# Ben Heck to Begin Coding Spooky Pinball’s Next Next Game This Week

**Source:** Knapp Arcade  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2022-07-13  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/ben-heck-to-begin-coding-spooky-pinball-s-next-next-game-this-week

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## Analysis

Ben Heck announced on Pinside that he is beginning coding work on Spooky Pinball's next-next game this week. This signals that Spooky's immediate next release is likely far advanced in development. The move also potentially represents Ben returning to Spooky after discussions about him producing a game for Chicago Gaming Company.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Ben Heck is starting coding on Spooky Pinball's next-next game this week — _Ben Heck stated on Pinside directly_
- [MEDIUM] Spooky's next game is probably very far along in development if coding has already started on the one after it — _Article author inference based on typical development pipeline_
- [HIGH] Ben Heck has a long history of working with Spooky including America's Most Haunted, Rob Zombie's Spookshow International, and his own Bill Paxton homebrew — _Article states his past involvement with Spooky projects_
- [LOW] Ben Heck may have been the game that was going to be produced for Chicago Gaming Company, now potentially coming to Spooky instead — _Article speculates on potential project migration_

### Notable Quotes

> "he is starting coding on Spooky's next next game this week"
> — **Ben Heck (via Pinside statement)**
> _Official announcement of coding work beginning on Spooky's pipeline_

> "This is very interesting news on a couple of levels. First, it means that after being talked about for a while Ben is finally officially working with Spooky again."
> — **Knapp Arcade article author**
> _Confirms Ben Heck's return to Spooky after prior discussions_

> "Spooky's next game is probably very far along if coding has already started on the one after it"
> — **Knapp Arcade article author**
> _Inference about Spooky's development pipeline maturity_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Ben Heck | person | Inventor, engineer, modder, and pinball designer with long history at Spooky; beginning coding work on Spooky's next-next game |
| Spooky Pinball | company | Boutique pinball manufacturer with upcoming games in development pipeline |
| Chicago Gaming Company | company | Referenced as potential destination for Ben Heck project that may now go to Spooky instead |
| America's Most Haunted | game | Spooky Pinball game that Ben Heck worked on |
| Rob Zombie's Spookshow International | game | Spooky Pinball game that Ben Heck was significantly involved with |
| Bill Paxton | game | Homebrew pinball game by Ben Heck |
| Pinside | organization | Forum/community platform where Ben Heck made the announcement |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Spooky Pinball development pipeline and next releases, Ben Heck's return to Spooky Pinball after prior discussions
- **Secondary:** Coding and game development progress, Potential project migration from Chicago Gaming Company to Spooky

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.75) — Article presents the news as positive development for Spooky Pinball, indicating confidence in their development pipeline and that Ben Heck's involvement is viewed as beneficial. No criticism or negative framing present.

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** Potential project that may have been planned for Chicago Gaming Company is now coming to Spooky instead (confidence: low) — This may have been the game that Ben was going to produce for Chicago Gaming Company coming back to Spooky
- **[personnel_signal]** Ben Heck returning to work with Spooky Pinball after prior discussions/negotiations (confidence: high) — After being talked about for a while Ben is finally officially working with Spooky again
- **[product_strategy]** Spooky Pinball's next game is advanced in development if coding has already started on next-next game (confidence: medium) — Spooky's next game is probably very far along if coding has already started on the one after it

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## Transcript

Coding help is on the way for Spooky Pinball. A few minutes ago, the well known inventor, engineer, modder and pinball Jack of all trades Ben Heckendorn aka Ben Heck stated on Pinside that he is starting coding on Spooky’s next next game this week. Ben has a long history of working with Spooky. He was significantly involved in Spooky’s America’s Most Haunted, Rob Zombie’s Spookshow International and his own Bill Paxton homebrew pin to name a few.

This is very interesting news on a couple of levels. First, it means that after being talked about for a while Ben is finally officially working with Spooky again. And second, it means that Spooky’s next game is probably very far along if coding has already started on the one after it.

Last but not least, this may have been the game that Ben was going to produce for Chicago Gaming Company coming back to Spooky.

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: b919440e-c5d9-4e5e-bf46-a36c4f71e427*