# Wait...what's happening this week?

**Source:** Don's Pinball Podcast (patreon feed)  
**Type:** podcast_episode  
**Published:** 2024-09-12  
**Duration:** 16m 11s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.patreon.com/posts/wait-whats-this-111896848

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## Analysis

Don from Don's Pinball Podcast discusses his upcoming visit to Stern Pinball factory and Jersey Jack Pinball headquarters in the Chicago area, his plans to order James Cameron's Avatar (Limited Edition), and his anticipation of playing the new X-Men machine. He also shares updates on personal projects including Star Wars toppers, business expansion plans, and attempts to sell The Big Lebowski Pinball from his collection.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Jersey Jack Pinball headquarters is located approximately nine minutes walk (three blocks) from Stern Pinball factory in the Chicago area — _Don speaking about his realization after being at Stern factory and noticing McDonald's proximity to both facilities_
- [MEDIUM] James Cameron's Avatar (Limited Edition) is selling out everywhere and Limited Edition machines are the 'one to get' — _Don's commentary on Avatar availability and edition desirability_
- [HIGH] Don sold The Big Lebowski Pinball to fund the Avatar (Limited Edition) purchase — _Direct statement: 'I had to sell The Big Lebowski Pinball to do it'_
- [MEDIUM] Custom Artblades (acrylic decals) are superior to foil Artblades and should become the standard for pinball machines — _Don's opinion comparing foil vs. acrylic decoration methods and advocating for adoption_
- [MEDIUM] Some operators avoid routing Jersey Jack Pinball and Spooky Pinball machines due to past problems — _Don's statement about operator preferences and reliability concerns with non-Stern manufacturers_
- [HIGH] Don produced and sold 5 Star Wars toppers immediately through word-of-mouth with plans for future runs of 5-10 units — _Don discussing his custom topper production model and sales success_
- [HIGH] X-Men machine features ramps, sentinel shot, Flintstones ramp, and pretzel ramps with 'Jack Danger room' area — _Don's description of X-Men playfield elements after watching gameplay reveal stream_

### Notable Quotes

> "Jersey Jack Pinball is like a nine minute walk from Sam Stern Pinball Inc. factory. It's like three blocks over. Like what the Ben Heck man? All the production facilities are like right in the same The Place."
> — **Don**, mid-episode
> _Reveals proximity of major pinball manufacturers' facilities and Don's surprise at discovering this_

> "I think it gonna be like alien but Bob Bob Betor right it looks like alien but The game is a bit More Brewing Company ramps, right?"
> — **Don**, mid-episode
> _Don comparing Avatar to Alien theme with emphasis on ramp-heavy gameplay_

> "Jersey Jack Pinball does like the best animations. They do the best light shows. Bar none."
> — **Don**, mid-episode
> _Don's assessment of JJP's strengths in animation and lighting design_

> "I know operators love Sterns. I know a lot of operators that don't want to route a Jersey Jack Pinball because they've had problems in the past. I know people that don't want to route Spooky Pinball for the same reason."
> — **Don**, later in episode
> _Don discussing operator confidence in Stern vs. reliability concerns with other manufacturers_

> "I've got ideas. What I need is time. And I may need to delegate some tasks so we can make them happen."
> — **Don**, late episode
> _Don expressing plans for business expansion and delegation of content/operations tasks_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Don | person | Host of Don's Pinball Podcast, content creator, collector, custom topper maker, Patreon-supported media producer |
| Jon Hey | person | Mentioned as Wormhole Pinball podcast co-host, connection with Connor at JJP regarding Friday event |
| Jack Danger | person | Designer of X-Men pinball machine, referenced in context of playfield areas and design |
| Retro Ralph | person | Content creator mentioned as potential collaboration partner for Don's podcast projects |
| Ryan Barry | person | Host of PhantomTilt Podcast from Australia, mentioned as recently acquiring a limited game |
| Stern Pinball | company | Major pinball manufacturer, factory tour location in Chicago area, known for operator preference and reliability |
| Jersey Jack Pinball | company | Premium pinball manufacturer releasing James Cameron's Avatar (Limited Edition), headquarters in Chicago area vicinity of Stern |
| Spooky Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer mentioned in context of operator concerns and reliability issues |
| James Cameron's Avatar (Limited Edition) | game | Jersey Jack Pinball game being released, Don has pre-order, planning to visit factory to play before receiving his unit |
| X-Men | game | Stern pinball machine designed by Jack Danger, recent gameplay reveal watched by Don, features complex playfield with ramps and sentinel shots |
| The Big Lebowski Pinball | game | Game in Don's collection that he sold to fund Avatar purchase, currently being marketed for sale with custom modifications |
| This Week in Pinball | organization | Pinball media outlet mentioned in context of awards and industry coverage |
| Elton John | game | Jersey Jack Pinball game that Don expects Avatar to resemble in terms of cabinet design and animations |
| Foo Fighters | game | Stern Pinball game referenced by Don in comparison to his enthusiasm for Avatar theme |
| Game of Thrones | game | Mentioned as game Don plays, Premium version referenced in discussion of personal collection |
| Custom Pinball | organization | Facebook-based source for custom Artblade decals that Don recommends for pinball cabinet customization |

### Topics

- **Primary:** James Cameron's Avatar (Limited Edition) - Release and Don's purchasing decision, Stern Pinball factory tour and Chicago area venue logistics, X-Men pinball machine - Gameplay observations and design features
- **Secondary:** Operator preferences and manufacturer reliability in commercial settings, Custom modifications and aftermarket parts (Artblades, toppers), Don's business expansion and content production scaling, Secondary market sales and trading in pinball collecting
- **Mentioned:** Jersey Jack Pinball location and facility proximity to Stern

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.78) — Don expresses enthusiasm about upcoming factory visit, Avatar machine, and X-Men gameplay. Generally positive about pinball industry and community. Some minor frustration about time management and business scaling challenges, but overall tone is optimistic and excited about near-term activities.

### Signals

- **[product_launch]** James Cameron's Avatar (Limited Edition) from Jersey Jack Pinball is being released with Limited Edition editions reported as 'selling out everywhere' (confidence: high) — Don's statement about availability and his decision to order; announcement of Friday event at JJP factory for Avatar reveal
- **[announcement]** Jersey Jack Pinball event scheduled for Friday (day after Avatar release) with factory access and gameplay opportunity at Connor Theatre of Magic location (confidence: high) — Don's detailed description of Friday event logistics developed 'over the last 12 hours' with Jon Hey connection
- **[product_concern]** Operators express concerns about reliability and routing difficulties with Jersey Jack Pinball and Spooky Pinball machines compared to Stern products (confidence: medium) — Don stating: 'I know a lot of operators that don't want to route a Jersey Jack Pinball because they've had problems in the past'
- **[design_innovation]** Custom Artblades (acrylic-based decals) gaining traction as superior alternative to foil Artblades for pinball cabinet customization (confidence: medium) — Don's advocacy: 'Much Bob Bob Betor than a foil Artblade. This needs to be the standard.'
- **[collector_signal]** Limited Edition variants of pinball machines significantly more desirable than other tiers, with Avatar LE specifically noted as 'the one to get' (confidence: medium) — Don stating Avatar LE 'selling out everywhere' and expressing his preference for LE over Premium
- **[gameplay_signal]** X-Men machine features multiple complex ramps (Flintstones ramp, pretzel ramps) and dedicated 'Jack Danger room' area; Sentinel shot prominent design element (confidence: high) — Don's detailed playfield analysis after gameplay reveal stream viewing
- **[content_signal]** Don planning to scale content production with video editor hire, website frontend person, and potential in-house print shop for merchandise (confidence: high) — Don's statements about hiring family members and business infrastructure investments
- **[market_signal]** Secondary market activity around The Big Lebowski Pinball with Don offering discounted pricing to Patreon members as incentive (confidence: high) — Don's marketing of used Big Lebowski with custom mods, topper, and special pricing for subscribers
- **[business_signal]** Don's Star Wars toppers sold out in 5 units through word-of-mouth, indicating strong demand for limited custom pinball merchandise (confidence: high) — Don: 'Sold out immediately. I've got plans to make another 5 that will be even Bob Bob Betor.'
- **[venue_signal]** Stern Pinball and Jersey Jack Pinball manufacturing facilities located within walking distance (approximately 9 minutes/3 blocks) in Chicago area (confidence: high) — Don's discovery that McDonald's visible from both facilities' locations and geographic proximity

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## Transcript

 Well hey there, campers, how you doing? It's time for the bonus show with Don. We recorded an episode today, let's do a little Patreon get at me. I'm your host Don from Don's Pinball Podcast, you know the one, you subscribe every week, lucky subscriber! $5 a month gets you in the door, $20 a month gets you more. Still working on that catchphrase and everybody. I thought I would do a little episode of so what's really going on this week? A Connor Tom Cronwell from JerseyJackpinball saying hey let's do an event on Friday the day after the Jersey Jack release of Avatar and reveal and we'll get everybody down here to play it. It's the Stern FactoryTour part duh! This time literally around the corner at Jersey Jack Pinball so this is all developed over the last 12 hours or so and I'm not gonna fill people in I'm gonna be kind of cagey about the Stern part of it because I have not mentioned that at all online none of the normies the general public they're not have access to this and I I'm very frankly, I don't think anybody else is gonna be there. So here's how it all went down. Well this game show music in the back I gotta make sure I keep this going So I had reached out to my buddy Zach Sharpe over there at Stern pinball is the Multimedia and marketing part of the everything over there early. He's part of it He's the one that reached out to me originally about that Stern tour We all know the drama that went down subsequent to that for the John wick release, but it was still a great idea and so I had reached out again in anticipation of the Polski illustrated in thing kids candidate instruction reasons that wasn't available could be accommodated there's no question that destructive Νok Idc threatened so he reached black macht last night and say they do not last weekend workout but I'm gonna be around here I can talk to the team maybe we can get you in there and buddy I jumped at that chance now I already have an le on order I saw the gameplay reveal stream now after the recording and yeah I was expecting the game to flow a little bit better and I really had no expectations of what the music was gonna be other than I wanted that classic x-men theme and so it's a little bit different than my pre-built expectations which how could it not be still hype on the game though I can't wait I'm gonna go play it tomorrow I already won I know I want it. Ellie's the one to get. Selling out everywhere. Gotta go on something. Let's go on it. The fact that it happened to line up with my yearly work bonus, a little serendipity there, you know, dipped in. Now publicly I decided to have some fun with this and say that I ordered not one but three of these titles. Now the reason, the thing behind that is I had been kicking around this idea of taking the premiums that I buy that I make over and get them out to somebody. This Week in pinball 할�eremy Ummm hmmm hmmmm, a psychopath membしか, a roaminguka, R intrude And I waiting on some powder coat samples to come in so I can match that armor cuz I gonna have the le I be able to do that and Then my other customer wants to pick one up from the later run So this will probably be in 2025 So it not like I shelling out 30 grand for machines right now Just a horde like like I like I some miserly hoarder troll playing pinball in my smog dungeon no I did splurge and get something that I think will be fun and at least hold enough value that I could sell it on down the road but I like this theme I like it more than Foo Fighters I like what they kicking I want to play in the danger room and I want to grow with this game code so so I fine with that fine with that I had to sell Lebowski to do it but that what we doing nuetuex audiobook tuioas Pope shows 🎵 Rewind 🎵 Evileneудьhootntly 🎵 Synergy cache Tim, Now that say hey mate Hindu on IG folks I'm Sam Howdyes What up yall Over on me climbed mica, I'm always olive Allaysvcg Пока I got here somedays Winter condemn the of WPPRура link in the description below which means it didn't unch that I Out This week in Pinball, Johnny Pneumonic, Black Water, Kaneda's Pinball Podcast, Twippies Awards, I'm gonna fake it until I make it in the door and I'm gonna play for all of you guys. I'm gonna let you know what I think of the game. Don, what do you think so far? Well, X-Men, it looks fun. I like the shots. I love the ramps and the ball pass. I just, I want that. Yeah, it looks fun to hit the sentinel. I love that shot across the playfield into the Flintstones ramp to the danger room. I'm just gonna play down there, man. That's gonna be my home. I'm gonna hang out down there. I'll throw the ball up to the pretzel ramps and then I'm gonna play back in the danger room. And we're gonna have fun with it. The modes look interesting. I didn't want to like spoil myself too much. This is a game that I'm gonna get to play soon. So I wanted to have the first play be in my game room. But hey, who can turn down stopping over at Stern? I never realized this. Because I've been to the Stern factory a few times. Jersey Jack is like a nine minute walk from the Stern factory. It's like three blocks over. Like what the heck man? All the production facilities are like right in the same place. It's nuts. I guess you know it makes sense but Yeah so I get to go to Jersey Jack for the first time Unbeknownst to me when I was at the Stern tour I got up the next morning went and got some breakfast real quick and I went to a McDonald it was right down the street from the Stern factory turns out that McDonald is also on the cross street for Jersey Jack Pinball I could have looked down from the drive and it was probably staring at the sign for Jersey Jack Pinball without realizing it holy crap I should do some more research before I go do these things Don what do you think Avatar is gonna be like I think it gonna be like alien but better right it looks like alien but The game is a bit more ramps, right? It's got that space theme, there's aliens in it, right? And you're playing as them, I guess, and fighting the humans. And it's got some smurf elements. But it looks like that kind of like spacey kind of game. I think it's going to be essentially a clone of Elton John as far as the cabinet goes. The radcals, back glass, big screen, cool animations. Jersey Jack does like the best animations. They do the best light shows. Bar none. And they're putting radcals on the cabinets. Please! Can we get there? I love what the foil decals maistas iamblee combinations êtesgesiş taglist f Dramaxosに databasees lasliehtmaw mountinghaorhантyeftoisgž出来저 söz기 Sara harf mớine NEWLYWOOD Ergeb물를 пят lautucks� Between weekday sabthat Ch deity oad เตries지 ASTART Pl Hurle 5 I I'm gonna order some from my WWE, but if you want some Artblades, go check out Custom Pinball on Facebook. Doodle shit, I got them in my big Lebowski. They look frickin' amazing! Cuz, I mean, they're like acrylic, right? Like plexiglass, but printed on there? Feels like a Radcal? It's got a gloss to it? Much better than an Artblade. Much better than a foil Artblade. This needs to be the standard. We need to get there. Homeboy's doinit, killinit, love it. So, Avatar for me, still kind of a B theme. I'm not super excited about it. It's, you know, fairly mainstream. Whatever. It's not Raiders of the Lost Ark or Star Wars or Goonies or Ghostbusters. But I think it'll be fun. Do I want to get one? I don't know. I want to get an Elton John after I played it. So I'll probably want to get an Avatar after I play it. Will I actually get one? Probably not. Stern's kind of in that sweet spot. I know what I'm going to get. I know when I'm going to get it. I know their reputation in the industry. I know operators love Sterns. I know a lot of operators that don't want to route a Jersey Jack because they've had problems in the past. I know people that don't want to route Spookys for the same reason. Tom Sladelíamosulfni bawtapolis, kantr Came últimos,riersn presenter Fla layer, bleefewth, unarOkaym, tcoogsmbis designation sankげ Anyway, so I feel confident with my sterns. Still trying to move my big Lebowski. I'm having some nibbles. Some tire kickers are coming by. I think it'll come up. Now you're on my Patreon, so you're a homie. So if you want this game, I'll cut you a sweet deal that I will not offer to somebody off pin side. Hell of a game. Got acrylic art blades in it. Got a doobie mod. Got the rug. Looks great. Little bit of rust on the front legs. I'll replace them for you. No big deal. Comes with a topper and I've got an electric playground topper as well. Still new in box. I was thinking maybe I might sell the game so I didn install the topper yet Plus I have a friend that just got a Bowski and he really wants it But if I can sweeten the pot by working a deal to include that new and box top I think sold out and only made 100 of them And this is number 100 of 100 I personally asked for that one Anyway if you want the full Lebowski it right here and it under 12k Or best offer make an offer right Oh my god this is gonna be nuts man The next two days I don know if I going to do another supercast I trying to locate all my microphones I have no idea where all my equipment is The past couple months have been just a blur of Out of travel and work and trying to make content. Making Star Wars toppers and shipping them out. Man, that went great. I came up with 5 of them. Sold out immediately. I've got plans to make another 5 that will be even better. And I don't know if I'll ever announce them. I don't know if I'll ever advertise them. Because these 5 I sold by word of mouth to a couple of people like instantly. I can't get 100 orders out. That will be my full time job for 3 months. Miserable. But I can make 5-10 at a time. Maybe I'll do another run of 10. Oh man, it's awesome. So, here we are. Here's the state of pinball where it is. Here's what's going on the next 36 hours. If I can find the rest of my microphones, I'll throw everything in the car. It's getting late, I gotta get to bed. I gotta be down there at noon tomorrow for the stern visit. I can't believe I played X-Men tomorrow. They're not even leaving the factory yet. I wonder what the heck, what the heck was Jack Danger wearing in his little singlet there, in his cyclops singlet? Did he take a t-shirt and stuff it down his pants? What the heck was that bulge, man? My god. Hell of a hernia if that was anatomic. Game looks fun, man. Pinball's fun. We're having a good time. Jenkins is hitting me up for another WAP episode this weekend. I'll be able to do an episode having played the new game. How awesome is that? Maybe we'll get Retro Ralph on the horn too, he's been wanting to do some collabs. It's all fun in pinball man. Thanks so much for being a Patreon member, I know I've been dragging my feet on another giveaway. I've got the translites, I just need the time to sit down and get the livestream going and then ship the stuff out. I run it like 100%. The day runs out before I run out of energy and I have to go crash somewhere. There's only so many hours in the day. I'm actually looking at hiring some help. I had a couple family members that are looking for some gig work, so I might have like a video editor soon. I might have a website frontend person to run that. We can just keep expanding this stuff. I've got ideas. What I need is time. And I may need to delegate some tasks so we can make them happen. I'm thinking about getting an in-house print shop as well so we can do custom designs on shirts with quicker turnaround times and more selection of colors and sizes. How cool. So cool. So that's pinball. That's where we're at. Spooky's doing a tour tomorrow. I thought about going by there but I'm going to be in Chicago. I'll be driving back and forth. 3 hours from Benton to Chicago and then back to Benton, I gotta pick up Scott from Loser Kids, you see how my schedule gets full? This is craziness. On top of that I try to work as well. Don, how do you do it? I have no idea. This, this is how I do it. I don't know how I do it either. But thanks for joining. Hope you liked this little bonus episode. When I have more stuff to share, I'll pop on here and share it. I don't think I'm gonna get to play Metallica tomorrow. I know Ryan Barry from Australia, from the PhantomTilt Podcast, he just limite uncon likewise, I'm gonna get my ass to bed, I'm gonna crawl out early, and I'm gonna drive down to Stern. Thank you so much for joining your patronage, your friendship, and your family, and your confidence. And that five bucks, really appreciate it. Later. Oh John Wick you beast! I'm gonna go blow you up right now.

_(Acquisition: groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 834f8228-8f08-44a0-a23f-570dea8f4f02*