Christophe André, co-founder of Hexa Pinball, a Martillac-based company specializing in the manufacture of pinball machines.
Radio France – France Bleu Gironde France 3 Nouvelle Aquitaine

Interview with Christophe André, co-founder of Hexa Pinball on France bleu Gironde on March 15, 2024 without “Eco d’ici”

France Bleu Gironde : A small event in “Eco d’ici” this morning: our guest is the only manufacturer of pinball machines in France, and maybe even in Europe.
Based in Martillac, Hexa Pinball has been designing and selling its own pinball machines since December 2023.
There are only 10 companies in the world in this niche, and one of its two partners is with us this morning.

France Bleu GirondeHello Christophe André, thank you for joining us this morning. We thought pinball was out of fashion!

Christophe André : There was indeed a dip, in the 2000s there was only one pinball machine manufacturer left in the world, and that was in the USA, but since 2010 the market has seen a major rebound.

France Bleu Gironde France Bleu Gironde: There are two of you behind this venture. Why did you take on the crazy challenge of designing pinball machines?

Christophe André Christophe André: My partner Alexandre Mak and I have been working together for some twenty years in different companies.
We both trained as computer scientists, and it just so happens that Alexandre has been a fan of pinball machines for 15 years, buying, selling and repairing them. So when we found ourselves looking for a new project, we said why not do what Alexandre was passionate about.

France Bleu GirondeAnd it works?

Christophe André Absolutely, we’ve been at it for 2 years now.
We had a fairly long research and development phase, about a year and a half, which was the time needed to perfect and test the model, and we began marketing it in November 2023.

France Bleu Gironde How much does a pinball machine cost at Hexa Pinball?

Christophe André Our pinball machines cost between €8900 and €11,000, depending on the variant.

France Bleu Gironde : I saw the video trailer for your “Space Hunt” pinball machine on YouTube, which is very well done by the way! 9000€ is not for everyone, is it the price of passion?
The price of being made in France?
The price of a whole host of professionals and craftsmen involved in the manufacture of these arcade games?

Christophe André : Yes, it’s all of the above.
A pinball machine is a highly complex piece of machinery requiring a wide range of skills.
From carpentry to electronics, computer science, electromechanics and ironwork, it calls on many different trades.
Materials are expensive: for example, we use very expensive wood and quality materials, which means that manufacturing costs are quite high.

France Bleu Gironde : Who are your customers, Christophe André? Are they the same bars as before?
or is there a change in clientele?

Christophe André Today, the vast majority of buyers are private individuals, and what you describe as “pinball in the bar” is enjoying a renaissance, although it had unfortunately fallen into disuse for some time.

France Bleu GirondeAre the pinball machines the same as before, the same melodies, the same lights flashing everywhere?

Christophe André : Compared to fifteen years ago, pinball has become more and more digital.
Today’s pinball machines are equipped with a computer, a screen and animations, so we’re somewhere between the mechanical or electromechanical pinball machines you once knew and video games.

France Bleu GirondeYou were telling us about the craftsmen who work on each of your pinball machines. Are they local craftsmen?

Christophe André Yes indeed, we have a pinball machine that is completely neo-Aquitaine.
The carpenter is in Martignas, the ironworker works directly for us in Martillac, the artist who made the music is in Saint Médard d’Eyrans and the one who made the animations is in Arveyres.
Then, for certain profiles, we were obliged to look a little further afield because there’s a real specificity. For example, the electronics technician lives in Nice, but he’s the best electronics technician in Europe, so we weren’t going to miss out on such expertise.

France Bleu GirondeHow many orders do you expect to sell?

Christophe André We sold a dozen, but it was our first series and we had to get used to production.
Today, we’re projecting a dozen pinball machines a month.

France Bleu GirondeAnd finally Christophe André, “don’t tilt the pinball machine”, in the 80’s this expression was heard in bars, what does it mean?

Christophe André : There’s an element in the pinball machine called the Tilt, which prevents people from shaking the machine too much.
Sometimes you get a bit excited playing and tend to hit the machine.
To avoid damaging the machine, we have a small element that cuts the pinball machine if you shake it too hard.

France Bleu GirondeThank you very much, Christophe André, for being our guest. I’d like to remind you that you are the co-founder of Hexa Pinball, based in Martillac, the only company to produce pinball machines Made in France.