Dirtypool Pinball - PODCAST - An Exploration Of The Pinball Industry

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj

Oct 1, 2026 1 hr 9 min

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep40 - Keith Elwin: Amateur Pinball Player

Show notes

▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist

Keith Elwin joins the Dirty Pool Podcast to talk about his path from competitive player to game designer, how Randy helped pull him into pinball, and the way he approaches building a new machine from the earliest ideas forward.

We also talk about the pressure that comes with being called the best, the designers he looks up to, what defines Keith outside of pinball, obscure Steam games, and, most importantly what sandwich relates to each flipper skill.

🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj

#Pinball #KeithElwin #SternPinball #PinballPodcast #DirtyPoolPinball

Sep 22, 2026 1 hr 18 min

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep39 - Tasker Smith: A Quest for Pinball Mastery

Show notes

▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist

Tasker Smith joins the podcast to talk about his book Pinball: A Quest for Mastery and a bigger question behind it: can you actually learn pinball from a book?

We talk about what can and can’t be taught through text, how much of pinball comes from repetition and instinct, whether fundamentals translate from classic games to modern machines, and how Tasker decided what knowledge was important enough to put on the page.

We also get into practice, competition, ball control, and what it really means to get better at pinball.

🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj

#pinball #taskersmith #pinballpodcast #dirtypoolpinball

Sep 15, 2026 1 hr 10 min

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep38 - Joel & Jared Engelberth - Flip N Out Pinball

Show notes

▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist

Joel and Jared Engelberth join the Dirty Pool Podcast to talk about the evolution of their weekly Flip N Out Pinball stream, going from brothers with very different levels of pinball experience to hosting one of the most popular regular streams in the hobby.

We talk about Joel's early days in pinball media, Jared starting out as the pinball novice, how their relationship with Zach Meny and Flip N Out developed, getting early access to new games, working with manufacturers and designers, and giving honest opinions when thousands of dollars in purchasing decisions may be riding on them.

We also get into first impressions they've gotten wrong, games they disagree on, the inevitable "shill" accusations, balancing industry relationships with audience trust, and where pinball streaming goes from here.

🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj

#Pinball #PinballMachine #PinballPodcast #FlipNOutPinball #DirtyPoolPinball

Aug 26, 2026 1 hr 9 min

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep37 - Serge from Electric Bat - The Art of Pinball Commentary

Show notes

▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist

Serge from Electric Bat joins us for Podcast 37.

Serge has spent a lot of time behind the mic calling tournament pinball, so we wanted to dig into how he approaches it. How much homework goes into a broadcast? How do you explain a game without talking over it? What do you do when absolutely nothing interesting is happening?

Serge has a great perspective on the game from the other side of the glass, and this felt like a good excuse to finally get him on and talk about it. Plus he promised after I tricked him to play Bon Jovi after his trip to LA.

🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj

#pinball #dirtypoolpodcast #electricbat #pinballart #pinballcommunity #art #commentary

Aug 14, 2026 2 hr 12 min

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

Show notes

▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist

🕰️ 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:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj

#pinball #dirtypoolpodcast #ayscrimstudios #pinballart #pinballcommunity #art #hobbyart

Jul 14, 2026 1 hr 31 min

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

Show notes

▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist

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:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj

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

Jul 6, 2026 1 hr 26 min

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep34 - Jason Knapp of Knapp Arcade

Show notes

▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist

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:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj

📷 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

Jun 9, 2026 1 hr 16 min

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

Episode 1

Show notes

▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist

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:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj

📷 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 28, 2026 2 hr 18 min

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

Show notes

▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist

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:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj

📷 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 12, 2026 1 hr 18 min

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

Show notes

▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist

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:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj

📷 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

May 5, 2026 1 hr 5 min

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep30 - Kaite Martin and NYC Pinball

Show notes

▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist

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:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj

📷 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

Apr 28, 2026 1 hr 41 min

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

Show notes

▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist

💰 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:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj

📷 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

Apr 14, 2026 1 hr 9 min

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

Show notes

▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist

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:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj

📷 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

Mar 17, 2026 1 hr 13 min

Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep27 - Abe Flips - Mastering Pinball

Show notes

▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist

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: