# Pictures of Merlin's Magic, The Who and more Deeproot Pinball Prototypes **Source:** Knapp Arcade **Type:** article **Published:** 2022-03-12 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/pictures-of-merlin-s-magic-the-who-and-more-deeproot-pinball-prototypes --- ## Analysis Deeproot Pinball's upcoming bankruptcy auction is revealing prototype whitewoods of unannounced games, including one labeled 'Merlin's Magic' (reportedly a Jon Norris design based on 8 Ball Deluxe) and possibly The Who themed game. The auction photos show multiple prototypes in mismatched cabinets with unclear labeling, adding to the documentation of Deeproot's failed projects. ### Key Claims - [MEDIUM] Merlin's Magic was a Jon Norris design based on 8 Ball Deluxe's design — _Article states this 'supposedly' based on whitewood prototype labeled with the name_ - [LOW] Deeproot was rumored to be working on a The Who themed pinball game — _Article notes playfield 'may have been' for The Who game, never confirmed to have secured license_ - [HIGH] Multiple Deeproot designer whitewoods are appearing in the bankruptcy auction — _Article directly references pictures in Mel Davis auction listing showing whitewoods_ - [HIGH] Deeproot prototypes are in mismatched cabinets with wrong game names — _Article explicitly states 'whitewoods seem to be just slapped into random cabinets that have the wrong game names on them'_ ### Notable Quotes > "the upcoming Deeproot bankruptcy auction is the gift that keeps on giving in terms of interesting pictures to look at" > — **Knapp Arcade article author** > _Characterizes the tragic bankruptcy as revealing interesting prototype documentation_ > "Merlin's Magic was supposedly a Jon Norris design that was based on the classic game 8 Ball Deluxe's design" > — **Knapp Arcade article author** > _Documents alleged prototype design lineage and designer attribution_ > "The playfield in one of the other pictures with the van on it may have been for a pin based on The Who, which Deeproot was rumored to be working on but was never confirmed to have secured the license for" > — **Knapp Arcade article author** > _Highlights uncertainty about The Who game license status and prototype identity_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Deeproot Pinball | company | Boutique pinball manufacturer undergoing bankruptcy with prototype auction revealing multiple unfinished projects | | Merlin's Magic | game | Unannounced Deeproot prototype whitewood reportedly designed by Jon Norris, based on 8 Ball Deluxe | | The Who | game | Rumored Deeproot pinball game based on famous rock band; license status never confirmed | | Jon Norris | person | Reportedly designed Merlin's Magic prototype for Deeproot | | Mel Davis Auctions | company | Auction house conducting Deeproot bankruptcy asset sale, publishing prototype photos | | 8 Ball Deluxe | game | Classic pinball game that served as design inspiration/basis for Merlin's Magic prototype | | Knapp Arcade | company | Content source documenting and analyzing Deeproot bankruptcy auction findings | ### Topics - **Primary:** Deeproot Pinball bankruptcy and asset auction, Unannounced/prototype pinball machines, Whitewood prototypes and game design documentation, Merlin's Magic prototype design - **Secondary:** The Who pinball licensing, Deeproot designer and staff projects ### Sentiment **Mixed** (0.35) — Article expresses sympathy for investor/employee losses while framing auction documentation as entertainment/historical value. Tone is matter-of-fact with light criticism of photo quality. ### Signals - **[business_signal]** Deeproot Pinball bankruptcy auction reveals failed product pipeline including Merlin's Magic and rumored The Who game (confidence: high) — Multiple whitewood prototypes visible in auction listing showing designer work on unannounced games - **[leak_detection]** Prototype details and game names surfacing through bankruptcy auction photos (confidence: high) — Whitewood labeled 'Merlin's Magic' and potential The Who playfield appearing in Mel Davis Auctions listing - **[licensing_signal]** Uncertainty about The Who licensing status for Deeproot prototype; license acquisition never confirmed (confidence: high) — Article explicitly states The Who game 'never confirmed to have secured the license for' - **[product_strategy]** Evidence of Deeproot's planned product pipeline including games based on classic designs and major IP (confidence: medium) — Whitewoods show Merlin's Magic (8 Ball Deluxe-inspired) and The Who game development underway --- ## Transcript While obviously horrendously sad, both in terms of the money that investors lost and jobs that employees lost, the upcoming Deeproot bankruptcy auction is the gift that keeps on giving in terms of interesting pictures to look at. Mel Davis auctions slowly continues to add to the listing. This latest round of pics included a number of whitewoods that Deeproot designers were working on, including one that is clearly labeled "Merlin's Magic." Merlin’s Magic was supposedly a Jon Norris design that was based on the classic game 8 Ball Deluxe’s design. The playfield in one of the other pictures with the van on it may have been for a pin based on The Who, which Deeproot was rumored to be working on but was never confirmed to have secured the license for. All of these whitewoods seem to be just slapped into random cabinets that have the wrong game names on them, so who knows for sure what was what for sure. Good old Mel and his team might want to invest in a camera that has a few more megapixels, but the pics are interesting nonetheless. https://mtdauctions.hibid.com/catalog/352536/mel-davis-auctions-232---deeproot/ _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: bfaf86b9-abba-4c99-942b-f7dbf5470346*