Dirtypool Pinball - PODCAST - An Exploration Of The Pinball Industry

Dirtypoolpinball

A somewhat grounded look at the people who actually make pinball happen. From game designers and tournament organizers to top players and studio heads, the D...

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20 episodes
Updated July 14

Episodes20

Newest first

July 14 · 1 hr 30 min
Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep36 - Pinball Clocks with Philippe Grégoire of Ayscrim Studios
▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj 🕰️ Ayscrim Studios 🛒 Website https://ayscrimstudios.com 📷 Instagram https://instagram.com/ayscrimstudios 📘 Facebook https://facebook.com/ayscrimstudios Philippe Grégoire is the owner of Ayscrim Studios, where he hand-builds officially licensed pinball clocks using artwork from classic machines and original collaborations with pinball / adjacent artists. We’ll talk about how a homemade Gottlieb Surf Champ score-reel clock grew into a fully licensed business, the engineering hidden inside each clock, working with original game artwork, and the strange process of building a creative niche inside an already very specific creative niche. Also how to bring these products to market and showing them at conventions to reveal the mystery behind the billion dollar lucrative business of pinball arts and crafts. /s The original clock documented on pinside: https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/gottlieb-score-reel-clock-project We’ll also get into the one-of-a-kind Great Pyramid clock Philippe made for Dirty Pool, complete with a moving eye that watches back. Pretty damn cool. 🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid: 📡 Twitch https://twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball 📺 YouTube https://youtube.com/@dirtypoolpinball 📷 Instagram https://instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball 📘 Facebook https://facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball 👕 Apparel https://www.dirtypoolpinball.com #pinball #dirtypoolpodcast #ayscrimstudios #pinballart #pinballcommunity #art #hobbyart
July 7 · 1 hr 25 min
Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep35 - Mike Vinikour | Designing Modern Pinball Rules
▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj Mike Vinikour (MXV) has had one of the more unusual careers in pinball. From testing games at Williams/Bally Midway during the arcade era, to competitive Mortal Kombat, to helping shape modern Stern Pinball software and rules, he's been involved with games from several different angles. In Episode 35 of the Dirty Pool Podcast, we'll be talking about Mike's path through the game industry, how rule design has evolved, balancing depth with accessibility, software testing, field testing, working with designers, the realities of developing modern Stern machines, and plenty of stories from both the arcade and pinball worlds. We'll also get into his photography, massive vinyl collection, and whatever unexpected rabbit holes the conversation decides to find. 🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid: 📡 Twitch https://twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball 📺 YouTube https://youtube.com/@dirtypoolpinball 📷 Instagram https://instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball 📘 Facebook https://facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball 👕 Apparel https://www.dirtypoolpinball.com 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:12 - Mike’s Record Collection 00:02:50 - Why Vinyl Matters 00:06:45 - Guessing the Record Count 00:08:44 - 16,000 Records 00:09:32 - Choosing What to Play 00:13:28 - Mortal Kombat Begins 00:16:36 - 105 Wins in MK2 00:18:10 - Meeting Midway at a Punk Show 00:20:16 - Revolution X and Game Testing 00:21:20 - Helping Build Midway QA 00:22:50 - The Punk Vault 00:23:40 - Photography and Punk Zines 00:26:53 - Favorite and Worst Shows to Shoot 00:29:18 - Getting to Stern 00:30:00 - Growing Up With Pinball 00:31:14 - Lyman Sheets Pushed for Mike 00:32:30 - George Gomez and Stern 00:34:08 - Working With Lyman on Batman 66 00:37:18 - James Bond and John Wick 00:38:26 - The “Saved the Game” Misunderstanding 00:40:48 - Rule Design Without Programming 00:42:10 - Earning Trust at Stern 00:43:18 - Working With Dwight Sullivan 00:46:00 - The MXV Skill Shot 00:48:23 - Secret Skill Shots and Mortal Kombat 00:49:40 - NDAs and Keeping Secrets 00:52:00 - Keith Elwin Made It a Thing 00:52:33 - Godzilla as Mike’s Favorite Game 00:54:10 - When a Rule Fails 00:55:28 - The Game Tells You 00:56:45 - Working With Lonnie Ropp 00:59:10 - Are Modern Rules Too Complex? 01:00:16 - Designing for New and Expert Players 01:01:10 - Risk and Reward 01:03:31 - Multiple Ways to Blow Up a Game 01:04:42 - Shot Difficulty in Rule Design 01:06:08 - Music Pins Without Being a Jukebox 01:08:32 - Dream Theme: Skinny Puppy 01:09:48 - Designing Around the Toy 01:10:42 - George Gomez’s Creative Brain 01:13:07 - Mike’s Basement Collection 01:15:08 - Work-Life Balance With Pinball 01:15:48 - The Raven Question 01:18:10 - Expo, Portland, and Shows 01:20:32 - Top Punk Albums 01:21:35 - Punk Rock Pinball Shoutout 01:24:00 - Raid and Praise the Great Pyramid 01:25:10 - Outro #pinball #sternpinball #dirtypoolpodcast #podcast #arcade
June 9 · 1 hr 16 min
Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep34 - Jason Knapp of Knapp Arcade
▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj Jason Knapp of Knapp Arcade joins Dirty Pool Podcast to talk about running one of the few dedicated pinball news sites still trying to keep track of the hobby in real time. We get into pinball journalism, how stories are chosen, how much work goes into keeping information accurate,and what it’s like covering a small industry where the people, companies, rumors, and drama all exist. Also I eat a taco. It was pretty good. We also talk about the Knapp Arcade redesign, what changed behind the scenes, how the site has grown, and the balance between building something useful for the community without getting dragged into every argument the hobby creates for itself. 🔺 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 🔊 Discord http://discord.gg/ySs5Wjb3Je 👕 Apparel http://www.dirtypoolpinball.com 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:01 - The charity dart tournament origin story 00:03:00 - Craigslist finds, Facebook groups, and starting his own page 00:05:01 - When Knapp Arcade became something people depended on 00:06:20 - Building a permanent archive outside Facebook 00:07:25 - The site redesign, dark mode, and son-powered web development 00:09:04 - How Jason handles rumors and confidence levels 00:11:27 - Writing the news he would want to read 00:12:25 - The Stern Indiana Jones rumor and being right until you are wrong 00:14:31 - Fact-checking, Deep Root, and reporting what can be verified 00:16:11 - Why AI is not a source 00:17:21 - IPDB, Pinside, and preserving pinball history 00:18:54 - OPDB and organizing a massive photo archive 00:19:31 - Live questions and the Resident Evil pricing mess 00:23:52 - American Pinball under new management 00:25:29 - Supporting smaller manufacturers without ignoring the risks 00:27:21 - Worlds commentary, Goonies, and dream pinball themes 00:30:54 - Balancing family, work, travel, and fast writing 00:32:50 - Automotive competitive intelligence and chasing information 00:34:13 - The moments that make running Knapp Arcade worth it 00:36:20 - Jealous people, pinball drama, and doing the work 00:39:04 - Paywalls, ads, and keeping the site sustainable 00:44:54 - Future tiers, rankings, and a larger photo library 00:45:43 - Favorite manufacturers and the pull of Insider Connected 00:47:08 - Jason compliments Winchester Mystery House 00:48:45 - What pinball journalism still has not covered 00:51:11 - Pinball magazines, archives, and historical ads 00:54:21 - Bringing younger fans into the hobby 00:56:34 - Location play, leagues, and keeping arcades alive 00:60:47 - The Knapp Arcade app and push notifications 00:63:20 - Daily game photos and collecting every machine 00:66:13 - Bucket list arcades, Next Level, and missing Banning 00:69:05 - The Knapp Arcade logo and the 9/12/15 date 00:71:02 - Making Knapp Arcade part of the morning routine 00:72:13 - Rock Fantasy, home games, and the Raven argument 00:73:29 - Raven, Hollywood Heat, and Predator Raven 00:75:20 - Praise the Great Pyramid #DirtyPoolPinball #DirtyPoolPodcast #Pinball #KnappArcade #KnappArcadePinball
May 28 · 2 hr 18 min
Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep33 - Steve Bowden - Rules, Risk and Barry O’s
▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj Steve Bowden has one of the stranger paths through modern pinball. Tournament player. Broadcaster. Rules analyst. Designer. deeproot employee. American Pinball employee during one of the company’s rougher stretches. A lot of the modern hobby overlaps with Steve somewhere along the way. The conversation moves through tournament strategy, how commentary changed the way players learn rules and scoring, balancing games for casual players versus high-level competition, working inside pinball manufacturing, streaming culture, and the lingering fallout from the deeproot era now that parts of that story have started resurfacing again in community discussions. There’s a lot of history attached to this one. 🎁 Fun With Bonus: 🌐 Website http://funwithbonus.com 📷 Instagram http://www.instagram.com/funwithbonus ❌ Twitter/X http://x.com/FunWithBonus 🎵 TikTok http://www.tiktok.com/@funwithbonus 📘 Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/FunWithBonus/ 👥 Facebook Group http://www.facebook.com/groups/funwithbonus 📡 Twitch http://www.twitch.tv/funwithbonus 📺 YouTube http://youtube.com/@funwithbonus Shoutout: 🌐 https://thepinballchick.com/table-review-index/ 🔺 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 🔊 Discord – http://discord.gg/ySs5Wjb3Je 👕 Apparel http://www.dirtypoolpinball.com 00:00:00 - Network panic intro and finally getting Steve Bowden on 00:02:42 - How Steve accidentally became a PAPA commentator 00:07:59 - Did PAPA broadcasts make players better at pinball? 00:10:29 - Steve explains the “predict three things” commentary trick 00:11:49 - Do commentators need to be elite players? 00:13:27 - Learning unfamiliar games live on commentary 00:14:20 - Teaching players through rules design 00:17:24 - Home collectors vs route players 00:18:32 - Monster Bash, Spider-Man and layered rules 00:21:20 - IPDB disappearing and old pinball internet lore 00:23:03 - Great Pyramid shirt lore and Fun With Bonus 00:27:55 - Deeproot, American Pinball and getting into rules design 00:29:04 - “The second dollar is the important dollar” 00:30:47 - Dune tournament stories and weak flippers 00:39:42 - Balancing depth without scaring off new players 00:43:18 - Working inside American Pinball during the transition years 00:52:11 - Cutting features and simplifying rule ideas 00:58:44 - Designing rules for route players instead of home collectors 01:08:27 - Risk reward design and tournament strategy 01:14:52 - Tournament minded rules and player psychology 01:23:35 - The Raven joke returns 01:31:06 - Deeproot employment and behind the scenes instability 01:37:48 - American Pinball stories and industry chaos 01:46:33 - Commentary shaping player knowledge and competitive growth 01:52:04 - Commentary psychology and reading the room 02:02:11 - Raven jokes, old broadcasts and modern pinball culture #Pinball #DirtyPoolPinball #SteveBowden #PinballPodcast #CompetitivePinball #IFPA #TournamentPinball #PinballCommunity #PinballRules #AmericanPinball #Deeproot #PinballBroadcast #Arcade #PinballMachine #Silverball #PinballTalk #PinballLife #SternPinball #BarrelsOfFun #ArcadeCulture #PinballPlayers #PinballDesign #RetroGaming #PinballStreamer #TexasPinballFestival #PinballNews #PinballIndustry #Podcast
May 12 · 1 hr 17 min
Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep32 - Gerry Stellenberg and the Multimorphic / P3 Platform
▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj The P3 has carved out a very different lane in modern pinball. Swappable modules, a ball tracked LCD playfield, physical mechs, and a platform that approaches game design from a completely different angle than most traditional machines. Gerry joins the Dirty Pool Podcast to talk about the origins of the Multimorphic platform, designing games around modular hardware, how different modules take advantage of the system in unique ways, and how the P3 has evolved over the years. We also get into the balance between physical and digital integration in pinball, the realities of building a platform meant to support multiple experiences in one cabinet, and how players have responded to pinball that experiments outside the standard format. 🧬 Multimorphic / P3 Pinball https://www.multimorphic.com/ If you had a P3 cabinet, which module would you want to try first? 🔺 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 🔊 Discord – http://discord.gg/ySs5Wjb3Je 👕 Apparel http://www.dirtypoolpinball.com 00:00:00 - Multimorphic, P3, and the strange corner of modern pinball 00:01:21 - Gerry’s tech background before pinball 00:02:42 - P-ROC starts as a way to mess with existing machines 00:03:24 - Tracking a bouncing pinball in real time 00:04:48 - Infrared grids, multiple balls, and what the system actually sees 00:05:50 - P-ROC becomes the brain inside the P3 00:06:38 - Choosing modules and LCD playfields over a normal pinball machine 00:07:40 - Building new pinball tech when Stern was almost alone 00:08:41 - Fighting the “that’s not real pinball” reaction 00:10:35 - Roguelike pinball and software-only game ideas 00:11:23 - Asking players to trust an $11k unfamiliar platform 00:13:37 - Portal, first impressions, and the flipper feel debate 00:16:55 - How much of “different” is mechanical and how much is psychology 00:17:49 - Why operators are nervous about putting P3s on location 00:20:03 - Old hardware criticisms and the problem of lasting first impressions 00:22:11 - The LCD gets judged before people actually play the game 00:22:55 - Princess Bride, physical mechs, and not hiding behind the screen 00:24:41 - Final Resistance and Scott Danesi’s traditional P3 approach 00:25:45 - The spaceship cannon and P3’s back trough system 00:26:40 - Lexy Lightspeed as the overlooked early module 00:27:39 - Full modules, add-on games, and how the P3 library works 00:28:55 - Cosmic Cart Racing and online multiplayer pinball 00:31:05 - Third-party developers building directly on the platform 00:31:51 - Original themes, licensed IP, and keeping games available 00:33:47 - Weird Al, Portal, and why recognizable licenses changed things 00:35:04 - Scorbit, APIs, and community integrations 00:35:57 - What it actually costs to buy into P3 00:36:40 - Shipping modules through UPS and swapping cabinet art 00:37:36 - Why the P3 is heavier than people expect 00:39:00 - Module seams, alignment, and the transition between playfields 00:42:00 - Upgrades, backboxes, scoop changes, and replacing older parts 00:43:31 - Backward compatibility and the fear of a future P3 generation 00:45:01 - Customer trust when people buy into an ecosystem 00:48:00 - International shipping and getting P3s outside the US 00:49:03 - Portal as Gerry’s favorite Multimorphic experience 00:49:53 - Eighteen balls in Portal and Heist taking the multiball crown 00:52:08 - What tracked balls let designers do differently 00:54:00 - Texas pinball, other manufacturers, and the hard part of building games 00:57:01 - Cabinet materials, plywood, and build quality questions 00:59:59 - Server checks, ownership, and whether games keep working offline 01:03:00 - Virtual targets, screen-based scoring, and every pixel becoming gameplay 01:05:59 - Publishing original P3 games as a third-party developer 01:07:34 - Filling the lower screen without making it feel empty 01:09:00 - Portal as the current high-water mark and what comes next 01:12:00 - Future mechs reaching farther into the lower playfield 01:14:59 - Where people can find and play a P3 in person 01:16:49 - Final plugs, Buffalo Pinball, and finding the P3 for yourself #DirtyPoolPinball #DirtyPoolPodcast #Multimorphic #P3Pinball #Pinball #PinballMachine #PinballPodcast #Arcade #ArcadeGames #PinballCommunity #ModularPinball #PinballDesign #GameDesign #PinballTech #LCDPlayfield #PhysicalPinball #InteractivePinball #PinballIndustry #PinballStream #PinballCollectors #Silverball #ArcadeCulture #PinballLife #PinballAddict #PinballEnthusiast #GamingPodcast #RetroGaming #PraiseTheGreatPyramid
May 5 · 1 hr 5 min
Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep31 - Raymond Davidson - Player to Programmer
▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj It's podcast time with RAYDAY! Raymond Davidson of Stern Pinball known for titles like Rush, Metallica Remaster and of course Fall of the Empire. We’re lining up topics around rules design from a player mindset, how code evolves after location testing, and how modern games balance competitive depth with accessibility. Also getting into team workflow, post-launch updates, and how tournament play shapes coding decisions. What’s one rule in a modern game that actually changed how you approach it? 🔺 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 🔊 Discord – http://discord.gg/ySs5Wjb3Je 🛒 Apparel http://www.dirtypoolpinball.com 00:00:00 - Intro and Raymond Davidson joins the podcast 00:01:00 - Seattle pinball roots and early tournament access 00:03:00 - Traveling for tournaments and the $2 bill payout 00:04:07 - PAPA, getting humbled, and improving through competition 00:05:23 - Getting hired at Stern and starting on Avengers 00:06:01 - First Stern lab stories and working with John Borg 00:07:32 - Led Zeppelin and getting real rules design ownership 00:08:04 - Using code to bring out the best parts of a layout 00:09:38 - Led Zeppelin wizard mode and pressure after multiball 00:10:46 - What carries over from older code frameworks 00:11:29 - Whitewood testing and finding out what is actually fun 00:12:38 - Watching streams to see how players really behave 00:14:02 - Death Star cashouts and risk versus reward 00:14:48 - Rush combos, Foo Fighters moments, and rewarding mastery 00:16:23 - Making deep games accessible within a few shots 00:18:18 - Scoring balance and why big points matter 00:19:56 - Unexpected bugs and the secret Metallica add-a-ball 00:21:08 - Favorite final code and what still nags at him 00:22:00 - Revisiting Led Zeppelin and skipped multiball objectives 00:23:17 - Filtering community feedback without chasing every opinion 00:24:42 - Remastering older games and constant rules ideas 00:25:44 - Favorite butthole shots and Lord of the Rings design 00:27:32 - Why Simpsons Pinball Party still works so well 00:28:11 - Theme integration versus scoring balance 00:30:22 - Roving shots, Death Star 2, and avoiding gimmies 00:31:18 - Speeder bikes and thematic mechanical action 00:33:10 - Bonus missions without blocking Jedi progression 00:34:16 - Star Wars as the first Spike 3 release 00:36:18 - Stream friendly UI, bigger scores, and real constraints 00:39:32 - Making the best of design limits 00:40:05 - John Wick, rejects, and code improving a harsh game 00:40:32 - Zach working across Star Wars, John Wick, and X-Men 00:42:13 - Video modes and what actually holds up 00:42:46 - Licensing limits and what can appear on screen 00:45:18 - Named Stern updates and the Rebel Rebellion problem 00:47:01 - Stern office tournaments and absurd employee scores 00:48:34 - Tournament travel, PTO, and Stern supporting play 00:49:23 - Jedi Mania, streaming games, and learning from co-op 00:51:29 - Development speed bumps beyond licensing 00:53:23 - Spike 3 video formats and H.265 workflow 00:54:42 - Spike 3 hardware questions and upgrade limits 00:56:10 - Simple layouts, deep rules, and matching code to playfield 00:57:20 - Why teams matter more than manufacturer labels 00:59:00 - AI, internal tools, and what should never reach final assets 01:01:02 - Stern Insider, multiplayer possibilities, and score visibility 01:03:33 - Wrap up and final Raven choice 01:04:33 - Great Pyramid outro and cult signoff #pinball #sternpinball #raymonddavidson #pinballpodcast #pinballdesign #pinballrules #competitivepinball #pinballcommunity #pinballlife #arcade #arcadeculture #retrogaming #gamingpodcast #pinballplayers #pinballfans #pinballinterview #gamedesign #rulesdesign #pinballstrategy #modernpinball #dirtypoolpinball #greatpyramid #cultofpinball #pinballtalk #pinballstream #arcadegames #gamingcommunity #pinballmachine
April 29 · 1 hr 41 min
Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep30 - Kaite Martin and NYC Pinball
▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj We’ve got Kaite Martin joining the Dirty Pool Podcast. You may know her from Scorbit, NYC Pinball, or from helping keep the New York scene visible and active. We’re digging into tournament culture, media coverage, what it takes to grow pinball in a major city, and how newer players find their way into the hobby. We’ll also get into women in pinball, making spaces feel more welcoming, and what still needs work. If you were building a city around pinball culture, what would be the first thing you’d fix? 🔺 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 🔊 Discord – http://discord.gg/ySs5Wjb3Je 00:00:08 - Intro 00:03:25 - Learning pinball at a dive bar 00:04:59 - Buying Paragon and filling apartments 00:07:13 - Fourteen games in a NYC home 00:08:24 - Tenants, tournaments, and noise 00:10:12 - Moving games through tight doors 00:11:52 - New York pinball then and now 00:13:23 - Taking over games at Buttermilk 00:18:19 - Bells and Chimes New York history 00:19:34 - Old operators and location standards 00:22:42 - Hosting a 44 player home tournament 00:25:02 - Future Spa and tough tournament games 00:28:24 - Home tournaments and bad ROI 00:30:30 - Bells finals and accessible venues 00:31:48 - Balancing league and casual settings 00:34:30 - Putting personal games on location 00:36:37 - Home games breaking during tournaments 00:38:18 - Home tournament party stories 00:45:00 - Rotating games at the bar 00:46:18 - Game weights and apartment floors 00:47:31 - Drinking and competitive pinball 00:50:07 - Losing, resetting, and moving on 00:57:10 - Pinball, pets, and community 00:59:05 - Getting more people into pinball 01:01:34 - Fast round begins 01:02:01 - Medieval Madness vs Attack from Mars 01:07:04 - Powerballs and Safe Cracker 01:10:00 - Best bar lineup picks 01:13:18 - Local players worth knowing 01:15:00 - Staying excited about pinball 01:18:35 - Women’s events and local trophies 01:21:58 - Trophy staircase and old house layout 01:22:19 - Recruiting new league players 01:25:00 - Apartment pinball warnings 01:26:10 - Small games and real pinball feel 01:30:00 - Raven, Jetsons, and bad games 01:34:00 - Karl DeAngelo and pinball friendships 01:37:58 - Scorbit at Buttermilk 01:39:25 - Whipped tournament plug 01:40:03 - Wrap up and Great Pyramid #DirtyPoolPinball #Pinball #PinballPodcast #KaiteMartin #Scorbit #NYCPinball #NewYorkPinball #WomenInPinball #ArcadeCulture #PinballCommunity #CompetitivePinball #TournamentPinball #PinballLife #Silverball #ArcadeGames #Podcast #GamingPodcast #PinballStream #ModernPinball #PinballFans #DPP #PinballTalk #Esports #ArcadeScene #Collectors #PinballNews #Flippers #Multiball
April 14 · 1 hr 8 min
Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep29 - Chris Kooluris - Kaneda’s Pinball Podcast - Say What You Mean
▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj 💰 Kaneda’s Pinball Podcast http://www.patreon.com/kanedapinball Back to the table with another long-form conversation, this time with Chris Kooluris from Kaneda’s Pinball Podcast. Starting with where that voice comes from and how unfiltered commentary fits into a hobby that usually leans more reserved. From there, getting into how criticism, access, and relationships with manufacturers intersect once a platform starts to grow. We’ll spend some time on what actually makes a modern game hold up beyond the first few weeks, and where expectations are landing right now. Closing things out around the rumor side of pinball. How early information moves, what makes something credible, and the call between sharing it or sitting on it. We’ll see where it goes once the mics are live. Question for you: If you had reliable early info on a new release, would you want to hear it right away or wait for the full reveal? 🔺 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 🔊 Discord – http://discord.gg/ySs5Wjb3Je 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:30 - Why Kaneda avoids interviews and what this one is about 00:03:30 - How the Kaneda's podcast actually started and early intent 00:06:25 - Kaneda vs Chris, persona vs real person 00:07:40 - Misconceptions about him and why people lock opinions early 00:09:00 - The pressure to like every new pinball release 00:10:30 - Being critical without trying to be negative 00:12:30 - What modern pinball should be delivering at its price 00:15:00 - Friction with manufacturers and where that comes from 00:18:00 - Staying independent while still getting real information 00:21:00 - Why some pinball creators last and others disappear 00:24:00 - Is modern pinball improving or just getting more complex 00:27:00 - Games that changed his opinion over time 00:30:00 - If he designed a machine, what matters most first 00:33:00 - How the leaks and insider info side actually started 00:36:00 - Where information really comes from behind the scenes 00:39:00 - Reporter vs commentator, how he sees his role 00:42:00 - Sitting on information vs deciding to release it 00:45:00 - Do leaks help build hype or damage launches 00:48:00 - How pinball culture has shifted over the last decade 00:51:00 - Is the hobby becoming more accessible or more gated 00:54:00 - Competitive players vs collectors dynamic 00:57:00 - What people outside pinball misunderstand 01:00:00 - Being “Kaneda” vs just being Chris off mic 01:03:00 - Looking back at the show and how it evolved 01:05:30 - Barrels of Fun hints and guessing future themes 01:07:00 - Chat jumps in, theories and speculation spiral 01:08:30 - Wrapping up, plugs, and raid setup #Pinball #DirtyPoolPinball #PinballPodcast #PinballCommunity #PinballDiscussion #PinballNews #PinballRumors #PinballLeaks #ArcadeLife #ArcadeCulture #PinballLife #PinballAddict #PinballFans #RetroGaming #ArcadeGames #PinballStream #PinballCreator #PinballMedia #PinballIndustry #SternPinball #JerseyJackPinball #SpookyPinball #DutchPinball #TurnerPinball #PinballCollectors #GamingCommunity #PodcastLife
March 17 · 1 hr 12 min
Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep28 - Jason Zahler - The World’s Best Pinball Player
▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj I sit down with the highest ranked pinball player in the world, Jason Zahler, to get into what competitive pinball actually looks like at that level. We get into his early start, climbing to number one, how he approaches tournaments, what separates top players from everyone else, and how he keeps his edge when every event matters. What's it like inside the mind of a prodigy pinball player... Also does Zahler speak??? 🔺 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 - Intro and bringing on the world number one 00:02:00 - Starting young and early competitive path 00:04:00 - Early tournaments and realizing competitive potential 00:06:00 - Talent vs work ethic and what actually matters 00:08:00 - Building real skill rules knowledge vs raw play 00:10:30 - Favorite games and why strategy depth matters 00:12:30 - Classic games risk reward and scoring pressure 00:15:00 - Keith Elwin design discussion and what makes his games different 00:17:30 - Modern games and adapting to deeper rule sets 00:20:00 - Practice habits and balancing school life 00:22:30 - Playing less but staying sharp and efficient 00:25:00 - Physical side of pinball and tournament endurance 00:27:30 - Mental game and controlling tilt under pressure 00:30:00 - Staying positive and avoiding bad mindset traps 00:32:30 - Adjusting quickly to tournament machines 00:35:00 - Risk management and avoiding costly mistakes 00:37:00 - Recovering after bad balls and staying focused 00:39:30 - Fatigue and surviving long multi day events 00:42:00 - Finding the zone and playing at peak level 00:44:30 - Advice for players with limited practice time 00:47:00 - Choosing tournaments and managing travel schedule 00:49:30 - Past grind years vs current selective approach 00:52:00 - Abe Flips video and visual learning for pinball skills 00:54:00 - Studying high level play to improve execution 00:56:00 - Time commitment required to stay competitive 00:58:00 - Advice for breaking into competitive pinball 01:00:00 - Common mistakes newer players make 01:02:00 - Growing pinball and exposure challenges 01:04:30 - Streaming and visibility helping the scene 01:07:00 - Why pinball clicks once people try it 01:09:30 - Final thoughts on the community and future 01:11:00 - Outro and Praise the Great Pyramid #pinball #pinballwizard #competitivepinball #pinballpodcast #dirtypoolpodcast #ifpa #pinballcommunity #arcadegames #flippercontrol #pinballlife #pinballplayers #pinballaddict #pinballculture #arcadeculture #retroarcade #gamingpodcast #silverball #tilt #nudging #pinballtips #highscore #tournamentplay #pinballstream #dirtypoolpinball #homearcade #pinballenthusiast #classicarcade #modernpinball
March 10 · 54 min
Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep27 - Abe Flips - Mastering Pinball
▶ 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
March 4 · 40 min
Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep26 - Ron Richards of Scorbit The Online Pinball Ecosystem
🎧 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
March 1 · 1 hr 27 min
Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep25 - DJ Warlock aka Cliff Albert on Pinball Culture
▶ 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
February 5 · 1 hr 3 min
Dirty Pool Podcast – Ep24 – Christopher Franchi (Spooky Pinball Art)
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
January 7 · 1 hr 33 min
Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep23 - Scott Danesi and Building Total Nuclear Annihilation Pinball
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
Dec 12, 2025 · 30 min
Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep22 - Mapping It Out - Pinball Map with Ryan
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
Dec 2, 2025 · 1 hr 26 min
Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep21 - Beetlejuice Brains & Spooky Pinball Logic from Bug
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
Nov 21, 2025 · 45 min
Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep20 - Counterflip Apparel
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
Nov 7, 2025 · 1 hr 22 min
Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep19 - Aaron Davis of FAST Pinball
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.
Nov 4, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
Meet The Team... Brad Albright - Winchester Mystery House - 2D Layered Art & Illustration
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
Oct 30, 2025 · 1 hr 5 min
Meet The Team... Eric Priepke - Winchester Mystery House - Software Engineering & Programming
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

Dirtypool Pinball - PODCAST - An Exploration Of The Pinball Industry

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep36 - Pinball Clocks with Philippe Grégoire of Ayscrim Studios

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep35 - Mike Vinikour | Designing Modern Pinball Rules

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep34 - Jason Knapp of Knapp Arcade

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep33 - Steve Bowden - Rules, Risk and Barry O’s

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep32 - Gerry Stellenberg and the Multimorphic / P3 Platform

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep31 - Raymond Davidson - Player to Programmer

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep30 - Kaite Martin and NYC Pinball

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep29 - Chris Kooluris - Kaneda’s Pinball Podcast - Say What You Mean

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep28 - Jason Zahler - The World’s Best Pinball Player

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep27 - Abe Flips - Mastering Pinball

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep26 - Ron Richards of Scorbit The Online Pinball Ecosystem

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep25 - DJ Warlock aka Cliff Albert on Pinball Culture

Dirty Pool Podcast – Ep24 – Christopher Franchi (Spooky Pinball Art)

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep23 - Scott Danesi and Building Total Nuclear Annihilation Pinball

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep22 - Mapping It Out - Pinball Map with Ryan

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep21 - Beetlejuice Brains & Spooky Pinball Logic from Bug

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep20 - Counterflip Apparel

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep19 - Aaron Davis of FAST Pinball

Meet The Team... Brad Albright - Winchester Mystery House - 2D Layered Art & Illustration

Meet The Team... Eric Priepke - Winchester Mystery House - Software Engineering & Programming