# Kotex interview (patreon exclusive) **Source:** Don's Pinball Podcast (patreon feed) **Type:** podcast_episode **Published:** 2023-09-14 **Duration:** 3m 40s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.patreon.com/posts/kotex-interview-89244182 --- ## Analysis Kotex, host of Kaneda's Pinball Podcast, delivers a deliberately provocative and satirical interview on Don's Pinball Podcast, making strident criticisms of Stern Pinball and Jersey Jack Pinball while advocating against purchasing pinball machines altogether. The interview is absurdist humor mixed with genuine critique, culminating in recommendations to invest in watches and Mazda Miatas instead of pinball. ### Key Claims - [LOW] Stern Pinball games are worse in quality than machines from 60 years ago — _Kotex, opening statement about Stern's output quality decline_ - [LOW] Every Jersey Jack Pinball game except Pirates of the Caribbean is lackluster — _Kotex, directed at JJP, appears hyperbolic and satirical_ - [LOW] Guns N' Roses has the greatest theme integration of any pinball machine ever — _Kotex, contradicted immediately by joke that the machine stays in cardboard box unplayed_ - [LOW] Mazda Miata is more fun than any pinball machine available for purchase — _Kotex, satirical preference statement_ ### Notable Quotes > "Stern Pinball makes games that are terrible. They're not as good as they were 60 years ago and they're not making what they need to make now." > — **Kotex**, early > _Opening critique setting satirical tone of interview_ > "Stern, that what you're putting out is garbage. You need to hire better designers." > — **Kotex**, early > _Direct criticism of Stern's design talent and product quality_ > "Wait and see. Don't ever buy any pinball machine. Just sit and wait." > — **Kotex**, mid > _Core satirical advice against pinball purchasing_ > "Guns N' Roses is the greatest theme integration of any pinball machine ever. It's so theme integrated that it's staying inside of its cardboard box and I never actually going to play it." > — **Kotex**, mid > _Contradictory praise/criticism revealing satirical intent_ > "The Mazda Miata is more fun than any pinball machine that you can possibly buy. And it has so much leg room for me inside of it." > — **Kotex**, mid > _Humorous deflection from pinball to automotive alternative_ > "You people buying pinball, you're stupid. The watch people, they're big brain smart." > — **Kotex**, end > _Final satirical dismissal of pinball hobby investment_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Kotex | person | Host of Kaneda's Pinball Podcast, Twippies Associated Podcaster, interviewee making satirical critiques of pinball industry | | Don | person | Host of Don's Pinball Podcast, interviewer conducting conversation with Kotex | | Stern Pinball | company | Target of Kotex's primary criticism regarding game quality and designer hiring | | Jersey Jack Pinball | company | Secondary target of Kotex's criticism, described as worst company in pinball with lackluster games | | Kaneda's Pinball Podcast | organization | Podcast hosted by Kotex, associated with Twippies awards | | Pirates of the Caribbean | game | Jersey Jack Pinball game singled out by Kotex as sole exception to negative JJP assessment | | Guns N' Roses | game | Stern Pinball game praised by Kotex for theme integration while being critiqued as unplayed in box | ### Topics - **Primary:** Stern Pinball game quality and design, Jersey Jack Pinball product quality and business practices, Pinball purchasing decisions and market value - **Secondary:** Theme integration in pinball games, Alternative hobbies and investments (watches, cars) ### Sentiment **Negative** (-0.75) — Kotex delivers sustained criticism of major manufacturers (Stern and Jersey Jack) and actively discourages pinball investment. However, the tone is deliberately satirical and absurdist (contradicting himself about Guns N' Roses, recommending watches and Miatas instead), suggesting the negativity is performed humor rather than genuine industry analysis. Don's framing acknowledges this as 'alternative views' and notes the interview is intentionally provocative. ### Signals - **[sentiment_shift]** Kotex expresses strong negative sentiment toward Stern Pinball's current product quality relative to historical standards and criticizes their designer hiring (confidence: medium) — Stern makes games that are terrible, not as good as 60 years ago, garbage output - **[sentiment_shift]** Kotex delivers scathing assessment of Jersey Jack Pinball as 'probably the worst company in pinball' with only Pirates of the Caribbean as exception (confidence: medium) — Every one of your games you have made is lackluster. Every one of them. You made not one good thing. - **[community_signal]** Kotex established as recognized podcast personality with Patreon following and merchandise (stickers), associated with Twippies awards ecosystem (confidence: high) — Twippies Associated Podcaster reference, Don mentions being big Kotex fan with stickers, Patreon mention at end - **[market_signal]** Satirical but explicit advice against purchasing pinball machines as investment, advocating wait-and-see approach (confidence: medium) — Don't ever buy any pinball machine. Just sit and wait. - **[industry_signal]** Criticism of design talent at both Stern and Jersey Jack, with implications about quality of new game output (confidence: low) — You need to hire better designers, You don't have good designers --- ## Transcript Alright, well, next up we do have an interview with Twippy Associated Podcaster Kotex's Pinball Podcast. He's here. Kotex the person, man. What's going on in the pinball world, buddy? Alright, alright, alright. What's up everybody? Kotex Pinball Podcast here. And I'm gonna be strident for a minute when I talk about these worlds under glass that we need to get back to in pinball. Stern Pinball makes games that are terrible. They're not as good as they were 60 years ago and they're not making what they need to make now. Now, I'm going to be strident and I mean it when I say it, Stern, that what you're putting out is garbage. You need to hire better designers. Well, geez Kotex, that is a pretty, I guess, strident. Is that the word? Does that mean what you think it means? Anyway, the interesting take on the hobby and how you feel about Stern Pinball, but I mean, what do you think about the market overall? What's your take? Okay, I mean this when I say it. Wait and see. Don't ever buy any pinball machine. Just sit and wait. Just sit and wait. Watch the money direct deposited to your checking account while you sit and you wait instead of playing pinball. It's like what I've been saying. Well, I mean, I do listen to your podcast, buddy, and I'm a big Kotex fan. I mean, I've got Kotex stickers, you know, all over my underwear drawer. But, you know, what would you say from, you know, other companies competition for Stern, let's say, like Chicago's own Jersey Jack Pinball? Okay, I'm going to talk directly stridently to JJ Pierre. You are probably the worst company in pinball and you're wasting Mukesh's cash. Every one of your games you have made is lackluster Every one of them You made not one good thing You don have good designers Except for Pirates of the Caribbean which you need to run again What is wrong with you Am I the only one saying this Also Guns N Roses CE is the greatest theme integration of any pinball machine ever It so theme integrated that it staying inside of its cardboard box and I never actually going to play it It is amazing Okay well obviously you have a diverse level of interest You know what other sorts of things is Kotex doing for fun lately The Mazda Miata is more fun than any pinball machine that you can possibly buy And it has so much leg room for me inside of it It the most fun you can have I love it Oh, sure. Yeah, I mean, I can I can see that, you know, I should drive them around when I was a teenager, I suppose. Any other words for your your fans and maybe listening there? Alright, alright, alright. Where are the stars? Where are the stars? Bring the stars, people. Come on. I need to get stars to get sushi and omegashi. I need the stars. I need begging for stars. Give me stars. If you don't give me stars, you are part of the problem. You are JJP if you're not giving me stars. Okay, well, we don't have to wonder, you know, what you're looking at. Now, if people want to come and join you or meet up in public, like what sort of activities or something could someone expect with an afternoon with Kotex? I'm going to tell you what we are going to do. You come out to New York, I'm going to take you out on the town. We are going to go down to Battery Park. We are going to buy some bootleg Gucci women's clothes. Cheap. I'm going to show you where I shop so you can have the fresh flex that I have here. Alright, well this has been extremely riveting. Let me just cut to the chase and get to any final words and thoughts you may have for the audience out here. Okay, okay, okay, okay. So here's the bottom line. Do not waste any money on pinball. Put that money directly deposited into your account. Waste your money on overpriced tourist trap Caribbean vacations where you'll be taken advantage of by people that are taller than you. Also, be sure to buy watches. Watches are the best investment that you can make. Look at this flex on my arm. This makes much more sense. You people buying pinball, you're stupid. The watch people, they're big brain smart. Thanks for joining us so much here on Don's Pinball Podcast. We welcome all alternative views that may exist, however they may be taken. Thanks very much for joining us and follow this guy out on his Patreon if you are that incredibly bored. Alright, thanks! _(Acquisition: groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 74fe1dad-b888-4ecd-a370-7333fd35d919*