# Dune Pinball First Impressions (SDTM, 2025)

**Source:** Straight Down the Middle  
**Type:** video  
**Published:** 2025-04-15  
**Duration:** 39m 2s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnkHED-r8XI

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## Analysis

Straight Down the Middle hosts provide enthusiastic first impressions of Barrels of Fun's Dune Pinball, praising its exceptional playfield design, innovative toys (multi-function worm, harvester, pain box mechanic), artistic execution by Jonathan Bergeson, and loaded feature set despite initial skepticism about the theme. They position Dune as evidence that Barrels has replicated their Labyrinth success and established themselves as a serious manufacturer competitor.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Barrels of Fun has loaded Dune with more features than most manufacturers at competitive pricing — _Hosts repeatedly emphasize Barrels' 'hashtag included' value positioning and loaded feature set compared to market alternatives_
- [HIGH] Dune Pinball features four physical ball locks, three spinners, magnets in multiple functions, and extensive drop targets/diverters — _Detailed mechanical breakdown throughout video with specific toy descriptions_
- [HIGH] The worm toy has multiple functions: magnetic catch, shroud mechanism, rider mode, ball-eating submarine mechanism — _Extended discussion of worm mechanics with visual confirmation from trailer footage_
- [HIGH] Dune uses a 14.9-inch LCD backglass with interactive integration tied to day/night mode progression — _Direct specification mentioned with context about spinner progression through modes_
- [HIGH] Barrels is introducing 'Horizon atmospheric lighting' feature using interactive stadium-style lights tied to game modes — _Described as new innovation with example of spinner progression affecting lighting color (blue for night modes)_
- [HIGH] Dune features improved high-gloss decal art (ever-gloss) with embedded metallic details, similar to Rad Cabs approach — _Technical art discussion comparing gloss finish application and metallic integration_
- [HIGH] Dune's art avoids the brown/muted palette concern by using orange-blue-gray color palette inspired by desert themes — _Host acknowledges initial concern about 'sand colors' but praises execution with spice blue and orange palette integration_
- [HIGH] Code team includes Colin McColpin, Eric Prysky, and Bowen Kerins—same team credited for Labyrinth's praised code — _Direct name attribution with positive reception comparison to Labyrinth_

### Notable Quotes

> "I was just like, 'Okay, it's just—it saved me a little bit of money.' They're probably not going to like hearing this. Sorry, Barrels, but like when I heard Dune, I was like, 'Yeah, awesome movie. Yeah, fine with it.'"
> — **Greg (co-host)**, ~0:45
> _Establishes initial theme skepticism that becomes central narrative arc of show—theme cynicism overcome by mechanical execution_

> "This is kind of Radical 2.0... the whimsy of ramps. That whole mechanism to the right... That staging where it kinetically kicks a ball out, hits the ball back. Yeah. That's Radical."
> — **Co-host**, ~8:15
> _Positions Dune within pinball history lineage, comparing positively to legendary Williams System 11 title Radical_

> "Every section is like its own multiple-stage world. Like almost like you've got components and you've got these modules that are almost just setting all over that playfield. Like they utilized every square inch that they could."
> — **Host**, ~9:20
> _Describes modular toy design philosophy as pinnacle of modern playfield design—efficiency and density_

> "This is everything a pinball player wants... this is why we're in the industry. This is why we're in this hobby. Like this is the stuff that we love."
> — **Host**, ~6:00
> _Expresses core pinball passion—mechanical complexity and physical interaction over theme or IP_

> "I want it in the backboard so it's more ambient into the environment that you're building... this is like what I want... this seems like it's taking it up that next notch."
> — **Co-host**, ~16:30
> _Positions Dune's LCD integration as superior to P3's screen-dominant design philosophy_

> "The worm can eat the ball. But it can eat it. It looked like in that video, am I wrong? It ate it when it was completely down. Like it just sucked it in the ground... It goes into a subway. And it's so smooth and creepy looking."
> — **Host**, ~13:45
> _Describes the worm's most innovative feature with wonder—mechanical innovation driving emotional response_

> "Two games? No, you're doing something... I think Barrels is going to be that same way... after this, I think they've hit two home runs here."
> — **Co-host**, ~2:20
> _Frames Barrels' success pattern as legitimate manufacturer-level consistency, not one-off luck_

> "I crapped all over Johnny Crapp with Jurassic Park, really bad... But this is stunning. This is beautiful and it should be... great job Johnny Bergeson."
> — **Greg**, ~4:15
> _Public apology/redemption arc for artist Jonathan Bergeson after critical Jurassic Park reception—Dune success validates artist's growth_

> "I love when things are integrated so well that you can't picture any other toy that it doesn't fit better into... you're getting that multi—it's not just a coil, you're getting that reaction. You're getting that physical."
> — **Co-host**, ~11:30
> _Philosophy of mechanical integration as design excellence—form and function alignment_

> "Whatever they do next, it's like oh, it's going to—you can put these in your collection without having to worry about theme as much."
> — **Host**, ~18:00
> _Predicts Barrels has established brand equity transcending individual IP choices—theme becomes secondary to execution_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Barrels of Fun | company | Houston-based pinball manufacturer; released Labyrinth (2024) and Dune Pinball (2025); known for story-driven design and loaded feature sets at competitive pricing |
| Greg | person | Co-host of Straight Down the Middle; skeptical of Dune theme but enthusiastic about mechanical execution |
| Jonathan Bergeson | person | Playfield/cabinet artist for Barrels of Fun, credited on both Labyrinth and Dune; previously criticized for Jurassic Park artwork but redeemed with Dune art execution |
| Dune Pinball | game | Barrels of Fun's second release; based on Denis Villeneuve's Dune films; features innovative worm toy, harvester mechanic, 14.9-inch LCD backglass, and Horizon atmospheric lighting |
| Labyrinth | game | Barrels of Fun's debut game (2024); Jim Henson's Labyrinth license; praised for playfield design and code quality; serves as benchmark for Dune comparisons |
| Colin McColpin | person | Code/programmer at Barrels of Fun; credited on Labyrinth and Dune; part of praised code team |
| Eric Prysky | person | Code/design contributor at Barrels of Fun; credited on Labyrinth and Dune |
| Bowen Kerins | person | Code/design contributor at Barrels of Fun; credited on Labyrinth and Dune |
| Radical | game | Williams System 11 pinball game (~1991); cited as design inspiration for Dune's mechanical philosophy and whimsy |
| Labyrinth | game | Jim Henson's Labyrinth license by Barrels of Fun; praised for integrated playfield design, lighting, and code; comparison point for Dune |
| Attack from Mars | game | Referenced for two-way scoop mechanic design pattern that influenced Dune's ball routing logic |
| White Water | game | Williams pinball game referenced for upper playfield design philosophy; compared to Dune's more minimalist plastic coverage approach |
| Circus Voltaire | game | Referenced as example of multi-function eyecatcher toy design that inspired Dune's worm mechanic innovation |
| Stern Pinball | company | Major manufacturer; mentioned for recent efforts to load games (Uncanny X-Men) and bringing back sculpted worlds |
| Spooky Pinball | company | Boutique manufacturer; cited for maintaining world-under-glass philosophy with buttercream finish artwork integration |
| Straight Down the Middle | organization | Pinball content creators/podcast; hosts provide first impressions and mechanical deep-dives of Dune Pinball |
| Uncanny X-Men | game | Recent Stern Pinball release; cited as example of loaded modern game with sculpted world focus |
| The Hobbit | game | Referenced for map progression mechanic through spinner hits that influenced Dune's mode structure design |
| Karl DeAngelo | person | Competitive pinball player; possibly mentioned as one of few who may have defeated Labyrinth |
| Jared | person | Possibly competitive pinball player in context of Labyrinth game completion discussions |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Playfield design and mechanical complexity, Toy functionality and innovation (worm, harvester, pain box), Barrels of Fun's competitive positioning vs established manufacturers, Artwork and visual aesthetic execution, LCD backglass integration and atmospheric lighting technology, Value proposition and pricing competitiveness
- **Secondary:** Theme selection and fan reception, Code quality and rules depth expectations, World-under-glass design philosophy

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.92) — Hosts express overwhelming enthusiasm about Dune's mechanical execution, design innovation, and manufacturing quality. Initial theme skepticism is completely overcome by hands-on observation. Positive sentiment extends to artist redemption arc (Jonathan Bergeson) and manufacturer validation (Barrels establishing pattern of success). Minor reservation only about not yet knowing full rules/code depth.

### Signals

- **[sentiment_shift]** Hosts position Dune as validation of Barrels' design philosophy and evidence that theme IP matters less than mechanical execution in establishing collector desirability. (confidence: high) — Host: 'Whatever they do next, it's like oh, it's going to—you can put these in your collection without having to worry about theme as much... Yes, it's okay.'
- **[competitive_signal]** Barrels of Fun has established pattern of success across two releases (Labyrinth, Dune), transitioning from potential one-hit-wonder to credible long-term manufacturer competitor through consistent mechanical/artistic excellence and value positioning. (confidence: high) — Co-host: 'I think when Keith Elwin first came out... did Keith Elwin get lucky? He worked on that for a while... And then he came out with Dash... And then I think Barrels is going to be that same way... Two games? No, you're doing something.'
- **[design_philosophy]** LCD integration in Dune praised as superior to P3 architecture because backglass screen remains ambient/supplementary rather than dominant feature, preserving 'world under glass' experience. (confidence: high) — Co-host: 'I'm mixed on that too... because the animation, but this is like what I want. Yes. I want it in the backboard so it's more ambient into the environment that you're building.'
- **[design_philosophy]** Barrels of Fun explicitly pursuing 'world under glass' design strategy with every square inch of playfield utilized through modular toy sections, contrasting against trend toward LCD-dominant designs (P3 reference). (confidence: high) — Host: 'Every section is like its own multiple-stage world... they utilized every square inch... I want it in the backboard so it's more ambient into the environment that you're building. That's what I want.' Comparing favorably to P3's screen-heavy approach.
- **[market_signal]** Barrels of Fun utilizing aggressive value messaging ('hashtag included') and single-tier production strategy with loaded standard features as competitive differentiator against multi-tier (Pro/Premium/LE) pricing models. (confidence: high) — Barrels is really pushing value... it's all hashtag included and it's still when you compare it to other things on the market, it is still the best value... hashtag included, they're putting shaker in this.
- **[community_signal]** Jonathan Bergeson artist redemption: Previously criticized for Jurassic Park artwork quality, but Dune art execution has restored credibility and demonstrated artistic growth. (confidence: high) — Greg: 'I crapped all over Johnny Crapp with Jurassic Park, really bad... He made it up for me in Labyrinth. Labyrinth is beautiful. But this is stunning... getting an apology from Greg Bone... great job. This shouldn't be beautiful.'
- **[announcement]** Dune Pinball officially announced by Barrels of Fun with extensive public trailer coverage showing major toys (worm, harvester), playfield layout, LCD integration, and Horizon atmospheric lighting technology. (confidence: high) — Video is first impressions based on official trailer and hands-on observation; hosts reference specific video footage showing mechanical reveals
- **[product_strategy]** Dune features technical innovations including Horizon atmospheric lighting (interactive stadium-style backlighting tied to game modes) and high-gloss ever-gloss decal artwork with embedded metallic details, positioned as 'hashtag included' value features. (confidence: high) — Barrels is really pushing value... they've added ever-gloss, high-gloss decal art... they've embedded like Jersey Jack has embedded metallic details into it... they're pushing value this release... Horizon atmospheric lighting...
- **[product_concern]** Initial concern that Dune's brown/sand theme would result in muted, visually unappealing color palette. Concern was ALLEVIATED by execution using orange-blue-gray palette with iridescent spice blue details and integrated metallic finishes. (confidence: high) — Host: 'I thought Dune was just sand... what are they going to do with Dune? Like are they just going to have yellow everywhere?' Later: 'he kept that richness that I've been looking for in art again on pinball... not just blowing colors out... not just like all browns... very dark and sultry... It's not muted.'
- **[sentiment_shift]** Host sentiment on Dune theme moved from neutral/dismissive ('I was just like, okay, it saved me a little bit of money') to enthusiastically committed ('this game will be going in my collection without a doubt'). (confidence: high) — Greg initial: 'Yeah, awesome movie. Yeah, fine with it. But Sham... won't.' Later: 'this is the pinball player's experience... this game will be going in my collection without a doubt.'
- **[technology_signal]** Dune's multi-function toy design (worm with catch/shroud/rider/eat-ball modes, pain box with diverter/kickback/lock) represents mechanical innovation trend favoring toys with multiple staged functions over single-purpose mechanisms. (confidence: high) — Host: 'Who would have thought that out of a mech like that alone—is we're always looking for innovation... somebody was like Circus Voltaire is really cool... Let's do that but then let's add four or five different functions for it. Yes. Hell yeah.'
- **[licensing_signal]** Dune theme secured from Denis Villeneuve films; Barrels has integrated film assets (audio, visual elements) into gameplay with final scene callout prominently featured in trailer. (confidence: high) — Host: 'they have the assets. So they got the film assets, they got the audio and all of that stuff... Oh, just in that trailer at the end. Yeah, I love that... you got that chick. God. Yeah.'

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## Transcript

All right, let's kick this [ __ ] I don't know about you, Greg, but new pinball day is always the greatest time of the year. It's our Christmas. Pretty exciting. And this one does not disappoint. I cannot wait. These people by at this point in time, they have seen everything there is to know about Dune Pinball from Barrels of Fun Pinball. Honestly, this one may be more special than any release. Really? Only only because it took me by such surprise. So surprised. the other things, you know, you you you hear rumors and you expect a certain thing and you're build up expectations, but you hear Dune and unless you're just a Were you a big No, I didn't care. I didn't care. I wasn't. I was just like, "Okay, it's just it saved me a little bit of money." They're probably not going to like hearing this. Sorry, barrels, but like when I heard Dune, I was like, "Yeah, awesome movie." Yeah, fine with it. But Sham, you know you got a crush on it. A weird little [ __ ] but I like him. Yeah. Open. He's good though. He's a good actor. Oh, he's fantastic. Wonka though. I like it. Nah, it won't kids love that. Got great reviews. I mean, sorry, Timothy Shalom. We love you. We love you. We do love you. He does a little I should have had my little sleep apnea thing for Dune. My favorite thing still is Adam Sandler. Shalom. Oh, shall special. So Dune whenever I seen the films, I was like, "Oh, this is epic. This is a badass film." But nothing screamed like I have to have this pinball machine like other themes. Well, you're not going and buying like it's a great movie. It's a blockbuster. It's huge. But you're not going and buying like Doom t-shirt now and hanging Doom posters. In 20 years people will. Who knows? Yeah, exactly. I think they're making another film, aren't they? Uh yeah, I think there is another one. And you've got the books. I mean, obviously. So, I mean, it has a and the actors in it a larger cult following, but I think And the score. Yeah. I mean, it's gorgeous, but again, it's not something like, are you really clamoring? Some people are. I just for that per se. So that's why we're here to tell you whenever we seen the trailer that you guys seen in the pictures, it was like a oh [ __ ] Like we need to pay attention real quick to this because this looks more fun, more loaded. Like it took a theme that I was neutral on and I was like, "Okay, like this is the pinball players experience." So we felt so strongly about it that we wanted to at least do a video to showcase like all the cool [ __ ] in this game. You know, we're we're kind of [ __ ] We're kind of terrible. Well, from the standpoint though that like we probably should have after Labyrinth, we probably even But I'm just saying though, even though it was Dune and we weren't like on board with Dune, we should have still at least expected. Well, people didn't know though, like greatness. Look, Barrels came Barrels came out of the gate. For those of you not aware, Barrels of Fun is the company. They were a new company as of like last year. Uh, but they came from good pedigrees. I was going to say a lot of hard heavy hitters on the team, filmmakers, stuff like a good good team there. But they made Labyrinth, which is a theme that people I love because it's gimm grew up with it. But some people are like, "Okay, but they checked every box. They unveiled. They built a brand overnight that and they did everything right. Everybody fell in love with this company cuz they did everything right. They they released and had games in boxes. Uh, the quality of this thing has held up like a tank. They loaded down their games more than more than most any manufacturer. And not to nerd out, but they had one model they said, "Boom, we're going to load down. It's one model here. Here it is." And it came at like one of the best values in all pinball. So, it shocked the entire industry. So, but some people were thinking maybe they just got lucky. Yeah. You know, and then they heard Dune and they're like, "Okay, we'll we'll see." And yeah, a lot of these people are watching this video because they're like, "I agree. This damn game is something. Yeah. Like I wasn't expecting it. No, I know. My expectations were kind of like, yeah, it's going to be hard to compete in 2020. And that's what when we talked on the phone, I I hadn't seen it yet and and you were like, "Oh, you just I'm like, no, just wait. You just wait." You were like, "Ah, we did it." I think this is what they do. I think this is the company this is going to be. Well, it makes me so happy. Yeah. You need It's like you said, man, it's easy. Like I think when Elwin first came out, did Elwin get lucky? You know what I'm saying? He worked on one design for a while. Awesome. Yeah. But he worked on that for a while. So it's like what's he going to do next? And then he came out with Dash probably be like, "Okay, all right." And then I think I think Barrels is going to be that same way. I mean after this, I mean I think it takes, you know, one game you can get lucky. Two games. H no, you're doing something. So we're here to give you a first impressions. We're going to dive deep into the different categories of of this particular new game. Uh and yeah, I'm with you. I think that moving forward, Barrels wants to build a brand around collectibility and building an environment under the glass, something truly worldass. Always an advocate for and it's something we've always spoke on and that that's what's important and I think they listened preaching. I think that that pinball manufacturers have just gotten away from that so much. I I think Spooky is still very good about that. But Spooky has upped their game plan with it too. Yes, they have. Stern is even up their game like Uncanny X-Men being loaded. Yeah, it was loaded. Lot of stuff there. But but still the world like the the I love them bringing back the sculpts. I love them bringing back stuff like why like like it could be plastics. It could be but it's a sculpted world everywhere. And then that's what creates it, man. And I still look at those as toys. Like honestly, this sounds so bad. I could I could do away with a few mechs as long as it's a beautiful sculpted world under glass. Like I just when I look down at that game like I really want to just feel like that I'm in there. You want to feel like a kid again playing with Castle Grey Skull. Yes. Yes. Like physical cast. You don't want a square cube plastics printed like the 2D plastics. You want mold. And that's almost what it does is it brings back you didn't play like that's almost like playing with wooden toys versus G.I. Joe action figures. You know what I'm saying? Like there's just a separation because it pulls you in more the more realistic something is. And that's that's what they've done. That's what it is. And that's what we wanted. Yes. So yeah, it checks boxes. Let's go through it though. Uh we talked about the theme. What about art? This is again uh same artist from Labyrinth. We got Jonathan Berseron. I think he goes by Johnny Cramp, but Johnny Johnny B. And I got to tell you, what do you think? I I thought Dune was just sand. That's part of what drew me off cuz I'm like, what are they going to do with Dune? Like are they just going to have yellow everywhere? Well, so I guess that I have to apologize to Johnny Crap. Johnny Burger on getting an apology from Greg Bone. Boy, cuz if any of you are familiar with me, I crapped all over Johnny Crap. You're going back to Jurassic with Jurassic Park really bad. He deserved it. He made it up for me in Labyrinth. Labyrinth is beautiful. But this is stunning. This is beautiful and it should Yeah, great job. This shouldn't be beautiful. I think the reason why this is beautiful, uh, for those of you looking at cabinet art or playfield art, it's it it meshes well, the cabinet art, the back glass, the playfield, all of it looks like it belongs together. But, you know what also is nice is that he kept he kept that richness that I've been looking for in in art again on pinball. He's kept that richness without blowing colors out. It's it's not just a in yourrr-face machine. It's just beautiful, but it's not like you said, it's not just like all browns are just like very dark and sultry. Like it has that richness to it, but it's still it it it's not muted. That was the first feedback I gave uh I gave the guys over at barrels is this is so beautiful and it shouldn't be because of so on the sand colors, the earth tones, they leaned orange. as I'm leaning and then they pulled spice and the blue iridescent blue that a royal blue to go with orange. That palette gray. Oh my gosh. That palette is killer. We both kind of sort of mentioned it at the same time. It's very reminiscent of Stargate. Like what what were you really going to do with Stargate? You're in the desert pyramid. No. Yeah. For us, there's some beauty in there is like the colors because the the way that that art and the pinks and different stuff that was mixed in that it's not just a drab game that's all orange or all brown like but but it fits. It doesn't feel out of place. Just the sizzle reel when they did a pan of the back glass. I'm like why am I supposed to Why are you supposed to like back glasses that much like it's beautiful. It's rich. That looks good. Like seeing seeing the playfield everything looks awesome. It looks beautiful. But that back glass just as an art piece, you know how we all are as pinball people. Like we look at it as a piece of art that that and that's what sold me on it. That's what said I would buy this game because it doesn't feel out of place. It's it's a blockbuster movie. It looks gorgeous. It's not I don't know it. You know what sold me for the art? I maybe this is small for people, but that effing apron. I told you. Oh my god. The apron apron. It might be the prettiest apron art I've ever seen because it pulls you into the novels. I didn't read the novels. Yeah. But that was like they're pulling the art from what everybody loved from those novels. So iconic. They put some of that on the cabinet stuff. So they integrated it with the film. But it just screams on that apron and on the playfield the characters. I know it's still Shamagne. I know it's still them. But it's illustrated in a way that feels like it was like bred with the the novel. Yes. When you got blues, it shouldn't be this pretty. It It is gorgeous. It really is gorgeous. It's pretty. It really is. It is a pretty game. It really It's prettier than Labyrinth. And what they what they added to this, they're pushing value this release. I don't know if you've seen I don't know if you guys have noticed. Uh Barrel's really pushing value. What you get for the dollar. like we will load this game down like you've never seen and it's all hashtag included and it's still when you compare it to other things on the market. It is still the best value or that's what they're arguing. Um so they've added what they're calling ever gloss high gloss decal art. So okay I don't want to use the term I'm sorry radcows basically. Yeah, they're doing their own thing of rad cows where you or spooky does a like a butterc, but they do it different cuz it's printed on. This is more a it's a decal. It's like a rad cow thick, but Okay. So, it's a beautiful gloss. So, it's going to make those colors pop and they've embedded like Jersey Jack has embedded metallic details into it. Oh, into the cab. So, you're going to catch at different things. I think they're pulling that spice that blue. I think that's what they're pulling into. So that's part of the art. So now we got to shift to my favorite part of this game. This is what sold me and this is why this game will be going in my collection without a doubt. And I don't even know really rules and stuff yet. We'll talk about that. But for me cuz some stuff stood out. For me it's the shots and layout. It is the toys and mechs. It is this is to me Greg and and viewer. This is everything a pinball player wants. Yeah. It is. It is not a return ramp that comes straight back to a flipper safe. No, it goes under the mountains and the dunes of sand, comes back, pops out of the hole, can be diverted. There's diverters. There's I was going to say there's just all kinds of ball locks. There's there's things that just stage the ball. There's like there's magnets. There's there's four physical ball locks. Yeah. Pinball players love physical ball. Three spinners. Three spinners. They wor too a a multi-staging worm. A multi-staging. Well, if we're talking about toys and that yes, there's Oh, sorry. I still look at it's still a shot though because together like And we're nerding out. I know. But damn, I just love this kind of stuff. Like this is what this is why we're in the industry. This is why we're in this hobby. Like this is the [ __ ] that we love. Uh so sorry for for geeking. Well, I'm not sorry. I'm not sorry. Click it off if you don't want it happen. Because it's something again that that we've just always we've always talked about is it's like load the game down with cool features, cool environment. Put magnets. What do I always say? Why don't people put magnets more in games? And these magnets are catching balls. These magnets are throwing ball. These magnets are doing all kinds of stuff. Yeah. Mhm. You know how much I love Radical? Yeah. The the B game back in 19 was it 1990? 1991. 911. Uh Radical's my favorite system 11. probably my favorite system, one of my favorite games of all time. And I've always said like I felt like these people are speaking to me. I said, "Why didn't somebody redo Radical?" Yeah. And they This is kind of Radical 2.0. There's I feel a lot of radical stuff where the whimsy we talk about the whimsy of maybe a J-pop. The Radical wasn't, but the whimsy of of ramps. That whole mechanism to the right. Yes. That staging where it kinetically kicks a ball out, hits the ball back. Yeah. That's radical. Yeah. It's just it's it's so neat. And there's so much you can do over there. It's not that's not a onetrick pony in that one section. That one little small right hand section. Yeah. Cuz they add a drop target. The drop target can block your shots. That drop target maybe catches a ball and stages it. Yeah. Like a lot of these mechs and stuff that like what that does too. I know we're not into coding yet, but when you've got so many mechs that can do multiple things, like that opens up a whole new world of coding. Like we saw that on like Labyrinth when they did that with the Fieries. The Fieries. Yes. Yeah. and the different things that you could do by just holding a ball and doing stuff. Yes. So, I mean, I think that a lot of these staging and these balls or those pads like the kinetic thing or bring a drop target up down, it just opens it opens a whole new world of coding and what you rules cuz you can stop the player and say, "Hey, that's cool. We're holding your ball for a little bit. Check this out." 100%. And now we're going to amp you up for this next shot cuz you better not miss it. Exactly. That kind of stuff. Diverters, posts. Anytime you're doing that stuff, that's what us pinball players go nuts for. Yes. So again, to reiterate, you can get past again, sorry, barrel. You can get past the neutral theme that we are. Yes. If you do everything else like this. Yeah. Because it's still going to be an amazing That's why I sold a ton of labyrinths. Yes. There's a lot of people didn't care about Labyrinth, but they were like, "Oh god, this is great." Yeah. It seemed like we started from like the right. Let's work our way up. It's got a orbit, but it's got a ramp. So lift ramp. Again, multi-stage kind of shots. I love that even as we're going to the left even more, Greg. I like that they put a plastic over a shot and it's still transparent like we're looking at from like that. It It's just cool. It's a nice touch that you're going under something and that's where that magnet is. It can throw, but it's it's not it's not overly done like an upper playfield or like even like white water to where it so much is blocked. Put a window. Yeah. You don't feel like like you're just It's a cool touch. It is. But yeah, you're just not overly you're not just like, "Oh, I don't know where that shot goes." And everything, which I love white water. I love how it seems like it's like the one plastic I see in this entire game. And even then, they they make it detail detailed and and then they put a fork in front of it. That way, if you want to hold the ball there, you can. That's that fiery shot how you can hit the ball. Maybe the the magnet whips it around and holds it and you hit the ball again and it the magnet literally is is three targets. Yeah. Right there on that. I mean, there's a spinner. Yeah. And then it whips back around. That does like a 180. Back to the flipper. Every section is like its own multiple stage stage world. Like almost like you've got components and you've got these modules that are almost just setting all over that playfield. Like they utilized every square inch that they could like I want to see. And I love the molding on the the cave molding or the sand dune on the top right. I love it. Oh yeah. And then the other worm next to that's molded too. Like just Oh, that's molded. Um, and then I guess let's the wire for I want to talk about the toys, but the wire forms and the paths and diverters in it of itself kind of a toy too. Yeah, we've talked about that before though because the whole the whole pain trap thing I think they call it a pain trap where they could just put it up on the LCD screen and be like, "Hey, this is where you're going to have to put your hand on the thing." Yes. Right. And you're going to have to if you you're going to have to control it. The minute you let go of that, you die. But they didn't. They've got a little box that kicks out. Yeah. A sculpted box. Kicks out. And then under that, I don't know if you guys seen in the video, uh, and we know a little bit more about it, but under that's like a little drop target. Yes. That can it can lock a ball. Yeah. It can throw a ball out to kick a kick a ball out. It's again a multiple option toy under there in one little small place. Yeah. Just so cool. So, and then it's got the little claw. Remember that? Oh, yeah. That stop. So, yeah. So when you hit the ramp, it can stop a ball and then kick it up and around into that little pain box thing. That's That's really It's so insane. All right, we And then there's there's scoop holes. I don't even know like the thumper the It's hidden by a pop bumper. How smart is that? And like there's again sculpting of It doesn't look like a pop bumper cuz you got sand that covers over it, but there's a path. There's a spinner path that I was telling you about. See the spinner path. Does it go into that hole? If you hold your flipper up, does it go? Yeah, that's the weird thing is like there's a scoop and then there's a hole behind the scoop like Attack from Mars. Yeah, like this is very like a two-way scoop, but I don't know what it What does it do when you rip that spinner? Does it go I don't know. Oh, you know what I think? Because I think it remember how I was saying, well, it can't go into the scoop because there's nothing to stop it to drop it. goes into that one, but it goes into that back hole because the flipper itself is utilized as like a back stop. Yes, exactly. Solving it and dropping it. What if you leave the flipper open? Will it skip the hole? That's what I love when games like this come out cuz they want I I want to like I want to play them. I want to see what happens. I want to see where all the feeds are cuz I think in the trailer it showed like a plunge shot that can go in that hole if you hold the flipper. Flipper. Yeah. Um and then there's a magnet there that can stage a ball. There's orbits. Another spinner up top. The third flipper has shots, too. Yeah. Uh you've got a ramp, side ramp. You got good shots. Uh I I don't know where some of this seemingly orbit you don't it could go up to another wire form from that orbit looking area. And they could put drop They could put stand up targets. They put drops. Yeah, drop targets there. Yeah. All right, let's talk about the toys cuz we we got to talk. The layout's cool. Uh there's a freaking the the big thing is the worm. Yes. Right. Always. When's the last time you rode the worm? Like a little worm or is that an eel? What is it? You got the wrong bone, bro. I know your mama be riding all kinds of worms. I'm sorry. I'll call I'm going to send your mom flowers. She probably needs them, my brother. Oh, I know. Eating all them worms. Nasty old worms. I would not be surprised if she introduced us to somebody like, "Yeah, this is my friend. His name is Worm." That surprised me at all. So, the worm. All right. This worm. Oh, I I It's like a multi-staged. There's so many things this thing can do. It's got a magnet on. Yes. So, it can catch a ball. Yes. It can It can uh have it the the I don't even know how to say it without being a little sensual. It's a shroud can come up. Uh it can be a bass toy. Yes. Yeah. Yes. Then you can ride the worm like they do in the film. Yeah. Right. Shadow and ride and it comes up almost like it's gonna [ __ ] hit the glass like kind of like and then Yeah. puts it onto the wire form. Or there's more. It can do more. Okay. Uh or if it's flat down and it's got a magnet. It'll still gobble it. It can do it can throw the ball around too. Oh. Oh yeah. In the thing. It can hit targets in there. Or it can do more. It can even The worm can eat the ball. The worm eats the ball. But it can eat it. It looked like in that video, am I wrong? It it ate it when it was completely down. Like it just sucked it in the ground, but then it was up and then did the same thing. It can do it. It can eat it wherever. So if it's all the way up, it instead of putting on, it can eat the ball. And when it eats the ball, it's not like it hides it and brings it back up. It goes into a subway. And it's so it's so smooth and creepy looking. It's almost like a magic trick like watching it almost absorb like grow into those little fire eggs you light and it's a little tablet but it like stands like dog poop. Hey, who would have thought that out of a mech like that alone is we're always looking for innovation and we're talking about like ingenious stuff. I mean you could utilize that thing in so many aspects. Well, somebody was like Circus Voltater is really cool. It's an eyecatcher. Let's do that but then let's add it four or five different functions for it. Yes. Hell yeah. Yeah. That's what I'm talking about. So that's the big I mean that's like one of the big toys. Harvester is badass and you said that's clean and it moves lighting. It moves. I love the LCD integration. That's kind of a toy. It is. Well, 100% cuz it's another it adds to it adds to that world and and then it's not just a wasted static toy. Like I said, just what it does is still going to make you feel like, "Oh [ __ ] I know what's coming with the harvester." You know what I'm saying? and hitting those shots like you said on the back that the LCD. I like it when it blew up on the That was cool. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Like it makes you feel like you're playing the movie. Well, I know a lot of not to not to bring up other manufacturers stuff, but a lot of people like the idea of like and some people are mixed on like the P3 how the whole thing is a screen and all of that. I'm mixed on that too and stuff because the animation, but this is like what I want. Yes. I want it in the backboard so it's more ambient into the environment that you're building. That's what I want. So, it's cool. And Labyrinth was was good. It was a very good start, but this seems like it's taking it up that next notch. They've learned what they can do with it. I feel like it's more accessible and and they're just utilizing that a lot more than Labyrinth, which which they should. I mean, if you're going to do something that that amazing. Go all in. Go in and utilize I forgot to tell these people. Uh maybe we tell them at the top of the show, but if you guys stick around to the end of the show, um I've got I videotaped your reaction to watching the uh the trailer for the first time. So, uh it's pretty hilarious because he's like a kid in the candy store every time he's got new stuff. Uh but yeah, especially something I ain't seen before. See that? And then they sent us a little video saying, "Hey, show Greg this." And it was it was we'll let you know it was partly to do with some of the cool stuff the LCD screen is going to do in the back where it feels like it's interactive. So when we say this make a shot I can't say too much. It'll let you know. You can't say too much but yeah it's so it's so it's it's it is everything that you would want. It's everything. So we talked about all the the big worm. We talked about the harvester. We talked about the thumper bumper thing. Uh everything. I love that thumper thing. I do. Bill is so smart. I love the stuff. We've talked about it all day. When stuff lends itself to pinball, first off, there's nostalgia in the term thumper bumper because that's what they used to call him in the past. Thumper bumper and then but then your high school nickname. Yeah. Thumper bumper. They call me that thumper bumper. I ain't got much, but I bump it. I give you a bump and a thump, baby. We were born native. It just makes sense that when you hit the pop bumper, it's like the symbols on uh on G&R, the symbols on the pop. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Which I love. It just makes sense. But I just love that it doesn't look like a pop bumper. It looks like sand. And it looks like this thing. It just I love when things are integrated so well that you can't picture any other toy that it doesn't fit better into. Well, and again, you're just going to get that multi. It's not just a coil or not just I'm not saying not just a coil coil, but a coil or a servo or something that's doing that. You're getting that that that reaction. You're getting that physical. It's adding to all your senses. Sight, sound. Yeah. You're just getting everything. Well, and this time around in Labyrinth, they didn't have a shaker. This time around, again, hashtag included, they're putting shaker in this. So, you can only imagine and on the cabinet. I'm telling you, man. I get me all pumped up. Oh, that's so nasty. I love these. That's so nasty. I could just I watched that trailer I don't know how many damn time. I just kept going back. Now, what's that do now? How's that? I'm going have to watch it even more. I love it. All right. What What are we missing? Okay. I'm seriously not lying. Like I There was no no intent with this game. I know of me I know considering it, I think. And every time I look at it, it's a freaking stunning. This This pumps me up for everything we're going to see from the future from this company. Oh, yeah. Like they've hit two home runs here. You imagine like a theme if this continues now. How you imagine a a mainstream theme like I'm I'm envious of the people like Labyrinth I got lucky cuz that was like a dream for me. Yeah. But for the Dune lovers out there Oh, there. So whatever they do next, it's like oh it's going to you can put these in your collection without having to worry about theme as much. Yes, it's okay. All right. Toys. So we talked about saying we're interactive harvester the pain box with diverter kickback and lock built into it. All the sculpts four magnets. Uh oh yeah we didn't talk about so that LCD screen is a 14.9 in LCD. Yeah back poin we didn't talk about again hash include what they're adding another innovation they're adding is what they're calling the horizon atmospheric lighting how for short. Okay. What the hell's that? So these are lights that go up almost pin stadium. Remember pin stadiums had lights. Yeah. But these are like hot rails up there. Okay. So it's interactive lighting. So based on the modes and stuff like that, it's going to be shooting down and do all kinds of multicolored kind of stuff. So one of the examples was I think they're okay. And well, this kind of jumps into rules a little bit cuz we don't know enough about rules and code. We know that we get to see some stuff in the trailer that you can feel it's the same team that did Labyrinth which people heralded as just greatness code. So you've got Colin McCalpine, you've got Eric Pryky, you got Boeing Karen. Like that's a lot of good code. The code we the code's gonna be phenomenal. It's up there with the best of the games. Uh but they're doing this thing with the Horizon atmospheric lighting to where I don't think he cares what I tell like the spinners in the game. Remember like a Hobbit when you hit it and you go through the map and stuff. So on these the spinners will progress throughout the day timewise and there's going to be modes. I don't I think I can tell this. I'm sorry if not and tell me to edit. I can pull that down video. But like it always worries me. I know. Always worries. But it's so cool not to tell them like but it progresses through the day and there's going to be some night modes. So when that when the you progress with some spinners. So when modes go on at night, you can imagine that lighting it's going to be more probably blue. Yeah. Versus even think of the the back LCD being sand. more blue sand and that that's cool. That's cool. So that's what that lighting is really gonna help out during different modes. So because labid lighting was badass, but this is going to add just another level of integration. That is [ __ ] intriguing. That is intriguing. And nobody's going to beat the game just like nobody's beaten Labyrinth. Maybe Carl D'Python Anghelo's beat Labyrinth, man. But I don't know anybody's beat Labyrinth or defeated Jared. Maybe Barrels is just doing like themes with hunky men. Remember like David Bowie did this big old COD piece now. We got all of that. Uh so rules code. We don't know enough about music and call outs. The good thing is that uh if we're talking about rules and code and call outs, they have the assets. So they got the film assets, they got the audio and all of that stuff. Oh, just in that trailer at the end. Yeah, I love that. Oh man, you got that chick. God. Yeah. Oh, that just pulls you in itself. It just makes you make your dick hard. No, I'm just Hey, did my make your worm. Yeah, make your sand worm grow. Yeah, it'll make your It'll make your your worm come out the sand. Expect that we were going to We were going to do that. Uh but yeah, actually, we've been pretty reserved for Well, a sand worm. There's a lot there. There's a whole lot. So, we've been pretty good. We've been pretty good. Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah, it's going to sound good. It's gonna I'm not worried about it, but we we haven't played it yet. Yeah. So, we don't know. Oh, speaking of Yeah. Another thing this company's doing, they're shipping. Yeah, they're shipping. They're shipping. That's what that's why everybody's like timing wise, you know, they they're coming out with all these games. They're trying to build a brand where they stay consistent with their principles and what they want to do and they want to have game shipping. Now, they're probably like every other manufacturer where when they start shipping like Spooky, there'll be an initial they build up production over time and it'll take a little bit to now, but nonetheless, people are watching this video. Shortly you're going to see these maybe at a show, maybe you're going to see one show up to flipping out. Maybe maybe you're going to see one stream. Man, there's a lot coming. Uh but yeah, that's music. That's call outs. Uh what else? I think that's it. I I do want to emphasize that uh pricing um you can see up on your screen or look up on websites what the pricing is. But with this full package compared to other stuff, it is hard to deny. It's hard to deny because this is like an full Ellie package from everybody else. Oh, easily. But it's substantially lower than what you're seeing from from a lot of these other especially just everything you get. I mean, just look at all the toys and just everything. I mean, it's metallic trim coat package. They even do like the speaker panel. Um, they do the upgraded sound. Infinity glass now. Forget about that. They're doing their own non-reflective glass. Good. They're not upcharging. Good. It's included. So, you're including that shaker motors now included. It wasn't on the labyrinth. Uh interior art blades. That may seem like a small thing, but it pulls the world under glass. And I know when I buy less from Stern, I like I don't have to install those things. Yeah. I was going to say cuz I mean it can be a pain installing stuff, but at the same like our blades might be the worst to install. They're not fun. No, they're not. They're not fun. We got a video, but they're not fun. Yeah, it's a good video. Interactive speaker lighting that's in there. Uh they are going to have a topper. They have a topper included for free. It's like kind of what companies do. The 2D plastic thing that's of the uh it would look like a damn dragonfly. Yeah. I don't know what it's helicopter. Yeah. Which is super cool. That kind of thing. I want to see some of that in there too. I hope they utilize that on the back panel and stuff a little bit and do some like animations. I think you might. Yeah. So, and then they got the like the new lighting system in there that's included. You got the rad cow stuff that was the horizon. Uh, I'm going to say it right. The Everglass. You get the Everglass stuff, too. Uh, so there's a lot of stuff. I can't think of anything else. But if you do, keep in mind the uh in the future they're going to have uh maybe uh some accessories. Oh, if for those that like Thanks for the free topper, but maybe if you want, you know, to upgrade. I think that that's always a smart thing cuz I always I always like something. Um cuz I received one game that I was fine with with the topper that came with the game. Yeah. Um I I really still want to upgrade, but I was still fine with what I was happy that it was there. Sure. I was very happy that it was there. So yes, that's an option, but and yeah, maybe shooter rides. I don't know. I'm sorry. I'm saying I'm saying too much now. So there it is. Our first impressions. We are so far pleasantly surprised that Yeah, it's going in my collection. I can't wait to get our hands on it. Maybe we can do uh if they're really going to be getting them out there soon, maybe we can do some gameplay stuff. Um, I want to rem remind everybody, uh, if you want to support this channel, Straight Down the Middle, all you got to do is follow. Exactly. Yeah. Just follow. And some cool stuff to come to to get even closer, uh, behind the scenes here at Straight Down the Middle from overeager distributors to overeager fanboys. That's what we are. Overeager fanboys. I like that. And, uh, if you want to purchase this game, it's super simple. All you got to do is go to flippingoutpinball.com. It helps us out uh, as well. Um, and we even have cool stuff we get to add to the to flipping out, too, in the coming months. All right. Oh, yes. Yeah. Woo! Man, things are looking up. Another Dune surprise, I think. Things are looking up. It'll get you. But yeah, if you want to purchase it, we would be uh beyond grateful uh if you purchased through Flipping Out Pinball. Look, for legit, try this out. Test it out. All you've got to do is email Greg gregflioutpinball.com and tell him you want one and he'll get you one. Flip the letter N out. Get you one. I think they might even be giving preference to locations to in the production thing. So, we're trying to get and we have the pleasure of being one of their uh premier dealers, one of their larger dealers. So, um you know, so we're going to get we're going to get a nice amount of them uh throughout the throughout the week. Oh man, nicely done, Barrels. Congratulations to everybody over there. What a surprise on the spectacle that this is. You You've You've shocked these Indiana boys. Uh and we're pumped up to to play it and share it with the rest of the world. I got another video. I'm going to see you guys later. Check this thing out. All right, Greg, buddy. You ready? Yeah. You all right? Play it. It's always intriguing new games. Oh, this one will get you. [Music] Oh man, look at that art. Damn. Sexy, isn't it? Dude, that thing has Oh, just wait. Oh, like look at all those sculpts, man. Yeah, the whole thing is Oh, that What is that thing to the I think it's all radical. You're going to want to go back and watch it again and again. Like I'm already don't even know what I'm looking at. I mean, it's like there's magnets. There's things kicking stuff back. It's going magnet. Oh, it forces you. Oh my gosh. It's like a It reminds me of like the blind blinders like type of Who type thing comes out doing If you let go, you'll die. Oh. Oh my gosh, dude. That harvester is amazing. That's clean. Yeah, that is good. Oh man. Here we go. So it can race it just that worm. Oh, you bash it. Yeah, dude. Oh yeah. Oh, that yell. Oh my god, that you and it can. Oh, that that score gives me chills. Oh, it does. Like I literally have goosebumps from it. It can eat the ball into a subway. It's nuts, dude. There is so much. Yeah, he's Okay, everybody. He's going to go back and watch again. Look at He's going back watching. I got to see that harvester hole. Oh, dude. The explosions on that freaking backpack. that do the Oh, yeah. Before we go, I got to show you. So, David Van Es and uh and Brian sent me something else. They were like, "Show Greg this, too, because you know how we talk about like the uh the LCD." Yeah. In the back of the game, how we love so much. That's why I was glad to see like like Labyrinth was good, but like I'm like that harvester exploding. We can't show we can't show people this, but you play that. Uhoh. And just wait. This is like some of the stuff that they're working on. The LCD screen. I already feel like that that's so much more open than what Labyrinth was. I mean, I know that there's like a lot of stuff in there, but like that's like Yeah. But yeah, just wait and see and see what am I allowed to dis I can't say what's on here, but I'm just going to Yeah, people will find out soon enough like cool stuff like that will happen. Oh yeah. So a lot of interaction on that back screen. Oh, that's exact dude. That is what we've been talking about. What we were Yep. What we were talking about. We're like when Oh, that it's just so underutilized. So more of that to come. Wow. You hit it off with bumper straight down the middle. You had a swing with a slingshot.

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 4d00228a-1091-4de1-b1f7-5945c2afe605*