Dirtypool Pinball - PODCAST - An Exploration Of The Pinball Industry

Ryan Gratzer from Pinball Map drops by to untangle how the world’s most obsessive pinball location tracker actually works and how your favorite arcades lineup changes the second you visit. This one digs into Ryan's pinball origins, community reporting, app evolution, and the odd psychology of people who will happily move a mountain to report a broken slingshot but won’t like, comment and subscribe. Also there's a lot of dog barking.

Special shout out to the entire team that keeps Pinball Map running, Scott and Beth here in spirit.

🔻 Pinball Map Links:

🧭 Pinball Map – pinballmap.com

🎧 Pinball Map Podcast – pod.pinballmap.com

🛒 Store – pinballmap.com/store

💖 Donate – pinballmap.com/donate

🕊️ Bluesky – @pinballmap.com

🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:

📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball

📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball

📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball

📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball

🔊 Discord – https://discord.gg/bSbXnA38Q8

Pinball images from www.pinside.com

00:00:00 - Intro

00:00:13 - In-person Dirty Pool Pinball intro (with dogs)

00:00:31 - Meeting Ryan Gratzer and the Mapping Around podcast

00:00:48 - What Pinball Map is and how the app and site work

00:02:19 - Home locations, privacy, and “please don’t list your house”

00:03:04 - Which locations have the most pinball machines

00:03:34 - Ryan’s Paragon origin story and pinball at home

00:04:54 - Moving to Portland and discovering a city full of pinball

00:05:42 - Crazy Flipper Fingers and early Portland league days

00:07:15 - Tracking games with custom Google Maps before Pinball Map

00:08:06 - How the on-location pinball landscape has changed over 17 years

00:09:21 - Why modern games are taking over older Williams and Stern titles

00:10:34 - Remote locations, Maldives, Hawaii oddities, and under-mapped regions

00:11:53 - Admins, bad actors, and keeping the map neutral and fair

00:13:33 - From separate regional maps to one unified global Pinball Map

00:14:50 - Tech history: Pearl Mason to Ruby on Rails and why it stuck

00:18:02 - Gratification, community obsession, and why Pinball Map matters

00:19:34 - Costs, donations, and keeping the project non-monetized

00:21:41 - 8,500 edits a month and what that says about activity

00:22:37 - Operator tools, comments, and spotting well-maintained locations

00:23:32 - Filters, “number of machines” search, and operator-focused features

00:24:26 - How many operators are tagged and how comment digests work

00:25:16 - Broken games, first impressions, and shouting out good operators

00:26:40 - Pinball people getting salty and channel-level sarcasm

00:26:53 - Winding down the platform questions and interview main arc

00:27:17 - Future app update: viewing all 12,000+ locations at once

00:28:03 - Mapping Around podcast and what they cover in episodes

00:28:27 - Coin pouches, tiny merch, and where to find the store

00:28:55 - Praising the Great Pyramid with improvised hand pyramids

00:29:25 - Call to action: update your local locations and help the map

00:29:56 - League rivalry, finals nerves, and “top of B is where I belong”

#DirtyPoolPinball #PinballPodcast #PinballMap #RyanGratzer #PinballCommunity #LocationPinball #ArcadeHunting #PinballTalk #PinballLife #PinballCulture #PinballNews #DataNerds #BehindTheScenesPinball #PinballPlayers #PinballJourney #ModernPinball #PinballStories #DirtyPoolPodcast #ArcadeLocator #PinballApps #PinballHistory #PinballChat #PinballObsessed #TechInPinball #OpenSourceProjects #PinballFinds #BarcadeLife #PinballEverywhere

Bug from Spooky Pinball joins to break down the creative chaos behind Beetlejuice, from shaping the theme into a playable world to the collaboration across design, code, art, and sound that gives the game its personality. We talk problem-solving during development, how rules evolve once players get their hands on the machine, and what it takes for a boutique studio to ship something this ambitious.

It’s a grounded look at Spooky’s workflow, Bug’s role in steering the vision, and how Beetlejuice came together from early pitch to final polish.

🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:

📡 Twitch – www.twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball

📺 YouTube – www.youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball

📷 Instagram – www.instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball

📘 Facebook – www.facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball

🔊 Discord – www.discord.gg/KcwKeejb

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:06 - Spooky Pinball’s Beginnings as a Podcast

00:03:01 - Early Pinball Media and Community Roots

00:05:00 - Shifting From Podcast to Pinball Manufacturer

00:06:34 - Pinball Zombies and The Walking Dead Conflict

00:07:52 - Choosing America’s Most Haunted as the First Title

00:09:01 - Building AMH With Friends and Family Voices

00:12:03 - Texas Pinball Festival Weekend That Changed Everything

00:13:39 - Growing the Factory and Life as a Family Business

00:16:00 - How Bug and Spooky Luke Split Game Design

00:18:52 - Bug’s Approach to Rules and Theme Integration

00:20:10 - Working With Licensors and Protecting Creative Vision

00:22:03 - Tournament Settings and Player Feedback

00:23:39 - Moving Spooky to Unity and Standardized Hardware

00:25:31 - Beetlejuice Trailer Breakdown and Art Direction

00:28:06 - Sandworm Design and Under Flipper Magnet Saves

00:31:14 - Evolving the Waiting Room and Rising Mech Concepts

00:34:10 - Upper Playfield Flow and Nontraditional Shot Paths

00:36:00 - Prototyping, Metalwork and Fast Mechanical Iteration

00:39:00 - What Makes a Modern Game Successful for Spooky

00:43:00 - Texas Chainsaw Massacre as a Design Benchmark

00:47:30 - Beetlejuice Code Depth and Update Philosophy

00:50:00 - Dreams of Army of Darkness and Future Themes

00:54:00 - Quality of Life Tech Like Voice-Controlled Service

00:56:00 - Beetlejuice Launch Party and Community Energy

00:58:00 - Toppers, Butter Cabinets and Long Term Support

01:01:00 - Horror Inspirations and Movie Recommendations

01:03:30 - Theme Integration and Dark Ride Style Design

01:06:00 - Managing Demand and Production Expectations

01:08:30 - Community Shoutouts and Tournament Players

01:11:00 - Dream Licenses and Wild Theme Ideas

01:14:00 - Internships, Learning and Life Inside Spooky

01:17:00 - Long Term Updates for Spooky Titles

01:20:00 - Big Player Scores and Gameplay Shoutouts

01:23:00 - Home Collections, Wish List Games and Spooky Alley

01:25:20 - Hardbody Callback and Final Thanks to Bug

01:25:25 - The Raven Gag

01:26:21 - Episode Outro

#DirtyPoolPinball #PinballPodcast #SpookyPinball #BeetlejuicePinball #BugSpooky #PinballInterview #PinballDesign #PinballRules #PinballProduction #ModernPinball #BoutiquePinball #PinballCommunity #PinballTalk #ArcadeScene #BehindTheMachines #PinballCreators #PinballObsessed #Beetlejuice #PinballFans #PinballNerd #PinballCulture #RuleDesign #GameDevelopment #GreatPyramidApproved #PinballChat #ArcadeLife #DesignProcess #PinballDeepDive

Counterflip absolutely makes the best pinball t-shirts... Shea sits down with us and we get into everything from his pinball favorites to why making a genuinely good T-shirt feels like a boss battle. We talk about how printing goes wrong, how his first business attempt at 15 tanked spectacularly, and how he rebuilt it into Counterflip by focusing on real quality instead of the disposable stuff most people print on.

We dig into what it takes to find reliable sources, good blanks, and partners who don’t cut corners when you’re trying to build a brand identity through design. Shea also shares how working at Revenge Of shaped his love of pinball, how his history in bands and music artwork fed into his style, and why the pinball scene ended up being the perfect place to bring all of that together. A full mix of creative process, merch reality, and general pinball chaos. Join Us.

🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:

📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball

📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@dirtypoolpinball

📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball

📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball

🔺 Counterflip / Shea:

🛒 counterflip.bigcartel.com

📷 instagram.com/counterflip_apparel

🛒 dispersehomemedia.bigcartel.com

📷 instagram.com/disperse_homemedia

🌐 revengeof.com

Enjoy the subtle pyramid signal throughout. (by that I mean the battery pack noise... oops)

00:00:00 - Intro

00:00:02 - Settling into the in person setup and getting started

00:01:15 - Opening the talk with Counterflip shirts on the table

00:03:35 - Shea explaining early art roots and first encouragement

00:04:40 - py▒ ΔΔ ▒d.join: “hol d st i l l”

00:05:05 - Chicago basement shows and learning design through bands

00:06:55 - J cards tapes and the cassette layout grind

00:08:35 - Moving to LA and shifting from music into film

00:10:15 - Whole Foods sign artist years and the Amazon wipeout

00:12:05 - Making early bootleg movie shirts starting with The Lighthouse

00:13:55 - The Fog vs The Mist and arguing coastal horror loyalty

00:15:30 - Building the first small run of shirts and early experiments

00:17:00 - How Counterflip designs are rebuilt pieces not traced assets

00:18:20 - Digging through manuals flyers and archives to stay accurate

00:20:00 - Discovering pinball through Revenge Of and falling in fast

00:21:10 - Zoning out on world under glass and aesthetic obsession

00:22:20 - Describing Revenge Of as a sci fi comic book bodega

00:23:55 - Seeing branding blown up on walls booths and full spaces

00:25:50 - Revenge Of keeping a mixed lineup not just Stern games

00:27:20 - Indie vs major manufacturers and how variety helps pinball

00:28:50 - Revenge Of championing boutique games and weirder designs

00:30:05 - Building the Revenge Of identity with trust and loose direction

00:31:55 - Opening the coffee shop and overlap with players and creatives

00:32:34 - ╣ted… frame_Δ▒▒ d all.praise.

00:33:05 - Games Shea would own someday and not forcing a collection

00:34:30 - Vintage game picks turning into full Raven enthusiasm

00:36:10 - The future of Counterflip balancing shirts films and freelance

00:37:20 - Choosing which games become shirts and what artwork works

00:38:50 - Xenon talk and wanting maximum tube energy on a shirt

00:40:20 - Best sellers and why Counterflip Fishtails keeps moving

00:41:55 - Holiday market plans and Counterflip showing up with both booths

00:43:00 - Shirt sizes shipping and grabbing designs in person

00:43:55 - Least played games and closing with praise of the pyramid

#dirtypoolpinball #pinballpodcast #counterflip #pinballapparel #pinballcommunity #pinballfavorites #arcadeculture #pinballlifestyle #merchdesign #qualityapparel #indiedesigners #silverball #retrogaminglife #arcadestyle #creativecommunity #pinfam #pinballscene #designerlife #makercommunity #pinballart #bandartwork #musicdesign #independentcreators #pinballmerch #pinturnaments #behindtheflippers #arcadelife #podcastlife

What does it take to build the brain behind modern pinball? Aaron Davis, founder of FAST Pinball, joins the show to talk about designing the hardware that powers homebrews, boutique manufacturers, and the next generation of game coders. We dig into the origins of the FAST platform, how open hardware changed the indie landscape, and what it really means to make a control system reliable enough for production but flexible enough for experimentation.

From garage prototypes to global adoption, Aaron walks through the philosophy that keeps FAST on the cutting edge — community-driven innovation, open documentation, and a steady respect for pinball’s analog soul.

🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid

📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball

📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball

📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball

📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball

#DirtyPoolPodcast #FASTPinball #PinballHardware #PinballCommunity #PinballLife #PinballMachine #HomebrewPinball #ArcadeLife #RetroGaming #PinballAddict #GamingCommunity #PinballEnthusiast #ArcadeCulture #PinballWizard #ArcadeGames #GamingLovers #PinballDesign #TechTalk #GamingHistory #PinballInnovation #Electromechanical #PinballEngineering #MakerCommunity #GameDevelopment #PinballRestoration #BoutiquePinball #OpenSourcePinball #PinballTales

00:00:00 - Intro

00:00:10 - Surprise Thursday episode, Homebrew Week, and the free sound effects kit with Imoto at Marco; chat might glitch.

00:01:17 - Guest intro: Aaron Davis of FAST Pinball.

00:02:23 - Why FAST started—platform-builder mindset and maker movement spark.

00:03:31 - Pinball as “STEM in a box,” learning by building with partner Dave Beecher (totally not a robot).

00:04:45 - Programming as creative choreography—logic tied to experience.

00:06:45 - Homebrew freedom: no licensors, weird ideas that push the platform.

00:08:50 - Early FAST nights soldering with Dave, the first boards coming alive.

00:10:59 - Gen-one form factor stays similar; modular IO boards shown on camera.

00:12:10 - Latency handled in hardware on the nodes—switches to coils without round-trips.

00:13:30 - ARM choice and hardware abstraction—swap chips later but keep behavior.

00:15:05 - Future-proofing for collectors, reliability focus, “Is Dave a robot?” gag.

00:18:10 - Family tavern Royal Flush memory; Dad becomes a replacement ramp maker.

00:20:00 - Quick shop tour setup, lineup includes Predator, Dune, and Labyrinth.

00:23:30 - Three programming bays; friends and kids help with QC, ESD trays on baker’s racks.

00:26:20 - Running from home spaces with low overhead, always on video calls.

00:27:56 - What’s next: inductive switches, end-of-line test fixtures to save OEMs time.

00:28:56 - Spooky question, door open to anyone; Pinball Brothers Predator port story.

00:31:24 - Documentation philosophy: additive, not breaking; FAST serial is easy to target.

00:32:58 - Favorite homebrew is the one in front of you.

00:33:58 - Tariffs and parts availability, multi-site manufacturing to avoid blockers.

00:36:50 - Stateside runs and the end-of-line “fort,” programming at the factory.

00:38:10 - Fuse question: smart power filter board plus on-board polyfuses and keyed connectors.

00:40:55 - Assembly mix: US, China, Italy. Tips for new homebrewers—make friends and add accountability.

00:41:56 - Predator road trip route to Expo via Electric Bat.

00:42:48 - RJ45 carries power and data, not standard PoE but similar expectations.

00:43:59 - FAST origins timeline: side project turns serious pre-COVID.

00:45:40 - IP and homebrew—market confusion risk, depends on the license holder.

00:49:35 - Indie film analogy for smaller makers, “invention marketing” over time.

00:52:40 - Future: smaller, interesting runs; friendly one-upmanship inspires better games.

00:53:45 - Wiring kits and cable making, crimp/strip machines to ease new builders.

Brad Albright is the creative force behind the 2D layered art of Winchester Mystery House, bringing the entire cabinet, playfield, and backglass to life with his signature dimensional style. His work bridges vintage illustration and modern surrealism—capturing the mansion’s eerie beauty while still keeping it fun and tactile.

In this episode, Brad talks about how his multi-layered approach evolved into the game's distinct look, the artistic choices behind key imagery, and the challenge of turning real-world architecture into pinball storytelling.

🔺 More from Brad Albright:

📷 instagram.com/bradalbright

🛒 shop.albrightillustration.com coupon: EXPO25

🌐 AlbrightIllustration.com

🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:

📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball

📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball

📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball

📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball

00:00 – Intro

01:10 – Brad’s path from corporate design to pinball art

03:00 – Discovering pinball again and creative freedom

04:30 – Early poster work and nostalgia in his style

06:00 – First homebrew projects and lessons learned

07:20 – Transition to Winchester and first art challenges

09:00 – Using real photos and Google Earth of the mansion

10:40 – Forced perspective tricks and player angle tests

12:30 – Finding the right color tone for the playfield

14:10 – The ghost wisps concept and spirit color design

16:00 – Integrating the floor plan as a visual blueprint

17:40 – No AI used and keeping the art fully human

18:40 – Working closely with Karl DeAngelo on feedback

20:00 – Code names and the evolving playfield style

21:40 – Brad’s changing process and constant reinvention

23:00 – Using Clip Studio Paint and 3D references

25:00 – Designing Sarah Winchester for the backglass

27:00 – Victorian themes and authentic stained glass

29:00 – Easter eggs and historical callouts on the playfield

31:00 – Keeping cabinet and plastics visually unified

33:00 – Scaling cabinet art to banners and shows

35:00 – Collaboration with Joshua Clay on interior lighting

37:00 – Sound design and matching tones with gameplay

39:00 – Ghost box visibility and player height testing

41:00 – Apron redesign and printed numbering choice

43:00 – Integrating sculptures with flat plastics

45:00 – Logo design and Blake’s contribution

47:00 – Wooden layered artwork and Hitchcock piece

49:00 – How pinball collaboration changed Brad’s approach

51:00 – Jeff explains the origin of the Great Pyramid

53:00 – Brad plugs his store and social handles

55:00 – Audience Q&A and Barrels of Fun transparency

57:00 – Complimenting the game’s UI and darker screen art

59:00 – Final thanks and discussion of Brad’s machines

61:00 – New Texas arcade shoutout and closing raid

#DirtyPoolPinball #WinchesterMysteryHouse #BarrelsOfFun #BradAlbright #PinballArt #PinballDesign #PinballMachine #PinballPodcast #DirtyPoolPodcast #ArtOfPinball #ArcadeCulture #RetroGaming #ClassicGaming #PinballCollectors #IndiePinball #PinballAddict #PinballLife #GamingCommunity #ArcadeLife #GamingCulture #PinballHistory #BehindTheScenes #CollectiblePinball #ArcadeCollectors #PinballWizard #PinballInterview #GameArt #Illustration #2DArt #PinballPassion

The next stop in our Winchester Mystery House series introduces Eric Priepke — the software engineer and programmer behind the house’s mind-bending code. From scripting the complex logic that ties every haunted room together to balancing the chaotic layers of light, sound, and animation, Eric helped the house come alive in ways that only a true programmer could appreciate. His precision work is what makes each mode flow seamlessly into the next, turning chaos into a ghostly symphony of logic.

🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:

📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball

📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@dirtypoolpinball

📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball

📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball

00:00:00 – Introducing Eric Priepke and the brains behind Winchester’s code

00:01:07 – Falling into pinball from early computer life and ISP work

00:03:22 – Color DMD days and the puzzle-solving mindset that shaped him

00:05:50 – From Cactus Canyon rewrite to meeting Scott Danesi at Expo

00:07:29 – How Spooky Pinball led to Barrels of Fun and Rick and Morty

00:08:41 – Keeping passion alive when creative work becomes a job

00:09:52 – Transitioning from Dune to Winchester and tackling room logic

00:12:21 – Inside the Mission Pinball Framework and its pros and limits

00:14:52 – Making complex lighting and display code work efficiently

00:16:55 – Open-source curiosity vs. licensed reality – why code stays closed

00:18:44 – Lighting design teamwork with Trent and crafting attract modes

00:20:08 – Power efficiency tricks using RGBW LEDs and white channels

00:21:22 – Texture memory juggling for dual displays and transparency limits

00:24:10 – Taming the turntable – how to spin safely without chaos

00:26:49 – First seeing Winchester fully dressed at Expo and initial awe

00:28:24 – Balancing updates across Labyrinth, Dune, and Winchester

00:29:58 – How good is Eric at pinball? (And Jeff’s scale of doom)

00:31:00 – Tall people, low doorways, and genetic pinball theories

00:33:06 – Why both hate video modes and love mechanical mini-games

00:35:10 – Handling airballs and impossible switch orders in real pinball

00:38:09 – Lighting philosophy – purposeful, not constant spectacle

00:39:39 – Spirit Energy mode – turning a multiplier into a sensory moment

00:45:00 – How audio collaboration reshaped Barrels’ internal workflow

00:46:20 – Learning the audio side – Eric on trusting Jeff’s instincts

00:47:24 – David Van Es drops in – team gratitude and Expo reflections

00:48:19 – Coding empathy – making early gameplay rewarding for everyone

00:50:05 – Advice for coders who want to cross into pinball

00:51:04 – Hidden features still to come – yes, more flashers are coming

00:53:13 – 3 000 plays later – feedback loops and show-floor lessons

00:54:23 – Dune’s quiet comeback – how word of mouth changed minds

00:56:02 – Running down Eric’s 12-game collection in 30 seconds flat

00:59:35 – The Raven thing...

01:00:46 – Would he rather own Raven or Bone Busters? The answer burns bridges

01:01:35 – Closing thoughts – why he codes, creates, and keeps building worlds

#DirtyPoolPinball #WinchesterMysteryHouse #BarrelsOfFun #PinballProgramming #GameCode #EricPriepke #PinballDesign #HauntedPinball #PinballCommunity #PinballMachine #CodeLogic #PinballLife #ArcadeCulture #PinballWizard #GamingCulture #RetroGaming #PinballAddict #PinballSoftware #DirtyPoolPodcast #HauntedHousePinball #CodedByEric #PinballDev #ArcadeGaming #PinballMinds #BehindTheCode #MeetTheTeam #PinballEnthusiast #GameLogic

The first in a new series diving into the artists, engineers, and mad scientists behind Winchester Mystery House. We sit down with UI artist, 3D modeller, and graphic designer Joshua Clay to talk about what it takes to shape the look and feel of Barrels of Fun’s most ambitious game yet. From haunting interface layouts to the subtle textures that bring the mansion’s ghostly charm to life — this episode opens the door to the minds that built the house.

🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:

📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball

📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@dirtypoolpinball

📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball

📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball

00:00:00 - Cold open and the idea behind “Meet the Team…”

00:01:02 - Introducing Joshua Clay and his creative role

00:02:11 - Why the Winchester Mystery House fits pinball perfectly

00:03:05 - From Dune’s desert to Winchester’s hallways: shifting tone

00:04:09 - Building rooms from reference photos and architectural plans

00:05:02 - How to give each room personality through 3D lighting

00:06:17 - Modeling tricks learned from gaming UI projects

00:07:25 - Adapting mobile design instincts to pinball readability

00:08:13 - The rotating turntable—what it adds to the gameplay experience

00:09:04 - Getting motion and texture right on the spinning floor

00:10:27 - Collaboration between 3D art and mechanical design

00:11:18 - Music, sound, and visuals syncing across modes

00:12:35 - Ghost shader experiments and the “spectral fog” look

00:14:10 - The eerie charm of the planchette animation

00:15:39 - Why Winchester’s visual tone avoids clichés of “haunted” games

00:16:53 - Giving players orientation through UI glow and camera framing

00:18:05 - Why the team went pre-rendered instead of real-time

00:19:12 - Tools of the trade—Blender pipelines, lighting templates, and asset reuse

00:20:26 - Voice-over direction and the concept of a haunted tour guide

00:22:01 - Early concepts that didn’t make the cut (and why)

00:23:15 - Using color cues for different areas of the mansion

00:25:07 - The challenge of layering UI over a busy playfield

00:27:14 - When readability trumps realism in pinball design

00:29:46 - Working with Karl DeAngelo to balance clarity and mystery

00:32:02 - Ghost animations that behave differently per room

00:34:10 - Special effects inspired by old horror films

00:36:20 - How shadows became storytelling devices

00:39:33 - Scene transitions that match game rhythm and music beats

00:42:18 - The evolution of the match sequence on the planchette

00:45:41 - Fine-tuning glow intensity for llighting

00:47:50 - Making each mode feel like its own short film

00:50:11 - Expo debut and reactions from players seeing the visuals live

00:53:06 - Last-minute bug hunts and shader optimizations

00:55:39 - Lessons learned moving from still renders to gameplay integration

00:58:12 - The emotional payoff: when the house feels alive

01:00:27 - What Joshua’s most proud of in the final build

01:03:19 - Looking ahead

01:05:46 - Closing reflections and the philosophy behind good pinball design

01:07:20 - Credits, laughter, and post-show wrap-up

#DirtyPoolPinball #WinchesterMysteryHouse #BarrelsOfFun #Pinball #PinballMachine #PinballCommunity #PinballPodcast #PinballInterview #GameDesign #3DModeling #UIArt #GameArt #HauntedHouse #RetroGaming #Arcade #PinballLife #PinballTalk #ArcadeCulture #GamingCommunity #PinballDesigner #GamingArt #HauntedPinball #GameGraphics #BehindTheScenes #PinballAddict #ArtOfPinball #PinballHistory #PinballWorld #PinballStory

For months, we’ve been quietly building something inside the walls of Barrels of Fun. The doors are finally open.

Introducing Winchester Mystery House Pinball, the next major release from Barrels of Fun, designed by Karl DeAngelo in his debut as a pinball designer. This behind-the-scenes feature pulls back the curtain on the months of development that went into the game’s haunting atmosphere, from the music and sound design I created to directing the voice-over sessions that bring the house’s ghostly history to life.

Karl and I sit down Talking Heads style to share how the project came together, with exclusive footage, production notes, and some of the surprises we built into the final game.

This game is a true labor of love from the entire team at Barrels of Fun — artists, programmers, and engineers all pushing to create something that isn’t safe or formulaic. It’s a bold step into a world that doesn’t rely on a major IP, and instead builds its own haunted legend from the ground up. People have been asking for a non-IP based pinball game, and this one delivers. Winchester Mystery House is everything we love about the genre — strange, atmospheric, unpredictable — and proof of what can happen when a small license gives us the room to get weird and make something special.

The machine will make its public debut at Pinball Expo on October 16, and this is your first look inside.

00:00 - Intro

00:22 - Barrels of Fun Game 3 - The Winchester Mystery House

01:00 - My role as the composer and sound designer

01:17 - Minchester

01:25 - Why did you make this IP instead of *insert rumored game*.

02:11 - Karl DeAngelo made a seriously fun game.

02:34 - Karl loves haunted houses.

03:34 - Brief overview of the 2 main mechs.

03:58 - Rotating Halls turntable (Mech 1)

04:36 - Cool Sound

04:40 - Dirty Pool likes inline drops.

04:52 - Dirty Pool also can't remember Flash Gordon (The Red One).

05:25 - Pepper's Ghost Hologram Display (Mech 2)

06:25 - How exploring the game works / building room values through travel.

08:11 - Not a safe game, filled with character.

08:35 - Yamaha YM2151... not 2024.

08:47 - Brief history of FM synthesis in games, and how it shaped the sound of WMH.

09:11 - Helping new players... Room color codes / in game tutorial

10:11 - Bash podcast plug.

10:27 - Apron is a fully interactive part of the experience.

10:51 - Karl's approach to designing his first pinball machine.

12:11 - Karl's giant design document.

12:31 - Not being afraid to make changes to modes to maximize fun.

13:41 - Come see us at Expo and play the game!

13:51 - Making pinball have personality again.

14:28 - Secret / Not So Secret Things

15:02 - "Unintentional Marketing ploy" - I guess it is marketing if I'm talking about it.

15:22 - What is in the game at launch!

16:50 - Crash course list of features in the game.

17:50 - The team has been busting ass to find bugs and polish WMH.

18:20 - Eric's a !#?@% / "David Van Es gives Eric a raise."

18:45 - Thank you for trusting us to make this game.

19:01 - Bad launch coverage, and our approach of a transparent talking heads video.

19:21 - That's it Karl?!

19:30 - We'll have 4 games at Expo. COME PLAY.

19:51 - Peppers Ghost looks weak in filmed footage, looks way cooler in person.

20:09 - Karl sucks at Praising the Great Pyramid.

20:29 - Bye.

🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid

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#DirtyPoolPinball #BarrelsOfFun #WinchesterMysteryHouse #PinballExpo #KarlDeAngelo #PinballDesign #BehindTheScenes #PinballMachine #PinballReveal #SoundDesign #VoiceActing #PinballCommunity #HauntedHouse #PinballMusic #MakingOf #RetroGaming #Arcade #PinballLife #GameReveal #PinballAddict #PinballTales #ArcadeCulture #PinballArt #PinballCollectors #PinballProduction #GamingHistory #ArcadeScene #DirtyPoolPodcast #PinballEnthusiast

Rob Berk has been the face behind Pinball Expo since 1985, curating a gathering that’s become the longest-running pinball show on the planet. From hosting early designers who rarely shared stories in public, to shaping the culture of how collectors, vendors, and fans come together, Rob’s influence is unmatched. We dig into what it’s like to create an event of this scale, how the Guinness World Record for largest pinball collection came about, and why Expo still matters decades later.

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00:00:00 - Introduction and welcoming Rob Berk to the podcast

00:04:00 - Early Expo vendors and Fun Games arcade connections

00:08:00 - The passion and drive behind running Expo

00:12:00 - Walking through the Pinball Expo website details

00:16:00 - Expo growth with vendor numbers rising past 50 booths

00:20:00 - Touring Rob’s warehouse and sharing collector stories

00:24:00 - Massive support from collectors and community impact

00:28:00 - Researching and inviting special guests for Expo talks

00:32:00 - Audience experiences sitting up front at Expo events

00:36:00 - The growing pinball hobby and new industry participants

00:40:00 - Stories of transporting machines and parts by plane

00:44:00 - Global connections and fans supporting Expo remotely

00:48:00 - The Fireside Chat format and sharing stories on stage

00:52:00 - Highlights on rare games like Twilight Zone and streaming mentions

00:56:00 - Encouragement for attendees to make the trip to Expo

01:00:00 - Final reflections and closing questions for Rob Berk

01:04:00 - Wrapping up plugs and acknowledgments for Expo

01:06:00 - Closing thanks and farewell from the Dirty Pool Podcast

#DirtyPoolPodcast #PinballExpo #RobBerk #PinballHistory #PinballCollector #PinballCommunity #ArcadeCulture #PinballEnthusiast #PinballLife #RetroGaming #ClassicPinball #ArcadeHistory #PinballMachines #PinballWizard #PinballAddict #GamingCommunity #PinballEvents #PinballCulture #PinballPodcast #GuinnessWorldRecord

Tom Graf of Fox Cities Pinball joins the Dirty Pool Podcast to share what it takes to set up and run tournaments without losing your cool. From the logistics of organizing events to the art of staying calm when things get hectic, Tom breaks down his approach and why his relaxed style works so well. We also touch on his background and the Fox Cities Pinball stream, rounding out a look at how one of the community’s most chill directors keeps things fun and fair.

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00:00:00 - Intro

00:00:16 - Welcoming Tom Graf and his Fox Cities story

00:04:24 - Streaming local leagues and the jump to District 82

00:07:50 - Staying calm when internet crashes during tournaments

00:11:32 - The art of keeping players zen on stream

00:15:49 - Building a reputation for chill tournament directing

00:19:32 - How rules knowledge shapes smooth event management

00:23:32 - Behind the curtain when streams and rulings collide

00:26:42 - Sharing lessons learned from streaming mishaps

00:29:53 - Dealing with machines breaking mid-competition without panic

00:33:32 - Why transparency and fairness matter for all players

00:37:41 - Talking through rulings instead of escalating tension

00:41:08 - Creating a tournament culture where players feel supported

00:44:50 - Learning to balance competing roles as player and TD

00:49:05 - The unique vibe of Wisconsin’s pinball scene

00:52:12 - How streaming shaped Tom’s approach to directing tournaments

00:55:47 - The Fox Cities community and keeping events accessible

00:59:30 - What makes a truly memorable tournament experience

01:03:12 - Future goals streaming directing and personal balance

01:07:00 - Wrapping up with final thoughts and gratitude

#DirtyPoolPinball #Pinball #DirtyPoolPodcast #FoxCitiesPinball #TournamentPinball #CompetitivePinball #PinballWizard #ArcadeLife #PinballCommunity #PinballTalk #PinballTournament #GamingCommunity #PinballStream #RetroGaming #ArcadeCulture #PinballMachine #ClassicGaming #PinballEnthusiast #PinballAddict #ArcadeGames