# Expanded Code for Monster Bash Pinball Was In the Works; Info on the Next Game from Play Mechanix & Chicago Gaming Company **Source:** Knapp Arcade **Type:** article **Published:** 2026-01-03 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/blog/expanded-code-for-monster-bash-pinball-was-in-the-works-info-on-the-next-game-from-play-mechanix-chicago-gaming-company --- ## Analysis Play Mechanix and Josh Sharpe were originally developing expanded code for Chicago Gaming Company's Monster Bash remake before pivoting to Cactus Canyon. Sharpe and the late Lyman Sheets had outlined code expansions for multiple classic remakes (Medieval Madness, Attack from Mars, AC/DC) with notes still in Sharpe's possession. CGC's next game is strongly rumored to be Halo, with design philosophy shifting toward feature-packed machines after Pulp Fiction's solid-state aesthetic direction. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Play Mechanix and Lyman Sheets were originally working on expanded code for Monster Bash before shifting to Cactus Canyon expansion — _Josh Sharpe interview on LoserKid Pinball Podcast; Knapp Arcade article attribution_ - [HIGH] Monster Bash code expansion was shelved after CGC determined the original Bally Williams game was 'shallow' — _Josh Sharpe interview; Knapp Arcade direct reporting_ - [HIGH] Josh Sharpe possesses original notes for Monster Bash expansion project despite Lyman Sheets' death — _Josh Sharpe interview on LoserKid Pinball Podcast_ - [HIGH] Sharpe and Sheets outlined expanded code for Medieval Madness, Attack from Mars, and Stern's AC/DC — _Josh Sharpe interview on LoserKid Pinball Podcast_ - [MEDIUM] CGC's next game is 'strongly rumored' to be based on Halo Xbox franchise — _Knapp Arcade reporting based on industry rumors; previously mentioned in earlier Knapp Arcade article_ ### Notable Quotes > "I will fight as long as it takes to see that stuff come to life." > — **Josh Sharpe**, LoserKid Pinball Podcast interview > _Sharpe's commitment to bringing shelved code expansions to market despite licensing and production constraints_ > "the company is now 'over compensating' in a way that is not great for them financially aka the machine is packed." > — **Josh Sharpe (quoted by Knapp Arcade)**, LoserKid Pinball Podcast interview > _Suggests next CGC game (rumored Halo) features extensive rules/mechanics at cost to profitability; contrast to Pulp Fiction's design philosophy_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Chicago Gaming Company | company | Pinball remake manufacturer; working with Play Mechanix on upcoming game (rumored Halo); previously released Monster Bash and Cactus Canyon remakes | | Play Mechanix | company | Game design/code studio partnering with CGC; designed Pulp Fiction; working on next CGC game | | Josh Sharpe | person | Play Mechanix designer/programmer; collaborated with Lyman Sheets on Monster Bash and Cactus Canyon code expansions; possesses notes for multiple unreleased code projects | | Lyman Sheets | person | Legendary pinball code designer; deceased; collaborated with Josh Sharpe on expanded code for Monster Bash and Cactus Canyon; designed original Monster Bash rules | | Monster Bash | game | Classic Williams pinball remake by CGC; was subject of shelved code expansion project by Sharpe and Sheets | | Cactus Canyon | game | Williams remake by CGC; received expanded code from Sharpe and Sheets after Monster Bash project was shelved; expansion kit discussed in depth in LoserKid interview | | Pulp Fiction | game | Play Mechanix/CGC collaboration; took seven years from concept to market; featured solid-state design aesthetic per Tarantino's direction | | Halo | game | Xbox science fiction franchise; strongly rumored as next CGC/Play Mechanix game; rumored for Chicago Pinball Expo Fall 2026 release target | | Medieval Madness | game | Classic Williams remake by CGC; was included in Sharpe/Sheets outline for potential code expansion (not in active development) | | Attack from Mars | game | Classic Williams remake by CGC; was included in Sharpe/Sheets outline for potential code expansion (not in active development) | | AC/DC | game | Stern Pinball game; was included in Sharpe/Sheets outline for potential code expansion (not in active development) | | LoserKid Pinball Podcast | organization | Pinball podcast; released interview with Josh Sharpe discussing Cactus Canyon expansion and shelved Monster Bash project details | | Chicago Pinball Expo | event | Fall 2026 industry event; rumored target for CGC's next game (Halo) release announcement/availability | | Knapp Arcade | organization | Pinball/arcade news site; published analysis of LoserKid interview with Josh Sharpe | ### Topics - **Primary:** Expanded code development for CGC remakes, Chicago Gaming Company's next licensed game (Halo rumor), Play Mechanix and CGC partnership evolution - **Secondary:** Lyman Sheets' legacy and unpublished code work, Cactus Canyon expansion kit development, Machine design philosophy: solid-state vs feature-packed approach - **Mentioned:** Licensing and IP constraints in remake and original game development ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.78) — Knapp Arcade expresses enthusiasm about potential expanded code releases and next CGC game, using exclamatory language ('Oh how I love that game', 'How cool would that be?!', 'Can't wait to see'). Tempered by acknowledgment of CGC's slow production timeline and financial constraints on design. ### Signals - **[design_philosophy]** CGC shifting from Tarantino-influenced solid-state aesthetic (Pulp Fiction) to feature-packed machine design for next title; creating financial pressure (confidence: high) — Josh Sharpe quote: 'the company is now over compensating in a way that is not great for them financially aka the machine is packed' - **[licensing_signal]** Multiple code expansion projects (Medieval Madness, Attack from Mars, AC/DC) outlined but status unclear, suggesting potential licensing barriers to release (confidence: medium) — Knapp Arcade speculation: 'Could you imagine if any of those made it to market someday?!' and 'That's not entirely under his control' - **[market_signal]** Slow production timeline at Play Mechanix/CGC: Pulp Fiction took 7 years from concept to market; raises questions about Halo timeline feasibility (confidence: high) — Knapp Arcade: 'Play Mechanix's first game Pulp Fiction took seven years from the initial concept to market, so the needless to say CGC is not exactly fast' - **[personnel_signal]** Lyman Sheets' death; Josh Sharpe now sole steward of shelved code expansion notes for multiple games (confidence: high) — Knapp Arcade: 'Unfortunately, Lyman Sheats has since passed away but Josh Sharpe has all of the original notes for the project' - **[product_strategy]** Monster Bash expanded code project indefinitely shelved after mid-project pivot to Cactus Canyon; future release uncertain despite Sharpe's commitment (confidence: high) — Josh Sharpe quote about fighting to bring code to life; Knapp Arcade notes Sharpe's commitment 'not entirely under his control' - **[rumor_hype]** CGC's next game strongly rumored to be Halo (Xbox IP); target release Fall 2026 at Chicago Pinball Expo (confidence: medium) — Knapp Arcade: 'strongly rumored to be based upon the X-Box science fiction video game series Halo'; 'rumor is that CGC is working hard to have that game ready by the Chicago Pinball Expo this Fall' --- ## Transcript News Expanded Code for Monster Bash Pinball Was In the Works; Info on the Next Game from Play Mechanix & Chicago Gaming Company k knapparcade January 2, 2026 Wow for a Holiday Week where not a lot is supposed to happen, the pinball and arcade news has been bountiful to end 2025 and start 2026. So cool. This morning I wrote here about what Bally Williams remake may be next. Now I want to talk about the potential for expanded code for other Bally Williams remakes AND what game is next from Play Mechanix and Chicago Gaming Company (CGC). The LoserKid Pinball Podcast recently released a fantastic interview with Play Mechanix's Josh Sharpe. During the hour-long session they talked in depth about the new expansion kit for Chicago Gaming Company's Cactus Canyon Remake. If you ever wanted to know anything about that awesome expansion for the game give that a listen. As usual though, I try to pick up on the unexpected bits of news from interviews like this. First off, I had no idea that before the late Lyman F. Sheats Jr. and Josh Sharpe began work on the Cactus Canyon expansion for Chicago Gaming Company, their original project was an expansion to the code of another CGC Remake...Monster Bash. Oh how I love that game. Expanded code for it would be amazing. Mid-project for the Monster Bash expansion, after realizing how shallow the final regular pinball machine from Bally Williams actually was, CGC asked the two to shift gears and work on additional code for Cactus Canyon. The Monster Bash expansion was put on the back burner. Unfortunately, Lyman F. Sheats Jr. has since passed away but Josh Sharpe has all of the original notes for the project that he and Lyman were working on. Not only were Josh and Lyman working on expanded code for Monster Bash and Cactus Canyon, they were outlining expanded code for a whole list of pinball machines, including Medieval Madness, Attack From Mars and even Stern Pinball's AC/DC. Could you imagine if any of those made it to market someday?! How cool would that be? During the interview, Josh Sharpe said "I will fight as long as it takes to see that stuff come to life." That's not entirely under his control, but I hope that he can make it happen. The interview also briefly touched upon the next pinball machine that's coming from Plan Mechanix and CGC. While not mentioned, the game is strongly rumored to be based upon the X-Box science fiction video game series Halo. I previously mentioned in an article here that rumor is that CGC is working hard to have that game ready by the Chicago Pinball Expo this Fall. Will that happen? Well, Play Mechanix's first game Pulp Fiction took seven years from the initial concept to market, so the needless to say CGC is not exactly fast. With Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino dictated that the machine look like a solid state game. Josh said that with the next game (again rumored to be Halo) the company is now "over compensating" in a way that is not great for the them financially aka the machine is packed. I can't wait to see what they've been working on! Cactus Canyon: The Upgrade We've ALL Been Waiting For - YouTube LoserKid Pinball Cactus Canyon: The Upgrade We've ALL Been Waiting For LoserKid Pinball Search Info Shopping 0:00 / •Live • Chicago Gaming's Monster Bash Remake is such a beautiful game... Posted about 1 month ago k About knapparcade Site administrator Comments (1) Please sign in to join the conversation. D Don about 1 month ago Awesome news! 1 Related Articles Stern Officially Reveals New Pokémon Pinball Machine 3 days ago Dutch Pinball is NOT Working with Stern to Release Back to the Future 3 days ago Pokémon Reveal Tomorrow?; Beetlejuice Pinball on Location 5 days ago Subscribe to Updates Get the latest pinball news, blog posts, and event announcements delivered to your inbox Subscribe StripeM-Inner _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: e23e5126-49b9-445c-ba92-e74e9d0f6518*