# Spooky Pinball to Manufacture Pinballs **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2013-02-03 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/news/spooky.html --- ## Analysis Charlie Emery announces the founding of Spooky Pinball LLC in February 2013, transitioning from podcast host to pinball manufacturer. The company will produce small-batch, LCD-free machines with classic design philosophy, self-funded with no pre-orders or crowdfunding, starting with an original zombie-themed game featuring modern aesthetics and irreverent humor. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Spooky Pinball will manufacture games in small batches of 25 units with 50% deposit and 60-day shipping — _Charlie Emery's announcement on Spooky Pinball podcast, reported by Pinball News_ - [HIGH] First Spooky Pinball game will be an original zombie theme with modern aesthetic, no LCD, classic pinball design focus — _Charlie Emery announcement describing game vision_ - [HIGH] Spooky Pinball will be self-funded with no pre-orders or crowdfunding — _Charlie Emery statement about funding model_ - [HIGH] Spooky Pinball will handle its own printing and have in-house capabilities for art, metal fabrication, plastics, cabinets, playfields, and programming — _Charlie Emery's explanation of company resources and partnerships_ - [HIGH] Charlie Emery will work with Ben Heck, Dennis Nordman, and others on Spooky Pinball games — _Charlie's announcement about his development team_ ### Notable Quotes > "What we're going to offer are games at a great price that the average pinball guy can manage. They will look incredible, have plenty to do on the playfield, and have a fresh take on art and style that hasn't been seen in pinball before." > — **Charlie Emery**, Announcement on Spooky Pinball podcast > _Articulates Spooky Pinball's core value proposition: affordable quality with distinctive artistic direction_ > "We have no intentions of competing on a Stern or Jersey Jack level for sales numbers. We're going to build quality games and keep our small town roots firmly in place." > — **Charlie Emery**, Announcement on Spooky Pinball podcast > _Establishes Spooky's strategic positioning as boutique manufacturer prioritizing quality over volume_ > "We're going to do our best to streamline the entire process, and show a small company can produce games as well as anyone ever has." > — **Charlie Emery**, Announcement on Spooky Pinball podcast > _Demonstrates confidence in manufacturing capability despite small-batch model_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Charlie Emery | person | Founder of Spooky Pinball, transitioning from podcast host to pinball manufacturer | | Spooky Pinball | company | Newly founded pinball manufacturing company, announced February 2013 | | Ben Heck | person | Designer and engineer collaborating with Spooky Pinball; also developing Zombie Adventureland with John Popadiuk | | Dennis Nordman | person | Collaborator on Spooky Pinball games | | John Popadiuk | person | Co-developer of Ben Heck's Zombie Adventureland with Ben Heck | | Stern Pinball | company | Established manufacturer; Spooky Pinball explicitly not competing with on sales volume | | Jersey Jack Pinball | company | Established manufacturer; Spooky Pinball explicitly not competing with on sales volume | | Ben Heck's Zombie Adventureland | game | Competing zombie-themed game with retro 1950s/60s aesthetic, being developed by John Popadiuk and Ben Heck | | Spooky Pinball Podcast | organization | Charlie Emery's podcast that established his reputation for inventiveness and irreverence | ### Topics - **Primary:** Spooky Pinball founding and business model, First game design philosophy (zombie theme), Manufacturing strategy and supply chain - **Secondary:** Boutique vs. mass-market positioning, Design partnerships and team assembly ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Confident, ambitious founding announcement with clear vision and strategic differentiation. Charlie Emery projects optimism about resources, team capability, and market positioning. No negative sentiment detected. ### Signals - **[business_signal]** Spooky Pinball announced as new manufacturer with self-funded model and small-batch production (25-unit batches) (confidence: high) — Charlie Emery announcement: 'Another difference is how Spooky Pinball will not be taking pre-orders or trying to raise start-up funding. Instead, Charlie will fund the initial development and manufacture himself. He will make the machines in small batches of 25' - **[competitive_signal]** Spooky Pinball explicitly positioning as boutique manufacturer targeting quality and affordability rather than competing with Stern/JJP on volume (confidence: high) — Charlie: 'We have no intentions of competing on a Stern or Jersey Jack level for sales numbers. We're going to build quality games and keep our small town roots firmly in place.' - **[design_philosophy]** Spooky Pinball positioning as combining 'early '80s originality with '90s gameplay' with fresh artistic approach not seen in pinball before (confidence: high) — Charlie: 'Kind of a mix of early '80s originality with '90s game play... but we have no guides we have to follow.' - **[market_signal]** New entrant to pinball manufacturing market with distinctive small-batch, self-funded model contrasting with pre-order/crowdfunding approaches (confidence: high) — Explicit contrast: 'There are no pre-sales, no kickstarter pages... we'll build them out of our own pocket' - **[announcement]** First Spooky Pinball game announced as original zombie theme with modern aesthetic, no LCD, classic design focus with irreverent humor and stylized artwork (confidence: high) — Charlie will produce 'an original zombie theme, but different to the Ben Heck's Zombie Adventureland...a more modern look at zombies' with 'no LCD' and 'classic pinball design, with sexy women and plenty of earthy humour' --- ## Transcript Date: 3 February, 2013 Having built a reputation for inventiveness and irreverence with his Spooky Pinball podcasts, Charlie Emery has decided branch out in a new direction to design and manufacture his own pinball machines. Charlie Emery Charlie announced his intention on the latest Spooky Pinball podcast, and said he would be working with Ben Heck, Dennis Nordman, and many others to make his games under the Spooky Pinball LLC brand. The first of these games is to be an original zombie theme, but different to the Ben Heck's Zombie Adventureland currently being developed by John Popadiuk and Ben Heck. Charlie says his game will be a more modern look at zombies compared to BHZA's retro '50s/'60s style. Charlie also said his game will not feature an LCD and will be much more focused on classic pinball design, with sexy women and plenty of earthy humour in a completely different style of artwork package. Another difference is how Spooky Pinball will not be taking pre-orders or trying to raise start-up funding. Instead, Charlie will fund the initial development and manufacture himself. He will make the machines in small batches of 25 which will be sold with a 50% deposit taken at the time of order, and shipping taking place within 60 days. Pinball News asked Charlie why he decided to enter the increasingly crowded world of pinball making. He told us, "First and foremost, we've got incredible friends and support from people in the right places. Ben Heck, Dennis, Terry at Pinball Life, Michael at Flipper Fidelity, and a cast of locals that could build a rocket to Mars if the world would let them (and we might). Art, metal fab, plastics, cabinets & playfields, programming... it's all there. We'll be doing all our own printing as well." With the right people with the right skills, what, we wondered, will make Spooky Pinball's machines different from those produced by all the other companies now in the pinball manufacturing business? Charlie explained, "What we're going to offer are games at a great price that the average pinball guy can manage. They will look incredible, have plenty to do on the playfield, and have a fresh take on art and style that hasn't been seen in pinball before. Kind of a mix of early '80s originality with '90s game play... but we have no guides we have to follow. We won't reinvent pinball, we're just going to make games that are meant to be played by men that will act like teenagers every chance they get." He continued, "We have no intentions of competing on a Stern or Jersey Jack level for sales numbers. We're going to build quality games and keep our small town roots firmly in place. There are no pre-sales, no kickstarter pages... we'll build them out of our own pocket, and when you order a game, you'll have it in a timely fashion. That's it... We're going to do our best to streamline the entire process, and show a small company can produce games as well as anyone ever has." As always, Pinball News will keep you fully informed of all the latest developments with Spooky Pinball's exciting new move into pinball manufacturing. Back to the News page Like this page? Share it with your Facebook friends: Back to the front page _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 88e4b418-da55-4fcd-b85a-66736129a78e*