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Episode 293: Timmy Page Sexton

PodcastAnalysis updated 2d ago38 min listen
From the creator

Tim Sexton gives us all the details on his rules design and software for Led Zeppelin from Stern Pinball.

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Highlights

  • Led Zeppelin features 10 full-length licensed songs with synchronized expression lighting tied to music in real-time
  • Song modes feature dynamic shot arrows that change with song structure (verses, choruses, solos), not static throughout
  • The Icarus X multiplier compounds by multiplying individual target bank multiplier values (1.0x to 2.4x range per bank), potentially reaching 28.2x or higher
  • Electric Magic toy (Premium/LE exclusive) uses an optical spinner like Beatles pinball, with magnetic grab mechanism pulling ball below playfield
  • Tour Multiball has four variations (UK Tour 1971, USA 1975, Earl's Court, USA 1977) with different objectives that carry over jackpot values between tour modes
  • World Tour Multiball is a six-ball multiball reached after completing four progressive tour multiballs
  • No multiballs stack on top of each other; Zeppelin and Tour multiballs cannot be played simultaneously
  • Steve Ritchie attended two Led Zeppelin live shows in the 70s in California
  • The game uses live concert footage from 70s Led Zeppelin performances compiled across all 10 song background videos
  • Minimum 10-second ball saver enforced during multiball start to prevent cheap drains when balls enter from trough

Notable quotes

“I've tried my best to recreate that live experience in a pinball machine, and I think Steve and I wanted to go for that with this game.”
Tim Sexton
“We wanted to have a new type of lighting system that was totally in sync with the music...I want them as bright as possible...I would like them RGB...we went to these on the premium in LE...expression lighting in the side and the blades and the cabinet for this game.”
Tim Sexton
“Every verse has the same set of shot arrows. Every chorus has the same set of shot arrows in a song. So actually, you're actually creating more kind of modes in that song, and there's new sets of rules in that song.”
Tim Sexton
“I wanted to just get something a little bit zanier in there, like a 1.1x multiplier. And how long does that multiplier last for? You build up the time by shooting either on the pro, the hermit target, or the hotshot ramp on the premium and LE.”
Tim Sexton
“It's not like a subway where you just shoot in, right? It's like a slow, just back down into the playfield. I like it.”
Jeff Teolis (host)
“I just want everyone to get a chance to make some shots in multiball. But then Keith saw that I did it on Black Knight and he's like, oh, that's amazing.”
Tim Sexton
“There's never been a Led Zeppelin pinball machine before. I'm sure people have wanted it. People have talked about wanting it for a really, really long time.”
Tim Sexton
“I don't have to do all the work of getting that. But...I got to thank Jody Dankberg for actually getting it done. He's our director of licensing here.”
Tim Sexton

Entities

  • Stern Pinball· company
  • Earl's Court· event
  • Avengers· game
  • Beatles· game
  • Black Knight· game
  • Jurassic Park· game
  • Led Zeppelin· game
  • Pinball Profile· organization
  • Dean Grover· person
  • Jeff Teolis· person
  • Jimmy Page· person
  • Jody Dankberg· person
  • John Bonham· person
  • John Paul Jones· person
  • Josh Sharp· person
  • Keith Elwin· person
  • Raymond [Davidson]· person
  • Rick Nagel· person
  • Robert Plant· person
  • Steve Ritchie· person
  • Tim Sexton· person
  • Electric Magic Toy· product
  • Expression Lighting· product

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