# THIS IS SPINAL TAP REVEALED

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2022-09-16  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2022/09/16/this-is-spinal-tap-revealed

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## Analysis

Homepin's This is Spinal Tap pinball machine debuted publicly at Pinfest in Newcastle, Australia on September 16, 2022, after months of development. The game features two stainless steel ramps with a lifting mechanism, three pop bumpers, drop targets, moving guitar toys, a pod ball-lock mechanism, and uses opto switches and Hall-Effect sensors for improved responsiveness. The backbox includes a 27-inch Marshall amplifier-themed LCD panel displaying movie clips alongside a traditional DMD, with an optional interactive topper featuring an animated jaw and illuminated eyes.

### Key Claims

- [MEDIUM] This is Spinal Tap price expected around US$9,500 in the United States — _Article states 'Exact pricing has yet to be announced by distributors, but is thought the game may be pitched at around the US$9,500 mark'_
- [HIGH] The game uses opto switches instead of rollover switches and Hall-Effect sensors for spinners — _Direct technical specification: 'Homepin use opto switches to sense the ball by shining an infra-red beam' and 'spinners use magnetic Hall-Effect sensors'_
- [HIGH] The backbox features a 27-inch Marshall amplifier-themed LCD panel — _Explicitly stated: 'The backbox features a large 27″ Marshall amplifier-themed LCD panel as well as a traditional LED dot matrix display'_
- [HIGH] Homepin had previously announced or leaked the 'exploding drummer' and 'pod' features before the public reveal — _Article states: 'Several of the features in the game had already been announced or leaked by Homepin including the exploding drummer and the pod'_
- [HIGH] Highway Games was the Australian distributor exhibiting machines at Pinfest — _Explicitly stated: 'Australian distributor, Highway Games, were exhibiting the machines at the show'_

### Notable Quotes

> "This is the first public reveal of the new title. Homepin had previously said that they would be relying on their distributors to publicise and promote the game."
> — **Pinball News article**, N/A
> _Establishes Homepin's distribution strategy and confirms Pinfest as the official debut venue_

> "Rather than using rollover switches in the inlanes, outlanes and top rollover lanes, Homepin use opto switches to sense the ball by shining an infra-red beam which is reflected back to a receiver when the ball is present."
> — **Pinball News article**, N/A
> _Highlights Homepin's technical innovation in playfield sensing technology_

> "Likewise, the game's spinners use magnetic Hall-Effect sensors to detect motion rather than a physical switch, leading to much smoother, lower-friction spins."
> — **Pinball News article**, N/A
> _Demonstrates Homepin's commitment to quality responsiveness and reduced wear in gameplay mechanics_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Homepin | company | Taiwan-based pinball manufacturer that developed This is Spinal Tap |
| Mike Kalinowski | person | Head of Homepin; provided permission for photos from Pinfest |
| Tony (Pinball_Syd) | person | Community member who posted pictures from Pinfest to Pinside forum |
| This is Spinal Tap | game | Homepin's licensed pinball machine based on the mockumentary film |
| Pinfest | event | Australian pinball convention in Newcastle where the game debuted on September 16, 2022 |
| Highway Games | company | Australian distributor of pinball machines; exhibited This is Spinal Tap at Pinfest |
| Pinside | organization | Pinball enthusiast forum where community discussion and photos were shared |
| Pinball News | organization | News outlet publishing this coverage of the This is Spinal Tap reveal |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Product Announcement / Game Reveal, Technical Specifications and Innovation, Homepin Manufacturing and Design, Playfield Mechanics and Features
- **Secondary:** Display and Multimedia Integration, Pricing, Distribution Strategy

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.85) — The article presents the game in a highly favorable light, emphasizing innovative technical features, quality construction, and thoughtful design choices. Detailed technical documentation and praise for internal build quality convey confidence and enthusiasm.

### Signals

- **[market_signal]** This is Spinal Tap anticipated to be priced around US$9,500, positioning as mid-market game (confidence: medium) — Article states: 'Exact pricing has yet to be announced by distributors, but is thought the game may be pitched at around the US$9,500 mark in the United States'
- **[announcement]** Official public reveal of This is Spinal Tap at Pinfest marking first showing of complete playfield after months of teaser images (confidence: high) — Article explicitly states: 'This is the first public reveal of the new title' and describes comprehensive playfield details with photos
- **[product_strategy]** Game includes optional interactive topper with animated jaw and illuminated eyes as premium cosmetic feature (confidence: high) — Photos and description of 'optional interactive topper which Mike from Homepin showed being boxed in the factory' with 'animated jaw and illuminated eyes'
- **[technology_signal]** Homepin employing opto switches instead of rollover switches and Hall-Effect sensors for spinners, representing innovation in responsiveness and durability (confidence: high) — Technical specifications detailed: 'opto switches to sense the ball by shining an infra-red beam' and 'magnetic Hall-Effect sensors to detect motion rather than a physical switch, leading to much smoother, lower-friction spins'

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## Transcript

Date: 16th September, 2022 After months of development and teaser images, Taiwan-based Homepin’s much-anticipated This is Spinal Tap game has debuted at the Pinfest show in Newcastle, Australia. Pictures from the show were posted by Tony (‘Pinball\_Syd’) on the Pinside thread about the game and are used with permission of Homepin head, Mike Kalinowski. ![The games at Pinfest in Melbourne](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/this-is-spinal-tap/01-this-is-spinal-tap.jpg) The games at Pinfest in Newcastle This is the first public reveal of the new title. Homepin had previously said that they would be relying on their distributors to publicise and promote the game. In this case, Australian distributor, Highway Games, were exhibiting the machines at the show. ![The game's playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/this-is-spinal-tap/07-this-is-spinal-tap.jpg) The game’s playfield Several of the features in the game had already been announced or leaked by Homepin including the ‘exploding drummer’ and the ‘pod’ but this is the first time the whole playfield has been seen. There are two stainless steel ramps on the left side of the game. The right-hand one has a lifter mechanism allowing shots to be made either up the ramp or underneath. The left ramp feeds, via a wireform, to the right inlane, while the right-hand ramp feeds to the left inlane when the ramp flap is down. ![There are two ramps, with the right one having a lifting entrance](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/this-is-spinal-tap/08-this-is-spinal-tap.jpg) There entrance There are three pop bumpers which can fed either from the top rollover lanes, or from a direct flipper shot. Three drop targets in the centre are matched by three A-M-P standup targets on the lower right side. ![The standup targets on the right](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/this-is-spinal-tap/10-this-is-spinal-tap.jpg) The standup targets on the right Above these targets are two guitars, with the lower one being able to move when the targets are hit. To increase illumination levels on the playfield, there are ‘Arena Lighting’ LED strips running down the inside of the cabinet, as you can see in the image above. ![We know where that goes!](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/this-is-spinal-tap/12-this-is-spinal-tap.jpg) We know where that goes! The guitar theme is replicated on the left side of the playfield where Derek Smalls’ double-neck bass is featured. ![Derek Smalls' double-necked bass](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/this-is-spinal-tap/11-this-is-spinal-tap.jpg) Derek Smalls’ double-necked bass The raised ‘pod’ mechanism is used to lock a ball which then has to be freed. The ball is fed by an upkicker on the main playfield level, and the pod opens to release it. ![The pod ball lock](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/this-is-spinal-tap/16-this-is-spinal-tap.jpg) The pod ball lock ![The pod mechanism](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/this-is-spinal-tap/15-this-is-spinal-tap.jpg) The pod mechanism As you would expect, the “goes up to eleven” theme appears several times in the game’s artwork, and if front and centre in the middle of the playfield too. ![That's one louder](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/this-is-spinal-tap/09-this-is-spinal-tap.jpg) It’s one louder Rather than using rollover switches in the inlanes, outlanes and top rollover lanes, Homepin use opto switches to sense the ball by shining an infra-red beam which is reflected back to a receiver when the ball is present. Likewise, the game’s spinners use magnetic Hall-Effect sensors to detect motion rather than a physical switch, leading to much smoother, lower-friction spins. The backbox features a large 27″ Marshall amplifier-themed LCD panel as well as a traditional LED dot matrix display (DMD) flanked by illuminated speaker grilles. The LCD mostly shows clips from the movie, while the scoring and game-related information appears on the DMD. ![The game's two displays](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/this-is-spinal-tap/06-this-is-spinal-tap.jpg) The game’s two displays The game has an optional interactive topper which Mike from Homepin showed being boxed in the factory. ![The interactive toppers for This is Spinal Tap](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/this-is-spinal-tap/17-this-is-spinal-tap.jpg) The interactive toppers for This is Spinal Tap And this is how it looks, complete with animated jaw and illuminated eyes. ![The game's optional topper](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/this-is-spinal-tap/02-this-is-spinal-tap.jpg) The game’s optional topper Inside, the game is as neat and tidy as we would expect from Homepin, featuring both a switching power supply and a toroidal transformer for improved power handling. This is Spinal Tap also includes a shaker motor as standard. ![Inside the game's cabinet](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/this-is-spinal-tap/03-this-is-spinal-tap.jpg) Inside the game’s cabinet The computer board, stereo audio amplifier and driver boards are housed in the backbox, along with a knocker and, yes, a bell. ![Inside the backbox](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/this-is-spinal-tap/14-this-is-spinal-tap.jpg) Inside the backbox A flyer showing the playfield features has also been released. Here it is: ![The flyer front](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/this-is-spinal-tap/19-this-is-spinal-tap.jpg) The flyer front Exact pricing has yet to be announced by distributors, but is thought the game may be pitched at around the US$9,500 mark in the United States. We’ll update these details once firm prices have been announced. ![The flyer's back](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/this-is-spinal-tap/18-this-is-spinal-tap.jpg) The flyer’s back Many thanks to Tony for the pictures. We’ll have more from Homepin’s This is Spinal Tap game soon, so check back for the latest updates right here at Pinball News.

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: a8dcc1d5-0179-481a-aa2c-26b1c134ca64*