# DEEPROOT OPENS RAZA ORDERS

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2020-12-10  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2020/12/10/deeproot-opens-raza-orders

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## Analysis

Deeproot Pinball officially opened orders for RAZA (Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland), their first commercial release, on December 8, 2020. The game is available in two models: Arcade ($5,899) and Xtra ($9,499, limited to 300 units), with the middle X Edition tier dropped. Orders were initially limited to a December 8-30 window, with full payment or deposit options available.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] RAZA is Deeproot Pinball's first release game after several years of development — _Official announcement from Deeproot Pinball via Pinball News_
- [HIGH] Xtra model is limited to 300 machines while Arcade is unrestricted — _Pricing and production details provided in announcement_
- [HIGH] Orders through Deeproot's website were only available between December 8-30, 2020 — _Explicit order window stated in article_
- [MEDIUM] Several distributors are understood to have signed agreements to sell RAZA beyond the December 30 deadline — _Article states 'several are understood to have signed agreements' — phrasing indicates unconfirmed information_
- [HIGH] Deeproot Pinball initially vowed not to take pre-order payments but changed policy to offer full payment or deposit options — _Direct statement about company's payment policy reversal_

### Notable Quotes

> "Although three RAZA models were initially announced – Arcade, X Edition and Xtra Edition, the middle option has been dropped, leaving buyers the choice of the Arcade or Xtra."
> — **Pinball News article**
> _Reveals product roadmap change, dropping middle tier simplifies purchasing decision_

> "Although Deeproot Pinball initially vowed not to take pre-order payments on their titles, full up-front payment is an option along with the alternative of paying a 10% (Arcade) or 20% (Xtra) non-refundable deposit instead."
> — **Pinball News article**
> _Documents policy reversal on pre-payment structure, indicates company adjusted business model_

> "The Xtra is also limited to 300 machines while the Arcade's numbers aren't restricted."
> — **Pinball News article**
> _Establishes scarcity strategy for premium tier, creating differentiation and FOMO_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Deeproot Pinball | company | Boutique pinball manufacturer launching first commercial game; operates at deeprootpinball.com |
| RAZA | game | Deeproot Pinball's first release; full title 'Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland'; available in Arcade and Xtra models |
| Robert Mueller | person | Head of Deeproot Pinball; gave interview to Pinball News and Pinball Magazine explaining company founding and game details |
| Pinbar | product | Lockbar-mounted screen component on RAZA; optional protector available for $90 |
| Pinpod | product | Collapsible wooden shipping container for RAZA; costs $950 (Arcade) or $550 (Xtra) as optional add-on |
| Martin Ayub | person | Pinball News representative who conducted joint interview with Robert Mueller |
| Jonathan Joosten | person | Pinball Magazine representative who conducted joint interview with Robert Mueller |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Product Launch & Pricing Strategy, Two-Tier Market Segmentation, Production Scarcity & FOMO
- **Secondary:** Distribution Channel Strategy, Payment & Order Policy, Manufacturing & Shipping Infrastructure

### Sentiment

**Neutral** (0.5) — Article is factual announcement coverage with no editorial opinion; presents product details objectively without praise or criticism

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** Multiple distributors have signed agreements to carry RAZA beyond initial direct-to-consumer order window, expanding market reach beyond website sales (confidence: medium) — Article states 'several are understood to have signed agreements' with distributors expected to offer orders after December 30
- **[manufacturing_signal]** Xtra model limited to 300 units (scarcity lever) while Arcade unrestricted, creating differentiation and premium positioning (confidence: high) — Explicit production limits: 'The Xtra is also limited to 300 machines while the Arcade's numbers aren't restricted'
- **[market_signal]** Deeproot reverses stated policy on pre-payment collection, now accepting full payment and non-refundable deposits (10-20% depending on tier) (confidence: high) — Article explicitly notes 'Although Deeproot Pinball initially vowed not to take pre-order payments... full up-front payment is an option'
- **[announcement]** Deeproot Pinball officially opens pre-orders for RAZA, first commercial release after multi-year development (confidence: high) — Direct announcement of order window December 8-30, 2020 with detailed pricing and specifications
- **[product_strategy]** Two-tier pricing model with exclusive features stratifying Xtra ($9,499, 300 units, floating backbox, moving Ned toy) vs Arcade ($5,899, unlimited) — classic premium tier scarcity strategy (confidence: high) — Detailed feature comparison showing exclusive elements in Xtra: floating backbox, additional speakers, illuminated side panels, moving toy
- **[product_strategy]** Product tier optimization: X Edition middle tier dropped between initial announcement and launch, simplifying two-tier structure (confidence: high) — Direct statement: 'Although three RAZA models were initially announced – Arcade, X Edition and Xtra Edition, the middle option has been dropped'

---

## Transcript

**Date:**
10th December, 2020
**Pictures:** Deeproot Pinball

After several years of development, [Deeproot Pinball](https://deeprootpinball.com/) have started taking orders for their first release game, *Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland* or *RAZA*.

[![The RAZA playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland/038-retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland-683x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland/038-retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland.jpg)

The RAZA playfield

Although three RAZA models were initially announced – Arcade, X Edition and Xtra Edition, the middle option has been dropped, leaving buyers the choice of the Arcade or Xtra.

[![The two models available to order](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland/043-retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland-1024x576.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland/043-retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland.jpg)

The two models available to order

The price of the Arcade model starts at $5,899 while the Xtra comes in at $9,499. Both have a range of optional extras available to purchase when ordering.

[![The Arcade model of RAZA](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland/027-retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland-614x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland/027-retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland.jpg)

The Arcade model of RAZA

The Xtra comes with most of the options pre-installed, while the Arcade can be upgraded with the same metalwork finish, neon rubber rings, shaker motor, playfield toys, lighting package, anti-reflective glass and topper.

[![The Xtra model of RAZA](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland/035-retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland-619x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland/035-retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland.jpg)

The Xtra model of RAZA

Adding all the extras brings the total up to around $7,900, but the Xtra model still includes a number of exclusive features such as the ‘floating’ backbox design, additional front speakers, illuminated cabinet side panels and the moving Ned toy on the playfield. The Xtra is also limited to 300 machines while the Arcade’s numbers aren’t restricted.

[![The Ned toy which shakes on the Xtra model](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland/032-retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland-963x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland/032-retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland.jpg)

The Ned toy which shakes on the Xtra model

Both the Arcade and the Xtra *RAZA* models have the option of a pre-installed protector for the lockbar-mounted Pinbar’s screen ($90) and a collapsible wooden shipping container dubbed the Pinpod ($950/$550 for the Arcade/Xtra). If ordered, the game will be shipped in the Pinpod rather than a cardboard box.

[![A screen protector is available for the Pinbar](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland/034-retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland-400x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland/034-retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland.jpg)

A screen protector is available for the Pinbar

Although Deeproot Pinball initially vowed not to take pre-order payments on their titles, full up-front payment is an option along with the alternative of paying a 10% (Arcade) or 20% (Xtra) non-refundable deposit instead. Paying in full gives priority when the games start shipping, while the top-end Xtra models are given priority over orders for the Arcade models.

[![Neon rubber rings are standard on the Xtra and an option on the Arcade](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland/039-retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland-683x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland/039-retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland.jpg)

Neon rubber rings are standard on the Xtra and an option on the Arcade

Orders through the [Deeproot Pinball website](https://deeprootpinball.com/shop/machines/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland/editions) are only being taken between 8th December and 30th December, 2020. Although no distributors have been announced, several are understood to have signed agreements and *RAZA* machines are expected to be available for order from them beyond the 30th December deadline.

Along with the on-line shop, [several videos](https://deeprootpinball.com/about/videos) showing *RAZA*‘s gameplay and features are now on the Deeproot Pinball site, along with a demonstration of the Pinpod, some promotional videos and the company’s head, Robert Mueller, giving his reasons for starting Deeproot Pinball.

Soon after the new website and ordering process launched, Robert spoke at length to Pinball News’s Martin Ayub and Pinball Magazine’s Jonathan Joosten to explain why the game is being made available now, when orders are expected to ship, how and where they will be built, and which titles are coming next, along with many other details of both the game and the company.

[![The interview with Robert Mueller](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland/044-retro-atomic-zombie-adventureland.jpg)](https://Chris Ancarrow.fm/pinball-industry-news/episodes/Bonus-PINcast-In-depth-interview-with-Robert-Mueller-of-Deeproot-Pinball-enjde8)

The interview with Robert Mueller

You can listen to Robert Mueller’s interview on the [joint Pinball News and Pinball Magazine podcast](https://Chris Ancarrow.fm/pinball-industry-news/episodes/Bonus-PINcast-In-depth-interview-with-Robert-Mueller-of-Deeproot-Pinball-enjde8), and Pinball News will be back soon with more information about Deeproot Pinball’s RAZA game.

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 7ba5b6ec-24b0-4c1f-9464-cf1b04ebfa84*
