This episode traces Total Nuclear Annihilation from its earliest idea through to a finished production game. Scott Danesi walks through how TNA started as a very specific reaction to modern pinball, how the layout, rules, sound, and scoring all evolved together, and what had to change once it moved from a personal project into a real commercial product. We talk early prototypes, design compromises and manufacturing realities. It’s a full look at how one of the most influential modern games actually got made!a🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:📡 Twitch – http://twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball📺 YouTube – http://youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball📷 Instagram – http://instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball📘 Facebook – http://facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball🔊 Discord – http://discord.gg/bSbXnA38Q800:00:00 - Summoning the Great Pyramid and opening ritual00:00:15 - Episode intro and welcoming Scott Danesi00:01:05 - RGB studios, StepManiacs, and music crossing mediums00:03:25 - Why this episode is fully about Total Nuclear Annihilation00:04:05 - Starting TNA as a homebrew with no production goal00:06:00 - Reactor core concept, dystopian lore, and accidental canon00:07:30 - RGB restraint, sound dynamics, and intentional impact00:09:00 - Single-level layout and modern System 11 philosophy00:10:40 - Designing in SolidWorks and committing to physical geometry00:12:30 - Difficulty, fairness, and rejecting fake ball-save solutions00:14:05 - One-minute crash course on how TNA actually plays00:15:45 - Cut features, star rollovers, and location reliability00:18:30 - Writing the code, abusing frameworks, and making it work00:21:30 - Seeing TNA and StepManiacs on location for the first time00:24:45 - Dance game culture, bar holders, and competitive absurdity00:27:30 - Rapid-fire Q&A begins and homebrew realities00:29:45 - Code updates, tournament balance, and fixing multiball abuse00:33:30 - Letting the game fight back and physical battle stories00:36:00 - Live performance plans and modular synth rabbit holes00:39:30 - Sound design philosophy and integrating live systems00:44:00 - Community questions, shows, and creative longevity00:49:30 - Staying involved with TNA years after release00:55:00 - Pinball as an evolving system, not a finished product01:01:00 - Reflections on difficulty, mastery, and player psychology01:07:30 - Future projects, collaborations, and saying no to burnout01:14:00 - Long-tail audience questions and deep nerd tangents01:21:30 - Closing thoughts on creation, ownership, and legacy01:30:45 - Final goodbyes and Great Pyramid sign-off#DirtyPoolPodcast #DirtyPoolPinball #TotalNuclearAnnihilation #ScottDanesi #PinballPodcast #PinballDesign #PinballDevelopment #ModernPinball #IndiePinball #PinballHistory #RulesDesign #PinballAudio #ArcadeCulture #PinballCommunity #GreatPyramid #CultOfPinball

Ryan Gratzer from Pinball Map drops by to untangle how the world’s most obsessive pinball location tracker actually works and how your favorite arcades lineup changes the second you visit. This one digs into Ryan's pinball origins, community reporting, app evolution, and the odd psychology of people who will happily move a mountain to report a broken slingshot but won’t like, comment and subscribe. Also there's a lot of dog barking.Special shout out to the entire team that keeps Pinball Map running, Scott and Beth here in spirit.🔻 Pinball Map Links:🧭 Pinball Map – pinballmap.com🎧 Pinball Map Podcast – pod.pinballmap.com🛒 Store – pinballmap.com/store💖 Donate – pinballmap.com/donate🕊️ Bluesky – @pinballmap.com🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball🔊 Discord – https://discord.gg/bSbXnA38Q8Pinball images from www.pinside.com00:00:00 - Intro00:00:13 - In-person Dirty Pool Pinball intro (with dogs)00:00:31 - Meeting Ryan Gratzer and the Mapping Around podcast00:00:48 - What Pinball Map is and how the app and site work00:02:19 - Home locations, privacy, and “please don’t list your house”00:03:04 - Which locations have the most pinball machines00:03:34 - Ryan’s Paragon origin story and pinball at home00:04:54 - Moving to Portland and discovering a city full of pinball00:05:42 - Crazy Flipper Fingers and early Portland league days00:07:15 - Tracking games with custom Google Maps before Pinball Map00:08:06 - How the on-location pinball landscape has changed over 17 years00:09:21 - Why modern games are taking over older Williams and Stern titles00:10:34 - Remote locations, Maldives, Hawaii oddities, and under-mapped regions00:11:53 - Admins, bad actors, and keeping the map neutral and fair00:13:33 - From separate regional maps to one unified global Pinball Map00:14:50 - Tech history: Pearl Mason to Ruby on Rails and why it stuck00:18:02 - Gratification, community obsession, and why Pinball Map matters00:19:34 - Costs, donations, and keeping the project non-monetized00:21:41 - 8,500 edits a month and what that says about activity00:22:37 - Operator tools, comments, and spotting well-maintained locations00:23:32 - Filters, “number of machines” search, and operator-focused features00:24:26 - How many operators are tagged and how comment digests work00:25:16 - Broken games, first impressions, and shouting out good operators00:26:40 - Pinball people getting salty and channel-level sarcasm00:26:53 - Winding down the platform questions and interview main arc00:27:17 - Future app update: viewing all 12,000+ locations at once00:28:03 - Mapping Around podcast and what they cover in episodes00:28:27 - Coin pouches, tiny merch, and where to find the store00:28:55 - Praising the Great Pyramid with improvised hand pyramids00:29:25 - Call to action: update your local locations and help the map00:29:56 - League rivalry, finals nerves, and “top of B is where I belong”#DirtyPoolPinball #PinballPodcast #PinballMap #RyanGratzer #PinballCommunity #LocationPinball #ArcadeHunting #PinballTalk #PinballLife #PinballCulture #PinballNews #DataNerds #BehindTheScenesPinball #PinballPlayers #PinballJourney #ModernPinball #PinballStories #DirtyPoolPodcast #ArcadeLocator #PinballApps #PinballHistory #PinballChat #PinballObsessed #TechInPinball #OpenSourceProjects #PinballFinds #BarcadeLife #PinballEverywhere

Bug from Spooky Pinball joins to break down the creative chaos behind Beetlejuice, from shaping the theme into a playable world to the collaboration across design, code, art, and sound that gives the game its personality. We talk problem-solving during development, how rules evolve once players get their hands on the machine, and what it takes for a boutique studio to ship something this ambitious.It’s a grounded look at Spooky’s workflow, Bug’s role in steering the vision, and how Beetlejuice came together from early pitch to final polish.🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:📡 Twitch – www.twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball📺 YouTube – www.youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball📷 Instagram – www.instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball📘 Facebook – www.facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball🔊 Discord – www.discord.gg/KcwKeejb00:00:00 - Intro00:01:06 - Spooky Pinball’s Beginnings as a Podcast00:03:01 - Early Pinball Media and Community Roots00:05:00 - Shifting From Podcast to Pinball Manufacturer00:06:34 - Pinball Zombies and The Walking Dead Conflict00:07:52 - Choosing America’s Most Haunted as the First Title00:09:01 - Building AMH With Friends and Family Voices00:12:03 - Texas Pinball Festival Weekend That Changed Everything00:13:39 - Growing the Factory and Life as a Family Business00:16:00 - How Bug and Spooky Luke Split Game Design00:18:52 - Bug’s Approach to Rules and Theme Integration00:20:10 - Working With Licensors and Protecting Creative Vision00:22:03 - Tournament Settings and Player Feedback00:23:39 - Moving Spooky to Unity and Standardized Hardware00:25:31 - Beetlejuice Trailer Breakdown and Art Direction00:28:06 - Sandworm Design and Under Flipper Magnet Saves00:31:14 - Evolving the Waiting Room and Rising Mech Concepts00:34:10 - Upper Playfield Flow and Nontraditional Shot Paths00:36:00 - Prototyping, Metalwork and Fast Mechanical Iteration00:39:00 - What Makes a Modern Game Successful for Spooky00:43:00 - Texas Chainsaw Massacre as a Design Benchmark00:47:30 - Beetlejuice Code Depth and Update Philosophy00:50:00 - Dreams of Army of Darkness and Future Themes00:54:00 - Quality of Life Tech Like Voice-Controlled Service00:56:00 - Beetlejuice Launch Party and Community Energy00:58:00 - Toppers, Butter Cabinets and Long Term Support01:01:00 - Horror Inspirations and Movie Recommendations01:03:30 - Theme Integration and Dark Ride Style Design01:06:00 - Managing Demand and Production Expectations01:08:30 - Community Shoutouts and Tournament Players01:11:00 - Dream Licenses and Wild Theme Ideas01:14:00 - Internships, Learning and Life Inside Spooky01:17:00 - Long Term Updates for Spooky Titles01:20:00 - Big Player Scores and Gameplay Shoutouts01:23:00 - Home Collections, Wish List Games and Spooky Alley01:25:20 - Hardbody Callback and Final Thanks to Bug01:25:25 - The Raven Gag01:26:21 - Episode Outro #DirtyPoolPinball #PinballPodcast #SpookyPinball #BeetlejuicePinball #BugSpooky #PinballInterview #PinballDesign #PinballRules #PinballProduction #ModernPinball #BoutiquePinball #PinballCommunity #PinballTalk #ArcadeScene #BehindTheMachines #PinballCreators #PinballObsessed #Beetlejuice #PinballFans #PinballNerd #PinballCulture #RuleDesign #GameDevelopment #GreatPyramidApproved #PinballChat #ArcadeLife #DesignProcess #PinballDeepDive

Counterflip absolutely makes the best pinball t-shirts... Shea sits down with us and we get into everything from his pinball favorites to why making a genuinely good T-shirt feels like a boss battle. We talk about how printing goes wrong, how his first business attempt at 15 tanked spectacularly, and how he rebuilt it into Counterflip by focusing on real quality instead of the disposable stuff most people print on.We dig into what it takes to find reliable sources, good blanks, and partners who don’t cut corners when you’re trying to build a brand identity through design. Shea also shares how working at Revenge Of shaped his love of pinball, how his history in bands and music artwork fed into his style, and why the pinball scene ended up being the perfect place to bring all of that together. A full mix of creative process, merch reality, and general pinball chaos. Join Us.🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@dirtypoolpinball📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball🔺 Counterflip / Shea:🛒 counterflip.bigcartel.com📷 instagram.com/counterflip_apparel🛒 dispersehomemedia.bigcartel.com📷 instagram.com/disperse_homemedia🌐 revengeof.comEnjoy the subtle pyramid signal throughout. (by that I mean the battery pack noise... oops)00:00:00 - Intro00:00:02 - Settling into the in person setup and getting started00:01:15 - Opening the talk with Counterflip shirts on the table00:03:35 - Shea explaining early art roots and first encouragement00:04:40 - py▒ ΔΔ ▒d.join: “hol d st i l l”00:05:05 - Chicago basement shows and learning design through bands00:06:55 - J cards tapes and the cassette layout grind00:08:35 - Moving to LA and shifting from music into film00:10:15 - Whole Foods sign artist years and the Amazon wipeout00:12:05 - Making early bootleg movie shirts starting with The Lighthouse00:13:55 - The Fog vs The Mist and arguing coastal horror loyalty00:15:30 - Building the first small run of shirts and early experiments00:17:00 - How Counterflip designs are rebuilt pieces not traced assets00:18:20 - Digging through manuals flyers and archives to stay accurate00:20:00 - Discovering pinball through Revenge Of and falling in fast00:21:10 - Zoning out on world under glass and aesthetic obsession00:22:20 - Describing Revenge Of as a sci fi comic book bodega00:23:55 - Seeing branding blown up on walls booths and full spaces00:25:50 - Revenge Of keeping a mixed lineup not just Stern games00:27:20 - Indie vs major manufacturers and how variety helps pinball00:28:50 - Revenge Of championing boutique games and weirder designs00:30:05 - Building the Revenge Of identity with trust and loose direction00:31:55 - Opening the coffee shop and overlap with players and creatives00:32:34 - ╣ted… frame_Δ▒▒ d all.praise.00:33:05 - Games Shea would own someday and not forcing a collection00:34:30 - Vintage game picks turning into full Raven enthusiasm00:36:10 - The future of Counterflip balancing shirts films and freelance00:37:20 - Choosing which games become shirts and what artwork works00:38:50 - Xenon talk and wanting maximum tube energy on a shirt00:40:20 - Best sellers and why Counterflip Fishtails keeps moving00:41:55 - Holiday market plans and Counterflip showing up with both booths00:43:00 - Shirt sizes shipping and grabbing designs in person00:43:55 - Least played games and closing with praise of the pyramid#dirtypoolpinball #pinballpodcast #counterflip #pinballapparel #pinballcommunity #pinballfavorites #arcadeculture #pinballlifestyle #merchdesign #qualityapparel #indiedesigners #silverball #retrogaminglife #arcadestyle #creativecommunity #pinfam #pinballscene #designerlife #makercommunity #pinballart #bandartwork #musicdesign #independentcreators #pinballmerch #pinturnaments #behindtheflippers #arcadelife #podcastlife

What does it take to build the brain behind modern pinball? Aaron Davis, founder of FAST Pinball, joins the show to talk about designing the hardware that powers homebrews, boutique manufacturers, and the next generation of game coders. We dig into the origins of the FAST platform, how open hardware changed the indie landscape, and what it really means to make a control system reliable enough for production but flexible enough for experimentation.From garage prototypes to global adoption, Aaron walks through the philosophy that keeps FAST on the cutting edge — community-driven innovation, open documentation, and a steady respect for pinball’s analog soul.🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball#DirtyPoolPodcast #FASTPinball #PinballHardware #PinballCommunity #PinballLife #PinballMachine #HomebrewPinball #ArcadeLife #RetroGaming #PinballAddict #GamingCommunity #PinballEnthusiast #ArcadeCulture #PinballWizard #ArcadeGames #GamingLovers #PinballDesign #TechTalk #GamingHistory #PinballInnovation #Electromechanical #PinballEngineering #MakerCommunity #GameDevelopment #PinballRestoration #BoutiquePinball #OpenSourcePinball #PinballTales00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:10 - Surprise Thursday episode, Homebrew Week, and the free sound effects kit with Imoto at Marco; chat might glitch.00:01:17 - Guest intro: Aaron Davis of FAST Pinball.00:02:23 - Why FAST started—platform-builder mindset and maker movement spark.00:03:31 - Pinball as “STEM in a box,” learning by building with partner Dave Beecher (totally not a robot).00:04:45 - Programming as creative choreography—logic tied to experience.00:06:45 - Homebrew freedom: no licensors, weird ideas that push the platform.00:08:50 - Early FAST nights soldering with Dave, the first boards coming alive.00:10:59 - Gen-one form factor stays similar; modular IO boards shown on camera.00:12:10 - Latency handled in hardware on the nodes—switches to coils without round-trips.00:13:30 - ARM choice and hardware abstraction—swap chips later but keep behavior.00:15:05 - Future-proofing for collectors, reliability focus, “Is Dave a robot?” gag.00:18:10 - Family tavern Royal Flush memory; Dad becomes a replacement ramp maker.00:20:00 - Quick shop tour setup, lineup includes Predator, Dune, and Labyrinth.00:23:30 - Three programming bays; friends and kids help with QC, ESD trays on baker’s racks.00:26:20 - Running from home spaces with low overhead, always on video calls.00:27:56 - What’s next: inductive switches, end-of-line test fixtures to save OEMs time.00:28:56 - Spooky question, door open to anyone; Pinball Brothers Predator port story.00:31:24 - Documentation philosophy: additive, not breaking; FAST serial is easy to target.00:32:58 - Favorite homebrew is the one in front of you.00:33:58 - Tariffs and parts availability, multi-site manufacturing to avoid blockers.00:36:50 - Stateside runs and the end-of-line “fort,” programming at the factory.00:38:10 - Fuse question: smart power filter board plus on-board polyfuses and keyed connectors.00:40:55 - Assembly mix: US, China, Italy. Tips for new homebrewers—make friends and add accountability.00:41:56 - Predator road trip route to Expo via Electric Bat.00:42:48 - RJ45 carries power and data, not standard PoE but similar expectations.00:43:59 - FAST origins timeline: side project turns serious pre-COVID.00:45:40 - IP and homebrew—market confusion risk, depends on the license holder.00:49:35 - Indie film analogy for smaller makers, “invention marketing” over time.00:52:40 - Future: smaller, interesting runs; friendly one-upmanship inspires better games.00:53:45 - Wiring kits and cable making, crimp/strip machines to ease new builders.

Brad Albright is the creative force behind the 2D layered art of Winchester Mystery House, bringing the entire cabinet, playfield, and backglass to life with his signature dimensional style. His work bridges vintage illustration and modern surrealism—capturing the mansion’s eerie beauty while still keeping it fun and tactile.In this episode, Brad talks about how his multi-layered approach evolved into the game's distinct look, the artistic choices behind key imagery, and the challenge of turning real-world architecture into pinball storytelling.🔺 More from Brad Albright:📷 instagram.com/bradalbright🛒 shop.albrightillustration.com coupon: EXPO25🌐 AlbrightIllustration.com🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball00:00 – Intro01:10 – Brad’s path from corporate design to pinball art03:00 – Discovering pinball again and creative freedom04:30 – Early poster work and nostalgia in his style06:00 – First homebrew projects and lessons learned07:20 – Transition to Winchester and first art challenges09:00 – Using real photos and Google Earth of the mansion10:40 – Forced perspective tricks and player angle tests12:30 – Finding the right color tone for the playfield14:10 – The ghost wisps concept and spirit color design16:00 – Integrating the floor plan as a visual blueprint17:40 – No AI used and keeping the art fully human18:40 – Working closely with Karl DeAngelo on feedback20:00 – Code names and the evolving playfield style21:40 – Brad’s changing process and constant reinvention23:00 – Using Clip Studio Paint and 3D references25:00 – Designing Sarah Winchester for the backglass27:00 – Victorian themes and authentic stained glass29:00 – Easter eggs and historical callouts on the playfield31:00 – Keeping cabinet and plastics visually unified33:00 – Scaling cabinet art to banners and shows35:00 – Collaboration with Joshua Clay on interior lighting37:00 – Sound design and matching tones with gameplay39:00 – Ghost box visibility and player height testing41:00 – Apron redesign and printed numbering choice43:00 – Integrating sculptures with flat plastics45:00 – Logo design and Blake’s contribution47:00 – Wooden layered artwork and Hitchcock piece49:00 – How pinball collaboration changed Brad’s approach51:00 – Jeff explains the origin of the Great Pyramid53:00 – Brad plugs his store and social handles55:00 – Audience Q&A and Barrels of Fun transparency57:00 – Complimenting the game’s UI and darker screen art59:00 – Final thanks and discussion of Brad’s machines61:00 – New Texas arcade shoutout and closing raid#DirtyPoolPinball #WinchesterMysteryHouse #BarrelsOfFun #BradAlbright #PinballArt #PinballDesign #PinballMachine #PinballPodcast #DirtyPoolPodcast #ArtOfPinball #ArcadeCulture #RetroGaming #ClassicGaming #PinballCollectors #IndiePinball #PinballAddict #PinballLife #GamingCommunity #ArcadeLife #GamingCulture #PinballHistory #BehindTheScenes #CollectiblePinball #ArcadeCollectors #PinballWizard #PinballInterview #GameArt #Illustration #2DArt #PinballPassion

The next stop in our Winchester Mystery House series introduces Eric Priepke — the software engineer and programmer behind the house’s mind-bending code. From scripting the complex logic that ties every haunted room together to balancing the chaotic layers of light, sound, and animation, Eric helped the house come alive in ways that only a true programmer could appreciate. His precision work is what makes each mode flow seamlessly into the next, turning chaos into a ghostly symphony of logic.🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@dirtypoolpinball📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball00:00:00 – Introducing Eric Priepke and the brains behind Winchester’s code00:01:07 – Falling into pinball from early computer life and ISP work00:03:22 – Color DMD days and the puzzle-solving mindset that shaped him00:05:50 – From Cactus Canyon rewrite to meeting Scott Danesi at Expo00:07:29 – How Spooky Pinball led to Barrels of Fun and Rick and Morty00:08:41 – Keeping passion alive when creative work becomes a job00:09:52 – Transitioning from Dune to Winchester and tackling room logic00:12:21 – Inside the Mission Pinball Framework and its pros and limits00:14:52 – Making complex lighting and display code work efficiently00:16:55 – Open-source curiosity vs. licensed reality – why code stays closed00:18:44 – Lighting design teamwork with Trent and crafting attract modes00:20:08 – Power efficiency tricks using RGBW LEDs and white channels00:21:22 – Texture memory juggling for dual displays and transparency limits00:24:10 – Taming the turntable – how to spin safely without chaos00:26:49 – First seeing Winchester fully dressed at Expo and initial awe00:28:24 – Balancing updates across Labyrinth, Dune, and Winchester00:29:58 – How good is Eric at pinball? (And Jeff’s scale of doom)00:31:00 – Tall people, low doorways, and genetic pinball theories00:33:06 – Why both hate video modes and love mechanical mini-games00:35:10 – Handling airballs and impossible switch orders in real pinball00:38:09 – Lighting philosophy – purposeful, not constant spectacle00:39:39 – Spirit Energy mode – turning a multiplier into a sensory moment00:45:00 – How audio collaboration reshaped Barrels’ internal workflow00:46:20 – Learning the audio side – Eric on trusting Jeff’s instincts00:47:24 – David Van Es drops in – team gratitude and Expo reflections00:48:19 – Coding empathy – making early gameplay rewarding for everyone00:50:05 – Advice for coders who want to cross into pinball00:51:04 – Hidden features still to come – yes, more flashers are coming00:53:13 – 3 000 plays later – feedback loops and show-floor lessons00:54:23 – Dune’s quiet comeback – how word of mouth changed minds00:56:02 – Running down Eric’s 12-game collection in 30 seconds flat00:59:35 – The Raven thing...01:00:46 – Would he rather own Raven or Bone Busters? The answer burns bridges01:01:35 – Closing thoughts – why he codes, creates, and keeps building worlds#DirtyPoolPinball #WinchesterMysteryHouse #BarrelsOfFun #PinballProgramming #GameCode #EricPriepke #PinballDesign #HauntedPinball #PinballCommunity #PinballMachine #CodeLogic #PinballLife #ArcadeCulture #PinballWizard #GamingCulture #RetroGaming #PinballAddict #PinballSoftware #DirtyPoolPodcast #HauntedHousePinball #CodedByEric #PinballDev #ArcadeGaming #PinballMinds #BehindTheCode #MeetTheTeam #PinballEnthusiast #GameLogic

The first in a new series diving into the artists, engineers, and mad scientists behind Winchester Mystery House. We sit down with UI artist, 3D modeller, and graphic designer Joshua Clay to talk about what it takes to shape the look and feel of Barrels of Fun’s most ambitious game yet. From haunting interface layouts to the subtle textures that bring the mansion’s ghostly charm to life — this episode opens the door to the minds that built the house.🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@dirtypoolpinball📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball00:00:00 - Cold open and the idea behind “Meet the Team…”00:01:02 - Introducing Joshua Clay and his creative role00:02:11 - Why the Winchester Mystery House fits pinball perfectly00:03:05 - From Dune’s desert to Winchester’s hallways: shifting tone00:04:09 - Building rooms from reference photos and architectural plans00:05:02 - How to give each room personality through 3D lighting00:06:17 - Modeling tricks learned from gaming UI projects00:07:25 - Adapting mobile design instincts to pinball readability00:08:13 - The rotating turntable—what it adds to the gameplay experience00:09:04 - Getting motion and texture right on the spinning floor00:10:27 - Collaboration between 3D art and mechanical design00:11:18 - Music, sound, and visuals syncing across modes00:12:35 - Ghost shader experiments and the “spectral fog” look00:14:10 - The eerie charm of the planchette animation00:15:39 - Why Winchester’s visual tone avoids clichés of “haunted” games00:16:53 - Giving players orientation through UI glow and camera framing00:18:05 - Why the team went pre-rendered instead of real-time00:19:12 - Tools of the trade—Blender pipelines, lighting templates, and asset reuse00:20:26 - Voice-over direction and the concept of a haunted tour guide00:22:01 - Early concepts that didn’t make the cut (and why)00:23:15 - Using color cues for different areas of the mansion00:25:07 - The challenge of layering UI over a busy playfield00:27:14 - When readability trumps realism in pinball design00:29:46 - Working with Karl DeAngelo to balance clarity and mystery00:32:02 - Ghost animations that behave differently per room00:34:10 - Special effects inspired by old horror films00:36:20 - How shadows became storytelling devices00:39:33 - Scene transitions that match game rhythm and music beats00:42:18 - The evolution of the match sequence on the planchette00:45:41 - Fine-tuning glow intensity for llighting00:47:50 - Making each mode feel like its own short film00:50:11 - Expo debut and reactions from players seeing the visuals live00:53:06 - Last-minute bug hunts and shader optimizations00:55:39 - Lessons learned moving from still renders to gameplay integration00:58:12 - The emotional payoff: when the house feels alive01:00:27 - What Joshua’s most proud of in the final build01:03:19 - Looking ahead01:05:46 - Closing reflections and the philosophy behind good pinball design01:07:20 - Credits, laughter, and post-show wrap-up#DirtyPoolPinball #WinchesterMysteryHouse #BarrelsOfFun #Pinball #PinballMachine #PinballCommunity #PinballPodcast #PinballInterview #GameDesign #3DModeling #UIArt #GameArt #HauntedHouse #RetroGaming #Arcade #PinballLife #PinballTalk #ArcadeCulture #GamingCommunity #PinballDesigner #GamingArt #HauntedPinball #GameGraphics #BehindTheScenes #PinballAddict #ArtOfPinball #PinballHistory #PinballWorld #PinballStory

For months, we’ve been quietly building something inside the walls of Barrels of Fun. The doors are finally open.Introducing Winchester Mystery House Pinball, the next major release from Barrels of Fun, designed by Karl DeAngelo in his debut as a pinball designer. This behind-the-scenes feature pulls back the curtain on the months of development that went into the game’s haunting atmosphere, from the music and sound design I created to directing the voice-over sessions that bring the house’s ghostly history to life.Karl and I sit down Talking Heads style to share how the project came together, with exclusive footage, production notes, and some of the surprises we built into the final game.This game is a true labor of love from the entire team at Barrels of Fun — artists, programmers, and engineers all pushing to create something that isn’t safe or formulaic. It’s a bold step into a world that doesn’t rely on a major IP, and instead builds its own haunted legend from the ground up. People have been asking for a non-IP based pinball game, and this one delivers. Winchester Mystery House is everything we love about the genre — strange, atmospheric, unpredictable — and proof of what can happen when a small license gives us the room to get weird and make something special.The machine will make its public debut at Pinball Expo on October 16, and this is your first look inside.00:00 - Intro00:22 - Barrels of Fun Game 3 - The Winchester Mystery House01:00 - My role as the composer and sound designer01:17 - Minchester01:25 - Why did you make this IP instead of *insert rumored game*.02:11 - Karl DeAngelo made a seriously fun game.02:34 - Karl loves haunted houses. 03:34 - Brief overview of the 2 main mechs.03:58 - Rotating Halls turntable (Mech 1)04:36 - Cool Sound04:40 - Dirty Pool likes inline drops.04:52 - Dirty Pool also can't remember Flash Gordon (The Red One).05:25 - Pepper's Ghost Hologram Display (Mech 2)06:25 - How exploring the game works / building room values through travel.08:11 - Not a safe game, filled with character. 08:35 - Yamaha YM2151... not 2024.08:47 - Brief history of FM synthesis in games, and how it shaped the sound of WMH.09:11 - Helping new players... Room color codes / in game tutorial10:11 - Bash podcast plug.10:27 - Apron is a fully interactive part of the experience.10:51 - Karl's approach to designing his first pinball machine.12:11 - Karl's giant design document.12:31 - Not being afraid to make changes to modes to maximize fun.13:41 - Come see us at Expo and play the game!13:51 - Making pinball have personality again. 14:28 - Secret / Not So Secret Things15:02 - "Unintentional Marketing ploy" - I guess it is marketing if I'm talking about it. 15:22 - What is in the game at launch! 16:50 - Crash course list of features in the game. 17:50 - The team has been busting ass to find bugs and polish WMH.18:20 - Eric's a !#?@% / "David Van Es gives Eric a raise."18:45 - Thank you for trusting us to make this game.19:01 - Bad launch coverage, and our approach of a transparent talking heads video.19:21 - That's it Karl?!19:30 - We'll have 4 games at Expo. COME PLAY.19:51 - Peppers Ghost looks weak in filmed footage, looks way cooler in person.20:09 - Karl sucks at Praising the Great Pyramid.20:29 - Bye.🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@dirtypoolpinball📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball#DirtyPoolPinball #BarrelsOfFun #WinchesterMysteryHouse #PinballExpo #KarlDeAngelo #PinballDesign #BehindTheScenes #PinballMachine #PinballReveal #SoundDesign #VoiceActing #PinballCommunity #HauntedHouse #PinballMusic #MakingOf #RetroGaming #Arcade #PinballLife #GameReveal #PinballAddict #PinballTales #ArcadeCulture #PinballArt #PinballCollectors #PinballProduction #GamingHistory #ArcadeScene #DirtyPoolPodcast #PinballEnthusiast

Rob Berk has been the face behind Pinball Expo since 1985, curating a gathering that’s become the longest-running pinball show on the planet. From hosting early designers who rarely shared stories in public, to shaping the culture of how collectors, vendors, and fans come together, Rob’s influence is unmatched. We dig into what it’s like to create an event of this scale, how the Guinness World Record for largest pinball collection came about, and why Expo still matters decades later.🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball00:00:00 - Introduction and welcoming Rob Berk to the podcast00:04:00 - Early Expo vendors and Fun Games arcade connections00:08:00 - The passion and drive behind running Expo00:12:00 - Walking through the Pinball Expo website details00:16:00 - Expo growth with vendor numbers rising past 50 booths00:20:00 - Touring Rob’s warehouse and sharing collector stories00:24:00 - Massive support from collectors and community impact00:28:00 - Researching and inviting special guests for Expo talks00:32:00 - Audience experiences sitting up front at Expo events00:36:00 - The growing pinball hobby and new industry participants00:40:00 - Stories of transporting machines and parts by plane00:44:00 - Global connections and fans supporting Expo remotely00:48:00 - The Fireside Chat format and sharing stories on stage00:52:00 - Highlights on rare games like Twilight Zone and streaming mentions00:56:00 - Encouragement for attendees to make the trip to Expo01:00:00 - Final reflections and closing questions for Rob Berk01:04:00 - Wrapping up plugs and acknowledgments for Expo01:06:00 - Closing thanks and farewell from the Dirty Pool Podcast#DirtyPoolPodcast #PinballExpo #RobBerk #PinballHistory #PinballCollector #PinballCommunity #ArcadeCulture #PinballEnthusiast #PinballLife #RetroGaming #ClassicPinball #ArcadeHistory #PinballMachines #PinballWizard #PinballAddict #GamingCommunity #PinballEvents #PinballCulture #PinballPodcast #GuinnessWorldRecord

Tom Graf of Fox Cities Pinball joins the Dirty Pool Podcast to share what it takes to set up and run tournaments without losing your cool. From the logistics of organizing events to the art of staying calm when things get hectic, Tom breaks down his approach and why his relaxed style works so well. We also touch on his background and the Fox Cities Pinball stream, rounding out a look at how one of the community’s most chill directors keeps things fun and fair.🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball00:00:00 - Intro00:00:16 - Welcoming Tom Graf and his Fox Cities story00:04:24 - Streaming local leagues and the jump to District 8200:07:50 - Staying calm when internet crashes during tournaments00:11:32 - The art of keeping players zen on stream00:15:49 - Building a reputation for chill tournament directing00:19:32 - How rules knowledge shapes smooth event management00:23:32 - Behind the curtain when streams and rulings collide00:26:42 - Sharing lessons learned from streaming mishaps00:29:53 - Dealing with machines breaking mid-competition without panic00:33:32 - Why transparency and fairness matter for all players00:37:41 - Talking through rulings instead of escalating tension00:41:08 - Creating a tournament culture where players feel supported00:44:50 - Learning to balance competing roles as player and TD00:49:05 - The unique vibe of Wisconsin’s pinball scene00:52:12 - How streaming shaped Tom’s approach to directing tournaments00:55:47 - The Fox Cities community and keeping events accessible00:59:30 - What makes a truly memorable tournament experience01:03:12 - Future goals streaming directing and personal balance01:07:00 - Wrapping up with final thoughts and gratitude#DirtyPoolPinball #Pinball #DirtyPoolPodcast #FoxCitiesPinball #TournamentPinball #CompetitivePinball #PinballWizard #ArcadeLife #PinballCommunity #PinballTalk #PinballTournament #GamingCommunity #PinballStream #RetroGaming #ArcadeCulture #PinballMachine #ClassicGaming #PinballEnthusiast #PinballAddict #ArcadeGames

I went to Stern for a media day event and spent hours meeting the crew, playing Star Wars Fall Of The Empire, and hanging with tons of other creators. Along with a full factory tour, I’m now fully briefed on all things Spike 3 and Star Wars. Fire your questions away and join me as we watch Stern’s live reveal of the game and talk about it together.🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@dirtypoolpinball📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball00:00 Intro and setup 01:30 Waiting for Stern's live reveal 02:40 First mention of Star Wars 04:30 Stern announces new Cornerstone game 04:40 Personal take on Star Wars fandom 05:50 Pro and Premium model breakdown 06:05 Skywalker saga adventure theme 06:25 Premium model features and CPU upgrade 07:10 Spike 3 platform introduction 07:25 Asking Stern team about audio 07:35 Spike 3 impressions vs Spike 2 08:10 Hand-drawn artwork reveal 09:55 Concept art by Vince Pros and team 10:10 Premium artwork package shown 10:25 Gameplay highlight AT-AT battle 10:45 Speculation on AT-AT mech design 12:00 Discussion on rules and objectives 12:45 Ball flow and shot geometry 13:30 Modes tied to movie scenes 14:15 Pro model layout details 15:00 Comparing Pro vs Premium play 16:00 Premium model unique features 17:00 Upper playfield and mechs 18:00 Gameplay strategy talk 19:00 Multiball and stacking rules 20:00 Sound design and callouts 21:00 Voice acting and assets from films 22:00 Lighting and playfield effects 23:00 Code polish and update potential 24:00 Factory tour insights 25:00 Meeting Stern designers 26:00 Conversations with Stern crew 27:00 Spike 3 hardware deep dive 28:00 Comparisons to older Star Wars pin 30:00 Discussing cabinet and build quality 32:00 More Spike 3 tech breakdown 34:00 Playfield toys and interactive features 36:00 Community and creator reactions 38:00 Expectations for home vs operators 40:00 Gameplay deep dive continues 42:00 Favorite shots and combos 45:00 Final impressions on Fall of the Empire 47:00 Answering viewer questions 49:00 Closing thoughts and Q&A #StarWarsPinball #FallOfTheEmpire #SternPinball #Spike3 #Pinball #PinballMachine #PinballLife #Arcade #ArcadeGames #ClassicGaming #RetroGaming #PinballAddict #PinballEnthusiast #GamingCommunity #PinballAction #PinballWizard #PinballTales #DirtyPoolPinball #ArcadeCulture #GamingHighlights #GamerLife #PinballFun

Mark Seiden joins the Dirty Pool Podcast to talk about his journey from homebrew designer to working at Jersey Jack Pinball. We dive into his creative process, what it’s like designing Avatar, and how collaboration shapes modern pinball design. From early influences to the nuts and bolts of game rules, this episode explores how Seiden’s unique vision fits into the pinball landscape today.🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball00:00:00 - Intro and Rainbow Lights Flashing00:01:00 - Meeting Mark Seiden at Jersey Jack Pinball00:03:00 - Early Pinball Memories and First Games00:06:00 - From Homebrew Roots to JJP00:09:00 - Building Games Before Going Public00:12:00 - Making the Leap to Professional Design00:15:00 - Design Philosophy and Inspirations00:18:00 - Avatar Pinball - Translating the Movie00:21:00 - Challenges Bringing Avatar to Life00:24:00 - Layout, Shots, and Player Flow00:27:00 - Balancing Rules with Theme Integration00:30:00 - Teamwork and Collaboration at JJP00:33:00 - Rainbow Lighting and Immersive Design00:36:00 - Work on Elton John Pinball00:39:00 - Spectacle Versus Gameplay Flow00:42:00 - Lessons Learned and Future Projects00:45:00 - Reflections on Pinball Design00:48:00 - Community Questions and Interaction01:00:40 - The Raven Question - Where Do You Draw the Line?01:04:00 - Final Thoughts and Closing#Pinball #AvatarPinball #MarkSeiden #JerseyJackPinball #DirtyPoolPinball #PinballPodcast #PinballCommunity #RetroGaming #Arcade #ArcadeCulture #PinballAddict #GamingCommunity #PinballEnthusiast #PinballWizard #ArcadeGames #ClassicGaming #GamingNostalgia #PinballLife #ArcadeLife #GamingHistory #GamingHighlights

Rebecca Salem joins the Dirty Pool Podcast to talk about building the Austin Pinball Collective, designing her own 3D-printed pinball trophies, and what it really takes to form a collective in your own city. How not to feel alone with standing up to bad pinball peeps and how it takes a village to create one of the most interesting pinball collectives in the nation.Austin Pinball Collective!Austinpinballcollective.orgTwitch.tv/austinpinballcollectiveIG: @austinpinballcollectiveaustinpinballcollective@gmail.comTrophies!IG: @bexbexbexrexFliptronic StreamingIG: @fliptronicatxtwitch.tv/fliptronicBelles & Chimes AustinIG: @bellesandchimesaustin🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid: 📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball 📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball 📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball 📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball00:00:00 - Intro00:01:10 - Custom Pinball Trophies00:03:29 - Starting the Austin Pinball Collective00:06:56 - Volunteering Stories in Pinball00:12:08 - Challenges of Running Collectives00:16:18 - How Arcades Fit Into the Scene00:19:31 - Creative Designs for Trophies00:22:10 - Pinball Leagues and Community Growth00:28:19 - Trophy Design Process and Materials00:33:18 - Lessons From Organizing Events00:39:45 - Plugging Community Resources00:43:00 - Keeping a Collective Inclusive00:46:09 - League Play Highlights00:54:33 - Talking About Pinball Expo01:00:55 - Advice for Starting a Collective01:05:55 - Closing Thoughts# Pinball #PinballCollective #AustinPinball #PinballCommunity #PinballLife #PinballEnthusiast #ArcadeCulture #PinballTrophies #RetroGaming #ArcadeGames #PinballPodcast #DirtyPoolPinball #PinballAddict #PinballEvents #ArcadeLife #GamingCommunity #ClassicGaming #PinballWizard #GamingNostalgia #PinballCrew

Rob Rath from The Electric Playground joins Dirty Pool Podcast to talk about his work designing and building custom toppers for pinball machines. We get into how he approaches the creative process, what goes into making something that feels like it belongs with a game but still stands out, and the small shop challenges of turning ideas into something that players will actually want on top of their machines. Also he's shamelessly trying to sell his new topper on my channel so I guess go check it out? https://www.teppinball.com/store/p/aaiw-topper-expansion🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball00:00:00 - Intro00:00:40 - @teppinball Top, @stumblor Bottom00:01:01 - The Origins of TEP. 00:02:16 - First Topper? Twilight Zone00:05:10 - Failed Prototypes?00:06:42 - What machines do you use in the shop?00:09:15 - Last call for back catalogue toppers.00:10:00 - Painting acrylics, and how to use vendors and family labor effectively.00:12:11 - Captain Fantastic Top 10 selling game?00:12:30 - Observing the market for when to make toppers for certain games.00:13:02 - How do you have toppers interact with older EM's?00:15:12 - Zip ties, the pinball tech's secret weapon.00:16:00 - How do you set pricing for your toppers?00:18:22 - Pricing Double Tap00:20:00 - New mods are truly art and expand the pinball experience for some. 00:21:00 - The design philosophy for @teppinball toppers.00:23:00 - wow... 48 toppers?00:23:20 - What do you say to non-topper people?00:24:47 - @dutchpinball Alice Adventures in Wonderland - TOPPER REVEAL00:27:12 - What are the 10 swappable phrases?00:29:00 - How long has development been going for Alice?00:30:00 - Making a topper that feels like it's part of the original production.00:31:27 - Lets talk about @FlipNIK.Pinball 00:34:30 - Demo of animations on the topper via the app.00:40:26 - Installation?00:41:16 - Designing the manual for installation.00:42:12 - Custom help videos for customers?!00:42:45 - Lets talk about Alice availability issues.00:44:57 - Custom phrases? Probably not happening.00:46:34 - Chat thanks Rob, and some hot takes of upcoming stuff?00:47:45 - What game would you love to make a topper for... no restrictions?00:48:47 - The Raven thing...00:50:11 - Hi @kineticist !00:50:32 - Make a Raven topper.00:51:11 - LOTR a dream topper concept.00:51:30 - Pinball Expo is going to have a huge @teppinball presence! Come to the lounge. 00:52:47 - Hat trivia give away, a topper... for your head.00:55:26 - Five unique Kill Bill homebrew reskins.00:57:13 - First clue for the giveaway... spoilers it's Street Fighter 2.00:58:28 - First pin story time.01:01:51 - Interactive knocker?01:02:10 - Apparently this game has knockers.01:02:30 - Strange history of Popaduik's concept and Deep root.01:03:00 - Zombie Yeti's from @sternpinballinc first art in a game?01:05:00 - What was your partnership with @dutchpinball , future projects?01:06:30 - @ontiltpinball topper for Alice?01:07:11 - ⁨Thank you everyone! + Social Media info for @teppinball 01:07:45 - bye!#DirtyPoolPinball #PinballPodcast #Pinball #Arcade #PinballLife #PinballAddict #PinballEnthusiast #PinballMachine #RetroGaming #ArcadeGames #PinballDesign #CustomPinball #PinballMods #PinballCommunity #GamingPodcast #PinballToppers #ArcadeLife #ClassicGaming #ArcadeCulture #PinballTalk #PinballInterview

Kyle Spiteri, better known as Black Cat Pinball - joins the show to talk about his path from his time at Marco Specialties to his current support role at Stern Pinball. We dig into his early days fixing pins at the Pacific Pinball Museum, the chaos of tech support at Stern, and why you don’t always need to restore a game to perfection. Kyle shares his thoughts on Insider Connected, his favorite pinball mechanisms, and the tools every tech should own - plus a few repair horror stories for good measure.🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball00:00:00 - Intro00:00:30 - It's Kyle!00:01:30 - Kyle's a gamer00:03:50 - Want to get into pinball? Meet the right gateway person. 00:06:14 - Why BMW motorcycles? Kyle the mechanic.00:08:20 - Road Rash... Best weapon? It's the foot.00:08:50 - Pacific Pinball Museum 00:11:25 - You worked on Suzanne Ciani's Xenon?!00:13:22 - Pinball is a bookmark of the time period00:15:37 - Online tutorial videos, pros and cons00:19:28 - Whats the most fascinating pinball mech you've rebuilt? 00:20:41 - Pinball engineering needs to be simple00:22:16 - How does it feel to be hired by @sternpinballinc ?00:24:00 - How to be anxious and also give tours as a community ambassador.00:24:45 - Dwight Sullivan tour extraordinaire 00:26:25 - Hardest pinball mech to repair? 00:28:55 - Stern and the community...00:31:17 - Chicago... get it together and start promoting pinball00:34:45 - Roger Sharpe still brings it at local tournaments00:36:05 - "Survivor games"00:38:59 - Do renovated games lose their soul?00:41:35 - Arcades responsibility round 200:43:22 - Arcades also need to make money00:47:10 - Desert island ... 1 pin... what is it?00:48:15 - Deadpool's colorful history00:50:26 - Kong and Godzilla BFF's like NBA fastbreak? 00:51:00 - Oh boy... lets talk Insider Connected00:54:15 - IC ideas00:57:00 - Pinball designers are trying to make the best possible game00:57:35 - Don't be a bad pinball person00:58:15 - Face to face discussions about pins prevent 'meanness'00:59:21 - Where do you learn pinball repair?01:01:00 - It's ok to fail, but also get an old game to learn.01:02:40 - Start by cleaning games01:03:48 - How many hats do people wear at Stern?01:06:27 - Rapid fire round of questions.01:07:30 - @IEPinball also doesn't like TOTAN01:08:00 - Lets talk about game length playtime01:09:10 - John Wick... Fights back.01:09:46 - Most pins go to homes, not arcades.01:11:20 - DND! 01:12:25 - TNA! 01:12:55 - Home games should be challenging or they get boring...01:14:10 - Steve Richie's words of wisdom. "Play Better"01:15:45 - Chat Questions01:16:10 - Will features work in the future when gated behind old software?01:21:40 - Who's responsible for the new LCD playfield support display? (Mark Penacho)01:25:16 - Ian from @NudgeMagazine a man of "impeccable taste" ... or not01:25:40 - Stern's history, Data East and Sega.01:26:22 - Pickle beer?01:26:28 - How does Stern feel about pinball MODS?01:29:40 - Twilight Zone with a history01:31:00 - The Raven thing...01:31:40 - Kyle Spiteri officially confirms Stern's next remake is Raven01:32:36 - Thank you Kyle this has been awesome.01:33:40 - Kyle Spiteri officially confirms Stern's next remake is Raven01:34:36 - Lets talk about toxic pinball again.01:35:26 - Go to pinball expo!01:36:26 - 'Loosely based on seawitch"01:37:20 - Thanks chat, time to raid.01:38:10 - California Extreme video coming soon.01:38:29 - Bye!#DirtyPoolPinball #PinballPodcast #KyleSpiteri #BlackCatPinball #SternPinball #PinballRepair #PinballTech #PinballMechanics #PinballRestoration #PinballCommunity #InsiderConnected #PinballTools #PinballLife #MarcoSpecialties #EMPinball #PinballInterview #ArcadeRepair #ModernPinball #PinballLivestreams #PinballSupport

From Free Gold Watch to virtual tables and movie nights, Manu Smith has built one of the most distinctive voices in the pinball streaming world. We talk about his early days in the Bay Area pinball scene, the rise of Mystery Pinball Theater 3000, and how virtual pinball became a lifeline for players and creators alike. Plus: what really goes down during those chaotic movie nights, and how Manu keeps the MST3K spirit alive in a sea of playfield glass.🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball00:00:00 - Intro00:00:26 - Meet Manu!00:01:28 - Secret Vpin Project? / Pincredibles00:02:55 - Virtual Pinball is made from real components now.00:05:05 - Vpin vs. Real pins (Varkon?)00:06:00 - Bonus Shatz Story00:08:20 - The Origin of Manu's Vpin 00:11:15 - Vpin Cabinet Showcase00:12:46 - Can you play a Vpin on location?00:14:45 - Check out the mpt3k discord (https://discord.gg/fxFjFK2Q) for more help on Vpins00:14:56 - How to build a Vpin, start with a cabinet.00:15:35 - @borgdog and his Star Wars homebrew shoutout.00:18:30 - Of course @IEPinball influenced the streaming at free gold watch.00:20:24 - Pinball 101 throw back!00:21:29 - Don't fart?00:24:00 - Pro tip HDMI handshakes00:26:24 - What goes into a Vpin00:32:10 - Homebrew Vpin to Homebrew Pin... pin00:35:24 - Sterns Pinball Arcade00:37:55 - Recreating games in virtual.00:38:24 - It's just code... Fishbowl.00:40:35 - Manu almost chokes on my bad stern joke.00:41:30 - This is SO TRUE. Virtual is the gateway drug.00:44:44 - Using virtual pinball to learn rulesets.00:46:00 - Talking about @multimorphic6445 P3 Pinball.00:51:44 - Showing kids real pins when they're used to iPad @ZenStudios Pinball FX00:54:00 - Riffing on movies live on twitch with @MysteryPinballTheater3000 00:56:35 - Manu's advice on how to find your own niche as a streamer01:02:13 - It's the Raven thing.01:03:00 - Worst game ever? Thunder-something01:04:00 - The difference between good bad, and bad bad01:06:30 - What is Free Gold Watch?01:09:41 - Manu's thank you list to the people that have helped. 01:12:41 - Accessibility for repair in pins. The good and the bad.01:15:31 - Talking Vegas Pinball Museum 01:17:31 - What's coming up for Manu! ... spoilers it's pinball expo and CAX01:18:18 - Lets go Rob Berk! @pasttimesarcade 01:18:45 - Hot Bodies? .... Hardbodies? It's Hardbody... close enough.01:19:53 - Check out https://www.twitch.tv/mpt3k01:20:30 - Talking about how cool George @DontPanicFlip is.01:21:59 - Thanks! Bye!#DirtyPoolPinball #PinballPodcast #MysteryPinballTheater3000 #VirtualPinball #FreeGoldWatch #PinballStreamers #BayAreaPinball #PinballCommunity #DigitalPinball #PinballHistory #MST3K #ArcadeCulture #StreamingLife #PinballInterview #PinballTalk #PinballNerds #TwitchPinball #MovieNights #RetroGaming #ArcadeVibes #StreamerSpotlight

Guillaume Fau (aka Paris Pinball Addict) joins us to break down the global pinball scene and we don’t hold back. We talk pinball ambassadorship, international markets, and the step-by-step process this industry should be following when announcing and releasing games. With years of large-scale marketing experience, Guillaume lays out how transparency and better communication could fix a lot of what’s broken in the current pinball hype cycle.00:00:00 - Intro00:00:30 - Hello Paris Pinball Addict.00:01:00 - Topics For The Podcast!00:03:10 - Why Pinball Needs 'Ambassadors'00:03:50 - Shut Up Laundry00:04:10 - Guillaume works in market analysis.00:05:00 - Pinball History Lesson00:06:40 - Speaking Freely About Pinball Marketing / PR Background00:08:50 - What's Wrong With Pinball Marketing00:17:00 - Pinball markets have changed over the years. How games are marketed does too.00:18:30 - Analysis - @PinballBrothers and @SpookyPinball 00:21:00 - A Warm Up To The Big List Of How To Market a Pinball Machine00:32:40 - ok... Lets breakdown the proper steps of releasing a pinball machine from start to finish.00:33:20 - Guillaume says nice stuff about @BoFPinball 00:37:00 - Step 1 - Coordinate Your Launch and Don't Be Afraid To Delay Games Within Budget.00:38:40 - Step 2 - Announce What Upcoming Titles Are Months Before Release 00:40:40 - Transparency time! I'm @dirtypoolpinball working at Barrels Of Fun00:41:10 - Step 3 - Make an Amazing Marketing Video / Flyers / Social MediaTake Over and Coordinate The Delivery.00:50:30 - Step 4 (not 5) - Get The Game In The Hands Of People That Can Showcase It At It's BEST.00:52:00 - Step 5 (not 6) - Game Support Post Launch, and Keeping Consumer Faith.00:55:50 - Step 6 - Widescale Testing Games With Real People - Under NDA.00:58:20 - @IEPinball is an alien, and only sassy when he's on my stream. 01:00:28 - Distributors that break NDA's need to be held accountable. @PinballBrothers 01:02:18 - Lets Talk About Harry Potter and @JerseyJackPinball 01:05:00 - Pinball 'influencers' need to give honest feedback on games. 01:07:00 - What's the other side of this? We need a manufacturer to step up.01:10:15 - Trade show conversations vs marketting conversations.01:12:04 - @BoFPinball has entered the chat. (Literally)01:13:00 - ⁨PPA talks about the Labrynth launch01:16:04 - ⁨@NudgeMagazine has entered the chat01:18:34 - Is announcing games more complicated than it seems?01:22:44 - Teaser / Trailer 1 / Trailer 2 / Release.01:27:49 - Code updates need transparency01:28:51 - @sternpinballinc pulling the plug on @DEADFLIP 's update about xmen01:31:35 - ⁨IP purchasing is a limited timeframe01:35:14 - Pinball criticism on design needs to have a constructive foundation01:40:25 - Adding ballsaves is not how to fix design problems01:45:35 - Stand up against predatory DLC monetization 01:49:21- Locking content behind expensive toppers is ... awful01:52:50 - Thank you Guillaume!01:54:35 - The Raven Thing...01:56:20 - Top 3 Pins?01:58:48 - Upcoming stuff from Paris Pinball Addict? Go Follow!Praise the Great Pyramid📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball#DirtyPoolPinball #PinballPodcast #ParisPinballAddict #GuillaumeFau #PinballMarketing #PinballAmbassador #PinballLeaks #PinballIndustry #GameReveal #PinballTransparency #PinballCommunity #PinballCollectors #PinballNews #InternationalPinball #SternPinball #JerseyJackPinball #SpookyPinball #DutchPinball #TurnerPinball #ArcadeCulture #GlobalPinball

How do you run a full-blown pinball bar until 2 AM every night and stay married? Rachel and Cale from Electric Bat Arcade break it all down—logistics, love, location pinball, and late-night arcade life in Tempe. We talk running machines in the desert heat, Arizona pinball culture, and how to build a community one quarter at a time.Praise the Great Pyramid📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball00:00:00 - Intro00:01:15 - How Did Electric Bat Start?00:02:38 - What's It Like Running a Business With a Partner?00:04:15 - Cale 'Wide Stance' Pinball Technique00:05:45 - Running an Arcade Business00:07:21 - "Barcade" Trademark00:10:00 - Booze On Top Of Pinball00:11:48 - Where'd The Name Come From?00:13:45 - Electric Bat Podcast Loves To Be Transparent and Honest About Business00:16:00 - Earnings Info Helping The Manufacturers?00:19:35 - Most Important Thing an Arcade Can Do...00:21:16 - Chat Questions00:23:00 - Pinball For Everyone00:26:20 - How Does Booze Work at @electricbatarcade 00:28:15 - Repairing Pinball Machines / Cale @ Marco Specialties00:30:43 - Most Important Relationship Thing... Talk Through Chat Programs?00:33:00 - Electric Bat Crazy Hours?!00:35:12 - DND... 00:38:35 - Hardest Part Of Running a Business? Dealing With The City...00:43:28 - Arcade Owners Aren't Generally Business People00:45:00 - Cursed Game? It's Galactic Tank Force00:51:49 - Whats The Modern Way To Handle Customer Service For a Manufacturer00:54:15 - Kiko the Cat / Pinball Tech00:59:58 - How To Be a Good Customer / Manufacturers Need To Be Better01:01:35 - It's Ok To Be Frustrated, Channel It Right.01:06:00 - Serge, The Ultimate Pinball Commentator01:08:00 - Memorizing Pi in the Wildest Way01:12:00 - How To Learn Pinball Repair01:18:35 - Choosing To Be A Great Experience Over Making Money01:20:55 - Chat Questions 201:22:30 - Don't Be Afraid To Get Involved With Tournaments01:27:25 - Donuts?01:27:35 - Pinball Is About People01:28:25 - The Raven Thing...01:29:30 - Top 3 Games?01:33:00 - How Do You Not Burn Out On Pinball?01:35:09 - Thank You! / Bye!#ElectricBatArcade #PinballBar #PinballLife #PinballCommunity #DirtyPoolPinball #TempeArcade #MarriedAndFlipping #ArcadeCouple #Barcade #LocationPinball #PinballTalk #PinballPodcast #PinballWizard #ArcadeLife #ClassicArcade #CoinOpCulture #LateNightArcade #PinballLove #PinballPeople #ArcadeOwners #GameRoomGoals #ArcadeChat #PinballArizona #PinballCulture #SupportLocalArcades

The widebody has landed. We sit down with Daniel Jansen, CEO of Pinball Brothers, to talk about their new Predator machine: the rules, the features, and the sheer guts it takes to bring a licensed behemoth like this to life. We dig into the use of AI in their teaser campaign, the implications of AI-generated art in the industry, and whether high import costs and tariffs are creating real barriers for international buyers. Transparency, tech, and one of the most iconic monsters of all time.Praise the Great Pyramid📡 Twitch – https://twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball📺 YouTube – https://youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball📷 Instagram – https://instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball📘 Facebook – https://facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball00:00:00 - Intro00:00:14 - Hello!00:00:35 - Daniel Janson00:01:31 - Confirmed? Future 80's Action Themed Pins Coming?00:02:03 - Alien and Predator - BFF's00:03:01 - Predator Clicking Sounds... LIVE!00:03:41 - Art and Collaboration at Pinball Brothers00:07:40 - Lets Talk Wide Bodies00:08:45 - Does Predator Eat The Ball?00:09:30 - Predator Is The Main Character00:11:00 - The Predator Sculpt is All Original, Not a Toy00:12:30 - How Do You Handle Lighting a Widebody?00:14:00 - @fastpinball Boards00:15:10 - Iconic Playfield Art In Pinball. Predator 3 Skulls?00:17:30 - Is There a Family Mode / Gore Mode in Predator?00:18:16 - Are More Arnold Video Assets Coming?00:19:00 - Leaked Footage?00:20:00 - Predator Launch... 00:22:00 - Handling Criticism From The Community00:25:41 - Alien and Predator IP's Came From The Same Licensor00:26:12 - Chat Questions!00:28:00 - Thanks for the raid @DRI374 00:28:45 - Games Ship August00:29:31- Tariffs00:30:15 - Do You Believe Consumers Should Pay For Tariffs?00:31:28 - How Are Tariff Costs Handled For People Purchasing Pinball Brother's Games?00:34:00 - When Tariffs Are Locked In Will You Notify The Consumer Base On Your Plans?00:35:01 - Gameplay Footage? (Few Days.)00:37:52 - Retro Kit To Improve Flippers On Older @PinballBrothers Games?00:38:38 - Does Pinball Brothers Use AI in Playfield Art? (no they don't)00:40:22 - Observation... Pinball Brother's Loves Predator.00:43:15 - Mods In Predator.00:43:30 - Design Goal - Feeling The Movie00:44:40 - Rules and Modes Logic00:48:16 - New Hairdo!00:48:46 - Horror Games for PB? (no)00:51:25 - Rapid Fire Chat Questions (Yes / No) HOT TAKES!00:52:20 - The Raven Thing.00:53:42 - Competition Mode or Competition Play?00:56:27 - Where Can You Play Predator?00:57:29 - @PinballBrothers Appreciates Your Support00:57:57 - For The Predator Fans00:58:10 - Distributors Available on Pinball Brother's Website00:59:15 - Better Updates For New Patches?01:01:06 - Thank You Daniel!01:01:52 - Bye!01:02:50 - Bonus Questions... How Many Daniel's Is Too Many?#Pinball #PredatorPinball #PinballBrothers #DirtyPoolPinball #WidebodyPinball #PinballPodcast #NewPinballMachine #AIinPinball #PinballInterview #PinballDesign #PinballCommunity #PinballManufacturing #PinballRules #RetroGaming #ArcadeGames #PinballLife #ClassicGaming #SciFiPinball #LicensedPinball #ArcadeCulture #HomeArcade #PinballTalk #RuleSheetBreakdown #MonsterThemePinball #TariffsOnPinball #InternationalPinball