# 64: Important Lessons Learned

**Source:** Pinball Party Podcast  
**Type:** podcast_episode  
**Published:** 2024-03-06  
**Duration:** 39m 42s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://pinballparty.podbean.com/e/important-lessons-learned/

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## Analysis

Jon Papadiuk discusses key lessons learned from his years as a pinball enthusiast and content creator, including insights about gear acquisition (the hedonic treadmill of always wanting the next game), community dynamics (good and bad actors exist everywhere), equipment modifications, and the obsessive nature of pinball fandom. He reflects on obtaining Lord of the Rings and Tron, playfield experience at Disney World, and the reality that passion for pinball is fundamentally different from casual hobbies.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Tron at Disney's French Quarter Resort had a malfunctioning spinning disc that was registering false shots every five seconds — _Jon Papadiuk, describing his vacation experience at Disney World_
- [HIGH] Once you acquire a game you've been lusting after, you will eventually get sick of it and start looking for the next one — _Jon Papadiuk, articulating a core lesson from his collecting experience_
- [HIGH] The pinball community contains good and bad people, just like any other group, and he's been burned by trusting the wrong people — _Jon Papadiuk reflecting on interpersonal dynamics in the pinball industry_
- [HIGH] Manufacturers should include art blades as standard on all machines instead of leaving them as optional upgrades — _Jon Papadiuk, editorial opinion on game quality and pricing_
- [HIGH] Serious pinball enthusiasts are obsessed with the hobby in a way that differs fundamentally from casual hobbies — _Jon Papadiuk, concluding reflection on the nature of pinball fandom_

### Notable Quotes

> "The first lesson, and it remains true 100% of the time, including now. There's a game or two that I want to have. And then once you have it, there's something else."
> — **Jon Papadiuk**, mid-episode
> _Core thesis: the hedonic treadmill of pinball collecting—satisfaction is temporary and the desire for the next machine is inevitable._

> "I've done that. And I've trusted the wrong people. And I've gotten burned... don't fool yourself, please... it's just like anything else. There's good ones and bad ones."
> — **Jon Papadiuk**, mid-episode
> _Candid warning about the pinball community not being universally positive; acknowledges disillusionment with people in the industry._

> "Stern Pinball could you please and Jersey Jack Pinball but other companies do this more often just put Art blades in every single game. And up the price 100 bucks or whatever. Just put them in."
> — **Jon Papadiuk**, late-episode
> _Criticism of manufacturer strategy on cosmetic upgrades; suggests bundling as default rather than optional._

> "I'm fucking obsessed with it. I drive across the country, you know, cardboard lessons podcast... We Are Pinball. So when someone asks about hobbies or whatever... I don't talk about pinball with normies."
> — **Jon Papadiuk**, closing segment
> _Self-aware reflection on the intensity and social isolation of pinball obsession; frames it as fundamentally different from casual hobbies._

> "When I buy my pinball shit I buy from Flip N Out Pinball... When I think of pinball I think Flip N Out Pinball."
> — **Jon Papadiuk**, mid-episode
> _Explicit endorsement of Flip N Out Pinball, identifying them as his distributor of choice and noting the relationship includes sponsorship support._

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Jon Papadiuk | person | Host of Pinball Party Podcast, pinball enthusiast and content creator, discusses personal experiences with collecting and the industry |
| Zach Sharpe | person | Associated with Flip N Out Pinball operations and mentioned in sponsorship context |
| Nicole | person | Associated with Flip N Out Pinball operations (likely Nicole Meny) |
| Flip N Out Pinball | company | Pinball distributor and retailer; primary sponsor of Jon Papadiuk; provides trade-in services and shipping |
| Stern Pinball | company | Major pinball manufacturer; criticized for not including art blades as standard; referenced for cardboard box quality |
| Jersey Jack Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer; mentioned alongside Stern as not including art blades by default |
| Spooky Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer; mentioned in context of community diversity |
| American Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer; mentioned in context of industry workforce and company culture |
| Tron | game | Stern Pinball game played at Disney World resort; subject of detailed gameplay criticism regarding shot design and flipper feel |
| Lord of the Rings | game | Stern Pinball game; first game Jon lusted after intensely; acquired after sustained search; influenced his understanding of gear acquisition |
| Guardians of the Galaxy | game | Stern Pinball game; mentioned as played during Disney World vacation |
| Monster Bash | game | Referenced as game lusted after on used market for $5,500; example of transient desire in collecting cycle |
| Jurassic Park | game | Mentioned favorably for third flipper right-handed shot design; contrasted with Tron's unsatisfying flipper shots |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | game | Referenced critically for poor left-flipper shot feel; example of third flipper design criticism |
| Iron Maiden | game | Referenced favorably for left-flipper shot design feel |
| Black Knight | game | Referenced as example of fast, snappy flipper feel that Tron lacks; model Jon wishes Tron emulated |
| Deadpool | game | Mentioned as subject of deep dive content on Patreon |
| Star Trek | game | First pinball game Jon played; described as getting his 'beak wet' before Lord of the Rings obsession |
| Disney's French Quarter Resort | venue | Disney World location with two pinball machines; Tron arcade experience occurred here |
| Pinball Party Podcast | media | Jon Papadiuk's podcast; discusses release schedule (Tuesdays) and Patreon deep dives (Fridays) |
| Pinside | organization | Pinball community forum and ratings platform; referenced in context of selling games and community sentiment |
| Wisconsin Pinball forums | organization | Online community where Jon received advice about chasing games early in his hobby |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Gear acquisition and hedonic treadmill in collecting, Pinball community dynamics and interpersonal trust, The obsessive nature of pinball fandom vs casual hobbies
- **Secondary:** Playfield design and shot feel criticism (Tron vs other games), Manufacturer cosmetic upgrade strategy (art blades, fans), Equipment modification and customization culture, Job transition and life balance with pinball hobby
- **Mentioned:** Location pinball maintenance and venue quality issues

### Sentiment

**Mixed** (0.55) — Jon expresses genuine passion and enthusiasm for pinball but tempers it with hard-won cynicism about the community, industry, and the psychological reality of collecting. He's candid about burnout cycles and disillusionment with people, yet remains engaged and optimistic about the hobby's future. The tone is reflective and mature rather than purely negative or positive.

### Signals

- **[product_concern]** Tron machine at Disney's French Quarter Resort had malfunctioning spinning disc registering false shots every five seconds, impacting gameplay balance (confidence: high) — Jon detailed experience playing the game on vacation and noticing the disc multiball was triggering too frequently without actual shot hits
- **[design_philosophy]** Jon criticizes Tron's flipper responsiveness and shot design, particularly third flipper shots, contrasting it with games like Black Knight, Iron Maiden, and Jurassic Park (confidence: high) — Extended discussion of Tron lacking the snappy, fast flipper feel he prefers; specific critique of left-flipper shots feeling unsatisfying
- **[collector_signal]** Demonstrated pattern in pinball collecting where acquisition of coveted games leads to temporary satisfaction followed by pursuit of the next machine (confidence: high) — Jon articulated this as his primary lesson: Lord of the Rings satisfied him briefly before desire shifted to Monster Bash and then Tron; pattern repeated consistently
- **[market_signal]** Monster Bash remakes were available on used market for approximately $5,500 at time of discussion (confidence: medium) — Jon referenced this price point when describing his lust after Monster Bash following Lord of the Rings acquisition
- **[community_signal]** Jon acknowledges that the pinball community contains both trustworthy and untrustworthy individuals; warns against assuming universal positivity; notes he's been burned by trusting wrong people (confidence: high) — Jon explicitly stated: 'don't fool yourself, please... it's just like anything else. There's good ones and bad ones' and noted experiences with people at companies and in community being 'pure trash'
- **[product_strategy]** Jon advocates for manufacturers to include art blades as standard equipment rather than optional upgrades, suggesting a $100-150 price increase (confidence: high) — Extended critique of Stern and Jersey Jack not including art blades by default; suggests making them standard feature; exception noted for Jurassic Park's poor art blades
- **[sentiment_shift]** Jon's opinion of Tron shifted negatively during Disney World experience; while theme and aesthetics are strong, gameplay feel and shot design fell short of expectations (confidence: high) — Detailed discussion of how Tron's gameplay felt less compelling in person than anticipated; acknowledged high price on secondary market not justified by gameplay alone
- **[equipment_signal]** Jon discussed detailed logistics of pinball transport requiring specific cardboard pieces (3 pieces minimum) and extensive storage of Stern Pinball boxes for machine movement (confidence: high) — Extended discussion of needing full-length Stern cardboard sheets, cardboard for ground protection, cardboard between head and body, and hoarding of packaging materials
- **[content_signal]** Pinball Party Podcast shifting to new schedule: main episodes Tuesdays, Patreon deep dives Fridays, with frequency changing from weekly to bi-weekly due to Jon's new employment (confidence: high) — Jon stated: 'I plan to we plan to keep releasing those on Fridays and then the pinball party Proper on Tuesdays per usual' and noted realistic bi-weekly frequency
- **[personnel_signal]** Jon recently transitioned to new employment with a similar job title, maintaining financial stability while managing podcast production around new work schedule (confidence: high) — Jon opened episode discussing job transition, describing initial anxiety about losing salary and ability to afford pinball, followed by securing new position
- **[business_signal]** Flip N Out Pinball is primary sponsor of Pinball Party Podcast and provides trade-in services, shipping discounts, and business relationship support to Jon Papadiuk (confidence: high) — Jon stated: 'Do they give me a little help on it? Of course. What do you think? How do you think sponsorships work?' and discussed using their trade-in service to offset game costs
- **[community_signal]** Jon identifies pinball enthusiasm as fundamentally obsessive and different from casual hobbies, creating social barriers with non-pinball audiences ('normies') (confidence: high) — Jon concluded: 'I don't talk about pinball with normies' and noted concern about new employer reaction to pinball obsession, podcast, and business activities

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## Transcript

 Hey Jason, let's do a podcast. Hey, Math, starting a little early there. Jesus, uh, yeah, okay, let's do it. I got a joke for you. Alright, let's hear it, man. Knock knock. Who's there? Eat. Eat who? Eat shit. Oh, isn't that sweet, you little piece of garbage. Fucking go kill yourself. Welcome back to the Pinball Party Podcast. It's been a couple weeks. Two main things have kept the podcast from releasing last week. I guess three things. One being that we're going to be doing a podcast I'm John Papadiuk, and I'll see you next week. Learn what you should and should not know. Thank you for столько time indeed Those that did reach out saying, oh, you know, usually I landed back on my feet in a better place, you know, and when you're in it, you're like, get fucked. Are you serious? It sucks. The world's over. I'm going to die. And, you know, all the anxieties kick in from suddenly not having a salary that can afford you pinball machines. So roughly you get where that's at. And, uh, surprisingly, they're all right. Uh, so I have a new job with a similar title. I'll say. calculate DH only did it and what department terminar Nice Joseph. Detработ and Stanley Chlit Now, I'm gonna go outside and drive the fucking bejesus out of that thing, take corners at about 60, see if I can take them at 80, and yeah, have some all-wheel drive fun in Wisconsin when there's not even any snow. So, that's what I'm gonna do today. Thanks for spending some time listening to this, but this is about pinball. So, pinball. Before we get to the lessons, I guess maybe one lesson I learned about Tron. In Disney World, at the French Quarter Resort, if you stay in on, it's a Disney Resort Hotel. The French Quarter, my wife and I go to a lot. We love it. It's a little more adult themed, less 10 year olds pooping their pants everywhere and screaming. They have two pinball machines in their little arcade. The arcade is overall average for being a resort hotel. Above average because there's two pinball machines. And of course, because it's Disney, both pinball machines are . . . . It's 90% working. Everything works on it except for the spinning disc for the disc multiballs. It was registering shots that I didn't hit it. Well, two things. The little garage door in front of the disc. Let me take a step back. For any of those who are not super well versed in Tron like myself, there is of course the center shot that you hit the shit out of it to start a multiball. It has a gate that lowers after you hit it a couple of times and then Is your Tolko one? So, alright. However, I think the spinning disc was triggering false shots. So, basically, it was registering a shot all the time, like every five seconds. First couple games I played on resort, I didn't notice, but then I noticed. So, picture this. It's amazing. I'm on vacation in Disney World. I just signed a job offer, riding high. Please! I'm still very happy. So let me just spread that joy and make it very clear. Disclaimer. I'm in fantastic mood and I've been in a fantastic mood for a while. So again, stay tuned for that to crash. But then I start noticing that, wow, these disc multiballs in Tron are becoming far too easy. I don't remember hitting that shot many times. So I play the game anyways because I'm on vacation like, oh, well, while I'm waiting to go back to Epcot or whatever, let me play a couple games of Tron or Guardians of the Galaxy. Knapp Arcade, Ballerina quarterback FIFA or Timing and Subtitles by the Amara.org community Well, maybe it is. Playinging on location during vacation in a great mood, I guess I should have thought it's as great as the price might demand on the used market. I don't think it is as great or should demand that price aside from the rarity, the theme, the music. All the aesthetics of the game are incredible. It's not as fast as I think the game could be. I'm a fan of the upper left flipper, so the right ramp technically. I really don't like third flipper shots that are left-handed. I never have the most not satisfying left flipper shot, if that makes sense. It's probably Iron Maiden, that little guy. I don't know, that one just feels right. Turtles feels terrible, but I think Tron is a little... the gem shot is shit, but I think I think that is a little more forgiving in Tron, but I never want to hit that flipper. It just doesn't feel good. Unlike Jurassic Park, oh God, which is one of the best third flipper right-handed shots of all time. One of the, that and the warp ramp, right? But yeah, so that, and then hitting the scoop on the right, it doesn't feel good. I could say that for basically every shot, except for maybe Well, the disc is so easy to hit, but it was busted. And the quora shot, um, they're okay. There was no shot that I couldn't wait to hit. In fact, there was a lot of shots that I didn't want to have to hit. I, that game really is the prices where it's at because of the rarity and the theme and all that. So the question kept going in my head when they remake it, vault it, will I get it? Panacea Tarm Here my wish list If they remade Tron aside from they would have better decals because some of them were printed So the cabinet I should say so like Lord of the Rings you get a lot of flipper wear on the first run of Trons And the back glass translite is either 3D or 2D Basically if you get your pick of you know it an upgraded cabinet and translite and all that Those issues aside they will have to have the LE lights on there But it Is anything going to make the shots feel better? In my opinion, and it very well could be because it's a routed game, but even when I had it at home and I played like two games on it before I shipped that fucker back, I remember the same feeling. Like the flippers wanted to be more powerful. Even though it's a stern and it's snappy, it begs to feel like a Black Knight or an Iron Man. Like fast and go and I don't know, it just, something about it, something's missing in that. But it makes sense from reviews I've seen with the written or video or you know straight down the middle I think maybe they even did one actually I can't I can't fully remember but hey, they're great videos regardless No one's really given the game a 10 out of 10 if the game was the same price as like a new or when it becomes a vaulted Same price as a premium will it will it I think it'll go the way of stranger things premium We're now like yeah, it's out there With the voices of讓I am LeRoy, zoom vaccination beacon, LeRoy à compagnie. Will to have been run by banker modified as a hearing in general 않았a Bubble talk about which+. Pen Strikers I Coolinalism granted by- without certain hardship is less. Welcomeap.com. I've been up to 3 p.m.. Robert 상태 as just another day at Francoائug lahgo. Just a moment, but there's two or three things that we're going to have to talk about. amiga.com那就 Hello. I'm here with my guest, Knapp. Thank you for being here. It's a pleasure to be with you. I'm in the middle of a podcast. I'm going to talk about some of these things that I started doing. It's a lot of fun. I get to learn a lot of things. I get to do a lot of things. You have to experience some of the things for yourself. One of the lessons ... I have a few of these written down. A couple of them will come to mind. In no particular order, just staying on the Tron thing, is that from doing this, buying used games, playing them, having them in the house, having them upstairs, downstairs, moving around, playing them with friends, doing a podcast, the whole hobby experience, going to the conventions, going to tournaments. I haven't gone to any tournaments. For those out there who live the life of pinball enough to listen to a podcast, there always seems to be a game that you're lusting after or that you want. For me, the longest running one has been Tron, but it waxes and wanes and other ones come and go. But the first one ever that I for sure had to have it, had to have it, you know that feeling of, Okay, once I have that game, then everything will be right in the world. You know, I'll feel okay. That anxiety, call whatever you want, goes away and I can, you know, exhale. I go, oh my God, I can stop searching. I can finally be happy once I have that game. I will be a happy person. It doesn't happen. The first game that I had to have in the hobby was Lord of the Rings. Hey, guys. Surprise. But the first game I got was a Star Trek, and that got my beak wet, and then Lord of the Rings, well, kind of remains. It was always somewhat of a tough game to get. Again, you can't just go to Toys R Us and get it. You can't go to Toys R Us period, but that was one, once I got, all right, I'll be great. And I got it. And then you do what you do. Even I've had games that when you're getting delivered, I start doing this, but usually Now what do you have to do? This was the first one I lusted after, got it, and like, oh, suddenly, right? Everything's perfect, right? Well, eh, eh, it's better, but now how about, uh, what else is out there? And I think at that time it was, what are these Monster Bash remakes that just came out? Maybe I'll get one of those for $5,500 at the time on the used market. And, um, I didn't, I lusted after that. Briefly, things happened, but, you know. The first lesson, and it remains true 100% of the time, including now. There's a game or two that I want to have. And then once you have it, there's something else. Someone told me early on when I was looking for that specific Lord of the Rings, and I think it was on Wisconsin Pinball forums. I don't believe it was on Pinside. Or it was the person that sold me Star Trek. And it wasn't like patronizing or condescending, really. I was looking for Lord of the Rings, and like a lot of us do when we're hyper and she's passionate about Pinballmellow at the same time so far. I mean, I don't mind, semi, all right? I'm more excited than ever at the moment because I knew when I saw this some of the kids put onto pinballphoria, Of course I got scared. Mausoleums. Yeah. I mean a head knowledge. He wants his team just be kind. Yeah, boiling that right now I thought, is front and innerцев thing better than the home sometimes starting this mid week with pinballdated? Yeah. Winner황 Withnicha, Winnie M, Weaver Thaltech, Gunnar Soft本当,்.고 USA, V dualife. ně I've gone through that period for, that lasted a while. I would say like three or four years of where that, once you get locked in on a game of finding one, at least for me, I get hyper focused on it and it feels like I'm never gonna get it. Like the Tron felt like that for a while. Lord of the Rings feels like that every time I want one because then I'm like, oh my god, I gotta get it and I gotta jump on it and whatever it is. You know, you do always find that game where there's a will, there's a way, you know, and usually I've had this happen a few times. Like you get really close on one, but there's something wrong about it, right? Like I'm going to get it just to solve that need the quest, but maybe it's slightly too, too much where or slightly too expensive. And those ones or like they don't respond well on pin side or whatever. Like you just get a vibe like I don't want to totally deal with you, but I'm a little bit of a fan of the game, but I really want to quench the thirst for this game, and am I going to deal with it? Usually those fall through in some form or fashion. Like you finally decide, all right, it's not worth it, or something. It falls through, right? Inevitably. And then in the end, it's like when you're not even thinking about it, then the deal pops up that you, for lack of a better phrase, deserve. Like, oh, that's the right price. It's the right condition. It's close enough. It happens. And it's almost less exciting, to be honest. Like, oh my God, it's really only an hour away, and it's the right price, and there's nothing The game is a game that I've owned in the past and I either didn't try for the wizard mode or I wasn't in the right mindset for the game. Due a All the deep dives we've done Jurassic Park Deadpool, Black KnightSwordOfRage, Turtles, etc. Patreon.com. I appreciate all the membership and all the patrons out there. It really helps keep this going. And side note, I plan to we plan to keep releasing those on Fridays and then the pinball party proper on Tuesdays per usual. I'm not going to be able to start this new job and just fuck off every day like I used to at my old ones. So hopefully these will be weekly, but realistically probably bi-weekly like it's been for the pinball party. But anyway, getting a game in a certain mindset really, you know, it skews your opinion. You know, the Tron, I thought I would love it in Disney World, but somehow, you know, the real colors, you know, it's not going to be the same. Klaip Exactly Fetchee Cryoes.p, Now, Knapp, all Studioies are and clock by 홍觀re. at심طمین is playing a local sports programming this hole for Sendr I'm going to go ahead and just remake it. Yeah, I can't think of any others though. But maybe that's to my point. To the point of you will find the game I gotten to that point where I learned that lesson I can kind of relax When I want a game I find it It happen And if not, like, it'll happen. Every single one. I can't name a single game that I've wanted or lusted after or thought I'm going to find this that I haven't found. Whether it's, all right, well, eat the extra 500 bucks and you'll get it. Whether it's delivery or, well yeah, usually delivery or brand new or fuck, do a podcast to try to offset some of the cost. Get sponsored by a distributor such as Flip N Out Pinball. When I buy my pinball shit I buy from Flip N Out Pinball. From toppers or Brains, Rios, I've got it figured out. Flip N Out Pinball, figured out. When I think of pinball I think Flip N Out Pinball. Flip N Out Pinball, figured out. Which they're not paying me to say that it just helps to have a really great relationship with them. Do they give me a little help on it? Of course. What do you think? How do you think sponsorships work? But yeah, flipping out pinball Zack Nicole Craig Zack's dad probably his dog worked there Great pinball machines free shipping wonderful people Trade your shit in the games you lusting after and then suddenly lose your lust because that's how the brain worksaticus8GEMA I'm going to be doing a little bit of a pinball hobby, paying the extra money to get things shipped. But again, you know, we're all kind of in this together to a certain extent. Maybe not even to a certain extent. It's kind of true. A lot of you out there who email in or I see on the street, and by the street I mean at the arcade, or online, that's what I mean. The kind words mean a lot. And the negative ones, hey, at least you're listening, right? But I'm doing this for me because it's fun. I love the hobby. I love talking about pinball. And but don't get me wrong. A lot of the positive affirmations don't fucking hurt. And the sponsorships are doing stuff with kale and Rachel electric bad or hanging out with Ian at nudge or John local again, Zach shit, the other Zach doing the deep dives. It's fucking great. But from lusting after games, which is always there. And you will find a game. The other point or lesson I learned is you will always get sick of a game. Terms of conversation. Terms of conversation. Every other game is scary, no matter which one I have treated after the most, it loses its luster. So if you have one or a top two or three, if you have some games that you just legitimately never get sick of, please tell me why and what they are. And I want to more social experiment, whatever of what are the reasons? Is it you're only playing pinball once a week and you have infinite money. So really, it doesn't matter for me. You know, I don't have infinite money and having things tied up and let's say 10 to $40,000 worth of pinball is usually what I keep like one to three games. I'm not enjoying it on a for me often like a by daily basis every other day basis minimum weekly what the fuck am I doing? That's a lot of money to be tied up in this big heavy thing that doesn't give you daily joy Let's say but that's often what I'm searching for in life is this maximum returns on money or time I put in so for me I'm always second-guessing Really like everything I have and especially expensive stuff I'm re-evaluating daily, daily, daily. And, you know, again, maybe that's why I'm doing this podcast. But I, from my experience of the small group of friends that I buy and sell and trade with, aside from the pin side stuff, everyone gets sick of a game. And even if it's your favorite game that you've been looking for for a year, you get sick of it. At the same time, you kind of need that game to chase to keep the hobby going, unless you're one of the people emailing in saying, I'm a fan of the game. I never get sick of Monster Bash that I've had forever. So you are often lusting for a game. You will always find that game. You will inevitably, you probably get sick of the game. And it's common to have a game or five that you're chasing for to keep it really going. Gun to my head if I just had infinite money and someone said, what three games would you fun news All the little lessons around obtaining and having games and titles and all that. The other lesson I've learned that a lot of us have is that the group of pinball people are just like any other group of people in the end. Because it's a big enough sample size. There's good ones. There's bad ones. There's fucking crazy ones. There's assholes. There's sweethearts. There's people who are just trying to, well, I guess maybe speaking from my side, ride your coattails if you're doing creative, impressive things. And there's people that will respond better on Pinside than Facebook or dare I say Craigslist. There are different flavors of these people on Facebook groups versus the Reddit groups. If you want to see the pits, get on Reddit. Go on Reddit. Say something. Where are these bribes, are you opening anochang ServiceN d the I'm John Popadiuk, and I'll see you next week. This week in pinside, like, I'm very into pinball but I also happen to be on the internet. It's a different– So there's just like anything– it's a group of people. There's good ones and there's bad ones. And that's the same with people who work at these companies. Jersey Jack, Stern, Spooky, American Pinball, Haggis, Haggis, what is it, Haggis? Some good ones, some dog shit. In the beginning, you know, rose-colored glasses again Everyone was great and I've heard a lot of people say that all the pinball community is so great. Everyone's great. Everyone in the media is great. Everyone. And then you start to see all the sausages made. You meet more people. Okay, not you meet even more people like okay, that no, fuck you, you know, oh, okay. And then you meet just pure trash. At the same time, you're meeting amazing people. But yeah, don't fool yourself, please. I've done I've done that. And I've trusted the wrong people. And I've gotten burned by I'm a fan of the game. I've played it a couple times. I've learned that unfortunate hard lesson that it's just like anything else. There's good ones and bad ones. I briefly mentioned earlier, and I have this written down, that's why I'm just going to say it quick. When you get a game, when you, again me, this is my experience, lesson I've learned, but I think a lot of you are probably similar. As soon as I get a game, I'm looking for more things to buy for it. Immediately. Day of. Fo sho day of. Within minutes. I'm like, alright, let's get onto those art blades. Let's see if the art blades are better on retro refurb or stern or pin graphics. Let's find the right blades. Let's look at the mods. Let's look at pinball lights. Let's look at mezzo mods. You know, every fucking game. Someone shoot me. I can't just be happy with a game. Eh The more I do this hobby it starts to go in that direction I a little less likely to mod a game But Stern could you please and JerseyJack but other companies do this more often just put Artblades in every single game. And up the price 100 bucks or whatever. Just put them in. Are you serious? What? Come on, what are we doing? Just put them in. Just make it default. Shaker Motor, I think is different. Get out of here. I don't want it. It's bad for tendonitis. But the Art Blades, what are we doing? Just, I mean, except for Jurassic Park, what are you doing there? What are you doing with those? That's some of the worst Art Blades you could ever make. But just put the fucking Art Blades in. And the silent fan. And up the price, 150 bucks. Thank you. But yeah, I'm immediately looking for what else can I buy for this thing. Just like I did with the GR Corolla. Fuck. Man, wait. Remember when you're like, actually wait, I don't know. Tal's gonna say, remember when you're 10 and just something is good enough? Eh, maybe not. I don't know, you know. It's always searching. Always, you know, life. Yeah. And the last lesson I have written down is that I save more than average cardboard. As in, the average person gets rid of most cardboard. Maybe a couple of You know what I mean? But pinball, holy shit. I gotta have this cardboard. I gotta have cardboard for in between the head and the body when I'm wrapping it. Natch. I have to have cardboard for when I'm putting it in the vehicle. It depends how I'm going to put in the vehicle. If I personally, with the CX5 beyond 2019, when they shrunk the fucking trunk by an inch, if I have to put it on its side. I need a full stern box length cardboard, which I have three of behind my recycling bin as you do in the garage, taking up a whole fucking bunch of space. I need that. I also need cardboard for when I take the pinball machine out of the vehicle and have it touch the ground. So I need three pieces of cardboard just to transport a pinball machine on its side. Now if I'm transporting it on its back like a normie, maybe I still have three pieces, but I don't need the huge stern box length cardboard. I'm a bit of a fan of pinball, but I'll use something smaller and still have to. Regardless, using a full-length sheet of stern box pinball cardboard is the best for launching that fucker in and out of your SUV. In and out. On the ground, in between the head, into the car. It's a lot of cardboard to keep up with. And then you get to the place, someone's house let's say, and they're like, oh I didn't bring any cardboard, can I have some of your cardboard? Like yeah, sure. I'm going to use all the time for tons of stuff. Uh-uh. I'm giving them away. Every time someone's either here or I'm going somewhere like, hey, take my moving blankets. omethehingplrtptbalcy and many more. Email in at pinballpartypodcast at gmail.com if you've wiped your ass with a moving blanket. Although just to put a cap on that thought, I would much rather wipe my ass with a moving blanket than stern cardboard. And the last lesson I've learned is that anyone listening to this podcast or playing pinball, well I should say anyone who's listening to this podcast is the only one listening to me saying these words, so I don't I'm just going to go into the point that I don't dare make from an ego standpoint, but just from an observation that we don't sort of like pinball. We're fucking obsessed with it. And yeah, no more details than that. It's weird because when someone I don't know if you feel like this, but when someone asks me, let's say, what are you into or what's your You're listening to this podcast when you have to say you're the one listening, you know, it's like, yeah, what's your hobby? I like pinball, but like not like I like you don't get up. I'm fucking I need it. I'm into this shit deep, bro. So you can't. Hey, what are you into? Oh pinball. And yeah, I'm like, I'm really I'm really fucking obsessed with it. I drive across the country, you know, cardboard lessons podcast like all they think you're a crazy person and we are. So when someone asks about hobbies or whatever, so this new job next week, day one, what I'm not doing day one guns a blazing. Hey, what's up fuckers? I do a pinball party podcast. There's a robot on there. He's from a Canadian and Australian. I say fuck sometimes people get weird about it. I buy and sell and trade games. People get weird about that. So I did a podcast. I'm sponsored by Flippin Out Pinball. I do a song. It's a jingle. It's pretty catchy. And there's these electric bat arcades. They'd fire me immediately. What are you fucking talking about, lunatic? So for those reasons, I don't talk about pinball with normies, which means I have to rely on y'all's. All right, I want to go drive this car. Thanks for listening. Thanks for joining and look for a deep dive later this week on patreon.com slash pinball party and a normal pinball party as soon as I can get it for sure within two weeks, if not next week. Talk to you later. Would you like to compete in team There are only two There are only two There is only a T ready In disagreement So If you height highlight Look at theArt I am a They no That means That means There has to be the the life life How to create the I don't have answers and I don't have a clue But I sure know that I'm all black and blue I can't predict it but neither can you We just take it and take it and hope to get through Mike Mull evaporated some fish cooking distracted Joe Anvito, Electionato, and weiter inhabittofastyinthes equation. We cannot predict. We either find a way or end with a merengue of shit. Well, I don't have answers and I don't have a clue, but I should know that I'm all black and blue. I can predict it but neither can you. We just take it and take it and hope to get through. A did The The The Then, many fans mainly support Johnny Pneumonic. May God v.e. Copyright © 2015 Johnny Twitter.com

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: c8f77f0b-6778-4b09-8bb5-59f6ea3a6b30*