# The Unusual Backbox Design of the Potential Elements Pinball Machine **Source:** Knapp Arcade **Type:** article **Published:** 2022-03-03 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/the-unusual-backbox-design-of-the-potential-elements-pinball-machine --- ## Analysis Knapp Arcade discusses Pinball Adventures' unconventional backbox design for their planned second game, Elements, featuring a metal bow-tie structure with integrated LCD screen instead of traditional full backglass, along with an animated LCD topper. The author expresses skepticism about whether Pinball Adventures can even manufacture their first game (Punny Factory) and notes community resistance to design innovations, comparing the approach to Deeproot Pinball's prototype design. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Pinball Adventures plans to use a metal bow-tie structure with built-in LCD screen instead of a full backglass on Elements — _Direct quote from Pinball Adventures website describing the backbox design with integrated LCD and topper animation display_ - [HIGH] The author questions whether Pinball Adventures can manufacture even their first game (Punny Factory), let alone Elements — _Opening statement: 'I don't know if Pinball Adventures will even be able to manufacture it's first game, Punny Factory, let alone a second game'_ - [MEDIUM] The Elements backbox design is similar to the screen design used in Deeproot Pinball's prototype Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland cabinets — _Author's comparison: 'This look actually reminds me of the screen that Deeproot Pinball used in its prototype Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland cabinets'_ - [MEDIUM] Community tends to reject attempts to reinvent traditional pinball design conventions — _Author's observation: 'Usually when a company tries to reinvent the wheel like this people in the hobby tend to shun it'_ ### Notable Quotes > "Full back glass free from a LCD screen. Don't worry; you'll still be able to keep score. We designed a unique metal bow-tie that has a built in LCD screen with all the bells and whistles." > — **Pinball Adventures (website description)** > _Official product description of Elements' innovative backbox design philosophy_ > "To enhance game play for the player and spectator, we have included a topper with a stretched LCD screen showing random animations of what elements the pinball player is fighting." > — **Pinball Adventures (website description)** > _Details the secondary display component featuring animated topper element_ > "Now I don't know if Pinball Adventures will even be able to manufacture it's first game, Punny Factory, let alone a second game" > — **Knapp Arcade (author)** > _Expresses concern about manufacturer's production viability, introducing credibility doubt about product delivery_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Pinball Adventures | company | Boutique pinball manufacturer planning Elements as their second game after Punny Factory; known for unconventional backbox design approach | | Elements | game | Planned second pinball game by Pinball Adventures featuring innovative metal bow-tie backbox with integrated LCD screen and animated topper display | | Punny Factory | game | Pinball Adventures' first/debut pinball machine; production viability questioned by article author | | Deeproot Pinball | company | Referenced as having used similar LCD screen design in prototype Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland cabinets | | Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland | game | Deeproot Pinball prototype featuring similar backbox screen design that Elements is compared to | | Knapp Arcade | person | Content creator analyzing Pinball Adventures' design choices and production viability | ### Topics - **Primary:** Backbox design innovation, Manufacturer production viability - **Secondary:** Community reception of unconventional design, LCD display integration in pinball ### Sentiment **Neutral** (0.45) — Author is skeptical about manufacturer execution and community acceptance, but genuinely interested in the design concept ('it's interesting to think about'). Tone is cautiously curious rather than critical. ### Signals - **[business_signal]** Industry observer questions whether Pinball Adventures has production capacity to manufacture even their debut game (Punny Factory) before pursuing second title (Elements) (confidence: medium) — Author's opening statement expressing doubt: 'I don't know if Pinball Adventures will even be able to manufacture it's first game, Punny Factory, let alone a second game' - **[sentiment_shift]** Community historically resists unconventional pinball design innovations that deviate from traditional formats (confidence: medium) — Author's observation: 'Usually when a company tries to reinvent the wheel like this people in the hobby tend to shun it' - **[design_philosophy]** Pinball Adventures pursuing aggressive backbox design innovation (eliminating traditional backglass) with integrated LCD display and animated topper system (confidence: high) — Metal bow-tie LCD design with separate animated topper represents fundamental departure from standard backbox conventions - **[announcement]** Pinball Adventures officially reveals unconventional backbox design for Elements featuring metal bow-tie LCD instead of traditional backglass (confidence: high) — Official website description and product images linked in article showing the integrated LCD bow-tie design --- ## Transcript Now I don’t know if Pinball Adventures will even be able to manufacture it’s first game, Punny Factory, let alone a second game, but the initial backbox design for the company’s planned second game sure is interesting. Here‘s a description of it from the company’s website: ”Full back glass free from a LCD screen. Don’t worry; you’ll still be able to keep score. We designed a unique metal bow-tie that has a built in LCD screen with all the bells and whistles. To enhance game play for the player and spectator, we have included a topper with a stretched LCD screen showing random animations of what elements the pinball player is fighting.“ Usually when a company tries to reinvent the wheel like this people in the hobby tend to shun it. This look actually reminds me of the screen that Deeproot Pinball used in its prototype Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland cabinets. Who knows if it will happen, but it’s interesting to think about (at least to me while I sit here at my youngest son’s lacrosse practice LOL). Here’s a link to Pinball Adventure’s site for Elements and a few pictures of the concept. https://www.pinballadventures.com/elements-pinball/ _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 207c0e7f-1242-42ca-bb15-2add9d6f341e*