# Deep Dive: Total Nuclear Annihilation PREVIEW

**Source:** Pinball Party Podcast  
**Type:** podcast_episode  
**Published:** 2024-03-22  
**Duration:** 5m 24s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://pinballparty.podbean.com/e/deep-dive-total-nuclear-annihilation-preview/

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## Analysis

A podcast deep dive into Spooky Pinball's Total Nuclear Annihilation, hosted by Zach Sharpe and Jon (likely from Pinball Party Podcast). The hosts discuss the game's design by Matt Scott Denesi, artwork by Matt Andrews, and its historical context within Spooky Pinball's founding. They compare it favorably to recent Stern releases like Jaws and Godzilla, highlighting its uncomplicated rule structure as a contrast to narrative-heavy designs. The episode covers TNA's origins from homebrew projects and positions it as significant to Spooky's early catalog.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Total Nuclear Annihilation was designed by Matt Scott Denesi and features artwork by Matt Andrews — _Host directly states this as factual identification of the game's creators_
- [HIGH] The speaker owns one of each Keith Elwin-designed game except Iron Maiden — _Zach Sharpe states this directly; verifiable through personal collection_
- [HIGH] Jaws received a new code update (v0.87) approximately 10 minutes before this recording — _Zach Sharpe mentions this as a recent event during the episode_
- [MEDIUM] Total Nuclear Annihilation's history is more interesting than its rules — _Host Jon states this as opinion about the game's significance_
- [MEDIUM] Matt Scott Denesi was a 'bedroom DJ' using Fruity Loops in the 1990s before pinball design — _Zach Sharpe provides background on Denesi's pre-pinball career trajectory_
- [MEDIUM] Matt Scott Denesi created a homebrew version of Earthquake at some point — _Zach Sharpe references this as part of Denesi's earlier projects_
- [HIGH] The speaker finds Jaws more engaging than Godzilla due to narrative rule design — _Zach Sharpe directly compares the games' rule philosophies_

### Notable Quotes

> "I currently like it more than I liked Godzilla. But, you know, it's a ways to go."
> — **Zach Sharpe**, early segment
> _Establishes comparative stance on recent Stern designs vs TNA expectations_

> "narrative rules are the complete opposite of what we're going to talk about today, which is Total Nuclear Annihilation"
> — **Jon**, mid-segment
> _Sets up thematic contrast between Jaws (narrative) and TNA (straightforward rules)_

> "The music is so good. So it gets you into it."
> — **Zach Sharpe**, Jaws discussion
> _Highlights theme integration quality in Keith Elwin designs_

> "technically there more interesting history about a game like Total Nuclear Annihilation than there is rules"
> — **Zach Sharpe**, transition to TNA
> _Positions TNA's design philosophy and market position_

> "Matt Scott Denisey you know who was kind of a bedroom DJ doing Fruit Loops in the 90s"
> — **Zach Sharpe**, designer background
> _Documents designer origin story and creative path into pinball_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Spooky Pinball | company | Manufacturer of Total Nuclear Annihilation; early pinball manufacturer in modern industry |
| Matt Scott Denesi | person | Designer of Total Nuclear Annihilation; former Fruity Loops producer; created homebrew Earthquake |
| Matt Andrews | person | Artwork artist for Total Nuclear Annihilation and Pinball Party podcast logo; also worked on Game of Thrones |
| Zach Sharpe | person | Co-host of this episode; Stern Pinball marketing director; collector of Keith Elwin games; owns Jaws |
| Total Nuclear Annihilation | game | Spooky Pinball game being previewed; features uncomplicated rule set; designed by Matt Scott Denesi |
| Jaws | game | Stern Pinball game by Keith Elwin; received v0.87 code update; being compared to TNA |
| Godzilla | game | Stern Pinball game; used as comparison point for shot design and rule philosophy |
| Keith Elwin | person | Legendary pinball designer; designed Jaws, Godzilla, Iron Maiden; speaker owns most of his games |
| Iron Maiden | game | Stern Pinball game by Keith Elwin; notable as the one Keith Elwin game speaker does not own |
| Flip N Out Pinball | company | Distributor/retailer where Zach Sharpe purchased his Jaws machine |
| Pinball Party Podcast | organization | This podcast; hosts include Zach Sharpe and Jon; logo designed by Matt Andrews |
| Straight Down the Middle: a pinball show | organization | Related podcast/show referenced; features notes about this episode |
| John Williams | person | Composer of Jaws film score; music praised as integral to game's theme integration |
| The Last Arcade pinball party | organization | Referenced podcast where Jaws discussion was previously covered |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Total Nuclear Annihilation design and history, Comparison of rule complexity: narrative vs. straightforward
- **Secondary:** Keith Elwin game design philosophy and portfolio, Game designer career trajectories (Matt Scott Denesi background), Recent Stern releases (Jaws, Godzilla) and code updates, Theme licensing and music integration
- **Mentioned:** Artwork and aesthetic design (Matt Andrews), Personal collection and ownership trends

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.75) — Hosts express genuine enthusiasm for TNA and appreciation for both its design history and straightforward rule approach. Positive comparisons to Stern titles like Jaws. Minor criticism of Godzilla rules but framed as personal preference rather than design failure. Constructive discussion tone throughout.

### Signals

- **[code_update]** Jaws receives v0.87 code update approximately 10 minutes before recording (confidence: high) — Zach Sharpe: 'Jaws which just released new code point eight seven like ten minutes ago'
- **[design_philosophy]** Total Nuclear Annihilation explicitly positioned as simple/uncomplicated rules alternative to narrative-heavy games like Jaws (confidence: high) — Jon: 'narrative rules are the complete opposite of what we're going to talk about today, which is Total Nuclear Annihilation'
- **[content_signal]** Pinball Party Podcast conducting deep dive preview coverage of TNA; cross-promotion with SDTM notes (confidence: high) — Episode structure focused on TNA preview; references to Straight Down the Middle podcast notes
- **[collector_signal]** Collector acquiring complete Keith Elwin set (minus one title); demonstrates high-value game purchasing patterns (confidence: high) — Zach Sharpe: 'I owned every Keith Elwin except for Iron Maiden I think'
- **[historical_signal]** Matt Scott Denesi's path from bedroom producer (Fruity Loops in 1990s) to pinball designer documented (confidence: medium) — Zach Sharpe: 'Matt Scott Denisey you know who was kind of a bedroom DJ doing Fruit Loops in the 90s'
- **[gameplay_signal]** TNA's playfield layout compared favorably to Godzilla (Keith Elwin design) in terms of shot variety and fun factor (confidence: high) — Zach Sharpe: 'the shots are really fun and interesting, very similar to a game like Godzilla, but different'
- **[sentiment_shift]** Matt Andrews (artist) establishing reputation within community; personally commissions work for podcast logos (confidence: medium) — Host commissioned Matt Andrews for Pinball Party logo; describes him as great artist
- **[business_signal]** Recent machine purchase from major distributor (Flip N Out Pinball) (confidence: high) — Zach Sharpe: 'you bought it from Learning to The Flip N Out Pinball'

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## Transcript

 This week's deep dive we go deep into spooky pinball Scott Danesi's total nuclear annihilation I Jaws has a really good layout. I think the shots are really fun and interesting, very similar to a game like Godzilla, but different. But I think the rule structure is really solid. But you know, you never really know where a game is going to end up. And currently, I like it more than I liked Godzilla. But, you know, it's got a ways to go. Yeah and although I guess welcome to the show everyone they here to hear about total nuclear annihilation since Zach and I haven done this in a couple weeks we just catching up on jaws which just released new code point eight seven like ten minutes ago so I was saying for those that listened to the last pinball party that I like on jaws but you own one you bought it from flipping out pinball and you yeah you so far Yeah I really like the game I think I owned every Elwin except for Iron Maiden I think And, you know, I've liked them to varying degrees. I'm not a huge fan of the rules of AIQ, but I think that game shoots really well. Elwin games always shoot well. You know, I just think that Jaws, the theme I'm kind of medium on, I'm not sure if you can see this, but I mean, it's John Williams and I guess that's the theme, right? The music is so good. So it gets you into it. So I think that the combination of John Williams with like a very solid layout, cause that's what he does with, I like the narrative rules. I think the rules make more narrative sense. And I think that's what I'm currently engaged with more than something like Godzilla, which I just, I just didn't really ever get into just fighting Gigan. Yeah, well, narrative rules are the complete opposite of what we're going to talk about today, which is total nuclear annihilation. Oh, good segue. Yeah, hey, appreciate it. I've been doing this a while. But yeah, Zach, let's talk about the facts of the game. Yeah, you know, I mean, this is a really interesting game when it comes to history. So it just depends how much you want to get into it. I mean technically there more interesting history about a game like total nuclear annihilation than there is rules Yeah you know it dates back quite a ways you know to the beginning of of spooky pinball and the beginning of you know Scott Denisey And so we can kind of start there It a it a spooky pinball manufactured game designed by Scott Denisey with art by Matt Andrews And I think that's where. Yeah, that's who does the pinball party podcast logo for those wondering, is that a pinball game? This is the pinball podcast logo for those wondering. The same art on Total Nuclear Annihilation is what made me want to get a pinball party podcast logo done by Matt Andrews. Go get your art done by him. Sorry for interrupting. Well, no, and he's great. And I think that that's part of like the interesting history of TNA is before there was a Total Nuclear Annihilation, you know, Matt Andrews got his work, his start working in pinball, like a lot of people, you know, John Popadiuk developing work for Zidware. Oh this way it all blue Waldo damneday But going back a little bit you know Scott Danesi you know who was kind of a bedroom DJ doing Fruit Loops in the or Fruity Loops in the 90s you know and had made his own done a couple of different projects where he did a homebrew version of Earthquake Kurema directed this series to promote plateaus establishingnovice classes To hear the rest of this episode and other deep dives, join the Pinball Party Patreon at patreon.com slash pinballparty or you can find the link conveniently in the show notes below. We'll see you next time.

_(Acquisition: groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 5b5b1453-0391-4ffc-a751-8019d910c508*