# Popaduik Announces New Game Plans **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2011-07-23 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/news/popadiuk1.html --- ## Analysis John Popadiuk, former Bally designer, announces Magic Girl, a limited run of 13 custom full-size pinball machines priced at $15,995 (rising to $17,995 after October 31, 2011). The game features hand-drawn artwork, modular hardware, and playfield mechanics inspired by his 1995 Theatre of Magic design, with mechanics including The Egyptian Box of Wonder, Vanishing Locks, and The Amazing Double Lion Saw. Pre-orders require a $500 refundable deposit and non-disclosure agreement, with production estimated at nine months. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] John Popadiuk is producing a limited run of exactly 13 new games called Magic Girl — _Official announcement with specific production quantity and game title_ - [HIGH] Magic Girl will cost $15,995 plus tax and shipping, increasing to $17,995 on October 31, 2011 — _Explicit pricing structure with date cutoff provided_ - [HIGH] The game will be designed, engineered and built in the USA, specifically in Chicago — _Direct statement from Popadiuk via announcement_ - [HIGH] Magic Girl features playfield mechanics including The Egyptian Box of Wonder, Vanishing Locks, and The Amazing Double Lion Saw — _Specific mechanical features listed in announcement_ - [HIGH] Magic Girl is inspired by or develops concepts from Theatre of Magic, Popadiuk's 1995 Bally design — _Article directly states it is 'a development of his earlier Theatre of Magic model'_ - [MEDIUM] Six people had already paid $500 refundable deposits at time of article publication — _Article states 'at the time of writing, six people have already put down the refundable deposits'_ ### Notable Quotes > "a 1990s inspired custom pinball machine full of flipper flash, digital fun, innovative play and magnetic creative wonder!" > — **John Popadiuk**, 2011-07-23 > _Direct description of Magic Girl's design philosophy and target aesthetic_ > "gorgeous hand-drawn artwork, updated cabinet design, new innovations in playfield mechanics, modular expandable hardware, special social connectivity ALL created just for this full-size pinball game handbuilt by the designer in Chicago" > — **John Popadiuk**, 2011-07-23 > _Comprehensive feature list highlighting custom manufacturing, social connectivity, and modular design approach_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | John Popadiuk | person | Former Bally pinball designer; created Theatre of Magic (1995); announcing Magic Girl limited production run | | Magic Girl | game | New limited-run custom pinball machine by Popadiuk; 13 units planned; 1990s-inspired theme with theatre magic mechanics | | Theatre of Magic | game | 1995 Bally pinball game designed by Popadiuk; Magic Girl draws design inspiration from this title | | Bally | company | Historical pinball manufacturer; employer of John Popadiuk | | Zizzle | product | Home pinball games by Popadiuk prior to Magic Girl announcement | | Pinball Scrapbook | product | iPad app by Popadiuk | | Pinball Wizard | product | iPad app by Popadiuk | | Chicago | location | Location where Magic Girl machines will be designed, engineered and built | | pinballinventor.org | organization | John Popadiuk's website for Magic Girl purchase information and pre-order deposits | ### Topics - **Primary:** Custom/boutique pinball manufacturing, Limited edition / scarcity production strategy, Pricing and pre-order models - **Secondary:** Pinball designer legacy and independent production, Theatre magic / stage magic themed games ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.75) — Article is straightforward announcement with promotional language from Popadiuk. Tone is enthusiastic about the project without critical examination. No negative commentary present. ### Signals - **[design_philosophy]** Popadiuk positioning Magic Girl as continuation of Theatre of Magic legacy with emphasis on hand-drawn artwork, modular hardware, and social connectivity features (confidence: high) — Article notes game is 'a development of his earlier Theatre of Magic model' and quotes Popadiuk describing 'gorgeous hand-drawn artwork' and 'modular expandable hardware' - **[community_signal]** Popadiuk maintaining direct designer-to-customer relationship through custom production model with non-disclosure agreements and staged payment structure (confidence: high) — Buyers required to sign NDA, pay $500 deposit, 50% within 7 days, then installments over 9-month production period - **[market_signal]** Magic Girl priced at $15,995 base with $2,000 premium before October 31, 2011 deadline; represents high-end custom market pricing (confidence: high) — Explicit pricing structure: '$15,995 plus tax and shipping, rising by another $2,000 on 31st October, 2011' - **[announcement]** John Popadiuk officially announces Magic Girl, a limited-run custom pinball machine project with 13 units planned (confidence: high) — Direct announcement with specific game title, production quantity, and design details provided --- ## Transcript Date: 23rd July, 2011 Following his Zizzle home pinball games and the Pinball Scrapbook and Pinball Wizard apps for the iPad, former Bally pinball designer John Popadiuk has announced plans to produce a limited run of 13 new games. John Popadiuk John's new game is called Magic Girl and is, he says, "a 1990s inspired custom pinball machine full of flipper flash, digital fun, innovative play and magnetic creative wonder!"  He describes the projected thirteen games as "prototypes" and says they will be designed, engineered and built in the USA. No playfield design has been released and details of the game's features are still only described in vague terms, but John has produced this promotional image which shows it as a full-size machine with a combination of classic and modern elements. Magic Girl information John says it will contain, "gorgeous hand-drawn artwork, updated cabinet design, new innovations in playfield mechanics, modular expandable hardware, special social connectivity ALL created just for this full-size pinball game handbuilt by the designer in Chicago." Some of the playfield features John has revealed are The Egyptian Box of Wonder, Vanishing Locks and The Amazing Double Lion Saw, making the game sound like a development of his earlier Theatre of Magic model produced by Bally in 1995. All of this comes at a price, though.  The game will cost $15,995 plus tax and shipping, rising by another $2,000 on 31st October, 2011. In an unusual sales pitch, potential buyers are required to pay a refundable $500 deposit, after which they will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement and pay half the total price of the game within seven days.  The remaining balance will then be paid in installments during the development and build of the game which is predicted to take nine months. Full details of how to purchase one of the Magic Girl machines can be found at John's website www.pinballinventor.org which suggests that, at the time of writing, six people have already put down the refundable deposits to secure their unique game number. Naturally, we'll keep you updated with all the latest Magic Girl news right here at Pinball News. 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: e177f775-13cb-41b0-b311-2b4ee71d8bbe*