Dirtypool Pinball - PODCAST - An Exploration Of The Pinball Industry

Dirtypool Pinball - PODCAST - An Exploration Of The Pinball Industry

By DirtypoolpinballLeisureGames
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Dirtypool Pinball - PODCAST - An Exploration Of The Pinball Industry episodes

  • The Shadow Pinball - Ep06 - The Lore Knows w/ Greg!

    Greg drops into the sanctum for a full Shadow pinball lore dump. We’re digging through the history of the game, the movie, the callouts, the weird rules quirks, and why this machine still has one of the strangest identities in 90s pinball. Somewhere between psychic warfare and missed battlefield shots, things get surprisingly educational.


    Shadow Radio Drama!

    https://youtu.be/BkHLf08l0JI?si=n_TGRh6K19NWJ2t7


    Greg's Podcast!

    https://open.spotify.com/show/2hu8lBrlcHam0s4zxxIvig?si=wr8TXasySIatxcDsQtJMZw


    What’s your favorite weird piece of Shadow pinball trivia or design choice?


    🔺 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


    #TheShadow #ShadowPinball #Pinball #DirtyPoolPinball #BallyPinball #WilliamsPinball #PinballMachine #RetroGaming #PinballHistory #PinballLore #Battlefield #BrianEddy #PinballCommunity #Arcade #90sPinball #CultClassic #PinballPodcast #Silverball #PinballCollector #PinballStream #ArcadeGaming #PinballLife #ClassicPinball #PinballWizard #PinballFans #PinballCulture #TwitchStreamer #GamingCommunity

    1 hr 40 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

    1 hr 6 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

    1 hr 42 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

    1 hr 9 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

    1 hr 13 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

    55 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 [email protected]


    💬 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

    41 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

    1 hr 28 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

    1 hr 4 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

    1 hr 34 min

About Dirtypool Pinball - PODCAST - An Exploration Of The Pinball Industry

From the publisher's feed

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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