Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep12 - Manu - Streaming, Free Gold Watch, and Virtual Pinball
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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.
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📘 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
https://discord.gg/fxFjFK2Q)
discord.gghttps://www.twitch.tv/mpt3k
twitch.tv
- 0:00Intro
- 0:26Meet Manu!
- 1:28Secret Vpin Project? / Pincredibles
- 2:55Virtual Pinball is made from real components now.
- 5:05Vpin vs. Real pins (Varkon?)
- 6:00Bonus Shatz Story
- 8:20The Origin of Manu’s Vpin
- 11:15Vpin Cabinet Showcase
- 12:46Can you play a Vpin on location?
- 14:45Check out the mpt3k discord ( for more help on Vpins
- 14:56How to build a Vpin, start with a cabinet.
- 15:35borgdog and his Star Wars homebrew shoutout.
- 18:30Of course @IEPinball influenced the streaming at free gold watch.
- 20:24Pinball 101 throw back!
- 21:29Don’t fart?
- 24:00Pro tip HDMI handshakes
- 26:24What goes into a Vpin
- 32:10Homebrew Vpin to Homebrew Pin... pin
- 35:24Sterns Pinball Arcade
- 37:55Recreating games in virtual.
- 38:24It’s just code... Fishbowl.
- 40:35Manu almost chokes on my bad stern joke.
- 41:30This is SO TRUE. Virtual is the gateway drug.
- 44:44Using virtual pinball to learn rulesets.
- 46:00Talking about @multimorphic6445 P3 Pinball.
- 51:44Showing kids real pins when they’re used to iPad @ZenStudios Pinball FX
- 54:00Riffing on movies live on twitch with @MysteryPinballTheater3000
- 56:35Manu’s advice on how to find your own niche as a streamer
- 1:02:13It’s the Raven thing.
- 1:03:00Worst game ever? Thunder-something
- 1:04:00The difference between good bad, and bad bad
- 1:06:30What is Free Gold Watch?
- 1:09:41Manu’s thank you list to the people that have helped.
- 1:12:41Accessibility for repair in pins. The good and the bad.
- 1:15:31Talking Vegas Pinball Museum
- 1:17:31What’s coming up for Manu! ... spoilers it’s pinball expo and CAX
- 1:18:18Lets go Rob Berk! @pasttimesarcade
- 1:18:45Hot Bodies? .... Hardbodies? It’s Hardbody... close enough.
- 1:19:53Check out
- 1:20:30Talking about how cool George @DontPanicFlip is.
- 1:21:59Thanks! Bye!