# MIRCO Pinball Drops the Ball with Tales of the Arabian Nights 2.0 Kit

**Source:** Knapp Arcade  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2023-03-21  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/mirco-pinball-drops-the-ball-with-tales-of-the-arabian-nights-2-0-kit

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## Analysis

MIRCO Pinball has apparently withdrawn from production of the Tales of the Arabian Nights 2.0 upgrade kit despite previously marketing it at Texas Pinball Festival and on its website. The kit's programmer Benoit is now actively seeking a new manufacturing partner, with speculation that Pedretti Gaming (maker of the Funhouse 2.0 kit) could be a suitable fit. The status of kits already sold by MIRCO to customers remains unclear.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] MIRCO presented Tales of the Arabian Nights 2.0 kit at Texas Pinball Festival last year — _Author states this as established fact from direct observation/knowledge_
- [HIGH] MIRCO still has the TOTAN 2.0 kit listed for sale on its website — _Author states 'still showing it for sale up on its website' as current status_
- [MEDIUM] MIRCO is no longer involved in production of TOTAN 2.0 kits — _Author infers this from correspondence with Benoit, the programmer, who is 'actively looking for a new company to partner with'_
- [HIGH] Benoit has been sharing development videos on YouTube — _Author references 'two brand new videos that just went up yesterday' and states Benoit has been 'sharing videos of the kit's development throughout the process'_
- [MEDIUM] MIRCO has already sold some TOTAN 2.0 kits to customers — _Author states 'I believe that MIRCO has already sold some kits to people' with qualifying language indicating uncertainty_
- [HIGH] Pedretti Gaming is the maker of the Funhouse 2.0 kit — _Stated as established fact_
- [HIGH] Pedretti Gaming has been teasing release of its second Williams 2.0 kit soon — _Author states this as recent activity_
- [HIGH] MIRCO is 'oft-criticized' as a pinball playfield manufacturer — _Author's characterization in opening phrase_

### Notable Quotes

> "Despite making a big presentation about it at last year's Texas Pinball Festival and still showing it for sale up on its website, it seems as though MIRCO, the oft-criticized pinball playfield manufacturer, is no longer involved in the production of the 2.0 kits for Williams' 1996 classic Tales of the Arabian Nights pinball machines."
> — **Author (Knapp Arcade)**
> _Opening statement establishing the core conflict and MIRCO's contradiction between marketing and actual production status_

> "Benoit is actively looking for a new company to partner with on the production of TOTAN 2.0 kits."
> — **Author (Knapp Arcade)**
> _Confirms MIRCO withdrawal and indicates active search for alternative manufacturing partner_

> "This seems like the sort of project that Pedretti Gaming, maker of the previously released FunHouse 2.0 kit, should team up with Benoit to finish."
> — **Author (Knapp Arcade)**
> _Author's speculation about potential industry solution; suggests Pedretti as logical match_

> "I'm not sure what happens to those kits / people, but I wouldn't think that MIRCO will provide any support for them going forward."
> — **Author (Knapp Arcade)**
> _Raises concern about customer support and warranty obligations for existing kit purchasers_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| MIRCO | company | Pinball playfield kit manufacturer; withdrew from TOTAN 2.0 kit production despite previous marketing efforts |
| Tales of the Arabian Nights (TOTAN) | game | 1996 Williams classic pinball machine; subject of 2.0 upgrade kit in production limbo |
| Benoit | person | Programmer for TOTAN 2.0 HD kit; actively seeking new manufacturing partner; shares development progress on YouTube |
| Pedretti Gaming | company | Pinball kit manufacturer; produced Funhouse 2.0 kit; teasing second Williams 2.0 kit release |
| Funhouse 2.0 | product | Upgrade kit for Williams Funhouse; previously released by Pedretti Gaming |
| TOTAN 2.0 Kit | product | Upgrade/modernization kit for Tales of the Arabian Nights; in production limbo after MIRCO withdrawal |
| Texas Pinball Festival | event | Annual pinball community event where MIRCO previously presented the TOTAN 2.0 kit |
| Williams | company | Classic pinball manufacturer; produced Tales of the Arabian Nights (1996) |
| Knapp Arcade | organization | Source of this analysis; pinball media/blog outlet |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Upgrade kits for classic pinball machines (2.0 kits), Manufacturer reliability and follow-through on announced products, MIRCO's reputation and operational challenges
- **Secondary:** Pedretti Gaming's expansion and market positioning, Customer support and warranty concerns for pinball products, Williams classic game modernization efforts

### Sentiment

**Negative** (-0.75) — Article is critical of MIRCO's failure to deliver on promised product, highlights contradiction between marketing and execution, and raises concerns about customer support. Characterizes MIRCO as 'oft-criticized' and portrays the situation as a significant letdown. Tone is disapproving but measured.

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** MIRCO's failure to deliver on publicly announced product damages credibility; uncertain status of already-sold kits raises customer support liability (confidence: high) — Author notes MIRCO 'made a big presentation' but is now withdrawn, and questions what happens to customers who already purchased kits
- **[sentiment_shift]** MIRCO characterized as 'oft-criticized' playfield manufacturer; article reinforces existing negative reputation (confidence: high) — Author's opening characterization and overall critical framing of MIRCO's abandonment of the project
- **[market_signal]** Pedretti Gaming positioned as potential market leader for classic pinball modernization kits; teasing second Williams 2.0 kit release (confidence: medium) — Author suggests Pedretti should partner with Benoit and notes Pedretti is 'teasing the release of its second Williams 2.0 kit soon'
- **[personnel_signal]** Benoit seeking new manufacturing partner indicates potential shift in who will execute classic pinball kit projects (confidence: medium) — Benoit is 'actively looking for a new company to partner with on the production of TOTAN 2.0 kits'
- **[product_strategy]** TOTAN 2.0 kit stalled in production; manufacturer (MIRCO) has apparently withdrawn despite ongoing website marketing (confidence: high) — Author correspondence with Benoit indicates MIRCO is 'no longer involved' and Benoit is 'actively looking for a new company to partner with'

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## Transcript

Despite making a big presentation about it at last year's Texas Pinball Festival and still showing it for sale up on its website, it seems as though MIRCO, the oft-criticized pinball playfield manufacturer, is no longer involved in the production of the 2.0 kits for Williams' 1996 classic Tales of the Arabian Nights pinball machines.

I recently corresponded with the TOTAN 2.0 HD programmer, Benoit, on the subject. He has been sharing videos of the kit's development throughout the process up on YouTube, including two brand new videos that just went up yesterday that I embedded below.

Benoit is actively looking for a new company to partner with on the production of TOTAN 2.0 kits. This seems like the sort of project that Pedretti Gaming, maker of the previously released FunHouse 2.0 kit, should team up with Benoit to finish. Pedretti has been teasing the release of its second Williams 2.0 kit soon.

I believe that MIRCO has already sold some kits to people. I'm not sure what happens to those kits / people, but I wouldn't think that MIRCO will provide any support for them going forward.

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 61d39fff-9b37-4eae-8732-c3367649de66*