Silverball Chronicles (TPN) - Pinball: Recent Episodes
David Dennis & Ron Hallett
Looking for a different pinball podcast which isn’t about current events or pinball news? Silverball Chronicles is a monthly podcast for the true pinball nerd that enjoys learning more about the complicated dynamics, politics and characters that created their favourite pinball machines. Join Ron and Dave as they stumble through pinball history mispronouncing names, chronicling designers, telling war stories, and digging up strange and obscure facts; all while paying homage to the hobby of pinball.
Manufacturing is hard. Pinball is hard and when you’re starting on the other side of the world from all the suppliers and skilled labour, it’s that much harder. COVID-19 did not help Haggis Pinball is the latest cautionary tale of a pinball start-up who promised big and initially delivered but ultimately succumbed to the pressures of the industry.
Join us this month while we talk about an IT guy who started a manufacturing company, what the heck is a celt, is innovation worth it, remaking old Ballys, COVID-19 production, red flags and no we won’t be doing Australian accents, and barbie jokes.
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/5ju8cu9aszrsitk7/Ep_40_-_Pinball_Down_Under_Part_1_-_Haggis_Pinball6mp7j.mp3
Multimorphic, Inc. manufactures the P3 Pinball Platform, a modern, physical-digital, multi-game pinball machine, as well as pinball machine control system products, such as the P-ROC and P3-ROC. Since 2009, Gerry Stellenberg and his crack team of engineers and software developers have created the first off-the-shelf pinball controller board for making your homebrew pinball machines, and changed the image of a multi-use pinball machine with the P3 Platform.
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/ta3c6kpf5v72ss4q/Ep_39_-_Multimorphic_is_Reshaping_Pinball820ur.mp3
Silverball Chronicles with David and Ron
Episode 38: By Golly It’s Bingo
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Silverball ChroniclesTopic Begins at 12:12
Bingo just isn’t the game you can play at a country fair or a sketchy gambling establishment. Bingo is also the big brother to today’s modern pinball. You’ll remember we spoke about Bingo machines and the issues they had in our Brief History of Pinball episode, but we figured Bingo needed its own episode. I mean, Roger Sharpe got two episodes.
Ron and Dave (mostly Dave) crack out their 1920’s voices as they dive into the world of one-balls, bingo, and 5-balls flipper games! We discuss Bingo vs. Bingo, touch on names you should know like the geniuses Lyn Durant and Don Hooker, Miami Beach’s risqué flyer, what is so attractive about Bingo, why are there no Gottlieb Bingos, and more!
Huge thanks to Nick Baldridge and the For Amusement Only Podcast for the content of this episode.
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/fzkqdx4y8h5jqden/Ep_38_-_By_Golly_Its_Bingo63jg2.mp3
Roger Sharpe is hailed as the Man who Saved the Game from our previous episode, but he did so much more! Roger has been involved in the birth of tournaments, the second rise of licensing, and mainstream journalism. He also has had a great film based on him and his relationship with his wife Ellen.
Join us as we talk about Rogers’s last pinball machine, Cyclopes, his stumble into becoming the Williams 1990s Licensing guru, his friendship with Steve Epstein, and his very good film!
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/96jc93b5wj9qgguu/Ep_37_-_Yes_More_Roger_Sharpe6othz.mp3
We’ve fought long and hard to avoid giving Roger Sharpe yet another ego-building podcast to spin his narrative and propaganda… but, here we are. Roger wrote about pinball. Played pinball. Promoted and evangelized pinball. Roger has been involved in the birth of tournaments, the second rise of licensing, and mainstream journalism. He also has had a great film based on him and his relationship with his wife Ellen.
Join us as we talk about Roger’s beginning, looking to buy a pinball machine, a thing that happened in a Court Room in the late 1970s, his pinball designs, the birth of tournament pinball, and his friendship with Steve Epstein.
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/65evt6/EP_36_-_The_Token_Roger_Sharpe_Episode93lpl.mp3
Silverball Chronicles with David and Ron
Episode 35 – The Capcom Debacle Part 2: Illinois PinBall Inc.
Want to Support the Show? Visit Our Patreon at http://www.patreon.com/silverballchronicles ; or pick up a tee shirt at
Silverball ChroniclesEpisode Summary
Last month we learned about Capcom, the video game company who wanted to get into the pinball industry and ride wave of popularity, just like Data East! It didn’t go well.
Even after Capcom disappeared, the lure of what could have been remained. That’s when we stumble upon a crazy collector and dreamer who ruined himself. Join us this month while we discover what happened to Capcom’s assets, tooling and making new parts vs. selling existing parts, more lawsuits, being a terrible business person or being a great guy, and a second crash and burn.
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/kzm5ac/Ep_34_-_The_Capcom_Debacle_Part_2_Illinois_Pin_Ball_Company7xbpv.mp3
Silverball Chronicles with David and Ron Episode 34: The Capcom Debacle Part 1
Want to Support the Show? Visit Our Patreon at http://www.patreon.com/silverballchronicles ; or pick up a tee shirt at
Silverball ChroniclesTopic Starts at 8:27
Episode Summary
Capcom was a video game company who wanted to get into the pinball industry and ride a wave of popularity, just like Data East! Sadly, they were a victim of wrong place, wrong time. Add to that a bunch of mismanagement, Python Angelo, various lawsuits, and well… you end up like Capcom Pinball.
Even after Capcom disappeared, the lure of what could have been remained, especially as we stumble upon a crazy collector and dreamer who ruined himself… but we will get into that in Part 2.
Join us this month while we discover why Capcom wanted to join pinball, who they bought to table to build machines, poaching talent from Williams, the lawsuits, and ultimately, the crash and burn.
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/7mxe7p/Ep_34_-_The_Capcom_Debacle_Part_18fwrz.mp3
Topic Starts at 9:10
Episode Summary
Joe Balcer is a name that some people know, and some people don’t. Joe spent his early beginnings at Sega Pinball, then Stern Pinball, and he basically helped start Jersey Jack Pinball. He’d then he started up another company called American Pinball. Joe has been around; he’s worked for many bosses in many companies, and he’s made some memorable layouts. Joe’s not necessarily known as a ‘high flow, quick ball movement’ kind of guy. His designs tend to be more stop and go or as some people like to call him, The King Of Clunk.
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/9nj36e/Ep_33_-_Joe_Balcer_-_The_King_of_Clunk83rx6.mp3
Silverball Chronicles BONUS: Our Top Pins
Join Ron and Dave in this Bonus Silverball Chronicles episode as they choose their favourite pinball machines made by featured pinball designers from previous episodes!
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/nw2bie/Bonus_Episode_-_Our_Top_Pins9niuz.mp3
John Borg is known for his distinctive style and approach to designing pinball machines. His design philosophy is as distinct as a fingerprint. ‘Borgie’ focuses on creating layouts that offer smooth flow and satisfying shots. He aims to design pinball machines that provide players with a sense of continuous motion and engaging gameplay. His layouts often feature well-integrated ramps, orbits, and habitrails that facilitate fast and exciting ball movement across the playfield. John also gets the coolest theme.
This month Dave and Ron talk about how cool John Borg is and why Dave is not, what John did after he left Stern in 2000 and what he did when he got back, developing his style, reusing elements, orbit spinners (yeah!), John’s themes, and what makes Borgie’s second kick at a pinball career the path of a modern pinball legend.
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/fb6z5m/Ep_32_-_Borgie_27ewdx.mp3
Gottlieb is viewed as the romantic electro-mechanical giant to many. The pinball machine atop the coin-op pedestal for all other manufacturers to reach for… but it was its god-tier status in the 1960s and early 1970s which would ultimately lead to its epic cratering in the 1980s. What led Gottlieb into the Mylstar Nosedive? Was … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 31: Pinball Is Dying Part 4 – What Led Gottlieb To The Mylstar Nosedive? →
Silverball Chronicles with David and Ron
Episode 30 – “Pinball’s Centenarian – Wayne Neyens”
Want to Support the Show? Visit Our Patreon at http://www.patreon.com/silverballchronicles or pick up a t-shirt at
Silverball ChroniclesTopic Starts at 9:10
Episode Summary
A Centenarian is someone linked to longevity, someone who has seen it all come and go, then be reinvented again. Wayne Neyens is pinball’s Centenarian; he was there at the beginning, and he was there when it ended… a couple of times… and he witnessed the rebirth we now see today before his passing at age 104. He was the last of his pinball generation, the last of the woodrail masters and the man who gave his whole life to making people smile at the silverball.
This month Dave and Ron discuss growing up in the Great Depression, 1930’s cubicles, Westerns, Jimmy Johnson, Harry Mabs, The Gottlieb – David Gottlieb, Wayne’s most popular games like Slick Chick and Kings and Queens, Add-A-Ball and Wedgeheads, the amazing artist Roy Parker AND we make fun 1940’s radio voices!
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/yp5tp8/Ep_30_-_Wayne_Neyens99khc.mp3
Silverball Chronicles with David and Ron
Episode 29 –– “Everything is Lit! Keith P Johnson and Jersey Jack Pinball”
Topic Starts at 10:50
Episode Summary
What can you say about Keith P Johnson? He has 4 of the top pinball machines in the Pinball Awards’ Hall of Fame. He coded some of the most revered and most panned pinball codes in our hobby. In addition, Keith was one of the most important pieces in designing the Jersey Jack operating system and building their philosophy around pinball code.
Join us this month as we discuss how Keith got into the pinball industry, his transition into full time rules designer, his Simpsons Pinball Party and Lord of the Rings masterpieces, leaving pinball only to be pulled back in, building the Jersey Jack operating system and JJPs philosophy on code… Everything is Lit his month!
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/m2pvu4/Ep_29_-_Everything_Is_Lit-_Keith_John_P_Johnson_and_JJP9lh8x.mp3
Silverball Chronicles with David and Ron
Episode 28: Pinball is Dying Part 3 – Bally-Midway
Want to Support the Show? Join Our Patreon and get early access to each episode: http://www.patreon.com/silverballchronicles
Topic Starts at 11:11
Episode Summary
It’s time to revisit our ‘Pinball Is Dying’ series. This ongoing series is made to depress and to delight. What do we mean by that? Well, the pinball industry and the hobby around it has always been fragile. It has ups and downs which during its history has swung violently. Brilliant minds have come and gone. Many have been crushed by the emotional weight of competition and the stress of impending layoffs.
Join us this month as we talk about the final Bally Manufacturing Corp games, really dumb corporate strategies, the art of an era, bodybuilding, terrible cabinet materials, a tangent for some reason about the MCU’s Iron Man, and the end of Bally-Midway.
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/bcskfz/Ep_28_-_Pinball_is_Dying_3_-_Bally-Midway5ytxn.mp3
Silverball Chronicles with David and Ron Episode 26: A Brief History of Pinball Want to Support the Show? Join Our Patreon and get early access to each episode: http://www.patreon.com/silverballchronicles Topic Starts at 10:03 Episode Summary A Brief History of Pinball is a great place to begin! Let’s wind the clock back WAYYY back. We’re going … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 27: A Brief History Of Pinball →
Episode Summary George Gomez is the Creative Architect of pinball as we know it today. Without our Homie Gomie (trademark Zach Meny), Stern Pinball would not be the creative studio it is today. When Stern began to be rebuilt in the 2010s, it was the creative curiosity of George Gomez that enabled the company to … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 26: The Architect – George Gomez Part 2 →
Episode Summary The late 70s were a boom for pinball manufacturing. Bally and Williams had transitioned to Solid State early and evolved their platform, but Gottlieb struggled to keep up. However, by early 1980 Gottlieb knew they needed a new solution and were preparing their System 80 platform. System 80 was a big leap forward … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 25: Playing Catch Up: Gottlieb System 80 →
Episode Summary It is often through failure that we learn and after the collapse of Stern Electronics, Gary Stern did not give up. He collected himself over a year and then would work with Joe Kaminkow and Shelley Sax on building Data East Pinball. Often the butt of jokes on quality, code depth, and artwork, … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep24: Data East – Fake It Til Ya Make It →
John Popadiuk, also known as J-Pop, created some of the most interesting and whimsical playfield designs of the 1990s. He went from a god tier Bally-Williams designer to a start-up pinball company owner and finally to a pinball pariah. John once described his journey as “a long tale of woe in some cases, but also … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 23: Down The Rabbit Hole With John Popaduik →
Silverball Chronicles with David and Ron Episode 22: Mr. Nordman, Let’s Talk About Your Ramps Topic Starts at 8:38 Episode SummaryRamps are mesmerizing, hypnotic and create a excitement deep inside when you shoot them. You can almost feel the ball rolling around a bend in a ramp. Too many people Pinball IS Ramps. In fact, … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 22: Mr. Nordman, Let’s Talk About Your Ramps →
Episode Summary There are many stars inside the pinball industry, but few create such an emotional ripple in the hobby when they pass. Lyman Sheats gave so much for pinball and always wanted to give more. A perfectionist who was often too hard on himself, Lyman was always looking for ways to improve his games. … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 21: Inside The Mind Of Lyman Sheats →
The 90s saw the biggest leap in pinball mechanics and technology that the hobby had ever seen. The Dot Matrix Display and how Bally/Williams leveraged it, made the pins from the previous decade look like a horse and buggy. The purchase of Bally by Williams created a competitive shark tank, forcing designers and engineers to … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 20: Pinball Is Dying – Part 2: Bally/Williams →
The 90s saw the biggest leap in pinball mechanics and technology that the hobby had ever seen. The Dot Matrix Display and how Bally/Williams leveraged it, made the pins from the previous decade look like a horse and buggy. The purchase of Bally by Williams created a competitive shark tank, forcing designers and engineers to continuously one-up each other.
But as the 90’s marched on, the industry contracted. Designers exited or moved on to other areas, junior designers took their place and built some of the best machines Bally/Williams had produce, but sadly the sales numbers didn’t reflect that.
Ron and Dave chat all about the final years of Bally/Williams including Adam Rhine’s Dot Animation, Congo’s amazing shot layout, J-Pop, Attack From Mars, Dave saying ‘spider’ correctly after listening while editing, George Gomez giving a poetic definition of ‘Flow’, Chicago Gaming Company Remakes, and can the magic of Bally/Williams be replicated?
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/wtvhwx/EP_20_-_Pinball_is_Dying_2_-_Bally-Williamsbvtbz.mp3
Silverball Chronicle with Ron and David Episode 19: 80s Cheese Done Right – Gottlieb 80b Episode Summary The early 1980s were a boon for pinball manufacturing. Bally and Williams had transitioned to Solid State early and evolved their platform. Gottlieb struggled with System 1, and as soon as they found their stride with the new … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 19: 80s Cheese Done Right – Gottlieb 80b →
Silverball Chronicle with Ron and David
Episode 19: 80s Cheese Done Right – Gottlieb 80b
Episode Summary
The early 1980s were a boon for pinball manufacturing. Bally and Williams had transitioned to Solid State early and evolved their platform. Gottlieb struggled with System 1, and as soon as they found their stride with the new System 80 board set, pinball was dying in the early 80s. By the mid-80s pinball was clawing its way back, but Gottlieb never regained it’s industry dominance, however it did give them more creative freedom.
Join Ron and the better co-host Dave as they talk photo translites, horrible synth music, Jon Norris’ 8-Ball Deluxe, releasing games at warp-speed, shallow code, ripping off established licenses, Don Johnson jackets, and which System 80b games are the most underrated.
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/vxq6id/Ep_19_-80s_Cheese_Done_Right-_Gottlieb_80b83n1j.mp3
The Bally-Williams Era has often been considered on of the most mechanically exciting times in the Pinball Hobby. In fact, many of the games of this era still carry a hefty resale price on the secondary market. The magic of pinball and the world under glass was brought to life by Bally-Williams. Many pinball personalities … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Episode 18: The Mechs That Made Us – 90’s Bally-Williams →
The Bally-Williams Era has often been considered on of the most mechanically exciting times in the Pinball Hobby. In fact, many of the games of this era still carry a hefty resale price on the secondary market. The magic of pinball and the world under glass was brought to life by Bally-Williams.
Many pinball personalities who purchased assets from the major manufacturers spent years trying to finish incomplete games or bring back a ‘new Bally-Williams’. They all failed because Bally-Williams was unique, it was an industry powerhouse where creativity, competition and magic were created.
This month we cover, our favourite 90’s mechs, Dr. Who’s Meat Slicer, Pat Lawlor’s Magnum Opus, Rod Serling (or Ron Sterling), Code going too far, Gofers, Jpop and Williams dying again.
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/8vb6xe/SC_Ep_18_-_The_Mechs_that_Made_Us6xwje.mp3
Episode Summary When we last left Steve Ritchie, pinball was dead. It was done. Williams, gone. Bally, gone. Gottlieb/Premier, gone. The last manufacturer standing was Sega which ended up being sold to one Gary Stern and became today’s Stern Pinball Inc. Steve Ritchie was ready to make a return to pinball after a hiatus, but … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Episode 17: Steve Ritchie Part III: The Return…to Stern →
Episode Summary
When we last left Steve Ritchie, pinball was dead. It was done. Williams, gone. Bally, gone. Gottlieb/Premier, gone. The last manufacturer standing was Sega which ended up being sold to one Gary Stern and became today’s Stern Pinball Inc. Steve Ritchie was ready to make a return to pinball after a hiatus, but the pinball landscape was different than when he left. He soon showed everyone he still has the touch.
Join us this month for a super-packed episode as Ron and David talk about Terminator 3, that strange Elvis mech, the epic Spiderman game, everyone getting let go in 2008, the perfect version of Terminator 2, aka AC/DC, a section about Star Trek that goes on far too long, what the hell happened to Star Wars, the underrated Black Knight toy, the barren Led Zeppelin, and the recent Jersey Jack coup!
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/6q9x2w/SC_-_Steve_Ritchie_Pt3_-_The_Return_to_Stern9qf8o.mp3
Episode Summary Pinball was suffering in the late 1990’s. Home gaming consoles dominated households. In the decades that preceded the 90’s, people ate at home and went out for entertainment; society was changing. As a result, arcades suffered. Pinball needed something to jump-start sales. They needed to draw in a new video game that would … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 16: Millennium Moment- Pinball 2000 →
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/iafg22/SC_-_Ep_16_-_Millennium_Moment_-_Pinball_20008um9r.mp3
Episode Summary
Pinball was suffering in the late 1990’s. Home gaming consoles dominated households. In the decades that preceded the 90’s, people ate at home and went out for entertainment; society was changing. As a result, arcades suffered. Pinball needed something to jump-start sales. They needed to draw in a new video game that would engage youth. Pinball 2000 was the answer to that call.
Join Ron and Dave this month as they talk about how Pinball 2000 was created, Pat Lawlor and George Gomez vs. JPop, Pepper’s Ghost, Adam Rhine and animations, Neil NiCastro-Unmotivational Speaker, Lucas Films’ NDAs, Dave’s hatred for Jar Jar Binks, and how Jar Jar tanked, nearly killing pinball.
Episode Summary Barry Oursler is a William institution. As a designer he kept the line going at Williams during the massive decline that the coin op industry experienced in the early 1980s. He designed 35 games including Space Shuttle, which ‘saved pinball.’ During the decade after Space Shuttle, Barry continued to design and collectively sold … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 15: Barry Oursler Saves Pinball →
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/bcbvd4/SC_-_Ep_15_-_Barry_Oursler_Saves_Pinball7hnwi.mp3
Episode Summary
Barry Oursler is a William institution. As a designer he kept the line going at Williams during the massive decline that the coin op industry experienced in the early 1980s. He designed 35 games including Space Shuttle, which ‘saved pinball.’ During the decade after Space Shuttle, Barry continued to design and collectively sold over 135,000 pinball games for Williams during his tenure. Barry WAS Williams in this era.
Join Ron and Dave as they talk about Barry saving pinball… or did he? Hit pins such as Space Station, FIRE!, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Dirty Harry, Junkyard, amazing mechanical wonders, the controversies around Popeye Saves the Earth and Jack*Bot, and Barry’s legacy to the hobby we all love.
Episode SummaryGeorge Gomez has created some of the most well received pinball machines our hobby has ever seen. He got his big break with Williams Pinball, but the current Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer of Stern Pinball had a big career before the silverball. His mixture of experience prior to pinball built his … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 14: Gomez – This One Has A Lot Of Arcade Stuff →
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/c5at75/SC_Ep_14_-_Gomez_-_This_One_Has_a_Lot_of_Arcade_Stuffan6xa.mp3
Episode Summary
George Gomez has created some of the most well received pinball machines our hobby has ever seen. He got his big break with Williams Pinball, but the current Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer of Stern Pinball had a big career before the silverball. His mixture of experience prior to pinball built his unique style of pinball creativity. In fact, one of the toughest critics around, Python Anghelo called George a “good guy and very passionate,” Woah!
Join Ron and Dave this month as they follow George Gomez from the Cuban Revolution to Midway making games like Satan’s Hollow, Tron, and Spy Hunter. Then in a shift to toy company Marvin Glass and eventually Bally-Williams where he made a splash right away in the shark pool! Look out, this episode has an hour of arcade talk…
Episode SummaryPat Lawlor has a demeanor which has rubbed some the wrong way over the years. Let’s face it, as a designer you need to get strong personalities in line, meet corporate deadlines, push your creative vision to the edge and have the confidence in yourself that your product design will sell. Maybe part of … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 13: Pat Lawlor Part 2 – Williams Wreck’n Ball →
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/g8cucm/SC_-_Ep_13_-_Pat_Lawlor_Pt_2_-_Williams_Wreak_n_Ball8ofjb.mp3
Episode Summary
Pat Lawlor has a demeanor which has rubbed some the wrong way over the years. Let’s face it, as a designer you need to get strong personalities in line, meet corporate deadlines, push your creative vision to the edge and have the confidence in yourself that your product design will sell. Maybe part of that reputation was created in his early career in the Williams Pinball Shark Tank.
Join us this month as we discuss Pat Lawlor joining William Pinball, Larry DeMar’s double dippin’, fun child-like pinball designs, Whirlwind, that creepy shutter mech, what Python Anghelo thinks of Pat, proving the naysayers wrong, and yes, the record breaking Addams Family.
Episode SummaryBy the Early 1980’s Pinball was dying. Sales in Pinball fell from peaks of 9-10,000 units to 900 units in 2 years. Video was on an upward trend and that is where the coin op industry began to focus. Only 1 full time designer remained at Williams by 1982, Barry Oursler. To help fill … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 12: Pinball Is Dying: Williams In The Early 80s →
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/zfm5hd/SC_-_Ep_12_-_Pinball_is_Dying_Pt_1_-_Williams69pb6.mp3
Episode Summary
By the Early 1980’s Pinball was dying. Sales in Pinball fell from peaks of 9-10,000 units to 900 units in 2 years. Video was on an upward trend and that is where the coin op industry began to focus. Only 1 full time designer remained at Williams by 1982, Barry Oursler. To help fill in the production line some of the designers from the late 70’s reappeared.
Join us this month as we discuss Barry Oursler, Paul Dassault, the battle of the Bi-Levels, the ‘Gar Family, Tony Kraemer, hidden back glass art and whatever the heck Time Fantasy was!
Episode Summary Dwight is one of pinball programming’s most important figures. Throughout the 1990’s Dwight worked on some of the best-selling games of all time, added a level of polish not seen before, brought a new level of fun and uniqueness that continue to influence programmers today. Have fun this month where we chat ‘Dwight … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 11: Dwight Sullivan – The Creation Of Complexity →
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/bzptbr/SC_Ep_11_-_Dwight_-_The_Creation_of_Complexity6wxnn.mp3
Episode Summary
Dwight is one of pinball programming’s most important figures. Throughout the 1990’s Dwight worked on some of the best-selling games of all time, added a level of polish not seen before, brought a new level of fun and uniqueness that continue to influence programmers today.
Have fun this month where we chat ‘Dwight Speak’, Riverboat Gambler, taking pride in your work, the Star Trek Door, the final years of Williams and Dwight’s transition to Stern Pinball.
Episode Summary Pat Lawlor is a pinball statesman. He has a long lumbering and detailed way of explaining himself. This deep and controlled thought process is why Pat’s pinball designs and mechanical toys are so detailed and dedicated to being exciting. Some would call Pat a pinball academic, others say he’s a prickly fella. Join … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 10: Lawlor – Pinball’s Rollercoaster Tycoon →
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/z6c9rh/SC_Ep_10_-_Pat_Lawlor_-_Pinballs_Rollercoaster_Tycoon6gqmp.mp3
Episode Summary
Pat Lawlor is a pinball statesman. He has a long lumbering and detailed way of explaining himself. This deep and controlled thought process is why Pat’s pinball designs and mechanical toys are so detailed and dedicated to being exciting. Some would call Pat a pinball academic, others say he’s a prickly fella.
Join us this month where we talk ramps, ramps, Dave talks about his Tron a bunch… in a Pat Lawlor episode (?), more cool ramps, Stern’s 2000s, Pat’s move to Jersey Jack and the strange Shrek/Family guy pin!
Episode Summary John Borg or as he’s affectionately known as ‘Borgie’, entered the industry as a mechanical engineer building ramps and ended up being a designer on some of the fondest remember nostalgia pins of the 1990’s. Join Ron and Dave as they chat about Borgie got to hang out with movie stars, review some … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 9: Borgie – Living The 90s License Dream →
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/d72sa8/SC_-_Ep_9_-_Borgie_-_Living_the_90s_License_Dream864no.mp3
Episode Summary
John Borg or as he’s affectionately known as ‘Borgie’, entered the industry as a mechanical engineer building ramps and ended up being a designer on some of the fondest remember nostalgia pins of the 1990’s.
Join Ron and Dave as they chat about Borgie got to hang out with movie stars, review some cool mechs, discuss Bill Paxton and Bill Pullman, designers getting scripts to some of the biggest 90’s blockbusters in advance of the film, chat about a cougar attack (like the animal) and watch as the industry flamed out.
Episode Summary David and Ron are going to finish what they started last month. As mentioned in the previous podcast, from 1975 to 1980 Bally were breaking sales records. It seemed that Paul Faris’s art team could do no wrong but by 1981 the gaming industry’s footing was feeling shaky. In an effort to hold … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 8: Moving Units Part 2 – The Class Of 1981 →
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/t6jjqa/SC_-_Ep_8_-_Moving_Units_Part_2_-_The_Class_of_19819emqy.mp3
Episode Summary
David and Ron are going to finish what they started last month. As mentioned in the previous podcast, from 1975 to 1980 Bally were breaking sales records. It seemed that Paul Faris’s art team could do no wrong but by 1981 the gaming industry’s footing was feeling shaky.
In an effort to hold ground and boost sales Bally push out some of their most creative works ever. The Class of 1981 was, and still is, the pinnacle of pinball art.
Join us as we talk about Xenon’s tube shot and sound package, polaroid pictures, Kevin O’Connor’s jeep, Claude Fernandez stealing design ideas from Steve Ritchie, Margaret Hudson being a trail blazer for woman in pinball, annoying in lane/out lane designs and the peak of Bally’s stunning art design. Also, did you know Kevin O’Conner had a jeep?
Episode Summary David and Ron are here again this month to use an audio medium to talk about visual art… will it work? Art sells Pinball machines. There was no better team ever in pinball as the Art Team at Bally. From 1975 until Bally was sold to Midway in 1983 an eclectic, creative … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 7: Moving Units – Bally’s Art Revolution →
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/5u5du4/SC_-_Ep_7_-_Moving_Units_-_Ballys_Art_Revolution7egh1.mp3
Episode Summary
David and Ron are here again this month to use an audio medium to talk about visual art… will it work?
Art sells Pinball machines. There was no better team ever in pinball as the Art Team at Bally. From 1975 until Bally was sold to Midway in 1983 an eclectic, creative and dedicated team of artists made some of the best art pinball had ever seen.
Come listen to Ron and Dave chat about Dave Christensen, his strange art choices, why was it so cold at Bally in the 1970s, hear Dave consistently miss pronounce more names, the amazing Paul Faris Bally art team, orbit spinners and Gene Simmons’s package.
Episode Summary Join David and Ron this week as they ride on a dirt bike made of quarters and fueled with pinball players’ tears with Steve Ritchie. Through this awesome time in pinball, the bestselling designer ever, continued to build his legacy and as you’ll see in this episode, redefined pinball as the industry struggled … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 6: Steve Ritchie – The Mullet Years →
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/cjfsem/sc_ep6_-_steve_ritchie_the_mullet_years6onj6.mp3
Episode Summary
Join David and Ron this week as they ride on a dirt bike made of quarters and fueled with pinball players’ tears with Steve Ritchie. Through this awesome time in pinball, the bestselling designer ever, continued to build his legacy and as you’ll see in this episode, redefined pinball as the industry struggled to survive.
Come listen about Steve’s iconic Williams System 11 and WPC machines. There is high praise for Larry DeMar, the alternate theme for Rollergames, Dave and Ron fan boying about T2 and Star Trek: TNG, and Steve Richie being cooler than Dave.
Episode Summary Gottlieb was a giant in the pinball industry. Some would say that they created some of the most fun in the Electro-Mechanical era than all the other manufacturers combined. When the sea change of the Solid-State Era appeared on the horizon, Gottlieb the industry giant began stepping on rakes and never fully recovered. … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 5: Stepping on Rakes – Gottlieb System 1 →
Episode Summary Python Anghelo was an eccentric, passionate, charming, classically educated,combative, spiteful, and caring individual. He gave his all for pinball. Python is aguy who added social commentary to his back-glass art, added Easter eggs to his work, drank a lot, fought with leadership over creating unique worlds under glass.Python burned bridges, tossed insults, and … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 4: Bat Sh*t Crazy: The Python Anghelo Story →
Episode Summary Our Previous episodes have all been from the early solid-state era. The last 70’s and early 80’s was where the industry went though some of its largest shifts, we call that ‘disruption’ now-a-days. The exit of electro-mechanical pinball and the entrance of solid-state was a watershed moment in the hobby. Some companies excelled … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 3: Zombie Pinball – The Gottlieb System 3 Era →
Episode Summary Before Stern Pinball Inc., which dominates the pinball landscape today, there was Stern Electronics, our second episode’s topic. We cover where Stern Electronics came from, Sam and Gary Stern’s early years, Dave mispronouncing names, the change from electro-mechanical pinball to solid state, the sketchiness around that transition, legendary designer Steve Kirk, Stern’s wild … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 2: Stern Electronics…No, Not That Stern →
Episode Summary Our topic this week, nicknamed The King of Flow, the bestselling pinball designer of all time, my favorite designer, and the reason why you know or will know what Meniere’s Disease is: Steve Ritchie. This episode reviews the early life of Steve Ritchie until his first break from pinball in 1982 which includes … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 1: Steve Ritchie – Before The Mullet →
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/rxnxaf/SC_Ep_5_-Stepping_on_Rakes-_Gottlieb_System_1_baspg.mp3
Episode Summary
Gottlieb was a giant in the pinball industry. Some would say that they created some of the most fun in the Electro-Mechanical era than all the other manufacturers combined. When the sea change of the Solid-State Era appeared on the horizon, Gottlieb the industry giant began stepping on rakes and never fully recovered.
Come hang out with a slightly bitter Dave and an always chipper Ron as they chat about Gottlieb’s EM dominance, the industry transition to solid-state, what each companies technology was like, their favourite System 1 machines, vari-targets and the industry’s worst piece of garbage spinner!
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/furofp/SC_Ep_4_-Bat_Sh_t_Crazy-_The_Python_Anghelo_Story_63u0s.mp3
Episode Summary
Python Anghelo was an eccentric, passionate, charming, classically educated,
combative, spiteful, and caring individual. He gave his all for pinball. Python is a
guy who added social commentary to his back-glass art, added Easter eggs to his work, drank a lot, fought with leadership over creating unique worlds under glass.
Python burned bridges, tossed insults, and pulled no punches along his life’s journey. He was a nut for sure.
Join us this month as we discuss Python’s upbringing, joining the coin-op industry,
getting into verbal fights with co workers, drinking on boats, Steve Kordek, cows,
more butchering of names, a poll joke and Python’s legacy.
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/fugmyt/Ep_3_-Zombie_Pinball-_The_Gottlieb_System_3_Era.mp3
Episode Summary
Our Previous episodes have all been from the early solid-state era. The last 70’s and early 80’s was where the industry went though some of its largest shifts, we call that ‘disruption’ now-a-days. The exit of electro-mechanical pinball and the entrance of solid-state was a watershed moment in the hobby.
Some companies excelled in the new market and some fell almost immediately. Gottlieb well… they became zombies, just refusing to die and walking on and on and on… hanging in there… Somehow…
Today we’re going to review their final years of Gottlieb in the System 3 era.
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/az8sxt/SC_-Ep2-_Stern_Electronics__No_Not_That_Stern.mp3
Episode Summary
Before Stern Pinball Inc., which dominates the pinball landscape today, there was Stern Electronics, our second episode’s topic. We cover where Stern Electronics came from, Sam and Gary Stern’s early years, Dave mispronouncing names, the change from electro-mechanical pinball to solid state, the sketchiness around that transition, legendary designer Steve Kirk, Stern’s wild art, and the death of Stern Electronics.
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/mjzkg4/Silverball_Chronicles_-_Ep1_-_Steve_Ritchie_-_Before_the_Mullet_1_.mp3
Episode Summary
Our topic this week, nicknamed The King of Flow, the bestselling pinball designer of all time, my favorite designer, and the reason why you know or will know what Meniere’s Disease is: Steve Ritchie.
This episode reviews the early life of Steve Ritchie until his first break from pinball in 1982 which includes his early life, how he became a designer, his first years in the industry at Atari Pinball, moving to Williams and designing some of the biggest modern sellers and most innovative pinball machine in this history of the hobby.