# $15,000 Pinball Showdown! Toy Story 4 vs Elton John | Jersey Jack Battle | Top 50 Pinball Machines

**Source:** Gonzo's Pinball Flipperama  
**Type:** video  
**Published:** 2026-03-17  
**Duration:** 26m 11s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWtLa912T2Q

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## Analysis

Gonzo of Gonzo's Pinball Flipperama compares two Jersey Jack Pinball machines—Toy Story 4 and Elton John—for his personal top 50 pinball machines list. He critiques Toy Story 4 for failing to capture the essence of the IP despite good individual shots, attributing issues to Pat Lawlor's design philosophy and missing thematic elements like a claw mechanism. He praises Elton John extensively for its stunning artwork, excellent flipper feel (credited to Steve Richie's involvement), beautiful playfield design, and surprising mass appeal, ranking it highly despite initial community backlash against the theme.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Jersey Jack machines had flipper quality issues until relatively recently, improving notably by the time of Elton John — _Gonzo discusses JJP flipper evolution across multiple titles, noting The Hobbit had subpar flippers, Godfather improved them, and Elton John finally achieved parity with other manufacturers_
- [MEDIUM] Steve Richie was involved with Elton John specifically to help solve Jersey Jack's flipper issues — _Gonzo states 'the word is that Steve Richie went in there and helped them sort their flipper issues out' but acknowledges uncertainty about accuracy_
- [HIGH] Toy Story 4 was designed by Pat Lawlor — _Gonzo directly states 'it was a Pat Lawler game' when discussing frustrations with the design_
- [MEDIUM] Toy Story 4 had four pop bumpers at the top of the playfield that kept the ball for excessive time — _Gonzo says 'I'm pretty sure it had four pop bumpers. If it didn't, it stayed up the top a long, long time' with stated uncertainty_
- [HIGH] Elton John faced significant community backlash and skepticism before release, with people expressing hostility toward the theme announcement — _Gonzo describes doing a video after the game's reveal and receiving 'outright internet abuse' with people saying 'How can you say this looks good?' and expressing anger_
- [HIGH] Jersey Jack consulted with Gonzo about Toy Story 4 licensing challenges — _Gonzo states 'I've spoken to Jersey Jack about the licensing on Toy Story and it was a challenge' and speculates Buzz Lightyear licensing was constrained_
- [MEDIUM] Tim Allen provided voice work for Buzz Lightyear on Toy Story 4, with Jim Hanks (Tom Hanks' brother) doing voice work for Woody — _Gonzo expresses uncertainty ('I'm pretty sure Tim Allen done the voice' and 'I think his name's Jim because he does the voices') while crediting their involvement_
- [HIGH] Elton John game features ball locks inside a grand piano mechanism — _Gonzo describes directly: 'you lock the balls inside a grand piano for goodness sake. How cool is that?'_

### Notable Quotes

> "Jersey Jacks are well under represented on this board...they're almost like the Rolls-Royce of pinball machines...but until relatively recently, I just don't think they've shot as well as other games."
> — **Gonzo**, ~2:30
> _Establishes JJP market positioning and design philosophy critiques_

> "I do not feel that Toy Story 4 captures the essence of Toy Story...it could have just been a fairground carnival game. That's what it seemed to be centered around."
> — **Gonzo**, ~6:00
> _Core thesis of Toy Story 4 criticism—thematic disconnection despite technical competence_

> "There was outright internet abuse. I did a video saying this looks amazing...I got nastiness, a lot of abuse from how can you say this looks good?"
> — **Gonzo**, ~17:30
> _Documents community hostility toward Elton John announcement and reveals expectation-setting dynamics_

> "I don't know how true this is, but the word is that Steve Richie went in there and helped them sort their flipper issues out."
> — **Gonzo**, ~11:15
> _Potential confirmation of Steve Richie's consulting role with JJP, though expressed with qualification_

> "It shoots absolutely brilliantly...The playfield is stunning. Absolutely incredible. It's an absolute feast."
> — **Gonzo**, ~12:00
> _Strong endorsement of Elton John's overall design quality and visual presentation_

> "I understand as much as I should do about it...massive FOMO over Buzz Lightyear, everybody wanted a Buzz Lightyear...I was working in a toy store at the time."
> — **Gonzo**, ~6:45
> _Personal context establishing credibility on Toy Story IP appeal and character importance_

> "The best pinball machine is the one you're playing...because of that, your favorite one will be favorite at different times."
> — **Gonzo**, ~25:30
> _Philosophical approach to ranking games and acknowledging subjectivity of his top 50 list_

> "Once people had started playing Elton John, you realized people really enjoying it saying 'This is better than I thought this was.'"
> — **Gonzo**, ~18:00
> _Demonstrates how expectation management affected Elton John reception post-launch_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Gonzo | person | Content creator and pinball enthusiast running Gonzo's Pinball Flipperama YouTube channel, compiling personal top 50 pinball machines list |
| Pat Lawlor | person | Pinball designer of Toy Story 4 and other classic titles; Gonzo expresses general dissatisfaction with his design philosophy |
| Steve Richie | person | Legendary pinball designer reportedly involved with Elton John to improve Jersey Jack's flipper engineering |
| Eric Meunier | person | Jersey Jack Pinball designer; implicitly involved with Toy Story 4 development |
| Jersey Jack Pinball | company | Manufacturer of both Toy Story 4 and Elton John machines; known for premium build quality but historically struggled with flipper design |
| Toy Story 4 | game | Jersey Jack Pinball machine designed by Pat Lawlor; criticized by Gonzo for failing to capture Toy Story IP essence despite technical competence |
| Elton John | game | Jersey Jack Pinball machine praised by Gonzo for stunning artwork (Chris Frenchy), excellent flipper feel, thematic integration, and broad appeal despite initial community skepticism |
| Chris Frenchy | person | Artist credited for Elton John's artwork; Gonzo praises his exceptional color palette and visual design |
| Godzilla | game | Stern Pinball title appearing on Gonzo's top 50 list; Gonzo notes personal difficulty with scoop shot despite appreciating the game |
| Attack from Mars | game | Classic Williams title ranking #1 on Gonzo's personal top 50 list |
| Twilight Zone | game | Classic Pat Lawlor design not on Gonzo's top 50 list because he hasn't owned it; Gonzo expresses preference for other designs |
| Addams Family | game | Classic Pat Lawlor pinball machine; Gonzo expresses general dissatisfaction with it despite community reverence |
| Star Wars | game | Recent Stern Pinball release by John Borg; Gonzo uses as counterpoint to Toy Story 4 regarding IP theme capture |
| Medieval Madness | game | Classic Williams title mentioned as example of expectation-setting affecting gameplay perception |
| The Who | person | Band credited with 'Pinball Wizard,' the iconic pinball song; Gonzo mentions Elton John's involvement in Tommy film |
| Alan Adair | person | UK pinball community member (Happy Pin) who lent Gonzo machines; recently deceased; Gonzo dedicates acknowledgment |
| Pinball Heaven | company | Sponsor providing games to Gonzo for testing and video content |
| Venom | game | Game on Gonzo's list; community feedback notes Pro vs Premium/LE versions are substantially different |
| Slash | person | Musician involved with Guns N Roses pinball game; Gonzo credits his passion for pinball enabling second machine |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Jersey Jack Pinball flipper engineering evolution, Toy Story 4 thematic execution and design shortcomings, Elton John community reception and expectation management
- **Secondary:** Pat Lawlor design philosophy criticism, Pinball IP licensing constraints and character prominence, Subjective ranking methodologies for pinball games, Artwork and aesthetic design quality in modern pinball
- **Mentioned:** Broad appeal vs. hardcore player preferences in game design

### Sentiment

**Neutral** (0)

### Signals

- **[product_concern]** Jersey Jack Pinball machines historically had inferior flipper feel and shooting accuracy compared to competitors until recent titles like Elton John (confidence: high) — Gonzo documents JJP flipper issues across The Hobbit, early Godfather, with improvement only by Elton John: 'by the time we got to Elton John, you had JJPs that were I feel as shooting as well as anything else. But, you know, I have to admit that that wasn't that wasn't the case. Toy Story 4...still hadn't quite got the flippers up to the standard.'
- **[product_concern]** Toy Story 4 features excessive pop bumper time at top of playfield (approximately 4 bumpers) that frustrates play flow without meaningful scoring payoff (confidence: medium) — Gonzo criticizes: 'I just want the ball back. I want I want to play pinball...Never really felt I was gaining much with it being in the pop bumpers for any length of time up there. And it was an extraordinary length of time repeatedly'
- **[sentiment_shift]** Elton John experienced dramatic positive sentiment shift post-release after initial community hostility and skepticism about the theme choice (confidence: high) — Gonzo describes initial 'outright internet abuse' when game was announced: 'I got, you know, nastiness, a lot of abuse from how can you say this looks good?' but notes that 'once people had started playing Elton John, you realized people really enjoying it saying, This is better than I thought this was.'
- **[design_philosophy]** Toy Story 4 criticized for failing to authentically capture Toy Story IP despite good technical mechanics; suggests licensing constraints limited character prominence (Buzz Lightyear) (confidence: high) — Gonzo: 'I do not feel that Toy Story 4 captures the essence of Toy Story...it could have just been a fairground carnival game. That's what it seemed to be centered around...I just felt when I when I played it, if I didn't know it was Toy Story and you could have taken the figurines and the writing out, it could have just been a fairground carnival game.'
- **[product_launch]** Jersey Jack experienced licensing constraints on Toy Story 4 that Gonzo attributes to limiting Buzz Lightyear's prominence in the machine (confidence: medium) — Gonzo states: 'I know that I've spoken to Jersey Jack about the licensing on Toy Story and it was a challenge...Buzz Lightyear would have been front and center of that game' but wasn't maximally featured
- **[personnel_signal]** Steve Richie reportedly consulted with Jersey Jack Pinball on Elton John to improve flipper engineering and shooting feel (confidence: medium) — Gonzo qualifies: 'I don't know how true this is, but the word is that Steve Richie went in there and helped them sort their flipper issues out. So immediately with this game, you now have the the wonderful cabinet...and it shoots well.'
- **[gameplay_signal]** Elton John demonstrated strong appeal to both hardcore pinball players and casual/non-pinball audiences, suggesting versatile design balance (confidence: high) — Gonzo notes: 'Everybody enjoyed playing Elton John and pin heads and non-pin heads. And I think that's that's not an easy thing to do...a pinball machine that could entertain people but for hours is still a good pinball machine.'
- **[design_innovation]** Toy Story 4 failed to implement obvious mechanical opportunity: a claw machine toy to capture/lift the pinball, despite this being an iconic Toy Story element and common arcade fixture (confidence: high) — Gonzo states: 'the obvious mechanism and that was the claw...most of us watching this probably experienced pinball on location in an arcade...you've got the crane machines, the claw machines...It is the most obvious fit I can ever think of...I just think it been a...disappointment there'
- **[collector_signal]** Gonzo reports actively missing Elton John after selling it and expressing repeated desire to repurchase; contrasts with Toy Story 4 which he did not miss (confidence: high) — For Elton John: 'Do I miss it? Yes, I do. I've thought a number of times about trying to get this back...Would I have it back? Yes.' For Toy Story 4: 'Did I miss it when it was gone? No. I had no desire to have it back again or even play it again.'
- **[market_signal]** Elton John appears to have maintained or appreciated in secondary market value while Toy Story 4 has depreciated or holds lower value perception (confidence: medium) — Gonzo's expressed desire to repurchase Elton John and regret about selling contrasts sharply with complete indifference to Toy Story 4, suggesting different collector/secondary market dynamics

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## Transcript

We've got another double whammy today. Toy Story 4 Elton John. There's not many JJPs on this list. If anything, they are at something of a disadvantage. Um, this what we're going to be discussing today in Gonzo's top 50 pinball machines. I'm going to leave them there for the moment while I do my talking. Leave my hands to talk. You see, got to do some admin. And some of you that have watched every one in this series are going to think, "Oh, no. Don't say again. Please don't say it again." I have to say it again because it doesn't matter how many times I say this stuff, somebody always asks the question, "Why is Well, they'll say, "Why is this game or that game? Why is Twilight Zone not on there? Why why is Harry Potter not on there?" This is a list of pinball machines that I've had in my house. Okay, that's it. It really is as simple as that. If you don't see a game on here, it's either because I haven't done a video yet or it's not in the house. Now, I know I do think sometimes people are winding me up by posting it, but anyway, there you go. All right, that's where we have it. So, as you see, two pinball machines that have been in my house, El and John and Toy Story 4. We are going to rank them off today. And you don't want to be getting that phrase wrong, that's for sure. Uh, last time we were here, we did a uh we did Jaws if you remember, and we did Venom. Just uh use the camera here to to pop down the list a little bit. Hopefully, you can see that there. So, here's the list. It starts from here. Jackpot at the bottom going all the way up to the ve, excuse me, to the very top. Attack from Mars at the top. So, the top the top 10 are Attack from Mars, Deadpool Jaws, Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park, Monster Bash, Big Labowski, Batman 66, Godilla, Godfilla, Godfiller, Godzilla, Godzilla. It's just a big house, isn't it really? Um, God Godzilla Fish Tales are very high house of horrors. I can't even speak. That doesn't bode well for the rest of this video. Let's start with Toy Story 4, shall we? Toy Story 4. Now, as I say, Jersey Jacks are well under represented on this board. In fact, I don't think there are any for the pure and simple reason. I've only ever had two JJPs in this house, which are the two on the list there. I wish there were more. I hope at some point we have a Harry Potter through here. That would be really cool. I'd love to at some point have a Pirates of the Caribbean to learn it. I suspect there's so many pinball moments on there. I suspect it would be on there. Well, it's definitely on the list somewhere. I don't know where it would be, but I've I've played I've played a few a few JJPs, and for me, they're they're the almost like the Rolls-Royce of pinball machines are about as grand as a pinball machine can be. They are they they they're top level, but until relatively recently, I just don't think they've shot as well as other games. They they've had the toys, they've had the screen, they've had the moment, the build quality, all of that stuff, but they the flippers for a while didn't feel the best. That's not to say I haven't enjoyed their games. I don't think the flippers were great on The Hobbit, but that was I thought it was a a decent game, but again, I've never had it here. Toy Story 4, it did not have that. It It still hadn't quite got the flippers up to the standard. I think by the time they got to Godfather, which I have had here actually, and we can rate that. I'd forgotten. Um, Godfather, the flippers were a bit better. Um, certainly by the time we got to Elton John, you had JJPs that were I feel as shooting as well as as anything else. But, you know, I have to admit that that wasn't that wasn't the case. Toy Story 4 for me is a missed opportunity because you might remember a few days ago I did uh where was it? I did Star Wars. Stern Star Wars. In fact, the game is is just behind me here. A lot of people said with Star Wars that the Steve Ritchie pinball machine didn't capture the essence. It didn't capture the soul. It didn't capture the spirit of Star Wars. I I I disagree. Um, you've got R2-D2 making the noises. You've got all the movie scenes. You've got the music. I I think it does. I think it does capture the essence of Star Wars. I do not feel that Toy Story 4 captures the essence of Toy Story. And I I'll give you the reasons for that. I mean, firstly, it being Toy Story 4. It would just been better just to be Toy Story. I think they're really good films. the films I've sat down and I've watched them with my kids and we all enjoy them like you get with a lot of the Disney Pixar stuff. They'll often put something in there for the grown-ups as well, won't they? And there something, you know, you to be enjoyed by everybody. I do think they're good movies. I love the characters. In fact, I remember years ago I was actually working in a toy store when Buzz Lightyear when the first films came out and Buzz Lightyear, massive FOMO over Buzz Lightyear, everybody wanted a Buzz Lightyear. I was working in a toy store at the time uh which is a story in itself. So I I understand as much as I should do um about it. I I think one of the frustrations that I found about the game is well firstly it it was a Pat Lawler game and and I don't really like Pat Lawler games. That that's the truth of the matter. I don't I'm not a massive fan of Adam's Family which isn't on here cuz I haven't had it in the house. Not a massive fan of Twilight Zone. wasn't isn't on here because I haven't had in the house and I'm not that likely to have them here either because they're okay. They're okay games. I understand that's complete sacrilege for some people to to call Twilight Zone and Adam's family just okay. It's just different tastes, which is why this is is my list. I've never been thrilled with his designs, but that's not to say it was completely bereft. Um Toy Story was an okay game, and I particularly like the the Juke Kaboom jump ramp. I thought that was good. the sort of no good gophers ramp disc that's gone it enjoyed that but I didn't feel that it it just didn't feel like Toy Story and that's the truth of the matter um I think quite possibly they had some issues with licensing and I in fact I know that I've spoken to spoken to Jack spoken to Jersey Jack about the licensing on Toy Story and it was a challenge I think it was a challenge for them I think if I had had anything to do with that game. Buzz Lightyear would have been front and center of that game. Where I think they did so well and they do do this very very well. Um JJP is getting the people involved. Again, for instance, getting Slash involved in Guns and Roses was was brilliant. You know, in many respects, without Slash interest in pinball, there probably is no second Guns and Roses pinball machine. But to get Tim Allen on the voice, I'm pretty sure Tim Allen done the voice for Buzz Lightyear on here. That's a That's about as hard as it is to do. They didn't get Tom Hanks. They got Jim Hanks. But that's okay. I think his name's Jim because he does the voices for them anyway. That's what he does. I think he's he's gone back and when they've actually added in scenes and and bulked out a lot of the movies, it's not Tom Hanks that goes back in there and does it. It's his brother. That's as good as you're going to get. Um, and I think bearing in mind you've got Tim Allen if I remember rightly there was a Buzz Lightyear but he was sort of sat back in the back. He was small. Get a bit big Buzz Lightyear in there. So that's what I would have done to make it feel more more Toy Story. I also felt with the game there was an obvious mechanism and that was the claw. I mean that was it's just obvious pinball. Most of us watching this probably experienced pinball on location in an arcade. That's that's where you learn to love this hobby, right? Well, of course, in the arcades, you've got the crane machines, the claw machines. It's it is the most obvious fit I can ever think of to have a mini claw machine inside the pinball machine. I I just think it been a and I don't mean you've got to go and get one of the aliens from Pizza Planet, but maybe maybe you pick up the pinball with the claw. it it's the obvious mechanism and it wasn't done to such an extent when I heard when it heard it was rumored that Toy Story was done I just thought well they will do the claw why would you not why would you not do the claw it has to be done so uh disappointment there um and I just feel it was there really wasn't enough buzz and Woody um the Juke Kaboom ramp did have a pinball moment that was a pinball moment um I'm not sure quite had the iPad screen in there, but it was useful. It was giving you pointers and advice throughout the game, which I thought was good. And it was okay. There was a I just felt when I when I played it, it if I didn't know it was Toy Story and you could have taken the figurines and the writing out, it could have just been a fair ground carnival game. That's what it seemed to be centered around. Um, and it was okay. I it's I don't got too many bad things to say about it as a game, but it's like we often say when you set the expectations, the expectations are everything. Um, Medieval Madness is is low down on the list as you'll see there. But expectations everything because so many people will tell you that Medieval Madness is the best pinball machine that's ever been made. very really hard to to not be other than anything other than disappointed when you when you play it. And the same we discussed this with star with Star Wars there. Everyone tells you Star Wars is awful. It's no good. It's terrible. So you walk up to it as if you're going to have a terrible terrible game. So it can pleasantly surprise you. Medieval Madness can't pleasantly surprise you because you've already been told it's the best thing you're going to experience. I I I think Medieval Madness is a good game, but I'm not disappointed in where it is. I think that's it is I don't enjoy it any more than World Cup soccer and it's right next to World Cup soccer. Sacrilege, I know, but I think your mind sets an expectation with Toy Story that just wasn't met there were good points to it. There's no doubt about it. It it shot okay. Um, as I always say on these uh on these reviews, did I miss it when it was gone? No. I had no desire to have it back again or even play it again. The biggest flaw, and this goes back to Pat Lawler that I was saying, I don't know why he put four pop bumpers at the top. I'm pretty sure it had four pot bumpers. If it didn't, it stayed up the top a long, long time. A frustrating amount of time. I just I just want the ball back. I want I want to play pinball. Um, and I didn't feel in a way that you do with Attack from Mars when it's in the pop bumpers, you feel you're gaining something. You're watching it count at the top. Never really felt I was gaining much with it being in the pot bumpers for any length of time up there. And it was an extraordinary length of time repeatedly, which is which was a shame because actually the top of the playful was quite good. The little flipper at the top and the loop shot really good shot. Really really good shot. that shot and the jump shot were very good, but I just think you need more. You need more than a couple of good shots. And I think for me that was what Toy Story was. So, um I'm actually going to take Toy Story here. I'm I'm afraid I'm going to have to put the camera down a little bit cuz I'm going to put it here just above Ghostbusters. I don't know how well you can see there. So, at the bottom it says Jackbot, John Wick, X-Men, Popeye, Ghostbusters, Toy Story, Venom, Jurassic Park Home Edition, Judge Dread, Avengers Infinity Quest, Rush, Medieval Madness, World Cup Soccer, Sopranos, Stranger Things, Dolly Parton, Champion Pub, Stern Star Wars, Foo Fighters, TNA, Total Nuclear Annihilation, of course, Star Trek Next Gen, Cactus Canyon, Alvirara's House of Horrors. Let me just move that camera up a little bit. Um, Fish Tales, Godzilla, Batman 66, Labowski, Monster Bash, Jurassic Park, Lord of the Rings, Jaws, Deadpool, Attack from Mars. Let's get on to Elton John now. Let's let's start with the last question. Do I miss it? Yes, I do. Um, I've thought a number of times about trying to get this back. I don't know what the most beautiful pinball machine is, but it might be this one. It's got that Chris Frenchy artwork, which is incredible. As I've mentioned a number of occasions, what what what that guy does with colors. You would hope any artist could do this, right? But it's not the case. He's just his eye for colors and colors that that match each other. Um, the choice of pallet is is so good and so just so impressive. And with the rad cows that are on this game, it gives it a depth. It's got the glitter in it as well. Even the side art on the backbox. And I can't I can't remember. I don't know which one's which. Did I have the CE or the Ellie? Maybe I had the Ellie. Um, I just can't remember which one's which. Anyway, it was glorious. It was stunning. Both both are stunning. Stunning stunning games. In terms of pinball machine, it's right up there with what Jersey Jack do. But that that one thing that maybe you look at and you think they don't quite shoot as well. This one does. Why? Because they got Steve Ritchie. They got Steve Ritchie in to do it. And I don't know how true this is, but the the word is that Steve Ritchie went in there and helped them sort their flipper issues out. So immediately with this game, you you you now have the the wonderful cabinet, you have the light show, you have the screen, all all albeit, there's probably not enough action on the screen cuz it's not that type of game. It's it's Elton John in concert. So the big screen probably lends itself more to something like The Hobbit. But anyway, you got the screen, you got the lights, you got the all the thick wood in a cabinet, the cabling, everything like that is done so well on a on a JJP. You don't feel that it's a it's a machine made on under budget or on budget. You know, they they they seem to chuck money at these things. So, you have all of that stuff, all the lights and stuff, and it shoots well. I mean, it shoots absolutely brilliantly. And it's not just the cabinet that's stunning. The playfield is stunning. absolutely incredible. Um, it's it's an absolute feast. An absolute feast. And my daughter, my youngest daughter, doesn't play much pinball. There's not too many games where she has said, "Why? Why did Why did you let that go?" In fact, yeah. In fact, believe it or not, only jackpot, but she was very young. She just liked she liked hitting it into the um into the eyes that the ball locked. She liked that. a monster bash definitely. Uh she was she was crossed that that had been gone. Elvara's House of Horrors, she was quite annoyed that that went, but Elton John uh she loves Elton John, but she loves the music as well, which obviously helps, but who doesn't like hitting that shot and and you know, hitting the the warp ramp shot if you like? And I mean, you lock you lock the balls inside a grand piano for goodness sake. How cool is that? The light show on the side of the piano is awesome. Um I know a joke about a 6-in pianist. You got little Elton John there playing playing on the piano. Um that's really cool. The tiny dancer thing. I I could take it or leave it. Um reminded me of Sopranos actually. Uh that particular bit. But overall it's it's an incredible game. An incredibly addictive game as well. Um, and it feels it feels like show business. It it it does. And and that's right. Yeah. Cuz that's that's Elton John. He's a [snorts] the modernday Liberace in that sense, isn't he? You know, it is glitz and glamour and sparkle. And of course, he played Captain Fantastic. And And I don't feel for me, I'm a massive Who fan. If you watch other videos, you'll see there's Who stuff everywhere. I'm a massive massive Who fan. There's not too many bands, right, who make songs about pinball, right? So, the Who have made the pinball song, the iconic pinball pinball song. And of course, if you go and watch the movie Tommy, it's Alton John that's singing it. So, it's got Pinball Wizard in it. There is no better pinball song than Pinball Wizard. That that is it. That's the song that you want on a pinball machine. And you feel good when you're playing it. Um there's so crocodile rock. There's a lot of good music on there that has you tapping your your feet and and enjoying playing the game. And when this was announced, in many respects, it was the game that nobody wanted or nobody had asked for. And I remember doing a video I'll never forget. I will never forget this because there was outright internet abuse. I I did a did a video when I think it was the game might have been revealed at Texas, either Texas or Chicago. the game was revealed and I did a video saying this looks amazing. This looks great. This looks really, really good. I got, you know, nastiness, a lot of abuse from how can you say this looks good? People were angry in a way that I was really surprised me. So, there was a lot of push back. There was a lot of people who before they'd even played it were ready to hate on this game. So for it to perform as well as it has for the game to be as good you go back to expectation obviously it could only perform way better than than many thought it would you know and there's a lot of people saying remember a lot of people saying I don't want Elton John I don't like Elton John don't need Elton John game nobody asked for an Elton John game um which I always think is a is a bizarre thing in pinball which you don't just don't get it anywhere else If Ford bring out a new car, I don't sit there go, "Well, hold on a second. I didn't ask for a seven seat SUV. It's it's just a it's just a car for someone else, right?" So, it never particularly bothered me. What I did notice was once they started to land, once people had started playing Elton John, you realized people really enjoying it saying, "This is better than I thought this is." And then a lot of people saying, "Oh, I didn't know that song was written by Alton John. I know this song. That's a catchy song. So, it's got such a big back catalog that it was it was good. It was it was surprised a lot of people. It It's a really really good game. A really good game. And um yeah, I I do I miss it? Yes. Would I have it back? Yes. all of the questions that realistically anything at the probably from here upwards I would say yes to to all of those. Um, you know, I do miss it. I do have it back. I would have it back. It's got the pinball moments. Is it fun? Yes. Is it addictive? Yes. Um, and probably a really important one if you have non pinball playing people around your house, you know, friends and family that aren't into pinball, are those people going to want to play the game? And I I could I could do a whole video going through this whole list and talking about who's played what and, you know, Champion Pub would be would be the big one. Champion pub people want people want to play Champion Pub. Um, and that has to have some value. If you've got people around for a meal or a barbecue and you you'll know that if the people that are just not into pinball spend hours playing on a game, then that's a that's a good game. It might not be a good game for you. You might like a deeper rule set, but a pinball machine that could entertain people, but for hours is still a good pinball machine. And that was certainly the case with Elton John. Everybody enjoyed playing Elton John and pin heads and non-pin heads. And I think that's that's not an easy thing to do. Anything that goes up on this list is is controversial now, okay? Because everybody has got their own favorite games there. There, which is why I say this is my list and this is my personal taste and it is not done. I love the pinside top 100, but this this isn't it. This is this is my list based on how how much I miss a game, how much I I like a game, how much a game frustrates me, um how addictive a game might be, how much a game appeals to me basically. So, the more go on here, there'll be more people saying, "Hold on, how come that is above that? How come that is above that?" You are welcome to post your list in the comments below. By the way, um what I would say is probably wait until at least we got 50 on the board. I'm trying to get get through them. In fact, this is Yeah, this I've in the last last two weeks I put another five, six games on here. So, um yeah, that's something. Elton John. Um I'm gonna put it here. I'm going to put it above Godzilla and below Batman 66. Um, but I but I do think there's a lot here that's interchangeable in this group here. And I and I will interchange them. And I will because like like I've often said the the pit the best pinball machine is the one you're playing. And I do have a tendency Even if I've got five games in the house, you know, or something like that, I might have, you know, four games down here and one in the house. Granted, the one in the house gets played probably more. But I do tend to play I don't play one a game of each each day. I will tend to play one of those five games for two, three weeks, then I'll play another game. I just tends to be the way that I that I play pinball. And because of that, your favorite one will be favorite at different times. So, I mean, I mean, Cactus has moved up and down um on that list. And if if you're ever wonder if you're wondering, for instance, why Godzilla is down there with a lot of people's favorite ever game. I I love Godzilla. Just cuz it's there doesn't make it a bad game. Uh it really doesn't. My biggest problem with Godzilla is I can't hit the scoop shot. So, I it doesn't I'm very You need to hit the scoop shot and it opens up the whole game. Just not that good. I'm not that accurate. So, just a little bit too uh difficult for me. But, I I do enjoy it. you know, there's so much to to like about Godzilla. Um, and there are times when I do miss it. It's also quite a quite a long playing game as well. So, um, yeah, if you've got um unlike Fishtails below it, which is a short playing game if only got a little bit of time. I mean, there's a number of games I'm really looking forward to uh doing and putting on here. Um, I think particularly particularly looking forward to getting White Water uh done actually, but I need to get White Water back so I can do the video on it. Um, but yeah, that's uh that's cool. I will get June done soon because I want to get June done. Get the flippers on it. It's probably going to go out on rent. Um, rent June out. Um, so it' be nice to get that on there as well. Get um Evil Dead done as well. Neil kindly lent me Evil Dead, which is just a magnificent game as well. So, these are really good games going up there. And Beast Juice is coming very, very soon. So, you know, there's some really really great stuff and and there's there's more. There's far more besides. I think I've, you know, there's, it's a top 50. I'm so lucky that I've had over 60 games. Um, I think through this house because because of friends, lovely friends like dear Allen, who who we lost last year, who um Alan Adair, Happy Pin, who was, you know, just a massive part of the UK pinball community. He was always happy to to lend me games and he'd be he'd be looking down from above now, furious with me for saying such nasty things about Twilight Zone. Um, you know, lot honestly lots lots of friends. More than I can mention. My friend John's been a big help to the channel as well. Um, and obviously sponsor Pinball Heaven there who just, you know, continued to send me down uh games and um, you know, sort of looking forward to a new batch of games coming down from them in the very near future as well. So, we got some more going to be coming through this channel. And all I would want to say is I have heard what you have said. There's a number of people who have said I've had Venom twice, but I've had the Pro twice. And a lot of people have said, "You cannot you cannot compare the Venom Pro with the Premium or the LE." I hear you. I hear you. And I will try and sort it out. If I get the opportunity, apparently they are vastly better. So if I get the opportunity, I'll play it again. And if that's the case, then I will and it is a lot better. I will amend Venom accordingly. Right. Okay. Well, once again, I'm very very late with uh with saying um good morning, good afternoon, and good good evening. Uh, but I wish you a very very pleasant evening. Uh, thanks to everybody for watching the channel. Please stick a thumbs up on the video if you've enjoyed it. Um, even if you don't like where I've put Toy Story or Elton John, um, a thumbs up on the video massively helps. It just means when people are searching on the internet for pinball videos, this one this one might pop up near the top and that would be really really good for the channel. Um, I'll catch up with you next time.

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 69f229ca-b234-4cb7-aa21-ee9b2541ad4e*