Zach Sharpe is a prominent figure in the pinball industry serving as Senior Director of Marketing at Stern Pinball. He is an accomplished competitive pinball player, former game critic for PlayMeter magazine, and member of the IFPA leadership team. The son of pinball legend Roger Sharpe, he has won the Illinois State Championship and earned the World's Greatest Pinball Player award with 2 titles.
Sonic the Hedgehog is a phenomenal, hit-quality pinball machine that will become a must-own title for hobbyists, comparable to Harry Potter
The Sonic CE topper is exceptional and will be the primary driver of Collector's Edition sales
Tales of the Arabian Nights Remake uses thin playfield glass, which signals cost-cutting concerns
Operator of Flip N Out Pinball (Evansville, IN-based distributor); content creator and podcast host; handles sales distribution and venue placement for Sonic and other titles.
Owner of Flip N Out Pinball (along with Nicole). Mentioned as distributor for Bon Jovi and other pinball titles.
Podcast host (Flip N Out Pinball); co-facilitator of interview; contributes production and segment commentary
Owner of Flip N Out Pinball; dealer with warehouse inventory mentioned as point of future purchase
Co-operator of Flip N Out Pinball, mentioned as contact for purchasing limited edition Tales of the Arabian Nights machines
Stern Pinball executive/representative; confronted at CES 2019 about Munsters leak; gave notable non-response stare on camera
No linked glossary terms
More Collector's Edition and Wizard Edition Harry Potter machines are in locations than Arcade Editions, contradicting the arcade edition's intended purpose
Repainting Transformers LE to single color will make it harder to resell to 90-95% of potential buyers
The lead coder's involvement alone potentially guarantees Transformers will be a long-term catalog seller
Transformers LE units will sell out in the first week
Transformers has a unique three-flipper layout with complex left-side mechanics similar to Black Rose or Iron Maiden sarcophagus mechanics
Collectors are making blind trade requests for Transformers and other rumored upcoming titles (Sonic, Nex Spooky, Toten) without knowing full details
Pre-owned pinball market is currently hot with strong collector trading activity
Zach Sharpe is one of Roger Sharp's sons working in the pinball industry at Stern
Flipping Out Pinball acquired over 40 pinball machines from a private collector in Ohio
The machines were stored and packed within approximately 8-14 hours of physical labor
Flipping Out Pinball positions itself as 'your favorite to the world's favorite pinball dealer and arcade distributor'
Flipping Out Pinball offers services for buying, trading, and selling entire pinball collections
The Iron Man machine acquired by Zach has approximately 10,000 plays on it
Zach and Timbo acquired a large customer pinball collection requiring two days to break down and transport
Zach Sharpe from Flipping Out provided early access to Pokémon Premium for Wild Dog Arcade
Replacement coin door locks are widely available from retailers like Pinball Life and other suppliers
The proper technique is to start with a small drill bit and progressively use larger bits as you work through the lock
WD-40 should be applied very sparingly to avoid creating an oily mess on the machine
Using cardboard or paper towels to catch metal shavings prevents cleanup issues and protects the machine
Zach Sharpe scored a hole-in-one on Bad Girls during PinMasters 2026 first round
Zach Sharpe is one of the best pinball artists in the entire world
Beetlejuice Collector's Edition #1 has a custom butter cabinet design
Flip N Out targets $500-$1,000 profit per trade with worst-case break-even scenario as safety buffer.
Shipping a pinball machine from California via STI costs $700-$900 and has 50-80% likelihood of cabinet damage.
Cabinet dings eliminate 'mint condition' classification and significantly reduce resale value.
EM machines should not be valued above $500 regardless of condition due to reliability risk.
Pinside archived listings and current sales are the primary method for establishing market comps.
FedEx can deliver pinball machines from California within one week compared to STI's 3-4 weeks.
Most pinball hobbyists prefer paying a premium for dealer trade convenience over peer-to-peer logistics.
Flip N Out discontinued STI shipping in favor of FedEx due to cost, speed, and damage rate improvements.
Beetlejuice pinball machine unit #1 has been received by Zach and will be swapped to the stream next week
A pinball machine seller (Zach) offered a Dr. Dude pinball machine as compensation to resolve a trade-in dispute with a buyer
Non-Stern sales increased over 30% year-over-year for Flippin' Out in 2025
Stern sales increased approximately 13% year-over-year for Flippin' Out in 2025
Stern Pinball represented 50% of Flippin' Out's unit sales in 2025, down from historical 70-80% average
Star Wars Fall of the Empire sold approximately 60-70% of the King Kong units Flippin' Out sold
John Wick Pinball is the worst-selling Stern cornerstone of 2025 by a significant margin
Flippin' Out sold more Godzilla Premium units in 2025 than King Kong Premium units
King Kong will experience the same 'year later' appreciation and sales surge that Jaws did, driving 2026 secondary-year performance
Non-Stern backorders are approximately 20 times higher than Stern backorders at Flippin' Out
Zach Sharpe is defending champion of Concord Champ tournament
Over 500 people wanted Beetlejuice but the dealer received far fewer units.
Most dealers required deposits before the Beetlejuice game reveal; Zach's dealer was one of very few that allowed 30+ minutes of review after announcement before requiring commitment.
Many Beetlejuice transfer requests came from customers who had already ordered from other dealers and were using the second spot purely to flip for profit.
Spooky Pinball does not facilitate transfers; games are shipped only to the original purchaser.
Very few pinball games in history have launched and sold out the first day; examples include Metallica Remastered LE and Pulp Fiction LE.
Some dealers are charging $500 transfer fees on Beetlejuice.
Resellers are making $3,000–$5,000 in profit per Beetlejuice while dealer margins are a fraction of that.
Requiring financial commitment (deposits) before transfers reduces speculative purchasing and flipping.
Gottlieb games prior to System 3 had significant grounding issues requiring modifications
Hoops was produced with 879 units, the last street-level Gottlieb Premier game
Cueball Wizard was originally designed as a street-level game that John Norris converted to full-featured
Hoops has balanced rules making it suitable for tournament play and stall ball formats
Stargate sold over 3,600 units, the highest production number among the top 5 games
Steve Ritchie claims Claude Fernandez borrowed design ideas when transitioning from Williams to Bally for Flash Gordon
Zach Sharpe secured HarryPotterPinball.com in 2020/2021 and created a landing page for preorders, which generated controversy but ultimately proved effective for sales
Medieval Madness Remake has the longest interest list, even longer than Harry Potter
Dune is a rumor title from Barrels of Fun
Stern almost made The Matrix but wisely chose Lord of the Rings instead
American Pinball lost the He-Man/Masters of the Universe license
Interest lists have helped secure games that otherwise would not have been made
Indiana Jones is unlikely to get a new pinball due to poor performance of Dial of Destiny film
People have asked Zach to verify they remain on lists from years prior (e.g., Harry Potter from 3 years ago)
Jaws is Flip N Out Pinball's best-selling title of 2024 across all editions combined
Labyrinth sold more units than any single Jaws edition and more than all John Wick or Metallica Remastered models combined
Jaws represents approximately 10-20% of Flip N Out Pinball's total 2024 sales
Uncanny X-Men was not a flop and ranked #3 in dealership sales for 2024
Barrels of Fun has approximately 10 dealers versus Stern's ~70 dealers
Godzilla (including 70th Anniversary) ranked #4 in 2024 sales despite being released before 2024
Approximately 45% of Flip N Out Pinball's 2024 orders were for games announced before 2024
Pulp Fiction Limited Editions did not ship in 2024 but are counted in sales rankings as pre-orders
Metallica Premium sales have surpassed Uncanny X-Men Premium sales as of mid-November 2024.
Jaws Premium is Flipping Out Pinball's best-selling Stern title for 2024 new-in-box.
Beatles used secondary market pricing is approximately $8,000.
Beatles game is one of the most addictive multiplayer pinball machines ever made by Stern Pinball.
The only viable path for American Pinball to clear inventory is a fire-sale at significant discounts (25% or more).
Metallica remaster success will likely prompt Stern to announce additional Sam game remasters.
American Pinball's management situation is unattainable without major operational restructuring or capitulation.
Host lost $60,000 with Haggis Pinball
Professional cinema room installation costs minimum $30,000
A Lionsgate licensing executive is a listener of The Pinball Show and reached out regarding a pinball deal
A ride engineer for Universal's Epic Universe is a pinball show listener and inquired about pinball licensing
The odds of the Kansas City Chiefs three-peating are very low
A Vanguard employee credited host's show for advice about index funds
Host has never attended an NFL game in person
Zach owned Lord of the Rings for a couple of years and loves the game
Zach's interest in watch complications would escalate to requiring a minute repeater in any watch he purchases
Financial barriers prevent Zach from entering high-end watch collecting despite fascination with the hobby
Zach Sharpe's ancestry is primarily French-German (53%) with secondary British-Irish heritage (36%)
Elton John is not a great theme but was made successful through excellent execution in other design areas
Harry Potter, Back to the Future, Super Mario, The Goonies, and Beetlejuice are already licensed or in development with manufacturers
Nintendo has publicly stated it would want to be the manufacturer if Mario pinball is ever produced
Taylor Swift licensing is currently unavailable and more elusive than Harry Potter
Manufacturers should secure 'no-brainer' IP licenses before pursuing riskier theme choices
Pokémon is one of the largest IPs in the entire world with multifaceted revenue streams
Cengiz previously advised Zach Sharpe to ignore Kaneda and not engage in conflict, which Sharpe followed successfully
Zach Sharpe proposed that games should never have more ramps than flippers as a design principle
Black Knight Sword of Rage Premium with upper playfield is the worst upper playfield in modern pinball history
Alice Cooper by Spooky had a code update that nearly bricked the game
ABBA machine could become an overlooked gem similar to Black Knight SWORD or Iron Maiden
Pinball Brothers uses inductive sensor technology in ABBA similar to Alien machine
ABBA machine layout has interesting mechanical features including third flipper and spinner
The only real difference between ABBA trim levels is art package; Voyage has 200 fewer units for $1,000 more
Flipping Out Pinball (Zach Sharpe) is consistently honest and reliable about industry information
The speaker currently prefers Jaws to Godzilla due to narrative rule integration
Foo Fighters Premium Edition Expression Lights will ship within a couple of weekends at $500 cost
ExpressionLights for Foo Fighters Premium should ship within a couple weeks
Zach Sharpe (Flipping Out Pinball) will refund non-refundable deposits if Haggis goes bankrupt
No other pinball distributor has publicly guaranteed deposit refunds for a manufacturer's bankruptcy
Zach Sharpe was part of the production team for TMNT pinball
People in the pinball industry who target Zach Sharpe tend to do so because they know he will respond and that it won't damage their reputation as much as targeting other media figures
Driving tests are too easy and should not allow multiple retakes.
Internet algorithms are designed to amplify engaging content rather than accurate information, contributing to misinformation spread.
The speaker's grandma told him he was Jewish as a joke when he was young.
Zach Sharpe previously advocated for tournament pinball machines to be completely blank with no themes, modes, sounds, or animations
Zach Sharpe previously recommended all tournament pinball machines should be blanks without themes, modes, sounds, or animations
Zach Sharpe claims to be the most listened to pinball podcast with approximately 5,000 listens per episode
Multiple major pinball conventions have contacted the hosts about hosting a redesigned award show in recent weeks.
The pinball industry needs a break from award shows for 2023.
Ignoring or not engaging with harassers (the 'ignore him' strategy) does not effectively mitigate the problem.
Manufacturers have significant power to prevent harassment and should take action to 'nip this in the bud' at the source.
Zach Sharpe won last year's INDISC Open championship and was the first seed this year
Zach Sharpe McCarthy held top seed and used privilege to remove Street Fighter from tournament lineup
Stern's new factory is state-of-the-art and operates as a well-oiled machine
Zach Sharpe is the 2022 Open champion
Foo Fighters is fun and beautiful in design
I have quickly fallen in love with Galactic Tank Force
Galactic Tank Force is a bastard of a game that is mean at times but addictive
The game is too difficult to reach the final modes (Zulu/Ice Cream Social) for the player
The game makes everybody talk when they walk into your game room
Galactic Tank Force achieved a high score of 629 million in this play session
GTF's difficulty is very high and may prevent casual players from reaching end-game content
GTF's visual design and lighting create strong social appeal and collectibility
Pinball's fundamental design—where better players extend game duration—makes it structurally incompatible with mainstream competitive sports and mainstream viewership without radical redesign.
The competitive pinball scene does not have a clear strategic identity: it is divided between grassroots IFPA association play and aspirations for a professional league, with conflicting organizational incentives.
Zach Sharpe at Flip N Out Pinball receives customer calls at 1-2 AM regularly
The Matrix is a top-tier pinball license comparable to Back to the Future
Zach has a background in healthcare and psychology
Zach loves Disney World and has visited multiple times as a child and as an adult with family
The Bakery on Main Street candle successfully captures the scent of Main Street with notes of butter, frosting, and popcorn
The Splash candle smells like the log ride experience with musty bromine water notes
The Haunted candle smells like old, fragrant sweet wood reminiscent of Haunted Mansion
Zach's favorite rides at Disney World are Splash Mountain and Haunted Mansion
Pedretti Gaming may apply the same chaotic thematic approach to future conversion kits of classic games
Rick at Planetary Pinball approved Whirlwind Total Chaos despite poor creative direction due to financial incentives
Zach (Straight Down the Middle) produced a 45-minute Godfather Pinball analysis video with professional videography
Zach Sharpe has had a two-year hiatus from competitive play due to quarantine
Zach Sharpe is the marketing director at Stern Pinball
The Mandalorian topper will probably displace the Black Knight Sword of Rage topper as the industry's regarded best topper
Zach has pre-sold more Mandalorian toppers than Black Knight toppers, likely due to higher Mandalorian game sales volume
Zach Sharpe is expanding Flip N Out Pinball into accessories like toppers, side blades, and art blades
Custom armor mods are high-value additions that should be removed before reselling a machine to preserve mod value
Zach Sharpe successfully completed the wizard mode on stream after extended play
Zach Sharpe believes Venom will not be officially announced at Comic-Con due to production schedule and Stern's historical pattern
One Dialed-In machine in the vendor area at Pintastic played better than any machine Ron had played in a long time
Jason Zoller has won every tournament he has entered in the past year
Toy Story 4 will see secondary market price drops similar to Halloween Ultraman
Pintastic free play area had the fewest games of any year in the show's history
Stern's Stranger Things Pinball is an 'instant cult classic'
Medisinyl Mods' Stranger Things modification collection is limited edition and likely already sold out
The mod collection installation does not require splicing, drilling new holes, or major hardware modifications
Medisinyl Mods combines hand-painted artistry with 3D-printed components in their modification products
The deprivation tank mod includes internal mist effects and laser targeting system
Medisinyl Mods designed the collection with compatibility for Stern's UV kit on Premium Edition machines
Medisinyl Mods modifications transform a Stranger Things pinball machine into 'a world under glass'
The mod's value on the secondary market will increase significantly after the limited stock sells out
Zach Sharpe will never sell his Stranger Things machine with Medisinyl Mods modifications
Zach Sharpe acquires pinball machines primarily because Medisinyl Mods creates high-quality modifications for them
Toy Story 4 has the best art package of Jersey Jack Pinball's releases
Disney required the game to use only Toy Story 4 assets, not the full Toy Story franchise
Joe Katz's code and rules implementation is the highlight of the game
Forky character uses stand-up targets instead of drop targets, which hosts prefer to be drops
Top Gun remains unlicensed for pinball despite strong box office performance and design fit potential
Eric Meunier design approach of packing features at ramp apexes mirrors his Pirates of the Caribbean design strategy.
The Standard edition art (caricatures) is a major barrier to purchase despite the game being in an acceptable price point.
Keith P. Johnson executed multiball integration more successfully on Guns N' Roses than on Pirates of the Caribbean.
Dayne Henry Jr.'s art direction successfully avoids photorealistic band imagery by using character interpretations similar to Metallica's skeleton approach.
Zach Sharpe created a hot pink Ghostbusters armor modification inspired by Ooze coloring
Deadpool Pro Edition has single ramp cover; Premium Edition has wrap-around orbit ramp cover
A listener (Zach) has been waiting 14 months for his Deadpool (Pro) delivery from Stern Pinball.
Stern Pinball will not release a new Cornerstone game until August 2022
Poker homebrew shot better than other Twippies nominees
Zach Sharpe maintains lists of people interested in Harry Potter pinball
A Sega Jurassic Park pinball machine exists
The Stern Jurassic Park pinball machine is the coolest Jurassic Park toy on the market
Greg Bone is obsessed with Jurassic Park
Installing the Stern Jurassic Park machine took multiple days of solo work
Zach Sharpe provided Deadpool pinball soundtrack for use in Foghorn's podcast projects
Insider Connected represents major modernization of pinball bringing online connectivity to the medium
Metallica light show retrofit requires replacing every light socket and is difficult to install
Wizard of Oz should only be purchased with 2.0 board system; 2.0 represents fundamental improvement
Metallica Pro without light show is inferior in gameplay experience to Premium/LE versions
MOD Couple provides behind-the-scenes support to pinball community beyond their commercial products
The xenomorph head mech on Pinball Brothers' Alien works approximately 25% of the time (one out of four).
Zach represents approximately 6% of all support tickets (17 of 173) in Pinball Brothers' help portal despite owning only one of ~30 delivered machines.
Pinball Brothers responded to Zach's contact form submission with only an autogenerated email.
Flip N Out Pinball is sponsoring a Poor Man's Pinball party in Wisconsin with free beer, food, and games
Flippin' Out Pinball is now a distributor for arcade manufacturers including Raw Thrills, with machines like Jurassic Park sit-down arcade, Halo, and Cruising Blast arriving at the showroom
Show will continue featuring manufacturer product promos from Jersey Jack Pinball, Chicago Gaming Company, American Pinball, and potentially Raw Thrills
Big Buck Hunter Reloaded includes Terminator, Case of Zombies, Case of Monsters, and the main game
Online and offline versions of Big Buck Hunter Reloaded have differences
Big Buck: The Hunter Reloaded includes Terminator Salvation, Duck Dynasty, monsters, and zombies games bundled with the cabinet
Hitting a doe ends the current round
One-shot kills via headshot or heart shot are possible but extremely difficult
The bow mechanic is harder than bullets because arrows take longer to travel and must be led
Further distance targets award more points
Big Buck: The Hunter is an addictive and fun arcade game suitable for home use
Zach Sharpe reports the two biggest daily customer requests are for Deadpool and Elvira's House of Horrors
The game has limited mode variety, with only 4-5 main modes in normal play, causing repetition after extended ownership
Zach Sharpe played Willy Wonka more than all other Jersey Jack Pinball machines he has owned combined
Pat Lawler designed the game with location operator/quarter-eating mentality while Joe Katz coded with depth/player options philosophy
The game requires extended ownership to fully experience its code depth, making it poor for casual location play
Willy Wonka is more of a collector's machine that rewards deep play rather than a casual location operator game
Zach Sharpe previously conducted a drunk unboxing of Pirates of the Caribbean
Zach Sharpe answers customer messages within three minutes
Zach Sharpe is the Director of Marketing at Stern Pinball and Vice President of IFPA
ROM modifications that preserve the 'soul' of a game while fixing bugs are acceptable and desirable
Zach Sharpe is a key contact/personality for TPN
The Elvira's House of Horrors topper is more expensive and harder to find than the Jurassic Park topper
Stern sometimes releases toppers with incomplete feature sets that are later enhanced via code updates
The Elvira topper features a 3D molded design with LED lighting in the eyes and interactive display box
Stern topper installation requires only two connections: an RJ45 Ethernet cable to CN12 (CPU) and a power cable to CN7 (power distribution board)
Flip n Out Pinball can place customers on pre-release waitlists for upcoming Stern toppers
The Elvira topper's interactive box feature displays during specific gameplay moments
Jeremy Packer's artwork side profile on Thanos is the nicest piece of artwork on the entire machine
Premium Edition offers better value than Limited Edition due to identical artwork without premium powder coat upgrades
Keith Elwin will surpass John Borg's status as premier Pro designer
The Avengers game is probably a cornerstone machine based on insider information
Guns N' Roses will be a standard-body game, not wide-body
Guns N' Roses collector's edition will feature signatures of all band members
Zach Sharpe is the head of marketing at Stern Pinball
TMNT Premium Edition machines are expected to ship mid-month (from mid-January 2026 reference)
The installation takes approximately 10 minutes for someone with basic technical ability
Spooky Pinball machines have constantly-running fans, unlike Stern machines
Pin Monk's instructions are exceptionally well-written with clear positioning diagrams
The mod is an effective solution for recording video content in rooms with multiple pinball machines
Greg would be able to eat approximately 5 slices of an 8-slice pizza before unboxing completed
Zach Sharpe is attempting to win U.S. Nationals, Pin-Masters, and Pinburgh in the same season (Eric Stone miracle/double-double)
Zach Sharpe achieved a one-stroke (hole-in-one) score of 35 million on Star Trek, reaching the target on his first ball
Zach Sharpe regularly picks Star Trek and Abracadabra as his tournament selections
Stern toppers are super simple to install, requiring only a couple of cords and screws
The topper's visual effects include flickering torches, light sequences, backlit red coloring, and subtle lightning marks
Zach Sharpe designed Barnyard and was formerly a Stern Pinball designer
The Pinball Cribs content series will return with potential format modifications
Wonka's theme is rated A+ while Elvira's theme is rated B-
Zach has played approximately 4-5 times more games on Wonka than on Elvira due to longer ownership period
Canon 90D DSLR was used for filming Cribs content
Lyman is a skilled coder for Stern machines, though Iron Man code is an exception
Casual play strategy differs significantly from tournament-optimized competitive play on Elvira
Zach Sharpe won the award for most rule suggestions accepted in Scott Denise's Flight 2000 code modification project
Zach Sharpe has been Director of Marketing at Stern Pinball for three years as of summer 2021
Zach Sharpe personally owns eight pinball machines including Jurassic Park Premium, Walking Dead Premium, and Iron Maiden Premium
Jurassic Park and Cyclops are 'perfect games' but no game can be 100% perfect because everything can be improved
Chicago has inherent tribal knowledge advantages for pinball manufacturing comparable to Detroit's automotive dominance
Roller Coaster Tycoon is Zach Sharpe's strongest game and he would confidently select it four times in a tournament against any opponent
Video game background designers like Tim Sexton bring fresh perspectives that can only help improve modern pinball game design
Zach Sharpe made a costly error in early Metallica code by selecting $5 million crank it down without flipping
All six mods in the Alice Cooper collection should be purchased together as they are all essential
The Alice Cooper mod collection from Measle Mods is equally or more impressive than their Elvira's House of Horrors collection
Measle Mods' mod designs appear to be factory-integrated due to precise alignment and thematic consistency
RGB mod installation using splicer technique is accessible to non-expert installers despite appearing intimidating
Zach Sharpe is a one-pin player who plays single machines for weeks before rotating
I love Stranger Things and it is one of the best shows on television
I have never met anyone in pinball who loves pinball as much as I do
Zach Sharpe became a Flippin' Out Pinball distributor in March 2019
Zach Sharpe's critical quality has declined since becoming a pinball distributor
Medieval Madness re-release topper is one of the best toppers ever made from an artistic standpoint
Keith Elwin designed Jurassic Park with a variable captive ball that has kinetic satisfaction
The game features four ramps with innovative routing including two 180-degree ramps
Jeremy Packer referred Johnny Pinball to Stern for the Jurassic Park art project
The Limited Edition Jurassic Park playfield feels noticeably different from the Pro version
Zach Sharpe purchased The Munsters as his first new game but sold it after oscillating between loving and hating it, though now regrets the sale
Oktoberfest: Pinball on Tap magnet catch placement is superior to Black Knight: Sword of Rage because it serves functional purpose for third flipper shot
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory is positioned as strong Game of the Year contender for 2019 Twippies Awards
Zach Sharpe receives brand new games from manufacturers to stream
Zach Sharpe leadership at Stern has implemented strategic 'behind the scenes' marketing initiatives
The magnet ball-stop-and-throw mechanism in Addams Family never wears out as a long-term engagement driver
No pinball game prior to 1992 was more toy-loaded than Addams Family
Chris Greiner was the leading music composer in pinball during the 1990s
Zach Sharpe gave a pointed stare directly into a livestreamer's camera at CES, signaling frustration about Munsters leak
The Lord of the Rings is arguably the greatest pinball machine ever made
Emoto Harney is a world-famous pinball filmmaker and artist who runs a production company
Bad Santa (2003) features a pinball machine debuting in the film
Elf became a household Christmas classic despite initial poor reception
A Christmas Story was filmed in Fort Wayne, Indiana area
Zach started at RIT in 2014
Beatles pinball costs $8,500 for the Gold model and goes up from there
Zach Sharpe was buying more than one pinball machine per month during a recent peak acquisition period
Data East games share distinctive 'chunky' signature music that makes them identifiable across titles
The call-outs on Spider-Man Vault sound like they were recorded by a single voice actor trying to cover multiple characters
We started the show based on our true personalities - Greg kicking the tires on every pinball machine on Craigslist and Zach loving to talk to anyone who loves pinball
SDTM's equipment upgrades over the last month are better than upgrades over the previous two years
Houdini has better shooting mechanics than Deadpool (Pro), with easier inside orbit and better shot completion rates
Oktoberfest is priced similarly to Monster Bash LE at approximately $7,000
Circus Voltaire doesn't have enough depth as a pinball machine
Zach scored 10 million points on Houdini in Face Off competition, defeating Greg's 6 million point score
Zach Sharpe won the first Disco Loops challenge with a score of 127 + 5 million bonus = 130 million points
Zach Sharpe won the one-handed two-minute scoring challenge
Comet Pinball's 2 SMD frosted sunlight bulbs are the best compromise between bluish natural white laboratory lighting and warm white lighting.
Comet Pinball sells a Deadpool relighting kit for $25-50 that changes the lighting aesthetics by replacing red inserts with frosted versions.
We immediately replaced all the stock bulbs on our Guardians of the Galaxy machine with Comet Pinball's frosted sunlight bulbs out of the box.
Deadpool's swing/bank shot to playfield multiplier is very difficult to hit but satisfying, and can enable up to 5x playfield multiplier.
Deadpool's main multiball is the ninja multiball, and jackpot values scale based on how many ninjas were defeated during regular gameplay.
We want to make reviews more detailed and educational so viewers understand reasons for our grading and how to play the machines.
Monster Bash remake is an upcoming title they have knowledge of through NDA
Jeremy Packer rejected Zach's Facebook friend request after criticism of Deadpool artwork
Indiana Jones by Williams is the greatest pinball machine ever developed
Community consensus on ideal pinball collection size is 3-7 machines with 5 being optimal
Spider-Man Vault gets old fast according to multiple player sources
Pin Stadium Lights can be installed on all pinball machines while Color DMD is limited to DMD-equipped games
The Munsters TV series had 70+ episodes across two seasons
Deadpool pinball machines from Stern are becoming standard/routine enough that unboxing them is losing entertainment value
Batman 66 lacks story progression in main villain modes and primarily revolves around 'shoot the lit' mechanics
Star Wars Pro's Hyperspace Loop shot is worth the $1,500-2,000 price premium over Star Wars (Premium)
Lord of the Rings is one of the best coded pinball games ever made
Star Wars (Premium) may be Steve Ritchie greatest shooting pin if dialed in correctly
Iron Maiden has possibly the best loop shot in pinball, potentially better than Star Trek
Keith Elwin structured the Iron Maiden ruleset with help from a programmer team
Iron Maiden's code is among Stern Pinball's best, comparable to but not exceeding The Walking Dead
Star Wars Premium Edition is better than the Pro version due to improved shooting feel and ball routing
Zach Sharpe sold Houdini Master of Mystery to maximize return before secondary market depreciation
Zach achieved a 100 million score on Iron Maiden at the Allentown tournament
Zach Sharpe played Lethal Weapon 3 as a child at a bowling alley around age 8-10
Iron Maiden LE units have already sold out
The original Iron Maiden reveal stream cannot be archived due to different licensing terms between live and archived broadcasts
The prototype was originally codenamed 'Archer' and played at Indisc before Stern secured the license
Zach Sharpe became a fan of Iron Maiden music through playing Keith Elwin machine during development
Stern's hiring of competitive players (Zach Sharpe, Keith Elwin, Tim Sexton) was one of the company's best decisions
Pinburgh sold out in 45 seconds when tickets were released
Iron Maiden has five modes
Zach Sharpe has been with Stern since August [2023]
Alice Cooper reveal at TPF suffered from poor lighting, audio issues, and limited playfield visibility from audience position
Zach Sharpe was hired as Stern Pinball's PR and marketing person in 2017
Ghostbusters still lacks a significant Wizard mode one year after release.
Jersey Jack animator (credited as 'Jurassic Park, my boy') produces superior animations across all Jersey Jack Pinball releases.
Later production runs of Avatar Limited Edition play smoother with better shot feel than early production versions.
Pirates of the Caribbean is more comprehensible than Dialed In! despite having greater code depth
Zach has contemplated selling all machines except Lost World
Skull and Bones is a System 11-style game despite being a DMD machine
The game's backglass is one of the uglier backglasses in pinball
SDTM is approaching 1-year anniversary with ~1,200 subscriber milestone achieved or nearly achieved
Zach Sharpe has Houdini Master of Mystery machine receiving Pin Stadium Lights modifications
Zach Sharpe pulled the power cord from an Aerosmith machine during a tournament rage tilt at Swilberger and was disqualified
Houdini Master of Mystery features an integrated Allen wrench bolt system for both head attachment and leg assembly that is a first in pinball
The factory was assembling and boxing multiple completed Houdini machines ready for imminent shipment
Houdini Master of Mystery features a 15.6-inch monitor integrated into the back glass with LED strips
The game's bumpers move the entire chamber/housing rather than just the bumper cap
American Pinball staff demonstrated good hospitality and the company has significant future releases planned
Zach Sharpe sold both Tron and The Hobbit pinball machines to fund the purchase of Houdini Master of Mystery
Houdini Master of Mystery has more modes and depth than Total Nuclear Annihilation
Christopher Franchi and Dirty Donnie have fundamentally different artistic styles comparable to Picasso vs. Monet
Zach will receive a Houdini Master of Mystery in his home by the episode release date
Tron's mini wizard mode (Sea of Simulation) features a unique ladder mechanic that no other machine implements
The core shot on Tron is harder to hit than the gym shot
Zach Sharpe is a Stern Pinball colleague of Keith Elwin
Pat Lawlor designed both Dialed In and Shrek
Evil Knievel (Star Trek) will be Schmitty's first pinball restoration project
The Hobbit is complex enough that new players need to learn the rules to appreciate it
Zach Sharpe is currently ranked #1 in IFPA rankings and serves as Vice President of the IFPA
Stern Army program will be expanded from 50 to 500 locations
Pinball can return to its popularity levels of the early 1990s
The Pin entry-level product line is 'a lot of fun to play' despite community criticism
Most people who play pinball experience some level of enjoyment from it
Zach Sharpe was ranked #1 in IFPA rankings at the time of his Stern hiring
Stern was experiencing rapid growth that stretched its marketing capacity thin
Stern Army program can grow from 50 to 500 locations with proper marketing support
The Pin entry-level product line is 'actually a lot of fun to play' despite enthusiast criticism
Pinball can return to 1990s popularity heights with continued innovation and market expansion
Every person who plays pinball experiences some level of enjoyment
Grassroots word-of-mouth is the primary driver of pinball hobby growth
Work conflicts will occasionally prevent Sharpe from competing in tournaments despite his Director of Marketing role
Zach Sharpe visits hookedonpinball.com every time he buys a new machine to find high-quality mods
Dialed In plays smoother and better out of the box than at trade shows
Zach Sharpe recently achieved a $23 billion score on Attack from Mars
Zach Sharpe previously disliked EM machines but now appreciates them after finding this one cheap
Indiana has very limited pinball venue infrastructure
Popeye pinball is an underrated game with significant depth despite community criticism
Zach Sharpe recently sold Xenon from his collection
Star Wars pinball layout and design were by Richie Fulcher (Richie Knoxville) with code by Jim Sullivan
Zach finished 33rd in his first Pinberg tournament
Indiana Jones color DMD is one of the best implementations Zach has seen
Drop targets on Indiana Jones create air balls similar to Ghostbusters but with protective coating and kickback
All 12 modes in Indiana Jones are built into the bonus, making tilting especially costly
Zach Sharpe had never successfully beaten the minecart video mode reaction-time challenge before this stream
Indiana Jones diverter may not be functioning optimally, causing Path of Adventure to appear too frequently
Zach Sharpe was one shot away from completing the Eternal Life multiball wizard mode
Zach Sharpe didn't know you could hold start button to restart a game in Ghostbusters
Zach Sharpe traded his Star Wars Pinball for Walking Dead Pinball because Star Wars lacks depth for solo play and the tie-fighter assault mode is tedious and button-mashy
Star Wars Pinball will 'kill on location' primarily because of the Star Wars IP license, not game depth
Star Wars Premium Edition will likely include a Hyperloop mechanic similar to NASCAR or Supercharger
Kiss by Stern is not fully coded but remains enjoyable with sufficient depth despite incomplete implementation
John Popadiuk is a superior designer to Steve Richie due to creative innovation in games like Circus Voltaire and Tales of Arabian Nights
Batman 66 launch reception was similarly harmed by incomplete code, making it comparable to current Kiss perception issues
Houdini Master of Mystery may see production start before the end of 2024
Star Wars Pinball units shipped without code installed; code deployment delayed pending Stern approval
Star Wars Pinball has four main shots that are orbits, limiting mechanical variety
Flow-based game design without substantive shot variety leads to long-term play fatigue
Game of Thrones Premium topper dragon should be larger to better span the backbox width
The Shadow has the best ball lock in pinball (the Sanctum)
The Shadow's mini-playfield is one of the best, if not the best, in pinball history
Good condition The Shadow machines are available in the secondary market for $3,500 and are a 'hell of a steal'
The Shadow has innovative dual-flipper diverter mechanics enabling four distinct ramp shots
The Shadow is faster/more combo-oriented than Addams Family pinball
Comet purple passion bulbs significantly improve the appearance of The Shadow's mode inserts
Zach sold The Walking Dead Pro anticipating Star Wars Pinball release
Metallica is the number one ranked game of all time
The Lost World is a smoother, faster-playing game than Jurassic Park
Lord of the Rings has superior wizard mode complexity to Spider-Man
Gozer is the toughest mode on Ghostbusters
Slimer shot registers very regularly and is reliable for lock progression
Stacking multiplier, multiball, and Stay Puft together creates an exceptionally powerful scoring opportunity
Mass Hysteria can be activated during Stay Puft Marshmallow Man multiball
Zach Sharpe has owned approximately 60 pinball machines over his collecting career
Spooky Pinball machines have separate amplifiers with treble and bass controls for audio customization
The Flintstones is one of the coolest-looking pinball machines aesthetically
Physical ball locks add substantial cost to game manufacturing but provide significant cool factor and visual appeal that justifies the expense
Total Nuclear Annihilation is still in prototype/early stage and not yet in production
Virtual ball locks that return balls immediately are inferior to physical locks that retain the ball
CSI pinball is rare and not many copies were manufactured
Aerosmith's toy box lock can hold 4-6 balls instead of the standard 3-ball limit
Dead Flip produced video coverage of Total Nuclear Annihilation prototype gameplay
Metallica's repetitive ruleset makes the game feel like 'chopping wood' and becomes tiresome after a few games for experienced players.
Metallica is an excellent entry-level game for new pinball players but not ideal for experienced collectors with multiple machines.
Used Metallica machines are almost impossible to find in stock condition because the vast majority have been modded with color DMDs and aftermarket accessories.
Playing Metallica converted Zach from a Metallica music skeptic into a fan, leading him to purchase Metallica music on iTunes.
Back to the Future pinball is a poor game out of the box despite being based on excellent source material
Toy Story should be developed as a Jersey Jack Pinball machine to fit the brand's handcrafted aesthetic
Zach Sharpe qualified late for the tournament despite typically receiving automatic bye
Zach Sharpe has achieved billion-point scores on Ghostbusters at Expo
Aerosmith has the best multiball coding Zach has ever seen in any Stern game
Metallica causes players to lose interest quickly compared to Aerosmith's engaging gameplay
Dirty Donnie's art on Aerosmith is comparable in quality to Batman 66's hand-painted artwork
The skill shot during Aerosmith multiball requires grabbing the shooter within approximately 2 seconds before auto-eject
Aerosmith's six-ball multiball allows lighting all locks before physically locking any ball, offering unique strategic depth
Metallica Pro offers better value than Premium Edition despite Premium's superior aesthetics
Stern Premium Edition flippers and slings feel mechanically different and superior to Pro Edition despite using identical hardware
Medieval Madness Remake is preferable to original Medieval Madness
Houdini Master of Mystery is preferable to Alien despite Alien being proven and closer to shipping
Aerosmith Pro code is better than Kiss code
People at Texas show changed purchase preference from Alien to Houdini Master of Mystery after hands-on play
Power down mode on Johnny Mnemonic is one of the coolest wizard modes in pinball
Horde is arguably one of the best wizard modes in pinball
Completing six multi-kills across different modes makes the Woodberry shot eligible to start Horde
In Horde, closer proximity when shooting a walker grants higher points
Completing all five different modes unlocks a second wizard mode
The Walking Dead is worth purchasing for the Horde experience alone
Capitalizing on multiballs is essential to success in Walking Dead
The Tron EL Wire Kit for AC/DC Pro is visually indistinguishable from the Limited Edition version when installed
The Judge Dredd Dead World mod converts the game's original ball-return to a physical ball lock mechanism
Making pinball mods is financially unrewarding relative to the time investment required
Installing the Tron EL Wire Kit increases secondary market resale value substantially
The Metallica Snake mod by Pin Graphics adds visual continuity to the snake-ramp interaction
The Tron EL Wire Kit for Pro is the single most needed mod on any pinball game
AC/DC Vault will release before Tron Vault
Mike D's Creature from the Black Lagoon LCD mod is no longer in production
Vault editions of pinball games devalue earlier Pro/Premium versions through reduced rarity and lower pricing
Beatmaster is a Canadian mod maker
The Star Trek Vengeance mod by Beatmaster is available in blue and red color options, with blue selling out faster
Investing in a Tron EL Wire Kit mod on a Pro will result in substantially more money when selling the machine
Klingon Battle is the toughest mode in the game
The K shot is a true skill shot that is tricky to hit
Mode four in We Came We Saw We Kicked Its Ass is more lucrative than earlier modes
The Scolari Brothers are the only thing that can mess up current gameplay objectives
Mass Hysteria multiball features flipper switching where left and right flippers alternate
Stay Puft mode allows for 50 million point shots when played
The Don't Cross the Streams scoop can reach close to 60 million points at maximum
Ghostbusters pinball rewards multiball stacking with Stay Puft mode for significant scoring
Slimer target on Ghostbusters does not register consistently, requiring alternative strategies
Multiplier combos can be stacked with Stay Puft mode for bonus multiplier scoring
The third flipper ramp on Dialed In! is one of the smoothest ramps in all of pinball
Pat Lawlor designed the entire story and universe for Dialed In! from scratch without licensed IP constraints
The shaker motor on Dialed In! drain sequence is perfectly timed to simulate ball passing
Straight Down the Middle's review philosophy is to review games upon release to public if they're quality enough to ship
Pat Waller made some of the best pinball games
The Wizard of Oz may be the most beautiful machine ever made
Poor quality or overpriced machines on a customer's first purchase will discourage them from continuing to collect pinball
If a retailer had acknowledged the acid damage issue and offered to fix it for ~$150-300, the Pinside thread would have praised them instead of criticizing them
Host prefers mode progression gameplay over multiplier/scoring optimization
Zach Sharpe was last year's world champion at ReplayFX
Zach Sharpe is ranked approximately 3-4 in the world at pinball
Zach Sharpe Parks is a 12-year-old who dominated The Walking Dead tournament
Zach Sharpe won Attack from Mars in tournament competition
Zach Sharpe is from Chicago
Zach Sharpe is ranked #3 in the world and serves as coach for Chicago pinball
Zach Sharpe is the coaching mentor for DeadFlip team
Elite pinball player; mentioned as top-tier competitor; Klyce noted not recruiting such players for internal game balance testing
Ranked number one pinball player in the world; appeared on Head2Head Pinball podcast previous week to discuss Iron Maiden; brother of Josh Sharpe; recruited as Bloodbath team member
Winner of Illinois Open State Finals; Stern Pinball employee; defeated CJ 4-2 in quarterfinals and Zach McCarthy 4-0 in semifinals
Referenced as player who stopped competitive pinball play; used as comparison point for Martin's similar decision
Owner of Flip n Out Pinball, provided Sonic display edition for stream, also owns retail/media company with Nicole
Competitive pinball player who defeated Nick Mueller in North American Championships tiebreaker
Leadership at Stern Pinball (post-takeover); credited by Joe with strategic marketing moves and 'behind the scenes' initiatives
Co-host of Straight Down the Middle Pinball; released detailed Houdini review at American Pinball HQ
Competitive pinball player, formerly #1 IFPA ranked, now expecting a child, runs Straight Down the Middle content
Host/owner of Flip N Out Pinball; posted 5-minute gameplay video of Sonic
Stern Pinball marketing representative; sends outreach emails announcing new games; noted as part of Stern's proactive marketing strategy.
Operator/distributor represented on stream; coordinates giveaways and pinball machine provision; associated with Flip It Out
Host of The Pinball Show podcast; visited Jersey Jack Pinball and played Sonic the Hedgehog; provides insider industry commentary and collector perspective
Mentioned as a reputable pinball dealer who helps new players
Referenced as owner of a beautifully restored Tales of the Arabian Nights machine and other era games; associated with Flip N Out Pinball operations
Deadpool game participant, plays split flipper with Jack Danger due to his one-handed playing
Competitive pinball player from Chicago, Illinois; participated in Game 3 round; known for strong flipper control and strategic shot selection
Pinball tournament player from Chicago, Illinois; returning circuit player who dominated Game 4 with exceptional Avengers Infinity Quest play and over 200 million points
Stern Pinball employee conducting factory tour; member of Sharp family; involved in factory operations and media outreach
Spooky team member; created featurette video for Beetlejuice; Kaneda praises as 'amazing' and says video will convince anyone into pinball to want Beetlejuice
Associated with Flip It Out; Kaneda references watching Zach's Spooky featurette video after livestream
Stern representative who promised early Pokemon unboxing access to WAP host; confirmed Stern is listening to podcast
Competitive pinball player who competed against Colin MacAlpine in Pinburgh 2017 final sessions
Individual who invited Orbital Albert to Pokemon media day on February 11th
Co-host of Head2Head Pinball / Straight Down the Middle pinball show, pinball operator/collector, content creator
Participant in the celebration stream, plays against other guests
Owner of Flip N Out Pinball; host of Flippin' Up Pinball YouTube channel and Straight Down the Middle Pinball podcast; described as entertaining and very easy to deal with
Pinball player and rules expert; critical of Iron Maiden's multiball-heavy wizard mode design; prefers single-ball modes
Director of Marketing at Stern Pinball; competed at IFPA 15; wife pregnant (due August); lost in competition on Dragon Fist final game
Pinball player known to Jamie who shares affinity for reality television, active in pinball community.
Content creator; produced Beetlejuice feature/teaser video praised by Jamie for quality and effort; thanked publicly for 'thankless job' of feature creation
Stern Pinball employee who approved and participated in customer event factory tour
Co-owner of Flipping Out Pinball (mentioned as supplier); helped Josh Roop obtain a Jazz 70
Director of Marketing at Stern Pinball; lost in first round of Stern Pro Circuit two years in a row; collaborates on game design with George Gomez
Operator/owner of Flip N Out Pinball (sponsor); mentioned as Nicole Money's partner
Owner/operator of Flip N Out Pinball with Nicole Mini; pinball vendor handling new and used machine sales; offering $500 discount on Funhouse with LoserKid code
Elite pinball player; competed against Acari in 2013 Papa Circuit final; beat him at Pinburg on Clown (Zaccaria)
Associated with Flip n Out/distributor, confirmed Winchester sellout to Ken and Greg
Operator of Flip N Out Pinball (distributor/retailer in Evansville, Indiana); sells used games; mentioned as separate from this podcast but coordinating content strategy
Co-owner of Flip N Out Pinball dealership; podcast sponsor
Stern Pinball marketing/communications representative; maintains information embargo on unreleased titles; known for joking deflection rather than leaking details
Son of Roger Sharpe; took over operation of IFPA/PAPA with brother Josh
Host of The Pinball Show, distributor/dealer at Flipping Out Pinball, industry analyst discussing production updates and market dynamics
Operator of Flip N Out Pinball distributor; sponsor of episode; interfaces with Stern support on behalf of customers; helped troubleshoot Ralph's Walking Dead Remaster CPU board issue.
Operator/streamer; runs 'straight down the middle' pinball streaming operation; praised by Kuyper for streaming quality and community support
Stern Pinball employee who sent Media Day invites; contacted Don about event details
Jersey Jack Pinball CEO or senior leader; reportedly declined featurette content requests to focus on business operations
Operator/owner of Flip N Out Pinball (referenced as sponsor); appears to be referred to as 'Zach Meny' or similar variant in content
Stern Pinball representative; coordinated Donnie's factory visit during X-Men release week
Pinball manufacturer/operator; released John Wick LE video; operates million-dollar pinball business; previously had conflict with Kaneda which Cengiz advised him to ignore
Sells pinball machines; commentates on pinball hobby; mentioned as example of industry figure with bias that requires disclosure
Stern hire; competitive player who contributes to game design and marketing
Pinball collector/community member. Picked up and delivered Grand Slam ballet game to guest (storage machine).
Pinball reviewer (part of review team with Greg); criticized by Kaneda for potential financial conflict of interest with JJP (alleged six-figure allocations); praised for technical review quality
Third host of Slam Tilt Podcast, competitive pinball player, visited Pinson Addy
Rush Pro owner experiencing critical scoop damage; unable to get clear warranty/repair guidance from Stern; referenced as 'Our Zach'
Stern representative; explained factory tour invitation strategy to Jonathan/Martin (domestic media only for first event)
Creator of Poker homebrew machine; designed all custom components (boards, displays, rules); advocated for by Slam Tilt hosts in Twippies voting
Competitive pinball player who competed against Ron at InDisc tournament; complimented Ron's play during Classics 2 second round
Pinball community member; previously blocked by Kaneda but unblocked during this show; mentioned as returning to the community
RPC player, won both Pinball Profile World Tour and World Series tournaments, known for competitive skill
Competitive pinball tournament winner at Pinberg, friendly with Nate, now works at Stern Pinball in a role, featured in Pinball with the Pros video series
Third host of Slam Tilt Podcast; attended Pintastic 2024, played Toy Story 4 extensively, competed in tournament finals, lost to Jason Zoller
Competitive pinball trivia player; usually wins Pinheads trivia but has missed last two events
Media personality not invited to preview Weird Al game; mentioned alongside Kaneda
Owner of Flip N Out Pinball distribution; reports exceptional sales velocity on Pokémon Pinball pre-orders; supplied both Pro and Premium versions to operators including Houston Pinball
Stern Pinball representative who sent cold emails to selected pinball content creators inviting them to factory tour
Referenced as 'Mr. Sharp' working with Dutch Pinball on rumored Batman 1989 project
Owner/operator of Many a Flippin' Out Pinball; recommended for new game purchases, upgrades, toppers, and customer service
Lead on Foo Fighters LCD animation; distinct from Paul (Venom lead animator)
Industry figure with whom hosts have discussed LCD integration, ball hold mechanics, and immersion design philosophy in depth
Head of Marketing at Stern Pinball; contestant on recent Heads Up Invitational
Elite pinball player from earlier generation that Zoller studied and competed against
Owner of Flip N Out Pinball; customer service focus; brought Greg Bone onto team; endorsed by podcast as excellent pinball retailer
Owner of Flip and Out Pinball; praised as customer-centric, choosing customer happiness over sales; Kevin recently purchased second game from him
Owner of Flip N Out Pinball, sponsor of Buffalo Pinball podcast
Associated with Flip It Out distribution/streaming; mentioned in chat interactions
Stern employee; designer/coder; messaged Josh about removing Jack Danger content before official announcement; maintains regular communication with Loser Kid
Josh's brother, ranked 21st in Stern Pro Circuit, works at Stern Pinball, strong Grand Slam player
Marketing Director at Stern Pinball; host's guest; brother of Josh Sharpe; father of Benson (16 months old); tournament/operator background; responsible for game launches, pricing strategy, tournament partnerships, and Stern Army/licensing coordination.
Director of Marketing at Stern Pinball; Vice President of IFPA; Roger Sharp's son; competitive pinball player and winner of at least one Pinburg
Competitive pinball player; participated in inaugural pin baseball format game with Robert Byers on Jurassic Park
Stern Pinball representative noted for strong public relations work and media strategy
Competitive pinball player; brother of Josh Sharpe; both reduced tournament participation due to life changes
Appeared on Nicky Rich Show for Stern Pinball publicity
Host of Straight Down the Middle podcast; provides majority of commentary and analysis on Monster Bash LE
Co-host of The Pinball Show, podcast episode 50; operates as dealer/collector; provides market analysis and dealer perspective on supply chains, pricing, location player feedback
Host of Straight Down the Middle Pinball podcast/video series. Conducts vendor interviews and expo coverage. Demonstrates strong enthusiasm for pinball machine design and aesthetics.
Co-host of Straight Down the Middle, primary voice expressing collecting philosophy and game preferences
Co-host/creator of Straight Down the Middle YouTube channel (referred to as 'Zach' in the video)
Host of the video; identified as owner/operator of Flip N Out Pinball, a pinball distributor
Based in Rochester, NY; will be joining Ron Hallett and Stephanie Guida after her relocation; involved with Rochester Pinball Collective LLC
Assistant/third host of Slam Tilt Podcast; pinball collector; recently purchased Pinball Brothers Alien machine; defeated Stu McVicker; won previous Death Ball tournament; runs Castle Zach venue
Host of The Pinball Show; provides industry analysis, market trends, and personal collector perspectives
Owner/operator of Flipping Out Pinball, manages pre-order lists and distribution
Stern Pinball designer, confirmed that Batman 66 code updates are in active development
Reference in TPN (The Pinball Network) satirical commercial parody; associated with network coordination
Pinball enthusiast, TD Tech for Stump tournament, praised Ron's Circus Safari playfield, owns modified EM machines, gave critical feedback on games
Operator at Flip N Out Pinball; swapped Joel's Venom Pro for Venom Premium; helped Joel understand Premium mechanics.
Pinball player; brother of Josh Sharpe; competed in Free Play Florida 2017 but not 2018
Recently appointed to head of marketing at Stern Pinball; responsible for Stern of the Union newsletter that publishes game update announcements.
Competitive pinball player, competed in circuit finals, lost matches on Stern Avengers due to Soul Gem mechanic
Winner of the 2018 Heads Up Championship; defeated Bowen Kerins in finals; brother of Josh Sharpe
Josh Sharpe's brother, competitive pinball player mentioned in historical context of being prevented from competing young
Co-organizer of IFPA 15 with Josh; brother of Josh; competitive player; won WWE machine at Heads Up Championship; black belt (second degree)
Stern Pinball marketing/business development; Kaneda criticizes him for focusing on tournament players and operators rather than home collector audience; calls him smart but misaligned
Co-host of The Pinball Show; received CPAP strap and travel bidet as Christmas gifts from Dennis Creasel; operates/owns Flip N Out Pinball
Director of Marketing at Stern Pinball, former #1 ranked competitive pinball player (2017), Pinberg 2015 champion, recently became father to Benson, brother of Josh Sharp
Elite pinball player and Stern Pinball employee (Director of Marketing); former tournament champion; competitor in Thrilla in Sternilla
Slam Tilt community member known for fast ticket acquisition; experienced credit card decline on Pinball Invasion super supporter tickets
Host of This Week in Pinball podcast; had debate with Dennis on Hobbit discussion during episode 17
Appeared on Good Morning America with Stern pinball machines
Owner of the Gold Edition Beatles machine that Joel and Jared borrowed for gameplay and streaming
Director of Marketing at Stern Pinball; panelist at San Diego Comic-Con
Placed 9th in Flipout Tournament A Division
Stern representative; participated in Monsters reveal at CES, dressed as monster character
Guest on episode, younger protege of Lyman Sheets, worked with Lyman at Stern Pinball on games including Elvira and Batman 66. Cites The Walking Dead as favorite Lyman game.
Stern Pinball designer/personality; appeared as Wolfman in Monsters CES launch presentation
Co-host of Straight Down the Middle; game distributor; leads Munsters review with new weighted scoring system
Stern Pinball executive; gave Jeff tour of Stern factory in Chicago; showed boxed Munsters machines
Associated with Rochester Pinball Collective; collects Future Spa pinball machines; plays and evaluates new games; referenced as 'our Zach' by Slam Tilt hosts
Co-owner/operator of Flip N Out Pinball; quickly arranged Mandalorian machine sale within 30 minutes; praised for customer service; has podcast presence discussing licensing issues.
Host of Special When Lit podcast, central to April Fool's podcast prank
Stern Pinball representative; made statement about virus impact on release schedule to This Week in Pinball
Director of Marketing at Stern Pinball, competitive pinball player and champion, discusses production lines and timelines
Current or former #1 IFPA player now employed at Stern Pinball. Works alongside Raymond Davidson and Keith Elwin in Stern's player lineup.
Stern Pinball representative who sent media day invitations to WAP hosts; organizes factory tours and media events
Son of Roger Sharpe; appeared with father on Pinball Wizards game show
Stern representative who invited WAP hosts to Stern media day event
Guest; software engineer (works code/programming); owns ~50 machines; provides rule suggestions for ROM mods; active on Pinside forum
Pinball enthusiast mentioned for Gammatron restoration project; likely Straight Outta the Middle host based on context
Unboxed and received Beetlejuice #1; involved in recent machine trade-in dispute; appears to be content contributor or nearby collector
Stern representative providing official comment on personnel changes to press
Associated with Special When Lit and Flipping Out Pinball streaming; receives brand new games from manufacturers
Pinball player, participates in tournaments, co-host of Straight Down the Middle podcast
Top competitive player who visited District 82 for first time; known for obscure rules knowledge; taught Rachel Twilight Zone replay bonus detail
Stern Pinball employee, provided conference room for Triple Drain interviews, owner of King Kong LE that Joel borrowed
Owner of Flip N Out Pinball; mentioned in sponsor segment as distributor for new games including Avengers Infinity Quest, Turtles, Jurassic Park
Co-host of The Pinball Show, owner of Flipping Out Pinball, pinball operator and commentator on industry news and technical issues
Industry figure; publicly responding to European region questions on behalf of manufacturer
Stern representative; invited WAP hosts to Star Wars launch event (10th of month); explained European licensing restriction to hosts.
Co-host of The Pinball Show; advocates for horror-themed pinball machines; produces content including unboxing videos
Co-host of Flip N Out Pinball stream; pinball content creator and influencer
Won PAPA 22 World Championships main event (mentioned as 'z mac')
Stern marketing/business representative interviewed by hosts at media event
Mentioned as connected to Steven Bowden; implied association with Stern's media day decisions
Senior Director of Marketing at Stern Pinball; credited with strategy of bringing influencers/YouTubers to media events
Mentioned as pinball show host who questioned Tony's lack of excitement about Fall of the Empire before its reveal
Co-host of Straight Down the Middle YouTube channel
Detected Bond pop-up information on Jack Dangerous stream; has swimming pool; pinball enthusiast
Jeff Teels' brother, played Batman in extended multi-match play match that triggered format discussion
Owner of the Beetlejuice Collector's Edition machine being demonstrated; has a custom 'butter' cabinet
Stern Pinball contact person for content creator event invitations; email: zach.sharpe@sternpinball.com (or similar); handles creator relations.
Owner/operator of Flip N Out Pinball; has unit #1 of Winchester Mystery House; wants to play it before streaming; contractually involved with Joel and Jared for Expo
CMO at Stern; Jamie attempted interview request via LinkedIn; not confirmed to participate in roundtable
Co-host/host of a pinball show; involved in Pinball Awards production; mentioned as information source for The Pinball Show
Staff member of Flip N Out Pinball; attended Sonic preview at JJP facility; returned with positive assessment ('not going to be disappointed in this game at all')
Company owner employing Ken Cromwell, likely a pinball-related business
Good pinball player, top in Illinois, not believed to be top 50 level
CGC employee reportedly upset about information leaks; Kaneda references his paranoia
Co-owner of Flip N Out Pinball, vendor for new and used machines
Senior Director of Marketing at Stern Pinball; sends outreach emails announcing new games to community.
Owner of Flip N Out Pinball; contact for new/used pinball sales and LE interest lists
Stern Pinball marketing liaison; contacted by media to expedite asset distribution to press
Mentioned as contact for dealing with Stern's marketing company regarding media assets and embargoes
Competitive pinball player present at 2014 IFPA Nationals in Colorado; encouraged Walt during his match against Keith Elwin on Indiana Jones
Likely retail/distribution contact; mentioned as being contacted by Jersey Jack regarding Sonic Arcade edition pricing confirmation
Sponsor mentioned; runs Flip N Out Pinball (pinball sales/service)
Elite pinball player; described as 'former number one player in the world'; Illinois state champion; scored hole-in-one on Bad Girls
Competitor in finals, attempted Avengers skill shot strategies.
Likely IFPA/WPPR governance figure; Jamie Virtual seeking contact to formalize headlights ban policy (note: transcription may have first name variant)
Rochester pinball machine operator, brings wood rails to Rochester Pinball Collective, previously discussed collection on podcast
Contact for purchasing Transformers pinball machines, mentioned in promotional context at start of podcast
Content creator associated with Flip It Out; podcaster (The Pinball Show); planning to powder coat Transformers cabinet red/Decepticon theme
Stern staff member; signed host's tilty bobblehead at media event
Industry figure mentioned as touting code quality at Pinball Show; referenced by Greg as credible source on Elizabeth's work
Pinball podcaster (Pinball Show, Flip N Out Pinball LLC) criticized for wanting to repaint Transformers LE armor to single color; invited Drew to Stern Media Day
Co-host of The Pinball Show; authorized Stern dealer; provides official product information and insider perspectives on game design and sales trends
Person lending machines to Joel temporarily; will retrieve Batman 66 and Pokemon from Joel's collection next week.
Stern representative who sends Orbeez invitations to visit Stern facilities; Orbeez unable to attend due to new job.
Stern Pinball representative who sent Don the Stern Cornerstone media day invitation
Owner/operator of Flipping Out Pinball; recommended by Loser Kid hosts for acquiring new Stern games and pinball products
Owner/operator at Flipping Out Pinball, pinball sales and distribution contact
Mentioned in context of Yukon Yeti game sales and availability at Flipping Out Pinball
Co-owner of Flipping Out Pinball (Spooky distributor); handles pre-order waitlist and sales for Beetlejuice; mentioned as point of contact for game acquisition and trade-in options
One of Roger Sharp's sons; works in pinball industry; helped Erika connect comic creator with Roger Sharp
Son of Manu(?), works at Stern pinball manufacturer
Operator/dealer who acquired large collection with his dad Timbo; provides machines to Joel for streaming
Host/owner of Flipping Out Pinball, primary speaker documenting the collection acquisition
Owner of Flippin Out Pinball; podcast sponsor
Host of The Pinball Show, operator/owner of Flip N Out Pinball distributor in Evansville, Indiana; primary source for production intel and sales data
Co-owner of Flip N Out Pinball (referred to as 'Zach' with 'Nicole' Minnie); dealer for Turner games.
Podcast host who has a 'pin barn' in his backyard; has done a podcast with Dennis; referenced regarding pinball facilities and storage solutions
Operator/owner of the Aerosmith machine featured in the tutorial, appears to be associated with the Flip n Out Pinball operation and/or location management
Associated with 'Flipping Out'; included Pokémon trading cards in the machine shipment as a bonus gift
Host/owner of Flip n Out Pinball, demonstrating coin door lock drilling technique
Referenced jokingly as contact email 'zach.sharp at externpimple.com' for D&D 1.0 bug reports (humor bit in video)
Owner/operator of Flipping Out Pinball distributor; provided rapid customer service response to damaged Pokemon LE
Operator at Flip N Out; reported to have Collector's Edition Harry Potters in stock; praised for business success
Pinball artist associated with Flip N Out Pinball; lauded by Ken Cromwell as 'one of the best pinball artists in the entire world'
Owner of Flip N Out Pinball, mentioned as sponsor contact
Owner of Flip N Out Pinball, mentioned as distributor contact for new releases
Competitive pinball player; played Keith Elwin in memorable INDISC tournament match that Emoto observed at Arcade Expo
Streaming channel operator (associated with venue/community); participates in pinball content creation and commentary; appears to have industry connections and platform for announcements.
Pinball player; competed in Northwest Pinball Championships finals
Operator/owner of Flip N Out Games, primary speaker providing detailed walkthrough of machine trade evaluation process, pricing methodology, and operational constraints
Stern employee who offered conference room for Pinball Roundtables recording at Stern facility
Associated with voice work for poker game production; provided instructions to Ron on vocal delivery
Operator of Flip It Out Pinball (sponsor); finds pinball machines for customers; accolade-giver for George Fisher's streaming transitions
Host of 'The Pinball Show'; covers tournament news and WPPR rankings; part of Pinball Network coordination
Ranked player in IFPA top 16 standings
Industry figure discussing pinball growth on recent podcast appearances
Roger Sharpe's son, mentioned in hosts' discussion about asking if Roger 'saved pinball' (referencing the legendary 1976 legal case).
Hired as Stern Pinball PR/marketing person in 2017; competitive player with coin-op industry background; family connection to IFPA leadership
Co-owner of Flip N Out Pinball (with Nicole); praised for customer service; hosting Pinball Industry Awards filming
Stern Pinball employee allegedly responsible for copyright takedown request/DMCA action against the podcast
Competitive pinball player; competed against Raymond at IFPA 16 on Munsters and Diner; noted for strong performances on multiple games
Operator of Flip N Out Pinball; sells escaleras with 2-month lead time
Won Central New York Location League Finals; assisted to victory by Ron's gameplay
Tournament participant at Buffalo Pinball Summer Open, scored 480 points at one stage of competition
Son of Roger Sharp; operates IFPA with brother Josh
Competitive pinball player at Pinburgh; podcast listener; played against Bruce in tournament; mentioned as having impressed Bruce with gameplay on Starship Troopers
Friend/community member; getting Flipper Fidelity sound system quote for two Star Wars machines; owns Grand Prix that had coil issue at soft opening
Flippin' Out Pinball representative; cited as source for Scooby sales figures and Spooky business practices
Top professional pinball player; seed #5 in PAPA Circuit Final ladder; co-holder of championship belt with Josh Sharp; referenced throughout as strong competitor
Pinball enthusiast, Black Rose fan, owns Black Rose in bedroom upstairs, has GoldenEye and Getaway machines
Pinball industry figure; Ron relies on his accuracy for news announcements; associated with Stern Pinball announcements
Co-host/operator of Flipping Out Pinball; mentioned regarding topper pricing opinions
Host of pinball show; reported on Godzilla Premium production timeline and availability
#1 seed Illinois state championship finals, competitive pinball player
Hosts Deathball tournament at his residence; operates large collection of Spooky homebrew games; participated in Deathball 2019
Mentioned as 'Josh Sharp' or 'JLS'; designer commentary suggests permanent second-place leaderboard easter egg on Avengers Infinity Quest
Stern Pinball representative; invited Don to 'ultimate media mixer' at Stern factory and provided factory tour
Owner of Flip N Out Pinball; sponsor of Flipside Podcast; sells Harry Potter pinball and offers trading/upgrade services
Featured player in Stern's Star Wars pinball promotional demonstration; known for skilled gameplay that can make machines look better than they are
Stern Pinball employee who won both Pinmasters and Nationals tournaments
Operator/owner of Flipping Out Pinball; sells used premium machines; supplied Pulp Fiction and Jurassic Park Premium to customers
Associate with Pinball Network; correctly predicted lack of Stern announcements at recent event
Owner/operator of Flip N Out Pinball; source for Pulp Fiction production updates; confirmed shipping soon to operators including Electric Bat
Local pinball player and competitor, appears to be working on Prospector machine, player in tournaments
Pinball personality; participating in Stern 2017 seminar with Jody Dankenberg at Expo; visiting Bruce to work on restored machines
Co-owner of Flippin' Out Pinball sponsorship partner with podcast
Local Rochester pinball community figure, guest on Slam Tilt, competed in Death Ball tournament
Pinball enthusiast who successfully powered on and tested Big Game machine
Owner/operator of Flipping Out Pinball; praised for reliability and honesty regarding upcoming releases and industry rumors
Appeared in D&D media; demonstrated shield mechanic and dragon multiball; Don observed his gameplay strategy
Stern team member known to prefer Lou Malnati's deep dish pizza
Assists Ron with repairs and provides EPROMs; referred to as 'Zach Attack'
Co-host/personality associated with Slam Tilt Podcast; owns Gamitron; approves of Black Hole's lower playfield
Host of Pinball Show; recently developed interest in luxury watches; known for all-or-nothing hobby obsession
Fellow podcast guest on 12 Days of Balls, handled pinball grievance question with humor
Associated with pinball network/distribution; Kaneda expresses sympathy for him regarding Toy Story 4 sales challenges and overpricing narrative
Referenced as 'Mr. Sharp' in comedic context regarding CES 2020 demonstration issues; host suggests contacting 'Macho' for help with launch
Guest co-host, Rochester native and RIT graduate (started 2014), extreme pinball collector with dozens of machines, known for critical opinions
Local pinball enthusiast; competitive player; brings machines to shows (Fleet Jr., Laser Cue, Mars Trek); won pre-war ribbon at Saratoga; offers strategic gameplay coaching; helping with Stomp tournament setup
Referenced as part of Stern marketing department; questioned why not used for promotional video
Operator of Flippin' Out Pinball; sells new and used pinball inventory and mods
Mentioned as son of Roger Sharp; noted as skilled nudge player; references Z-Mac gameplay.
Upstate New York pinball player who made A division at his first Pinberg, finished 33rd in top 48, known for disliking tournament games
Associated with Riptide Pinball Podcast; stayed at hotel with Ron and Steph; snores according to Ron
Stern Pinball representative; known for phrase 'cannot confirm or deny' regarding future releases
Industry figure cited as agreeing that 2025 will have better themes than 2024
Elite tournament player; mentioned as player whose attendance/opinion carries weight in community
Previously interviewed on Slam Tilt; discussed Beatles license cost and bill of materials expectations; possibly voted against Iron Maiden in Twippies
Pinball media personality; mentioned alongside Greg Bone as producer of professional game walkthroughs; Kaneda references 'Zach Manny' when discussing JJP downtrend
Mentioned as competitive pinball player; Eric Stone beat him at tournaments
Podcast host mentioned by Kaneda as someone he would have preferred to lose to, implying Zach puts in significant work on his show
Rochester local pinball player; recently scored $23 billion on Attack from Mars; known as 'famous Zach'; did not make Final Four at Rochester selfie league tournament
Host of The Pinball Show; collector with three current Gottlieb machines; pursues historical documentation of designer contributions
Mentioned as person Retro Ralph communicated with about Metallica reveal; appears to be Stern/industry insider
Referenced as manufacturer representative who promoted positivity around games; Kaneda implies new content creators have replaced this function
Pinball competitor and recent hire; newly appointed Director of Marketing at Stern Pinball; finished first in Classics second day with perfect play; noted for competitive prowess against Keith Elwin
Referred to as 'Air Pigeon Zach'; helping transport games (Quicksilver) to Ron in Albany; played pinball with Bruce
Pinball player, participated in initial costumed Stern X-Men livestream demonstration
Co-host or frequent contributor to streaming/podcast content alongside Greg; professional streaming operator
Owner of Flippin' Out Pinball; provided Jurassic Park unit to Special When Lit for fostering/streaming
Pinball industry personality; met Ken and Bill at Expo, commented on voice-to-appearance mismatch
Stern Pinball designer; appeared in Munsters reveal with special effects makeup; confirmed LE expansion details to Ken Cromwell
Jersey Jack Pinball representative; appeared on This Week in Pinball discussing JJP release schedule
Podcast host mentioned in joke about sponsoring Final Round; associated with 'Pinball Show' where Joe Fox previously stated he was done buying LEs
Stern Pinball marketing/PR representative; appeared in costume at CES reveal; gave approval for podcast panel; was personally surprised by Munsters announcement
Co-organizer of Twippies Awards ceremony with Jeff Patterson and Greg; associated with Straight Down the Middle streaming platform
Pinball personality who attended Christopher Franchi's dinner at Buca di Beppo
Stern representative; confirmed Stern Insider Program access policies to podcast hosts; involved in Stern's media and community relations
Associated with Flippin' Out Pinball streaming channel; playtester consulted by George Gomez on Sea Witch redesign
Stern Pinball representative who communicated with Ken Cromwell about the game
Host of Flippin Out Pinball; watching live on Twitch during episode; watches Rick and Morty episodes
Guest on Stern Insiders Pinball Podcast; appears to be Stern Pinball personnel
Stern Pinball representative; told This Week in Pinball that playfield issues are not widespread among Stern customers
Founder/operator of Flippin' Out, major Stern and non-Stern distributor; primary speaker sharing sales data
Stern Pinball; celebrated Star Wars topper availability and encouraged tournament participation
Technician restoring games for Bruce; completed Meteor restoration; working on TX Sector; has tournament end of August
High-ranked tournament player at Ron's venue, has custom rule recommendations for games, wins most of Ron's tournaments
Co-host of The Pinball Show; core organizer of Pinball Awards; involved in decisions around award show restructuring and defending anti-harassment stances.
Guest on Slam Tilt Podcast; competitive player; owns Pro Star Wars and runs custom ROMs on Demoman; tournaments organizer
Pinball distributor for Stern Pinball, Jersey Jack Pinball, and Barrels of Fun Manufacturing; also runs Flipping Out Pinball and operates YouTube/media presence
Mentioned in context of Martin beating him on Ollie machine from Papa arcade, creating memorable t-shirt moment
Co-host conducting the review. Defends some aspects of GTF and plays devil's advocate against harsher criticism.
Co-host of The Pinball Show; skeptical analyst of rumors, particularly on Matrix and Venom claims
Co-host of The Pinball Show; owns a restored Whirlwind; passionate about pinball preservation and design
Host of Flipping Out with Friends podcast; George sent him a text about Avengers topper queue status
Host of The Pinball Show podcast; recently lost $60,000 with Haggis Pinball venture
Co-host of The Pinball Show; former psychologist; exclusive dealer for Haggis Pinball through Flipping Out Pinball; made commitment to refund deposits if Haggis goes under
Referenced as decorating the Pinball Show studio space; former TWIP podcast host; described as dealer/distributor for major brands.
Co-host of The Pinball Show; advocates for purpose-built competitive pinball machines; active in content creation and industry commentary
Video producer/shooter who captured Guns N' Roses reveal footage and reacted positively to the game; filmed promotional videos with Greg Ferris
Son of Alisa; noted Iron Maiden enthusiast from Chicago area; favorite game player
Competitive pinball player in INDISC 2022 Classics 1 Playoffs, finished in second place after David Real in the tiebreaker match on Argosy
Representative/owner at Flipping Out Pinball distributor; provides sales data and market analysis; discusses American Pinball situation.
Co-host; pinball media/content creator; engages in extended discussion about show expectations and industry dynamics.
Occasional guest on Slam Tilts who proposed design rule that games should not have more ramps than flippers
Co-host of The Pinball Show podcast; discussing movies, book club, and pinball
Current host of The Pinball Show; works with Craig on news segment; praised as supportive and at top of game
Host of The Pinball Show podcast; operator of Flippin' Out Pinball (authorized American Pinball dealer); subject of the dispute
Pinball player; referenced as attending District 82's October tournament alongside Josh Sharp
Operator/owner of Flippin' Out Pinball, maintains customer interest lists for potential pinball themes, primary speaker
Co-host of The Pinball Show podcast, listening to and reacting to Dennis's story
Pinball dealer/distributor, primary speaker, host perspective; operates customer-facing sales operation; implemented preferred buyer programs and ethical allocation policies.
Co-host of The Pinball Show; interlocutor and commentator on distribution story
Owner of Flippin' Out Pinball, pinball distributor based in Evansville, Indiana. Speaking candidly about operational challenges and advocating for system improvements.
Co-host/manager associated with Straight Down the Middle Pinball and Flippin' Out Pinball, asked George to manage Pinball Network streaming
Co-host of Pinball Show; frames 2026 as 'year of the video game'; develops Nintendo vs. Sega competitive narrative; speculates on designer announcements and manufacturer viability.
Co-owner of Flip N Out Pinball; distributor of pinball machines across multiple manufacturers; primary speaker providing 2024 sales data
Operator of Flip N Out Pinball; stream host and distributor
Competitive pinball player in first round group; known for strong Ghostbusters play and previous tournament success
Marketing director at Stern Pinball; elite competitive pinball player; participated in Classics II playoffs; known for nudging technique and intuitive play style; previously provided translites to Ryan Wenger
Co-owner of Flip N Out Pinball; recommended vendor for purchasing Avatar Collector's Edition
Industry figure who commented on James Bond 60th Anniversary pricing
Marketing Director at Stern Pinball, recently turned 40, brother of Josh Sharp, father of Benson, discusses company strategy, pricing, product launches, and NDA enforcement
Competitive pinball player, opponent in round 7; described as 'very, very, very good player'
Operator/venue owner (Flippin' Up Pinball, Chicagoland); has Stern World Pinball Championship topper game; discussed in context of previous promotional ideas
Content creator; featured in Stranger Things modifications discussion on 'Flipping Out' show
Associated with Flip N Out Pinball video reveal of Godzilla topper (corrected from 'Keith' by Don)
Son of pinball legend Roger Sharpe; Stern employee; featured in CoinReturn factory tour
Rochester pinball enthusiast who has a Dragon Fist machine with custom code installed
Listener/contributor to Slam Tilt; suggested Stargazer ROM mod combining Sea Witch mechanics
Pinball distributor and competitive player; returning to competition after two-year quarantine hiatus
Co-host of SDTM, organizer of giveaway, distributor/pinball personality
Pinball enthusiast building a custom whitewood game in a whirlwind cabinet with experimental playfield layout
Provides stumper questions to podcast, lives near Ron.
Competitive player, mentioned as potential participant in informal Star Wars tournament; Josh indicates 'Zach' may listen to podcast
Owner of Flipping Out Pinball distributor; organized Pinball Network collaborative streaming effort mentioned multiple times
Pinball player referenced for demonstrating power plunge technique on a similarly-leaning game
Podcast guest or co-host; participates in game preference comparisons and provides detailed game knowledge
Associated with Flipping Out Pinball (or Flippin' Out); sole sponsor of Pinball Party Podcast; described as reciprocating relationship effort
Co-owner of Flipping Out Pinball (with Nicole) offering show discounts on games at Pinball Expo 2024
Producer of early Pulp Fiction teaser videos that initially excited the community about the game's pre-production quality
Host of The Pinball Show; pinball media personality and content creator
Streamed Toy Story with Joel; reached wizard mode on first night of streaming (after owning for 1-2 weeks)
Host of The Pinball Show podcast; owner/co-host of Flippin' Out Pinball distributor; Stern dealer; recently purchased land for expansion
Primary host of The Pinball Show; on vacation/cruise during this episode; described as 'the face of the pinball show'
Friend of both hosts; hosts games at his location; Ron played Alice Cooper at Zach's setup to evaluate code quality
Tournament player; knowledgeable rules expert; helped Ron learn Guardians of the Galaxy gameplay; took detailed tournament notes and photos
Pinball player; described as strong player on Bro Do You Pinball game; asked to join podcast but declined
Pinball player and technician, helped with machine repairs (Indiana Jones re-rubberring, Monopoly work), competed at Fall Brawl
Host of The Pinball Show, pinball enthusiast, collector, and podcast co-host alongside Dennis Creasel
Co-host of The Pinball Show; media/content creator; attempted to create Popeye Saves the Earth feature with Barry Osler before his death
Co-host of The Pinball Show; provides opinions, comedic segments, and market analysis
University of Illinois alumnus, involved in Godzilla charity auction video promotion
Owner of Flippin' Out Pinball distribution company, sponsor of Pinburg 2024, formerly anti-tournament pinball advocate
Operator of Zach's Flippin' Out Pinball; had Star Wars Premium on display at MGC
Competitive pinball player; won Pinberg championship; son of Josh Sharp
Co-host of The Pinball Show; dealer/operator at Flipping Out Pinball; provides market intelligence and strategic analysis
Competitive player, frequent tournament participant at high-level events
Co-host of The Pinball Show and Eclectic Gamers Podcast; discusses Deep Root whiteboard, merchandise design, production updates
Co-host of The Pinball Show; operator/dealer of Electric Playground, a major pinball topper retailer and accessories vendor; self-described 'topper king' with significant market influence and 100+ customer interest list for Mandalorian topper
Co-host of The Pinball Show; expresses skepticism about Comic-Con Venom reveal; provides historical industry context
Owner of Flippin' Out Pinball; protected customers with Haggus deposits by making them whole financially, absorbing losses himself
Founder/operator of Flip It Out pinball streaming; involved in pinball media; attended Southern Fried Gaming Expo; discussed Hobbit arcade debate with Dennis
Brought LE Godzilla to Pinball Expo; mentioned in context of game availability
High-ranked competitive pinball player, participated in Buffalo Pinball Summer Open, likely won't attend state finals
Host of The Pinball Show; discusses industry production updates, market trends, and game opinions
Host of The Pinball Show on The Pinball Network; interviewer presenting Deep Root timeline and analysis
Co-founder of Chicago Gaming Company; involved in Play Mechanics partnership and Pulp Fiction design
Guest participant providing technical observations on game feel and manufacturing practices
Stern Pinball Marketing Director, interviewed for discussion on manufacturing, licensing, marketing strategy, and competitive content initiatives
Maintains lists of people interested in unthemed IPs for pinball (e.g., Harry Potter); mentioned in context of Loser Kid Pinball Podcast
Pinball community figure who organized private Thursday morning Stern factory tour at Pinball Expo
Competitive pinball player who qualified late for tournament despite typical expectation of receiving a bye
Co-organizer of IFPA Pin-Masters tournament with Josh; manages game setup and event logistics
Mentioned discussing Stern's remanufacturing of older titles on recent show
Co-host of The Pinball Show, operates Flipping Out Pinball, industry media personality, lost significant funds in Hagus Pinball deal
Owner of Flip It Out Pinball, sponsor of TMNT banner giveaway
Local pinball technician who assisted Bruce with leveling games and maintenance at league night; helps with bulb replacement and socket repairs.
Operator/owner of Flip N Out Pinball; offers trade-in services for pinball machines; streamed Kiss with Joel
Competitive pinball player featured in ESPN article photos
Top-ranked competitive pinball player (claimed #1 in world); participated in challenge event at press day, setting high scores for attendees to compete against
Upstate player; Ron stayed with him during Silver Ball Saloon tournament; became Ron's first opponent
Shared information about a Meteor machine listing with Ron and Bruce
Owner of Flip N Out Pinball distributor, sponsor of The Flipside Podcast, tight-lipped about Kong details
Pinball enthusiast; co-host/collaborator on Silver Ball Chronicles podcast; lives 40 minutes west of Ron; correction specialist on system history
Player eliminated from earlier tournament game (Game 1)
Owner of Tilt Hammer custom apparel brand, produces Slap Save and Destroy hats and merchandise
Stern contact who requested Carl create tutorial videos for games
Brother of Joshua Sharp, competitive pinball player, co-organizes Stern Pro Circuit Finals
Mentioned as competitor at PAPA with distinct playing mannerisms (water bottle, style); appears to be tournament player
Provided camera rig for Stomp 2 Heads-Up Stars tournament coverage; part of 5-camera streaming setup
Guest and regular contributor, acquired GammaTron conversion kit at Allentown, tournament participant, restoration enthusiast
Stern Pinball staff; was absent during Don's visit (out at CES)
JJP media/marketing; created Willy Wonka reveal video; referenced as template for Toy Story reveal approach
Co-owner of Flippin' Out Pinball, referred to as charming community figure
Co-owner of Flip N Out Pinball, distributor/retailer for Scott Larson's Foo Fighters purchase
Competitive pinball player; was early to play new Jurassic Park before tournament availability
Stern Pinball marketing/leadership; criticized for lack of community engagement and for choosing B. Kong over established pinball content creators for John Wick launch
Stern Pinball executive; decision-maker on media invites; referred to casually ('okay, everybody, Zach Sharp')
Pinball industry figure (possibly Stern-affiliated); Kaneda criticizes him for directing John Wick reveal content to lesser-known YouTuber instead of established community creators
Owner of Flippin' Out Pinball; involved in multiple pinball media ventures (podcast, Straight Down the Middle, This Week in Pinball); known for comprehensive industry engagement
Competing podcast host/operator; currently ranked #1 on Pinball Promoters Database; also received scam T-Rex dinosaur
Pinball player at X-Men livestream wearing Wolverine costume; noted for backhand play on Sentinel shot
Pinball player; planned attendee at Pinberg; mentioned as 'Master Zach'; attended previous year; plays with Bruce
Upstate NY pinball player; approximately 40 points in upstate standings; ranked 21st; Pinnberg attendee
Makes joke about Tales from the Crypt being cheaper than TMNT; appears to be involved in the podcast community; referenced regarding potential TMNT sale
Assisted with Quicksilver machine setup; worked on wiring issues with Ron
Now part of Stern Pinball, appeared on stage during Stern panel, played Star Wars challenge with Ron
Pinball enthusiast present at White Rose show; owns multiple Gottlieb games; helped inspect clear-coated Pinball Pool
Ranked 11th in upstate New York pinball rankings, unlikely to compete in upstate finals according to hosts
Pinball player; finished 2nd overall at Finger Lakes Pinball Golf Open; scored zero on 8-Ball Deluxe
Stern Pinball representative; sent official April 2nd media invite email for Cornerstone April 17 event
Competitive pinball player attending Buffalo Pinball Summer Open; previous year winner Trent Augustine returning
Local player who challenged Slam Tilt hosts at Pintastic; has helped test Stomp Tournament machines; involved in local pinball community
Guest on Slam Tilt Podcast, competed in Upstate NY Championship, lost 3-0 to Bruce Nightingale in tournament play.
Marketing director at Stern Pinball who made first official statement regarding John Trudeau arrest; also mentioned as storing a Grand Prix machine with Bruce
Local collector who owns Black Hole and loves it; helping with machine lifting for Buffalo tournament; mentioned as inside joke/gimmick reference on podcast
Manager of Straight Down the Middle YouTube channel; will upload Hardy's cabinet restoration video
Stern Factory Tour participant; sent Retro Ralph congratulatory message on IFPA Big Movers Award; appears to be a recognized tournament player or industry figure.
Pinball tournament player involved in SSPL and local league play
Technician mentioned by Ron; fixed Ron's Meteor machine; possibly interested in Black Rose playfield
Mentioned as having fixed Gametron boards multiple times; appears to be local restoration specialist
Pinball community figure directly addressed by host; host of The Pinball Show podcast
Stern Pinball designer; present at play session; discussed artwork integration and theme with Don and Wayson
Associated with Flippin' Out Pinball, received mention for streaming giveaway event
Stern marketing contact; son of pinball industry pioneer; sent Don media day invitation email
Stern Pinball designer; called out Retro Ralph about spider animatronic in front of others; associated with Spider-Man game
Co-owner of Learning to The Flip out pinball; sponsor of LoserKid Podcast; assists customers with machine sourcing
Pinball podcaster (The Last Arcade); criticized by Kaneda for soft coverage of Haggis Pinball video
Director of Marketing at Stern Pinball; son of Roger Sharpe; brother of Josh Sharp; pinball player and competitive tournament participant
Co-owner of Flip N Out Pinball customization shop with Nicole; provides pinball upgrades and aftermarket parts.
Content creator/distributor (Flippin' Out Pinball); Kaneda cites as making good content
Mentioned as operator/distributor contact; referenced as receiving high demand calls; Josh texted him about wanting an LE
Owner of Flip N Out Pinball distributor; referenced as sponsor and friend of the podcast; known for quick messaging response
Owner of Flip N Out Pinball; distributor/dealer; previously committed to MSRP pricing, now pricing inventory above MSRP due to scarcity
Former Twippies organizer; co-ran show with Greg; Kaneda praises their execution and calls for their return to fix current format problems
Content creator who produced video showcasing Godzilla topper RGB LED lighting; Kaneda references the video
Stern executive; appeared on Final Round Pinball podcast discussing licensing agreements and production timelines
Josh Sharp's brother; also regarded as industry resource at Raw Thrills alongside Josh; 20+ year relationship with Doug Duba
Josh Sharpe's brother, appeared in Mortal Kombat advertisements as a child
Stern Pinball executive or spokesperson who provided non-confirmation response regarding Rush pinball machine rumors
Co-owner of Flippin' Out Pinball (retail/distributor), praised for customer service and warranty support
Owner of Flip N Out Pinball, pinball distributor and service provider, recent interviewee on Straight Down the Middle podcast
Host of Pinball Show podcast; finished second in Twippies Favorite Pinball Podcast voting with Kaneda finishing first
Co-host of award show with Greg Bone; Kaneda credits them for Pinball Industry Awards coverage
Owner/operator of Flip N Out Pinball (appears as sponsor reference). Note: referred to as Zach Minney in podcast; appears to be same person as Zach Sharpe from KB.
Owner of Flip N Out Pinball with Nicole; distributor and retailer; interviewed on The Pinball Show; community figure.
Host of the video, Senior Director of Marketing at Stern Pinball, accomplished competitive player, son of Roger Sharpe
Streamer, pinball content creator, operator/collector, host of Flip n Out Pinball channel
Contact at Flip n Out Pinball (zach@flippingoutpinball.com); likely the host of the video based on first-person narration
Senior Director of Marketing at Stern Pinball; host/co-owner of Flip N Out Pinball Distribution; co-host of Straight Down the Middle podcast; IFPA player; primary presenter in this installation video
Works at Stern Pinball, recipient of misdirected emails meant for Flippin' Out Pinball host due to email autofill confusion
Co-owner of Flip n Out Pinball; provides machines and code for streaming
Owner of Flippin' Out Pinball (with Nicole); delivered TMNT machine to Greg's location on July 4th; phone contact 812-457-9711; provides game inventory for streaming
Host of Flip n Out Pinball YouTube channel; Senior Director of Marketing at Stern Pinball; demonstrates topper installation and provides product commentary
Defending champion of Concord Champ '25 tournament, owns Walking Dead machine, noted as honest but joked about innocence/dishonesty
Co-host of this episode; Stern Pinball marketing director; collector of Keith Elwin games; owns Jaws
Co-host referred to as 'Deep Dive Zach,' pinball content creator, guest on Pinball Party deep dive episodes
Co-host of Pinball Party Podcast, provides detailed technical and game analysis during deep dive
Operator/distributor at Flip N Out Pinball; mentioned as potential resource for troubleshooting assistance
Co-host of 'Straight Down the Middle' (referenced as 'Zacharias'); reviewer mentioned for Metallica critique
Podcast co-host; sound engineer with data science background (Master's degree); contributes algorithmic perspective to discussions
Co-owner (with Nicole) of Mini Flipping Out Pinball pinball sales/trade service
Co-host of 'Straight Down the Middle' pinball show; expected to release 10-20 minute deep dive analysis video of The Godfather following Tuesday reveal
Distributor/media figure; Kaneda directing value proposition questions toward him as Toy Story supporter
Stern Pinball designer/personality; mentioned as part of Stern's formal game reveal video format
Pinball player, qualified for Cameron Silver Ball Rumble tournament in 4th edition, collector of Harry Williams bi-level games
Industry figure with deposits at Haggis Pinball, has stopped responding to Kaneda
Former co-host of Straight Down the Middle: a pinball show with Greg Bone; departure noted as factor in Twippies Awards quality decline
Professional video producer and content creator; produces high-quality promotional videos for Jersey Jack Pinball; released 25-minute Godfather reveal video that same day
Associated with Flip N Out Pinball operations and mentioned in sponsorship context
Host of Pinball Party Podcast, lead speaker in this Deep Dive episode
Guest on episode, described as 'part of the comparative production team' for TMNT, confirms childhood fandom of IP
Co-host/guest on Pinball Party Podcast; sustained injury moving Black Knight: Sword of Rage but machine survived intact
Flippin' Out owner/operator; provided Pulp Fiction machine delivery to Electric Bat Arcade; consulted on Foo Fighters Expression Lights timeline
Co-owner/operator of Flip N Out Pinball distribution company, mentioned as someone Jon buys pinball equipment from
Main TD, operator, and tech at Rochester Pinball Collective, one of main organizers of Royal Rumble tournament Dec 12-15
Roger Sharpe's son; described as Stern Pinball employee (per podcast hosts); has digitized the historical cassette tapes and made them available; portrayed in the film; met with hosts after Pinball Expo to discuss film accuracy.
Owner of Flip N Out Pinball, sponsor of the podcast, distributor of pinball machines
Mentioned as contact for Pinball Alley signs and toppers through Flippin' Out Pinball; works in Stern pinball sales/merchandise
Senior Director of Marketing at Stern Pinball; key contact for machine distribution via Flippin' Out Pinball; headlining Flipping the Script event with Mark Silk
Owner of Flip N Out Pinball with Nicole; contacted by listeners for machine acquisition and customer support
Senior Director of Marketing at Stern Pinball, key figure in organizing event, part owner of Flip N Out Pinball
Senior Director of Marketing at Stern Pinball, operator of Flip N Out Pinball, accessory vendor
Attended media mixer at Pinball Expo 2023, works in marketing for Stern Pinball
Co-owner of Flip N Out Pinball with Nicole. Mentioned as excellent to work with for purchasing machines. Now has more employees and offering used machine shipping services via pallets.
Owner of Flip N Out Pinball, distributor contacted for new game availability
Pinball game distributor mentioned by podcast hosts, involved in sourcing and selling pinball machines, trades and ships nationwide, was in group chat with Josh and Scott regarding film production needs