Ep 165: Dune Pinball with David Van Es and Brian Savage | Barrels of Fun!

David Van Es and Brian Savage from Barrels of Fun discuss their second game, Dune Pinball, revealing their design philosophy rooted in film/TV production methodology. They explain how they secured the Dune license from Legendary Entertainment before Dune: Part Two was even filmed, their iterative 'blue sky' design process, and specific mechanical innovations including the signature pain box one-handed recovery mechanic and the Shai-Hulud sandworm toy that consumes and regurgitates the ball. The conversation emphasizes their focus on storytelling 'under glass,' licensing complexity, and how community feedback shaped design evolution from Labyrinth to Dune.