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Episode 89 - Die on this Hill: Star Wars Episode One
PodcastAnalysis updated 3d ago1 hr 3 min listen
Highlights
- Star Wars Episode I was developed concurrently with Revenge from Mars on the Pinball 2000 platform in approximately 6-9 months
- The Pinball 2000 platform used computer keyboard switches for the action buttons, which George Gomez confirmed were extremely reliable
- Episode I Pinball ranks #253 on the all-time Pinside list
- The center shot rubber band mechanism with a switch behind it was determined to be the best-feeling prototype through testing
- The playfield art style mimics Drew Struzan's vintage movie poster aesthetic
- Episode I was designed by John Papaduke with software by Cameron Silver and Duncan Brown
- The game is approximately 3 inches shorter than standard pinball cabinets
- The Pepper's Ghost effect used in Episode I is difficult to appreciate through photography or video and requires in-person play
Notable quotes
“This game, it does speak for itself, but I guess not. So I will defend it.”
“It's kind of like a DeLorean. You're like, it's still cool. It's a piece of shit, exactly, but it's cool.”
“You have to be directly in front of it. It truly feels 3D when you play it.”
“What I miss about pinball in this era of pinball in a nutshell is I miss contemporary themes because they do act as time capsules.”
“If you're chasing, oh, wait, I understand why the manufacturers default to nostalgic games from 30 or 40 years ago because they've proven the test of time type of theory.”
“This game was slapped together by the marketing team not a pinball designer.”
“J-pop's worst game.”
“The Playfield has so little to do on it other than shoot the center bank. Rules are an afterthought.”
“If you want to play pinball you want to play pinball, if you want to watch a Star Wars movie watch Star Wars movie. This deck is a compromise on both aspects.”
“It is definitely an experience. Both the Pinball 2000 games are just unlike anything else so it's definitely something that if you're new to pinball it's like you've got to go play these things.”
Entities
- Jersey Jack Pinball (JJP)· company
- Pinball Brothers· company
- Spooky Pinball· company
- Stern Pinball· company
- Williams/Bally Williams· company
- Revenge from Mars· game
- Star Wars Episode I Pinball· game
- Next Level· organization
- Nudge Magazine· organization
- Alan· person
- Cameron Silver· person
- Caucasian Two-Step· person
- Drew Struzan· person
- Duncan Brown· person
- Gary Stern· person
- George Gomez· person
- Ian Jacoby· person
- John Papaduke (J-Pop/Papa Duke)· person
- Kevin O'Connor· person
- Pinball 2000· product
- Tilt: The Battle to Save Pinball· product
