Episode 321: Pinball Expo 2021 recap
A perfect way to celebrate 5 years of Pinball Profile! Spending time with friends at Pinball Expo at their new location just north of Chicago. Hear from many!
Highlights
- Sonic the Hedgehog Pinball homebrew by Ryan McQuaid was a major draw at Expo and held up well under extended gameplay
- Legends of Valhalla deluxe edition allocation increased from 300 to 200+ units due to international distributor feedback
- Legends of Valhalla was completed in 10 months from conception to Expo release
- Brian Eddy was absent from pinball design for approximately 20 years before returning with Stranger Things and Mandalorian
- Stern pinball games typically take 12-14 months from start to finish
- Mandalorian licensing was kept quiet and surprised the community
- Rick Nagel and Jeremy Packer are credited as co-designers on Godzilla alongside Keith Elwin
- Joel's Boys Night Out homebrew is based on a movie that Joel wrote, co-directed, and shot
Notable quotes
“It's just, it makes a sense of pride that we can deliver something with the great quality than American Pinball and the serviceability that we have.”
“I was the Where's Waldo of pinball designers for 20 years, I think. But, yeah, I always loved pinball.”
“Me and Dwight don't talk, so you can't get anything out of us.”
“If anyone out there has the power to do that, hire me. I will move to Chicago and make you excellent games.”
“I would go with Led Zeppelin. It's a new lighter stern cabinet.”
Entities
- American Pinball· company
- Chicago Pinball Expo 2021· event
- Boys Night Out· game
- Godzilla· game
- Legends of Valhalla· game
- Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball· game
- The Mandalorian· game
- Poor Man's Pinball Podcast· organization
- Brian Eddy· person
- David Fix· person
- Dwight Sullivan· person
- Frank Giolotti· person
- Glenn Wechter· person
- Jeff Teolis· person
- Jeremy Packer· person
- Joel· person
- Josh Kugler· person
- Keith Elwin· person
- Michael Grant· person
- Miranda· person
- Rick Nagel· person
- Ryan McQuaid· person
- Scott Gullix· person
- Stephen Bowden· person
- Tim Lee· person
More from Pinball Profile
→ All content from Pinball Profile
Episode 439: Emily Reilhan
Talk about a banner year…and it’s only June! Emily has won everything under the sun so far in 2026 as you’ll hear, including the Women’s World Championship, the WNACS, the first ever Women’s...
Episode 438: David Morris of Phantom Amusement
If you’re ever in Manitoba, Canada, check out their growing pinball scene. David talks about the birth of the creating a pinball environment with the Manitoba Pinball League, the MPC, his arcade...
Episode 437: The Pinball Capital’s Francis Wisniewski
Good luck this weekend with the Grand Opening, including a Roger Sharpe appearance, a signed Bank Shot machine giveaway and more! Find out about this huge arcade in Stone Park, Illinois, and hear how...