# Dungeon Crawler Carl Pinball Is Not Next from Barrels of Fun; Beetlejuice Pinball Production Update; Pinball Videos **Source:** Knapp Arcade **Type:** article **Published:** 2026-03-05 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/blog/dungeon-crawler-carl-pinball-is-not-next-from-barrels-of-fun-beetlejuice-pinball-production-update-pinball-videos --- ## Analysis Knapp Arcade reports that Dungeon Crawler Carl is not Barrels of Fun's next pinball machine, citing a statement from David Van Ness indicating the next game's IP will be universally known. Spooky Pinball's Beetlejuice has shipped 52+ units plus show games. The article also highlights recent pinball content including a Stern factory tour and venue features. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Dungeon Crawler Carl is NOT Barrels of Fun's next pinball machine — _David Van Ness stated 'The Next Barrels of Fun IP everyone has a connection to it. Everyone knows what the next IP is,' implying DCC does not fit this description_ - [HIGH] Barrels of Fun's next IP is universally known and everyone has a connection to it — _Direct quote from David Van Ness (Barrels of Fun) in Nudge Magazine podcast interview_ - [HIGH] Spooky Pinball has built and shipped Beetlejuice games 1-52 plus ~30 show games — _Don from Don't Pinball Podcast, who now works at Spooky, stated this in DPP #231_ - [LOW] The NeverEnding Story might be Barrels of Fun's next game — _Knapp Arcade speculation based on David Van Ness's hint that the IP is universally known_ - [MEDIUM] Beetlejuice Pinball is showing up on location regularly — _Knapp Arcade observation of multiple machines appearing at venues, including The Pinball Palace in Brunswick, Georgia_ ### Notable Quotes > "The Next Barrels of Fun IP everyone has a connection to it. Everyone knows what the next IP is." > — **David Van Ness**, Nudge Magazine podcast (NudgeCAST Episode 16) > _Key hint about Barrels of Fun's next game that rules out Dungeon Crawler Carl_ > "Pinball is more than a game — it's a world under glass." > — **CoinReturn video description (behind-the-scenes Stern tour)**, Recent YouTube video > _Thematic framing of pinball's cultural significance_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Barrels of Fun | company | Boutique pinball manufacturer; next IP announcement being speculated on | | David Van Ness | person | Co-founder/designer at Barrels of Fun; gave hint about next game IP in Nudge Magazine interview | | Spooky Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer currently producing Beetlejuice; Don works there | | Don | person | Host of Don't Pinball Podcast; now works at Spooky Pinball; provided Beetlejuice production update | | Beetlejuice Pinball | game | Spooky Pinball title in active production; 52+ units shipped as of March 2026 | | Dungeon Crawler Carl | game | Book series; rumored (but now denied) as Barrels of Fun's next pinball machine | | The NeverEnding Story | game | Rumored IP potentially connected to Barrels of Fun's next game | | Gary Stern | person | CEO/leadership at Stern Pinball; featured in CoinReturn factory tour video | | George Gomez | person | Stern Pinball designer/engineer; featured in CoinReturn factory tour video | | Zach Sharpe | person | Son of pinball legend Roger Sharpe; Stern employee; featured in CoinReturn factory tour | | The Pinball Palace | venue | Arcade in Brunswick, Georgia; received new Beetlejuice machine; content streamed on YouTube | | Seattle Pinball Museum | venue | Venue in Seattle's Chinatown-International District; curated collection of machines from 1960 onward | | Lyon's Classic Pinball | venue | Pinball venue in Colorado; featured in local news coverage | | Knapp Arcade | organization | Pinball news/media site; article author/publisher | ### Topics - **Primary:** Barrels of Fun's next game announcement/rumors, Beetlejuice Pinball production and distribution, Dungeon Crawler Carl pinball speculation - **Secondary:** Pinball content and media (videos, podcasts), Pinball venues and museums - **Mentioned:** Stern Pinball factory operations and design ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.75) — Article is informative and enthusiastic about pinball industry developments. Positive tone toward venue features and content creation. Neutral on speculation about upcoming titles. ### Signals - **[machine_intel]** David Van Ness hints at Barrels of Fun's next game with clue that IP is universally known and everyone has connection to it (confidence: high) — Direct quote from Nudge Magazine podcast interview - **[rumor_hype]** Community speculation about Dungeon Crawler Carl and The NeverEnding Story as Barrels of Fun's next title (confidence: low) — Knapp Arcade notes rumors have been circulating but are now effectively denied by Van Ness's hint - **[product_launch]** Beetlejuice Pinball production steady at 52+ units shipped plus show games by early March 2026 (confidence: high) — Don (Spooky employee) provided specific shipment numbers in DPP #231 - **[venue_signal]** Beetlejuice machines appearing regularly on location; example unboxing at The Pinball Palace, Georgia (confidence: medium) — Knapp Arcade observation of machines popping up at venues; YouTube gameplay video of Pinball Palace unboxing - **[content_signal]** Increase in pinball factory tours, venue documentaries, and behind-the-scenes content on YouTube (confidence: medium) — CoinReturn Stern factory tour, Seattle Pinball Museum video, Lyon's Classic Pinball coverage all recent - **[personnel_signal]** Don (podcast host) now working at Spooky Pinball (confidence: high) — Don stated he 'now works' at Spooky Pinball in DPP #231 --- ## Transcript News Dungeon Crawler Carl Pinball Is Not Next from Barrels of Fun; Beetlejuice Pinball Production Update; Pinball Videos k knapparcade March 5, 2026 I've got a couple of updates from podcasts and a couple of cool videos for everyone today. First up, the Nudge Magazine podcast recorded a great interview with Barrels of Fun Pinball's David David Van Es. It contained a ton of cool information on David's journey through pinball and how Barrels of Fun started. Towards the end of the podcast we did get a tiny bit of information about the Company's next pinball machine. You know that I'd be all over that lol. There has been a ton of chatter lately about the possibility of the book series Dungeon Crawler Carl being an upcoming pinball machine from Barrels of Fun (I'm almost done with Book 1 now BTW). Well, we didn't get any insight as to whether that rumor is actually true, but we did pretty much get confirmation that IF it is true, it is NOT Barrels of Fun's next game. Specifically, David said: " The Next Barrels of Fun IP everyone has a connection to it. Everyone knows what the next IP is." That definitely does not describe Dungeon Crawler Carl. Does it describe another theme that has been linked to Barrels through rumors, The NeverEnding Story? Maybe? NudgeCAST Episode 16 - David David Van Es (Barrels Of Fun Pinball) https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/LSS2765795068?selected=LSS9829128476 In another podcast earlier this week, Don from the eponymous Don't Pinball Podcast talked a little about Beetlejuice production at Spooky Pinball, where he now works. As of yesterday's podcast episode, Spooky had built and shipped Beetlejuice games 1 through 52 or so, plus the 30 or so show games that went to Pinball at the Beach and the Texas Pinball Festival. I believe it. Every time I turn around another one is popping up on location, such as the one that was just unboxed at The Pinball Palace arcade in Brunswick, Georgia. That game was streamed on YouTube yesterday. I have embedded the video below. " DPP #231 Let's go to Jack in the Box!" ![Advertisement](https://sternpinball.com/) https://open.spotify.com/episode/7e0z4YUvawscYyExOFT8Ye?si=2G9ncI2jSXyGLFVLpwt-Yw \[4K\] Beetlejuice Pinball Gameplay \| Brand new Arrival @ The Pinball Palace! - YouTube Pinball Palace TV [\[4K\] Beetlejuice Pinball Gameplay \| Brand new Arrival @ The Pinball Palace!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39uzBAUiVSc) Pinball Palace TV Search Info Shopping 0:00 / •Live • Speaking of videos, the YouTube Channel "CoinReturn" shared a great video tour of Stern Pinball earlier this week. The mini-documentary includes interviews with Stern's George Gomez, Zach Sharpe and Gary Stern himself. " Pinball is more than a game — it’s a world under glass. In this behind-the-scenes tour, Robert Severson takes you inside a working pinball factory to discover what it takes to bring these electromechanical marvels to life. From raw playfields to fully assembled machines, this spotlight offers a rare look at how modern pinball is imagined, engineered, and built—largely by hand. Featuring interviews with Gary Stern, George Gomez, and Zach Sharpe (son of pinball legend Roger Sharpe), this video explores what makes pinball timeless. From artwork that sparks the imagination to the interactive choreography of ramps, targets, bumpers and flippers that physically respond to every movement of the ball, Stern Pinball blends craftsmanship, technology and decades of experience to create immersive experiences that transport players into fully realized worlds of sound, light and motion. Every switch. Every coil. Every mechanism. Built to entertain you—and to make you come back for more. This is a rare look inside the headquarters of the world’s largest pinball manufacturer and how Stern continues the legacy of the silver ball while pushing the medium forward—integrating modern technology like Insider Connected while preserving the tactile magic that makes pinball unlike anything else. Special thanks to Logan Arcade (Chicago), Arcade 1UP (Denver), and Wizard’s World (Fort Wayne, Indiana) for allowing us to film these beautiful machines in equally beautiful arcade spaces." Behind the Glass \| A Tour of Stern Pinball’s Factory - YouTube CoinReturn Behind the Glass \| A Tour of Stern Pinball’s Factory CoinReturn Search Info Shopping 0:00 / •Live • New sponsor slot Your sponsored ad here Be the first to claim this placement. Contact knapparcade@gmail.com today * Last up I have two cool videos about locations... The Seattle Pinball Museum: Charlie and Cindy Martin founded the Seattle Pinball Museum in 2010 out of a shared love for the artistic and kinetic beauty of pinball machines. The result is a storefront in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District that is smartly curated with pinball machines dating back to1960. Better yet, every machine is meant to be played! Created by Howard Shack More information: https://seattlepinballmuseum.com/ Family friendly fun at the Seattle Pinball Museum - YouTube Seattle Channel Family friendly fun at the Seattle Pinball Museum Seattle Channel Search Info Shopping 0:00 / •Live • And a local news piece about Colorado's Lyon's Classic Pinball, which my family and I visited a couple of years ago. Great place! This one I can't embed, so the link is below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8siyODmIdc Posted about 2 hours ago k About knapparcade Site administrator Comments (0) Please sign in to join the conversation. 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