Deep Root Pinball is a boutique pinball manufacturer founded and owned by Robert Mueller, headquartered in Texas with a studio division in Utah. The company gained prominence in the pinball community for announcing an ambitious pipeline of titles (including Raza, Magic Girl, Fire and Brimstone, and Alice in Wonderland) but became notorious for chronic delays, failed product launches, and unmet promises. The company collapsed by 2023, with its talented staff (including animators and designers) subsequently absorbed by competitors like Spooky Pinball.
Robert Mueller's Deep Root Pinball burned through approximately $60 million without producing a single game.
Yukon Yeti artwork is poor quality and shows artist is not responsive to feedback across three games
Yukon Yeti sold 10 units in Australia on first day
Yukon Yeti is an unofficial sequel to White Water (1993) designed by Dennis Nordman
Pinball company where Gabe Hernandez previously worked; appears to have had business challenges
Failed pinball company founded by Robert Mueller that defrauded investors; founder facing federal fraud trial
Boutique pinball manufacturer discussed throughout; company founded by Robert Mueller with ambitious pipeline including original IP titles.
Defunct pinball manufacturer; developed Yukon Yeti before shutdown; assets acquired by Turner Pinball and others
Now-defunct manufacturer where Yukon Yeti was originally developed; assets acquired by Turner Pinball
Boutique pinball manufacturer in development phase; planning 21-game pipeline; relocated production in-house; bootstrapped funding model
No linked glossary terms
Deep Root Pinball is producing 500 units of Yukon Yeti
Deep Root Pinball burned through $58.8 million in investor funds, faced SEC fraud charges, and filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy without shipping a finished machine.
Turner Pinball's Merlin's Arcade was previously pitched as an upcoming title for Deep Root Pinball before Deep Root's collapse
Deep Root Pinball conducted focus group testing with known pinball personalities during game development
Deep Root Pinball received $61 million in customer deposits with no games delivered
Robert Mueller stole customer life savings to found Deep Root Pinball
Deep Root Pinball's Fathom resale value is plummeting
Turner Pinball acquired Deep Root's assets through bankruptcy auction with no competing bidders
Deep Root Pinball had financial issues involving money movement that prompted SEC involvement
Deep Root Pinball publicly stated in July 2023 that all Fathom games would be completed by end of year; this did not happen
Deep Root Pinball has not conducted a factory walkthrough or transparency demonstration despite other manufacturers routinely doing so
Deep Root Pinball operates a 'robbing Peter to pay Paul' financial model using new game deposits to fund previous game completion
Deep Root Pinball told Fathom customers they would receive machines in eight weeks, but actual wait times have exceeded eight months
Centaur Revisited is priced at $10,000 to $17,000 for the Oblivion Edition
Deep Root Pinball failed to fulfill all Fathom orders and may demand payment for Centaur before fulfilling remaining Fathoms
Deep Root Pinball's failure left lasting scars on the pinball community and created skepticism toward new manufacturers
Deep Root's methodology emphasizes designing games to appeal to seven-year-old casual players through tournament-level competitive players simultaneously
Deep Root will present new games and technology at Texas Pinball Festival in March 2019
Deep Root was budgeting $85,000 per game in development costs in 2018
Deep Root Pinball was a complete smoke screen with no long-term manufacturing plans
Deep Root Pinball attempted Men in Black licensing using artwork from Alien Crisis, an obscure mid-2000s video game rated 2-2.5 out of 10
Deep Root Pinball bankruptcy filing did not initially identify the largest creditor as of January filing date
Deep Root Pinball posted cryptic cipher message 'check back soon for something interesting' on website
Deep Root Pinball's life insurance policies (~$10M value) have been sold to Tuyo as part of asset liquidation
Deep Root's Gladiator whiteboard emphasizes 'rising action' progression with hydra as central game feature and mythical creature themes
Deep Root Pinball's Gladiator game design included a progression system from Slave to Gladiator to General to Emperor, culminating in a Hydra mechanic
Deep Root Pinball spent $61 million and never completed a single game
Robert Mueller and Deep Root innovations (pinbar, pinpod, floating backbox, rotisserie playfield) were fundamentally misguided
The Deep Six media event (Sept 21, 2020) was canceled the next day (Sept 22), marking the beginning of Deep Root's visible public crisis.
Deep Root had 40-50 full-time employees who went unpaid multiple times, with Mueller citing non-existent investor funding while continuing non-essential spending
Deep Root never successfully manufactured or delivered a single complete pinball machine despite operating for six years with $58 million in funding
The Deep Root facility lacked sufficient electrical power to run manufacturing equipment and required a separate secondary rental facility to house overflow machinery
Deep Root Pinball whitewoods were constructed using stolen materials from investors
Deep Root Pinball has sponsored Texas Pinball Festival Wizards Championship, This Week in Pinball, and Pinball Profile World Tour
Raza is entering active production with deliveries beginning within 3-4 months across four production phases
Deep Root Pinball has 20+ games ready or in development pipeline
Raza preorders close at end of calendar year, creating limited purchase window
Rob Quinn and Steve are planning games with significantly more ambitious scope than the 'Bronson' title
Deep Root Pinball executives have not apologized for misleading the community about production capabilities
Deep Root Pinball failed due to poor execution despite having interesting design concepts
Deep Root Pinball facility shows no evidence of actual manufacturing intent or mass production capability
Deep Root Pinball auction items contain no software and do not function
Deep Root founder invoked Fifth Amendment over 200 times at creditor meeting
Deeproot Pinball headquarters were shuttered
Only 122 Raza machines were pre-ordered when Deep Root opened order banks.
Deep Root Pinball owes money to approximately 150 creditors including paint suppliers
Deep Root Pinball sponsored Texas Pinball Festival but had zero physical presence at the event
Deep Root Pinball was founded 2-3+ years ago and exhibited red flags from day one
Deep Root Pinball founder claimed pinball design was easy and talked about updating/modifying the entire industry
Deep Root Pinball and Mueller's other companies will file bankruptcy and liquidate assets
Robert Muller told Deep Root Pinball employees that recent news about the company is false and they should seek other employment
Deep Root Pinball owner Robert Mueller is facing jail time
Deep Root employees had not been paid since July 2021
Deep Root Pinball and investment funds were charged by the SEC with fraud involving misuse of approximately $58.789 million
Deep Root Pinball was consuming approximately $750,000 per month over approximately five years
Deep Root's Raza machine received fewer than 100 pre-orders
Deep Root employees were on furlough and not receiving paychecks as of over a month before Hardy's video
Octo-manufacturing system comprised eight Harbor Freight workbenches with two-person teams assembling one game per day
Deep Root Pinball failed to produce any significant game output over five years of operation
Deep Root Pinball created approximately 8-9 different LLCs to obscure money transfers and investment fraud
Deep Root Pinball's manufacturing facility in San Antonio was essentially non-functional, containing only whitewoods, hired talent for appearances, and no actual manufacturing capability or parts inventory.
Deep Root's Pen Armor playfield coating has an orange peel effect and the coating process hasn't been perfected, yet they plan to start production soon.
The pin bar lockdown bar removal design still has a loose cover segment that creates a 'piece in hand' issue, similar to traditional designs.
Wire management under Deep Root's playfield is disorganized with most wires the same color, resembling 'a rats nest' and creating confusion for repairs.
An HDMI cable connector broke off during typical playfield lifting/lowering due to design flaws.
If Deep Root ships the current product in its demonstrated state, market reception will be very negative and the company will face serious business problems.
Deep Root has only one game that boots, no line workers hired or in training, and is still seeking suppliers for parts.
Deep Root's new cabinet design lacking a traditional back box will face consumer resistance despite modern pinball industry trend toward minimal back boxes.
Deep Root should reconsider and delay their launch date to allow for more engineering and product polish.
Deep Root fraud represents the largest pinball industry scandal by dollar amount, potentially exceeding the historical Bally-Mafia allegations
Deep Root Pinball is completely defunct (DOA) following the fraud charges
Two Deep Root Pinball employees independently contacted Cary Hardy claiming they were furloughed in mid-July
Deep Root Pinball employees on furlough are likely to continue leaking company information due to reduced loyalty
Deep Root has taken out millions of dollars in payroll loans over the past 1-2 years
All Deep Root employees have been placed on furlough for the last week or two
Deep Root's website security is inadequate and has exposed buyer data including names, emails, login credentials, and serial numbers
No meaningful progress has occurred at Deep Root's facility in approximately one year since Hardy's visit
Deep Root Pinball is unlikely to ever release a game due to pattern of excuses and current collapse
Only three customers took Deep Root Pinball's refund offer for Raza
Deep Root Pinball is 'dead on arrival' with chronic delivery failures
Deep Root Pinball has Goonies and Back to the Future licenses locked up but has not delivered these games
Deep Root Pinball is allowing customers to request refunds instead of waiting for machines
UL certification reports should arrive in the next few weeks; CE certification will take 4-5 weeks after final fixes pass
Deep Root will offer financial relief (store credit, discounts, or refunds) to Raza pre-order customers if games are not shipping by mid-May
Deep Root Pinball has been accepting pre-orders for five months and has not yet shipped any Raza machines
Deep Root cannot source sufficient parts to produce machines beyond current orders
UL certification for Raza has not been obtained and is still pending despite 5+ months of customer orders
CE certification is only 95% complete with additional modifications needed due to emissions and interference test failures
Deep Root's Raza game was delayed due to Texas winter storms affecting UL certification lab operations
Deep Root expects final UL certifications by mid-April or sooner (4-5 weeks from early March restart)
Deep Root clarified that mid-March shipment target was an 'internal goal' not a delivery promise
Deep Root sold approximately 100 units of Raza during pre-order window
Deep Root Pinball is still experiencing parts sourcing issues with no confirmed ship date
Deep Root Pinball has been in development for over 5 years with 200+ pre-order deposits
Deep Root Pinball planned to build 160 total Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland units with 130 from pre-orders
Texas weather and COVID caused Deep Root Pinball production delays beyond mid-March target
Deep Root Pinball received 130 pre-orders for Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland (70 arcade, 60 extra edition)
Deep Root Pinball experienced supply chain struggles obtaining parts for Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland shipments
Deep Root has presold approximately 130 pinball/arcade machines (70 arcade editions + 60 extra editions)
Deep Root game pricing is $8,000 (arcade) and $13,000 (extra edition) — higher than Stern's standard games
Deep Root Pinball has consistently missed all production deadlines
Deep Root Pinball's Raza pre-orders total approximately 100-200 units versus the manufacturer's anticipated 400-500 units
Deep Root Pinball's four to six week timeline means end of January would be earliest games leaving factory, with Arcade leaving before Extra and full payment before deposit
Only 25-30 Deep Root Pinball machines have been pre-ordered
Deep Root Pinball's base price is approximately $5,800 and can reach $9,500 with upgrades and limited edition options
Deep Root Pinball plans to offer DLC allowing entirely new rule sets on the same playfield
Deep Root Pinball games are now available for purchase
Deep Root Pinball's rollout process was problematic despite eventual product delivery
Deep Root indicated 4-6 weeks shipping from December 8th start of pre-orders
Deep Root will not sell Raza after December 30th regardless of sales performance
Deep Root stated they have 20 other titles ready to go
Raza is now available for pre-order on Deep Root Pinball's website
The pin bar supports multiple configurable layouts for different operator and player needs
Deep Root Pinball is planning a $4,999 arcade model with a $549/year subscription for updates and DLC
Deep Root's playfield lighting is underwhelming compared to Total Nuclear Annihilation and Guns N' Roses
Deep Root's subscription model represents a new approach untested in the pinball industry
RAZA's playfield layout is uninspired and not very interesting
Deep Root Pinball held a streamed event showing RAZA production models at a coffee brewery in Texas
RAZA's ramps are more makeable than the prototype version revealed a year ago
The Deep Root Pinball facility visit experience was 'unforgettable' despite not meeting original expectations
Deep Root intended RAZA to be placed on location for a few days to gather real-world player feedback on gameplay mechanics
The RAZA reveal stream was added to the location test approximately one day before the event occurred
Deep Root states these are final production games being shown at What's Brewing
Deep Root promised two-week shipping on orders but is not announcing ordering availability with this reveal
Raza right ramp is now makeable, with fixes to left return no longer dropping in front of sling
Zidware customers of Deep Root may have received compensation payouts
Deep Root Pinball has made multiple repeated delays and broken promises to its customers
Deep Root's floating backbox design requires high ceiling clearance similar to older Bally hydraulic systems
Deep Root's lock bar design with pointy corners caused discomfort in games like Stellar Wars and Full Throttle
Deep Root's innovations focus almost entirely on cabinet design rather than playfield gameplay
The non-disclosure agreements signed by launch event visitors prevent disclosure of specific feedback that triggered cancellation
Yukon Yeti is designed as a Whitewater sequel by Dennis Nordman
Deep Root Pinball announced approximately 10 upcoming game titles
Deep Root Pinball employees have worked there for 5 years without shipping a game
Deep Root's organizational culture has systemic problems where internal staff do not or cannot raise concerns before external criticism surfaces
Deep Root invited six pinball media personalities to a reveal event that became a 'beta event' due to technical issues and critical feedback requiring game postponement
Deep Root Pinball has experienced at least 2-3 production delays on Raza, with the game concept originating 7+ years ago
Deep Root Pinball's 3-4 year operation without shipped games while maintaining payroll and infrastructure has created unsustainable cash burn
Deep Root's innovations focus on peripheral features around the machine rather than core playfield gameplay innovation
Deep Root is developing a glass-lifting system via side rails to enable single-person machine setup
All six tour invitees agreed Raza is not ready to launch on Deep Root's stated timeline
Deep Root manufactures all metal components (rails, ramps) on-site
Community backlash against Deep Root is primarily due to founder Robert's arrogant attitude rather than product quality alone
Four out of six tour invitees were based in Texas, partially explaining the selection criteria
Deep Root's information release was coordinated with This Week in Pinball specifically to contextualize leaked Raza images
Deep Root has litigation history that creates fear response among media representatives regarding NDA violations
Deep Root offers three game editions: Arcade (standard), X (premium), and Extra (super limited)
The Deep Six members were restricted to discussing only content within the This Week in Pinball article, limiting independent commentary scope
Deep Root Pinball's September 21st launch date was missed
Deep Root's selective use of This Week In Pinball as official media outlet and NDA restrictions on five other guests prevented comprehensive industry launch coverage
RAZA will be released in three variants: base 'Arcade' with conventional hinged backbox, and two premium models with elevated speaker/display architecture
Six invited media guests were placed under NDA and made into exclusive 'launch team', preventing them from publicly discussing issues identified
RAZA and Deep Root's platform suffered reliability and design issues that prevented public reveal, discovered during final weekend preview
Leaked images revealed PinBar and platform direction despite company efforts to control information release
This was Deep Root Pinball's third major launch attempt for RAZA spanning from 2018 to September 2020
Operators and collectors will not purchase Deep Root machines even after they launch due to support/credibility concerns
Raza prototype images leaked online after the failed September 21, 2024 reveal event
Deep Root Pinball was originally supposed to reveal Raza at TPF in March 2019, then March 2020 due to COVID
Deep Root Pinball scheduled their reveal event but then only released a written statement instead of showing the game to media or public
Deep Root Pinball has not taken any pre-orders or customer money yet for Raza
The pin armor coating currently exhibits orange peel texture that lacks the smooth glass feel preferred by pinball enthusiasts, but this is acknowledged as an early version
The one-person assisted setup system will be demonstrated at the upcoming virtual pinball expo
Fire and Brimstone will be the first multi-denominational religious pinball game
Yukon Yeti is a sequel to the classic Whitewater pinball game
The pin bar touchscreen serves as the only start button on Deep Root machines; there is no physical start button
Raza will only be available in standard Bally Williams cabinet size with no widebody option
The pin armor coating withstood 16-ounce hammer blows and 750-gram pinball drops without damage, while standard clear coat sustained dents and craters
Deep Root Pinball postponed the Raza platform and game launch due to technical issues and feedback from six invited guests
The pin bar took years to develop with consideration of thousands of engineering and GUI design concerns
Deep Root machines will support home/private mode and location/public mode with passworded settings access for commercial operators
Deep Root has had four designers in three years
Deep Root's Raza will be announced Monday with pricing and game details
Deep Root Pinball ran a teaser campaign for at least 9 days, following a previous 5-day campaign
Deep Root Pinball's most recent teaser featured the number 9 and letter D in blue aerial font
Deep Root is releasing Raza at a special event in September
The Raza prototype was shown at Texas Pinball Festival but the event was canceled due to COVID-19
The right ramp on the Raza prototype was mechanically unhittable due to insufficient ball physics and ramp pitch design
The prototype had no in-lane lead to the left flipper, making momentum-based ramp shots impossible
Deep Root is considering announcing multiple games simultaneously, not just Raza
Deep Root Pinball will reveal/launch Raza in September using an unprecedented approach
Deep Root will reveal Raza in September 2020 with innovations finally shown
Deep Root Pinball's More Brewing Company timeline has shifted but remains within summer delivery window
Deep Root Pinball will have significant news or footage announcement before end of summer
Deep Root Pinball is rumored to charge around $10k for their first game with limited production
Deep Root Pinball is actively hiring across creative, engineering, and supply chain roles for production ramp-up
Deep Root Pinball was covered by This Week in Pinball but without significant new revelations about company status or specific details
Robert Mueller would be upset if Raza production exceeded 500 units
Deep Root attempted to license 3D Space Cadet but abandoned the effort due to legal complexity with EA and Microsoft
Deep Root will never need to rerun a title, instead relying on unique model/tier offerings or potential reskins
Deep Root Pinball's launch event will be delayed beyond original March 2020 timeline due to COVID-19 cancellations
Deep Root/Haggis is introducing a mystery third playfield variant, possibly to engage the community or as competitive differentiation.
Deep Root/Haggis is offering $6,250 for a fully optioned model with custom trim, toy kit, free worldwide shipping, and Clan Haggis membership (valued at ~$2,000 savings).
Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland working prototypes were shown at Houston Arcade Expo
Deep Root Pinball facility in Texas was scheduled to open to the public on March 25, 2020
Deep Root has developed a playfield protection process resistant to dimpling damage
Deep Root Pinball will debut their first game at TPS 2020
Deep Root Pinball was planning a #hammer durability announcement/test
Deep Root Pinball's viability as a company is uncertain
69 days until Deep Root Pinball launches from episode recording date
Deep Root Pinball's Raza will be released in early 2020
The most forward/key shot on Deep Root's show machine was completely inaccessible during the event
Deep Root Pinball's show machine had weak flippers because the manufacturer was concerned stronger flippers would break plastics and targets
Deep Root Pinball will do full reveal of Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland at Texas Pinball Festival in March 2020
Deep Root prototypes received generally positive reception at Houston Arcade Expo
Raza prototype had basic rule code with multiball modes but lacked sufficient audio feedback and shot completion signaling, suggesting early development state.
Deep Root Pinball's Raza prototype showed a long sweeping right-hand ramp that required a very clean or rolling shot to complete, with interesting playfield options and bright, colorful artwork.
Deep Root Pinball's Raza represents a significant execution risk for the new company, with only 4 months from Houston Arcade Expo prototype reveal to planned March 2020 launch.
The game was showcased at a Houston expo where it generated sustained high-interest playtesting with 20+ hours of gameplay data
Deep Root is working on at least 10 additional pinball games beyond Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland
The playfield display uses an ultra-wide format similar to Chicago Gaming reissues, not the larger Jersey Jack or standard Stern displays
Texas Pinball Festival (4-5 months away) expected to be Deep Root's official launch venue
Deep Root's Raza prototype uses Mirko playfield, not final Deep Root playfield design
Deep Root's Raza will price between $6,000-$7,000 to compete with Stern Premium tier
Manufacturing capacity and production timelines are the critical unknown factors determining Deep Root's actual market competitiveness
The game is positioned as Deep Root's lower-end/entry-level offering comparable to Stern Pro tier
This is Deep Root Pinball's first game revealed publicly from their announced pipeline
Raza Dazal prototype has mechanical issues with the lift ramp/double dare cycle shot based on gameplay videos
Raza Dazal's cabinet, playfield, art, and code are all not finalized on current prototypes
Deep Root's Raza Dazal prototype uses a Merkle playfield, not the final playfield material
Cabinet artwork and backglass are explicitly stated in interviews to be placeholders
RAZA is manufactured by Deep Root Pinball
Deep Root Pinball's RAZA prototypes at Houston Arcade Expo will be at near-production quality with playfield art but minimal cabinet art
Deep Root Pinball paid cash settlements to Zidware customers without requesting upfront customer money
Deep Root Pinball promised games in 2018 but has delivered nothing in 2019 despite announcing fall 2019-2020 release window
Raza prototypes will be available to play at Houston Expo on November 15-16
Deep Root extended the Zidware refund deadline to June 28
Deep Root criticized podcasts and forums for having 'laughable' information about the company
Deep Root Pinball is developing hundreds of unique pinball innovations and tens of titles simultaneously
Deep Root Pinball's RAZA will first be playable at Houston Arcade Expo in November 2019, with full production launch window of autumn 2019 to summer 2020
Deep Root Pinball released a teaser video for Raza on YouTube
Deep Root was working on five pinball titles: Alice in Wonderland, Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland, Fire and Brimstone, Magic Girl, and a Dennis Nordman original theme
Deep Root Pinball has decided not to bring any games to Texas Pinball Festival 2019, choosing instead to release on their own schedule
Deep Root Pinball delayed their Texas Pinball Festival reveal and will launch on their own timeline instead
Deep Root Pinball cancelled their scheduled Texas Pinball Festival 2019 reveal/launch event
Deep Root Pinball is not concerned about individual machine profitability, only company-wide profitability
Deep Root Pinball will release more titles in one year than all other manufacturers combined
Deep Root Pinball has secured an 80s entertainment license that the pinball community has wanted
Deep Root is exploring smoke and sparks as physical playfield effects
Deep Root Pinball recently secured a major 80s movie license
Deep Root Pinball is unlikely to have a fully functioning game at Texas Pinball Festival 2019; will probably only tease themes
Deep Root Pinball revealed Alice in Wonderland as a $50,000 high-end theme machine
Deep Root Pinball is planning multiple games requiring full-time commitment from David Thiel
Deep Root Pinball's talent acquisitions suggest serious production commitment rather than vaporware
Deep Root Pinball is offering five machines as prizes through This Week in Pinball sweepstakes with setup service
Deep Root Pinball announced pricing range of $3,500–$50,000 with upper end as jab at wealthy podcaster
Deep Root Pinball is planning machines at $3,500 to $50,000 with the lower price noted as potentially even less expensive.
Deep Root attempted to acquire Queen license from Highway; Highway refused the sale
Deep Root Pinball is not asking for pre-orders or money and is avoiding early hype
Deep Root's compensation plan excludes customers who sue or badmouth Deep Root/Zidware on podcasts/websites
Deep Root Pinball is planning to release 4-5 games without using assembly lines
Deep Root Pinball announced Barry Osler as in-house designer, plus Dennis Nordman and John Norris
Deep Root Pinball has contracted J-Pop as a designer
Deep Root Pinball will use quad assembly instead of assembly line manufacturing
Deep Root Pinball's software model aims to eliminate the concept of 'complete code', creating continuous evolution
Deep Root Pinball will not take pre-order money upfront and will manufacture games ready to ship before asking for payment
Deep Root Pinball has John Papaduke listed as Lead Game Development on their official engineering team website
Deep Root Pinball is attempting to acquire Magic Girl artwork copyrights from Zombie Yeti via contract signed by J-Pop's legal counsel
Defunct boutique manufacturer founded by Robert Mueller; failed to produce any games despite major community hype; subject of Kaneda Classics retrospective series
Boutique pinball manufacturer founded by Robert Mueller; subject of this podcast episode
Referenced regarding Robert Mueller involvement in pinball business; Kaneda expresses belief Mueller should face jail time for criminal activity
Developer of Yukon Yeti; Kaneda critical of art direction and responsiveness to feedback
Boutique pinball manufacturer officially revealing Yukon Yeti; producing 500 units; also has booth at Texas Pinball Festival
Defunct manufacturer; original developer of Yukon Yeti (2018); collapsed into SEC fraud charges and Chapter 7 bankruptcy (2021) without shipping a machine; IP purchased by Turner in March 2022
Bankrupt pinball company; Turner Pinball acquired assets at bankruptcy auction; Whitewater 2 project originated here
Previous manufacturer; assets acquired by Turner for use in game development
Bankrupt company; John Popadiuk designs (RAZA, Magic Girl, Space Mission X) acquired by Melvin Williams
Defunct pinball company that burned through $58.8 million in investor funds, faced SEC fraud charges, filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy without shipping finished machines
Bankrupt company whose IP assets (RAZA, Magic Girl, Space Mission X) were acquired by Melvin Williams
Pinball company where Chris Turner worked on software design before founding Turner Pinball
Papa Duke's failed Kickstarter venture; discussed critically regarding Raza and unrealized projects
Mentioned as company being displaced/outcompeted by Haggis's emergence
Pinball event referenced in context of attending with Macho merchandise
Newer pinball manufacturer; hired John Popadiuk; employing stealth/long-game strategy without early hype or pre-orders
Pinball manufacturer expected to deliver product in March 2020 per host's rhetorical question
Emerging manufacturer; announcing Raza (Retro Atomic Zombie Arcade Land); promises cheaper/faster/better production
New pinball manufacturer hiring established designers (Barry Osler, Dennis Nordman, John Norris); planning to build John Papadiuk's Houdini and Fire and Brimstone (Bible-themed); hired David Thiel for sound design
Boutique pinball manufacturer that has been in development for five years; revealed and then postponed their first game after negative media feedback
John Papaduke's pinball company planning major announcement in March 2025
Pinball manufacturer criticized for weak flipper setup on show machine; made excuse about potential breakage
Modern pinball manufacturer producing new games. Employed Barry Owsler and John Papadiuk as designers.
Pinball manufacturer teasing announcement of new game with mysterious social media posts; announcement expected on 12th or 22nd of the month
Defunct company where David Thiel worked on games like Raza that never reached market
Manufacturer planning March 25, 2020 facility release event in Texas for Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland showcase
New pinball manufacturing company based in Texas; recently announced partnership with John Papadiuk; rumors claim they will avoid pre-order models
Prototype machine manufacturer; will have machines at Houston Arcade Expo; subject of community chatter
Manufacturer criticized for weak and extended teaser campaign with cryptic imagery
Boutique pinball manufacturer with headquarters in Texas and animation studio in Utah. Ambitious pipeline included Raza, Food Truck, Merlin's Arcade, Magic Girl, Fire and Brimstone, Alice in Wonderland. Utah studio collapsed due to mismanagement, scope creep, and structural dysfunction.
New pinball manufacturer; released Raza; settling Zidware legal obligations; working on additional games
Rumored to have held The Goonies license before losing it; speculated Barrels of Fun may have acquired it
Boutique pinball manufacturer criticized for repeated delays and Robert Mueller's leadership; subject of intense community frustration
Referenced as another bad pinball company name; Kaneda considers Barrels of Fun worse than Deep Root or Haggis as brand names.
Pinball company/representative group; Steve Bowden associated with licensing/design discussions
Defunct pinball company founded by Robert Mueller; involved in fraud that took money from investors including elderly victims; Chris Turner worked there
San Antonio-based pinball manufacturer founded by Robert Mueller; designed multiple game prototypes but struggled with production; only two prototypes shown publicly; company faces liquidation and asset seizure due to SEC fraud charges
Manufacturer with extended silence on game releases; planned game features difficult ramp mechanic (Raza theme); subject of extended frustration due to lack of news
Boutique pinball manufacturer that announced extended deadlines for Raza and other titles; Robert Mueller engaged in heated forum debate with community members
Emerging manufacturer with delayed reveal; expected to undercut market pricing significantly; business model and distributor strategy unknown; potential Alice in Wonderland and Dragon Fist titles mentioned
Texas-based manufacturer planning company reveal Wednesday prior to Texas Pinball Festival; posting for engineering project manager; early signals of production ramp-up
Pinball manufacturer referenced as having a disappointing 2020 showing; described as acting like 'the injured gazelle that was gobbled up'
New startup manufacturer; launching with Magic Girl remake, RAZA, and Alice in Wonderland; CEO Robert Mueller confident in competitive differentiation
Pinball manufacturer/operator; involved in discussion about Magic Girl artwork changes and J-Pop naming conventions
Pinball manufacturer; recently acquired rights to Magic Girl and related John Papaduke designs including Alice in Wonderland variant
Boutique pinball manufacturer mentioned by Ball Pin as potential competitor; Ball Pin explicitly states 'I know nothing about Deep Root'
Newer pinball manufacturer entering the market with bold claims about efficiency and innovation; facility in Texas; planning major reveal at upcoming Expo
Pinball startup manufacturer; compensated Zidware customers for lost deposits via machine trade or cash settlements; first game (Raza/RAZAA) expected Houston November timeframe
Pinball manufacturer; held seminar at Expo featuring Robert Mueller, Barry Oursler, John Popadiuk and staff discussing company direction
Pinball manufacturer planning lower-priced games; subject of prediction about market competition with Stern; has staff including Steve Bowen and David Thiel
Said to have previously held Goonies license; may have developed prototype with coin pusher mechanics.
Pinball manufacturer; recently hired Paul Ferris as artist
Boutique pinball manufacturer founded by Robert Mueller based in San Antonio, Texas; announced delays to Texas Pinball Festival reveal; employs John Papadiuk, Dennis Nordman, Steve Bowen; pursuing direct-to-consumer distribution model
Has decided to skip TPF 2019 in favor of releasing on own schedule; working on 5 titles (Alice in Wonderland, Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland, Fire and Brimstone, Magic Girl, Dennis Nordman original)
Mentioned hypothetically as potential manufacturer for Pinball 2000 revival with modern technology
Pinball manufacturer/organization that Steve Bowden now works for professionally
Manufacturer facing significant delays; announced games for fall 2019-2020 but has not delivered; made bold promises in 2018
Boutique pinball manufacturer with Raza and Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland in development; planning Houston Arcade Expo showing; known for delays and ambitious animation plans
Current employer of designer Dennis Nordman
Texas-based pinball manufacturer, released teaser video for Raza game
New manufacturer showing prototype of Raza (Retro Atomic Zombie Adventure Land) at Houston Expo; pricing strategy targeting $6k-$7k; Texas Pinball Festival expected official launch
Pinball manufacturer; hosting major March 25, 2025 launch event focused on technology and innovation
Emerging pinball manufacturer led by Robert Mueller; developing Raza (Retro Atomic Zombie Adventure Land), Fire and Brimstone, Magic Girl revival, and Alice in Wonderland; headquartered in Houston area; planning soft reveal at Houston Arcade and Pinball Expo
Emerging pinball manufacturer showing RAZA prototypes at Houston Arcade Expo after Zidware settlement
Pinball manufacturer/designer based in San Antonio; Robert interested in being preferred game launch streamer; company hasn't shown interest in streaming promotion strategy
Emerging pinball manufacturer; revealed Raza prototypes at Houston Arcade Expo; full unveiling scheduled for Texas Pinball Festival March
Boutique manufacturer; released Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland prototype; Raza expected for early 2020 release
Up-and-coming pinball manufacturer fulfilling Zidware claims; hosting launch event at Texas Pinball Festival with media and VIP access for affected customers
Pinball manufacturer based in San Antonio; developing Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland and reportedly 10+ other games; positioning as value-focused manufacturer
Boutique pinball manufacturer criticized for fraud-like practices, poor communication, false sponsorships, and failure to deliver products; community consensus is extremely negative
Defunct pinball manufacturer whose failure created lasting skepticism toward new startups in the pinball industry
Company with unproduced Nordman designs; referenced as having insufficient claim to his work; Robert Mueller mentioned in context of design rights
Pinball manufacturer where Stephen Bowden previously worked on rules design for Raza prototype; company status uncertain following failure to bring game to market
Controversial pinball manufacturer that collapsed following SEC filing reveal; had promised indestructible playfields, hired major industry figures, and spent investor money on personal expenses
Failed boutique manufacturer; referenced as cautionary example of big ideas that 'totally fizzled out'
Manufacturer referenced for operational/delivery difficulties compared to Pinball Adventures' success
Pinball manufacturer; developing Alice in Wonderland premium machine ($50,000); led by John Papaduke (Papa Duke); progress described as slow and uncertain
Manufacturer of Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland prototype
Boutique pinball manufacturer that collapsed in 2021 after fraudulent practices; took ~$60M from investors; only sold 122 Raza units before collapse
Pinball manufacturer/distributor represented by Steve Bowen at the event
Formerly defunct pinball company; Papa Duke's failed Kickstarter venture; website now displays cipher code suggesting possible revival
Defunct pinball manufacturer; planned to reveal seven games at Texas Pinball Festival 2020; postponed due to pandemic; had separate financial issues unrelated to COVID-19; no longer exists; Turner Pinball may control its IPs
Referenced as subject of largest Pinside forum thread (~30,000-35,000 replies) due to Ponzi scheme controversy
Leaked whiteboard from Gladiator game design inspired merchandise; referenced for whiteboard design philosophy
Pinball manufacturer; posting cryptic clues on homepage; speculation about Raza machine production under Turner Logic ownership
Pinball manufacturer founded 2015 by Robert Mueller; collapsed 2021 after SEC investigation; never successfully manufactured or delivered any complete pinball machines despite hiring 40-50 employees and spending ~$58M in fraudulently-obtained capital
Referenced as similar failed/troubled manufacturer alongside Haggis and Pinball Brothers as cautionary tale of upfront payment scams
Mentioned for innovations in playfield manufacturing and testing; referenced but not elaborated
Pinball manufacturer (closed); George references their game design work on 'Gladiator' and their closure as a loss to the community
Upcoming pinball manufacturer with game reveal postponed from March 25th; games will be revealed online with no live play opportunity
Previous failed pinball startup; Stephen Bowden was marketing/code person; paralleled to Marty/Haggis situation (employee not responsible for company failure)
Pinball manufacturer; released information about delayed Raza launch and upcoming game titles; led by Robert who has been publicly boastful about revolutionizing the industry
Associated with Steve Bowden
Company that hired multiple podcast/media personalities; Taylor Reese notes they did not hire him
Referenced as source of legacy designs (Raza) now being handled by other manufacturers; associated with John Papaduke; Kaneda suggests industry consensus is moving away from Deep Root-era games
Original developer of Merlin's Arcade game design and R&D; Turner Pinball handled finesse and software completion.
Boutique pinball manufacturer; developing Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland (Raza) and Food Truck; employs Stephen Bowden as rules designer
Boutique pinball manufacturer involved in financial fraud; subject of editorial removal from episode by host to protect Oursler's legacy
Boutique pinball manufacturer that collapsed after five years with minimal game production; founder Robert Mueller accused of using it as vehicle for investment fraud scheme involving multiple LLCs
Boutique pinball manufacturer; subject of severe criticism regarding product delays, lack of transparency, and failed projects (Raza, J-Pop)
Participating in 'Future Worlds' seminar at Pinball Expo with John Papadiuk; subject of community code theft controversy
Manufacturer of Galactic Tank Force; Kaneda speculates heavily about design philosophy, asset costs, and production timeline
Manufacturer that held exclusive contract with David Thiel; released him to work on Pulp Fiction
Boutique manufacturer in financial crisis with unsold inventory; subject of Kaneda's advice
Associated with Steve Bowen based on KB; mentioned in context of content creation and community connection
Manufacturer accused of fraud; built on stolen customer savings; Kaneda criticizes associates for lack of accountability
Referenced as failed/collapsed manufacturer; Turner Pinball described as staffed by 'leftover Deep Root Pinball people'; Magic Girl cited as example of years-long broken project dedication in Netherlands
Original developer of Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland (John Papaduke design); game being re-engineered by Melvin Williams on arcade hardware with Zombie Yeti art
Controversial manufacturer; Kaneda calls them 'the biggest joke in the history of pinball companies'; company attempted to revive John Papadiuk projects without success
Defunct boutique manufacturer that previously held Goonies license; collapsed due to chronic delays; license now appears to have transferred to Spooky
Manufacturer of Raza game, negatively compared to Alice in terms of playability and shot design
Pinball company where Steve Bowden previously worked; appears to have had production/shipping issues
Boutique pinball manufacturer planning Raza game reveal in September with novel launch strategy
Boutique pinball manufacturer developing More Brewing Company; production timeline has shifted but remains within summer window per Kerry's update
Pinball manufacturer/company with upcoming news/footage expected before end of summer (teased by Hardy)
Previously held Goonies license
Emerging pinball manufacturer; released statement May 29 claiming innovative developments across 'hundreds of unique innovations' and 'tens of titles'; no customer money taken yet
Pinball manufacturer criticized as 'dead on arrival,' facing delivery issues and requiring years of PR recovery to rebuild community trust
Pinball manufacturer; subject of sustained criticism in this episode for poor event execution, messaging disconnect, and lack of substantive product delivery
Briefly mentioned; subject of personal joke directed at founder Bobby/Bob
Manufacturer with 69-day countdown to anticipated launch; subject of speculation about company viability
Defunct pinball manufacturer involved in financial scandal resulting in criminal convictions; assets auctioned off and acquired by Chris Turner/Turner Pinball.
Referenced as example of pinball company that failed due to bad business practices and production issues
Pinball manufacturer now offering games for sale after previously problematic rollout; featured in Pinball Profile interview
Boutique pinball manufacturer that repeatedly missed reveal deadlines for their flagship game Raza; founded by Robert Mueller; known for ambitious announcements but chronic delays and vaporware status
Cited as example of company that 'blatantly lied' to customers from day one
Boutique pinball manufacturer; auction of non-functional prototypes underway; received $61M in capital but failed to deliver working machines
Former manufacturer; assets purchased by Turner Pinball; Kaneda dismisses their design philosophy as failed
Mid-tier manufacturer; Dennis Nordman was early designer; associated with Steve Bowen and community engagement
Startup company that struggled to fulfill promises; cited as cautionary example of failed startup manufacturing
Pinball machine manufacturer founded by Robert Mueller; collapsed following SEC fraud allegations; involved in multiple shell entities (Deep Root Pinball 575 Fund LLC, Deep Root Pinball Growth Fund LLC, Deep Root Pinball Tech, Deep Root Pinball Studios, Deep Root Pinball Sports and Entertainment)
Referenced as not qualifying as a manufacturer (joke: 'shots fired') for not having actually produced games
Boutique pinball manufacturer; Steve expressed interest in eventually modding their machines
Failed pinball manufacturer founded by Robert Dave Mueller; now defunct with facility being auctioned
Failed pinball company that attempted Men in Black licensing using Alien Crisis video game artwork, exposed as lacking legitimate long-term plans
Manufacturer mentioned as securing Goonies IP license despite being boutique; context for licensing strategy discussion
Boutique manufacturer Fathom game in extended delays with no recent production photos as of late February
Boutique pinball manufacturer headquartered in San Antonio, TX with satellite studio in Utah; collapsed after failing to deliver machines and missing employee payroll
Referenced as cautionary example of boutique manufacturer collapse; radio silence and unmet promises preceded shutdown
Struggling pinball manufacturer; developing Raza game; founder deleted Facebook page and went dark; citing legal issues; only 3 customers took refund offer; company appears to be collapsing.
Failed startup founded by Robert Mueller; spent $61 million without completing any games
Defunct boutique manufacturer; founder Mueller involved in investor fraud scandal; failed to deliver Raza and other promised titles
Company launching brand/product on September 9, mentioned via cryptic countdown on their website
Pinball manufacturer; David Fix working on Whitewater sequel there following Galactic Tank Force completion
Texas-based manufacturer; recently secured major 80s movie license according to Jeff Patterson tour
Boutique pinball manufacturer (also known as Barrels of Fun), hiring Steven Bowden as ruleset designer and ambassador, acquiring digital production suite to enable small runs for preorder victims
Defunct manufacturer; assets acquired by Turner Pinball; previously working on Raza machines now in Turner's possession
Failed boutique referenced as parallel failure case; criticized content creators for not investigating premises
Former employer of David Thiel, released him from exclusive contract to work on Pulp Fiction
Failed manufacturer; subject of harsh criticism for incomplete whitewoods, stolen materials, misleading marketing, and abandoned projects
Defunct pinball manufacturer founded by Robert Dave Mueller; perpetrated fraud against the pinball community; assets and licenses acquired by Turner Pinball
Failed boutique pinball company founded by John Papaduke Jr.; company went bankrupt with whitewood prototypes (Raza, Food Truck, Space Cadet, Goonies) left unfinished
Investment-backed pinball company founded by Robert Dave Mueller; received $61M in funding; produced 2 prototypes; working on Magic Girl remake/restoration
Boutique pinball manufacturer; held VIP media tour; cancelled/postponed public reveal of Raza due to technical issues and media feedback; known for chronic delays and failed product launches (per KB)
Emerging pinball manufacturer planning to relocate to 12621 Silicon Drive in San Antonio, Texas; launching multiple machine tiers with prices from $3,500 to $50,000.
Failed boutique manufacturer; associated with accountability failures; Steven Bowden's role shielded from scrutiny according to Kaneda
Referenced for Yukon Yeti whitewood visuals that resemble potential Whitewater 2 design; context implies company no longer active
Listed as a complete failure; founder John Papaduke/Papa Duke known for delayed/failed projects
Seeking $100,000 whale investor for one-off licensed pinball prototype; Kaneda criticizes unrealistic funding approach
Boutique pinball manufacturer; speaker discusses company's game pipeline (20+ titles) and production capacity
Pinball manufacturer criticized for consistent production deadline misses; in development on Barnyard title
Boutique pinball manufacturer; Raza game discussed extensively; criticized for five-year development timeline with no shipping inventory
Recent failed Kickstarter manufacturer; failure looms large over community perception and trust of new manufacturers; described by host as 'one of the worst bombshells dropped down Tee'd Off this community'
Newly announced pinball manufacturer founded by Robert; released Raza trailer this week; planning first pinball machine release; planning to use onboard playfield screen design
Homebrew/small manufacturer with 200+ pre-orders for unnamed flagship title; 5+ year development cycle; recent update about lock bar assembly and kickstand engineering; facing parts sourcing delays with no confirmed ship date
Pinball manufacturer based in San Antonio, Texas; market entrant known for Raza machine; controversial startup with unfulfilled promises but notable for distinct funding model (investor money, not pre-orders from pinball enthusiasts)
Mentioned in context of production struggles; referenced in chat comments suggesting new Avengers announcement may be attempt to undercut competitor
Boutique pinball manufacturer; recently hired Steve Bowden as rules designer and pinball ambassador; sponsoring Pinburgh bank reveal livestream on July 14th
New pinball manufacturer with design team including Papa Duke and Dennis Nordman; planning to unveil game at Texas Pinball Festival
Pinball manufacturer where Brad Duke gained experience designing art for 9 games before joining Spooky for Looney Tunes
Pinball manufacturer with delayed orders; offering refund option to customers
Emerging pinball manufacturer with significant behind-the-scenes developments revealed in recent interview
Emerging pinball manufacturer with website launch, pre-orders opening, base price ~$5,800 with upgrades reaching $9,500; focus on innovations like pin bar and DLC content model
Emerging pinball manufacturer mentioned by chat member Brian Cosner in LED discussion
Boutique pinball manufacturer releasing Raza as first commercial game; has announced pipeline including Magic Girl and Alice in Wonderland; characterization as deliberately choosing weakest theme first
Implied reference through discussion of ambitious projects with delays (mentioned as 'Haggis Pinball saga')
Defunct pinball company associated with fraud; used as comparison point for severity of misconduct
Pinball manufacturer that recently announced ~10 upcoming game titles; criticized for marketing strategy of revealing unfinished games
Company Steven Bowden departed from to join American Pinball
Manufacturer of RAZL pinball machine; subject of negative customer service interaction via email regarding shipment timeline and ordering priorities
Manufacturer with no released machines yet; host characterizes as unreliable/gossip-focused; Robert Dave Mueller is associated with company
Boutique manufacturer showing prototype of Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland at Houston Arcade Pinball Expo
Boutique pinball manufacturer announcing ambitious pipeline (4-5 games) without assembly lines; recently hired veteran designers including Dennis Nordman, Barry Ousler, Jon Norris, and David Thiel; hosts express skepticism about company's claims and timeline
Defunct/collapsed manufacturer; Merlin's Arcade accused of being continuation of Deep Root's failed design philosophy and Robert Mueller's ideas
Boutique pinball manufacturer with chronic delays on Fathom and Centaur Revisited games; operates non-refundable deposit model; refuses transparency/factory tours
Defunct manufacturer; Kaneda speculates American Pinball acquired Food Truck code from their projects
Defunct pinball manufacturer; mentioned in context of accountability for failed promises
Struggling boutique manufacturer; failed to fulfill Fathom orders and facing potential closure unless Centaur orders materialize
Company with exclusive arrangement with sound designer David Teal
Speculative mention as potential future world under glass producer
Mentioned as manufacturer producing upcoming unlicensed games
Entity that Cary visited expecting 'less on screen and more under the glass' in game design philosophy; Cary was disappointed by increased LCD implementation
Sponsors the exhibitor goodie bag at Texas Pinball Festival; recurring sponsor of exhibitor perks
Competing pinball manufacturer referenced as driver of industry competition and innovation
Boutique pinball manufacturer unveiling RAZA prototype; known for delays and ambitious projects; history of pricing claims and community controversy
New pinball machine announced/prototyped; featured in Hardy's interview content and Houston Arcade Expo coverage.
Pinball manufacturer with 21-title pipeline; focus on value pricing, wooden playfields, durability claims, and customizable 'packages'
Pinball manufacturer with planned #hammer durability announcement that Haggis has preempted
Pinball manufacturer debuting their first game at TPS 2020
Competitor pinball manufacturer cited as example of providing high-quality promotional images for game reveals (Test Raza title)
Pinball manufacturer with VIP launch event planned in San Antonio; Kerry Hardy considering attending to cover new game reveals
Competitor manufacturer criticized for lack of production transparency in contrast to Pinball Brothers
Pinball manufacturer subject of community jokes about production delays
Manufacturer facing chronic delays on Raza pinball, founder Robert Mueller issued latest delay statement
Pinball manufacturer referenced as cautionary example of poor product durability
Pinball manufacturer; criticized for lack of communication vs. Haggis transparency; employees allegedly furloughed mid-July with leaks emerging
Boutique pinball manufacturer with unfinished game in development; currently planning imminent launch despite manufacturing and engineering concerns identified by Hardy.
Boutique pinball manufacturer that collapsed due to founder's fraudulent misappropriation of investor funds
Pinball manufacturer facing internal crisis; Robert Muller reportedly told employees to seek other jobs
Boutique pinball manufacturer; subject of severe criticism regarding financial mismanagement and investor fraud allegations
Pinball manufacturer that hired Oursler to design six games (including Goonies) before the company went bankrupt, preventing any of Oursler's designs from reaching production.
Pinball manufacturer developing RAZA game
Competitor manufacturer referenced as cautionary tale; never shipped a completed game; context for community's skepticism about manufacturer promises
Referenced as having superior 3D printing quality compared to American Pinball, creating unfavorable comparison
Boutique manufacturer cited as example of company that legitimately defrauded customers; Hardy's previous criticism of this company informs his measured approach to Haggis
Boutique pinball manufacturer founded by Robert Mueller; subject of interview discussing development status, manufacturing plans, and controversial playfield quality claims
Manufacturer of Raza pinball machine
Primary sponsor of Texas Pinball Festival 2020; providing raffle prizes and doubling Best of Show Awards funding
Boutique pinball manufacturer facing severe production delays, certification issues, and supply chain failures with Raza game
Boutique pinball manufacturer in crisis; chronic delays on Raza, management dysfunction, engineering staffing issues
Referenced as comparison point by community members; Hardy partially agrees with 'Deep Root 2.0' comparison but notes differences in financial mismanagement between Robert Mueller's theft-based approach and Hartin's cash-flow mismanagement
Manufacturer where Dennis Nordman previously worked
Boutique pinball manufacturer developing Raza; controversial history of delays; visited by Deep Six in September; currently taking pre-orders with end-of-month deadline.
Pinball manufacturer developing Raza and multiple prototype games; founder Robert oversaw factory tour; employs John Papaduke and Barry Owlsworth as designers
Boutique pinball manufacturer showcasing innovations for Raza pinball machine after NDA embargo lift; announced future titles
Boutique pinball manufacturer based in San Antonio, Texas; announced postponement of Raza pinball machine platform and game release due to technical issues and feedback from invited playtest event
Manufacturer with delayed projects; Hardy references recent communication with updated (but still delayed) timeline
Pinball manufacturer with upcoming announcements and footage expected before end of summer.
Pinball manufacturer facing indefinite production delays, unconfirmed employee furloughs, social media purges, website security vulnerabilities, and financial hemorrhaging; pre-orders for Raza appear unfulfilled
Company where Barry Oursler worked before being recruited by American Pinball; described as struggling ('swirling the drain')
Contemporary pinball manufacturer (as of 2018); John Norris recently joined this company as designer after decades away from the industry.
Boutique pinball manufacturer founded by Robert Mueller, announcing ambitious original IP-driven game pipeline at 2018 Expo with creative studio in Utah and operations in Texas
Previous developer of Raza source material; discontinued; DPX acquired IP and code base; game development continued through 2021 before abandonment
Boutique pinball manufacturer founded 2016 by Robert Mueller; headquartered Texas with creative studio in Utah; 60+ person team including feature film/AAA game talent; emphasizes original IP, narrative-driven games, 'pinball for the masses'
Pinball manufacturer; associated with Robert Mueller; Kaneda references as $61 million fraud case
Boutique pinball manufacturer presenting RAZA (Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland) in two editions
Pinball manufacturer introducing PinPod shipping container innovation
Mentioned as 'really close to showing everything'; anticipating announcement/reveal
Manufacturer mentioned as alternative option (with uncertainty about future releases)
Boutique manufacturer preparing September 2020 reveal of Raza game featuring hammer-tested playfields; experienced significant delays since initial teases
Manufacturer known for 'Five Days of Deep Root' marketing campaign that Jersey Jack is emulating
Emerging competitor to Stern; positioned as threat to market share if execution improves; actively watching Stern's reveal failures
Pinball manufacturer; Stephen Bowden serves as rules designer; experienced a 'reveal slash no reveal' on the date of this episode
Competitor positioned as potentially able to execute better reveals; host notes they 'poked the bear' at Stern; awaiting first product release
Competitor manufacturer; host suggests AIQ's success sends competitive pressure across industry
Boutique pinball manufacturer planning Raza release event in September
Boutique pinball manufacturer; subject of episode; experiencing delays on Raza release
Boutique manufacturer with uncertain status; host expresses concern about production; rumored to be developing Goonies
Mentioned as struggling to produce machines for general public, contrasted with Stern's prolific output
Boutique pinball manufacturer announcing production model reveal of Raza; history of missed deadlines and delayed production
Manufacturer referenced as previously discussing achievements system in their game development
Boutique manufacturer with controversial history; discussed extensively for Raza pre-order strategy, manufacturing capabilities, and 20-game pipeline claim
Boutique pinball manufacturer debuting RAZA game via gameplay reveal on November 2020; subject of episode analysis
Boutique pinball manufacturer under Robert Mueller, cancelled reveal due to Pinbar software technical glitches; focus group tour with VIPs signed to NDAs
Pinball manufacturer subsidiary of Deep Root Tech; founded by Robert Mueller; accused of being funded through fraudulent investment vehicles; chronic delays and missed deadlines preceded collapse
Defunct manufacturer; IP and unfinished games (Merlin's Arcade) acquired by Turner Pinball; credited artists in game credits
Pinball manufacturer attempting to rehire J-Pop as Lead Game Development; contacting artists to relinquish Magic Girl artwork rights
New boutique pinball manufacturer entering market; acquiring Zidware games (Raza, Alice); developing proprietary quad assembly manufacturing; has 25-30 patents in process
New pinball manufacturing entity with contracted designers including J-Pop, Barry Osler, Dennis Nordman, John Norris; plans WMS-era dimensioned machines with quad assembly process
Pinball manufacturer; confirmed attendance at TPF as fans only, not as formal industry presence
Boutique pinball manufacturer; recently interviewed by Eclectic Gamers; announced designer team (J-Pop, Nordman, Norris, Osler); teasing multiple simultaneous title announcements with mysterious manufacturing innovation
Manufacturer/acquirer of Zidware assets; head is attorney; published controversial interview in This Week in Pinball; claims making pinball is easy; pursuing Magic Girl production and artist Zombie Yeti negotiations.
Manufacturer associated with failed Raza project and broader production/delivery issues
Manufacturer employing John Papaduke as designer; attempted to acquire Queen license from Highway pre-collapse; Robert Mueller serves as company representative
Boutique manufacturer planning pricing range of $3,500–$50,000 across models; pricing details unfinalized on lower end
Referenced as example of pinball industry failure with broken promises
Pinball manufacturer with four well-established designers in stable; offering machines as TWIP fundraising prizes; perceived with skepticism until product ships
Emerging pinball manufacturer; made David Thiel exclusive sound engineer; recruiting serious industry professionals; expected product release early 2019; previously viewed as potential vaporware but now credible
Boutique pinball manufacturer; Ernie sourced 30-40% of his current machine parts from a Deep Root auction on eBay, including trough, flippers, slingshots, and pop bumpers
Competitor pinball manufacturer mentioned for comparison; Turner Pinball's glass removal system contrasted with Deep Root's hydraulic approach
Startup pinball manufacturer; John Papaduke now designing for this company
Pinball manufacturer; lost key designer Dennis Nordman in early 2020; reveal event sabotaged by COVID-19 pandemic
Pinball manufacturer mentioned in context of TWIP interview; Dennis Nordman departure noted without specifics
Manufacturer working on alternative durable playfield solution; beaten to market by Haggis; their approach may differ but timing is less favorable
Manufacturer exhibiting Raza Dazal prototype at Houston Arcade Expo
Texas-based pinball manufacturer with Zidware claimant obligations; announced Fall 2019-Summer 2020 release window for Five Days of Deep Root and Raza
Pinball manufacturer; Robert Mueller (founder) was interviewed by Eclectic Gamers in February 2018
Pinball manufacturer; Episode 55 interview was most popular episode of 2018
Manufacturer announcing delay of game reveal from Texas Pinball Festival 2019; no revised date committed to; Robert Mueller is managing announcements.
Failed pinball manufacturer; major financial scandal involving SEC investigation and misappropriated funds
Pinball manufacturer; approached about Playboy and Queen licenses by Pinball Brothers in 2018
Boutique pinball manufacturer struggling with manufacturing, certifications, and pre-order fulfillment; originally announced 5-6 games at launch, now focusing solely on Raza machine
Failed pinball company that assembled legendary designers (Robert Mueller, Dennis Nordman, John Papaduke, Barry Osler)
Manufacturer where Steve Bowen previously worked; described as having 'accomplished nothing'; precursor to American Pinball troubles
Manufacturer experiencing supply chain difficulties on game releases
Pinball manufacturer; John Norris previously worked on Merlin's Arcade project
Controversial pinball manufacturer; had sponsorship relationship with TWIP; involved in alleged FCC/SEC investigation
Pinball manufacturer sponsoring This Week in Pinball YouTube videos (as of October 2020); subject of FTC disclosure compliance discussion
Manufacturer where Nordman designed ~3 games before departing due to slow production timelines
Pinball manufacturer discussed extensively; subject of 2018 interview retrospective; repeatedly missed production deadlines and UL certification requirements
Controversial pinball manufacturer with modular platform; cancelled planned reveal, then released info dump after image leak of Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland
Boutique pinball manufacturer developing Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland (RAZA); demonstrated production models via streamed gameplay event in Texas.
Manufacturer with history of delays planning Raza reveal in September 2020; prototypes shown end of 2019 described as unfinished; company facing credibility pressure after missing multiple deadlines
Boutique manufacturer with history of delays and unfulfilled promises; originally promised five games for 2019 TPF under 'five days of Deep Root' initiative; revealing Raza on September 21; positioned as disruptive, high-volume competitor
Pinball manufacturer; now defunct following SEC fraud charges; named as relief defendant in securities fraud case; funded through misappropriated investor assets
Pinball manufacturer; previously employed Dennis Nordman; had Whitewater sequel in license portfolio
Pinball manufacturer; released Halloween and Ultraman; criticized for misleading 'high-flow' marketing and excessive playfield stops
Pinball manufacturer; previously discussed subscription service model and multiple rule set releases for same playfield
Company where Barry Osler worked on Food Truck design; failed to bring games to market; auction forthcoming
Failed pinball manufacturer; assets liquidated; Raza game received poor prototype reception; website now under Turner Logic control with mysterious 'check back soon' message
Referenced as comparison point for poor game quality; Don uses as baseline for worst machines
Controversial manufacturer accused of theft, delays, and poor stewardship of designer talent; characterized as scamming investors
Pinball manufacturer whose assets were acquired by Turner Pinball
Manufacturer with acknowledged parts supply challenges; still no game releases; status questioned by hosts
Previous pinball manufacturer; Merlin's Arcade animations credited to their legacy
Boutique manufacturer; mentioned as alternative that could have developed Harry Potter
Controversial failed pinball manufacturer referenced as less damaging than JJP's Harry Potter mishandling due to lower baseline expectations
Controversial manufacturer; no news on upcoming games
Pinball manufacturer where Dennis Nordman recently worked; Nordman cited lack of mechanical designer partnership as reason for departure
Pinball manufacturer established in San Antonio; mentioned as regional manufacturer impacting TPF prominence
San Antonio-based startup that cancelled March launch event, attempted September reveal, finally opened RAZA pre-orders in December at $5,899 starting price
Pinball manufacturer developing Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland; also known as Deep Root Pinball
Pinball manufacturer planning public launch of Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland (RAZA) at TPF; postponed launch indefinitely
Defunct; Steven Bowden previously worked there before joining American Pinball.
Sponsor of Bumper Blast welcome party buffet meal
San Antonio-based manufacturer; team includes Robert Mueller, Barry Oursler, John Popadiuk, Quinn Johnson, Jon Norris, Dennis Nordman, Steve Bowden; announced single-model-per-title strategy with variable pricing
Defunct startup pinball manufacturer where both Barrys worked; Oursler remained through its closure creating designs for future releases that never materialized
Manufacturer of RAZA pinball machine
Manufacturer of Raza; criticized for two-and-a-half-year development timeline followed by $7,000+ pricing; built business model on value/low pricing.
Previous manufacturer; collapsed, with assets acquired by Turner Pinball including Merlin's Arcade IP
Developer of Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland; company head is Robert Mueller
Boutique pinball manufacturer; sole subsidiary of deeproot Tech; funded by two investment funds (575 Fund and dGRD Fund); under threat of closure due to SEC fraud charges against founder
Company that acquired Magic Girl IP rights when Popadiuk joined; game was slated as one of their upcoming titles but the company ultimately failed
Company that Dennis Nordman joined after completing Stern contract for this game
Pinball manufacturer where Dennis Nordman developed three games before leaving end of 2019; no longer involved with those titles
Boutique pinball manufacturer launching first commercial game; operates at deeprootpinball.com
Boutique pinball manufacturer that cancelled its third major product launch event; developing RAZA game and proprietary pinball platform
Company where Barry worked as game designer until operations ceased end of 2021
Manufacturer with multiple games in development; promised five new game reveals at Texas Pinball Festival 2019 but delayed; offered to buy Queen license from Heighway/Pinball Brothers but was rejected; no interest in Playboy license
Austin-based startup; partnered with John Popadiuk to provide Magic Girl owners simplified working game
Defunct pinball manufacturer that originally developed the Pinbar feature
Defunct manufacturer; bankruptcy auction of assets to Turner Pinball; previously worked on RAZA and Food Truck
Previous boutique manufacturer whose intellectual property has been acquired by Turner Pinball
Now-defunct pinball manufacturer that acquired Zidware assets; Robert Mueller's company; assets auctioned in Texas Bankruptcy Court and purchased by Turner Pinball for $50,000
Boutique pinball manufacturer with controversial history; company has since ceased operations/demised
Defunct pinball manufacturer whose website contains puzzle that was recently solved, triggering countdown to announcement
Pinball manufacturer with mysterious website puzzle
Barry Oursler previously worked on games there; relationship with American Pinball not explicitly detailed
Pinball manufacturer where Jon Norris most recently worked as a designer
Failed boutique pinball manufacturer; website recently resurfaced with cryptic message; assets now being acquired by Turner Logic owner
Mentioned as having cut medical benefits that contributed to Barry Oursler's financial hardship
Defunct pinball manufacturer with multiple failed game projects; subject of extensive community documentation
Nordman's previous employer where Yukon Yeti was initially developed.
Previous employer of Dennis Nordman; worked on Yukon Yeti project that may inform his sequel design
Referenced as prior developer of Barry Oursler's final game; company fell apart before completion
Bankrupt pinball manufacturer owned by Robert Mueller; had whitewoods for unreleased games in development
Pinball manufacturer with prototype machines in development (Merlin's Magic, The Who)
Troubled manufacturer used as negative comparison point for Haggis situation
Pinball manufacturer; conducts focus group testing with pinball personalities during development phase
Boutique pinball manufacturer undergoing bankruptcy with prototype auction revealing multiple unfinished projects
Pinball manufacturer; also known as Barrels of Fun; had lost Barry Oursler Food Truck prototype recently recovered
Boutique pinball manufacturer now in bankruptcy; headquarters being liquidated
Boutique manufacturer; headquarters shuttered with auction of assets
Pinball manufacturer currently undergoing bankruptcy auction
Referenced as having used similar LCD screen design in prototype Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland cabinets
Failed pinball manufacturer in bankruptcy; bankruptcy auction scheduled for March 14th
Manufacturer experiencing third+ year of development delays; presold ~130 units at $8,000-$13,000; recent production delay email; lock bar redesign and UL testing cited as issues
Source for news segment; details unclear
Defunct pinball company; founder Robert Mueller facing fraud charges; company collapsed due to financial scandal
Failed pinball manufacturer; assets potentially being liquidated; David Fix interested in acquiring unfinished game IP including Food Truck, Gladiator
Pinball manufacturer planning game unveiling at TPF 2020 (canceled); Papa Duke involved
Pinball manufacturer with Raza prototype displayed at Houston Arcade and Pinball Expo for data collection
Previous owner of Food Truck license assets; estate/assets now held by Chris Turner Pinball
Failed pinball company with criminal/unethical practices; projects (Magic Girl, Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland) are being revived by DPX; investors lost money
Failed pinball startup known for extensive teaser campaigns ('every house needs a pinball,' 'Ferrari for Kia prices') that ultimately imploded; left community skeptical of new manufacturers
Boutique pinball manufacturer that announced Raza (Retro Atomic Zombie Adventure Land) game reveal, experienced multiple delays, hosted media preview event that failed, and has now postponed public release due to technical issues and external feedback
Struggling pinball manufacturer of Raza game; delayed shipments multiple times; facing UL certification issues, Texas weather impacts, operational credibility problems; hosts express extreme skepticism about viability
Boutique pinball manufacturer that collapsed; founder Robert Mueller charged with defrauding 300 investors of $58 million; company never successfully produced significant pinball inventory despite years of operation and massive funding
Pinball manufacturer with unreleased games; production status unclear
Referenced as example of bad decision-making and fraud leading to company failure
Previous owner of Merlin's Arcade license/assets; Turner Pinball acquired game through auction
Boutique manufacturer planning September reveal. Teasing game with green fist imagery (Ned character), launch date 9/20, emphasis on 'Hammer Tested' wood playfields as quality differentiator against competitor quality concerns.
Manufacturer (also known as Haggis/Kelts) planning San Antonio reveal; offered $6,250 special limited-time promotion; significantly impacted by TPF cancellation.
Mentioned as having a game coming soon in competitive landscape with Stern and JJP
Previous employer of Nordman; still developing Yukon Yeti (trademarked with Nordman and Mueller)
Mentioned sarcastically in correspondent report context; implied to have connectivity/technology concerns vs. Stern's new platform
Actively hiring across creative, engineering, and supply chain roles; preparing production ramp-up for unrevealed title
Referenced as failed/imploding manufacturer; mentioned as cautionary example for Haggis comparison; involved SEC issues
Holding unreleased Dennis Nordman games (flipable whitewood, full-size foam core model, drawing)
Manufacturer in financial collapse; owes ~150 creditors including paint suppliers; creditor list circulating in community
Boutique pinball manufacturer; underwent auction of unreleased games and manufacturing equipment; founder invoked Fifth Amendment 200+ times in court; caused Barry Oursler's health insurance gap; owned manufacturing pods and theater
Defunct/troubled pinball manufacturer; recent auction described as chaotic disaster; games being stolen from pickup locations; subject of upcoming Silver Ball Chronicles episode
Pinball manufacturer not attending TPF; described as 'not ready yet'
Mentioned in episode title as experiencing delays; implied as pattern of delays
Defunct manufacturer; had Merlin's Arcade as upcoming title; assets acquired by Turner Pinball
Previously failed pinball company; referenced alongside Zidware as source of community resentment and long memories
Emerging pinball manufacturer; sponsor of Pinball Profile World Tour
Previously approached American Pinball about manufacturing partnership or asset sales; talks dissolved before closure
Mentioned as employing Stephen Bowden, representing trend of hiring tournament players.
Failed pinball startup that imploded during/before Barrels of Fun's launch window; community skepticism about new manufacturers traced to Deep Root's hype/failure cycle
Controversial manufacturer compared to American Pinball (unfavorably); took pre-order money and failed to deliver; Don explicitly distinguishes American Pinball as not having engaged in fraud
Original developer of Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland; assets liquidated and acquired by Chris Turner
Developer of Raza game, promoted as having 'really spectacular looking' design elements
Associated with John Papaduke games including Raza; referenced for problematic ramp design
Pinball manufacturer referenced alongside Zidware as cautionary example of failed ambitious projects
Manufacturer of Alice in Wonderland; criticized for inherited design issues; will receive payment from DPX/Melvin for remaining Alice shipments by December.
Company associated with Robert Mueller; used as cautionary tale of failed Kickstarter ($58M)
Manufacturer criticized for taking $61M and unable to complete games; mentioned as counterexample to Dutch's 8-month delivery
Controversial manufacturer; Raza and Magic Girl upcoming; Kaneda notes Raza is further along in code than Alice; mentions Papa Duke's involvement in Raza rework
Pinball manufacturer; stated no intention to sell internationally at this time via UK Pinball Club inquiry
Boutique pinball manufacturer revealing their first game publicly; positioned as ambitious new entrant to market
Boutique manufacturer with financial/production issues; has many designers so may not need Popadiuk; Five Days of Deep Root event at Texas Pinball Festival (only 4 days, suggesting budget constraints).
Emerging boutique pinball manufacturer; appeared at Salt Lake Comic Con panel; has ~40 animators with Disney/Lucasfilm/Weta experience; motto 'Pinball for the Masses'
Boutique manufacturer; CEO made decision to skip TPF rather than miss production deadline; established '2-week ship' commitment; operates with significant capital/deep pockets
Collaborated with Paul Smith to reveal 2018 Pinburgh banks in live streaming marathon
Pinball manufacturer mentioned as 'stumbling their way into the party' with new game orders; hosts plan future Deep Root episode
Modern pinball manufacturer; currently employs Paul Ferris from the Bally era
Failed manufacturer; leaked whiteboard documents analyzed showing Gladiator game design with Hydra mechanic progression
Previously defunct company; posted cryptic cipher message on website decoding to 'check back soon for something interesting'
Turner Logic cryptic website messages hint at possible Rasa machine contracting; described as speculative
Pinball manufacturer mentioned in TPN industry news segment regarding Raza game order numbers divisibility anomaly
Texas-based manufacturer planning seven-game reveal at TPF 2020; collapsed due to financial/SEC issues unrelated to pandemic; PPP loans extended timeline; IPs possibly controlled by Turner Pinball now
Controversial manufacturer with staged server leak revealing subscription model (Root Access at $49.99/month) and base Arcade Edition pricing at $4,999; community concerns about DLC-gated content.
Discussed as upcoming game manufacturer; Ben Heck interviewed about their reveal and coordination with other manufacturers
Competitor manufacturer; rumored to be announcing new game; potential motivation for Stern's accelerated Marvel release schedule
Pinball manufacturer; Dennis Nordman recently departed from this company
Boutique pinball manufacturer with history of delays and ambitious projects; currently repositioning with new pricing and direct sales strategy
Boutique pinball manufacturer founded by Robert Mueller in 2015; collapsed 2021 after SEC fraud charges involving $58 million in investor funds; never successfully manufactured a pinball machine
Homebrew-focused manufacturer struggling with production infrastructure; employing Nordman for 2 years without dedicated engineer; accepted Raza pre-orders estimated at 100-200 units
Manufacturer announcing Raza pinball machine with innovative pin bar interface; streaming debut via Fliptronic; dealing with vaporware perception and supply chain delays
New manufacturer revealing first game 'Raza'; has NDA-bound tour group; known for legal posturing; planning three-tier model system
Boutique pinball manufacturer announcing postponed launch during COVID-19; planned 13-game roadmap (licensed and unlicensed)
Launch event planned for San Antonio; trademark renewals including 'Pinball for the Masses' slogan; tight operational security on game details
San Antonio pinball company; created Retro Atomic Zombie Adventure; first major game featured in Fliptronic stream at What's Brewing, WI (peak COVID era)
Pinball manufacturer; supplied LCD screens to Barrels of Fun that were integrated into Dune's playfield design below play surface
Pinball manufacturer that went bankrupt. Turner contracted software work there, later acquired physical and IP assets through bankruptcy court with no competing bidders. Majority of Turner's team are former Deep Root employees.
Mentioned as another failed manufacturer; some customers lost money to both Deep Root and Haggis
Manufacturer of Merlin's Arcade (John Norris design); trying 500-unit production run; has clean playfields and acrylic construction
Manufacturer using original themes; mentioned alongside other original-theme-reliant companies in discussion of market viability concerns
Defunct pinball manufacturer; bankruptcy auction completed; company that did programming purchased assets; cryptic 'look to the future' message posted; legal disputes ongoing
Boutique pinball manufacturer founded by Robert Mueller; under SEC investigation for embezzlement; expected to file bankruptcy and liquidate assets
Boutique manufacturer that postponed scheduled reveal at Texas Pinball Festival 2019
Pinball manufacturer/designer of Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland; collaborated with Fliptronic on reveal stream
Failed boutique manufacturer; IP assets acquired by Turner Pinball in bankruptcy
Manufacturer with ongoing legal proceedings mentioned at episode end; wheels of justice dragging on
San Antonio, Texas-based startup with CEO Robert Mueller; developing Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland with 130 pre-orders; experienced delays due to COVID, Texas weather, and vendor supply chain issues; original mid-March production target postponed indefinitely; expected UL/CE certification mid-April
Boutique manufacturer that cancelled September 21, 2020 launch after external feedback; developing Raza with controversial floating backbox and touchscreen pin bar design
Pinball manufacturer that recruited Dennis Nordman away from Stern mid-development of Elvira
Boutique manufacturer announcing RAZA playable at Houston Arcade Expo November 2019; Five Days of Deep Root event window fall 2019-summer 2020
Boutique pinball manufacturer launching Raza; based in San Antonio with operations spanning design, manufacturing, and sales; previously announced ambitious pipeline but faced multi-year delays.
Demonstrated Retro-Atomic Zombie Adventureland production model; planning subscription-based DLC model; cached website revealed pricing and business model
Failed manufacturer; assets liquidated; life insurance policies sold to Tuyo (Turner Logic); court proceedings ongoing
San Antonio, Texas manufacturer; cancelled press launch and indefinitely postponed product reveal
Texas-based pinball manufacturer showing Raza prototype at Houston Arcade Expo in November 2019
Company that experienced crisis; David Fix indicates Robert Mueller reached out day before company collapsed; American Pinball considered potential collaboration
Manufacturer with unreleased Barry Osler designs including Food Truck (Diner 2.0); mentioned as potential recipient of Osler's legacy designs
Pinball manufacturer in crisis; Stephen Bowden leaving for American Pinball; editors note mass exodus of staff
Boutique pinball manufacturer presenting RAZA, their flagship game featuring innovative pin bar interface
Sponsor of Pinball Profile World Tour; Robert provided financial donation to help keep tournament costs low and support Project Pinball charity
Pinball manufacturer that collapsed; SEC boarded up company; laid off all employees including Oursler; had ambitious pin bar feature on multiple games in development
Company based in San Antonio area associated with Barry Oster
Sponsor of Pinball Profile World Tour providing prizes.
Pinball manufacturer with Barry Elsler as representative; announced two games in development for 2019
Ambitious new pinball manufacturer led by Robert Mueller; assembled roster of veteran designers including Barry Osler, Dennis Nordman, and John Papaduke; aggressive product roadmap with multiple simultaneous game development projects.
Emerging pinball manufacturer hiring experienced designers including Stephen Bowden and David Thiel; planning multiple game launches
New manufacturer co-founded by Robert Mueller; planned five games; recruited legendary designers; hired Stephen Bowden as rules designer
Pinball design company; Steve Bowden designing games emphasizing novice accessibility
New pinball manufacturer from Texas getting first major public exposure at 2018 Expo; led by Robert Mueller and John Papaduke
New pinball manufacturer that started last year (2023), expected to release approximately 10 games later in 2024.
Pinball manufacturer sponsor of Pinball Profile World Tour
Boutique pinball manufacturer; developing and publicly debuting RAZA (Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland) prototype at Houston Arcade Expo.
Manufacturer where Dennis Nordman worked for years without engineer support; subject of prior Silver Ball Chronicles episode 72
Boutique pinball manufacturer; founder Robert Mueller convicted of fraud; company imploding with unfulfilled backer orders
Bankrupt/defunct pinball manufacturer; Merlin's Arcade design sourced from pre-bankruptcy development; Turner Pinball owner acquired IP/licenses in bankruptcy auction
Mentioned as worst-case scenario example of boutique failure; litigious; hosts suggest Netflix documentary potential; failed to deliver on pre-orders including Raza
Boutique manufacturer; Jeff Patterson visited facility with media contingent; experiencing production challenges; bound by NDA regarding details
Bankrupt manufacturer; burned through $58.8M, faced SEC fraud charges, filed Chapter 7; owned Magic Girl, RAZA, other Popadiuk IP
Failed/controversial pinball manufacturer that collapsed; source of talented artists (Brad Duke, animator) and designers (Steve Bowden, Barry) now working with Spooky
Announced 10 planned games; Josh revises earlier criticism acknowledging released games; business model of announcing multiple titles potentially cannibalized Raza pre-orders
Planned TPF presence with Raza game; at least one game confirmed for March 2026 show
Boutique pinball manufacturer in development phase; planning 13-game pipeline; headquartered in Texas with new Utah studio division; prototype Raza to debut at Houston Arcade Expo
Small manufacturer; was originally rumored to feature heavily at TPF ('Five Days of Deep Root') but did not attend
Manufacturer with planned launch cancelled due to COVID-19; owner Robert has funds to weather storm
Manufacturer with playfield damage resistance technology; hosting preview show at TPF.
Manufacturer owned by Robert Mueller; revealed RAZA at Houston Arcade Expo; committed to Zidware customer compensation; emphasizes manufacturing quality and durability
Originally intended publisher of Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland (John Popadiuk design) before Melvin worked on it for Dutch Pinball Exclusive
Original developer of RAZA, whose failed project was taken over by DPX
Collapsed into bankruptcy; original RAZA/Magic Girl developer; Melvin purchased their IP and physical assets post-collapse
Co-designer (with John Popadiuk) of RAZA game
Co-designer of RAZA; subject of community criticism regarding project costs
Manufacturer referenced negatively for over-promising games without delivery
Previously attempted to launch Raza before life insurance issues; project now being handled by Dutch Pinball
Original developer of Raza; subject of investor fraud allegations; context now abandoned to Dutch Pinball
Competitor manufacturer planning Bible Adventures game with established talent (Dennis Norman, Barry Osler), which influenced Ben Heck's decision not to pursue homebrew version
Held major seminar at Expo with full leadership panel; announced ambitious 2019 release plans (5-7+ titles); plans direct-to-consumer model; considering wooden playfields; aiming for sub-$5,000 price points
Manufacturer discussed in context of NDA negotiations; Canada mentions concerns about volunteer labor and business viability
Also known as 'Pinball Brothers'; producing Predator game; Kaneda predicts company will not survive; claims poor sales and distributor cutoffs
Manufacturer of Dune; marketing practices questioned regarding production limitations
Assets acquired; possibly sourced for Merlin's Arcade development by Turner Pinball
Manufacturer with Back to the Future project. Criticized for communication gaps and production inexperience.
Manufacturer of Alice pinball game shown at Expo with 500 unit limited production and sold-out status
CEO Robert Mueller; Quad Assembly project reportedly cancelled; still developing Magic Girl updates
Showed prototype at Houston Arcade Expo in 2019
Pinball manufacturer with delayed product launch, announced development of hundreds of innovations and tens of titles