Dirtypool Pinball - PODCAST - An Exploration Of The Pinball Industry

Dirtypoolpinball
  • 3.6 (13)
  • GAMES

A somewhat grounded look at the people who actually make pinball happen. From game designers and tournament organizers to top players and studio heads, the D...

  1. 3D AGO

    Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep31 - Raymond Davidson - Player to Programmer

    ▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj It's podcast time with RAYDAY! Raymond Davidson of Stern Pinball known for titles like Rush, Metallica Remaster and of course Fall of the Empire. We’re lining up topics around rules design from a player mindset, how code evolves after location testing, and how modern games balance competitive depth with accessibility. Also getting into team workflow, post-launch updates, and how tournament play shapes coding decisions. What’s one rule in a modern game that actually changed how you approach it? 🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid: 📡 Twitch http://www.twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball 📺 YouTube http://www.youtube.com/@dirtypoolpinball 📷 Instagram http://www.instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball 📘 Facebook http://www.facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball 🔊 Discord – http://discord.gg/ySs5Wjb3Je 🛒 Apparel http://www.dirtypoolpinball.com 00:00:00 - Intro and Raymond Davidson joins the podcast 00:01:00 - Seattle pinball roots and early tournament access 00:03:00 - Traveling for tournaments and the $2 bill payout 00:04:07 - PAPA, getting humbled, and improving through competition 00:05:23 - Getting hired at Stern and starting on Avengers 00:06:01 - First Stern lab stories and working with John Borg 00:07:32 - Led Zeppelin and getting real rules design ownership 00:08:04 - Using code to bring out the best parts of a layout 00:09:38 - Led Zeppelin wizard mode and pressure after multiball 00:10:46 - What carries over from older code frameworks 00:11:29 - Whitewood testing and finding out what is actually fun 00:12:38 - Watching streams to see how players really behave 00:14:02 - Death Star cashouts and risk versus reward 00:14:48 - Rush combos, Foo Fighters moments, and rewarding mastery 00:16:23 - Making deep games accessible within a few shots 00:18:18 - Scoring balance and why big points matter 00:19:56 - Unexpected bugs and the secret Metallica add-a-ball 00:21:08 - Favorite final code and what still nags at him 00:22:00 - Revisiting Led Zeppelin and skipped multiball objectives 00:23:17 - Filtering community feedback without chasing every opinion 00:24:42 - Remastering older games and constant rules ideas 00:25:44 - Favorite butthole shots and Lord of the Rings design 00:27:32 - Why Simpsons Pinball Party still works so well 00:28:11 - Theme integration versus scoring balance 00:30:22 - Roving shots, Death Star 2, and avoiding gimmies 00:31:18 - Speeder bikes and thematic mechanical action 00:33:10 - Bonus missions without blocking Jedi progression 00:34:16 - Star Wars as the first Spike 3 release 00:36:18 - Stream friendly UI, bigger scores, and real constraints 00:39:32 - Making the best of design limits 00:40:05 - John Wick, rejects, and code improving a harsh game 00:40:32 - Zach working across Star Wars, John Wick, and X-Men 00:42:13 - Video modes and what actually holds up 00:42:46 - Licensing limits and what can appear on screen 00:45:18 - Named Stern updates and the Rebel Rebellion problem 00:47:01 - Stern office tournaments and absurd employee scores 00:48:34 - Tournament travel, PTO, and Stern supporting play 00:49:23 - Jedi Mania, streaming games, and learning from co-op 00:51:29 - Development speed bumps beyond licensing 00:53:23 - Spike 3 video formats and H.265 workflow 00:54:42 - Spike 3 hardware questions and upgrade limits 00:56:10 - Simple layouts, deep rules, and matching code to playfield 00:57:20 - Why teams matter more than manufacturer labels 00:59:00 - AI, internal tools, and what should never reach final assets 01:01:02 - Stern Insider, multiplayer possibilities, and score visibility 01:03:33 - Wrap up and final Raven choice 01:04:33 - Great Pyramid outro and cult signoff #pinball #sternpinball #raymonddavidson #pinballpodcast #pinballdesign #pinballrules #competitivepinball #pinballcommunity #pinballlife #arcade #arcadeculture #retrogaming #gamingpodcast #pinballplayers #pinballfans #pinballinterview #gamedesign #rulesdesign #pinballstrategy #modernpinball #dirtypoolpinball #greatpyramid #cultofpinball #pinballtalk #pinballstream #arcadegames #gamingcommunity #pinballmachine

    1h 5m

  2. APR 29

    Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep30 - Kaite Martin and NYC Pinball

    ▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj We’ve got Kaite Martin joining the Dirty Pool Podcast. You may know her from Scorbit, NYC Pinball, or from helping keep the New York scene visible and active. We’re digging into tournament culture, media coverage, what it takes to grow pinball in a major city, and how newer players find their way into the hobby. We’ll also get into women in pinball, making spaces feel more welcoming, and what still needs work. If you were building a city around pinball culture, what would be the first thing you’d fix? 🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid: 📡 Twitch http://www.twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball 📺 YouTube http://www.youtube.com/@dirtypoolpinball 📷 Instagram http://www.instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball 📘 Facebook http://www.facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball 🔊 Discord – http://discord.gg/ySs5Wjb3Je 00:00:08 - Intro 00:03:25 - Learning pinball at a dive bar 00:04:59 - Buying Paragon and filling apartments 00:07:13 - Fourteen games in a NYC home 00:08:24 - Tenants, tournaments, and noise 00:10:12 - Moving games through tight doors 00:11:52 - New York pinball then and now 00:13:23 - Taking over games at Buttermilk 00:18:19 - Bells and Chimes New York history 00:19:34 - Old operators and location standards 00:22:42 - Hosting a 44 player home tournament 00:25:02 - Future Spa and tough tournament games 00:28:24 - Home tournaments and bad ROI 00:30:30 - Bells finals and accessible venues 00:31:48 - Balancing league and casual settings 00:34:30 - Putting personal games on location 00:36:37 - Home games breaking during tournaments 00:38:18 - Home tournament party stories 00:45:00 - Rotating games at the bar 00:46:18 - Game weights and apartment floors 00:47:31 - Drinking and competitive pinball 00:50:07 - Losing, resetting, and moving on 00:57:10 - Pinball, pets, and community 00:59:05 - Getting more people into pinball 01:01:34 - Fast round begins 01:02:01 - Medieval Madness vs Attack from Mars 01:07:04 - Powerballs and Safe Cracker 01:10:00 - Best bar lineup picks 01:13:18 - Local players worth knowing 01:15:00 - Staying excited about pinball 01:18:35 - Women’s events and local trophies 01:21:58 - Trophy staircase and old house layout 01:22:19 - Recruiting new league players 01:25:00 - Apartment pinball warnings 01:26:10 - Small games and real pinball feel 01:30:00 - Raven, Jetsons, and bad games 01:34:00 - Karl DeAngelo and pinball friendships 01:37:58 - Scorbit at Buttermilk 01:39:25 - Whipped tournament plug 01:40:03 - Wrap up and Great Pyramid #DirtyPoolPinball #Pinball #PinballPodcast #KaiteMartin #Scorbit #NYCPinball #NewYorkPinball #WomenInPinball #ArcadeCulture #PinballCommunity #CompetitivePinball #TournamentPinball #PinballLife #Silverball #ArcadeGames #Podcast #GamingPodcast #PinballStream #ModernPinball #PinballFans #DPP #PinballTalk #Esports #ArcadeScene #Collectors #PinballNews #Flippers #Multiball

    1h 41m

  3. APR 14

    Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep29 - Chris Kooluris - Kaneda’s Pinball Podcast - Say What You Mean

    ▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj 💰 Kaneda’s Pinball Podcast http://www.patreon.com/kanedapinball Back to the table with another long-form conversation, this time with Chris Kooluris from Kaneda’s Pinball Podcast. Starting with where that voice comes from and how unfiltered commentary fits into a hobby that usually leans more reserved. From there, getting into how criticism, access, and relationships with manufacturers intersect once a platform starts to grow. We’ll spend some time on what actually makes a modern game hold up beyond the first few weeks, and where expectations are landing right now. Closing things out around the rumor side of pinball. How early information moves, what makes something credible, and the call between sharing it or sitting on it. We’ll see where it goes once the mics are live. Question for you: If you had reliable early info on a new release, would you want to hear it right away or wait for the full reveal? 🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid: 📡 Twitch http://www.twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball 📺 YouTube http://www.youtube.com/@dirtypoolpinball 📷 Instagram http://www.instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball 📘 Facebook http://www.facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball 🔊 Discord – http://discord.gg/ySs5Wjb3Je 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:30 - Why Kaneda avoids interviews and what this one is about 00:03:30 - How the Kaneda's podcast actually started and early intent 00:06:25 - Kaneda vs Chris, persona vs real person 00:07:40 - Misconceptions about him and why people lock opinions early 00:09:00 - The pressure to like every new pinball release 00:10:30 - Being critical without trying to be negative 00:12:30 - What modern pinball should be delivering at its price 00:15:00 - Friction with manufacturers and where that comes from 00:18:00 - Staying independent while still getting real information 00:21:00 - Why some pinball creators last and others disappear 00:24:00 - Is modern pinball improving or just getting more complex 00:27:00 - Games that changed his opinion over time 00:30:00 - If he designed a machine, what matters most first 00:33:00 - How the leaks and insider info side actually started 00:36:00 - Where information really comes from behind the scenes 00:39:00 - Reporter vs commentator, how he sees his role 00:42:00 - Sitting on information vs deciding to release it 00:45:00 - Do leaks help build hype or damage launches 00:48:00 - How pinball culture has shifted over the last decade 00:51:00 - Is the hobby becoming more accessible or more gated 00:54:00 - Competitive players vs collectors dynamic 00:57:00 - What people outside pinball misunderstand 01:00:00 - Being “Kaneda” vs just being Chris off mic 01:03:00 - Looking back at the show and how it evolved 01:05:30 - Barrels of Fun hints and guessing future themes 01:07:00 - Chat jumps in, theories and speculation spiral 01:08:30 - Wrapping up, plugs, and raid setup #Pinball #DirtyPoolPinball #PinballPodcast #PinballCommunity #PinballDiscussion #PinballNews #PinballRumors #PinballLeaks #ArcadeLife #ArcadeCulture #PinballLife #PinballAddict #PinballFans #RetroGaming #ArcadeGames #PinballStream #PinballCreator #PinballMedia #PinballIndustry #SternPinball #JerseyJackPinball #SpookyPinball #DutchPinball #TurnerPinball #PinballCollectors #GamingCommunity #PodcastLife

    1h 9m

  4. MAR 17

    Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep28 - Jason Zahler - The World’s Best Pinball Player

    ▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj I sit down with the highest ranked pinball player in the world, Jason Zahler, to get into what competitive pinball actually looks like at that level. We get into his early start, climbing to number one, how he approaches tournaments, what separates top players from everyone else, and how he keeps his edge when every event matters. What's it like inside the mind of a prodigy pinball player... Also does Zahler speak??? 🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid: 📡 Twitch http://www.twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball 📺 YouTube http://www.youtube.com/@dirtypoolpinball 📷 Instagram http://www.instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball 📘 Facebook http://www.facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball 00:00:00 - Intro and bringing on the world number one 00:02:00 - Starting young and early competitive path 00:04:00 - Early tournaments and realizing competitive potential 00:06:00 - Talent vs work ethic and what actually matters 00:08:00 - Building real skill rules knowledge vs raw play 00:10:30 - Favorite games and why strategy depth matters 00:12:30 - Classic games risk reward and scoring pressure 00:15:00 - Keith Elwin design discussion and what makes his games different 00:17:30 - Modern games and adapting to deeper rule sets 00:20:00 - Practice habits and balancing school life 00:22:30 - Playing less but staying sharp and efficient 00:25:00 - Physical side of pinball and tournament endurance 00:27:30 - Mental game and controlling tilt under pressure 00:30:00 - Staying positive and avoiding bad mindset traps 00:32:30 - Adjusting quickly to tournament machines 00:35:00 - Risk management and avoiding costly mistakes 00:37:00 - Recovering after bad balls and staying focused 00:39:30 - Fatigue and surviving long multi day events 00:42:00 - Finding the zone and playing at peak level 00:44:30 - Advice for players with limited practice time 00:47:00 - Choosing tournaments and managing travel schedule 00:49:30 - Past grind years vs current selective approach 00:52:00 - Abe Flips video and visual learning for pinball skills 00:54:00 - Studying high level play to improve execution 00:56:00 - Time commitment required to stay competitive 00:58:00 - Advice for breaking into competitive pinball 01:00:00 - Common mistakes newer players make 01:02:00 - Growing pinball and exposure challenges 01:04:30 - Streaming and visibility helping the scene 01:07:00 - Why pinball clicks once people try it 01:09:30 - Final thoughts on the community and future 01:11:00 - Outro and Praise the Great Pyramid #pinball #pinballwizard #competitivepinball #pinballpodcast #dirtypoolpodcast #ifpa #pinballcommunity #arcadegames #flippercontrol #pinballlife #pinballplayers #pinballaddict #pinballculture #arcadeculture #retroarcade #gamingpodcast #silverball #tilt #nudging #pinballtips #highscore #tournamentplay #pinballstream #dirtypoolpinball #homearcade #pinballenthusiast #classicarcade #modernpinball

    1h 13m

  5. MAR 10

    Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep27 - Abe Flips - Mastering Pinball

    ▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj Abe Flips from AbeFlips.com joins the Dirty Pool Podcast to talk about his new instructional series Mastering Pinball and the state of modern pinball education. Abe has become one of the most respected teachers in the hobby through his clear breakdowns of real control techniques, helping players move beyond random flipping and actually understand how pinball works. His videos carry forward the instructional legacy of Keith Elwin and company’s classic Pinball 101 era, but updated for the modern generation of competitive and home players. We talk about how the series came together, why teaching pinball still matters, and how the community continues passing down knowledge one tutorial at a time. ⚪ Mastering Pinball Contributors: Jeff Teolis : https://www.pinballprofile.com/ Scott Danesi : http://www.scottdanesi.com/ Robert Glashüttner : https://theballiswild.net/ Simon Platzer : https://www.grainhouse.productions/ 🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid: 📡 Twitch http://www.twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball 📺 YouTube http://www.youtube.com/@dirtypoolpinball 📷 Instagram http://www.instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball 📘 Facebook http://www.facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball 00:00:00 - Introducing Abe Flips and the rise of modern pinball tutorials 00:01:20 - Pinball 101 and the early history of pinball training videos 00:02:20 - The long wait for Mastering Pinball after the trailer 00:03:30 - Filming massive slow motion footage for pinball techniques 00:05:00 - Explaining flipper skills and visual teaching methods 00:07:20 - Demonstrating drop catch mechanics in slow motion 00:08:30 - Scott Danesi’s music and the Blu-ray release decision 00:10:00 - Filming locations and access to many different machines 00:12:30 - Planning shots and building repeatable ball feeds 00:14:00 - Using extreme high-speed cameras for pinball physics 00:16:00 - Advanced nudging to extend flipper reach 00:17:10 - Virtual pinball machines and learning rules digitally 00:18:30 - Moving from YouTube tutorials to a full film project 00:20:20 - Balancing humor and serious instruction in the film 00:22:00 - Using colored balls to reveal spin and ball behavior 00:25:40 - Production timeline and unexpected licensing hurdles 00:28:00 - Studying pro player footage to discover new techniques 00:29:40 - Lighting setups and challenges filming high-speed video 00:31:00 - The Mastering Pinball masterclass and community Discord 00:33:00 - Stage flipping and how flipper hardware changes skills 00:35:00 - How slow motion analysis improves real gameplay 00:36:10 - Mechanical insights like flipper bushings and dead bounces 00:38:00 - Stern catch, tip passes, and advanced control techniques 00:41:00 - Community reactions and player improvement after watching 00:44:00 - Advice for learning and practicing new pinball skills 00:47:30 - Future plans and continuing pinball education content 00:50:20 - Final thoughts on the impact of Mastering Pinball 00:53:40 - Wrapping up the podcast and raid outro 00:54:19 - Great Pyramid #pinball #pinballpodcast #abeflips #pinballtips #pinballtutorial #pinballstrategy #pinballskills #pinballtraining #pinballtechniques #competitivepinball #pinballcommunity #pinballplayers #pinballhowto #pinballlearning #pinballculture #pinballstream #dirtypoolpinball #pinballtalk #pinballfans #homepinball #pinballaddict #pinballwizard #pinballworld #modernpinball #pinballcoaching #pinballpractice #pinballgames #pinballlife

    55 min

  6. MAR 4

    Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep26 - Ron Richards of Scorbit The Online Pinball Ecosystem

    🎧 Dirty Pool Podcast - Full Episode Archive youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC Ron Richards joins to talk about the origin of Scorbit, the platform that lets pinball machines report their own scores. What started as a way to automatically capture game results became a hardware system that does much more. The Scorbitron reads score data from the game and sends it to the cloud, letting players track scores, compete on leaderboards, and check in with the app. The platform is now expanding into venue tools like digital payments and operator dashboards for arcades. 🔵 Scorbit Links: 📱 iOS App apps.apple.com/us/app/scorbit/id1505831174 🤖 Android App play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.scorbit 🌐 Website scorbit.io 🏟 Operator Platform scorbit.io/operators ✉️ Contact contact@scorbit.io 💬 Discord discord.gg/vySdvXXbrh 📷 Instagram instagram.com/scorbitpinball 📘 Facebook facebook.com/scorbitpinball 🧵 Threads threads.com/@scorbitpinball 🦋 BlueSky bsky.app/profile/scorbit.io 🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid: 📡 Twitch twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball 📺 YouTube youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball 📷 Instagram instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball 📘 Facebook facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball 00:00:00 - Cold open and meeting Ron in person in LA 00:02:30 - First impressions of early Scorbit streams and real time scoring 00:04:45 - What Scorbit actually does inside a pinball machine 00:07:30 - Traveling pinball players and using Scorbit on location 00:10:15 - Choosing favorite machines and the data side of pinball 00:13:40 - Evolution of the Scorbit app and new features 00:16:20 - Selfie leagues and social pinball competition 00:19:10 - Operator tools and location integration 00:22:30 - The business model behind connected pinball 00:25:15 - Tournaments, prizes, and competitive play potential 00:28:05 - Future integrations and expanding the ecosystem 00:31:00 - Connecting older machines like System 11 and Gorgar 00:34:00 - Real world tournament testing and operator feedback 00:37:00 - What the future of online pinball connectivity looks like 00:39:35 - Final thoughts on Scorbit and the connected pinball ecosystem #pinball #scorbit #pinballpodcast #pinballmachine #pinballcommunity #arcade #arcadegames #barcade #pinballlife #pinballculture #pinballwizard #retroarcade #arcadeculture #sternpinball #jerseyjackpinball #spookypinball #turnerpinball #dutchpinball #modernpinball #connectedarcade #pinballtechnology #pinballstream #pinballstreamer #pinballtournament #arcadelife #dirtypoolpinball #pinballhistory #pinballinnovation

    41 min

  7. MAR 1

    Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep25 - DJ Warlock aka Cliff Albert on Pinball Culture

    ▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj ▶ Previous Episode https://youtu.be/3yPvvL4yUYs?si=pw4ls-3WfSKiAJba This one isn’t about defining pinball culture. It’s about exploring what it means to different groups and why those meanings don’t always line up. Episode 25 of the Dirty Pool Podcast features Cliff Albert aka DJ Warlock, pinball DJ, punk rock lifer, location advocate, and longtime culture participant, for a wide-angle look at how different corners of the hobby see themselves. We talk about bar league regulars, tournament grinders, home collectors, operators, content creators, and casual players. What feels like “real pinball” to each group? Where do those perspectives overlap, and where do they quietly clash? Instead of criticizing, we step back and analyze the layers, the economics, the nostalgia, the accessibility, the DIY spirit, the streaming era, and the shift from quarters on glass to private game rooms. Cliff brings decades of experience from arcades and music scenes, and we approach the topic with curiosity rather than judgment. If you’ve ever wondered why pinball feels different depending on where you’re standing, this conversation will resonate. 🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid: 📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball 📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball 📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball 📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball 🔊 Discord – discord.gg/ySs5Wjb3Je 00:00 Intro and guest welcome 01:02 Framing the pinball culture conversation 02:01 Discovering pinball through touring life 03:10 Tournament era and Whopper chasing 04:22 Early streaming and broken location games 05:48 Punk identity meets pinball mythology 07:07 Philly scene and diverse pinball community 08:20 Inclusivity and Bells and Chimes discussion 10:14 Lockdown streaming growth 11:27 First major raid and community realization 12:06 Streaming changes the culture 13:02 Authenticity versus clout debate 16:18 Defining authentic pinball content 18:02 Podcasts then versus media day now 20:21 Skill versus vibe discussion 22:02 Expo stories and tournament energy 24:47 Location magic and lost punk spaces 26:36 Class tension and collection optics 29:29 Does streaming grow the hobby 31:32 Theme versus gameplay debate 33:26 Pinball is personal 34:02 Raven origin story 36:04 Harlem Globetrotters fundamentals 39:31 Collection stories and nostalgia 43:12 Manufacturers players and responsibility 49:40 Growing the hobby debate 58:44 What authenticity really means 01:02:15 Frustration versus love for pinball 01:10:48 Different lanes in pinball culture 01:20:18 Final reflections #DirtyPoolPodcast #DirtyPoolPinball #DJWarlock #CliffAlbert #PinballPodcast #PinballCulture #PinballCommunity #ArcadeCulture #LocationPinball #HomeArcade #CompetitivePinball #BarLeague #IFPA #PinballStreaming #PinballCollectors #SternPinball #JerseyJackPinball #SpookyPinball #DutchPinball #TurnerPinball #ArcadeHistory #ModernPinball #PinballEvents #PinballIndustry #PunkRock #FlipperLife #ArcadeScene #PinballDiscussion

    1h 27m

  8. FEB 5

    Dirty Pool Podcast – Ep24 – Christopher Franchi (Spooky Pinball Art)

    Pinball artist Christopher Franchi joins the show to talk about designing art for fast-moving, physical games where nothing stays still and everything has to read instantly. We get into how pinball’s mechanical constraints shape composition, how Spooky Pinball’s visual identity comes together, and why horror themes only work when restraint is part of the design. Franchi breaks down collaboration with designers and programmers, what gets lost between concept and production, and the small visual decisions most players never consciously notice—but always feel. @ZombieYetiStudios if you watch this you're so obviously not a p***y and I just really want you on my podcast!!!!!! 🔺 Praise the Great Pyramid: 📡 Twitch twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball 📺 YouTube youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball 📷 Instagram instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball 📘 Facebook facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball 🔊 Discord discord.gg/ySs5Wjb3Je 00:00:00 - Cold open chaos, wrong screen, and welcoming Franchi to the podcast 00:01:10 - Running down Franchi’s pinball art history starting with Batman 66 00:02:20 - Working with Lyman Sheets and understanding his legacy in pinball 00:03:20 - Losing Lyman and what that meant to the pinball ecosystem 00:03:55 - Jumping into newer games and starting the conversation with Beetlejuice 00:04:35 - Color theory, restraint, and why Evil Dead’s palette actually works 00:05:45 - Trial and error in Photoshop and knowing when colors fail 00:06:40 - Widebody playfields and why they don’t feel bigger while designing 00:07:55 - Designing around lower playfields and broken-up real estate 00:08:45 - Viewer question about formal art training versus being self-taught 00:09:20 - High school awards, scholarships, and getting kicked out at seventeen 00:11:00 - Being forced to grow up fast and losing access to formal art education 00:12:55 - How that moment delayed his career but shaped his work ethic 00:13:45 - Finding satisfaction in independence and choosing projects carefully 00:14:05 - Touring the collectibles room and revealing the Toys R Us wall 00:15:30 - Adam West Batman obsession and meeting childhood heroes 00:16:50 - When meeting heroes goes wrong and awkward fan moments 00:18:10 - Pre-stream bonding and discovering the infamous fart audio library 00:19:30 - Playing fart recordings live and naming them with chat 00:21:15 - Why dumb humor still matters in creative spaces 00:22:10 - Respecting sound design and physical audio performance 00:23:50 - Returning to Beetlejuice and Tim Burton’s built-in color language 00:24:45 - How Beetlejuice almost happened years earlier and finally landed at Spooky 00:26:10 - Easter eggs, hidden jokes, and designing for obsessive fans 00:27:05 - Accidental leaks, loose lips, and pinball rumor fallout 00:28:40 - Comparing reactions to Beetlejuice colors versus King Kong backlash 00:30:00 - Lighting challenges on Evil Dead and visibility concerns 00:31:20 - Fighting for GI placement so the art can actually be seen 00:32:15 - Playfield art as visual marketing for how the game should be played 00:33:20 - Designing for players who ignore callouts and play visually 00:34:40 - Walking through Beetlejuice shots and explaining visual guidance 00:36:10 - Balancing theme clarity with visual density on modern games 00:38:05 - How collaboration with Spooky evolved into a long-term relationship 00:40:35 - Transitioning from contractor work into full Spooky projects 00:41:45 - Why the people at Spooky mattered as much as the projects 00:43:20 - Talking pay, jokes aside, and making pinball a sustainable career 00:45:10 - Looking ahead at future work without leaking anything 00:47:30 - Humor, reputation, and learning when to shut up publicly 00:50:10 - What makes a playfield succeed beyond looking cool 00:53:00 - Art as instruction, immersion, and subconscious guidance 00:56:20 - Reflecting on where pinball art still has room to grow 00:59:40 - Wrapping up, final thoughts, and mutual appreciation 01:02:10 - BRB gag, frozen poses, and botched timing 01:03:05 - Final sign-off, pyramid praise, and raid send-off #DirtyPoolPodcast #DirtyPoolPinball #ChristopherFranchi #SpookyPinball #PinballArt #PinballArtist #PlayfieldArt #CabinetArt #BackglassArt #PinballDesign #GameArt #Illustration #IndiePinball #ArcadeCulture #PinballCommunity #PinballIndustry #CultOfPinball #GreatPyramid

    1h 3m
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Ratings & Reviews

3.6
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

A somewhat grounded look at the people who actually make pinball happen. From game designers and tournament organizers to top players and studio heads, the D...

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