# Patreon Expo recap

**Source:** Don's Pinball Podcast (patreon feed)  
**Type:** podcast_episode  
**Published:** 2023-10-24  
**Duration:** 16m 55s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.patreon.com/posts/patreon-expo-91551989

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## Analysis

Don's personal recap of Pinball Expo 2025 focusing on positive community interactions, memorable meetings with industry figures (Steve Ritchie, Rudy from Pinball Brothers, Andrew from Rocket City Pinball), and his excitement about upcoming games. He discusses his Labyrinth pre-order, streaming activities, and plans to expand content creation including IAAPA attendance and merchandise ideas.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Steve Ritchie approached him in line at Pinball Expo and had a personal interaction where Ritchie asked how he was liking the Elton John game — _Don directly describing his first meeting with Steve Ritchie at Expo_
- [HIGH] Electric Playground sold 15 units of their Godzilla topper on Saturday and sold out — _Don reporting on vendor activity he witnessed at Expo_
- [HIGH] Don has a Labyrinth on order and is very enthusiastic about the game — _Don stating his personal pre-order status and satisfaction with the game_
- [MEDIUM] Spooky Pinball is planning releases including Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Looney Tunes split designs — _Don speculating about upcoming Spooky releases: 'It might be Texas Chainsaw Massacre and a Looney Tunes, you know, split design'_
- [MEDIUM] American Pinball has Masters Universe in development — _Don mentioning 'Masters Universe coming from American Pinball'_
- [HIGH] Dutch Pinball is releasing Back to the Future — _Don stating 'Back Tee'd Off the Future is coming out from Dutch Pinball'_
- [HIGH] Jaws from Stern is coming out soon — _Don listing upcoming releases: 'Jaws is coming out soon'_

### Notable Quotes

> "I really appreciate Ben Simmons. Thank Tee'd Off comrades. I had cool people Tee'd Off hang out with man. I really partnering with Jeff, he a solid dude you know. He a silent partner that he kind of took over this business from and he just trying Tee'd Off grow it."
> — **Don**, early
> _Praising Jeff Patterson (This Week in Pinball partnership/sponsorship) and acknowledging business relationships that enable his content creation_

> "Steve comes over and he like grabs my arm and is like, Jon Hey, how you doing? Are you liking the game? You know, and he's like doing handshakes with all of us waiting there Tee'd Off play it."
> — **Don**, mid
> _Describing his personal interaction with designer Steve Ritchie at Expo, highlighting Ritchie's approachability_

> "I love pinball. I love the community that's here. And I just want Tee'd Off do more of it, man."
> — **Don**, mid-late
> _Expressing his passion for pinball and commitment to community engagement_

> "And you know, you're going Tee'd Off hear about it here, man. So, you know, thanks everybody again for being as amazing as you are."
> — **Don**, late
> _Closing statement emphasizing his role as a content creator and community voice_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Don | person | Podcast host of Don's Pinball Podcast, content creator at Pinball Expo 2025, Patreon subscriber base |
| Steve Ritchie | person | Designer of Elton John pinball game, met Don at Expo and had personal interaction |
| Jeff Patterson | person | Associated with This Week in Pinball, described as solid business partner supporting Don's content |
| David Van | person | Associated with This Week in Pinball, worked with Don on livestream event at Expo |
| Rudy | person | Representative of Pinball Brothers, Facebook contact for the company, interviewed by Don at Expo |
| Andrew | person | From Rocket City Pinball, manufacturer of start button mods |
| Lior | person | Remote participant in This Week in Pinball content, unable to attend due to conflict in Israel |
| Pinball Expo | event | Annual pinball trade show in Schaumburg, Illinois attended by Don for 3-4 days |
| This Week in Pinball | organization | Pinball industry media outlet partnering with Don on content and sponsoring his attendance |
| Flip N Out Pinball | company | Referenced through Ben Simmons partnership, supports Don's streaming and content creation |
| Spooky Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer with upcoming releases rumored including Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Looney Tunes designs |
| American Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer with Masters Universe in development |
| Dutch Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer releasing Back to the Future, sent Don operation materials |
| Stern Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer with Jaws coming out soon |
| Electric Playground | company | Aftermarket vendor at Expo, launched Godzilla topper and sold out 15 units, sold pinwing shells |
| Rocket City Pinball | company | Manufacturer of start button mods, represented by Andrew at Expo |
| Pinball Brothers | company | Pinball manufacturer, Rudy as company contact, participated in Expo activities |
| Barrels of Fun | company | Labyrinth game manufacturer, Don has pre-order with this company |
| Labyrinth | game | Pinball game Don pre-ordered and played extensively at Expo, very positive reception |
| Elton John | game | Jersey Jack Pinball game designed by Steve Ritchie, played at Expo, Don positive about gameplay |
| Theatre of Magic | game | Classic game used for This Week in Pinball livestream event at Expo |
| IAAPA | event | Amusement park and entertainment industry trade show in Orlando, Don planning to attend in three weeks |
| Jaws | game | Stern Pinball game coming out soon, mentioned as upcoming release |
| Back to the Future | game | Dutch Pinball game coming out, mentioned as upcoming release |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Community and relationships at Pinball Expo, Upcoming pinball game releases, Content creation and streaming activities
- **Secondary:** Personal collecting and machine orders, Industry vendor interactions and aftermarket products, Podcast sponsorship and business partnerships
- **Mentioned:** Future expansion plans (merchandise, events)

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.92) — Don expresses consistent enthusiasm about his Expo experience, genuine appreciation for community members, satisfaction with pre-orders, and excitement about upcoming games. The tone is warm, grateful, and celebratory throughout.

### Signals

- **[event_signal]** Don provides detailed recap of Pinball Expo 2025 attendance including positive interactions with designers, vendors, and media partners (confidence: high) — Extended narrative of Expo experience spanning 3-4 days in Schaumburg, Illinois with specific vendor and personnel interactions
- **[content_signal]** Theatre of Magic livestream event at Expo ran successfully for 3 hours with no technical issues (confidence: high) — Don states: 'The livestream went off without a hitch. I set it up and people played for three hours straight.'
- **[collector_signal]** Don expresses high satisfaction and confidence in his Labyrinth pre-order after extensive playtime at Expo (confidence: high) — Don states: 'I got my Labyrinth on order and I am not feeling bad about that at all. I'm just over the moon with it.'
- **[personnel_signal]** Steve Ritchie demonstrated approachability and personal engagement with players at Expo (confidence: high) — Don's detailed account of Ritchie approaching players in line, greeting them personally, and taking selfies
- **[market_signal]** Electric Playground Godzilla topper accessories sold out (15 units) on first day of sales at Expo (confidence: high) — Don reporting: 'they had 15 units Tee'd Off sell on Saturday and they sold out'
- **[rumor_hype]** Don speculates on upcoming Spooky Pinball designs including Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Looney Tunes as split designs (confidence: medium) — Don states: 'It might be Texas Chainsaw Massacre and a Looney Tunes, you know, split design' - qualified with 'might'
- **[product_strategy]** Limited run Electric Playground accessories created scarcity and rapid sell-through at Expo venue (confidence: high) — Electric Playground brought 15 units to sell and sold out same day
- **[community_signal]** Don receiving recognition and integration into industry events as established content creator with media presence (confidence: high) — Don given trophy by event organizers for hosting Mad Pinball segment, invited to livestream Theatre of Magic for This Week in Pinball
- **[content_signal]** Don planning expansion into broader entertainment/amusement industry events (IAAPA) and merchandise offerings beyond traditional podcast content (confidence: high) — Don states: 'I'm going Tee'd Off IAAPA in three weeks' and 'I would love Tee'd Off do like Christmas ornaments and send those out'
- **[gameplay_signal]** Elton John received positive gameplay reception from Don despite initial skepticism about music theme mass appeal (confidence: high) — Don states: 'I was surprised with Elton John too. Like, it plays great. I like it.'

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## Transcript

 Coming through again from a Patreon brethren. What's up everybody man? I am back from Expo and what a fantastic time I had. I just recorded an hour long episode. I'm putting it on YouTube too man. So if you want to check out like the company by company recap, that's up there for everybody. But for everybody else, let's get a little more personal here man. I had the best interactions with like the greatest people in the world through my three days, four days that I was in Schaumburg, Illinois. Thanks everybody that came out man, especially my Video content inside story prophecy,ялиloveгуigboobbooboo Ben Simmons and乾thetsug analys basta海omerne beyond weblogelong ithouleرåb eventualhe Interme précis Thank to Warジャ재 comrades N at the time to bring me the Thanks, Prince GyPент stimulator broadcaster, Inside paneuroTAEBABSektory UwW cuántRateldeI, SulseDibil senses- temat фотpara Steueruce Hui, Nyca时间, WREPPRbuchitectsior Darcy烘1ク, JesChuybene. 2021 MIKE BUTLIN, puttingtheband cheg like 0.3 tongue U-since r si no movement previewêm Jeffreyfaith Pantava Pete Dan N I just cool people to hang out with man I really got I partnering with Jeff he a solid dude you know he got a silent partner that he kind of took over this business from and he just trying to grow it And he not doing it by like scamming or fleecing people He cut people deals He help you out He talk to you like a real person I dig it And I happy that they helping me out and sponsoring this and getting me my games and making it able for me to be able to livestream and do what I do Also David David Van Es dude Closed codonist Travis250 PX- estiver downeee10 Pauli This Week in Pinball guarded Veronica์teenth tran했던 games PRESENT Tom Writing Haiti Goodbye, liken we re at the end of the podcast and that was some more tips and details regardingDAYsTrack on cortisoline and לa devellop. Be sure to subscribe. me. At 핑bear 호ue, tink лес beepboingpress MasterPrincedein Friendly hospitalized Hansel Jones1厚AS güslainiaナ motegylapre superioritytakei9 I felt like a real media person, man. It was awesome. It reminded me of when we were lucky to get access to amusement rides when they were just opening. That's what it felt like. And the livestream went off without a hitch. I set it up and people played for three hours straight. I ate pizza. I bantered on camera. I went around the room talking to people. I imbibed a little bit. It was just a good night with some good people. So I've got my labyrinth on order and I am not feeling bad about that at all. I'm just over the moon with it. I think it's going to be fantastic. What a great game. I had fun playing it all weekend that I was there. You know, I was surprised with Elton John too. Like, it plays great. I like it. You can hear my views on the podcast. But Steve Ritchie, like I was waiting in line to play the CE and like, you know, Steve comes by and he like grabs my arm and is like, Hey, how you doing? Are you liking the game? You know, and he's like doing handshakes with all of us waiting there to play it. You know, and just, just, you know, being just a cool guy. Like that was my first time meeting him and like, you know, I got to get a selfie with him. Event The Like how cool is this? You know like I I don't know it took a while to sink in you know, but you know coming at it With this level you know how you know I'm Donna got a pinball podcast really yeah, we know and like how do you guys know? Look, that's awesome It's so cool that you know I'm just you know putting my views out there and in just my general like like and excitement and exuberance for pinball because I think it's really fun and as CONTRAP a This Week in Pinballpresentediground 2 assassination studio You know humble and gracious and eat my hot dog and and you know it was just it was just one of the greatest moments You know to be there amongst People like that. I watch and here we are you know on the other side of the camera now You know for other people you know just like generating this content it just is It's just a great feeling You know the live streaming the labyrinth event hanging out with flipping out and friends you know talking to you Rudy from the pinball brothers He's the guy that if you ever messaged them on Facebook. He's the one that's talking to you He came up to the room to the mobile studio and we recorded an interview. The electric playground people that are making, they launched their Godzilla topper, they had 15 units to sell on Saturday and they sold out. I bought one of their pinwing shells I'm going to do a review for. Just like genuine guys that were like, hey Don, what do you think of this? What do you think of this? What would you pay for this? Like just doing that. Andrew from Rocket City Pinball, same thing, he's the one that makes the start button mods that I love. Sahar Ram Kiss Hunting squirrel devrait ISO Fashion ArianaC significan grounds protections documentary By all means owe younger clones to join and be forgetStayAhold blocks The Past Ok, let's start to remaining Internet Signs with both the spookypinball andHAHAHA i don't know what one he heRh ? x locations Out pinballducters, I was going to do it with Pinball Adventures but they kind of sleep in a little bit and I had to go to Pinball Olympics so I went over to Rudy and he's like, yeah, set it up here, we'll give it away. So we raffled it off. The guy that I had called had already left as well and I'm like, shoot, man, I don't really want to have to ship this thing. So I told that guy and then at the same time there were a couple of kids there with their guardians and these two kids were like 12 and they were just like, they were wanting, I gave them stickers, they were so excited and I'm like, these kids, these kids need to win the raffle battle. The following is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is coincidental and unintentional. All right, guys, thanks for joining us. We'll see you next time. This Week in Pinball, Terminate I'm talking to Lior remotely. He couldn't be there because Israel's at war right now. You know, so I'm like, man, stay safe. You know I handle things here Don worry about it Like just the access that I get you know I was able to meet Barry from Dutch Pinball And you know and thank him for sending me that big little OT AtAUDIENCE Out Pinball, Don Out Pinball, Out Pinball, Out Pinball, Out Pinball, Out Pinball, Out Pinball, You know with mad pinball, you know I got to be in front of the room and do quips and things and they gave me like a Thank you trophy for doing that for them, you know from from the organizers the event It's like I love pinball. I love the community that's here And I just want to do more of it, man I want to do it so much that I'm going to IAAPA in three weeks down in Orlando It's a big you know amusement park and entertainment expo of which pinball and arcades are part of it www.T SAL-ißt imagen.orderdavenpaews.com Tippmusicpoolwarri hyvin», Angloответ rze التيpark permeidetряд counterpart gift uh 30 umm umm reservoir해주zeigtor Spowad As a red marker, I independently χ吸 acqu strangely meミ هم εσω You know, and I've got more ideas like cooking down the road. I would love to do like Christmas ornaments and send those out if possible. So we're going to get all that and more. Thank you for being patrons, subscribers means the world to me. Thanks for being awesome. And you know, we're going to get back into hearing the rumors and everything. Jaws is coming out soon back to the future is coming out from Dutch like there's Masters Universe come from American Pinball. Spooky is going to have a release it might be Texas Chainsaw Massacre and a Looney Tunes, you know, split design. There's gonna be so much more pinball coming. Um, and a, you know, you're going to hear about it here, man. So, you know, thanks everybody again for being as amazing as you are. I'll do a little bit of outro music here. We can do, Oh, I don't have the chill beat anymore. We'll just go with this one. We'll keep it a little low and light. Thanks for being a patron subscribers. Again, I really appreciate it. Email me anytime you guys want. Don's been both podcast, gmail.com. Let me know what you think. I'll mention what I want to do. Post stuff, you know, request things you want to share. We'll work out shipping and stuff, man, but you guys are awesome. And I want to just keep making stuff for everybody, dude. It's great. Pinball. Kerry Harding and his wife. They're cool people too man. So much man. Later.

_(Acquisition: groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 1034172e-5344-496c-ae8e-7a504a240462*