Pinball Minority Report

*Note that Erika's Internet had some issues and corrupted some of the video so for those watching the video there are a few sections where her video cuts out. Steve Ritchie has retired from pinball design, so we look back at the Master of Flow's career, from Atari and Williams to Stern and Jersey Jack. We also recap Chicago Pinball Expo 2026, from Erika's road trip with Aaron from FAST Pinball to...

In this episode of Pinball Minority Report, Erika and Manu sit down with Elizabeth Gieske, Transformers lead software developer at Stern Pinball. Elizabeth was a tournament player before she was a developer. We get into how a college Pac-Man assignment led her to pinball, what her Stern interview was really like, and why a confusing game is the game’s fault, not yours (it’s all about doors). She a...

Manu and Erika talk about a once-in-a-lifetime visit to a private pinball collection: 100+ games, pristine wood rails, 1950s and 60s electromechanical arcade pieces, and a one-of-a-kind wood rail homebrew. We also cover our plans for Pinball Expo in Schaumburg, IL, then answer listener questions on shots vs. toys, home maintenance costs, and running a Multimorphic P3 on location. ⚠️ DISCLAIMER: PL...

Erika and Manu are back with pinball news, stories, and a recap of the Rocky Mountain Pinball Showdown in Denver! This week: Stern's new Fallout pinball (Pro & Premium hands-on impressions), a Pokémon code update, Zen Pinball FX, Jason Zahler's historic three-peat as IFPA World Champion, and Erika's on-the-ground report from Denver. 🔗 Links mentioned: Pinballdex (by Nick Multiball) PAX West S...

This week on Pinball Minority Report, Manu and Erika are joined by rules designer and industry veteran Steven Bowden (FunWithBonus) for a deep dive into CNC Dan's real-life Space Cadet Pinball build and whether the classic Windows game can actually be translated into a physical machine. Steven talks about Deeproot Pinball's unreleased Space Cadet-inspired project designed by Barry Oursler, shares...

Manu and Erika dig into the economics of the pinball hobby: what it actually costs to keep up with new releases, why the market has shifted from arcades to home collectors, and whether pinball would even survive without licensed IPs like Godzilla, Harry Potter, and Jaws (spoiler: 78 of the current Pinside Top 100 are licensed). Then, an honest look at Wonderland Amusements' budget home machine, Al...

The conversation covers various aspects of the pinball industry, including pinball news, community engagement, and the impact of pinball shows on game launches. It delves into the excitement and anticipation surrounding new pinball releases and the influence of community events on the industry. It explores the emotional connection to music pins and the impact of music on pinball gameplay. Addition...

The Pinball Minority Report podcast features a conversation with Imoto Arcade, co-owner of Captain Crazy's Paradise in Foley, Alabama, and the creator of the Imoto Pinball Challenge. The discussion covers Imoto's pinball origin story, her journey into the pinball industry, and the significance of pinball in her life. The conversation also delves into the challenges and excitement of pinball, as we...

The conversation covers the latest pinball news, including the release of Sonic by Jersey Jack Pinball and the impact of different pinball companies' strategies on the market. It also delves into the influence of licensing, limited runs, and the outreach of pinball companies to YouTubers for promotion. The conversation covers pinball marketing strategies, the considerations for owning a pinball ma...

Erika and Manu discuss their experiences at the Golden State Pinball Festival and Fanime, highlighting the community involvement, pinball tournaments, and cosplay culture. They also share insights from the impact of pinball on the anime community. The conversation also covers the distinction between operators and home buyers, the challenges of pinball design and serviceability, and the discussion...

In this episode, Manu and Erika discuss the true story of Sarah Winchester, pinball at FANIME, and the LGR pinball machine. They delve into the debunking of the Winchester Mystery House story and share insights about the Fanime convention. Erika discusses her excitement about bringing pinball to the Fanime convention and the impact it will have. They also talk about the outreach efforts within pin...

Erika and Manu discuss their pinball journey, share experiences with pinball machines, and talk about the upcoming Golden State Pinball Festival. The conversation covers a variety of pinball-related topics, including pinball events, pinball Reddit, and a pinball comic. It also delves into the recreation of Roger Sharpe's famous shot and the development of a homebrew pinball machine. Takeaways Pinb...

Erika and Manu discuss their experiences at the Texas Pinball Festival, comparing it to other pinball festivals and highlighting the games and innovations showcased by Spooky Pinball, Multimorphic, and American Pinball. They also touch on the rebranding of American Pinball and its partnership with Electric Playground. The conversation delves into the Pinball Expo experience, highlighting the excit...

Erika and Manu, pinball enthusiasts from California, share their journey into pinball and filmmaking, discussing their experiences and plans for 'The Pinball Minority Report' podcast. Takeaways Passion for Pinball Introduction to Pinball Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Purpose 01:19 Erika's Background and Pinball Journey 02:22 Manu's Pinball History and Skills 03:38 Discussing Pinball Pass...