# SDTM: 2018 Chicago Pinball Expo Walkthrough **Source:** Straight Down the Middle **Type:** video **Published:** 2018-10-25 **Duration:** 43m 15s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRdSienYyzM --- ## Analysis A casual walkthrough video of the 2018 Chicago Pinball Expo floor showing various pinball machines, custom builds, vendors, and community members. The hosts interact with players and showcase notable machines including a custom black-and-white Twilight Zone, ColorDMD displays, classic games like Taxi, and upcoming events like Winchester Mystery House tournament in February. ### Key Claims - [MEDIUM] Winchester Mystery House pinball tournament scheduled for February 27th — _Hosts discussing upcoming event at expo: 'Winchester Mystery House, February 27th. That's right.'_ - [HIGH] Someone created a one-of-a-kind custom black-and-white Twilight Zone pinball machine with corkscrew addition — _Direct observation at expo: 'It's a one-of-a-kind custom Twilight Zone black and white version... Everything on this is custom. It's all black and white... He even added a corkscrew there.'_ - [HIGH] ColorDMD displays are available as upgrades for pinball machines — _Hosts pointing out display technology: 'I think that's a new ColorDMD.'_ ### Notable Quotes > "It's a one-of-a-kind custom Twilight Zone black and white version. Everything on this is custom. It's all black and white. How did he do it? He even added a corkscrew there. Every little detail, all black and white. It's pretty insane." > — **SDTM host**, mid-video > _Highlighting impressive custom machine modification work at the expo_ > "Gone are the days of overlays. Look how beautiful that is." > — **SDTM host**, mid-video > _Commentary on modern playfield restoration using actual artwork versus overlay techniques_ > "Everybody hates mustard hot dogs. Ketchup for belongs on hot dogs. This guy's wrong. He's wrong." > — **SDTM host**, mid-video > _Joking about Taxi machine theme/artwork details_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Zach Sharp | person | Pinball player encountered at 2018 Expo, mentioned by name | | Joe Balzer | person | Community member at expo, hosts ask people to say hi | | Kurt | person | Associated with Hemispheres, present at expo showing software/game | | Paul | person | Community member greeted at expo | | Straight Down the Middle: a pinball show | media | The hosts' own show/channel, hosting the walkthrough | | Chicago Pinball Expo | event | 2018 annual pinball trade show and community gathering | | Twilight Zone | game | Custom black-and-white version with corkscrew modification showcased | | Taxi | game | Classic pinball machine featured at expo with custom restoration | | Winchester Mystery House | event | Pinball tournament scheduled for February 27th, promoted at expo | | Pinball Mayhem | media | YouTube channel run by community member documenting Ghost in the Shell pinball game build process | | Hemispheres | organization | Group/vendor with software/game display at expo | ### Topics - **Primary:** Custom pinball machine modifications and builds, Playfield restoration techniques and aftermarket upgrades, Chicago Pinball Expo community and vendor showcases - **Secondary:** Classic pinball machines (Taxi, Twilight Zone, Apollo 13), Display technology (ColorDMD, PIN Stadium lighting) - **Mentioned:** Pinball content creation and YouTube channels ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Enthusiastic, celebratory tone throughout. Hosts express genuine excitement about machines, custom builds, and community members. Light joking and playful banter. No criticism or negative sentiment expressed. ### Signals - **[community_signal]** Active YouTube content creation community documenting pinball builds and customization projects (confidence: medium) — Pinball Mayhem creator promoting year-and-a-half documentation of Ghost in the Shell game build - **[event_signal]** 2018 Pinball Expo showing active custom machine builder community with advanced modifications (black-and-white custom Twilight Zone, playfield restorations) (confidence: high) — Multiple custom machines on display, hosts impressed by quality and craftsmanship - **[market_signal]** ColorDMD aftermarket display upgrades gaining presence at major expos (confidence: medium) — Multiple ColorDMD displays observed and commented on by hosts at expo floor - **[technology_signal]** Transition from playfield overlays to actual custom artwork restoration as standard practice (confidence: medium) — Host comment: 'Gone are the days of overlays. Look how beautiful that is.' --- ## Transcript 2018 Chicago Pinball Expo What kind of stuff going on here? Screw you King Cromwell! Oh look at those guys. Looking good. Let's go in. New Orion's Belt That's cool. Hello. Hello. I think you're probably able to step on side. I'm going to the right side. How's it going? Hi, Zach. Not straight down the middle today. Oh, always good, man. Always good. You having fun in the textbook? Absolutely. Absolutely. I always have fun playing pinball. Hell yeah. Thanks. Thank you. Oh shit. Oh, you want to play with us? Let's go! I think you guys are okay. Oh, they do swoop it in, man. That's right. Everybody say hi to Joe Balcer. Hey, Joe Balcer. I don't know. Press your hands on the stern, and put your hands up there. That's pretty cool, I like that. First That's pretty sir That's gnarly. Oh, straight sexiness right there. Ooh. Ah. Sir, please don't cast shadows on the arm-worn. Yeah! These things are cool. Thank you Hi everybody hi Larry Thank you. Thank you. That's it, it's all over your TV. haha i cant That's pretty bad ass right there. That's pretty gnarly, man. Look at these custom games. Check out this ending. Look how badass this is. Look at that. Oh, God. Wow. Insane. But what you've all wanted to see is this. It's a one-of-a-kind custom Twilight Zone black and white version. Okay, how cool is that guy? I mean, there's Twilight Zone. Black and white version. Everything on this is custom. It's all black and white. How did he do it? He even added a corkscrew there. Every little detail. all black and white It's pretty insane I don't know where. No, he said he's in a meeting. I actually don't know. Hey, Kurt, tell everybody hello. Hey, what's going on? What's happening? 18 Expo, baby. That's right. Yep. Kurt from Hemispheres is just lined up over here. A lot of cool stuff here. Is there like a piece of software or something? Tell everybody hi Paul! Hey! Thank you for watching It a one player game look at that Play against a computer. Very cool. um no ever walk through video i show it but man still It's real terrible, it's lighting up on the side. I want one of these too. I want all of it I think that's a new color DMD I'm going for Is Everybody Ready? Moo! Hmm popcorn Social Fantasy, everybody's place for Rams 9 Auntie It's nice sleeping. Ramps everywhere. Some back glasses. J-Ball. Love that. Ooh. Actual back glasses. Yes, please. Yard. Mayfair Amusement manuals and schematics it's a pretty cool bag left Oh, there you go. You're going to have to pinch it off. There you go. Picture of the picture. No, no. I'm ready, I'm ready. You play with one at a time. Pull the pick out. Or would you rather have two? I'm just getting started. You're already on the move instead? I'm only going to play. I'm only going to play. I'm only going to play. All the time? I'm only going to play. I'm only going to play. I'm only going to play. Right now this is all the raised hardtop. Gone are the days of overlays. Look how beautiful that is. Last Gordon. Always trash. How about this one? Save money no need to buy a playfield I want one This is my baby right here, Taxi. Look at this. Everybody hates mustard hot dogs. Ketchup for belongs on hot dogs. This guy's wrong. He's wrong. Sorry, I don't have a four-year-old palate. Oh, burn. No, I wouldn't like that. There's a limit. That's pretty cool. I kind of want that. Wow. All right, so we're in tournament mode out here. Seems to be ramping up. Classics over here. I told you I'd get you. Where do people need to go next summer? Fantastic movie. That's right. When is it? June 27th. That's right, it's an expo video, but we'll plug that as well, won't we? Let's do it, man. Thanks, guys. I'm so sorry. No, you guys are fine. I'm in your way. Are you or are we both? Yeah, both. Why not? Unless you guys are talking about something juicy. Sorry about that, guys. No, shoot. I just told you about Pinball Mayhem. I have a YouTube channel as well. Yeah, yeah. I've watched your stuff. Pinball Mayhem, everybody. Oh, yeah. I got a pinball already. Say hi. Hey! That's right, Pinball Man. Pinball Mayhem, like and subscribe. If you want to learn more about the Ghost in the Shell game, we've documented the whole process. We have a year and a half of them, and that's where we are now. Very cool man. It's a fun way to share what I've done. I've heard a lot of things about them. Awesome, I'm glad to hear it. Have a good one. The world will be in a scrimmage. Let's see if we can do it. Look out! There's Brian's here! Preeti P bao That's right Dennis Oh, God. I'm sorry. Gotta love pinball. Oh, Apollo 13. Look who it is. What's up? Is it? Yeah. Apollo 13 at the Penn Stadium. Yeah. _(Acquisition: youtube_groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: e73ee79c-078c-40e9-bfb0-a888cb234015*