Dirtypool Pinball - PODCAST - An Exploration Of The Pinball Industry

▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj Abe Flips from AbeFlips.com joins the Dirty Pool Podcast to talk about his new instructional series Mastering Pinball and the state of modern pinball education. Abe has become one of the most respected teachers in the hobby through his clear breakdowns of real control techniques, helping players move beyond random flipping and actually understand how pinball works. His videos carry forward the instructional legacy of Keith Elwin and company’s classic Pinball 101 era, but updated for the modern generation of competitive and home players. We talk about how the series came together, why teaching pinball still matters, and how the community continues passing down knowledge one tutorial at a time. ⚪ Mastering Pinball Contributors: Jeff Teolis : https://www.pinballprofile.com/ Scott Danesi : http://www.scottdanesi.com/ Robert Glashüttner : https://theballiswild.net/ Simon Platzer : https://www.grainhouse.productions/ 🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid: 📡 Twitch http://www.twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball 📺 YouTube http://www.youtube.com/@dirtypoolpinball 📷 Instagram http://www.instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball 📘 Facebook http://www.facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball 00:00:00 - Introducing Abe Flips and the rise of modern pinball tutorials 00:01:20 - Pinball 101 and the early history of pinball training videos 00:02:20 - The long wait for Mastering Pinball after the trailer 00:03:30 - Filming massive slow motion footage for pinball techniques 00:05:00 - Explaining flipper skills and visual teaching methods 00:07:20 - Demonstrating drop catch mechanics in slow motion 00:08:30 - Scott Danesi’s music and the Blu-ray release decision 00:10:00 - Filming locations and access to many different machines 00:12:30 - Planning shots and building repeatable ball feeds 00:14:00 - Using extreme high-speed cameras for pinball physics 00:16:00 - Advanced nudging to extend flipper reach 00:17:10 - Virtual pinball machines and learning rules digitally 00:18:30 - Moving from YouTube tutorials to a full film project 00:20:20 - Balancing humor and serious instruction in the film 00:22:00 - Using colored balls to reveal spin and ball behavior 00:25:40 - Production timeline and unexpected licensing hurdles 00:28:00 - Studying pro player footage to discover new techniques 00:29:40 - Lighting setups and challenges filming high-speed video 00:31:00 - The Mastering Pinball masterclass and community Discord 00:33:00 - Stage flipping and how flipper hardware changes skills 00:35:00 - How slow motion analysis improves real gameplay 00:36:10 - Mechanical insights like flipper bushings and dead bounces 00:38:00 - Stern catch, tip passes, and advanced control techniques 00:41:00 - Community reactions and player improvement after watching 00:44:00 - Advice for learning and practicing new pinball skills 00:47:30 - Future plans and continuing pinball education content 00:50:20 - Final thoughts on the impact of Mastering Pinball 00:53:40 - Wrapping up the podcast and raid outro 00:54:19 - Great Pyramid #pinball #pinballpodcast #abeflips #pinballtips #pinballtutorial #pinballstrategy #pinballskills #pinballtraining #pinballtechniques #competitivepinball #pinballcommunity #pinballplayers #pinballhowto #pinballlearning #pinballculture #pinballstream #dirtypoolpinball #pinballtalk #pinballfans #homepinball #pinballaddict #pinballwizard #pinballworld #modernpinball #pinballcoaching #pinballpractice #pinballgames #pinballlife

🎧 Dirty Pool Podcast - Full Episode Archive youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC Ron Richards joins to talk about the origin of Scorbit, the platform that lets pinball machines report their own scores. What started as a way to automatically capture game results became a hardware system that does much more. The Scorbitron reads score data from the game and sends it to the cloud, letting players track scores, compete on leaderboards, and check in with the app. The platform is now expanding into venue tools like digital payments and operator dashboards for arcades. 🔵 Scorbit Links: 📱 iOS App apps.apple.com/us/app/scorbit/id1505831174 🤖 Android App play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.scorbit 🌐 Website scorbit.io 🏟 Operator Platform scorbit.io/operators ✉️ Contact contact@scorbit.io 💬 Discord discord.gg/vySdvXXbrh 📷 Instagram instagram.com/scorbitpinball 📘 Facebook facebook.com/scorbitpinball 🧵 Threads threads.com/@scorbitpinball 🦋 BlueSky bsky.app/profile/scorbit.io 🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid: 📡 Twitch twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball 📺 YouTube youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball 📷 Instagram instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball 📘 Facebook facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball 00:00:00 - Cold open and meeting Ron in person in LA 00:02:30 - First impressions of early Scorbit streams and real time scoring 00:04:45 - What Scorbit actually does inside a pinball machine 00:07:30 - Traveling pinball players and using Scorbit on location 00:10:15 - Choosing favorite machines and the data side of pinball 00:13:40 - Evolution of the Scorbit app and new features 00:16:20 - Selfie leagues and social pinball competition 00:19:10 - Operator tools and location integration 00:22:30 - The business model behind connected pinball 00:25:15 - Tournaments, prizes, and competitive play potential 00:28:05 - Future integrations and expanding the ecosystem 00:31:00 - Connecting older machines like System 11 and Gorgar 00:34:00 - Real world tournament testing and operator feedback 00:37:00 - What the future of online pinball connectivity looks like 00:39:35 - Final thoughts on Scorbit and the connected pinball ecosystem #pinball #scorbit #pinballpodcast #pinballmachine #pinballcommunity #arcade #arcadegames #barcade #pinballlife #pinballculture #pinballwizard #retroarcade #arcadeculture #sternpinball #jerseyjackpinball #spookypinball #turnerpinball #dutchpinball #modernpinball #connectedarcade #pinballtechnology #pinballstream #pinballstreamer #pinballtournament #arcadelife #dirtypoolpinball #pinballhistory #pinballinnovation

▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj ▶ Previous Episode https://youtu.be/3yPvvL4yUYs?si=pw4ls-3WfSKiAJba This one isn’t about defining pinball culture. It’s about exploring what it means to different groups and why those meanings don’t always line up. Episode 25 of the Dirty Pool Podcast features Cliff Albert aka DJ Warlock, pinball DJ, punk rock lifer, location advocate, and longtime culture participant, for a wide-angle look at how different corners of the hobby see themselves. We talk about bar league regulars, tournament grinders, home collectors, operators, content creators, and casual players. What feels like “real pinball” to each group? Where do those perspectives overlap, and where do they quietly clash? Instead of criticizing, we step back and analyze the layers, the economics, the nostalgia, the accessibility, the DIY spirit, the streaming era, and the shift from quarters on glass to private game rooms. Cliff brings decades of experience from arcades and music scenes, and we approach the topic with curiosity rather than judgment. If you’ve ever wondered why pinball feels different depending on where you’re standing, this conversation will resonate. 🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid: 📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball 📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball 📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball 📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball 🔊 Discord – discord.gg/ySs5Wjb3Je 00:00 Intro and guest welcome 01:02 Framing the pinball culture conversation 02:01 Discovering pinball through touring life 03:10 Tournament era and Whopper chasing 04:22 Early streaming and broken location games 05:48 Punk identity meets pinball mythology 07:07 Philly scene and diverse pinball community 08:20 Inclusivity and Bells and Chimes discussion 10:14 Lockdown streaming growth 11:27 First major raid and community realization 12:06 Streaming changes the culture 13:02 Authenticity versus clout debate 16:18 Defining authentic pinball content 18:02 Podcasts then versus media day now 20:21 Skill versus vibe discussion 22:02 Expo stories and tournament energy 24:47 Location magic and lost punk spaces 26:36 Class tension and collection optics 29:29 Does streaming grow the hobby 31:32 Theme versus gameplay debate 33:26 Pinball is personal 34:02 Raven origin story 36:04 Harlem Globetrotters fundamentals 39:31 Collection stories and nostalgia 43:12 Manufacturers players and responsibility 49:40 Growing the hobby debate 58:44 What authenticity really means 01:02:15 Frustration versus love for pinball 01:10:48 Different lanes in pinball culture 01:20:18 Final reflections #DirtyPoolPodcast #DirtyPoolPinball #DJWarlock #CliffAlbert #PinballPodcast #PinballCulture #PinballCommunity #ArcadeCulture #LocationPinball #HomeArcade #CompetitivePinball #BarLeague #IFPA #PinballStreaming #PinballCollectors #SternPinball #JerseyJackPinball #SpookyPinball #DutchPinball #TurnerPinball #ArcadeHistory #ModernPinball #PinballEvents #PinballIndustry #PunkRock #FlipperLife #ArcadeScene #PinballDiscussion

Pinball artist Christopher Franchi joins the show to talk about designing art for fast-moving, physical games where nothing stays still and everything has to read instantly. We get into how pinball’s mechanical constraints shape composition, how Spooky Pinball’s visual identity comes together, and why horror themes only work when restraint is part of the design. Franchi breaks down collaboration with designers and programmers, what gets lost between concept and production, and the small visual decisions most players never consciously notice—but always feel. @ZombieYetiStudios if you watch this you're so obviously not a pussy and I just really want you on my podcast!!!!!! 🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid: 📡 Twitch twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball 📺 YouTube youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball 📷 Instagram instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball 📘 Facebook facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball 🔊 Discord discord.gg/ySs5Wjb3Je 00:00:00 - Cold open chaos, wrong screen, and welcoming Franchi to the podcast 00:01:10 - Running down Franchi’s pinball art history starting with Batman 66 00:02:20 - Working with Lyman Sheets and understanding his legacy in pinball 00:03:20 - Losing Lyman and what that meant to the pinball ecosystem 00:03:55 - Jumping into newer games and starting the conversation with Beetlejuice 00:04:35 - Color theory, restraint, and why Evil Dead’s palette actually works 00:05:45 - Trial and error in Photoshop and knowing when colors fail 00:06:40 - Widebody playfields and why they don’t feel bigger while designing 00:07:55 - Designing around lower playfields and broken-up real estate 00:08:45 - Viewer question about formal art training versus being self-taught 00:09:20 - High school awards, scholarships, and getting kicked out at seventeen 00:11:00 - Being forced to grow up fast and losing access to formal art education 00:12:55 - How that moment delayed his career but shaped his work ethic 00:13:45 - Finding satisfaction in independence and choosing projects carefully 00:14:05 - Touring the collectibles room and revealing the Toys R Us wall 00:15:30 - Adam West Batman obsession and meeting childhood heroes 00:16:50 - When meeting heroes goes wrong and awkward fan moments 00:18:10 - Pre-stream bonding and discovering the infamous fart audio library 00:19:30 - Playing fart recordings live and naming them with chat 00:21:15 - Why dumb humor still matters in creative spaces 00:22:10 - Respecting sound design and physical audio performance 00:23:50 - Returning to Beetlejuice and Tim Burton’s built-in color language 00:24:45 - How Beetlejuice almost happened years earlier and finally landed at Spooky 00:26:10 - Easter eggs, hidden jokes, and designing for obsessive fans 00:27:05 - Accidental leaks, loose lips, and pinball rumor fallout 00:28:40 - Comparing reactions to Beetlejuice colors versus King Kong backlash 00:30:00 - Lighting challenges on Evil Dead and visibility concerns 00:31:20 - Fighting for GI placement so the art can actually be seen 00:32:15 - Playfield art as visual marketing for how the game should be played 00:33:20 - Designing for players who ignore callouts and play visually 00:34:40 - Walking through Beetlejuice shots and explaining visual guidance 00:36:10 - Balancing theme clarity with visual density on modern games 00:38:05 - How collaboration with Spooky evolved into a long-term relationship 00:40:35 - Transitioning from contractor work into full Spooky projects 00:41:45 - Why the people at Spooky mattered as much as the projects 00:43:20 - Talking pay, jokes aside, and making pinball a sustainable career 00:45:10 - Looking ahead at future work without leaking anything 00:47:30 - Humor, reputation, and learning when to shut up publicly 00:50:10 - What makes a playfield succeed beyond looking cool 00:53:00 - Art as instruction, immersion, and subconscious guidance 00:56:20 - Reflecting on where pinball art still has room to grow 00:59:40 - Wrapping up, final thoughts, and mutual appreciation 01:02:10 - BRB gag, frozen poses, and botched timing 01:03:05 - Final sign-off, pyramid praise, and raid send-off #DirtyPoolPodcast #DirtyPoolPinball #ChristopherFranchi #SpookyPinball #PinballArt #PinballArtist #PlayfieldArt #CabinetArt #BackglassArt #PinballDesign #GameArt #Illustration #IndiePinball #ArcadeCulture #PinballCommunity #PinballIndustry #CultOfPinball #GreatPyramid

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/bSbXnA38Q8 00:00:00 - Summoning the Great Pyramid and opening ritual 00:00:15 - Episode intro and welcoming Scott Danesi 00:01:05 - RGB studios, StepManiacs, and music crossing mediums 00:03:25 - Why this episode is fully about Total Nuclear Annihilation 00:04:05 - Starting TNA as a homebrew with no production goal 00:06:00 - Reactor core concept, dystopian lore, and accidental canon 00:07:30 - RGB restraint, sound dynamics, and intentional impact 00:09:00 - Single-level layout and modern System 11 philosophy 00:10:40 - Designing in SolidWorks and committing to physical geometry 00:12:30 - Difficulty, fairness, and rejecting fake ball-save solutions 00:14:05 - One-minute crash course on how TNA actually plays 00:15:45 - Cut features, star rollovers, and location reliability 00:18:30 - Writing the code, abusing frameworks, and making it work 00:21:30 - Seeing TNA and StepManiacs on location for the first time 00:24:45 - Dance game culture, bar holders, and competitive absurdity 00:27:30 - Rapid-fire Q&A begins and homebrew realities 00:29:45 - Code updates, tournament balance, and fixing multiball abuse 00:33:30 - Letting the game fight back and physical battle stories 00:36:00 - Live performance plans and modular synth rabbit holes 00:39:30 - Sound design philosophy and integrating live systems 00:44:00 - Community questions, shows, and creative longevity 00:49:30 - Staying involved with TNA years after release 00:55:00 - Pinball as an evolving system, not a finished product 01:01:00 - Reflections on difficulty, mastery, and player psychology 01:07:30 - Future projects, collaborations, and saying no to burnout 01:14:00 - Long-tail audience questions and deep nerd tangents 01:21:30 - Closing thoughts on creation, ownership, and legacy 01:30:45 - 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/bSbXnA38Q8 Pinball images from www.pinside.com 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:13 - In-person Dirty Pool Pinball intro (with dogs) 00:00:31 - Meeting Ryan Gratzer and the Mapping Around podcast 00:00:48 - What Pinball Map is and how the app and site work 00:02:19 - Home locations, privacy, and “please don’t list your house” 00:03:04 - Which locations have the most pinball machines 00:03:34 - Ryan’s Paragon origin story and pinball at home 00:04:54 - Moving to Portland and discovering a city full of pinball 00:05:42 - Crazy Flipper Fingers and early Portland league days 00:07:15 - Tracking games with custom Google Maps before Pinball Map 00:08:06 - How the on-location pinball landscape has changed over 17 years 00:09:21 - Why modern games are taking over older Williams and Stern titles 00:10:34 - Remote locations, Maldives, Hawaii oddities, and under-mapped regions 00:11:53 - Admins, bad actors, and keeping the map neutral and fair 00:13:33 - From separate regional maps to one unified global Pinball Map 00:14:50 - Tech history: Pearl Mason to Ruby on Rails and why it stuck 00:18:02 - Gratification, community obsession, and why Pinball Map matters 00:19:34 - Costs, donations, and keeping the project non-monetized 00:21:41 - 8,500 edits a month and what that says about activity 00:22:37 - Operator tools, comments, and spotting well-maintained locations 00:23:32 - Filters, “number of machines” search, and operator-focused features 00:24:26 - How many operators are tagged and how comment digests work 00:25:16 - Broken games, first impressions, and shouting out good operators 00:26:40 - Pinball people getting salty and channel-level sarcasm 00:26:53 - Winding down the platform questions and interview main arc 00:27:17 - Future app update: viewing all 12,000+ locations at once 00:28:03 - Mapping Around podcast and what they cover in episodes 00:28:27 - Coin pouches, tiny merch, and where to find the store 00:28:55 - Praising the Great Pyramid with improvised hand pyramids 00:29:25 - Call to action: update your local locations and help the map 00:29:56 - 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/KcwKeejb 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:06 - Spooky Pinball’s Beginnings as a Podcast 00:03:01 - Early Pinball Media and Community Roots 00:05:00 - Shifting From Podcast to Pinball Manufacturer 00:06:34 - Pinball Zombies and The Walking Dead Conflict 00:07:52 - Choosing America’s Most Haunted as the First Title 00:09:01 - Building AMH With Friends and Family Voices 00:12:03 - Texas Pinball Festival Weekend That Changed Everything 00:13:39 - Growing the Factory and Life as a Family Business 00:16:00 - How Bug and Spooky Luke Split Game Design 00:18:52 - Bug’s Approach to Rules and Theme Integration 00:20:10 - Working With Licensors and Protecting Creative Vision 00:22:03 - Tournament Settings and Player Feedback 00:23:39 - Moving Spooky to Unity and Standardized Hardware 00:25:31 - Beetlejuice Trailer Breakdown and Art Direction 00:28:06 - Sandworm Design and Under Flipper Magnet Saves 00:31:14 - Evolving the Waiting Room and Rising Mech Concepts 00:34:10 - Upper Playfield Flow and Nontraditional Shot Paths 00:36:00 - Prototyping, Metalwork and Fast Mechanical Iteration 00:39:00 - What Makes a Modern Game Successful for Spooky 00:43:00 - Texas Chainsaw Massacre as a Design Benchmark 00:47:30 - Beetlejuice Code Depth and Update Philosophy 00:50:00 - Dreams of Army of Darkness and Future Themes 00:54:00 - Quality of Life Tech Like Voice-Controlled Service 00:56:00 - Beetlejuice Launch Party and Community Energy 00:58:00 - Toppers, Butter Cabinets and Long Term Support 01:01:00 - Horror Inspirations and Movie Recommendations 01:03:30 - Theme Integration and Dark Ride Style Design 01:06:00 - Managing Demand and Production Expectations 01:08:30 - Community Shoutouts and Tournament Players 01:11:00 - Dream Licenses and Wild Theme Ideas 01:14:00 - Internships, Learning and Life Inside Spooky 01:17:00 - Long Term Updates for Spooky Titles 01:20:00 - Big Player Scores and Gameplay Shoutouts 01:23:00 - Home Collections, Wish List Games and Spooky Alley 01:25:20 - Hardbody Callback and Final Thanks to Bug 01:25:25 - The Raven Gag 01:26:21 - 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.com Enjoy the subtle pyramid signal throughout. (by that I mean the battery pack noise... oops) 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:02 - Settling into the in person setup and getting started 00:01:15 - Opening the talk with Counterflip shirts on the table 00:03:35 - Shea explaining early art roots and first encouragement 00:04:40 - py▒ ΔΔ ▒d.join: “hol d st i l l” 00:05:05 - Chicago basement shows and learning design through bands 00:06:55 - J cards tapes and the cassette layout grind 00:08:35 - Moving to LA and shifting from music into film 00:10:15 - Whole Foods sign artist years and the Amazon wipeout 00:12:05 - Making early bootleg movie shirts starting with The Lighthouse 00:13:55 - The Fog vs The Mist and arguing coastal horror loyalty 00:15:30 - Building the first small run of shirts and early experiments 00:17:00 - How Counterflip designs are rebuilt pieces not traced assets 00:18:20 - Digging through manuals flyers and archives to stay accurate 00:20:00 - Discovering pinball through Revenge Of and falling in fast 00:21:10 - Zoning out on world under glass and aesthetic obsession 00:22:20 - Describing Revenge Of as a sci fi comic book bodega 00:23:55 - Seeing branding blown up on walls booths and full spaces 00:25:50 - Revenge Of keeping a mixed lineup not just Stern games 00:27:20 - Indie vs major manufacturers and how variety helps pinball 00:28:50 - Revenge Of championing boutique games and weirder designs 00:30:05 - Building the Revenge Of identity with trust and loose direction 00:31:55 - Opening the coffee shop and overlap with players and creatives 00:32:34 - ╣ted… frame_Δ▒▒ d all.praise. 00:33:05 - Games Shea would own someday and not forcing a collection 00:34:30 - Vintage game picks turning into full Raven enthusiasm 00:36:10 - The future of Counterflip balancing shirts films and freelance 00:37:20 - Choosing which games become shirts and what artwork works 00:38:50 - Xenon talk and wanting maximum tube energy on a shirt 00:40:20 - Best sellers and why Counterflip Fishtails keeps moving 00:41:55 - Holiday market plans and Counterflip showing up with both booths 00:43:00 - Shirt sizes shipping and grabbing designs in person 00:43:55 - 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 #PinballTales 00:00:00 - 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/dirtypoolpinball 00:00 – Intro 01:10 – Brad’s path from corporate design to pinball art 03:00 – Discovering pinball again and creative freedom 04:30 – Early poster work and nostalgia in his style 06:00 – First homebrew projects and lessons learned 07:20 – Transition to Winchester and first art challenges 09:00 – Using real photos and Google Earth of the mansion 10:40 – Forced perspective tricks and player angle tests 12:30 – Finding the right color tone for the playfield 14:10 – The ghost wisps concept and spirit color design 16:00 – Integrating the floor plan as a visual blueprint 17:40 – No AI used and keeping the art fully human 18:40 – Working closely with Karl DeAngelo on feedback 20:00 – Code names and the evolving playfield style 21:40 – Brad’s changing process and constant reinvention 23:00 – Using Clip Studio Paint and 3D references 25:00 – Designing Sarah Winchester for the backglass 27:00 – Victorian themes and authentic stained glass 29:00 – Easter eggs and historical callouts on the playfield 31:00 – Keeping cabinet and plastics visually unified 33:00 – Scaling cabinet art to banners and shows 35:00 – Collaboration with Joshua Clay on interior lighting 37:00 – Sound design and matching tones with gameplay 39:00 – Ghost box visibility and player height testing 41:00 – Apron redesign and printed numbering choice 43:00 – Integrating sculptures with flat plastics 45:00 – Logo design and Blake’s contribution 47:00 – Wooden layered artwork and Hitchcock piece 49:00 – How pinball collaboration changed Brad’s approach 51:00 – Jeff explains the origin of the Great Pyramid 53:00 – Brad plugs his store and social handles 55:00 – Audience Q&A and Barrels of Fun transparency 57:00 – Complimenting the game’s UI and darker screen art 59:00 – Final thanks and discussion of Brad’s machines 61:00 – 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/dirtypoolpinball 00:00:00 – Introducing Eric Priepke and the brains behind Winchester’s code 00:01:07 – Falling into pinball from early computer life and ISP work 00:03:22 – Color DMD days and the puzzle-solving mindset that shaped him 00:05:50 – From Cactus Canyon rewrite to meeting Scott Danesi at Expo 00:07:29 – How Spooky Pinball led to Barrels of Fun and Rick and Morty 00:08:41 – Keeping passion alive when creative work becomes a job 00:09:52 – Transitioning from Dune to Winchester and tackling room logic 00:12:21 – Inside the Mission Pinball Framework and its pros and limits 00:14:52 – Making complex lighting and display code work efficiently 00:16:55 – Open-source curiosity vs. licensed reality – why code stays closed 00:18:44 – Lighting design teamwork with Trent and crafting attract modes 00:20:08 – Power efficiency tricks using RGBW LEDs and white channels 00:21:22 – Texture memory juggling for dual displays and transparency limits 00:24:10 – Taming the turntable – how to spin safely without chaos 00:26:49 – First seeing Winchester fully dressed at Expo and initial awe 00:28:24 – Balancing updates across Labyrinth, Dune, and Winchester 00:29:58 – How good is Eric at pinball? (And Jeff’s scale of doom) 00:31:00 – Tall people, low doorways, and genetic pinball theories 00:33:06 – Why both hate video modes and love mechanical mini-games 00:35:10 – Handling airballs and impossible switch orders in real pinball 00:38:09 – Lighting philosophy – purposeful, not constant spectacle 00:39:39 – Spirit Energy mode – turning a multiplier into a sensory moment 00:45:00 – How audio collaboration reshaped Barrels’ internal workflow 00:46:20 – Learning the audio side – Eric on trusting Jeff’s instincts 00:47:24 – David Van Es drops in – team gratitude and Expo reflections 00:48:19 – Coding empathy – making early gameplay rewarding for everyone 00:50:05 – Advice for coders who want to cross into pinball 00:51:04 – Hidden features still to come – yes, more flashers are coming 00:53:13 – 3 000 plays later – feedback loops and show-floor lessons 00:54:23 – Dune’s quiet comeback – how word of mouth changed minds 00:56:02 – Running down Eric’s 12-game collection in 30 seconds flat 00:59:35 – The Raven thing... 01:00:46 – Would he rather own Raven or Bone Busters? The answer burns bridges 01:01:35 – 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/dirtypoolpinball 00:00:00 - Cold open and the idea behind “Meet the Team…” 00:01:02 - Introducing Joshua Clay and his creative role 00:02:11 - Why the Winchester Mystery House fits pinball perfectly 00:03:05 - From Dune’s desert to Winchester’s hallways: shifting tone 00:04:09 - Building rooms from reference photos and architectural plans 00:05:02 - How to give each room personality through 3D lighting 00:06:17 - Modeling tricks learned from gaming UI projects 00:07:25 - Adapting mobile design instincts to pinball readability 00:08:13 - The rotating turntable—what it adds to the gameplay experience 00:09:04 - Getting motion and texture right on the spinning floor 00:10:27 - Collaboration between 3D art and mechanical design 00:11:18 - Music, sound, and visuals syncing across modes 00:12:35 - Ghost shader experiments and the “spectral fog” look 00:14:10 - The eerie charm of the planchette animation 00:15:39 - Why Winchester’s visual tone avoids clichés of “haunted” games 00:16:53 - Giving players orientation through UI glow and camera framing 00:18:05 - Why the team went pre-rendered instead of real-time 00:19:12 - Tools of the trade—Blender pipelines, lighting templates, and asset reuse 00:20:26 - Voice-over direction and the concept of a haunted tour guide 00:22:01 - Early concepts that didn’t make the cut (and why) 00:23:15 - Using color cues for different areas of the mansion 00:25:07 - The challenge of layering UI over a busy playfield 00:27:14 - When readability trumps realism in pinball design 00:29:46 - Working with Karl DeAngelo to balance clarity and mystery 00:32:02 - Ghost animations that behave differently per room 00:34:10 - Special effects inspired by old horror films 00:36:20 - How shadows became storytelling devices 00:39:33 - Scene transitions that match game rhythm and music beats 00:42:18 - The evolution of the match sequence on the planchette 00:45:41 - Fine-tuning glow intensity for llighting 00:47:50 - Making each mode feel like its own short film 00:50:11 - Expo debut and reactions from players seeing the visuals live 00:53:06 - Last-minute bug hunts and shader optimizations 00:55:39 - Lessons learned moving from still renders to gameplay integration 00:58:12 - The emotional payoff: when the house feels alive 01:00:27 - What Joshua’s most proud of in the final build 01:03:19 - Looking ahead 01:05:46 - Closing reflections and the philosophy behind good pinball design 01:07:20 - 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 - Intro 00:22 - Barrels of Fun Game 3 - The Winchester Mystery House 01:00 - My role as the composer and sound designer 01:17 - Minchester 01:25 - 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 Sound 04:40 - 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 tutorial 10:11 - 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 Things 15:02 - "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/dirtypoolpinball 00:00:00 - Introduction and welcoming Rob Berk to the podcast 00:04:00 - Early Expo vendors and Fun Games arcade connections 00:08:00 - The passion and drive behind running Expo 00:12:00 - Walking through the Pinball Expo website details 00:16:00 - Expo growth with vendor numbers rising past 50 booths 00:20:00 - Touring Rob’s warehouse and sharing collector stories 00:24:00 - Massive support from collectors and community impact 00:28:00 - Researching and inviting special guests for Expo talks 00:32:00 - Audience experiences sitting up front at Expo events 00:36:00 - The growing pinball hobby and new industry participants 00:40:00 - Stories of transporting machines and parts by plane 00:44:00 - Global connections and fans supporting Expo remotely 00:48:00 - The Fireside Chat format and sharing stories on stage 00:52:00 - Highlights on rare games like Twilight Zone and streaming mentions 00:56:00 - Encouragement for attendees to make the trip to Expo 01:00:00 - Final reflections and closing questions for Rob Berk 01:04:00 - Wrapping up plugs and acknowledgments for Expo 01:06:00 - 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/dirtypoolpinball 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:16 - Welcoming Tom Graf and his Fox Cities story 00:04:24 - Streaming local leagues and the jump to District 82 00:07:50 - Staying calm when internet crashes during tournaments 00:11:32 - The art of keeping players zen on stream 00:15:49 - Building a reputation for chill tournament directing 00:19:32 - How rules knowledge shapes smooth event management 00:23:32 - Behind the curtain when streams and rulings collide 00:26:42 - Sharing lessons learned from streaming mishaps 00:29:53 - Dealing with machines breaking mid-competition without panic 00:33:32 - Why transparency and fairness matter for all players 00:37:41 - Talking through rulings instead of escalating tension 00:41:08 - Creating a tournament culture where players feel supported 00:44:50 - Learning to balance competing roles as player and TD 00:49:05 - The unique vibe of Wisconsin’s pinball scene 00:52:12 - How streaming shaped Tom’s approach to directing tournaments 00:55:47 - The Fox Cities community and keeping events accessible 00:59:30 - What makes a truly memorable tournament experience 01:03:12 - Future goals streaming directing and personal balance 01:07:00 - 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/dirtypoolpinball 00:00 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/dirtypoolpinball 00:00:00 - Intro and Rainbow Lights Flashing 00:01:00 - Meeting Mark Seiden at Jersey Jack Pinball 00:03:00 - Early Pinball Memories and First Games 00:06:00 - From Homebrew Roots to JJP 00:09:00 - Building Games Before Going Public 00:12:00 - Making the Leap to Professional Design 00:15:00 - Design Philosophy and Inspirations 00:18:00 - Avatar Pinball - Translating the Movie 00:21:00 - Challenges Bringing Avatar to Life 00:24:00 - Layout, Shots, and Player Flow 00:27:00 - Balancing Rules with Theme Integration 00:30:00 - Teamwork and Collaboration at JJP 00:33:00 - Rainbow Lighting and Immersive Design 00:36:00 - Work on Elton John Pinball 00:39:00 - Spectacle Versus Gameplay Flow 00:42:00 - Lessons Learned and Future Projects 00:45:00 - Reflections on Pinball Design 00:48:00 - Community Questions and Interaction 01:00:40 - 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.org Twitch.tv/austinpinballcollective IG: @austinpinballcollective austinpinballcollective@gmail.com Trophies! IG: @bexbexbexrex Fliptronic Streaming IG: @fliptronicatx twitch.tv/fliptronic Belles & Chimes Austin IG: @bellesandchimesaustin 🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid: 📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball 📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball 📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball 📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:10 - Custom Pinball Trophies 00:03:29 - Starting the Austin Pinball Collective 00:06:56 - Volunteering Stories in Pinball 00:12:08 - Challenges of Running Collectives 00:16:18 - How Arcades Fit Into the Scene 00:19:31 - Creative Designs for Trophies 00:22:10 - Pinball Leagues and Community Growth 00:28:19 - Trophy Design Process and Materials 00:33:18 - Lessons From Organizing Events 00:39:45 - Plugging Community Resources 00:43:00 - Keeping a Collective Inclusive 00:46:09 - League Play Highlights 00:54:33 - Talking About Pinball Expo 01:00:55 - Advice for Starting a Collective 01:05:55 - 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/dirtypoolpinball 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:40 - @teppinball Top, @stumblor Bottom 00:01:01 - The Origins of TEP. 00:02:16 - First Topper? Twilight Zone 00:05:10 - 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 Tap 00:20:00 - 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 REVEAL 00:27:12 - 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/dirtypoolpinball 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:30 - It's Kyle! 00:01:30 - Kyle's a gamer 00:03:50 - 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 period 00:15:37 - Online tutorial videos, pros and cons 00:19:28 - Whats the most fascinating pinball mech you've rebuilt? 00:20:41 - Pinball engineering needs to be simple 00:22:16 - 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 pinball 00:34:45 - Roger Sharpe still brings it at local tournaments 00:36:05 - "Survivor games" 00:38:59 - Do renovated games lose their soul? 00:41:35 - Arcades responsibility round 2 00:43:22 - Arcades also need to make money 00:47:10 - Desert island ... 1 pin... what is it? 00:48:15 - Deadpool's colorful history 00:50:26 - Kong and Godzilla BFF's like NBA fastbreak? 00:51:00 - Oh boy... lets talk Insider Connected 00:54:15 - IC ideas 00:57:00 - Pinball designers are trying to make the best possible game 00:57:35 - Don't be a bad pinball person 00:58:15 - 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 games 01:03:48 - How many hats do people wear at Stern? 01:06:27 - Rapid fire round of questions. 01:07:30 - @IEPinball also doesn't like TOTAN 01:08:00 - Lets talk about game length playtime 01:09:10 - 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 Questions 01:16:10 - 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 not 01:25:40 - 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 history 01:31:00 - The Raven thing... 01:31:40 - Kyle Spiteri officially confirms Stern's next remake is Raven 01:32:36 - Thank you Kyle this has been awesome. 01:33:40 - Kyle Spiteri officially confirms Stern's next remake is Raven 01:34:36 - 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