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David

person16 mentionsFirst seen May 13, 2025Last seen Feb 10, 2026

Profile

David is the founder and CEO of Barrels of Fun, a pinball machine manufacturer and design studio. He serves as the primary decision-maker for game theme selection, production, marketing strategy, and hiring. His company has produced or is producing multiple titles including Winchester Mystery House, Dune, Labyrinth, and Never-Ending Story, with David directly involved in IP acquisition, design collaboration, audio production decisions, and factory operations.

Aliases

No aliases

Relationships

  • foundedBarrels of FunFounder and CEO of Barrels of Fun pinball manufacturing companymedium
  • producesWinchester Mystery HouseBarrels of Fun manufactures Winchester Mystery House pinball machine; David involved in IP acquisition and design directionmedium
  • producesDuneBarrels of Fun title; David made theme selection decisionmedium
  • producesLabyrinthBarrels of Fun title; David made theme selection decisionmedium
  • affiliated_withJonathan BergeronDavid worked collaboratively with Bergeron on game design at Barrels of Funmedium

Facts

  • achievementInvolved in game theme selection and curation for Barrels of Funhigh
  • achievementHired Luke Underwood for Barrels of Funmediumfrom 2026-02
  • achievementLed Winchester Mystery House pinball project at Barrels of Funhighfrom 2025-10
  • achievementRecruited Carl DeAngelo to design Winchester Mystery House pinballhighfrom 2025-10
  • affiliationAmerican Pinball personnelmedium
  • affiliationCollaborates with Jeff on pinball audio designmediumfrom 2026-01

Claims (8)

  • opinionmedium

    Only Keith Elwin's designer name reliably moves pinball game sales units.

    Source: Industry analysis based on commercial performance dataThe Pinball Show Ep 149.5 BONUS: 2024 Texas Pinball Festival: David Asks Dennis What Was Cool There
  • factualmedium

    Keith Elwin's games consistently rank in the top 20 on Pinside rankings.

    Source: Observation of Pinside ranking patternsThe Pinball Show Ep 149.5 BONUS: 2024 Texas Pinball Festival: David Asks Dennis What Was Cool There
  • factualhigh

    The original asking price for this specific Gorf Cabaret was approximately $900

    Source: RetroRalph paraphrasing David's valuationRARE Arcade Cabinet Pickup - GORF Cabaret (Mini)
  • factualhigh

Recent Mentions (16)

  • CEO of Barrels of Fun; gave factory tour to Goran; described as operating company in positive trajectory

    BDYETP 97: Goren’s Here! Winchester Mystery House, TWD Remastered, Star Wars Impressions +Bonus TronNov 10, 2025
  • American Pinball personnel; played Cuphead with Don during testing sessions

    It's Dead Jim. Let's talk about itAug 19, 2025
  • Barrels of Fun representative; recruited Jeff for sound design work; one of first manufacturers Jeff interviewed for podcast

    Winchester Mystery House Pinball Audio with Dirty Pool Pinball | Ep 176Nov 7, 2025
  • Leadership at Barrels of Fun; hired Luke Underwood; quickly responded to job inquiry; made joke about Pokemon being Luke's resume

    How We Made Our Homebrew Pokemon Pinball Machine, Pinsanity with Luke and Owen | Ep 184Feb 10, 2026
  • Host of classic pinball podcast; asked about cabinet acquisition; mentioned playing original Pinball Circus at Allentown

    Pinball Circus HomebrewDec 2, 2025
  • Tournament player mentioned during multiball gameplay commentary

    Concord Champ '25: Qualifying Round 8 on Stranger Things by Stern. Streamed from The Flipper Room.

Contradictions

  • Existing: David is associated with Barrels of Fun across all other mentionsvsConflicting: Mention 10 references David as tournament player at Concord Champ '25 on Stranger Things, with no company context or connection to his role
    Resolved
    kept_existing · Mar 3, 2026
  • Existing: David is founder/CEO/leadership of Barrels of Fun, a pinball manufacturervsConflicting: Mention 10 references 'David' as a tournament player during Stranger Things gameplay commentary with no connection to Barrels of Fun
    Resolved
    kept_existing · Mar 3, 2026
  • Existing: David is founder/CEO of Barrels of FunvsConflicting: Mention 14 identifies David as American Pinball personnel playing Cuphead with Don during testing
    Resolved
    accepted_new · Mar 3, 2026

Related Glossary Terms

No linked glossary terms

affiliated_with
Joshua Clay
David initiated Winchester project discussion with Clay regarding UI and 3D design
medium
  • affiliated_withCarlDavid discovered Carl's homebrew work and recruited him to design Winchester Mystery Housemedium
  • affiliated_withKanedaKaneda frequently interviews/discusses David's theme selections and marketing decisions on Dirty Pool Podcastmedium
  • affiliation
    Collaborated with Jonathan Bergeron on game design
    medium
    from 2025-05
  • attributeHas niche taste in game themes (Labyrinth, Dune, Never-Ending Story)medium
  • roleLeader and decision-maker at Barrels of Funhigh
  • roleCEO of Barrels of Funhigh
  • roleHost of Pinball Circus homebrew podcastmediumfrom 2025-12
  • roleFounder/Owner of Barrels of Funhigh
  • statusTournament pinball playermediumfrom 2025-11
  • At one point David had 60 cabinets on his back patio

    Source: Direct statement in episodeArcade Pickers - Episode 2: Lost In Tucson
  • factualmedium

    Tapper conversion kit was created in late 1990s when Tapper was no longer profitable for operators

    Source: David explaining cabinet historyArcade Pickers - Episode 2: Lost In Tucson
  • factualhigh

    David started collecting arcade machines around 2000 after playing Arkanoid in the Army in Texas

    Source: Direct statement in episodeArcade Pickers - Episode 2: Lost In Tucson
  • factualhigh

    David currently has 300+ machines in his collection

    Source: Direct statement in episodeArcade Pickers - Episode 2: Lost In Tucson
  • factualhigh

    The Morristown venue operator David runs modified Lethal Weapon 3 software that removes free multiballs on the third ball

    Source: Ron HowittEpisode 44 – Fun Part of the Segment
  • Nov 18, 2025
  • Barrels of Fun leadership; involved in Winchester IP acquisition conversation with Carl; addressed pricing and video asset production considerations

    Inside the Winchester Mystery House Pinball Machine | Barrels of Fun x DirtyPool PinballOct 14, 2025
  • Barrels of Fun representative/founder who discovered Carl's homebrew work and recruited him to design Winchester

    Winchester Mystery House Pinball with Karl DeAngeloOct 30, 2025
  • Barrels of Fun founder/lead; personable booth presence; disclosed Winchester details under NDA only to co-hosts

    We Are Pinball #47 "Kaneda joins WAP! Expo reviews"Oct 24, 2025
  • Leader/decision-maker at Barrels of Fun; directly addressed by Kaneda multiple times regarding marketing strategy and communication clarity; referred to in context of production decisions

    Episode 1171: "Dune's Last Ditch NIB FOMO Attempt"Dec 18, 2025
  • Associated with Barrels of Fun, collaborated with Jeff on Labyrinth audio overhaul approval

    Labyrinth Pinball Audio Overhaul 2.0Jan 30, 2026
  • Designer/lead at Barrels of Fun; worked collaboratively with Bergeron on game design and cited Adam Savage behind-the-scenes content about collaborative ideation.

    Dirty Pool Podcast Ep03 – Jonathan Bergeron From Punk to PinballMay 13, 2025
  • Presumed founder/operator of Barrels of Fun. Kaneda suggests his game theme selections (Labyrinth, Dune, Never-Ending Story) reflect niche tastes.

    Episode 1162: "Did Stern Hire Mickey Mouse to Market The Walking Dead?"Nov 19, 2025
  • Head of Barrels of Fun; made pre-order decisions and theme choices criticized by Kaneda

    Kaneda's Pinball Podcast Saturday Morning Spectular December 20Dec 21, 2025
  • Leadership at Barrels of Fun; initiated Winchester project discussion with Clay; involved in manufacturing/shipping decisions

    Meet The Team... Joshua Clay - Winchester Mystery House - UI & 3D DesignOct 21, 2025
  • Owner of Barrels of Fun; criticized for Dune theme selection; praised for Winchester momentum; speaker encourages better theme curation going forward

    Episode 1152: "Beetlejuice Buyer #1,000 Just Got F@#KED!"Oct 27, 2025
  • Existing: David is founder/CEO of Barrels of Fun pinball manufacturer
    vs
    Conflicting: Mention 14 identifies David as American Pinball personnel playing Cuphead with Don during testing sessions
    Resolved
    accepted_new · Mar 3, 2026