# John Wick has no guns? Let's fix it!

**Source:** RetroRalph  
**Type:** video  
**Published:** 2024-08-24  
**Duration:** 5m 30s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSFAAQfZ5Zs

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## Analysis

RetroRalph installs and reviews the Interactive Pinball gun-themed shooter rod assembly for John Wick Pinball, addressing the game's controversial lack of gun imagery on playfield/cabinet artwork. The mod allows the shooter rod to function as both a manual plunger (preserving skill shots) and an auto-launch trigger, with a removable magazine clip for storage. RetroRalph praises the design quality and smart functionality but expresses reservations about commercial durability.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] John Wick Pinball has no guns depicted on playfield, back box, or side art despite being a gun-centric film; guns only appear in LCD movie clips — _RetroRalph directly states this was a controversy the game faced at release_
- [HIGH] Interactive Pinball released a gun-shaped shooter rod assembly that functions as both manual plunger and auto-launch trigger — _RetroRalph demonstrates both functionalities during installation and testing_
- [HIGH] The gun mod preserves skill shot capability by allowing short plunges like a standard shooter rod — _RetroRalph explicitly demonstrates executing a crate skill shot via short plunge_
- [HIGH] The trigger is wired to the action button to enable auto-launch functionality — _RetroRalph demonstrates this during installation and gameplay testing_
- [HIGH] RetroRalph recommends the mod for home use but has concerns about durability in commercial settings — _Direct statement: 'I kind of think it's more of a home use only kind of thing' and uncertainty about commercial viability_

### Notable Quotes

> "Unless you've been living under a rock, then you probably know this game came out several months ago. But it was met with some controversy because there was no guns depicted anywhere on the artwork."
> — **RetroRalph (Jon)**, ~0:15-0:35
> _Establishes the context for why this mod addresses a known community criticism of John Wick Pinball_

> "So you can see it, it functions like a normal plunger. So I'm gonna just let the ball drain here in a second... And that's so that this trigger can actually shoot the ball with the auto launcher."
> — **RetroRalph (Jon)**, ~9:45-11:00
> _Demonstrates the dual functionality of the mod—preserving standard plunger mechanics while adding themed auto-launch_

> "I really like the fact that he thought about, well, if I don't have the ability to plunge it like a normal plunger, then you'll kind of lose your functionality as far as skill shots, so that was a smart design choice."
> — **RetroRalph (Jon)**, ~11:15-11:30
> _Praises the designer's consideration for maintaining core game mechanics while adding thematic elements_

> "I don't know about long-term durability. I did have someone ask me, could they put it in a commercial setting? I'm not sure. I don't know that I would go as far to put it in a commercial setting."
> — **RetroRalph (Jon)**, ~12:00-12:20
> _Expresses hesitation about the mod's viability outside home use, suggesting potential durability concerns_

> "As far as the overall quality and everything, it's pretty good... I do think it is very strong. It's very durable. And I think it will hold up to like normal home use."
> — **RetroRalph (Jon)**, ~11:50-12:10
> _Balanced assessment: acknowledges quality while reserving judgment on long-term durability_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| RetroRalph | person | Video host and pinball content creator; performs installation and testing of the gun mod |
| Interactive Pinball | company | Manufacturer of the gun-shaped shooter rod assembly mod for John Wick Pinball |
| John Wick Pinball | game | Licensed Stern Pinball machine based on John Wick film franchise; subject of this mod due to lack of gun imagery on cabinet/playfield |
| Stern Pinball | company | Manufacturer of John Wick Pinball |
| Deadpool | game | Mentioned as another pinball theme where the gun-shaped shooter rod mod would be thematically appropriate |

### Topics

- **Primary:** John Wick Pinball design controversy (lack of guns), Aftermarket shooter rod mods and customization, Balancing thematic design with functional gameplay
- **Secondary:** Home vs. commercial pinball machine durability, Skill shot preservation in modded machines

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.78) — RetroRalph is enthusiastic about the mod's design and functionality, praising the smart engineering that preserves skill shots while adding thematic elements. Minor reservations about commercial durability prevent a higher score, but overall tone is approving and the mod is presented as a good solution to a known John Wick design criticism.

### Signals

- **[community_signal]** Aftermarket mod community responding to design gaps in official releases with thematic solutions (confidence: medium) — Interactive Pinball developed and released a purpose-built gun mod for John Wick, suggesting market demand
- **[design_philosophy]** John Wick Pinball's lack of gun imagery on playfield/cabinet artwork was controversial despite the film's gun-centric premise; guns only appear in LCD movie clips (confidence: high) — RetroRalph opens with 'it was met with some controversy because there was no guns depicted anywhere on the artwork'
- **[product_strategy]** Interactive Pinball aftermarket gun-shaped shooter rod mod addresses John Wick Pinball's thematic design gap by providing a gun aesthetic while maintaining standard plunger functionality (confidence: high) — RetroRalph demonstrates both manual and auto-launch functionality, explicitly showing skill shot preservation

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## Transcript

 Hey guys, welcome back to the channel. In today's episode, we're going to talk a little bit about John Wick Pinball. Unless you've been living under a rock, then you probably know this game came out several months ago. But it was met with some controversy because there was no guns depicted anywhere on the artwork. The playfield, the backbox, the side art, nowhere. No guns. The only place you would find guns is on the LCD screen because it does show movie clips from John Wick movies 1 through 4. But that's the only place you're going to find guns. So it made me wonder, is anyone going to make a mod for this game or mods for this game that incorporate guns? And there is a company that did just that. Interactive Pinball just released this awesome shooter rod assembly for John Wick. So this is a shooter rod that is a gun and it functions like a regular plunger. So if you look at it, you would think that maybe the trigger would be the only way to plunge the ball. And that is a way to do that, but you don't lose access to things like skill shots because you can use it like a regular shooter rod assembly, except it just happens to look like a gun. There's also some other interesting elements to it. It has a clip that you can remove for storage. I don't know what you store in there. I've seen people put a lighter in there. I don smoke so that not really something for me but that pretty cool You can maybe put your backbox keys in there or something like that So I very excited to check this out So what we going to do is we going to go over to the John Wick pinball and we going to install this thing and see how well this works Oh, it's time. First things first, we're going to need to open up the coin door, release the latches that hold on the lock bar, remove the lock bar, and now we can take off the glass. At this point, we can pull the play field up and remove the pinballs. We can't gain access to the shooter rod without lifting the play field up. Alright, that's in place so let's work on removing the old shooter rod. First we need to remove the three screws that hold the old shooter rod in place. Now we can carefully remove the old shooter assembly from the front of the cabinet. Next we need to remove the two remaining screws so we can attach the new mounting plate that comes with the Interactive Pinball Gun Shooter Kit. Now let's attach the new mounting plate making sure the slanted corner is facing the lockdown bar latch. Let's grab the new shooter rod and put it into place. Make sure you route the cable through the hole. At this point we just need to screw in the three screws that secure the gun assembly. Now we need to run the wire that will activate the auto plunger when the gun trigger is pulled. We're getting so close to the finish line we need to splice the end of the wires to attach this to the thing that I forgot the name of. It's so you can attach the cable to the action button without soldering or cutting your stock wiring. Now we need to carefully attach this connector to both wires of the action button and crimp the end down There we go installation complete Here what the finished product looks like You notice there even a removable magazine to put your keys in or whatever you wanna store in there. Pretty cool. The kit comes with a screw to permanently mount the clip in place if you don't want it to be removable. All right, it's time to lower the play field, add the balls and test this thing out. Okay, so we're sitting in front of the game now that I have the shooter rod installed on the John Wick. Now people have asked me, can you still short plunge the ball so you can do the skill shots? And you absolutely can, so take a look at this. So the top of this actually acts as a manual plunger. So you can press the button and it will launch the ball, so I can press the trigger. But then watch, I'm gonna short plunge it, and I can still get the crate skill shot right there. So you can see it, it functions like a normal plunger. So I'm gonna just let the ball drain here in a second. So watch that do that. And then what I'm gonna show you now is, so the trigger is actually mapped to the action button. So you saw that during the install, I actually ran the wires from the gun into the action button. And that's so that this trigger can actually shoot the ball with the auto launcher. So I'm gonna show you that next. Okay, so the ball's back in there. Now watch, I'm gonna hit this trigger button. And when I hit this trigger button, you gonna see the ball gonna launch So see that good but honestly I don know how many people will use that just because everyone kind of wants to get the skill shots but it cool that it has that So keep in mind this gun could be used for John Wick Deadpool whatever But I really like the fact that he thought about, well, if I don't have the ability to plunge it like a normal plunger, then you'll kind of lose your functionality as far as skill shots, so that was a smart design choice. As far as the overall quality and everything, it's pretty good. I don't know like long-term durability. I did have someone ask me, could they put it in a commercial setting? I'm not sure. I don't know that I would go as far to put it in a commercial setting. I kind of think it's more of a home use only kind of thing. If you're like me, you're kind of, I don't know, particular about your games. But I do think it is very strong. It's very durable. And I think it will hold up to like normal home use. But yeah, I'm enjoying it so far. That's it. That's really all you need to know about it. If you're interested in ordering one, I'll have a link in the description. I did pay for this one myself. It's not a sponsored video or anything like that. Anyways, thank you so much for watching guys. If you have any questions put in the comments below. I'm still playing with it So if I discover anything new I will let you know and that's it for now guys. We will see you. Oh the next one

_(Acquisition: youtube_groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 1395962f-06e9-4b8d-a120-e630169fe3e2*