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The Flipside Pinball Podcast
The Flipside Pinball Podcast
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Episode 15: “The BIGGEST Pinball Expo 2024 SURPRISES and DISAPPOINTMENTS”

PodcastAnalysis updated 3d ago1 hr 11 min listen
From the creator

In this episode of The FlipSide, Cale and Rachel from Electric Bat Arcade and Jamie from Wormhole Pinball join us to break down everything we saw at Pinball Expo 2024! From jaw-dropping reveals to...

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Highlights

  • Alice in Wonderland has sculpted (non-flat) plastics that won't last on location but are handpainted and visually impressive.
  • Alice in Wonderland's upper playfield magnets either didn't work or weren't coded; players couldn't access intended upper playfield features.
  • Avatar multiball is unlimited (out-of-balls), allowing even casual players to play for extended periods, which is problematic for location operators.
  • Avatar has no audio in video clips despite being essential for movie-based themes; code update is planned to add audio.
  • A sub-$1,000 pinball machine prototype (1UP-affiliated, Alice-themed) was exhibited with no functional playfield, only a black wood placeholder.
  • The sub-$1K machine uses a smaller ball size (not full-size pinball) and is intended for Kickstarter funding and retail (Target) availability.
  • Stern's booth had padded red carpet at Expo 2024, but Venom (last year) did not, contrasting with Bond (two years prior) which had carpet.
  • Electric Bat Arcade ordered a Stern Metallica machine (either Premium or LE tier available).
  • Retro Ralph achieved a game-closing score (GC'd) on Metallica despite identifying himself as an inconsistent player.
  • A 'Mothership' homebrew game larger than Godzilla was shown but won't be playable until next year's Expo.

Notable quotes

“The magnets didn't work. So I don't know if they broke here or if they're not coded. I don't know what's going on.”
Retro Ralph
“I waited 45 minutes to play a two ball game and I couldn't get up top.”
Retro Ralph
“You can't make a pinball machine with physical parts in it for less than $1,000 and make money. Like I don't think you can even make the machine for that much even in bulk.”
Kale
“If you're gonna go to a trade show and you're gonna market your new product there... I don't think I'd go there with an empty cabinet because I want to get people hyped.”
Retro Ralph
“They're like, 'No, no, no, no, sir, we're not ready yet.' ... 'How is this going to work?'”
Jamie (paraphrased from Wormhole Pinball)
“It looks like a one up at Costco. It's just like covered with shit. Yeah. It looks like kids with Cheetos and pizza have been all over it.”
Hosts discussing sub-$1K machine
“I feel like that would be a better fair representation of what a pinball machine is.”
Retro Ralph (comparing Stern Home Edition to budget machine concept)
“The only way I can conceive they could get away with this is if there's just like some very rudimentary stuff and the only actual moving parts are the flipper mechs.”
Kale
“You breathe in through your nose, fill your lungs, hold for a few seconds, then breathe out very slowly through your mouth... it tricks your body into thinking you are calm.”
Retro Ralph (discussing tournament stress management)
“Stern Home Edition costs $4,700 or whatever it costs... I cannot make a pinball machine with physical parts in it for less than $1,000 and make money.”
Kale

Entities

  • 1UP· company
  • Jersey Jack Pinball· company
  • Spooky Pinball· company
  • Stern Pinball· company
  • Stumblr· company
  • Pinball Expo 2024· event
  • Alice in Wonderland· game
  • Avatar· game
  • Bond· game
  • Metallica· game
  • Mothership· game
  • Stern Home Edition· game
  • Sub-$1,000 Alice Machine· game
  • Venom· game
  • X-Men· game
  • Hans· person
  • Jamie· person
  • Kale· person
  • Rachel· person
  • Retro Ralph· person
  • Zach Sharp· person
  • Electric Bat Arcade· venue
  • Wormhole Pinball· venue

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