aiming skills. However, despite this demonstration, the council remained skeptical.

* ''Pinball/{{Stingray}}'' (Stern, 1977)
* ''Pinball/{{Sharpshooter}}'' (Game Plan, 1979)
* ''Pinball/OldConeyIsland'' (Game Plan, 1979)

* ''Pinball/SharpShooterII'' (Game Plan, 1981)
* ''Pinball/{{Cyclopes}}'' (Game Plan, 1985)

* AccidentalHero: Sharpe insists after-the-fact that his critical SkillShot was by luck, i.e. he proved pinball wasn't [[LuckBasedMission about luck]] [[{{Irony}} through sheer luck]].
* BadassMustache: Sharpe has never been seen without his mustache.
* OldMaster
* PassingTheTorch: Sharpe's sons Zach and Josh run the [[http://www.ifpapinball.com/ International Flipper Pinball Association and its World Pinball Player Rankings]]. They have also been ranked among the top ten pinball players worldwide.

!!Roger Sharp's life and works demonstrate the following tropes:

* AccidentalHero: Sharpe insists after-the-fact that his critical SkillShot was by luck, i.e. he proved pinball wasn't [[LuckBased about luck]] [[{{Irony}} through sheer luck]].

* AccidentalHero: Sharpe insists after-the-fact that his critical SkillShot was by luck.

Today, Sharpe continues to serve as the Licensing Manager for WMS Gaming, and consults for other pinball companies on licensing issues. He remains active in the arcade industry as a hobbyist, collector, and speaker.

In a desperate move, Sharpe allowed the current ball to drain, then [[BadassBoast declared that he would]] ''[[BadassBoast prove]]'' [[BadassBoast pinball was a game of skill]] by [[CallingYourAttacks launching his next ball through the lit center lane]][[note]]out of five available[[/note]] at the top of the playfield. He then [[SkillShot gently launched the ball,]] which [[ImprobableAimingSkills flew straight into the lane he called.]] The Chairman immediately declared that he had seen enough; New York City's ban was quickly lifted, prompting other municipalities to drop their bans as well.

In 1976, Sharpe was working as a writer and editor for publications such as ''GQ'' and ''The New York Times'' when he was called to appear in a courtoom in Manhattan. The Music & Amusement Association was attempting to overturn New York City's [[NewMediaAreEvil thirty-four-year ban on pinball machines,]] and Sharpe -- one of the nation's top players at the time -- was their star witness. Under scrutiny by the city council and local media, he eloquently argued that the ban should be overturned on the grounds that pinball was not a game of chance, but required patience, reflexes, and skill.

Sharpe began to prove his assertion by playing a demonstration game on a table[[note]]''El Dorado'' by Creator/{{Gottlieb}}[[/note]] provided by the MAA. The Chairman, suspicious of tampering by "the pinballers", demanded that he use a backup machine[[note]]''Bank Shot'' by Creator/{{Gottlieb}}[[/note]] instead. Although he had never played it before, Sharpe proceeded to do so, pointing out the strategies a player would need to maximize the score, while showing off his ball control and aiming skills. However, despite this demonstration, the council remained skeptical.