# Top 10 Greatest Pinball Machine Themes Yet To Be Made (SDTM, 2024)

**Source:** Straight Down the Middle  
**Type:** video  
**Published:** 2024-06-23  
**Duration:** 26m 38s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rF-3wnK2xxM

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## Analysis

Zach Sharpe and Greg Bone of Straight Down the Middle present their top 10 list of the greatest pinball machine themes that have not yet been made into games. The list spans from Taylor Swift at #10 to Harry Potter at #1, with entries including Beetlejuice, Pokémon, Top Gun, The Matrix, The Goonies, Toy Story, Super Mario, and Back to the Future. The hosts discuss the balance between massive IP popularity and pinball market viability, noting that manufacturers should prioritize securing 'no-brainer' licenses before pursuing riskier themes. They also hint that several of these IPs (Harry Potter, Back to the Future, Mario, Goonies, Beetlejuice) may already be in development with undisclosed manufacturers.

### Key Claims

- [MEDIUM] Harry Potter is the #1 most viable IP that hasn't been made into a pinball machine yet — _Hosts justify this through Universal theme park investment, broad demographic appeal, European market strength, and cultural staying power despite JK Rowling controversies_
- [HIGH] Elton John was not a great theme but was made successful through excellent execution in other areas — _Zach explicitly states 'Elton John is not a great theme... they had to check every other box to make it work' and contrasts with nailing the IP first_
- [MEDIUM] Several rumored IPs (Harry Potter, Back to the Future, Mario, Goonies, Beetlejuice) are already under development with manufacturers — _Zach states 'somebody does have it' for Harry Potter, Back to the Future, Mario, Goonies, and Beetlejuice; claims Toy Story 'could have happened'; notes Top Gun/Pokémon may be in discussion_
- [MEDIUM] The primary pinball buyer demographic is middle-aged men, with roughly 80% of purchasers having partners or children — _Greg estimates 80% of pinball machine buyers have family, leading to cross-demographic appeal potential (e.g., Taylor Swift attracting families with daughters)_
- [MEDIUM] Taylor Swift theme could work because 80% of buyers would be compelled to purchase for family members, not personal fandom — _Greg uses personal example: 'if that game came out you would try it I would have to buy it... my daughters and my wife are huge Taylor Swift nuts'_
- [HIGH] Mario is culturally unattainable because Nintendo has stated they want to be the manufacturer if Mario pinball is ever made — _Zach: 'I know Nintendo says they they want to do their if they're gonna if there's going to be a pinball machine then Nintendo wants to be a manufacturer of pinball machines'_
- [MEDIUM] Top Gun's action-film aesthetic aligns well with pinball's nostalgic masculine demographic and 1980s action cinema — _Hosts note Top Gun mirrors pinball's core demographic (middle-aged men) and 80s action films parallel classic ramp-heavy pinball design_
- [HIGH] Manufacturers should secure 'no-brainer' IPs before pursuing riskier themes — _Zach advises manufacturers: 'you don't have to nail the IP... I've been telling manufacturers here are 20 top IPs that are what I call no-brainers... you don't have to worry about that part'_

### Notable Quotes

> "Elton John is not a great theme no they had to check every other box to make it work... it's a lot more work you're working uphill... it's a lot more risk"
> — **Zach Sharpe**, ~2:00
> _Establishes philosophy that strong IP can compensate for weaker game design, but weak IP requires flawless execution—sets context for entire list_

> "Harry Potter screams pinball there's nothing more pinball than would be Harry Potter magic pinball is kind of magic where's the ball going it's wild it's magnetic it's it's everything"
> — **Greg Bone**, ~42:00
> _Articulates why Harry Potter ranked #1: thematic alignment between magic mechanics and pinball physics/mystery_

> "somebody does have it if somebody's got it somebody's got it Harry Potter somebody's got it back to the future Mario I can't confirm but there's been Whispers"
> — **Zach Sharpe**, ~45:30
> _Hints at secret license negotiations/development for multiple top-tier IPs, suggesting behind-the-scenes industry activity_

> "if you took a business that does something like... when you take a company that takes that amount... I feel the same way with some of these properties"
> — **Greg Bone**, ~40:00
> _Uses Starbucks market research analogy to explain why Universal/Nintendo investment in theme parks signals IP viability for pinball_

> "I would have to buy it I would not I would have no option to buy it like I could not say no to them"
> — **Greg Bone**, ~8:30
> _Demonstrates Taylor Swift's cross-demographic appeal through family-unit purchasing power despite personal fan disinterest_

> "pinball excels... on location I think it could go to locations that pinball machines typically wouldn't go"
> — **Greg Bone**, ~10:30
> _Identifies venue expansion strategy: Taylor Swift pinball could occupy retail/entertainment spaces pinball doesn't typically reach_

> "you don't have to I still think that it technically has been made no but I had to give him this"
> — **Zach Sharpe**, ~29:00
> _Acknowledges Toy Story digital/arcade game exists but defensibly classifies pinball-specific machine as unmade—shows classification nuance_

> "I want Mario I want to be video game based yeah I want it to have that Super Mario 3 with the raccoon Tales or Super Mario Super Nintendo with Yoshi that's the Mario that we want"
> — **Greg Bone**, ~33:30
> _Specifies fan preference: NES-era sprite-based Mario over modern/film adaptation aesthetics—reflects core collector nostalgia drivers_

> "if anybody ever gets this do not cap yourself at one... Harry Potter is such an extensive line of books I think it lends itself to multiple pinball machines"
> — **Greg Bone**, ~41:30
> _Suggests franchise potential: Harry Potter's narrative depth could support multi-machine product line (Philosopher's Stone through Deathly Hallows)_

> "Taylor Swift ain't nobody able to get that know that might be more elusive for a while than Harry Potter"
> — **Zach Sharpe**, ~47:00
> _Identifies Taylor Swift licensing as currently unavailable/protected, despite ranking #10—indicates active negotiations elsewhere or rights holder resistance_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Zach Sharpe | person | Co-host of Straight Down the Middle podcast, co-owner of Flip N Out Pinball distribution company, presents list with licensing industry insights |
| Greg Bone | person | Co-host of Straight Down the Middle podcast, provides collector/fan perspective on demographic viability, manages customer support at Flip N Out Pinball |
| Straight Down the Middle | media | YouTube show and podcast covering pinball themes, top 10 lists, manufacturer consultations; known for early access to industry announcements |
| Flip N Out Pinball | company | Pinball distribution and retail company operated by Zach and Greg, sponsors Loser Kid podcast, provides machine sales and support |
| Harry Potter | game | Ranked #1 on list as unmade pinball theme; hosts hint at secret development; cited for Universal theme park success, broad demographics, European market strength |
| Back to the Future | game | Ranked #2 on list as unmade pinball theme; hosts confirm rumored development underway; identified as dream project spanning sci-fi, action, comedy, nostalgia |
| Super Mario | game | Ranked #3 on list as unmade pinball theme; noted as culturally difficult due to Nintendo's stated preference to manufacture own pinball machines; top location earner in arcade |
| Toy Story | game | Ranked #4 on list; hosts dispute whether digital/arcade versions count as 'made'; Pizza Planet iconography identified as major nostalgic hook |
| The Goonies | game | Ranked #5 on list; identified as dream theme combining Spielberg prestige, Richard Donner direction, adventure/action, humor; hosts note Sean Astin and Josh Brolin as beloved cast members |
| The Matrix | game | Ranked #6 on list; cited for genre-changing sci-fi aesthetic, Keanu Reeves appeal, technology integration, appeals to nerdy pinball demographic |
| Top Gun | game | Ranked #7 on list; noted for alignment with pinball's masculine, middle-aged, nostalgic demographic; 1980s action film aesthetic parallels classic pinball design |
| Pokémon | game | Ranked #8 on list; noted as largest IP in world, multifaceted (games, TV, cards, merch), spans age/gender demographics, potential gateway to Eastern markets |
| Beetlejuice | game | Ranked #9 on list; identified as practical filmmaking/Tim Burton fantasy aesthetic suited to physical pinball gameplay; hosts hint at existing development |
| Taylor Swift | game | Ranked #10 on list; debated due to young-female demographic mismatch with core pinball buyers, but justified through cross-demographic family purchasing power; noted as currently unlicensable |
| Elton John | game | Reference point: Jersey Jack Pinball game cited as example of weak theme redeemed by excellent execution in mechanics/rules; praised for superior design despite theme weakness |
| Universal | company | Theme park operator used as proxy for IP market validation; Universal's investment in Harry Potter lands (Wizarding World at Islands of Adventure, Hogsmeade, planned third park) cited as confidence signal |
| Nintendo | company | IP holder blocking Mario pinball access; publicly stated preference to manufacture own pinball machines if licensing occurs; mentioned as constructing Nintendo Land theme park experience |
| Stern Pinball | company | Referenced via Sam Stern's John Wick design incorporating fight-scene video cutouts; mentioned for Godzilla design balancing old and new artistic elements |
| Jersey Jack Pinball | company | Manufactured Elton John pinball, praised for design execution; referenced as Sonic the Hedgehog developer |
| Richard Donner | person | Director of The Goonies; noted by hosts in context of film's prestige and quality |
| Sean Astin | person | Actor in The Goonies; hosts note he remains active, well-liked, and supportive of ensemble cast |
| Josh Brolin | person | Actor in The Goonies; host notes his continued relevance and frequently recommends his work |
| Tim Burton | person | Director/artist associated with Beetlejuice; cited for physical/practical filmmaking style matching pinball's mechanical nature |
| Keanu Reeves | person | Actor in The Matrix; cited as major appeal factor for potential pinball theme |

### Topics

- **Primary:** IP licensing strategy and viability for pinball manufacturers, Demographic targeting: core vs. cross-demographic appeal in pinball theme selection, Balance between massive IP popularity and pinball market fit, Secret/rumored IP development deals in the pinball industry
- **Secondary:** Thematic integration and how film/franchise aesthetics translate to pinball mechanics, Nostalgia-driven purchasing in pinball collecting, Location vs. home pinball market dynamics
- **Mentioned:** Nintendo's strategic decision to restrict Mario pinball licensing

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.78) — Hosts express enthusiasm and optimism about potential themes and demonstrate genuine passion for pinball's future. Minor disagreements on ranking (Taylor Swift, Toy Story) are playful rather than contentious. Tone is conversational, humorous, and collaborative. Some skepticism about certain themes (Taylor Swift appeal to core demographic, Mario accessibility) but framed constructively. Ending includes self-promotion without negativity.

### Signals

- **[sentiment_shift]** Pinball community strongly desires Harry Potter, Back to the Future, Super Mario, and Goonies as themes (confidence: medium) — Hosts note extensive online discussion across 'nerd groups all across the internet' supporting these IPs; describe them as community consensus dream themes
- **[competitive_signal]** Location market expansion potential for pinball via non-traditional venue penetration (retail, youth-oriented spaces) (confidence: medium) — Greg notes Taylor Swift pinball 'could go to locations that pinball machines typically wouldn't go' and identifies this as location market strength
- **[market_signal]** Franchise potential model emerging: extended universes (Harry Potter books, Back to the Future trilogy) could support multiple pinball machines (confidence: medium) — Greg: 'if anybody ever gets this do not cap yourself at one... Harry Potter is such an extensive line of books I think it lends itself to multiple pinball machines'
- **[licensing_signal]** Universal's theme park investments in Harry Potter franchises (Wizarding World, future third park) serve as IP viability validation signal for pinball manufacturers (confidence: medium) — Greg uses Starbucks market research analogy: 'when you take a business that takes that amount of market Research... you feel utmost confidence' paralleling Universal's Harry Potter commitment
- **[licensing_signal]** Nintendo contractually restricts Mario pinball access; would only approve if Nintendo becomes manufacturer (confidence: high) — Zach: 'I know Nintendo says they they want to do their if they're gonna if there's going to be a pinball machine then Nintendo wants to be a manufacturer of pinball machines'
- **[licensing_signal]** Taylor Swift licensing noted as currently unavailable despite ranking #10; characterized as 'more elusive' than Harry Potter (confidence: high) — Zach: 'Taylor Swift ain't nobody able to get that know that might be more elusive for a while than Harry Potter'
- **[market_signal]** Cross-demographic family purchasing power identified as underutilized opportunity in pinball market (confidence: medium) — Greg's Taylor Swift example: 80% of buyers have partners/children; purchasing decisions influenced by family members' preferences despite personal fandom
- **[market_signal]** Hosts identify 'no-brainer' licensing strategy: manufacturers should prioritize securing obvious IP before pursuing riskier themes (confidence: medium) — Zach advises manufacturers: 'I've been telling manufacturers here are 20 top IPs that are what I call no-brainers... you don't have to worry about that part'
- **[product_concern]** Weak IP themes require flawless execution to succeed; strong IP can compensate for mediocre game design (confidence: high) — Zach: 'Elton John is not a great theme... they had to check every other box to make it work... it's a lot more work... it's a lot more risk'
- **[rumor_hype]** Toy Story pinball may have been previously licensed or developed (hosts claim 'they could have' or 'it happened in the past') (confidence: low) — Zach: 'Toy Story they're kind of got it in the past so I think they could I've heard that that could have happened'
- **[rumor_hype]** Multiple high-tier IP licenses rumored to be in active development with manufacturers (confidence: medium) — Zach states 'somebody does have it' for Harry Potter, Back to the Future, Mario, Goonies, Beetlejuice; hints at Toy Story past deals and potential Top Gun/Pokémon negotiations
- **[sentiment_shift]** Video game IP (Mario, Pokémon) gaining recognition as viable pinball themes despite historical skepticism in pinball community (confidence: medium) — Hosts note Mario as top arcade earner; Pokémon multifaceted success; acknowledge prior dismissal of video game properties

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## Transcript

all right let's kick this [Music] Greg a lot of people come too straight down the middle besides the humor uh and the wit the intelligence and just the knowledge yes just the you know some people like 40-year-old persective nerdy white dudes you know there's not enough of us we fit that crer out there they also come for this or that and they come the numers show that they really come for top 10 list yes people love them top 10 they they love them and I I thought what better than to help educate the entire industry on intellectual properties that are so steaming hot that just have not been made yet for pinball great so for your viewing pleasure straight down the middle presents to you the top 10 hottest pinball themes that have yet to be made [Music] now I will have to say that this was a little tough we argued mhm quite a bit we weren't drunk so we didn't fight no still our clothes on the thing that became hard with this is when you take something that has such nothing came hard with our fights let the record show it all FL it was sof comes to IPS and you have to try to separate well this is a gigantic intellectual property worldwide or just even within the state like the popularity is so massive okay but then you have to separate and you have to say you have to take a step back a little bit and do you it sell for pin sell for pinball can you integrate into pinball yes what is the demographic for that there's a balance there yes so to find that balance is very hard because some things are huge that you can undeniably say is just a massive IP that like what you can't you cannot not pick that but then when you start thinking about who your buyers are or who's going to play that n now you might have to Wrangle that or whether it can be integrated as a pinball machine yes whether it even makes sense so that was what was so hard about this so we're not saying that we got this 100% right because I am it oh man I think I think it's so it's so open to interpretation yeah okay for the consumer or potential consumer i' say uh manufacturer pinball machines um get out your notepad notepad and take take some notes here a lot of these like we had to refrain from putting our personal and we'll talk about that thought in in there quite a bit that was tough and again as a reminder this is the IPS who haven't been made yet yes Star Wars doesn't qualify no Indiana Jones doesn't qualify they all should yes cuz Indiana Jones would be on there for Jurassic Park been made it's already been made so we'll go through these and uh we do sometimes some consultation with manufacturers and they run some themes buas to see kind of yeah what do you think what you do yeah and we we're pretty honest with them but I've recently been telling people um at the time of where pinball is right now you got to have you you got to nail the IP cuz that's the that's the thing if you don't get the IP right mhm you can have a successful game look at Elton John sorry I'm speaking truth here Elton John is not a great theme no they had to check every other box to make L they did they did they did but it's a lot more work you're working uphill so but if you nail the IP you can slip on a couple well it's not just a lot more work it's a lot more risk you can Che yeah you can slip on some of that stuff so uh I've been telling manufacturers here are 20 top uh IPS that are what I call no-brainers they are no-brainers you'll sleep at night you don't have to worry about you don't have to worry about that part uh I think you should go through as a manufacturer they should go through and make sure they can't get any of those before going to any other theme that's I think that should work yes so here are some of them we'll start with number 10 oo the number 10 hottest pinball theme that has yet to be made is Taylor Swift what now these people are like either turn off they're like oh I didn't see them going in this direction so this was maybe one of our this is one that we were fighting over tougher ones because it could be a top three IP right now very much but but then again so then that's where it bounced out you take worldwide popularity versus like in this market are pinball people going to buy are pinball people going to buy who are pinball people exactly everybody loves pinb everybody well we hope so but so what we really started to think is you know the demographic TR for Taylor Swift is mainly young females speak to you there's a lot I like i' actually hate Taylor Swift oh sorry I'm not a Swifty I just I have my own reasons okay all right my own reasons you just don't like TR so much blowback for that I'm not a big Travis Kel fan either get a lot back for that I'm not either I actually judge Swifty a little bit more for Dayton I actually kind of do too I do too I thought girl you can do better I agree th% agree you can have anyone you pick the you pick the boy I agree I agree little much more guys that are sophisticated do not disagree do not disagree do not disagree but when you're looking at that marketing and that was kind of an argument of like what we talking whether we do that or but then we started talking we're like yeah but I mean how many pinball collectors how many people uh you know your your mass pinball purchasers mhm families yes you brought that up you said families I said I said how many what's a percentage of people who buy a pinball machine that also have either a partner or CH children yes and I think I would guess I don't know I'd have to do the research I'd say 80% yeah 80% okay of those 80% how many of those 80% would love to find a theme or at least try they purchased pinball machines thinking that their child or their spouse would would maybe fall in love with sball because of it whether it happens or not they still buy them and I put myself into those shoes because both of my daughters and my wife are huge Taylor Swift nuts like stupid crazy over it and I thought you know if that game came out you would try it I would have to buy it I would not I would have no option to buy it like I could not say no to them and they would want it and they would ask me why that I didn't buy it so I would a th% have to buy that game whereas I wouldn't have been a purchaser just not a fan of hers would you put on location yes you damn right you would you damn right because I think that that's where that I think that's where that pin excels it's location I think it could go to locations that pinball machines typically wouldn't go yes and that would be it would be big so again that's why that we're adding Taylor Swift if you're kind of like oh what are you thinking or some of you might be thinking we're crazy that low but again we're we're doing that recently like a balance yes number nine on the top 10 hottest pinball machine themes that have not yet been made Beetle Juice oh [Applause] this one this one this one we we we gave you Swift right give us Beetle Juice yeah this one this one we could think of things that maybe make more sense for pinball but give us but Beetle Juice when you talk about a world under glass that you can create the humor we always want some humor in pinball humor Michael Keon we love Tim Burton is Mr Fantasy you just look at every F piece of like everything you can put in there the underworld even the colors yes it's just it l itself like Beetlejuice is so practical film making on film making and what is gaming more so physical than pinball yes pinball is physical gaming so good and Tim Burton is physical film making yes that's what I was glad to see about the second one when I watched the trailer I was like it's all practical effect all old school yes amazing number nine is be juice fight us cuz I think we're right DN right number eight for the hottest theme that has not been made into a pinball machine yet Pokemon this one oh I don't like either I don't get it I don't either not my cup of tea but you have to take a look at what's around is one of the largest IPS in the entire world and a lot of people say well um you know the the Eastern world doesn't buy pinball machines I can tell you what might help them a pushing the right direction yes well and that's one thing that's great about that is here here in the states I think it's it's phenomenal but it's like you said too now now you're bridging overseas that you might get some people there might be something that people tell me it'll never work it's just cultur it's just culturally it will never sink up and that might not be wrong but it's still big enough for for the Western L it's still big enough Pokemon is huge and the reason why it's huge is because it's multifaceted you've got merch you've got television you've got gaming you've got there there's all different types of mobile games you've got collectibility with the car absolutely and it spans such a large like age demographic is huge onale male it doesn't matter cuz I feel like Pokemon took off right after our kind of our childhood era so you take some people a little younger than us maybe in their mid-30s like there I still think that that hits very hard with them and some people our age too yeah because we stayed nerds in our own nerdy categories yes and other people stayed nerds in they jumped into a Pokémon category yes exactly right at that age yes when we were sort of getting a little but that's where they went yeah we were just different we found boobs yeah I'm joking yeah we did find boobs we stayed nerds yeah yeah yeah well it is what it is the number seven top the number seven top hottest pinball them that has not yet been made is uh it's got Tom Cruz I don't know if he's running it but he's flying it's Top Gun yes Top Gun is like that's the pinball demographic right there yes it's like this the pinball demographic is generally middle-aged men uh that just want to be like masculine and I know that it's big top you didn't want this in here yeah I kind of was like fluctuation but when you take something that lends itself so well to pinball nostalgic tough masul and just the music and the cutcenes and the sequence that you would have on there of when you're hitting shots if they cut to a jet doing yes almost like what Stern did with uh uh John Wick about the fight scene if you did something like that with fighter jets and you did I'm like man this is almost a no-brainer like and they're going to dip in manufacturers are going to dip into Nostalgia and they're going to dip into Nostalgia that makes sense for pinball which is action physical fast pace so what action films back in the'80s that's like your that's your Prime action films in the'80s are are the classic rock of pinball it is and that's the thing that you're hitting that age demographic of pinball buyers the majority of pinball buyers you're hitting that age demographic easy yes it's easyre but when it's done so well that it becomes so classic it becomes the number six on our list of top 10 themes that have not been made into a pinball machine yet it's more contemporary it's the Matrix first off it's K reefs I love K Rees uh it was it was almost uh genre changing yes sci-fi it and it is a better film than Top Gun I would argue it's one of the greatest films ever made plus its action plus its sci-fi Top Gun doesn't get that sci-fi no pinball has a lot of us nerds in it and we like sci-fi Matrix is another one of those things though that that that really lends itself to pinball and yeah it's a technology yes it's technology so you get everything with Top Gun even Nostalgia at this point plus you lead into technology and sci-fi yes so that's why it's bigger on the list would you guys not love to see The Matrix as a pinball machine I'm not entirely it's supposed to be a pinball machine that's perfect it' be so good oh we're into the top five now the top five themes have just not been made into a pinball machine yet number five is The Goonies my top two dream themes The Goonies it's there there can be some argument that's Nostalgia and fantasy it is and you did some research like we looked at like that's one of the biggest IPS like even it's something that doesn't cross your mind it still is up there in top fives of like fantasy film Blockbuster film because it's got Steven Spielberg attached to it it's got uh yeah it's got all that stuff George Lucas I'm trying to think it no Richard Doner was I know Richard Don was but I don't think lcas I think spelberg produced it and then Don directed it but it's one of those things cast is phenomenal the characters are all phenomenal in it people love Stand By Me but this is Stand By Me with like action adventure it's another one of those things that just lends itself so spectacularly to under a world underglass and again the humor the wittiness everything else all your call outs that you're going to pull from that is just going to just and these actors grew up to big old big old actors too I think you still get Sean Aston though oh Sean as 100% dude he's one of the nicest guys I've met him a couple he's one of the nicest guys ever like truly cares about people that he worked with and like he was so nice about Cory Fel like he truly is somebody promotes other people like he is not an at all like he's seriously one of the sweetest you got Brolin there oh I love Josh brol Jos BR is an underrated actor nowadays I think usually at least once a year he recommends something Josh broland related always calling me on the phone oh you see that new Josh brol fil see that new series so good got check it out but yeah no I I still think I think I think Go's like even trying to separate myself cuz that's one of my our Dream things like it's still I think it'd be massive a so good number four for top 10 themes that not been made into a pinball machine yet number four oh you you uh snickered at me and you said no come you put that in there I said you damn right I can it's Toy Story it's Toy Story it has not look Greg it has not been made into a pinball machine yet it has not they chose to make Toy Story four and granite one of my favorite games I love that game it's not Toy Story it's not Toy Story I I'll take Toy Story to as well give me a one and a two I'm still going to argue that you don't have to I still think that it it it technically has been made no but I had to give him this and if we're going on his the hottest IP the way this is he's not wrong if if we can consider this not made so different then I agree with you yeah if a manufacturer I and multigenerational movie told a couple manufacturers uh in conversation don't be afraid to go out there and do Toy Story yeah people want this game to be made as a pinball machine they just do and I don't they want Pizza Planet they want the mar like want s i I've been watching so belong to lot of nerd groups all across the internet all over the place and I for one because I again I kind of GW up with Toy Story But there that's a little bit of generation slightly before me h no I'm not saying out of it because it's no it's still great what I'm saying though is like like of of it hitting home like Jurassic Park in our childhood or or Star Wars if you grew up in the and stuff um not saying it didn't resonate with us so wasn't huge but I underestimated how big pizza plant it was oh like how big of a staple like people people look at that as an iconic image and I just never thought about that and I started to learn about how many people will talk about Pizza Planet and do this and like make reference to it and wear shirts and do things so I was like wow that in itself yeah is such so nostalgic that they pull from it it was a new genre uh bursting and it pulled all the Nostalgia with of the toys of the yester that we all knew the ET sketches the world the Army Men welldeveloped characters oh my in the storytelling that when pictar was telling stories that were better than real life films I watch Toy Story 3 the other night and watching like when the toys had to be given away oh my God and I was like I died and watching him not want to give away Woody I was like oh or whenever they're holding each other going in the inator I'm like just rolling oh it's toy store we're in the top three now the number three hottest intellectual property that just has not been made into a pinball machine these top three all of them could be argued as number ones but number three is Nintendo's Super Mario man I that's day one purchase yes day one no questions no questions location at home it it's everything Super Mario is everything when it comes to video games there's no other video game that I would like to see more that sure there's Zelda sure there's Sonic those are huge and do you know not Mario one of the things that I see that people will talk about uh when routing games and on location games one of the number one games that is one of the top earners Mario really got Le yeah got Le's shitty ass Mario game yes yeah so if you did a Super Mario Land and did like I know that that would be I know the IP is impossible I get it and I know Nintendo says they they want to do their if they're GNA if there's going to be a pinball machine then Nintendo wants to be a manufacturer of pinball machines to make it I get that but I wonder now that they're working with like illumination and DreamWorks to make the the films maybe there's a little wiggle room would you take a film-based Mario I do love that film but it it's not Mario I kind of want it all original I want Mario I want to be video game based yeah I want it to have that Super Mario 3 with the raccoon tail or Super Mario Super Nintendo with Yoshi that's the Mario that we want yes agreed so that's a good one isn't it does it get better than that it does number two hottest pinball themes that haven't been made yet number two is Back to the Future my huge oh that's my dream theme that Goonies that's that's everything to me I you do very well it's again you're you're falling back on that Nostalgia of the 80s UHA fantasy the Sci-Fi still the wittiness the action the comedy and then it still pulls nostalgy and it's just a heartfelt movie too like it pulls it's just a sweet movie who doesn't love the fact of going back to the future making out with Greg Bone Mom oh good luck I would love to see it be made as all three I love all three I know people hate number three that's F I like number three but I don't think you mix number three in with the others it's just a set like number three to me is like Toy Story three to me I like I love it but it's not one or two oh I like three or two no I think you could do one and two together in a pen yes but not three to Toy Story one and two yeah the rumors are that back to the future is going to be coming out let's hope so fingers crossed don't mess it up number one no Briner what could be bigger no the number one hottest theme that has not been made into a pinball machine yet it's Harry Potter Harry Potter easily easily get your wands out yes whoa yes and that hits European market which is huge pinball it hits a lot of the overseas stuff it hits everybody here a love every it hit such a broad age demographic you know how big Harry Potter is so big that it doesn't matter what JK Rawling has said or done people still get behind Harry Potter they don't care yeah because they just beloved characters and here's what I always equated it to when you take a a multi- billion billion billion dollar business like Universal and they take and they dedicate one gigantic section of one of their themes Parks then they renovate part of their other theme park and do it and now they're opening third Park with a big Harry Potter influence that just shows that putting that research and that money behind it says we know what we're talking about and I feel that's the same thing if we go back to Super Mario that's the same thing that I feel with that when you take look at what they're doing universally making Nintendo Land when you take a business that does something like cuz I used to always hear in in the world of real estate that if you saw a Starbucks that you knew a Starbucks was going to be put in you need to buy that land and you need to invest because Starbucks put so much Market Research into where place a store in where that they decide to locate one that they have done all the work for you that they they feel with utmost confidence that this area is going to be I actually kind of tried to do that but I tried to do it backwards where uh we looked into franchising a Starbucks actually in a Chick-fil-A but you can't Starbucks no I think Starbucks was uh me and Nicole looked into it you don't ever own it like you can be a general manager yeah but you can't it's not a franchise yeah they don't yeah like Chick-fil-A and everything else man yeah but I feel the same way with some of these properties is when you take a company that takes that amount har Potter Harry Potter screams pinball there's nothing more pinball than would be Harry Potter magic pinball is kind of magic where's the ball going it's wild it's magnetic it's it's everything and you know what's great about Harry Potter is Harry Potter is such an extensive line of books I think it lends itself to multiple pinball machines sure I don't think that I don't think that wheel I don't think that you should yes I do not think you should cap yourself if anybody ever gets this do not cap yourself at one I hate to burst your bubble grade but somebody does have it if somebody's got it somebody's got Harry Pot look somebody's got Harry Potter somebody's got back to the future Mario I can't confirm but there's been Whispers Toy Story they've kind of got it in the past so I think they could I I've heard that that could have happened Goonies somebody's got it Greg The Matrix somebody could have had it I'm running down I'm here uh there was reasons I don't know if anybody has it currently Top Gun I don't know if anybody's got that could could be had maybe uh Pokemon there's rumors that that one's had Beetlejuice I think somebody's got that and Taylor Swift ain't nobody able to get that know that might be more elusive for a while than Harry Potter here's a run down to the top 10 themes that have not been made into a pinball machine yet number 10 Taylor Swift number nine Beetlejuice number eight Pokemon number seven Top Gun number six The Matrix oh number five the goodies number four Toy Story number three Super Mario number two Back to the Future and number one Harry Potter some of the notables here that we didn't forget about them y'all they're here like The Legend of Zelda we got it uh Superman that would do great I think Superman would die hard would be fantastic would Die Hard Mickey Mouse yes we had to we had to talk quite a bit about Mickey Mouse of the extensiveness of that might be difficult to make but IP wise it's huge Rocky you don't think I am right I love Rocky Rocky is where I love Rocky but I I don't if it'll translate absolutely would trans Breaking Bad would be another killer IP for pinball these would sell so Fight Club Fight Club would knock it out of the par uh National Lampoon Christmas Vacation I think % manufacturers have thought about it they're worried about the holiday related I and I understand and I think it's still stronger than regular vacation oh it's stronger than regular Vacation by far chras vacation is one of the funniest comedies of all time it's amazing and such good assets we forgot a lot of music stuff but I'll throw another one in there Nirvana yeah Nirvana be good we're starting to age I still think mle crew is still one of the last like big I know they've gone downhill V is what it is but I still think from a popularity standpoint in fan base it's a pretty big it's pretty big it needs to be done guaranteed but it's pretty big it's pretty big Finding Nemo oh I actually think Finding Nemo LS itself amazingly to a world underglass uh Karate Kid I think Karate Kid does oh I think it does very much so The Fifth Element yes Aladdin The Lion King come on write them down people these are these are quintessentially definitively the IPS that you should be getting Monsters Inc ET I actually kind of Gremlins all of these faers off The Lost Boys Kill Bill uh King Kong I want that for that for I want King Kong so I want the Ln to have the King Kong I want to see that Despicable Me Beverly Hills Cop Lord of the Rings you can do it again Reservoir Dogs the thing you love the thing catty Shack Dumb and Dumber Step Brothers the hangover and Groundhog Day do you know what's great what Ellen does King Kong oh my God he did Godzilla and then he does a King Kong versus Godzilla yeah it'd be fun that' be cool you could milk it I want a King Kong I'm so much more I want a King Kong to me King Kong is America and Godzilla is China and Japan and Eastern Western give me some I was a bigger Godzilla fan growing up but I I just don't want a Kong cuz he's so iconic I want like Universal Studios theme park ride Kong what I want old school I don't want go black and white no I don't want to go back to that but I also don't want new uh I don't want the new no I don't want any of the new either and that's where Godzilla for Stern's kind of right in the middle there yes they they use the old stuff yes but they still and artistically it's more newer comic that's what we need all right just straight down the middle uh follow like And subscribe straight down the middle and if you're wanting to buy a pinball machine or if you're interested in one of these rumored ones we take rumored list at flipping out pinball just email me at Zack flippinout pinball.com and then if you buy a pinball machine you have any issues with it it's Greg at fliping out p .c he will help you out with all of your switch adjustment knes all your reating of connectors that's right I'm plug it and plug it back in see if that works pound the Playfield what pound the Playfield oh my God straight down the middle again midle again you had a fling with a slingshot you're rolling out the out [Applause] all number five Toy Story no number five the

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 52969c91-32d4-4669-a401-33d1dd1b3b17*