# THE NEXT BIG NEW PINBALL MACHINE REVEAL... **Source:** Knapp Arcade **Type:** article **Published:** 2021-10-27 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/the-next-big-new-pinball-machine-reveal --- ## Analysis Knapp Arcade reports on the 37th annual Pinball Expo in Chicago, noting that American Pinball pre-announced Legends of Valhalla with arcade placements before the event, while Chicago Gaming Company is expected to reveal its Cactus Canyon remake during a Friday presentation by Ryan White. The article positions these as major upcoming reveals for the pinball community. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] 37th annual Pinball Expo is occurring in Chicago at Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel — _Article states this as current event happening 'tonight'_ - [HIGH] American Pinball launched Legends of Valhalla with machines placed at arcades across the country before Expo — _Article describes this as 'a surprise move' and 'cool launch' with strategic arcade placements 'last week'_ - [MEDIUM] Chicago Gaming Company has created a remake of Bally's 1998 Cactus Canyon with new toys and code by Lyman Sheets — _Article states this as 'rumored' reveal and describes features as 'supposedly' featuring new toys and updated code_ - [HIGH] Ryan White is scheduled to present 'What's Happening at Chicago Gaming' at 3:00 PM Central on Friday at Expo — _Article cites Pinball Expo schedule directly_ - [MEDIUM] Cactus Canyon remake is expected to be revealed at Ryan White's Friday presentation — _Article states 'If Cactus Canyon is ready to be unleashed upon the masses, and my bet is that it will be, that's the time it will happen' — author's prediction based on timing/schedule_ ### Notable Quotes > "Normally Expo is good for at least one new game launch and this year should be no exception." > — **Knapp Arcade (article author)** > _Sets expectation for major announcements at the 37th Pinball Expo event_ > "Many people thought that American Pinball might unveil its new machine Legends of Valhalla at Expo, but in a surprise move American struck early with a cool launch in which they had machines strategically placed at great arcades across the country last week." > — **Knapp Arcade (article author)** > _Highlights American Pinball's unconventional pre-announcement strategy for Legends of Valhalla, subverting typical Expo reveal expectations_ > "If Cactus Canyon is ready to be unleashed upon the masses, and my bet is that it will be, that's the time it will happen." > — **Knapp Arcade (article author)** > _Author's prediction about CGC's Cactus Canyon reveal timing during Friday presentation_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Pinball Expo | event | 37th annual pinball industry convention in Chicago at Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel; major venue for new game announcements | | American Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer that pre-announced Legends of Valhalla with arcade placements before Expo | | Legends of Valhalla | game | New American Pinball machine title that was pre-launched at arcades before the Expo event | | Chicago Gaming Company | company | Pinball manufacturer creating remake of Cactus Canyon; expected to reveal at Expo | | Cactus Canyon | game | 1998 Bally classic being remade by Chicago Gaming Company with new toys and code updates; reveal expected at Expo Friday presentation | | Lyman Sheets | person | Legendary pinball coder credited with updating code for Cactus Canyon remake | | Ryan White | person | Chicago Gaming Company representative scheduled to present 'What's Happening at Chicago Gaming' at 3:00 PM Central on Friday at Expo | | Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel | organization | Venue hosting 37th annual Pinball Expo in Schaumburg, Illinois | | Knapp Arcade | organization | Source/publisher of this article covering Pinball Expo announcements and predictions | | Bally | company | Historical pinball manufacturer; created the original 1998 Cactus Canyon game being remade by CGC | ### Topics - **Primary:** New game announcements and reveals, Pinball Expo (event coverage) - **Secondary:** American Pinball product launch strategy, Classic game remakes, Chicago Gaming Company ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.75) — Article expresses enthusiasm about upcoming reveals ('big week for the pinball hobby'), describes American Pinball's approach as a 'cool launch' in a 'surprise move', and conveys optimistic expectation for Cactus Canyon announcement. Tone is upbeat and anticipatory about industry announcements. ### Signals - **[event_signal]** 37th annual Pinball Expo occurring in Chicago with expected major game announcements including American Pinball's Legends of Valhalla and Chicago Gaming Company's Cactus Canyon remake (confidence: high) — Article confirms Expo dates/location and describes two specific game reveals happening around this event - **[market_signal]** American Pinball using arcade placement strategy for Legends of Valhalla launch rather than traditional Expo reveal, indicating alternative go-to-market approach (confidence: medium) — Article describes this as 'a surprise move' and 'cool launch' with machines 'strategically placed' before Expo, suggesting deliberate marketing differentiation - **[announcement]** Chicago Gaming Company's Cactus Canyon remake expected to be revealed at Ryan White's Friday Expo presentation (confidence: medium) — Article identifies specific presentation time/date and author predicts this is timing for Cactus Canyon reveal, citing game readiness as determining factor - **[announcement]** American Pinball pre-announced Legends of Valhalla with arcade placement strategy before Expo, subverting typical industry reveal timing (confidence: high) — Article explicitly states 'American struck early with a cool launch in which they had machines strategically placed at great arcades across the country last week' --- ## Transcript This is a big week for the pinball hobby. The 37th annual Pinball Expo in Chicago, Illinois kicks off tonight at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel in Schaumburg, Illinois. Normally Expo is good for at least one new game launch and this year should be no exception. Many people thought that American Pinball might unveil its new machine Legends of Valhalla at Expo, but in a surprise move American struck early with a cool launch in which they had machines strategically placed at great arcades across the country last week. The other rumored Expo game reveal has been Chicago Gaming's long awaited remake of Bally's 1998 classic Cactus Canyon. The remake supposedly features all sorts of new toys and updated code by the legendary pinball coder Lyman F. Sheats Jr.. Looking at the Pinball Expo schedule, Ryan White is scheduled to make a presentation titled "What's Happening at Chicago Gaming" at 3:00 PM Central on Friday. If Cactus Canyon is ready to be unleashed upon the masses, and my bet is that it will be, that's the time it will happen. Stay tuned, I will share any information to come out of that presentation as soon as I can get my hands on it... _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: fbe02a68-55f7-403f-95a9-aaf3252c86ff*