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Ian

person4 mentionsFirst seen Jun 5, 2025Last seen Nov 4, 2025

Profile

Ian is a prominent figure in the pinball industry, serving as editor/operator of Nudge Magazine and co-creative director on the Portal pinball machine. Known as 'the most connected man in pinball,' he actively promotes and facilitates game installations, demonstrates gameplay expertise, and contributes to industry discourse. His role has evolved from magazine editor/operator to direct involvement in game design and creative direction.

Aliases

No aliases

Relationships

  • ownsBlack RoseIan purchased Black Rose as his first new machine; the machine became valuable and was later resoldmedium

Facts

No facts recorded

Claims (47)

  • opinionhigh

    Beetlejuice is hands-down Spooky's best game

    Source: Nudgecast Episode 17Episode 17 - Joe Ciaravino discusses Python Anghelo / Shane goes to TPF!
  • factualhigh

    Spooky's Beetlejuice machines at TPF had exceptional reliability with only one hood lift needed all weekend

    Source: Nudgecast Episode 17Episode 17 - Joe Ciaravino discusses Python Anghelo / Shane goes to TPF!
  • opinionmedium

    Homebrew games should have their own dedicated festival

    Source: Nudgecast Episode 17Episode 17 - Joe Ciaravino discusses Python Anghelo / Shane goes to TPF!
  • predictionmedium

    Circus Voltaire remake will be a safe bet for American Pinball

Recent Mentions (4)

  • Co-creative director of Portal pinball; demonstrates gameplay and explains mechanical/design philosophy throughout livestream

    Portal pinball launch stream with Kevin and Ian!Nov 4, 2025
  • Nudge Magazine editor; booth co-operator; described as 'most connected man in pinball'; facilitated Harlem Globetrotters game installation

    Rare Game Roundup | Harry Potter | Pinball Expo Recap!Oct 31, 2025
  • Guest from Nudge Magazine; characterized as disagreeing with Kaneda's criticism and thinking game is loaded

    Saturday Morning Spectacular! June 7Jun 8, 2025
  • Editor/operator of Nudge Magazine; referenced satirically as enthusiastically promoting games

    JJP Harry Potter Live Reaction!Jun 5, 2025

Contradictions

No contradictions detected

Related Glossary Terms

No linked glossary terms

Source: Nudgecast Episode 17Episode 17 - Joe Ciaravino discusses Python Anghelo / Shane goes to TPF!
  • opinionhigh

    American Pinball is in a transitional phase under new ownership

    Source: Nudgecast Episode 17Episode 17 - Joe Ciaravino discusses Python Anghelo / Shane goes to TPF!
  • opinionmedium

    Beetlejuice could be a top 10 pinball game of all time

    Source: Nudgecast Episode 17Episode 17 - Joe Ciaravino discusses Python Anghelo / Shane goes to TPF!
  • factualhigh

    The 2025 Twippies is the shortest Twippies ever produced

    Source: Podcast conversationTWIPYs: Behind the Scenes | Don Wants to Buy a Pokemon w/Ian and Colin
  • factualhigh

    Nudge Magazine Issue 4 experienced two printing delays before finally arriving

    Source: Ian's statement: 'issue four is just finally come from the printers we got delayed twice'Kissed by Black Rose…. How to Break Up With a Game :’(
  • factualhigh

    Ian from Nudge Magazine recently rented a Shadow pinball machine and had to return it, experiencing similar emotional loss

    Source: Ian's personal anecdote during helpline callKissed by Black Rose…. How to Break Up With a Game :’(
  • factualhigh

    Melbourne is in its fifth lockdown with NSW Sydney experiencing Delta variant outbreak of ~200 cases

    Source: Final Round Pinball Podcast Ep 38Ep 38: Fantastic Mr. Fox
  • factualmedium

    George Gomez was approached about Big Trouble in Little China as a pinball theme and rejected it

    Source: Ian, reporting on George Gomez interviewEpisode: 73 Deeproot and Chatting with the Live Audience Plus new give away challenge!
  • opinionhigh

    Licensed themes sell significantly better than original themes in the current pinball market

    Source: IanEpisode: 73 Deeproot and Chatting with the Live Audience Plus new give away challenge!
  • factualhigh

    The podcast received 30-40 dad joke submissions for the giveaway contest.

    Source: opening setupEpisode 66: TMNT Banner Give away!!! Plus our first Live Stream!
  • factualhigh

    Zach Sharpe from Flip It Out Pinball will need to pay extra for shipping the banner to Canada (David Dennis is in Canada).

    Source: winner announcementEpisode 66: TMNT Banner Give away!!! Plus our first Live Stream!
  • factualhigh

    David Dennis from Silver Ball Chronicles submitted the winning dad joke about skydiving blind people.

    Source: giveaway winner announcementEpisode 66: TMNT Banner Give away!!! Plus our first Live Stream!
  • opinionhigh

    Hot Wheels' RPM meter functions as a game mechanic rather than a decorative toy

    Source: Direct statement during design discussionEpisode 60: We Talk Hot Wheels with American Pinballs Dave Brennan
  • factualmedium

    Hot Wheels is more affordable than American Pinball's previous titles

    Source: Direct statement during interviewEpisode 60: We Talk Hot Wheels with American Pinballs Dave Brennan
  • factualhigh

    American Pinball's previous strategy prioritized shot design and rules over animations, with animation improvements delivered via code updates

    Source: Direct statement during interviewEpisode 60: We Talk Hot Wheels with American Pinballs Dave Brennan
  • opinionmedium

    Hot Wheels has significant competitive tournament potential despite being designed for accessibility

    Source: Direct statement: 'I think it's going to be fun, competitive'Episode 60: We Talk Hot Wheels with American Pinballs Dave Brennan
  • factualhigh

    The third flipper coil stop modification for Oktoberfest costs $8 and requires two screws to install

    Source: Poor Man's Pinball Podcast Episode 59Episode 59: Doo Do Doo Do Topper Gate!!!
  • factualmedium

    American Pinball reduced Oktoberfest's price by approximately $1,000 two weeks after launch

    Source: Poor Man's Pinball Podcast Episode 59Episode 59: Doo Do Doo Do Topper Gate!!!
  • factualhigh

    Oktoberfest features 14 modes plus wizard modes

    Source: Poor Man's Pinball Podcast Episode 59Episode 59: Doo Do Doo Do Topper Gate!!!
  • factualhigh

    The Jurassic Park topper includes goat mode as DLC not bundled with LE or Premium versions

    Source: Poor Man's Pinball Podcast Episode 59Episode 59: Doo Do Doo Do Topper Gate!!!
  • factualhigh

    Jack Danger will stream Hot Wheels machine on Saturday the 13th at 5 p.m. central time

    Source: Poor Man's Pinball Podcast Episode 59Episode 59: Doo Do Doo Do Topper Gate!!!
  • factualhigh

    Ian purchased an Oktoberfest pinball machine and is traveling to Michigan to collect it

    Source: Poor Man's Pinball Podcast, Episode 58Episode 58: Shaker Motor Giveaway from Flip-N-Out Pinball!
  • opinionhigh

    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is John Borg's best game design to date

    Source: Poor Man's Pinball Podcast, Episode 58Episode 58: Shaker Motor Giveaway from Flip-N-Out Pinball!
  • factualhigh

    Ian attended Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) for general education before transferring to a four-year university.

    Source: Ian's direct statementF*@kit Friday! Happy Valentines day... We talk about how Drew and Ian met
  • factualhigh

    Drew's initial meeting behavior (putting a hotel key in Mickey's back pocket) was extremely drunk and inappropriate.

    Source: Ian's characterization of Drew's actionsF*@kit Friday! Happy Valentines day... We talk about how Drew and Ian met
  • factualhigh

    Ian and Mickey were married in 2006 and divorced in 2007.

    Source: Ian's direct statement, confirmed by DrewF*@kit Friday! Happy Valentines day... We talk about how Drew and Ian met
  • factualhigh

    Ian and Mickey were high school sweethearts who dated for approximately 2-3 years before meeting Drew.

    Source: Ian's direct statementF*@kit Friday! Happy Valentines day... We talk about how Drew and Ian met
  • factualhigh

    Ian used 90% brush work and 10% airbrush for Laser War restoration to preserve detail

    Source: Ian describing restoration techniqueEpisode 44: Special Guest Martin (Tribe Member#2), Hardbody History Lesson!
  • predictionhigh

    If Deep Root's machines have reliability issues, community members will use Robert Mueller's critical comments against the company

    Source: Host prediction/warningEpisode 12 DeepRoot and Sparkly Whirlwinds!
  • opinionhigh

    Ian wants to see Deep Root deliver on at least half of what they promised, ideally with games in spring or late 2024

    Source: Host closing argumentEpisode 12 DeepRoot and Sparkly Whirlwinds!
  • opinionmedium

    Predator machine at MGC, despite historical provenance/rarity, has limited contemporary appeal based on visual inspection

    Source: observation of machine and gameplay at MGCMidwest Gaming Classic Recap
  • opinionhigh

    Game of Thrones Premium upper playfield is visually beautiful but functionally problematic for active players due to lane proximity distraction

    Source: firsthand play comparing Pro and Premium models at MGCMidwest Gaming Classic Recap
  • opinionhigh

    Alice Cooper's Nightmare Castle has superior design execution with mood, lighting, and shaker integration

    Source: firsthand gameplay at MGCMidwest Gaming Classic Recap
  • factualhigh

    Oktoberfest artwork resolution and clarity issues are noticeable and problematic in person compared to promotional materials

    Source: firsthand gameplay at MGCMidwest Gaming Classic Recap
  • opinionhigh

    Stern is going backward in design philosophy by stripping features from Pro models instead of enhancing them

    Source: MGC gameplay comparison across tiersMidwest Gaming Classic Recap
  • opinionhigh

    Black Knight Sword of Rage Pro is bare-bones and should have featured the Premium's upper playfield at a $5,800 price point to justify value

    Source: firsthand MGC gameplayMidwest Gaming Classic Recap
  • opinionhigh

    Willie Wonka reveal presenter (identified as JJP investor/family member) reading from phone notes undermined professionalism of multi-million dollar company event

    Source: firsthand observation at MGC Wonka revealMidwest Gaming Classic Recap
  • factualhigh

    1980s-90s location-based pinball machines have shallower rule sets than modern games

    Source: Ian (Black Rose example)Episode 4 Drew Wants a Willy!
  • factualmedium

    Stern uses smaller LCD screens than American Pinball and other competitors

    Source: 'Stern's using a smaller LCD than all the other companies. Isn't that interesting?'Episode I The Phantom Cringe (Pilot Episode)
  • opinionhigh

    Metallica Premium has one of the best light shows in pinball history

    Source: Ian owns Metallica Premium and states 'I have a Metallica Premium which has one of arguably the best light shows in pinball'Episode I The Phantom Cringe (Pilot Episode)
  • rumorlow

    Jaws pinball license restricts use to shark and name only, not music

    Source: 'I just heard today that Jaws will only, for the license, they will only be allowed the shark and the name'Episode I The Phantom Cringe (Pilot Episode)
  • factualmedium

    Pirates of the Caribbean charges $2 per play at some locations

    Source: Personal experience: 'you know, 20 bucks easy, because it's that $2 a play'Episode I The Phantom Cringe (Pilot Episode)
  • factualhigh

    Stern raised prices $500+ between Metallica (2013) and Munsters despite reducing mechanical features

    Source: Direct price comparison: Metallica ~$5,300 vs. Munsters ~$5,800Episode I The Phantom Cringe (Pilot Episode)
  • factualhigh

    Zombie Yeti's artwork appears on three nominees in a single category

    Source: Ian notes Zombie Yeti has 'Iron Maiden he got Deadpool... Primus. That's half the list.'Episode I The Phantom Cringe (Pilot Episode)