# AP: Galactic Tank Force Outearns Foo Fighters on Location; Game Fixes; Production Update

**Source:** Knapp Arcade  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2023-06-02  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/ap-galactic-tank-force-outearns-foo-fighters-on-location-game-fixes-production-update

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## Analysis

American Pinball reported that Galactic Tank Force is outperforming Foo Fighters at multiple locations, with fixes deployed for center tank target bending issues and ball lock problems caused by incorrect pinball installation. The company has completed Oktoberfest production and shifted both assembly lines to GTF, targeting 2-3 month delivery times, while planning a Classic version and resuming Houdini production after the Signature Edition run.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Galactic Tank Force is earning on par or better than Foo Fighters at multiple locations including Enterrium Chicago ($938 in swipes), Pocketeer Buffalo, and California locations — _David Fix statement in PINcast; specific location and revenue data provided_
- [HIGH] American Pinball signed off on 500-unit run of strengthened center tank target brackets to fix bending issues — _Direct statement from David Fix; specific unit count and timeline ('week ago') provided_
- [HIGH] Ball lock failures were caused by non-carbon pinballs being installed instead of standard STR carbon balls due to factory mix-up — _David Fix explanation; issue now resolved_
- [HIGH] Current orders will ship in 2-3 months; both assembly lines now running GTF only after Oktoberfest completion — _David Fix statement on production timeline and resource allocation_
- [HIGH] American Pinball has 200+ unfilled orders for Houdini and plans to resume production after GTF Signature Edition run — _David Fix statement; specific order count provided_

### Notable Quotes

> "Galactic Tank Forces on location are earning on par or a little bit better than Foo Fighters at quite a few different locations"
> — **David Fix, American Pinball**, May 2023 PINcast
> _Key market performance claim for GTF vs established recent release; supports viability of game in commercial market_

> "Customers who order the game today should get their game in two to three months"
> — **David Fix, American Pinball**, May 2023 PINcast
> _Production timeline and delivery expectation for GTF orders_

> "Because of licensing constraints want to put the cart before the horse and announce who won yet"
> — **David Fix, American Pinball**, May 2023 PINcast
> _Indicates homebrew contest winner selected but licensing prevents announcement; suggests IP licensing complexity even for homebrew partnership deals_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| American Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer addressing production and quality issues; shifting assembly lines; planning future production runs |
| David Fix | person | American Pinball management/representative providing production and market performance updates |
| Galactic Tank Force | game | American Pinball game with reported mechanical issues (bending center targets, ball lock problems) now being addressed; performing well on location vs Foo Fighters |
| Foo Fighters | game | Reference point for GTF location performance comparison |
| Enterrium | organization | Chicago location where GTF earned $938 in swipes during reference period |
| Pocketeer | organization | Buffalo location where GTF is outperforming Foo Fighters |
| Oktoberfest | game | American Pinball game; production run completed; units in stock |
| Hot Wheels | game | American Pinball game; units in stock; license extended with Mattel |
| Legends of Valhalla | game | American Pinball game; units in stock |
| Houdini | game | American Pinball game; 200+ unfilled orders; production to resume after GTF Signature Edition run |
| Pinball Magazine | organization | Media outlet conducting monthly PINcast interview (63rd consecutive monthly episode) |
| Pinball News | organization | Media outlet partnering on monthly PINcast interviews |
| Mattel | company | IP licensor for Hot Wheels pinball; license extended by American Pinball |
| Nitro Pinball | organization | Distributor receiving GTF machines (4 Deluxe, 2 Limited) for Northwest Pinball and Arcade show |
| Northwest Pinball and Arcade show | event | Upcoming show where Nitro Pinball will display GTF machines |
| STR carbon pinballs | product | Standard pinball specification for American Pinball games; incorrect non-carbon balls caused lock failures |
| Pinball Expo | event | Previous year contest where homebrew designers competed for production opportunity with American Pinball |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Product quality and mechanical fixes, Production capacity and timeline, Location revenue and market performance, American Pinball product pipeline and roadmap
- **Secondary:** IP licensing constraints, Homebrew pinball partnerships

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.72) — Report shows American Pinball taking proactive fixes to quality issues and demonstrating market traction with GTF outperforming competitor title. However, underlying tone reflects recovery narrative from previous problems (bending targets, ball lock failures, production issues), suggesting the company had significant challenges that are now being addressed. Positive momentum tempered by history of execution difficulties.

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** American Pinball consolidating production: completed Oktoberfest run, both assembly lines now running GTF only, indicating resource concentration on single product (confidence: high) — David Fix stated 'Both of the Company's assembly lines are now solely running Galactic Tank Force'
- **[licensing_signal]** American Pinball extended Hot Wheels license with Mattel; homebrew contest winner identified but announcement delayed due to unspecified licensing constraints (confidence: high) — Direct statements from David Fix regarding Mattel extension and licensing constraints preventing winner announcement
- **[market_signal]** Galactic Tank Force reported outperforming Foo Fighters at multiple locations, suggesting strong location revenue despite earlier mechanical issues (confidence: high) — David Fix cited Enterrium Chicago ($938 in month), Pocketeer Buffalo, and California locations as examples of GTF earning 'on par or a little bit better than Foo Fighters'
- **[personnel_signal]** David Fix identified as American Pinball representative with direct knowledge of production, quality, and market performance decisions (confidence: high) — Consistent attribution across multiple product and operational claims in PINcast interview
- **[product_strategy]** Strengthened center tank target bracket designed and manufactured (500 units) to resolve bending issues on GTF (confidence: high) — David Fix stated brackets were signed off 'a week ago' and will be distributed to customers upon receipt
- **[product_concern]** Center tank targets bending on Galactic Tank Force; ball lock failures caused by factory mix-up using non-carbon pinballs instead of STR carbon standard (confidence: high) — David Fix confirmed issues and stated fixes: 500-unit bracket run signed off, ball specification corrected at factory
- **[product_strategy]** American Pinball planning Classic version of GTF with reduced bill of materials; Signature Edition run to complete before Houdini production resumes; 200+ Houdini orders pending (confidence: high) — David Fix outlined future production plans with specific unit targets and timeline

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## Transcript

The gentlemen over at Pinball News and Pinball Magazine interviewed American Pinball's David Fix in the latest episode of their monthly PINcast that was released earlier today (this was their 63rd consecutive monthly episode BTW - very impressive).

American Pinball (AP) has found a solution to the bending center tank targets on Galactic Tank Force (GTF). The Company signed off on a 500 unit run of all three pieces of a bracket designed to strengthen the targets a week ago. As soon as they are received at American Pinball from the manufacturer, AP will send them out to its customers.

The issues with the Galactic Tank Force ball locks during the game's first official stream and at one of the recent pinball shows in Milwaukee were caused by the wrong balls being installed in certain machines, causing the balls to become magnetized. American Pinball normally uses STR carbon pinballs in its games, but a mix-up at the factory led to non-carbon balls being installed in certain units. This issue has now been resolved.

David Fix went on to state that Galactic Tank Forces on location are "earning on par or a little bit better than Foo Fighters at quite a few different locations." He referenced specific locations like Enterrium in Chicago (where the game earned 938 $1 swipes on the game during the month), Pocketeer in Buffalo and several locations in California.

American Pinball's recent run of Octoberfest machines is now done. Both of the Company's assembly lines are now solely running Galactic Tank Force. Customers who order the game today should get their game in two to three months. The 200 Signature Edition games have not started production yet, but once the key parts are in that run will begin.

American Pinball still plans to build a Classic version of Galactic Tank Force. Gameplay of the Classic version of GTF will be the same, but some elements of the bill of materials will be lowered.

Nitro Pinball is bringing a number of Galactic Tank Force machines to this weekend's Northwest Pinball and Arcade show that we have been discussing all day. AP shipped them four Deluxe and two Limited GTF machines to them for the show.

American Pinball currently has some units of Hot Wheels, Legends of Valhalla and Oktoberfest in stock. Later on this year after the Galactic Tank Force Signature Edition run is done AP plans to manufacture Houdini again. American Pinball stated that it currently has over 200 orders for Houdini that need to get filled. The Company has extended its license for Hot Wheels with Mattel.

Last year at Pinball Expo, American Pinball held a contest amongst the Homebrew pinball designers. The winner of the contest was to have its game produced by American Pinball. David Fix stated that American did indeed pick a winning design during the contest, however because of licensing constraints want to put the cart before the horse and announce who won yet.

Pinball Magazine & Pinball News PINcast May 2023 recap

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pinball-magazine-pinball-news-pincast-may-2023-recap/id1369141531?i=1000615437614

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 3ea884fd-014c-4515-9247-f3a9e7af2b67*