# RETRO ATOMIC ZOMBIE ADVENTURELAND

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2019-11-17  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2019/11/17/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland

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## Analysis

Deeproot Pinball unveiled prototype images of Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland (RAZA), a John Popadiuk-designed game originally conceived as a Zidware project. The game features retro-inspired design with an ultra-wide display, conventional cabinet layout, and a playfield packed with theme park-based mechanical toys including a Ferris wheel, daredevil cycle ramp, and swinging target with an alien character. Production was promised to begin by end of June 2020, with playable prototypes shown at Houston Arcade Expo.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Production promised to begin by the end of June 2020 — _Article states: 'production which is promised to begin by the end of June 2020'_
- [HIGH] Display is an ultra-wide-aspect panel with score capped just shy of ten million — _Article describes: 'Scoring for this retro design is kept deliberately low with no trailing zero, but with room for the score to reach just shy of ten million'_
- [HIGH] Design changed significantly from original Zidware conception with emphasis on theme park elements — _Article states: 'The design has changed significantly since then with much more emphasis on the theme park elements'_
- [HIGH] Two playable prototypes were set up at Houston Arcade Expo for testing mechanisms — _Article notes: 'There were two playable games set up at the Houston Arcade Expo show this weekend'_
- [HIGH] Playfield features throwback references to Barry Oursler's earlier theme park games — _Article states: 'There are also some throwback references to earlier theme park games by Barry Oursler (who is also designing at Deeproot)'_

### Notable Quotes

> "The design has changed significantly since then with much more emphasis on the theme park elements, although there are a few obvious similarities including the Z-O-M-B-I-E inserts, the centre-left ramp, the orbit lanes and the target at the very back of the playfield."
> — **Article author (Pinball News)**, N/A
> _Describes evolution from Zidware design to Deeproot production version_

> "Deeproot Pinball were at pains to say they were not final builds and they would be using them to gauge how they mechanisms stand up to a weekend of play and if any design tweaks are needed before the game goes into production next year."
> — **Article author (Pinball News)**, N/A
> _Emphasizes prototypes are testing platforms, not finalized designs_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Deeproot Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer developing Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland; also known as Deep Root Pinball |
| John Popadiuk | person | Designer of RAZA game; originally designed it as Zidware project in Streamwood, Illinois |
| Barry Oursler | person | Legendary pinball designer working at Deeproot; created theme park games referenced in RAZA design |
| Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland (RAZA) | game | Pinball game in development by Deeproot Pinball featuring theme park and zombie theme |
| Zidware | company | Original developer/designer of RAZA concept by John Popadiuk |
| Houston Arcade Expo | event | Gaming event where RAZA prototypes were first publicly displayed |
| Texas Pinball Festival | event | Upcoming event in March 2020 where more finalized RAZA version expected to be shown |
| This Week In Pinball | organization | Pinball news and media outlet that published detailed article and prototype images |
| Pinball News | organization | Source outlet for this article |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Game Design & Prototype Development, Manufacturing & Production Timeline, Deeproot Pinball, Playfield Mechanics & Features
- **Secondary:** Retro Design Philosophy, Pinball Hardware & Display Technology

### Sentiment

**Neutral** (0.5) — Article is factual, informative reporting with no evident bias. No criticism or enthusiasm expressed; straightforward documentation of prototype features and timeline.

### Signals

- **[design_philosophy]** Game deliberately adopts retro aesthetic inspired by mid-to-late 1990s pinball design era with emphasis on imaginative mechanical toys (confidence: high) — Article notes 'The playfield too harks back to the glory days of pinball design the mid-to-late '90s when game designers were always striving to devise ever more imaginative playfield toys'
- **[announcement]** Official prototype reveal of RAZA at Houston Arcade Expo with detailed specifications (confidence: high) — Studio pictures and technical details published by Deeproot Pinball and This Week In Pinball
- **[product_strategy]** Production promised to begin by end of June 2020; Texas Pinball Festival expected to showcase more finalized version (confidence: high) — Article states 'production which is promised to begin by the end of June 2020' and 'A more final version... can be expected at the Texas Pinball Festival in March next year'

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## Transcript

Date: 15th November, 2019 Just ahead of the game’s first public appearance at the Houston Arcade Expo this weekend, Deeproot Pinball released studio pictures of their new Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland game. ![Deeproot's Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland/001-retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland.jpg) Deeproot’s Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland (picture: This Week In Pinball / Deeproot Pinball) In a detailed article on the This Week In Pinball website, pictures of the John Popadiuk-designed game are shown in prototype form. Some elements such as the cabinet shape and cabinet, backbox and translite artwork are not the finished product, while other features such as the display and playfield layout are not expected to change significantly. ![The front view of the game](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland/002-retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland.jpg) The front view of the game The cabinet and backbox look very conventional designs, but might change prior to production which is promised to begin by the end of June 2020. The colour display is an ultra-wide-aspect panel which gives plenty of space left and right for in-game information but not much height for portrait-shaped objects such as faces, or indeed the game’s logo. Scoring for this ‘retro’ design is kept deliberately low with no trailing zero, but with room for the score to reach just shy of ten million. ![The display layout](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland/008-retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland.jpg) The display layout Speaker grilles are below the panel, not allowing for very large drivers but giving a more integrated look and providing space above for a full-size translite. The cabinet shown has a very conventional shooter rod, start button and coin door, as well as just a single flipper button on each side. So far, so traditional. The playfield too harks back to the glory days of pinball design the mid-to-late ’90s when game designers were always striving to devise ever more imaginative playfield toys. ![The Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland/003-retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland.jpg) The Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland playfield Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland was, of course, originally a Zidware design created by John in his studio in Streamwood, Illinois. The design has changed significantly since then with much more emphasis on the theme park elements, although there are a few obvious similarities including the Z-O-M-B-I-E inserts, the centre-left ramp, the orbit lanes and the target at the very back of the playfield. ![The original Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland Zidware design](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland/007-retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland.jpg) The original Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland Zidware design (picture: Pinball News archives) The new design packs plenty of shots and features into the playfield, including a Ferris wheel, a dare devil cycle ramp with a target at the end, three roll-over buttons in front of a swinging target along with some more conventional drop and stand-up targets and a spinning disc. There are also some throwback references to earlier theme park games by Barry Oursler (who is also designing at Deeproot), such as “ride the Ferris wheel”, “dunk the dummy” and “ride the rollercoaster”. ![A closer shot of the playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland/005-retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland.jpg) A closer shot of the playfield At the back is a swinging target with a model of the chief alien bad guy, Ned, above along with a ramp feeding to him. ![The back of the playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland/004-retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland.jpg) The back of the playfield There were two playable games set up at the Houston Arcade Expo show this weekend, although Deeproot Pinball were at pains to say they were not final builds and they would be using them to gauge how they mechanisms stand up to a weekend of play and if any design tweaks are needed before the game goes into production next year. As yet there are no indications of pricing or any different models being available. A more final version of Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland can be expected at the Texas Pinball Festival in March next year, where additional titles may able be displayed. We will be there of course to bring you all the news.

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 34884443-4a81-4e5f-9e79-e32035d520ca*