Dirtypool Pinball - PODCAST - An Exploration Of The Pinball Industry

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

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

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/dirtypoolpinball 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:26 - Meet Manu! 00:01:28 - Secret Vpin Project? / Pincredibles 00:02:55 - Virtual Pinball is made from real components now. 00:05:05 - Vpin vs. Real pins (Varkon?) 00:06:00 - Bonus Shatz Story 00:08:20 - The Origin of Manu's Vpin 00:11:15 - Vpin Cabinet Showcase 00:12:46 - Can you play a Vpin on location? 00:14:45 - Check out the mpt3k discord (https://discord.gg/fxFjFK2Q) for more help on Vpins 00:14:56 - 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 handshakes 00:26:24 - What goes into a Vpin 00:32:10 - Homebrew Vpin to Homebrew Pin... pin 00:35:24 - Sterns Pinball Arcade 00:37:55 - 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 FX 00:54:00 - Riffing on movies live on twitch with @MysteryPinballTheater3000 00:56:35 - Manu's advice on how to find your own niche as a streamer 01:02:13 - It's the Raven thing. 01:03:00 - Worst game ever? Thunder-something 01:04:00 - The difference between good bad, and bad bad 01:06:30 - 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 CAX 01:18:18 - 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/mpt3k 01:20:30 - 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 - Intro 00:00:30 - Hello Paris Pinball Addict. 00:01:00 - Topics For The Podcast! 00:03:10 - Why Pinball Needs 'Ambassadors' 00:03:50 - Shut Up Laundry 00:04:10 - Guillaume works in market analysis. 00:05:00 - Pinball History Lesson 00:06:40 - Speaking Freely About Pinball Marketing / PR Background 00:08:50 - What's Wrong With Pinball Marketing 00:17:00 - 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 Machine 00:32:40 - 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 Fun 00:41:10 - 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 launch 01:16:04 - ⁨@NudgeMagazine has entered the chat 01:18:34 - Is announcing games more complicated than it seems? 01:22:44 - Teaser / Trailer 1 / Trailer 2 / Release. 01:27:49 - Code updates need transparency 01:28:51 - @sternpinballinc pulling the plug on @DEADFLIP 's update about xmen 01:31:35 - ⁨IP purchasing is a limited timeframe 01:35:14 - Pinball criticism on design needs to have a constructive foundation 01:40:25 - Adding ballsaves is not how to fix design problems 01:45:35 - Stand up against predatory DLC monetization 01:49:21- Locking content behind expensive toppers is ... awful 01:52:50 - 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/dirtypoolpinball 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:15 - 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 Technique 00:05:45 - Running an Arcade Business 00:07:21 - "Barcade" Trademark 00:10:00 - Booze On Top Of Pinball 00:11:48 - Where'd The Name Come From? 00:13:45 - Electric Bat Podcast Loves To Be Transparent and Honest About Business 00:16:00 - Earnings Info Helping The Manufacturers? 00:19:35 - Most Important Thing an Arcade Can Do... 00:21:16 - Chat Questions 00:23:00 - Pinball For Everyone 00:26:20 - How Does Booze Work at @electricbatarcade 00:28:15 - Repairing Pinball Machines / Cale @ Marco Specialties 00:30:43 - 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 People 00:45:00 - Cursed Game? It's Galactic Tank Force 00:51:49 - Whats The Modern Way To Handle Customer Service For a Manufacturer 00:54:15 - Kiko the Cat / Pinball Tech 00:59:58 - How To Be a Good Customer / Manufacturers Need To Be Better 01:01:35 - It's Ok To Be Frustrated, Channel It Right. 01:06:00 - Serge, The Ultimate Pinball Commentator 01:08:00 - Memorizing Pi in the Wildest Way 01:12:00 - How To Learn Pinball Repair 01:18:35 - Choosing To Be A Great Experience Over Making Money 01:20:55 - Chat Questions 2 01:22:30 - Don't Be Afraid To Get Involved With Tournaments 01:27:25 - Donuts? 01:27:35 - Pinball Is About People 01:28:25 - 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/dirtypoolpinball 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:14 - Hello! 00:00:35 - Daniel Janson 00:01:31 - Confirmed? Future 80's Action Themed Pins Coming? 00:02:03 - Alien and Predator - BFF's 00:03:01 - Predator Clicking Sounds... LIVE! 00:03:41 - Art and Collaboration at Pinball Brothers 00:07:40 - Lets Talk Wide Bodies 00:08:45 - Does Predator Eat The Ball? 00:09:30 - Predator Is The Main Character 00:11:00 - The Predator Sculpt is All Original, Not a Toy 00:12:30 - How Do You Handle Lighting a Widebody? 00:14:00 - @fastpinball Boards 00:15:10 - 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 Community 00:25:41 - Alien and Predator IP's Came From The Same Licensor 00:26:12 - Chat Questions! 00:28:00 - Thanks for the raid @DRI374 00:28:45 - Games Ship August 00:29:31- Tariffs 00:30:15 - 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 Movie 00:44:40 - Rules and Modes Logic 00:48:16 - 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 Support 00:57:57 - For The Predator Fans 00:58:10 - Distributors Available on Pinball Brother's Website 00:59:15 - 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

We head south to San Antonio to talk to Tony, the owner of What’s Brewing, a coffee roastery that also happens to double as a pinball arcade. We get into the grind of running two very different scenes under one roof, from roasting beans to repairing flippers, and how a city like San Antonio shaped the culture of both. Turns out, coffee people and pinball people might just be the same weirdos. 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 - Surprise Pyramid Praising 00:01:05 - Where What's Brewing Came From 00:04:25 - What To Do In A Tornado / Emergency Info 00:07:18 - Pinball Enters What's Brewing 00:11:50 - Exotic Fruit and "The Nerd Tree" 00:14:45 - Pinball On Location Doesn't Make Money 00:17:16 - Chat Asks About Pinball 'named' Coffee 00:19:41 - Where do you acquire beans? 00:23:26 - What's up @CoffeeFlipper4 ! 00:23:51 - Lets talk poop coffee. (Yes Seriously) 00:29:21 - Lets break down coffee types. 00:38:00 - How Coffee is Roasted 00:45:46 - Jar Jar killed Pinball... temporarily 00:49:21 - Have you converted pinball non-believers? 00:51:41 - Booze at a roastery? Sure? 00:55:21 - What's Brewing Tournaments Have Diverse Games 00:57:41 - @sternpinballinc Release Tiers... 01:01:23 - Back When You Could Get Pins For Cheap 01:04:23 - Don't Trust Your Cable Colors. 01:08:00 - The Pinball Experience is Interactive and Challenging 01:13:11 - Remakes Feel Different... Doesn't Every Game Feel Different? 01:19:52 - Day Off Interview? Tony Says Some Nice Things To Me. 01:22:22 - Pinball For All Types Of People 01:23:12 - Drink Spills and Coffee Pinball Aroma. 01:26:31 - Pinball Innovation / Pinball Golden Age 01:30:21 - Completed Code? 01:33:51 - Small Companies Grow Smart 01:35:21 - Barry O's! 01:36:41 - What's Brewing Events 01:39:21 - Big Screen Dirty Pool?! 01:41:21 - Bye! #DirtyPoolPinball #PinballPodcast #WhatsBrewingSA #PinballArcade #PinballLife #CoffeeAndPinball #TexasPinball #SanAntonioArcade #PinballCulture #PinballTalk #CoffeeRoasterLife #ArcadeVibes #PinballCommunity #PinballMachines #ArcadeInterview #PinballHistory #RoasteryAndArcade #RetroGaming #LatteAndLockbar #PinballInterview #FlipperFreaks #PinballScene #CoffeeAndGames

Davey from Stumblor joins Dirty Pool to discuss how one of the most respected names in pinball modding became a quiet powerhouse. Twitch – https://twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball YouTube – https://youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball Instagram – https://instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball Facebook – https://facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball Known for high-end, limited-run mods for machines like Godzilla, Jaws, and Elton John, Stumblor has built a reputation for precision engineering, lighting effects that don’t feel like an afterthought, and an aesthetic that leans more toward sculptural design than simple add-ons. We talk through his full creative process—from initial idea to final shipment—and cover topics like what makes a game “worth modding,” and why some projects never make it out of the prototype phase. Davey also discusses community feedback, and testing challenges. Also included: the origin of the name "Stumblor!" 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:01 - Oops 00:00:07 - Actual Opening 00:00:18 - Davey / Stumblor Mods! 00:02:30 - Are Mod Makers Making Manufacturers Leave Out Components? 00:05:51 - The First Mod... Creature. 00:11:12 - Godzilla. 00:12:58 - The First Pinside Post That Launched Stumblor. 00:16:58 - Stumblor Website Breaks My Audio 00:20:00 - Where The Ideas For Mods Come From 00:20:52 - Elton John Sign 00:25:02 - Where Are You From? 00:26:41- Pin2DMD 00:29:21- PinMAME 00:32:00 - Stumblor Homebrew? 00:35:45 - Customer Emails / Customer Service 00:36:40 - The Customer Is Not Always Right 00:39:40- Tinkering Is Part Of Pinball 00:40:59 - @teppinball Plug and Upcoming Kong Mod / The Process 00:45:36 - Mod Making Is Art and Mechanical 00:48:51- Talking Materials 00:52:41- How to update Stumblor Mods to the new App 00:54:34 - Relationship With @dutchpinball 00:55:45 - What Deeproot Was... 01:01:20 - Manufacturers Not Collaborating With Mod Makers 01:06:46 - Dutch Pinball's Alice 01:08:14 - The Pinwalk and @InBeforetheLock 01:09:00 - How To Get Ahold of @stumblor 01:09:30 - The Raven Joke... 01:12:56 - TNA will take you to town. 01:16:20 - BTTF... 01:18:00 - Evil Dead @SpookyPinball 's Best Game 01:22:30 - 90's Pinball Style 01:23:48 - Where did the name Stumblor come from?? (Of course it's the Simpsons.) 01:27:20 - Next Stumblor Mod? ... Jurassic Park 01:29:20 - Tour of the workshop (Davey's Muted Adventure) 01:29:51- I Poorly Try To Fill In 01:30:46- DAAAVEEEEEEYYY 01:30:57- Schwarzenegger Tour 01:31:20 - Explaining Whats Going On For The Audio Only Podcast Peeps. 01:33:57 - Davey Returns 01:36:20 - Pin2DMD Oversized Mod For Classics 01:39:00 - Logistics for Assembly 01:45:23 - Pinball Is About Memories 01:47:10 - Raid / Outro 01:47:55 - BYE! #StumblorMods #PinballInterview #DirtyPoolPinball #PinballMods #GodzillaPinball #JawsPinball #EltonJohnPinball #PinballDesign #SternPinball #JerseyJackPinball #SpookyPinball #DutchPinball #TurnerPinball #PinballMachine #RetroGaming #ModdingMasters #PinballCommunity #CustomPinball #ArcadeCulture #PinballAddict #PinballArt #MakerCulture #LightingDesign #PinballTalk #CultOfTheScoop

This week’s guest has a lot to say—and somehow says it all without moving his lips. We get into pinball, performance art, and the unique acoustics of Logan Arcade. Let’s just say this one might take flight in unexpected directions. 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:15 - What Are You? 00:02:32 - Did I Pay Chad? ... No. 00:03:30 - Bi-coastal? Bi-Polar. 00:04:00 - All Natural Pink 00:05:50 - Go Follow @BillLarkin 00:06:05 - Comedy Monologue vs. Improv 00:09:00 - Manic Panic?! 00:09:14 - Which Font Is Better 00:10:30 - Chad's Diet And Bowel Problems / Solutions 00:11:42 - Do You Pay Taxes? 00:12:26 - Chad's Font? 00:12:42 - @LoganArcade !! 00:13:41 - Chad Loves Pinball 00:14:20 - Lets Talk ⁨@pinballexpo2540⁩ 'Pinball Expo'! 00:15:30 - Little Kong Talk... 00:17:13 - Harry Potter Hype Videos... The Industry Needs To Change It Up. 00:17:44 - #Onlybirds 00:18:17 - 97% Of Birds... Don't Have Dongs. 00:19:57 - Happy Birthday George Gomez! ⁨@sternpinballinc⁩ 00:21:27 - Lets Talk Pinball Classic Voice Over 00:23:10 - Sensitive Ears? 00:24:18 - Bird In Chicago = Good At Booze 00:26:47 - Chicago Is The Heart Of Pinball 00:27:16 - Barry O's Isn't A Bad Game - Burned Birds... 00:28:40 - The Booming Pinball Business? 00:30:32 - Stern Needs To Add Side Lights To LE's 00:32:28 - Star Wars Jizz. (The Music) 00:34:12 - Fresh Ass Bees. 00:36:25 - Need More Flair. 00:40:30 - Toppers... Unnecessary 00:42:00 - Galloping Ghost and Other Hot Spots 00:46:20 - Jack Danger Makes Cool Games. Also No Code :( 00:47:50 - Chad Says LCD Playfield is the Future of Pinball 00:49:30 - Jurassic Park Home Edition... Underrated Gem 00:51:14 - Pinball is Already Perfect 00:53:00 - Chad Knows His Sh.tuff 00:54:00 - Chads Underrated Game List 00:55:00 - Need ⁨@johnnycrap1⁩ to Help us Pronounce Stuff 00:56:00 - Finding Old Games On Location In Great Condition 00:57:15 - There's A Porn Pinball Machine?? Why!? 00:59:48 - The Raven Gag. 01:01:40 - MFK Pinball 01:06:08 - Chad Doesn't Like Jaws... What an Idiot 01:08:00 - My DnD is an Expensive Lamp 01:11:00 - Pun Daddy SignoutDk Makes Jokes 01:11:25 - GnR is TOO LOUD 01:15:00 - Clay Pigeon Stuff 01:17:58 - Chad Stuff Going On! 01:20:41 - Bye! #DirtyPoolPodcast #DirtyPoolPinball #PinballInterview #MysteryGuest #LoganArcade #PinballCommunity #PinballCulture #ArcadePodcast #PinballTalk #RetroGaming #CultOfPinball #BehindTheFlippers #PinballLore #PinballMedia #PinballObsessed #PodcastVibes #IlluminatiApproved #SomewhatMysteryGuest #BirdAdjacent #ArcadeLife

David Van Es joins us to talk about launching Barrels of Fun, building a creative-first pinball company, and the wild process behind their debut game Labyrinth. With Dune now on the line, we dig into how his background in film and licensing feeds into game development—and why the second act might be even more ambitious than the first. 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:52 - David Flips The Tables. Why Did Dirty Pool Start Streaming... 00:02:05 - David's History In Film and TV 00:04:30 - Working for 2 decades before Pinball 00:05:12 - David's Years at @SpookyPinball 00:08:15 - First Game Purchase after returning to the hobby... Tales From The Crypt 00:11:44 - The Birth of @BoFPinball 00:13:45 - Pinball is package of Experiences like a film 00:16:08 - The Creative Process Comes From Problem Solving 00:17:31 - How Does BoF approach the building blocks of an IP 00:19:08 - The People That Work At BoF Are Appreciated 00:21:28 - Do What You Love First and The Money Will Follow 00:22:08 - The Creative Process Comes From Problem Solving 00:22:22 - What Are Some Things in Labrynth That Were a Challenge 00:25:12 - Are BoF Games Good for Operators 00:26:08 - Storytelling First 00:27:32 - Do the Flippers Really Feel Different on a BoF game? 00:28:28 - Karl @IEPinball is sick so we're going to talk about him 00:29:20 - David's Worst Outlanes in History 00:30:00 - Chat Questions - Is Labrynth too Hard (7.5 degree incline!) 00:31:20 - How To Onboard New Pin Owners 00:33:30 - Every Pin is Unique and Needs Unique Tweaking 00:34:20 - Seriously Labrynth is supposed to be at 7.5 degrees. 00:34:41 - Details on a Pinball Machine Matter 00:36:58 - Data East Star Wars was David's First Experience in Pinball 00:41:13 - Chat Questions - Dune Code Regrets? 00:42:00 - Collaboration With a Licensor is Key 00:45:02 - "Cinematic Experience" 00:46:28 - Mode Stacking and Dune 00:48:02 - BoF Listens To Feedback 00:51:09 - Why Did You Make Dune? 00:56:05 - Pick an IP you have Access to Assets for. 00:56:30 - What Isn't In Dune? 00:57:02 - How Acquiring Assets Works 00:58:33 - New Callouts and Characters Coming to Dune 00:58:55 - How Do Licensors Get Paid From Pinball Sales? 01:01:02 - Is Dune Hitting Sales Expectations? 01:02:32 - Dune is $1000 more... why? 01:04:18 - HAL Lighting System is actually pretty Awesome. 01:02:32 - Dune is $1000 more... why? 01:05:54 - Dune Demands Bass 01:09:04 - Why Aren't There a Lot Of Mods For BoF Games? 01:10:04 - A World Under Glass 01:10:26 - Flinstones Best Rocks? 01:11:04 - BoF pinball machines have unique ball paths. 01:11:31 - The Worm Looks Like a Prolapsed Anus. 01:12:29 - If We Can Suck It Down... We Can Rise It Up! 01:13:27 - The Worm is a COMPLEX mech 01:18:00 - Talking Dune Experience 01:20:04 - Growing Barrels of Fun and International Shipping 01:22:33 - Manufacturers want to get your game to you ASAP 01:24:58 - Warrantees and Consumers 01:25:25 - How To Warranty A Machine That Kills Itself 01:25:39 - BoF Confirms Next Game is Conan - The Barbarian (Not really but not a bad idea!) 01:31:15 - Chat Wants 5th Element 01:32:30 - Backglass Give Away! Congrats Jbiscuity 01:34:02 - Lets Talk Alternate Backglasses 01:34:39 - I don't Want to Look at Timothy Chale-mutt. 01:34:51 - Accessories for Dune and Timelines 01:36:37 - Googly Eyes and @electricbatarcade 01:37:15 - David Goes To Show Off Topper - Self Dirty Pool Plug Intermission 01:37:45 - Topper! 01:39:30 - Support All Smaller Pinball Companies... @BoFPinball @SpookyPinball @dutchpinball @PinballBrothers @pedrettigaming388 01:40:28 - Got an Idea for Bof? Here's How To Get In Touch 01:41:00 - Factory Tour? Just Ask! 01:41:19 - What's Houston Like? 01:44:19 - Making Playfields In House? 01:46:10 - Outro? 01:47:04 - Bye. #DirtyPoolPinball #DPPP #PinballPodcast #BarrelsofFun #LabyrinthPinball #DunePinball #DavidVanEs #PinballDesign #PinballBusiness #ModernPinball #PinballLife #SternPinball #JerseyJackPinball #SpookyPinball #DutchPinball #TurnerPinball #PinballCEO #PinballTalk #BehindTheFlippers #PinballCommunity #PinballMachines #PinballProduction

Talking pinball lifestyle and punk rock with Ian Jacoby, founder of Nudge,a print only pinball magazine that’s flipping the bird to digital trend. We dig into why print still matters, the aesthetics of rebellion, and the dedicated art of saying no to AI.. 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:16 - Welcome! 00:00:58 - Jeff May Introduced Me To Nudge @heytherejeffro 00:01:52 - Ian's Pinball Lifestyle 00:02:41 - Lets Breakdown What Makes a Good Room 00:04:00 - Nudge Has a Company That Handles Shipping Now 00:04:51 - Nudge Issue 5... Soon? 00:05:20 - A Print Mag In The World Of Digital Publication 00:06:36 - The Origins Of Nudge 00:07:58 - Covid Created Nudge 00:08:46 - One Nice Thing About Ian (According To A Fan) 00:09:12 - Give Tracey Her Magazine Dude 00:09:45 - Is The Magazine a Creative Extension Of You? 00:11:30 - Contributors and Nudge Magazine, It Takes a Village 00:13:00 - How Do You Approve Submitted Content? 00:14:38 - Another Godzilla Artwork Critique 00:15:12 - Alternate Pinball Editions? Spearmint Edition? Cream Edition? 00:15:42 - "Tandy Computer Cream" 00:16:56 - Ian The Musician - Laarks 00:17:51 - Record Labels and Evolution 00:19:41 - Dirty Pool Makes Music feat. Ian's Voicemail 00:20:30 - Don't Send Me Voice Messages Unless You Want Weird Songs 00:21:00 - The AI Elephant In The Room / What Is Art 00:25:08 - Being a Creator Is a Lot of Work 00:26:57 - Ian Unfollows AI Creators 00:27:15 - Focus On Your Own Creations, Not What Others Think 00:28:10 - Don't Chase Followers 00:30:16 - Pinball People Will Resonate With Honest Content 00:31:28 - Nudge Is Unique / Also @kineticist and @knapparcade7590 As News Sources 00:32:51 - Doc Monday and the Pinball Help Hotline Number 00:36:18 - Pinball Prayer? 00:37:10 - Alcohol and Phones ... BFFs 00:37:36 - Cult You Say!? DPP Approved 00:37:55 - Nudge's First Print w/ tpetch.com 00:38:55 - This Is Not Nudge's Website 00:39:51 - Chat Questions 00:40:26 - Divisible Error Shoutout 00:40:50 - Important Discussion About Kong's Member 00:41:30 - It's Kong Dong 00:41:57 - We Talk The History Of Kong - 00:43:06 - "I Don't Like This At All" 00:45:34 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T-d4qgpqBQ&t=6445s - Excellent Stream 00:45:50 - Lets Talk Photography 00:52:41 - F/M/K - Em's / SS / Modern 00:54:04 - Yea It's the Raven Question... You knew it'd be here. 00:55:21 - Give Ian a Call Anytime to Ask About Raven 00:55:49 - What's The Best Part Of Portland? 00:58:27 - Do Arcades Have a Responsibility to Operate Classics? 00:59:13 - Arcades Need To Make Money To Operate Older Games 01:00:15 - Hipster? No... Pipster! 01:03:37 - Art, Engineering and Pinball 01:03:42 - Get Shocked 01:05:22 - Don't Be Afraid To F-Up 01:08:24 - Creating An Issue Of Nudge 01:10:28 - What's It Like To Finish An Issue Creatively... And Emotionally 01:14:00 - Nudge Is A Family 01:16:27 - Pinball Table Vs. Pinball Machine 01:17:27 - Being An Operator Is Hard Work 01:18:47 - Ian Gives Dirty Pool a Shoutout 01:19:52 - Don't Be a Bad Pinball Person - Tyler White (Good Pinball Person) Shoutout 01:21:14 - Ian Supports Toxic Pinball (no not really) 01:22:20 - Go To Star Tropics Pinball Museum 01:22:50 - Don't Do This... 01:23:40 - Outro 01:24:44 - Bonus - Voicemail Song Part 2 #DirtyPoolPinball #DPPP #NudgeMagazine #PinballCulture #PrintIsNotDead #PinballZines #PinballMedia #PinballPodcast #PunkRockPinball #PinballArt #ZineCulture #RetroMedia #IanJacoby #AlternativePublishing #PinballLifestyle #DIYCulture #DirtyPoolPodcast #IndependentPublishing #ZineScene #PinballCollective #UndergroundPrint #PaperOverPixels #IndiePinball #PinballDesign #PinballPress #NoToAI #AnalogForever

From tagging as ZEN in Montreal’s graffiti scene to illustrating Jurassic Park, Dune, and Labyrinth for Stern and Barrels of Fun—Johnny Crap has carved a path through art that’s anything but ordinary. In this episode, we trace Jonathan Bergeron’s evolution from punk-fueled muralist to in-demand illustrator, designing merch for Slayer and Guns N’ Roses before getting hooked on pinball. He shares his creative process, the challenge of keeping his voice intact while working with major licenses, and what it really takes to bring his distinct aesthetic into the world of modern pinball machines. 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:36 - How To Pronounce Bergeron Correctly 00:01:16 - Punk and Graffiti Background 00:02:36 - Old School Skateboarding 00:04:12 - Graffiti? Start em' Young! 00:05:00 - Who Is Zen? 00:06:05 - Art For Local Bands 00:07:25 - Art For Pinball 00:07:45 - David Bowie Rocks? 00:08:08 - Dune has a Labrynth Easter Egg. 00:09:29 - Intelligent Playfield Art Design 00:10:41 - Labrynth Had Much Of The Design Locked In 00:11:30 - Details On The Playfield By Hand 00:14:32 - Johnny Crap's Artwork Aprons Are Beautiful 00:14:50 - Designing The First Pinball Playfield (Not JP Home) 00:19:12 - Dune Alternate Backglass? 00:19:47 - What's It Like Designing Band Merch For Metal Legends. 00:23:14 - Differences Between Art and Pinball Art Design 00:24:30 - Working As A Team 00:26:10 - Involving Yourself With The Community 00:27:02 - What's Your Favorite Game. 00:28:11 - What It's Like To Be A Bad Pinball Player Like @BrassLeagueGaming 00:28:46 - The Importance Of Down Time 00:30:00 - Pinball Events As A Creator 00:31:00 - Creative Reset 00:31:45 - Fine Art World Is Not For Everyone 00:32:37 - "I Like To Paint Garbage" 00:33:44 - Can A Playfield Art Be 'too busy' 00:37:10 - Intelligent Playfield Art Design Pt2 00:37:55 - Dune and 3D Playfield Design 00:39:19 - Computer To Wood, Do All Ideas Translate? 00:40:36 - When Is a Project Done 00:42:00 - Understanding Pinball and Making Designs Reflect That 00:43:06 - Chat Questions 00:43:18 - Critique Of hired_goons17 'fine art' 00:43:41 - Great Alternate Backglass For Godzilla 00:44:10 - Constructive Criticism In Pinball 00:45:19 - What's The Timeline For Artwork Production? 00:47:01 - Dream Theme That You Would Do? (It's CONAN!) 00:49:50 - Lets Talk Multimorphic! 00:52:37 - What Is Best In Life? 00:54:00 - Lets Talk Traditional Painting 00:55:05 - More Chat Questions? 00:55:25 - Multiple Backglass Releases Is It Annoying? 00:57:00 - Pinball LCD Graphics, and Layered Art Assets... Why Is There a Disconnect? 00:58:20 - Is a Cohesive Art Package Important? 00:59:18 - Everyone has an oPINion. 01:01:15 - More Pinball Competition Betwenn Companies Is a Good Thing 01:02:40 - No Bad Games, Just Games You Wouldn't Own 01:04:47 - Turquiose 01:05:47 - Thank You Jonathan! #DirtyPoolPinball #JohnnyCrap #JonathanBergeron #PinballArt #DunePinball #LabyrinthPinball #JurassicParkPinball #PinballDesign #GraffitiArtist #PunkArt #BandMerch #SkateCulture #LowbrowArt #ArcadeArt #ComicArt #PinballCulture #BackglassArt #DirtyPoolPodcast #PinballInterview #UndergroundArt #ArtProcess #ArtistLife #StreetArt #DesignJourney #CreativeFreedom #CultOfPinball #PinballPeople

What makes a pinball ruleset click? In this episode of the Dirty Pool Pinball Podcast, we’re joined by Bowen Kerins—rules designer at Barrels of Fun—to unpack how a game's structure comes together behind the glass. From early concepts to deep code layering, we talk about balancing challenge, flow, and accessibility. Bowen shares insights from his current work on Dune, along with stories from his days as a top tournament player and one of the first major pinball streamers. 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:30 - Bowen Kerins! 00:00:59 - The Origins Of Pinball Streaming 00:01:27 - Keith and Randy Elwin the First Pinball Camera 00:02:27 - No Pinball On Twitch 00:06:06 - Bowen the Mathematician 00:06:16 - Teaching Kids As A Gateway To Pinball Rules 00:09:22 - Is There a Perfect Classic Game Ruleset? 00:10:57 - How Artwork Guides The Player In Dune 00:11:45 - Start With A Grand Rule Idea and Build Backwards 00:12:56 - Do You Wait For The IP To Think Of Rules 00:14:22 - Rick and Morty as an Example 00:15:50 - Rolercoastersss Here's Your Question - Movie Modes and Order 00:18:49 - Multimorphic Final Resistance 00:19:32 - Dune Mode - Hunting For The Right Pitch 00:23:32 - Bowen Kerins Was On Who Wants To Be A Millionaire 00:26:07 - Bowen Kerins Designs Gameshow Math 00:27:46 - Deal Or No Deal Island... 00:30:46 - Oh Reddit. 00:31:55 - Pop Quiz w/ Courtney Cox 00:32:55 - Bowen has an Excellent Memory 00:34:42 - How Do You Get Into Gameshows? 00:36:38 - Back to Pinball? 00:37:54 - No, It's Still Talk About Deal Or No Deal Island... 00:41:07 - Actually Back to Pinball - New Code For Labrynth? 00:42:53 - When is a Game's Code Done? 00:45:20 - Dwight Sullivan, Legendary Programmer 00:48:00 - What's it Like Adding An Idea Into a Pinball Machine 00:49:51 - Giant Prolapsed Anus Worm 00:50:57 - A List of Pinball Machines With Butthole Shots 00:53:00 - Why Barrels Of Fun Games Are Awesome 00:54:50 - Dune and The Hidden Ways To Control The Ball 00:56:50 - Will The Worm Break? 00:57:36 - Barrels Includes a LOT for the Price. 00:58:56 - Are BoF Flipper Soft Or Is It In Your Head? 01:02:50 - Fun Vs. Scoring 01:04:00 - Talking Elwin Games 01:05:18 - Every Moment In A Pinball Machine Is Designed To Make The Player Feel Amazing 01:05:45 - Lynch Vs Dennis. 01:07:32 - Gem and the Holograms CONFIRMED 01:08:03 - Pinball Details Matter 01:10:03 - When Will The Final Wizard Modes Go In Dune... 01:10:28 - Zoom Dropout Ends. 01:12:12 - Are Games Coming Out Unfinished? 01:16:48 - Faith In A Company To Finish A Game's Code 01:20:00 - Which Of These 3 Games Would You Add To Your Collection? 01:20:45 - Is Thunderbirds Worse Than Raven? 01:21:42 - Thank You Bowen! #DirtyPoolPinball #DunePinball #BowenKerins #BarrelsOfFun #PinballRules #PinballDesign #PinballPodcast #PinballTalk #PinballCommunity #TournamentPinball #ModernPinball #GameDesign #PinballMachines #PinballCreators #PinballPeople #PinballStreaming #PinballHistory #ArcadeGaming #ArcadeCulture #DPPP #HomebrewPinball

Episode one of the Dirty Pool Podcast kicks off with Kineticist, the go-to news source for all things pinball. We dig into how the site got started, what it's like covering this wild hobby, and what stories aren’t getting told. A candid conversation about keeping the silverball press rolling. 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:45 - Colin Introduction 00:03:05 - What Is Kineticist? 00:04:21 - Pinball Map and the Ecosystem 00:04:57 - Writing with Voice in Pinball Media 00:06:35 - The Rush of Reviewing New Releases 00:07:55 - Visiting Pinball HQs 00:11:09 - IPs We Want to See as Pins 00:13:12 - Sentimental Pinball Favorites 00:13:45 - The Fifth Favorite Game Trap 00:14:05 - Unfinished Code in Modern Pinball 00:17:36 - Do Casual Players Even Notice? 00:18:32 - Colin’s Origin Story, Take Two 00:18:56 - Pursuing Pinball Full-Time 00:22:42 - The Myth of the Affordable Home Game 00:23:36 - Expectation vs. Reality for Home Pins 00:24:45 - Why Pinball Needs Transparent Updates 00:26:45 - Tim Sexton Leaves Stern 00:28:55 - Are Remasters Worth It? 00:29:48 - Are Remasters Still Worth It? 00:31:22 - Pinball Machines Aren't Stocks 00:33:40 - Does Creating A Job Around A Hobby Ruin The Hobby? 00:35:29 - Do You Play In Tournaments? 00:37:48 - This Person Is The Worst Pinball FX Player (Spoilers It's @Brassleague Gaming) 00:37:57 - Gatekeeping In Pinball... Stop It. 00:39:00 - Working On A Project That You Love That Gets No Views 00:40:04 - What The Hell Is A TWIP? 00:42:57 - If You're Making A News Site Here's A Tip 00:43:43 - Great Pyramid Attack 00:43:58 - Serious Talk About Community 00:44:18 - I Love Our Community At DirtyPool 00:44:53 - Freakouts At Tournaments 00:46:42 - Important Advice About Pinball Ownership 00:47:14 - Pinball Etiquette 00:49:30 - These Are Important Pinball Events To Go To 00:52:42 - Electric Bat Shoutout + Alarm For Twitch Ads 00:53:10 - How To Go To Your First Pinball Event 00:54:56 - The Most Important Question... 00:55:30 - Chat Questions and Outro #DirtyPoolPinball #DirtyPoolPodcast #Kineticist #PinballNews #Pinball #PinballCommunity #ArcadeCulture #PinballTalk #PinballMedia #RetroGaming #PinballWizard #PinballAddict #StreamingPinball #ClassicGaming #SilverballStories #ArcadeLife #GamingNostalgia #IlluminatiPinball