American Pinball is a Chicago-area pinball manufacturer founded around 2015, based in Palatine, Illinois. The company has experienced significant leadership instability and operational challenges, including multiple ownership changes, staff turnover, and production delays across its games (Houdini, Oktoberfest, Hot Wheels, Galactic Tank Force, Legends of Valhalla, and Cuphead in development). As of January 2026, the company was acquired by J.B. Vincent LP under new leadership (Brian/Bryan Vincent and Ron Lindeman), and has pivoted toward producing classic Williams/Bally remakes through a partnership with Planetary Pinball Supply while attempting to rebuild its reputation and operations.
American Pinball continues manufacturing and shipping Hot Wheels machines despite limited visibility
Cuphead pinball remains in development at American Pinball with plans to release
American Pinball is developing a movie-themed game with designer Nick
American Pinball 100th Anniversary Houdini is shipping to customers and distributors
Mentioned in context of J-Pop games (Circus Voltaire, Raza) with Melvin developing new title ~1.5 years away
Pinball manufacturer; managing Galactic Tank Force re-release and upcoming unknown 'banger theme' with Kaneda's hunch of major IP
Smaller pinball manufacturer; discussed as potential licensee for Speed Racer and other niche themes
Manufacturer that recently hired Melvin Williams
Pinball manufacturer represented by Melvin Brow-Williams at Austrian Pinball Festival; donated merchandise prizes for Jonathan Houston's quiz event
Manufacturer of Circus (already made), potentially releasing Circus Voltaire; noted as a newer company with production capacity constraints
[Triage: The Cuphead pinball project progressed from active development to abandoned status, representing a change in project state over time rather than disagreement about a single time period.]
[Triage: American Pinball transitioned from defunct/inactive status in 2025 to operational restart with acquisition and hiring activities in early 2026, representing a genuine change in company status over time.]
No linked glossary terms
Galactic Tank Force code update will add Tank Zuku Mini Wizard Mode as completion reward for tank progression
American Pinball is working on a Remaster of Bally's 1997 Cirqus Voltaire
Future Galactic Tank Force code updates will include additional gameplay improvements and final Wizard Mode
American Pinball's declining brand reputation contributed to Galactic Tank Force's underperformance
American Pinball's next game after Winchester will be a 'banger' theme like He-Man or G.I. Joe
American Pinball's first game is confirmed to be a remake of Cirqus Voltaire
Ozzy prefers Cuphead over every other American Pinball game and some Stern games
American Pinball is producing 771 units of Cirqus Voltaire 'Ringmasters'
American Pinball is the most recent manufacturer added to the Planetary Pinball Bally/Williams remake licensing program
Prince's family requested $2 Million for pinball licensing when American Pinball inquired
American Pinball's 100 Houdini units have not been fully shipped yet despite 30-day promise
American Pinball needs to launch a major-IP banger game as their next title or face credibility collapse
American Pinball had He-Man license after Stern and Franchie completed treatment art
American Pinball has been purchased
American Pinball will remake Bally/Williams titles with Pro, Premium, and Reimagined versions
American Pinball's previous management (Aimtron and David Fix) either had the Masters of the Universe license and fumbled it or were pretending to have the license
American Pinball is currently producing 100th Anniversary Houdini and Hot Wheels
American Pinball has secured rights to remake seven Bally/Williams games from Planetary Pinball
World Cup Soccer and Fish Tales are the two strongest rumors for American Pinball's next remakes
American Pinball has at least two other licensed titles beyond the seven Bally/Williams remakes, including a music pin
American Pinball is producing a reimagined Circus Voltaire game expected to release later this year
If remaking a J-pop game for profit, Circus Voltaire is the strategic choice
American Pinball will release Circus Voltaire as part of Planetary licensing deal for Williams/Bally remakes
Rob and Nick moved from Electric Playground to American Pinball
American Pinball announced Circus Voltaire as their first 'reimagine' game in limited production run
American Pinball has acquired two licenses: one based on a movie and one based on a band
American Pinball will release Twilight Zone remake next year
American Pinball plans to release one original game and one reimagined Williams/Bally classic per year
Ron Linderman told Arthur Nave that American Pinball has 126 resellers or distributors
Circus Voltaire remake will have an HD screen below the glass and new artwork by Brian Allen.
American Pinball will produce ~150 Circus Voltaire units initially and announce exact production numbers at reveal.
American Pinball has made 50 Houdinis and will complete all 100 and ship within 30 days.
American Pinball plans to replace 3D-printed tank in Galactic Tank Force with actual sculpted toy component, possibly involving Lior tank
Nick from Electric Playground (Tony Hawk Pro Skater homebrew designer) was hired by American Pinball to work on a new game
American Pinball is pursuing additional classic Williams/Bally remakes beyond Circus Voltaire, with unclear financial viability for lower-demand titles
Circus Voltaire remake will target ~750 units
American Pinball's Cirqus Voltaire remake is scheduled for 2026
American Pinball's promotional flyer contained AI generation with visible Gemini watermark
American Pinball will not change Yukon Yeti artwork despite negative feedback due to production advancement
Circus Voltaire remake will require at least 6 months for parts acquisition from order date
American Pinball's AI-generated marketing content was not the responsibility of artist Christopher Franchi
American Pinball hired Robin Rath as product director from Electronic Playground
American Pinball announced a remastered Circus Voltaire at TPF 2026
American Pinball's first 100 Houdini units are already sold through to distributors
Circus Voltaire will have two versions with different artwork
Both Circus Voltaire versions will be under $10,000
Nick Neitzel and Robin (American Pinball/Electric Playground) are developing their own pinball machine with American Pinball's support
American Pinball is fixing and updating the code for Galactic Tank Force
American Pinball is working on a new topper for Galactic Tank Force with artwork by Christopher Franchi in two trim levels
A new enhanced tank sculpture is being created for Galactic Tank Force by Lior's Art of Pinball and Melvin Williams
Cirqus Voltaire is American Pinball's first brand new production game
American Pinball has new ownership and is planning to remake Circus Voltaire
American Pinball's new rebranding logos are AI-generated
American Pinball announced Circus Voltaire remaster with new art tier and standard art tier, both priced under $10,000
Houdini Reimagined is limited to 100 units with numbered edition decals
American Pinball's announcement of Circus Voltaire was forced by the hosts who leaked the game
American Pinball never actually had the license for He-Man, only a mock-up
Robin and Nick from American Pinball were designing their own machine before being recruited by American Pinball
American Pinball's first full game under new management is a reimagined Cirqus Voltaire
American Pinball nearly went out of business in 2025 but has returned under new ownership with a strong TPF 2026 presence
American Pinball is producing 100 units of Houdini Anniversary Edition
The Anniversary Edition costs $7,995
No gameplay or code changes were made to the Anniversary Edition compared to the original 2017 Houdini
American Pinball brought one of the Anniversary Edition machines to Texas Pinball Festival
American Pinball was purchased by JB Vincent in a restructuring; Dave Fix is no longer involved
Hot Wheels license for Octoberfest expired in December 2025 and renewal was not allowed
American Pinball's dispersed team (manufacturing in Chicago but leadership in St. Louis/Europe) poses logistical and quality control risks
Houdini is American Pinball's best-selling original game
American Pinball will reveal a revised Houdini with new artwork by Christopher Franchi at TPF
American Pinball signed a seven-game agreement with Planetary Pinball for remastered Bally/Williams games
American Pinball should release one game per year and surprise people with two rather than plan for two games per year
American Pinball has publicly announced Cuphead will not be released
American Pinball has lost their programmer, designers, and rules maker
American Pinball is working on a next licensed title but details are unknown
Masters of the Universe would be the ideal next American Pinball title to restore community goodwill
American Pinball hired Rob Rath as product director and Nick Netzel as product designer
American Pinball can now fulfill replacement parts in 4 days
American Pinball is developing a slate of remakes and original titles with Rath, Neitzel, and Creative Director Melvin Williams
American Pinball's first title under new ownership is rumored to be Cirqus Voltaire remake
American Pinball is remaking Cirqus Voltaire as first game under new regime
American Pinball licensed seven classic Williams and Bally titles through Planetary Pinball Supply in late January with plans for both traditional remakes and reimagined versions.
American Pinball has been essentially dormant for over a year following its acquisition by J.B. Vincent LP.
American Pinball has secured licensing rights to seven classic Bally and Williams titles through Planetary Pinball Supply
Rob Wrath and Nick Neitzel from Electric Playground have been hired by American Pinball
American Pinball is planning a Bally/Williams remaster, possibly Circus Voltaire
American Pinball's first game under new management will be a Bally/Williams remake under license from Planetary Pinball
Hot Wheels is in its final shipment phase to dealers
Rob Rath and Nick Neitzel are joining American Pinball as Product Director and Product Designer respectively
American Pinball secured licensing rights to seven classic Bally and Williams titles through Planetary Pinball Supply
Cirqus Voltaire is AP's first release
American Pinball's first release will be a reimagining of Circus Voltaire
American Pinball's next game will have pricing in the $8,000-$9,000+ range based on Circus Voltaire market precedent
American Pinball's next remake will be Circus Voltaire with John Popadiuk involved
American Pinball changed its logo on Facebook this morning
American Pinball will present at Texas Pinball Festival on March 20, 2026 from 12:30pm–1:00pm
American Pinball is making and bringing Circus Voltaire to market
American Pinball's first game under new ownership will be Cirqus Voltaire, a 1997 Williams game remake
American Pinball plans to release announcements about new hires and titles 'thick and fast' over coming weeks and months
Melvin Williams will not bring Raza to market at American Pinball this year
David Fix's leadership at American Pinball was characterized by worst taste decisions in pinball industry (Houdini shelving, Hot Wheels, Legends of Valhalla, Galactic Tank Force)
American Pinball licensed seven classic Williams and Bally titles through Planetary Pinball Supply in late January with plans for both traditional remakes and reimagined versions
American Pinball has been essentially dormant for over a year following ownership sale from Vasani family's Aimtron to JB Vincent LP
American Pinball's very first project in late 2015 was a deal with John Popadiuk to design Houdini in exchange for manufacturing Magic Girl
American Pinball was the smartest ever to cut ties with Papa Duke before making a game.
American Pinball has been purchased by new owner Brian and will remain in Palatine, Illinois facility
American Pinball's manufacturing goal is 3-4 titles by end of 2027 at cadence of ~2 per year with 2,000-3,000 units per title
American Pinball should follow Barrels of Fun's manufacturing model (deposits without full advance funding requirement)
American Pinball has partnered with Planetary Pinball Supply to produce classic Williams and Bally games
American Pinball is planning Bally/Williams remakes including likely Addams Family, Indiana Jones, or Whitewater
American Pinball's prior games (Hot Wheels, Galactic Tank Force, Professor Pumpkins) failed to meet market expectations
American Pinball has been sold by Ametron to J.B. Vincent LP, a private investment company based in San Angelo, Texas
Rebuilding trust in American Pinball is a priority for new ownership
American Pinball plans to release one title in 2026 and one to two titles annually after that
American Pinball licensed seven Bally/Williams titles from Planetary Pinball for reimagined/remake versions
American Pinball has been sold to J.B. Vincent LP, a Texas-based private investment company
American Pinball plans one title in 2026 and one to two titles annually thereafter
American Pinball's new ownership is planning to release Bally/Williams classic remakes despite limited market demand and failed precedent (Funhouse 2.0)
A standard quality pinball game development cycle takes closer to 18 months, making American Pinball's Q3/Q4 timeline claims unrealistic
American Pinball has entered an agreement with Planetary Pinball to produce seven remakes of Bally and/or Williams games
American Pinball will offer customization options (powder coating, artwork) when purchasing directly from their website but not through distributors.
American Pinball's new owners plan to release remakes of games from the 1980s era or earlier (not DMD-era games).
Community sentiment toward American Pinball's new ownership is 99% positive based on interview feedback and comments.
American Pinball was purchased by J. Brian Vincent, founder of Principal LED
American Pinball and Planetary Pinball agreed to create approximately 8 remake titles of classic Bally/Williams games
Moving American Pinball to Texas would involve substantial costs for equipment relocation and setup
Cuphead pinball game for American Pinball is cancelled
First reimagined Williams/Bally title will be revealed in Q3
American Pinball planning to release two new machines per year (one remake, one original)
American Pinball's first game will be revealed in Q3 2026
American Pinball has secured a licensing agreement with Planetary Pinball for Bally/Williams remakes
American Pinball's second game will also be a Bally/Williams remake
American Pinball aims to release two machines per year: one remake and one original licensed game
American Pinball is working on a surprise code update for Oktoberfest
American Pinball is not interested in horror and superhero genre licenses
American Pinball has signed a licensing agreement with Planetary Pinball Supply for up to seven Williams or Bally game titles
The modernized titles will use modern technology and enhanced rulesets
American Pinball has not committed to a production timescale for the reimagined games
American Pinball will manufacture seven classic Williams and Bally games under a long-term license from Planetary Pinball Supply
AP will offer both traditional remakes and reimagined versions with new mechanics, updated code, and enhanced sound/video
AP's product strategy differs from Chicago Gaming Company's remake approach
American Pinball has secured rights to produce remakes for seven classic Bally and Williams pinball machines
American Pinball's strategy is to produce classic licensed games alongside original IP and new licensed titles
American Pinball should have developed a new game in secrecy rather than conducting media tour post-acquisition
American Pinball had or has Masters of the Universe license and is the strongest contender to make the game
American Pinball is remaking Galactic Tank Force, Legends of Valhalla, Houdini, and additional Barry O's units using existing inventory
Galactic Tank Force Deluxe and Houdini Deluxe are currently on American Pinball's two production lines
American Pinball's Hot Wheels license expired at the end of 2025
American Pinball will wind down Houdini Deluxe production soon
Technology and connectivity will be central to American Pinball's future development plan
American Pinball was severely under-resourced and lacked strategic direction under Ametron ownership; previous ownership had essentially ceased meaningful investment in the division.
American Pinball will transition from unlicensed to licensed IP titles and produce two titles per year under new ownership.
American Pinball will implement a bespoke customization model allowing customers to configure machines online with options for powder coating, art packages, and toppers, with serial number tracking.
Finishing Galactic Tank Force code is the new ownership's immediate priority to rebuild community trust.
American Pinball will pursue licensing strategy including cult classic and music IP; survey community for licensing preferences.
American Pinball was sold to someone identified as 'JD the Weed Man' from Texas
Jack Danger should be hired as American Pinball's Chief Designer with He-Man as launch title
American Pinball has been sold to J.B. Vincent LP
American Pinball's last original release was a commercial disaster
American Pinball has been essentially dormant for over a year
American Pinball is already in the process of securing valuable licensing agreements for upcoming games
American Pinball was sold by Aimtron to JB Vincent LP on January 15, 2026
Most American Pinball staff were laid off towards the end of 2024
American Pinball's brand reputation is 'beyond repair' due to employee mistreatment
American Pinball is hiring for designers and assembly staff
American Pinball laid off its entire development team in 2025
Most American Pinball games are not selling consistently on the secondary market
American Pinball will never have a successful pinball machine due to poor organizational judgment and talent assessment
American Pinball revealed a Rock-afire Explosion Claw Machine
American Pinball will eventually complete the Cuphead machine despite management changes
American Pinball Hot Wheels Classic Edition costs $6,395 and Deluxe costs $6,595
American Pinball's Cuphead will not be released; it will be rethemed as a spiritual successor with the same playfield layout.
Shovel Knight would be an ideal retheme candidate for American Pinball's designed-but-unlicensed game due to similar boss-battle structure.
Cuphead pinball has been cancelled due to licensing issues
American Pinball's Whirl-O-Ball is positioned for ticket redemption-style arcades.
American Pinball is transitioning to amusement company focus under Orbit Games parent brand
American Pinball has essentially laid off everybody on the pinball side and shuttered operations
American Pinball's Oktoberfest originally featured offensive back glass art (monkey groping woman) that was changed after community feedback
Whirlaball is a prototype from American Pinball/Orbit Games that is not ready for FEC (location) deployment
American Pinball allowed their trademark to expire due to renewal emails going to an unchecked mailbox
American Pinball has transitioned or rebranded to Orbit Games
American Pinball is defunct
American Pinball's backbox design (pop-out top feature) appears 'cheap' despite game quality
American Pinball has lost its trademark and company no longer exists
All Cuphead pinball artwork and animations were created by the original Cuphead studio, not American Pinball in-house
American Pinball's recent games (Galactic Tank Force, Barrios Barbecue) underperformed relative to Hot Wheels
American Pinball is not shutting down but may rebrand
American Pinball is defunct and will not return
Cuphead from American Pinball will never be released
Barry's Barbecue Challenge was revealed 17 months ago and American Pinball has not released a new game since
Barry's Barbecue Challenge is still planned for release; the license holder wants the game to be completely code-complete before launch
American Pinball is effectively done and will not greenlight new games until inventory sells
American Pinball's Cuphead is blocked from production until Galactic Tank Force inventory sells
American Pinball's Houdini was rushed and entirely redesigned by Joe Balser to meet timeline constraints
Galactic Tank Force had poor production rollout with slow-drip feeding at Texas Pinball Festival
Only two people are currently working in American Pinball's factory production line.
Ryan McQuaid (designer) and Steve Bowden (rules designer) have departed American Pinball.
American Pinball will no longer be able to design new games without hiring back core engineering staff.
European distributors have lost confidence in American Pinball due to poor communication and ignored orders.
Ryan McQuaid is no longer employed at American Pinball; he lost the Sonic the Hedgehog project to another manufacturer
American Pinball's Cuphead will not achieve sales exceeding 500 units due to weak theme market fit
American Pinball's new game is rumored to be video game themed and expected end of April
American Pinball Barbecue Classic lost 22-25% of value year-over-year since release approximately 1 year ago
American Pinball has effectively ceased operations with no manufacturing presence at Texas Pinball Festival
American Pinball is dealing with operational issues and will not bring new games to MGC, representing a major strategic miss.
Cuphead pinball machine will release before midsummer 2026
Cuphead will not debut at Texas Pinball Festival or MGC in Milwaukee in early April
American Pinball is at the bottom of the surviving major manufacturer tier
American Pinball is a non-functional company with no active production line and has lost its fan base
American Pinball failed to execute on the Pee-Wee's Playhouse pinball deal despite having artwork mockups completed by Christopher Franchi
American Pinball is committed to completing and shipping Game 7 (Cuphead) and Game 8
American Pinball's historical weakness has been in the design and development phases rather than manufacturing and distribution
American Pinball has a near-license agreement for a Pee Wee Herman pinball machine
American Pinball failed to fulfill merchandise (lunchbox) orders despite four emails over one year
American Pinball GTF Classic experienced mechanical errors and code bugs limiting location viability
American Pinball has poor leadership and games sitting in boxes that nobody wants; Cuphead will be a flop.
American Pinball's rumored He-Man game will be bad because the company has not made moves or hired designers that suggest a successful magical game is ready.
American Pinball now employs approximately three people and is transitioning to contract manufacturing only
Cuphead from American Pinball (game #7) is allegedly still in active development
American Pinball developed a Cuphead pinball game that is reportedly fun
American Pinball pivoting to contract manufacturing only, laying off R&D staff
Mukesh and Nirmal (American Pinball executives) wanted to sell company after 2023
Barbecue Challenge sold more units than Hot Wheels in first year
Barry Oursler designed a complete first draft of Barry's Barbecue Challenge in approximately one month (August-November 2021)
American Pinball abandoned its entire multi-year production roadmap to prioritize completing Barry's final game
Only two mechanical changes were made to Barry's original design: drop target repositioning and bash locks implementation
American Pinball's next game after Barry's Barbecue Challenge is confirmed in development but specific details not yet disclosed
American Pinball's next released game will be the presenter's own title that they were developing alongside Barry's Barbecue Challenge
American Pinball is releasing 100 'classic' Galactic Tank Force editions at $7,995 with lighting and Martian pop-up removed
American Pinball's leadership is deflecting blame for product failures to external factors rather than accepting accountability
American Pinball's Galactic Tank Force Classic Edition pricing advertisement contains font/design error on the '$7,995' numeral
American Pinball has been attempting to sell for five or six years
American Pinball will effectively cease operations within the two-year timeframe predicted by Nick
American Pinball held a distributor webinar and showed off their new unreleased game.
Don made a satirical joke comparing American Pinball leadership to Mike Lindell's poor suitability for positions of authority
American Pinball is hiring a service lead and additional production staff
American Pinball is surveying distributors about future game prospects and demand
Cuphead is the rumored next American Pinball game
American Pinball lacks financial backing equivalent to Stern or Jersey Jack Pinball
American Pinball has made approximately 137 Barrios machines but sold only 37
American Pinball is positioning itself as a contract manufacturer for other pinball companies
American Pinball manufactured significantly more Barrios games than the 37 units sold, possibly around 137 machines
Barrios game has solid playfield mechanics and shooting but poor theme/IP market fit
American Pinball's new game is scheduled for Q1/Q2 2025 release, possibly April
American Pinball's Barbecue LE final unit was already claimed when Don attempted to purchase
American Pinball's future direction remains uncertain pending official press release
American Pinball may be shutting down but has a fully licensed game ready to ship
American Pinball has a spring game launch rumored to be based on a video game franchise
American Pinball recently underwent layoffs
American Pinball sold 1,000 video game arcade units according to David Fix
American Pinball's Cuphead is physically complete and only working on code, with expected release preview at Texas Pinball Festival in late February/early March
American Pinball has experienced staff layoffs
Steve Bowden and Jack Hager were fired from American Pinball
American Pinball is in litigation with Paul Reno
American Pinball will likely go out of business in 2025
American Pinball planning new game release in early 2025 without firm timeline disclosed
American Pinball initially teased Cuphead, then retracted the announcement, but it is now confirmed as coming
The hosts have trust issues with American Pinball
American Pinball has 3 new-in-box Barry's Barbecue LE units at the factory
American Pinball's new unannounced game is in late-stage development with estimated 12-16 week release window
American Pinball's facility supports contract manufacturing and non-pinball amusement device production under NDA
American Pinball's Cuphead will be shown off 'probably in January'
American Pinball's Oktoberfest is the only formally retired title; Houdini and Legends of Valhalla are on pause
American Pinball rumored to seek buyer approximately one year ago, subsequently denied by company
Cuphead will not appear at American Pinball's IAAPA booth and may never be released
American Pinball's ability to fund and complete Cuphead is in jeopardy due to poor performance of previous games like Tank Force.
American Pinball sent legal threats to Don over a Spirit Halloween meme in October
American Pinball was developing a game called Food Truck with upper playfield soda fountain targets and fry basket ball lock
American Pinball spent six figures on new boards and custom plastic ramps for an unreleased game
Galactic Tank Force units priced at $16,000 are not moving
American Pinball had a Masters of the Universe license that required deposit payment and licensor material review
Cuphead has been in development for nearly two years and lacks ordered parts
Dave Fix at American Pinball has been gracious to Don, providing factory tours and meals
American Pinball's parent company is holding back production investment on Cuphead until existing inventory (Barbecue, Galactic Tank Force, Houdini, Oktoberfest) sells out
Cuphead is in completion phase with code as the primary blocker, not mechanical issues
American Pinball is retiring Houdini, Oktoberfest, and Legends of Alhada
American Pinball sold approximately 740 Houdinis, 420 Oktoberfests, and only 31 Signature Galactic Tank Forces
American Pinball has over 150 unsold Signature Edition Galactic Tank Force units
American Pinball spent six figures on proprietary board R&D that proved incompatible with Galactic Tank Force
A new buyer for American Pinball is in negotiations or expressing interest
American Pinball went several weeks in summer 2024 without selling a single game
Barbecue sold worse than Galactic Tank Force
American Pinball may reveal Cuphead at IAAPA this week
Houdini was very popular with constant reruns despite short development timeline
Cuphead from American Pinball is expected to release around December 2024, not at IAPA as rumored
Houdini and Oktoberfest retirement signals American Pinball's pivot toward next product generation (Cuphead) and product line consolidation
American Pinball stated that nobody was buying games because of the election year
Barry O's Barbecue will likely gain collector value and appear in league/tournament rotations over time
American Pinball factory tour cost $95 at Pinball Expo 2024
American Pinball's recent releases (Barry's Barbecue Challenge and Legends of Valhalla) have weaker themes than potential band options
American Pinball games have strong visual design that appeals to newcomers
Houdini was American Pinball's first game
American Pinball achieved profitability with Galactic Tank Force after operating in the red
American Pinball only sells approximately one game per year
American Pinball became profitable starting with Galactic Tank Force release
American Pinball manufactures approximately one game per year
American Pinball is delaying next game release to avoid manufacturer logiam
American Pinball held a 2009 event in Niagara Falls combining a pinball show, barbecue festival, and car show, which inspired the thematic direction
Barry O's Barbecue Challenge is American Pinball's latest title
American Pinball games are not selling well in the UK market
American Pinball will release Cuphead designed by Ryan McQuaid in October 2024
American Pinball's oral lighting system will be released as aftermarket product
All six American Pinball game titles were available at SS Billiards by July 14, 2024
American Pinball has a significant production backlog of completed machines waiting at factory for shipment
Cuphead is rumored to be American Pinball's next release
Legends of Valhalla LE available from Mad Pinball at $6,000 MSRP (new in box)
American Pinball has fallen from industry relevance and no longer matters
American Pinball operator appears to be using AI art on their website
Only 200 Galactic Tank Force Signature Edition units are being produced
GTF contains a secret/goofy stack accessible through specific code interaction that developers view as undesirable
GTF code is current as of April 8th and American Pinball is actively working on multiple games with constant updates
Houdini: Master of Mystery includes a spinner target mechanic
Houdini: Master of Mystery features multiball gameplay
Houdini: Master of Mystery includes a séance-themed mode
Hot Wheels RGB lighting kits cost $149 and are now available for purchase
RGB lighting installation is very easy and includes instructional video
American Pinball is planning to work on RGB lighting for other games beyond Hot Wheels, Barbecue, and Galactic Tank Force
American Pinball is working on He-Man Masters of the Universe after Cuphead
Christopher Franchi is the artist for American Pinball's He-Man game
American Pinball Barbecue Challenge layout will be used as white label for other themes
Barry O's Barbecue Challenge feels like a throwback to 1990s Williams WPC games
American Pinball has or had a Masters of the Universe/He-Man license
American Pinball's financial data from AIMTRON public offering filing shows atrocious numbers since Tank Force and Barry's Barbecue Challenge launches
Barry O's Barbecue Challenge features inferior shooter rod metal (aluminum-like) that doesn't slide consistently
American Pinball's Maurice (technical lead) has been let go for unknown reasons
Cuphead is rumored as American Pinball's next game following failed Sonic license deal
American Pinball's next strategic direction should focus on licensed IP (video games, toys) rather than original themes
American Pinball fired customer service rep Maurice instead of addressing leadership failures
Update 24.05.21 is available for download immediately at americanpinball.com
American Pinball will provide tournament trophy sets for launch party operators
American Pinball's Memorial Day sale excludes their newest release (BBQ) from discount offers
American Pinball's Barbecue game is priced at $7,000
Barbecue game has been on market for less than two months
American Pinball is pushing summer sales of Barbecue game through distributor outreach to barbecue restaurants
Barbecue game is themed after legendary pinball designer Barry Oursler
Barry O's Barbecue Challenge code v408 will receive revised shots in the next version
The only significant layout change from Barry's original design was moving drop targets from the side to the Space Shuttle position
Bash targets currently pay 1 million but will have increased payouts in future versions
Gator Don for President hoodies are being sourced and will be available soon through Facebook
A planned balance update will introduce a 'friendly neighbors version' of the barbecue target mechanic that is less powerful than the current version
Barry O's Barbecue Challenge is designed as a fast-playing game with strong playfield flow
If American Pinball releases Cuphead, the game will fail commercially
American Pinball's barbecue-themed game is not selling well and may have been largely self-purchased by leadership
American Pinball's brand has been destroyed and is no longer viable
All three American Pinball Barry O's units sold at TPF floor, plus two units by other distributors
Four Barry O's units taken to Vegas show during recording
American Pinball's next game after Whitewater 2 is rumored to be Cuphead (video game license) designed by Ryan McQuaid, expected ready by Chicago Pinball Expo October
Dennis Nordman is no longer a full-time employee at American Pinball and is expected to return as consultant if they build Whitewater 2
American Pinball is developing Cuphead with designer Ryan McQuaid targeting Chicago Pinball Expo (mid-October) release
American Pinball has released three games in a row without major licensed themes, which is problematic for market viability
American Pinball lost $350,000 reinvesting in Magic Girl to bail out J-Pop
Barry O's Barbecue Challenge Classic Edition is priced just below $7,000 and Limited Edition at $8,500
Barry O's Barbecue Challenge was playable at a dozen US locations within one day of the March 6 announcement
American Pinball's Galactic Tank Force uses improperly finished 3D printed components that don't meet industry standards
American Pinball will not sell 200 units of the Barbecue game and won't sell all 100 LEs
American Pinball has no creative vision and will never make a hit machine
American Pinball may be cutting costs on artistic execution for new games compared to prior releases
Barry's Barbecue Challenge theme lacks identity clarity for general audiences unfamiliar with pinball community in-group references
American Pinball successfully executed same-day launch strategy by releasing Barbecue at locations on announcement day
American Pinball displayed at least three Barry O's Barbecue Challenge machines with possibility of additional unit at Embassy Suites
American Pinball's GTF game launch had internal issues that employees privately acknowledged.
Barrio's Barbecue Challenge Classic edition is priced at $69.95 plus shipping
Barrio's Barbecue Challenge Limited Edition is limited to exactly 100 units
Barry O's Barbecue Challenge has half the playfield content of a Stern Pro while being priced identically
Only 100 LE units of Barry O's Barbecue Challenge are being produced, indicating manufacturer has no confidence in demand
American Pinball has sent Barbecue machines in boxes to operators waiting for announcement
American Pinball will announce Barbecue game early next week (Monday-Tuesday) to capitalize on Texas Pinball Festival foot traffic
American Pinball's upcoming Barry Osler-designed game will feature video assets and actors, but not in the style of Galactic Tank Force
American Pinball will announce a barbecue-themed pinball machine at Texas Pinball Festival on March 15 at 7pm
American Pinball next machine theme is Korean barbecue
American Pinball will have a new game announcement at Texas Pinball Festival, one year after GTF release
American Pinball's Barbecue game will be unveiled at TPF with minimal community enthusiasm, similar to Dialed In
American Pinball's next game is a barbecue-themed game called 'Barry O' designed by Barry O
American Pinball targeting barbecue restaurants as primary sales market is a failed business strategy
American Pinball and Haggis Pinball will fail commercially and cease operations in 2024
American Pinball is not viable at current sales volumes based on business fundamentals
American Pinball must pursue licensed IP to remain commercially viable
American Pinball's next two games will be original themes followed by a licensed theme
American Pinball failed to immediately dispute rumors it was seeking a buyer, destroying investor confidence
American Pinball used Hot Wheels for streaming instead of GTF due to location operator reliability complaints
An American Pinball representative contacted Don with legal threats over a meme
American Pinball will continue weekly Wednesday livestream broadcasts
American Pinball has threatened to sue another pinball podcaster
American Pinball released a press release to NAP Arcade within hours of Dave Fix's legal threat text, contradicting Franchi's message that Sharpe was spreading false information
American Pinball's next game is based on a Barry Osler design
American Pinball's next game will be shown or debuted at Texas Pinball Festival (March 15-17)
American Pinball's next game is based on a design by late designer Barry Osler
American Pinball's next game may feature a food theme such as barbecue or food truck
American Pinball's Galactic Arcade Tank Force failed to sell well
American Pinball's next game will be a Barrio food-based/BBQ themed machine and will be 'dead on arrival' commercially
American Pinball originally planned to only offer lunchbox-with-thermos to signature edition buyers, then changed to include thermos with all units
American Pinball has experienced recent personnel departures
American Pinball has developed their own circuit board set that is backwards compatible with existing games like Houdini
The tech support hiring at American Pinball addresses community complaints about difficulty contacting the company for technical support
American Pinball's decision to livestream Hot Wheels rather than Galactic Tank Force was strategically odd because Hot Wheels is not currently in active production
American Pinball is not currently for sale
American Pinball has never produced more than 500 units of any single game per year
American Pinball made legal threats against content creators for social media criticism
American Pinball invested six figures into a new hardware board set design
The new board set will not be backwards compatible with Galactic Tank Force
American Pinball is not for sale and continues to be owned and operated by parent company Aintron.
American Pinball has renewed its Hot Wheels license.
The next American Pinball game in development is a barbecue-themed game designed by Barry O.
Galactic Tank Force has sold approximately 300 units in its first year on the market.
American Pinball operates with a skeleton crew and lacks full manufacturing capacity.
If American Pinball did not have financial support from parent company Aintron, the company would have gone bankrupt multiple times over.
American Pinball's Hot Wheels game is a lazy and empty interpretation of the theme compared to physical toy products.
Dennis Nordman's Yeti 2/Whitewater 2 pinball machine deal with American Pinball is stalled due to cost concerns.
American Pinball's announced barbecue-themed game will fail commercially and be laughed at by the community.
American Pinball's poor sales are attributed to baffling design and licensing choices that favor original themes over popular buyer preferences
American Pinball originally planned to include lunchbox only with signature editions but changed strategy to offer it to all buyers
The lunchbox merchandise costs $30 including custom Christopher Franchi artwork
Signature edition lunchbox includes a thermos; distributor version does not
American Pinball is up for sale and in dire financial straits
Galactic Tank Force sold only 200-300 units when the company needed to sell 500+ to break even
Galactic Tank Force has been in release for nearly a year but remains unavailable in most geographic markets despite Chicago concentration
American Pinball's $16,000 Signature Edition merchandise is now available separately for approximately $100-150 total cost
American Pinball's annual production goal was 300 games, which Spooky Pinball can produce in a single quarter
American Pinball is for sale
Galactic Tank Force experiences recurring air ball problems that designers stated were untestable before manufacturing
American Pinball lacks formal customer service infrastructure and requires direct escalation to executives for issue resolution
Food Truck game is being developed by a different team/company, not American Pinball
American Pinball is looking to be sold by Ametron owner Mukesh
Fewer than 30 Galactic Tank Force Signature Editions were produced and sold
American Pinball's production goal was 300 games per year
American Pinball's $16k Signature Edition items (pint glass, thermos) are now sold separately for ~$30
American Pinball had a rumored Masters of the Universe pinball title that never materialized.
American Pinball has failed to capitalize on market opportunities despite a decade of operations, while smaller competitors like Barrels of Fun have achieved superior competitive positioning
American Pinball will likely close its doors or exit the market in 2024
GTF (Godfather) is not appearing in major arcades including IO Arcade Madison and Blue Moon as of episode recording
American Pinball must sell 500 Galactic Tank Force machines to sustain operations
American Pinball has not sold all Galactic Tank Force units and is blocked from releasing next games unless they do
American Pinball has not released a major game since Houdini
American Pinball's next releases will be an unlicensed Barry Osler tribute food truck game, Whitewater 2, and Cuphead, all predicted to fail commercially
American Pinball will produce 300 machines by end of December 2023, the largest annual output in company history
Rumors that American Pinball would close if failing to hit 300-machine target are false; company has stellar sales
All Galactic Tank Force Signature Edition pre-orders will be delivered before Christmas 2023
American Pinball will not survive to the end of 2024
American Pinball will not sell more than 20 units of the $17,500 premium Galactic Tank Force edition
American Pinball forgot Flippin' Out Pinball's day-one order for GTF Deluxe editions and has delivered zero machines despite months of delays and customer waiting
American Pinball has committed to original IP themes only after Hot Wheels, with no licensed properties for at least the next three planned releases
Galactic Tank Force Signature Edition limited to exactly 200 units
Signature Edition includes motion-activated three-dimensional backglass with retro sci-fi diamond-coded playfield artwork
American Pinball will release three original IP games and one is a single-level Barry O's Food Truck
American Pinball resolved cabinet and backbox supply constraints that existed in 2022
Houdini final 3D sculpt run is being produced, with future Deluxe versions using flat plastics and decals instead
American Pinball was simultaneously building Houdini and Galactic Tank Force on separate production lines
American Pinball only produced 500 units of Galactic Tank Force parts
American Pinball has a He-Man license but made Galactic Tank Force and Cuphead instead
American Pinball's service department is currently overwhelmed and unresponsive to operator bug reports
Dave Brennan provided better service quality during the Hot Wheels era than current American Pinball service
Galactic Tank Force had initial quality issues but machines at Expo were working better
American Pinball is developing Masters Universe
American Pinball rejected Ron Coon Jr.'s audio engineering work for a game project
American Pinball's next game by Ryan McQuaid is Cuphead.
Cuphead is a niche game that most pinball buyers are not clamoring for.
American Pinball has four to five games in development with designers Barry Oursler, Dennis Nordman, and Ryan McQuaid
American Pinball has five games in the development pipeline.
American Pinball's lack of success is due to external financing from Ametron removing market pressure to succeed.
American Pinball is conducting a seminar and bringing Galactic Tank Force cast for meet-and-greet at Expo
American Pinball will collapse in 2024 due to lack of hit games and market saturation
Galactic Tank Force's turret tip is constructed from stacked red plastic pop bumper caps
American Pinball did not adequately highlight the pop bumper cap turret detail in marketing materials
American Pinball's Galactic Tank Force has magnet deterioration issues affecting playfield artwork due to inadequate QA
American Pinball has allowed the Galactic Tank Force trademark to lapse
American Pinball's next game will not release in 2023
GTF features multiple magnet mechanisms as a primary design strength
American Pinball spent three years developing Galactic Arcade Tank Force but delivered minimal mechanical innovation.
American Pinball updated Galactic Arcade Tank Force to feature employee cameos (Steven Bowden, Ryan McQuaid) in cutscenes instead of professional actors.
American Pinball's next game is based on a video game/cartoon series, likely Golden Axe or Dungeons & Dragons
Galactic Tank Force discounted $500 off MSRP at Kingpin dealer for months without selling, indicating weak demand
American Pinball is one year away from going out of business
American Pinball's Galactic Tank Force failed commercially due to air ball issues, cheap 3D-printed parts, and poor theme execution
Galactic Tank Force manufacturing started in spring 2024
American Pinball has not made a successful game in 6-7 years and should rebrand with new personnel
American Pinball cannot proceed to next game until 500 Tank Turret units are sold
American Pinball has the license for He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
Masters of the Universe pinball machine has moved from Stern to American Pinball and is rumored to be on location at Napa Arcade.
The He-Man pinball manufacturer is American Pinball (the company that made Hot Wheels Pinball)
He-Man pinball is likely not American Pinball's next release
American Pinball has been manufacturing Galactic Tank Force with bracket issues that required retrofit
Updated brackets are being shipped to all existing GTF owners
American Pinball is implementing a three-tier GTF pricing model with LE and Signature Edition tiers
Production cutoff for bracket improvements is June 19th
American Pinball's future viability depends on licensed IP games, not original themes like Galactic Tank Force
American Pinball customer service failed to respond to order inquiry for an entire week
Galactic Tank Force machines require aftermarket reinforcement brackets for ball deflector and tank target support.
Some GTF machines shipped with bent switches that need manual correction.
GTF tank mechanisms can produce grinding or disrupting noise that is resolved by repositioning the internal robot toy.
American Pinball has not sold 1,000 units of any game they've made
American Pinball gave John Papaduke over $300,000 to finish Magic Girl Pinball machines
American Pinball would have gone out of business after Houdini without Ametron's financial backing
American Pinball is operating with a skeleton crew with minimal staff
If American Pinball doesn't release a hit game by end of year, the company will be finished
American Pinball should pivot to remaking classic games like Big Ben and Twilight Zone in partnership with Planetary Pinball
Galactic Tank Force is effectively dead as a viable product with unclear delivery status and production secrecy
Galactic Tank Force has significant engineering flaws in the center bank assembly
Manufacturer planning Circus Voltaire remaster; banner at Golden State Pinball Festival announced production of 771 units
Co-announcing Circus Fantastique remake with Planetary Pinball under new leadership
Boutique pinball manufacturer producing Hot Wheels, working on Cuphead and movie-themed game
Mentioned as having upcoming movie theme and music license
Pinball manufacturer based in Palatine, Illinois; shipping 100th Anniversary Houdini and updating Galactic Tank Force
Pinball manufacturer; produced Galactic Tank Force; experienced reputation damage before and after release
Pinball manufacturer; was working on Cuphead; has 'fizzled out' but is reportedly 'back now'
Publisher of Circus Voltaire remaster; criticized for poor marketing gap between announcement and release
Boutique manufacturer; hired Rob and Nick from Electric Playground; changed logo; secured Planetary licensing deal for Williams/Bally remakes
Pinball manufacturer; Steve Bowden involved with VA Phase One project mentioned for later discussion.
Manufacturer with restructured team featuring new ownership, Nick Nichol, and Rob from Electric Playground
Customization shop; modified Spooky machines on display at Expo with custom armor and loaded features.
Manufacturer; released Winchester; Kaneda speculates next title targeting 'banger' IP themes
Manufacturer with six titles showcased in eighth row of free-play area
Manufacturer whose Electric Playground topper was praised by Don
Rumored to have music-themed pin in development; confirmed first game is Cirqus Voltaire remake
Rumored to have a music pin amongst first games in development; first confirmed game is Cirqus Voltaire remake
Pinball manufacturer; announced Circus Voltaire remaster at TPF, Pintastic, and Golden State events; producing Houdini and Hot Wheels titles
Pinball manufacturer; Melvin Williams is now associated with this company
Manufacturer of Cirqus Voltaire remake, limited to 771 units; previously made Star Wars: The Mandalorian
Manufacturer producing Circus Voltaire Ringmaster Edition with 772 units planned
Major pinball manufacturer; audience suggests as alternative for commercial Beastie Boys machine
Manufacturer of Barry O's Barbecue Challenge
Manufacturer of Galactic Tank Force; referenced in context of prior quality issues
U.S. pinball manufacturer; mentioned as struggling partly due to market competition, not tariff issues
Upcoming release: Circus Voltaire (3 months out); franchise-based games.
Historical user of Multimorphic P-ROC boards
Pinball manufacturer acquired by J Bryan Vincent in January 2026; now actively recruiting from homebrew scene; recruited Nick Neitzel and is open to other homebrew designers
Christopher Franchi proposed Prince music game during previous ownership; license request rejected at $2M asking price
Bally/Williams remake licensee; most recent addition to Planetary Pinball program
Pinball manufacturer rumored to have previously held He-Man license; referenced for capability in game production
Pinball manufacturer; recently hired Melvin Brouwer-Williams following his departure from Dutch Pinball Exclusive
Mentioned in context of mystery game speculation; Joel humorously suggests mystery game is from American Pinball before Zach clarifies it's from a different company
Recently restructured under new ownership; hiring new leadership and design talent; expected to announce Houdini remake at TPF
Boutique pinball manufacturer; noted for weak secondary market performance in this analysis
Manufacturer of Hot Wheels and Houdini; hosted high school factory tour; attending Midwest Gaming Classic and Pintastic shows
Manufacturer with Hot Wheels and Houdini in production; held factory tours for high school groups
Pinball manufacturer recently purchased, announced Reimagined series remaking classic Bally/Williams titles with custom art
Pinball manufacturer; Brian Vincent provided development timeline context; referenced as company needing to 'come with a banger' next release
Manufacturer actively shipping Houdini machines; has Circus Voltaire prototype in circulation
Manufacturer criticized for theme disasters (Houdini, Legends of Valhalla, Oktoberfest, Hot Wheels, Barrio, Galactic Tank Force); expected to ship 100 Houdini units; rival to Spooky, Barrels, Dutch
Pinball manufacturer; bringing back Circus Voltaire; discussed as mid-tier manufacturer; Kaneda critical of tier placement
Chicago-area manufacturer; previously held He-Man license before Barrels acquired it; Franchie did treatment art
Pinball manufacturer; new ownership; previously attempted He-Man license
Pinball manufacturer; recently hired Mark Nitzel and Robin from Electric Playground (confirmed at TPF).
Boutique manufacturer; previously associated with He-Man project rumors during Galactic Tank Force era; apparently did not secure He-Man license
Manufacturer criticized for poor ruleset documentation (metaphorical 'envelope of half cooked onions')
Previous management (Aimtron/David Fix) allegedly had or claimed to have Masters of the Universe license; commissioned art from Christopher Franchi but game never materialized
Manufacturer with 2026 releases including Houdini re-release and Circus Voltaire tease; hosts mentioned but not counted as major releases by podcast
Previous owner of Masters of the Universe license, now owned/operated by Barrels of Fun
Manufacturer focused on Bally/Williams remakes; Circus Voltaire confirmed remaster; Melvin involvement for J-POP licenses
Manufacturer that reportedly lost Masters of the Universe (He-Man) licensing to Barrels of Fun; Christopher Franchi previously worked on the theme there
Currently producing 100th Anniversary Houdini and Hot Wheels machines at Palatine facility
Manufacturer; Circus Voltaire mentioned as upcoming; speculated as potential home for Elvira Scared Stiff remake
Manufacturer of Galactic Tank Force (2023) with Dennis Nordman design; recently underwent changes; promised to address quality concerns and produce improved versions
Venue owned by Mike Nogle; Tom and his son Neil Graf played Beetlejuice there during Pinmasters
Manufacturer acquiring Bally/Williams remake rights; confirmed Cirqus Voltaire, rumored World Cup Soccer and Fish Tales
Pinball manufacturer announcing Circus Voltaire reimagine; currently producing Houdini, working on new Hot Wheels run; planning release later in 2024/2025
Pinball manufacturer with six production lines; Kaneda suggests they could build Turner's games faster
Pinball manufacturer, recently hired Rob and Nick from Electric Playground, working on Circus Voltaire remake
Manufacturer planning Circus Voltaire remake, rumored to pursue classic remakes like Twilight Zone
Pinball manufacturer based in Palatine near Chicago, currently producing Houdini, Tank Force, Hot Wheels, and working on reimagined Circus Voltaire
Boutique pinball manufacturer announcing Circus Voltaire reimagine, first 'reimagine' game
Pinball manufacturer; hosts consider touring facility again; new leadership with J.B. Vincent
Pinball manufacturer producing Houdini 100s and second run of Galactic Tank Force (150 units) with production scheduled for May/June 2026
Pinball manufacturer that has integrated The Electric Playground team; currently producing Houdinis, Galactic Tank Force, Hot Wheels, and developing new games based on movie and band licenses
Commercial pinball manufacturer; hired homebrew designer Ryan McQuillen
Pinball manufacturer; mentioned as potential source for damaged/defective cabinets for homebrew community; discussed recent discussions with Ernie
Boutique pinball manufacturer; parent company is Aimtron Electronics (circuit board house); produces Galactic Tank Force, Houdini, Legends of Valhalla, and other titles.
Pinball manufacturer whose factory was toured; produced Galactic Tank Force with hired professional actors
Pinball manufacturer under new leadership (Brian Vincent); planning Williams/Bally remakes including Circus Voltaire
Pinball manufacturer; released Hot Wheels as younger-demographic IP title
Manufacturer under new ownership, exhibiting Houdini 100th Anniversary Edition and announcing Circus Voltaire remake, in transitional phase
Chicago-area pinball manufacturer under new leadership (Brian Vincent, Ron Linderman); announced Circus Voltaire reimagined, Houdini 100th Anniversary edition; planning two releases per year
Restructured under new leadership (Brian Vincent, Ron Lindeman), announced Circus Voltaire reimagined remaster and 100th Anniversary Houdini edition at Texas Pinball Festival
Producing Circus Voltaire remake with HD screen and new artwork; manufacturing Houdini games with 100-unit commitment and 30-day delivery window
Manufacturer of Back to the Future (now transitioning from Dutch Pinball); leadership transition from Melvin to Barry; mentioned for Circus Voltaire remake and unreleased games
Recently acquired/rebranded operation; pursuing Galactic Tank Force improvements and Circus Voltaire remaster; hiring designers from Electric Playground; planning new 2026 game
Announced Houdini 100th Anniversary Edition with new artwork by Christopher Franchi and topper; confirmed Cirqus Voltaire remake for 2026; used AI-generated promotional flyer with visible Gemini watermark
Producing Circus Voltaire remake; has six production lines; contrast to Turner's capacity issues
Texas-based manufacturer; referenced as revival project; host expresses interest in freelance graphics work opportunity
Manufacturer that announced Houdini 100 Year Anniversary remake (100 units, $7,995) and Circus Voltaire remake at TPF 2026; criticized for dual announcement strategy and insufficient marketing materials
Pinball manufacturer showcasing Houdini 100th Anniversary Edition with new art by Christopher Frankie; announced remastered Circus Voltaire at TPF 2026
Pinball manufacturer; restructured with new ownership; releasing Houdini remaster with Franchi artwork and Circus Voltaire
Hired Robin Rath and Nick Niesel from Electronic Playground; manufacturing facility in Chicago; leadership spread across multiple cities (Chicago, St. Louis, Netherlands)
Boutique pinball manufacturer developing improvements to Galactic Tank Force and planning Cirqus Voltaire as next original game
Manufacturer under new leadership (Brian Vincent, Ron Lindeman); announced Houdini 100 LE remaster and Circus Voltaire remake partnership
Boutique manufacturer undergoing rebranding under new ownership; planning to remake classic Williams/Bally games from the 1990s; Circus Voltaire is first announced remake; criticized for using AI-generated logos in rebranding
Announced Houdini Reimagined and Circus Voltaire remaster at TPF; new leadership including Brian Vincent and Matesh; showing art by Christopher Franchi
Pinball manufacturer booth at Texas Pinball Festival with Hot Wheels game (redesigned with red legs/rails); one of least busy booths at show
Under new ownership (J.B. Vincent LP); strong comeback at TPF 2026 after near-shutdown; announced 100th anniversary Houdini edition
Pinball manufacturer under new management confirming Cirqus Voltaire remake as its first full game
Pinball manufacturer announcing 100th Anniversary Edition of Houdini at TPF 2026
Pinball manufacturer with booth at TPF 2026 displaying Hot Wheels, Houdini, GTS, Bajala
Pinball manufacturer; recently acquired with new leadership; releasing Houdini Franchi edition (100 units, $7,995) and planning Circus Voltaire; criticized for AI marketing flyers but praised for execution speed
Manufacturer where Nordman developed Wild Water sequel concept (separate from Yukon Yeti); never entered production
Pinball manufacturer; announced Houdini 100th Anniversary Edition at Texas Pinball Festival
Pinball manufacturer announcing limited Anniversary Edition of Houdini
Recently rebooted under J.B. Vincent LP ownership; hiring design talent (Nick, Rob, Melvin); expected to show revamped Houdini at TPF
Chicago-based manufacturer; under new ownership (Brian Vincent/J.B. Vincent LP); pivoting toward remasters; planning Houdini and Circus Voltaire
Pinball manufacturer; developing Houdini 100th anniversary remake with new art by Christopher Franchi, to be revealed at Texas Pinball Festival
Mentioned as potentially bringing old title with new art package to TPF
Dennis Nordman previously employed here as game designer; he worked on Wild Water prototype sequel to White Water while at American Pinball
Pinball manufacturer showcasing at Expo 2025, operating Whirl-O-Ball game through Orbit Games umbrella
Acquired Chicago-area pinball manufacturer; dormant for over a year; undergoing leadership transition and team rebuilding
Pinball manufacturer acquired by J.B. Vincent LP; newly restructured leadership under Ron Lindeman; planning 1-2 releases in 2026.
Pinball manufacturer partnering with Planetary Pinball Supply
Pinball manufacturer under new ownership by Bryan Vincent; acquiring leadership and talent, securing licensing, building game pipeline
Boutique manufacturer considered but assessed as unlikely due to early renewal cycle
Pinball manufacturer incorporated late 2015; recently acquired by J.B. Vincent LP; has experienced multiple leadership changes, production delays, and operational dormancy; now focusing on classic Williams/Bally remakes
Pinball manufacturer with upcoming TPF announcement; history of production delays and leadership changes; poised to reveal revised Houdini
Pinball manufacturer; mentioned as possible company for Christopher Franchi's next game
Pinball manufacturer that has publicly cancelled Cuphead and is working on next licensed title; has experienced significant personnel losses
Pinball manufacturer with new ownership; previously owned by Indian company; pivoting to remaster classic Bally/Williams games; seven-game deal with Planetary Pinball; planning two games per year release schedule; new leadership includes John Popadiuk and Bob Betor
Manufacturer rumored to be developing Bally/Williams Reimagined series including Cirqus Voltaire, Fish Tales, and World Cup Soccer
Pinball manufacturer building team and improving parts availability and customer service
Pinball manufacturer; recently hired Rob Rath (Product Director) and Nick Neitzel (Product Designer); rumored first title is Cirqus Voltaire remake; under new ownership
Manufacturer; half of company/operations now owned by The Electric Playground
Recently restructured company planning Cirqus Voltaire remake and two licensed games (movie and band)
Pinball manufacturer; recently hired Rob Wrath and Nick Neitzel; planning Bally/Williams remaster
Pinball manufacturer expanding with new team members; pursuing remix/reimagining strategy alongside original IP; planning remake production
Pinball machine manufacturer announcing new leadership and product strategy
Boutique pinball manufacturer under new owner Bryan Vincent; hiring established industry talent; securing licensing deals for classic Bally/Williams remakes
Manufacturer mentioned in context of podcast positivity discussion and followers.
Pinball manufacturer allegedly threatening legal action against podcasters; Dave Fix associated with company
Manufacturer using PC-based P-Rock platform; produces specialized/licensed titles; hosts location machines alongside Stern and JJP
Rumored to be developing Circus Voltaire remake with John Popadiuk involvement
Manufacturer providing professional resources for Tank Girl homebrew project; Don declining to work there due to commute
Mentioned in context of naming (Don jokes about renaming to APX); Melvin discussed as figure at the company
Pinball manufacturer, Don had positive facility visit experience, currently not thriving publicly
Pinball manufacturer where David Fix held leadership position; responsible for games including Burio's Barbecue Challenge, Galactic Tank Force, and others
Manufacturer; had game designed and ready with licensing issues; key departures (Bowen, Ryan McQuade, programmer); Cuphead project in limbo
Don speculates Cuphead will be their next licensed game, possibly rethemed from existing design
Pinball manufacturer; host mentions wanting new game announcement but noting 8 months of silence
Manufacturer discussed by Ian Jacobi as potential candidate for Saddle Creek Records-style homebrew development model
Boutique manufacturer; released Galactic Tank Force; criticized for poor mechanical design and 3D-printed parts
Mentioned as one of ~12 active manufacturers competing for distributor absorption of inventory
Boutique pinball manufacturer, produces Hot Wheels, Houdini, Oktoberfest; flipper design improvements noted
Pinball manufacturer; donating $1,500 to The Beast prize pool; producer of Legends of Valhalla
Manufacturer/vendor that replaced stolen Hot Wheels banner donation after Expo theft
Pinball manufacturer showcasing Legends of Valhalla (homebrew from Riot Pinball) and P3 partnership games at Expo
Boutique pinball manufacturer; known for ambitious titles (Barbecue Challenge, Galactic Tank Force); criticized for marketing and venue placement strategy.
Pinball manufacturer criticized for poor Hot Wheels launch execution and marketing support
Pinball manufacturer; previously employed John Popadiuk before he moved to Deep Root; produced Houdini which just shipped; produced Pirates of the Caribbean
Pinball manufacturer with copyrights on four IP titles: Robin Hood, Valkyries, Sherlock Holmes, Poker Run; in production of Octoberfest game
Released Galactic Tank Force in March; historically releases one game per year; no 2023 dark horse expected
Pinball manufacturer; host rhetorically questions competitive success in 2020
Returning manufacturer; criticized for branding inconsistency, logo changes, lack of consumer marketing expertise
Mentioned positively for putting content into games
Pinball manufacturer; acquired rights to term 'Oktoberfest' for potential future game
Pinball manufacturer; employer of Ryan McQuade
Modern pinball manufacturer. Dennis Norman works as a designer there.
Hosting tournament at Expo with top 16 format (old-style); Houdini as prize
Pinball manufacturer; mentioned as potential buyer for Dutch Pinball IP rights
Chicago-area manufacturer; recently acquired new leadership (Dave Fix); bringing in Dennis Nordman as mentor to junior designers
Pinball manufacturer holding Hot Wheels license from Roger Sharp
Distributor in Australia through Mr Pinball; Hot Wheels machine expected
Manufacturer of Galactic Tank Force; criticized for poor launch strategy and reliance on third-party arcade footage for product showcase
Pinball manufacturer with three released/upcoming games: Houdini (2016/17), Oktoberfest, and Hot Wheels; uses Multimorphic P3 and custom boards
Boutique pinball manufacturer criticized for insufficient marketing, livestreaming, and social media presence for GTF
Pinball manufacturer; Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in production; game delayed from TPF and MGC showings
Pinball manufacturer; noted as 'well funded' by Don
Mentioned in context of Cuphead licensing decision
Modern pinball manufacturer for whom Greg did artwork; made Whoa Nellie with Dennis
Manufacturer founded/led by Balcer after leaving Jersey Jack Pinball
Manufacturer of Galactic Tank Force; criticized for engineering quality issues, target durability problems, and prototype-like final product
Company undergoing new management; planning remakes and new designs; criticized on branding and logo design
Boutique manufacturer; Kaneda predicts Cuphead will be final game and company will struggle
Noted as company that discounted games (AP), suggesting willingness to clear inventory; contrast to MSRP rigidity of other manufacturers
Boutique manufacturer with inventory problems; Cuphead held in production limbo pending Galactic Tank Force sales clearance
Pinball manufacturer releasing Hot Wheels as third licensed title
Upcoming release in 2024 of original-theme (non-licensed IP) pinball machine, anticipated by David Dennis
Pinball manufacturer criticized in conversation for prohibitively high machine pricing
Manufacturer with flipper feel similar to Spooky; cited as having recurring flipper issues; responsive customer service on Hot Wheels (example given)
Manufacturer of Oktoberfest; game has early software issues and unannounced pricing
Pinball manufacturer subject of Don's satirical Mike Lindell joke; implied to have leadership/management problems
Referenced manufacturer; mentioned in context of pre-order and production announcement strategy
Pinball manufacturer; allegedly in uncertain financial/operational status; has fully licensed game near completion; Ryan McQuaid may have been let go
Pinball manufacturer; discussed as struggling with games like Cuphead and Barbecue Challenge; reported to be working on He-Man Masters of the Universe
Pinball manufacturer that reached out to Don for factory access and game launch events within 3 hours of his location
Mentioned as boutique company in manufacturer roundup
Mentioned as likely source of new game at IFPA (inference from 'AP probably at IFPA')
Manufacturer of Houdini and other games; known for strong builds and toy integration
Pinball manufacturer; Stephen Bowden works for them; David Fix associated with them
Boutique manufacturer; fallen from relevance; host predicts closure; potential Cuphead game from Ryan McQuade mentioned
Cited as example of successful black and white cabinet execution (Addams Family, Twilight Zone restorations)
Manufacturer where Dave Brennan previously worked, discussed in context of industry business models and build quality
Competitor that cut $500 from pricing but still experiencing poor sales; Kaneda suggests larger price cuts needed
Boutique manufacturer; Nordman game coming soon; positioned at $9k–$10k price tier
Boutique pinball manufacturer; criticized for Barry O's Barbecue Challenge and prior failed games
Referenced as manufacturer to watch in 2024 with Food Truck title, uncertain business trajectory
Pinball manufacturer possibly associated with Sonic the Hedgehog pinball design; mentioned speculatively
Manufacturer in decline; heavily criticized for Barry O's Barbecue Challenge and brand collapse; resale values depressed
Pinball machine manufacturer; rebranded logo; presenting at Texas Pinball Festival
Pinball manufacturer based in Palatine, Illinois; hired Melvin Williams as Creative Director; planning seminar at Texas Pinball Festival
Boutique manufacturer; Galactic Tank Force stalled; next game (Ryan McQuaid) based on video game/cartoon (possibly Golden Axe or Dungeons & Dragons); company viability questioned
Pinball manufacturer producing Hot Wheels, Oktoberfest, Houdini, with Games 4, 5, 6 in development pipeline; uses P-Rock boards, Bader playfields, Molex coil plugs; renewed excitement under Dave Fix's leadership
Manufacturer of Galactic Tank Force; criticized as 'big loser' in March 2023 due to late marketing strategy and original IP without IP nostalgia
Boutique manufacturer with history of mediocre releases; expecting breakthrough with Dennis Nordman's Galactic Space Tank Force
Pinball manufacturer discussed with rankings; games mentioned include Houdini, Oktoberfest, Galactic Tank Force, Barbecue
Manufacturer; associated with delayed John Wick release; mentioned alongside fringe companies struggling to compete
Boutique manufacturer; Kaneda criticizes them for not completing Legends of Valhalla production and going radio silent
Pinball manufacturer considered defunct by Kaneda; no future plans announced
Boutique manufacturer with significant production delays on Fathom machines; criticized for lack of transparency regarding unit production
Pinball manufacturer producing Galactic Tank Force; David Fix and Christopher Franchi leadership allegedly upset over image leak
Boutique manufacturer; producing Legends of Valhalla and other games; mentioned in secondary market pricing discussion
Boutique pinball manufacturer; subject of episode's primary critique; criticized for poor game releases, mismanagement, and lack of viable future products
Listed as manufacturer option; Matt Kern noted as sound designer for American Pinball games
Manufacturer of Legends of Valhalla and Hot Wheels; releasing multi-tier versions of Legends of Valhalla
Rumored to be developing Masters of the Universe pinball machine (moved from Stern); previously manufactured Hot Wheels theme.
Manufacturer of Galactic Tank Force; backed by AIMTROM and Mukesh; criticized for slow production timeline and distributor spam
Boutique manufacturer financed by Ametron; described as having minimal onsite staff; Dennis Nordman game expected to deliver innovation; praised for expected to 'pack it with stuff'
Small manufacturer; Cuphead game in development; struggling sales; Ryan McQuade designing unreleased title for 2 years
Manufacturer shipping Hot Wheels pinball slowly
Pinball manufacturer mentioned in context of Windows Vista game discussion
Pinball manufacturer launching Galactic Tank Force; subject of sustained criticism for unprofessional presentation, design flaws, and poor track record
Manufacturer shipping Oktoberfest; described as offering different playfield layout and rule set experience
Pinball manufacturer; Kaz was a correspondent for this company; mentioned in context of podcast crew history
Boutique pinball manufacturer; The Pinball Place is authorized distributor
Unlicensed pinball manufacturer; Don criticizes execution despite theoretical appeal of lower licensing costs
Manufacturer; rumored to reveal Cuphead at IAAPA this week (mid-November)
Pinball manufacturer; incorrectly cited by Wonderland Amusements as a key company that revitalized the hobby (Kaneda disputes this assessment)
Manufacturer; will reveal next game at Coin Taker/Super Awesome Pinball Show tailgating party in 3 weeks
Manufacturer working on Houdini code update, Oktoberfest update, and unreleased pin number three for Texas Pinball Festival reveal
Local Chicago-area pinball manufacturer; still shipping Houdini; rumors of Oktoberfest as second title
Mentioned as counterexample of questionable strategic decisions; hosts compare Stern's Costco move to American Pinball's past missteps
Heavily criticized for poor leadership, unsold inventory, and inability to deliver magic with Houdini or Cuphead; rumored to be working on He-Man
Pinball manufacturer under parent company Ametron; recently underwent layoffs; diversifying into video game arcade units (1,000 units sold); sustainability and financial viability questioned by community
Manufacturer of Houdini pinball machine; recently released code updates adding modes and rules
Pinball manufacturer that intervened in Magic Girl/Houdini situation and helped fulfill preorders
Manufacturer with speaking panel at Expo 2025
Manufacturer of Mandalorian; criticized for poor timing on game announcements; expected new Dennis Nordman game delayed from October
Pinball manufacturer; located ~10 miles from St. Charles, Illinois
Pinball manufacturer; responsive to customer issues; praised for quick support response times; producing Oktoberfest (with positive code update reception)
Pinball manufacturer with upcoming Oktoberfest reveal expected at Pinball Expo
Chicago-area (Streamwood, IL) pinball manufacturer founded in 2015 as contract manufacturer, now producing Houdini and upcoming Oktoberfest. Plans to move to three-line facility by year-end.
Established manufacturer; expanding manufacturing capacity with third line for contract services; planning Oktoberfest reveal at Expo
Pinball manufacturer; developing Oktoberfest machine with family-friendly theme; translite artwork recently revealed to distributors
Pinball manufacturer currently focused on Oktoberfest code updates and third game development; running Facebook contest for Oktoberfest prize package
Pinball manufacturer; revealed Oktoberfest game at Expo with Nirmal Vasani as representative
Pinball manufacturer; producing Oktoberfest game mentioned in Todd Tuckey and Jeff Teolis predictions
Boutique manufacturer of Houdini and Oktoberfest; responsive to community feedback on artwork
Re-revealing Oktoberfest at TPF after artwork/mechanics changes; teasing multiple upcoming games (Sherlock Holmes, Robin Hood, Valkyries, Poker Run) before Oktoberfest ships
Smaller manufacturer, produces Oktoberfest, discussed as facing competitive pressure
Pinball manufacturer; relaunching Oktoberfest for Texas Pinball Festival; registered four trademark themes for potential new game
Pinball manufacturer; attended Pinsonati, Freeplay Florida, and IAFA trade show; unveiled Flying Dutchman Redemption game (prototype stage); working on pin number three
Manufacturer of Houdini and Oktoberfest; claims no playfield issues; outsources playfield manufacturing
Pinball manufacturer producing Oktoberfest, featured in Special When Lit streams
Pinball manufacturer with Oktoberfest machine receiving code updates and game three in development
Pinball manufacturer collaborating with Stumbler on Lolly X control board development
Pinball manufacturer with Houdini, Magic Girl, and Oktoberfest released/shipping; developing games 3, 4, 5; discussing manufacturing partnerships; based in Streamwood, Illinois
Boutique pinball manufacturer; Oktoberfest receiving major code update with new Stein Slinging wizard mode and family-friendly/adult mode toggle; working on game number three (Houdini in development)
Pinball manufacturer; released Oktoberfest; moving to 35,000 sq ft facility with three production lines; working on unannounced Game 3 (not Punisher).
Manufacturer; produced Oktoberfest; cancelled Poker Run as game three
Manufacturer displaying Oktoberfest, Houdini, and revealing Flying Dutchman redemption game at IAAPA; expanding beyond pinball into redemption market
Working on Flying Dutchman Redemption improvements; rumored to be developing Hot Wheels; released merchandise for mascot Amy Pinn
Pinball manufacturer developing Game 3, a redemption machine in prototype status; continues code updates for Oktoberfest; parent company is Ametron
Manufacturer with Josh Kugler as software director; promoting Oktoberfest and Houdini at Helicon Brewing event
Pinball manufacturer; donated signed Houdini playfield to Project Pinball charity stream
Pinball manufacturer with factory in Chicago area; had presence at Expo 2019; was working on new unreleased game
Pinball manufacturer; stopping Houdini production to move to new larger facility; focuses on Oktoberfest; using Multimorphic boards
Boutique competitor to Stern; producing Oktoberfest and Houdini; expanding European presence; launched new mascot character Amy Penn; cited for value-adding design approach
Pinball manufacturer from Streamwood IL, released two games, participating in Oktoberfest at G2E, designer of Houdini
Pinball manufacturer expanding into redemption games with new larger facility
Manufacturer developing unannounced Game 3; Joe Balser confirmed still employed and working on the title
Boutique manufacturer that released Houdini in late 2016; subject of speculation about market viability
Pinball manufacturer; has released Houdini and Oktoberfest; third pin to be revealed at Texas Pinball Festival March 2024
Manufacturer; Oktoberfest prototypes available; Penn No. 3 in development; code updates pending
Manufactures Barbecue, GGF, Legends of Valhalla, Hot Wheels, Houdini; limited standard inventory remaining
Manufacturer of GTF. Criticized heavily for marketing strategy, pricing tiers, presentation, and sales communication. Also referenced as having experienced recent personnel departures.
Mentioned in context of manufacturer competition; not expected to announce in near term
Manufacturer of Galactic Tank Force; criticized for poor marketing, community management, and lack of professional communication strategy
Referenced in context of manufacturer viability concerns; implied industry consolidation discussion.
Manufacturer; predicted October 2024 Cuphead release designed by Ryan McQuaid
Manufacturer mentioned for parts availability concerns, games frequently down at Interium location
US-based manufacturer; proposed as potential contract manufacturer partner for Haggis
Pinball manufacturer; released Hot Wheels and Break Shot; two successful recent machines
Manufacturer of Barbecue Challenge; criticized for incomplete game and poor commercial decision to release tribute game to Barry Ousler; also made Galactic Tank Force.
Galactic Tank Force cited as example of game potentially hurt by tight release timing; also lacked strong marketing/licensing
European/non-American manufacturer noted as struggling; likely impacted by tariffs; performance down
Pinball manufacturer in crisis; lost build quality reputation; recent failures include Barbecue and Galactic Tank Force; sustained by parent company Ametron's contract manufacturing work; Cuphead in development
Discussed as potential manufacturing partner with available building capacity; known for good product output but licensing gaps
Pinball manufacturer; will display Barrio's BBQ Challenge at TPF; subject of discussion about dealer-manufacturer tension with Dennis.
Manufacturer heavily criticized for Barry O's Barbecue Challenge; abandoned GTF to focus on Barbecue
Pinball manufacturer; Craig's grievance target; criticized for not yet showing their best work; associated with Galactic Tank Force
Pinball manufacturer; rumored to have Masters of the Universe license; previously released Galactic Tank Force, Legends of Valhalla, Houdini
Pinball manufacturer at center of dispute; subject of acquisition rumors; alleged to have engaged in selective media strategy
Manufacturer led by David Fitts; critical subject of rant regarding Galactic Tank Force Deluxe order fulfillment failure with Flippin' Out; committed to original IP themes
Manufacturer that lost the He-Man/Masters of the Universe pinball license
Company in crisis; Cuphead never released; Casey (programmer) departed to Spooky Pinball
Manufacturer of Galactic Tank Force. Subject of implicit criticism for poor launch, cheap component sourcing, weak LED integration, and design decisions. Also mentioned as using thin stand-ups in cabinet design (per 'Joe Balser design').
Under new ownership; expected to announce new game and designer by year-end; positioned as rising competitor.
Boutique pinball manufacturer struggling with operational execution; now operating Funds Up Manufacturing subsidiary for contract manufacturing work
Boutique manufacturer; Barbecue Classic ranks #36 (worst-selling); Mandalorian in mid-rankings
Rumored to release Cuphead in November with uncertain market crossover potential
Modern pinball manufacturer; produces games primarily for home sale rather than vending locations
Pinball dealer located in West Chicago, Illinois; owned by Mike; operates showroom with multiple demo machines; new-in-box prices competitive but used prices noted as higher than competitors; good for local Chicago area customers
Manufacturer; Cuphead in development; struggling with financial recovery from previous title failures
Referenced as funded by Ametron (external investor); contrasted with Haggis's pre-order model
Pinball manufacturer producing original IP titles including Perio's Barbecue Challenge, Houdini, Legends of Valhalla, Hot Wheels, Oktoberfest, Galactic Tank Force
Manufacturer of Galactic Tank Force and rumored He-Man license; discussed re: unboxing delays and He-Man rumors
Criticized for Galactic Tank Force magnet deterioration defects and inadequate quality control testing
Boutique manufacturer; struggling sales; shipping Galactic Tank Force very slowly (6 units in reported week)
Manufacturer of Galactic Tank Force; described as a 'dark horse' with uncertain market reception
Current employer of Stephen Bowden; manufactures Valhalla, Hot Wheels, Oktoberfest, and Houdini; currently in production and ramping up titles
Mentioned as Zombie Yeti American Pinball, which emerged as positive outcome from Deep Root collapse
Backed by large parent company; shipping games with discounts available; described as less impressive but stable; has games in boxes waiting at factory
Boutique pinball manufacturer founded with Joe Balser as operational lead. Released Houdini (2017), Oktoberfest, Hot Wheels, and Legends of Alhawa. Known for lean operations and efficient manufacturing. Appears to have faced licensing challenges and financial constraints.
Manufacturer of Galactic Arcade Tank Force; machines on display at Interium arcade in Schaumburg
Referenced for integrated light bar design approach
Manufacturer of Galactic Tank Force; criticized for secretiveness, production delays, unclear delivery status on premium editions; Don dismisses as effectively dead product
Manufacturer; Galactic Tank Force Galaxy/Signature Edition with $6,000+ premium for extras (thermos, banner, 3D Translight)
Pinball manufacturer; Galactic Tank Force underperforming in secondary market; Masters of the Universe rumored as upcoming title
Pinball manufacturer with multiple games in development (4–5 titles); bringing Galactic Arcade Tank Force cast to Expo; employs programmer Joe Schober; has ties to Expo organizers
Competitor manufacturer; mentioned as more transparent than CGC
Boutique manufacturer; produced Galactic Tank Force with tank turret made from stacked pop bumper caps; criticized for marketing strategy
Boutique manufacturer; released Galactic Tank Force (game 6, with art by Christopher Frenchy); rumors of video game licenses in pipeline
Pinball manufacturer; bringing Houdini to Midwest Gaming Classic
Pinball manufacturer; Jessica DiNardo works as graphics artist
Boutique manufacturer; possible reveal at Expo (speculated)
Pinball manufacturer; produced Galactic Arcade Tank Force and other recent titles.
Domestic US manufacturer of Galactic Tank Force; criticisms focus on Signature Edition pricing ($6,000 premium) and bundled merchandise value
Manufacturer praised for including standard upgrades (art blades, playfield lights) in base model pricing; Galactic Tank Force cited as example of value proposition
Pinball manufacturer behind Galactic Tank Force; experiencing apparent production/distribution constraints
Manufacturer of Galactic Tank Force; criticized for radio silence on production timelines, fix status, and lack of CEO visibility; Don expresses loss of confidence in purchasing from them
Producing Galactic Tank Force limited edition; units trickling out with some assembly concerns
Manufacturer of Houdini Master of Mystery; boutique pinball manufacturer
Pinball manufacturer with forthcoming Houdini machine; donated extensive merchandise and translight
Manufacturer of Legends Arcade of Valhalla
Pinball manufacturer contributing to modern industry resurgence
Manufacturer of Hot Wheels and other titles discussed as best American pinball game to date
Pinball manufacturer; next announced game is Oktoberfest
Manufacturer producing Hot Wheels (~1,000 units), recently signed Sonic the Hedgehog designer
Confirmed Oktoberfest as next game release.
Announced homebrew competition with production deal for winning machines
Pinball manufacturer; represented at show through Cointaker distributor partnership
Chicago-area pinball manufacturer facing existential questions about profitability, production capacity, and leadership competence; subject of acquisition rumors via parent company Ametron
Pinball manufacturer; brought Galactic Tank Force to TPF
Manufacturer; announced Legends of Valhalla (Oct 2021); shipped no new games in 2022; cabinet redesign by Dennis Norman blamed for vendor delays
Pinball manufacturer; machines restricted from TwitchCon convention center per Twitch policy
Had best year of any manufacturer in 2021 by successfully launching Legends of Valhalla (original IP); sold 500 units through to distributors immediately; working on next original title
Manufacturer of GTF and Valhalla; criticized for dismissive bug report responses and unreliable code; GTF experiencing multiple documented software issues
Established manufacturer; mentioned as one of quality options alongside Stern, JJP, Spooky
Pinball manufacturer; completely stopped production in April 2020; produces approximately 100 games per year
Manufacturer of Galactic Tank Force; early serial number registration issues; support challenges for early units
Manufacturer of Hot Wheels pinball machine; known for non-traditional themes like Oktoberfest and Houdini
Pinball manufacturer; upcoming game is Hot Wheels; hosts criticize both the theme choice and business model
Pinball manufacturer; struggling with production; Galactic Tank Force release facing shipping delays
Referenced for Hot Wheels licensing strategy comparison
Boutique pinball manufacturer; Galactic Tank Force at Allentown Pinfest 2023
Pinball manufacturer; recently hired Barry Osler; working on two games to honor his legacy following his death
Pinball manufacturer; expected to release one game in 12 months (Houdini) via Dennis Nordman
Boutique manufacturer; criticized for marketing failures; new Dennis Nordman game in custom tank-shaped cabinet delayed past Expo reveal
Boutique manufacturer experiencing personnel changes; recently hired Ryan McQuaid but lost Sonic license to Stern
Boutique pinball manufacturer; criticized for slow customer service response times
Boutique manufacturer; Galactic Tank Force (GTF) in production; next game expected in 2024
Manufacturer of Oktoberfest; had booth at MGC; criticized for artwork quality and game flow
Pinball manufacturer; released teaser for Galactic Tank Force the day after Stern's Foo Fighters announcement
Pinball manufacturer; Barry Engler recently shifted roles to Senior Production Manager
Announcing Galactic Tank Force (GTF!) as their fifth game with innovative tank-themed cabinet design
Manufacturer with upcoming catalog changes; team appearing at Midwest Gaming Classic and on Dead Flip stream
Pinball manufacturer; rumored to have He-Man and the Masters of the Universe license
Active pinball manufacturer; recently announced Hot Wheels game in production
Pinball manufacturer; producing Legends of Valhalla (500 Deluxe units) and Space Shuttle; hiring Christopher Franchi for artwork
Manufacturer with personnel changes; Dennis Nordman transitioning from full-time to consultant; developing Cuphead with designer Ryan McQuaid targeting Chicago Pinball Expo
Emerging manufacturer; six games in development pipeline; expanding to support wide-body titles alongside standard games
Smaller manufacturer expected to release Cuphead game at end of week with no prior marketing lead-up
Pinball manufacturer; referenced as industry standard for reveal video quality and game expectations
Mentioned as boutique manufacturer in broader industry discussion; implied to have licensing-based strategy
Pinball manufacturer owned by Aintron, based in Palatine Illinois; subject of sale rumors, criticized for poor design decisions and market performance
Pinball manufacturer reportedly in financial trouble; needs to sell 300 Galactic Tank Forces by January 1st or may cease operations
Manufacturer of Cuphead pinball, Dave Fix is associated with company and mentioned regarding media tour strategy
Pinball manufacturer producing Galactic Tank Force (upcoming), Beer Fest/Oktoberfest; known for build quality; recently brought on David Fix
Manufacturer with Cuphead game in development, discussed as entering the race to launch
Pinball manufacturer; Orbital Albert expressed strong hope Potter license would not go to this company
Distributed or leaked the Batman 66 flyer on Pinside, revealing official game details prematurely.
New pinball manufacturer announcing Houdini game, based in Chicago area, using former Williams designers
Boutique pinball manufacturer based in East Palatine, Illinois; planning to release Circus Voltaire remake; has new leadership.
Pinball manufacturer with Hot Wheels game revealed at AMOA show; predicted by hosts to potentially fail during COVID economic collapse
Struggling manufacturer; Kaneda predicts Cuphead is final machine; expects company to fold after
Struggling manufacturer; recently fired multiple staff including Steve Bowden and Ryan McQuaid; Kaneda attributes struggles to poor strategic choices and theme selection
Manufacturer of Hot Wheels, Houdini, Oktoberfest, and other recent titles; subject of praise and criticism in episode
Pinball manufacturer that adopted P-Rock control system; founded around Josh Kugler's Houdini machine concept
Chicago-area manufacturer facing repeated criticism for failed products (GTF, Barbecue Challenge), leadership dysfunction, lack of accountability, and inventory clearance efforts
Pinball manufacturer; Cuphead title inventory not moving according to Kaneda
Manufacturer of Barry O's Barbecue; benefited from tournament exposure and Alex Lambert's high-profile win
Pinball manufacturer mentioned as hiring podcast/media talent for brand ambassador roles
Manufacturer of Hot Wheels; earning 10x more than Guns N' Roses at Tommy Skinner's location during same period
Pinball manufacturer; recently released Berrio's Barbecue Challenge; rumored to be developing Cuphead or He-Man next
Reportedly not dead; Cuphead promised for July; bad blood with community; customers report significant losses; confidence in company viability low
Content creator producing pinball machine unboxing videos
Referenced as company putting old inventory on sale; implied as example of industry inventory overstock problem
Boutique manufacturer producing original-themed games; cited as example of successful small-run production model
Listed as under pressure to survive in 2024; Kaneda predicts significant shakeout
Boutique manufacturer criticized for aggressive $6,000 LE premium on Galactic Tank Force; headed by David Fix
Smaller manufacturer; struggling with Galactic Tank Force; predicted to be vulnerable/potentially close in 2024
Manufacturer of Galactic Tank Force; heavily criticized for 3D-printed parts, air ball issues, and three-year development failure; identified as crew willing to do post-launch podcast appearances
Manufacturer of Galactic Tank Force and Magic Girl; struggling with manufacturing and engineering; five titles without major commercial success
Pinball manufacturer, discussed for Hot Wheels game
Stern distributor that released early Batman 66 gameplay video before official reveal; received Super LE unit
Pinball manufacturer; company representative(s) expected at Pintastic 2021 (unspecified who)
Mentioned as company Mueller attempted to launch (per host speculation about money laundering)
Pinball manufacturer with titles Dial-In, Houdini, Alien Pinball; featured at Northwest Pinball Show
Boutique manufacturer; released Houdini at $5k; rumored to be developing Oktoberfest next
Pinball manufacturer under new ownership by Brian Vincent's family company; appointed Melvin Brown Williams as creative director; working on reimagined Williams titles licensed from Planetary Pinball; actively hiring staff
Boutique manufacturer. Struggling to sell Galactic Tank Force inventory (500 units reported). Rumored to have He-Man license.
Manufacturer of Galactic Tank Force (goal 300 units by year-end), backed by Mukesh and Ametron, with rumored He-Man and Cuphead titles; Kaneda assesses company as potentially closing
Manufacturer struggling with Galactic Tank Force sales; criticized for unclear production numbers and lack of licensed IP strategy
Boutique manufacturer; struggling with Galactic Tank Force sales; subject of failure prediction by Kaneda due to poor design and management
Expected to reveal Oktoberfest at Pinball Expo; positioned as competitor to Stern's Deadpool release timing
Pinball manufacturer; experiencing leadership transition with David Fix's departure; has unreleased game in Q1/Q2 2025 pipeline; operating with skeleton crew
Not bringing new game to MGC; ruled out as imminent release candidate; Don notes they have 'other issues'
Boutique manufacturer with unreleased game that Don has played and praised; Ryan McQuade (designer) appeared in distributor webinar; under NDA status limits specifics
Manufacturer Don has visited multiple times
Boutique manufacturer; had Masters of the Universe license; lost it due to missed payment/deadline
Manufacturer with new game launching in spring; rumored to be based on video game franchise
Boutique manufacturer that produced Cuphead; did not renew Cuphead license; Kaneda suggests Kingpin would have been more successful than Cuphead.
Pinball manufacturer; expected to have game at TPF 2024
Boutique manufacturer; discussed as example of uncertain assembly line efficiency
Manufacturer producing Galactic Tank Force; criticized for early game reveal and lack of production line communication
Smaller manufacturer facing competitive pressure from James Bond release
Mentioned as a manufacturer that should focus on fun interactive toys in games
Manufacturer of Galactic Tank Force; questioned production capacity and timing; game expected to have slow sales burn
Boutique manufacturer; new space/tank-themed game by Dennis Nordman and Christopher Franchi; unique folding tank cabinet; seeking major moment at TPF
Manufacturer of Houdini, Oktoberfest, and other titles; Kaneda suggests re-releasing and re-skinning older games in new cabinet design
Boutique manufacturer; Dennis Nordman developing tank-themed original IP game with Christopher Franchi artwork
Upcoming game is 1950s sci-fi themed 'Galactic Space Force' with designers Christopher Franchi and Dennis Norman
Competitor; criticized for delaying Space Force release and losing first-mover advantage
Emerging pinball manufacturer with upcoming original IP game; positioned to capitalize on JJP weakness; David Fix associated with company; timing critical for fall 2022 market
Pinball manufacturer; referenced for upcoming releases including Jurassic Park Premium
Pinball manufacturer; recent factory reveal; Kaneda claims barbecue-themed game is not selling well
Manufacturer that lost $350,000 bailing out J-Pop by manufacturing Magic Girl boards; pivotal figure in Zidware collapse narrative
Manufacturer struggling with leadership; fired Maurice (customer service) instead of David Fix; criticized for terrible art design and IP strategy; games include Oktoberfest, Houdini, Hot Wheels, Legends of Valhalla, Tank Force
Manufacturer of Barbecue Challenge; rumored to have Masters of the Universe/He-Man license
Struggling manufacturer with Legends of Valhalla, Galactic Tank Force, and Barry O's Barbecue Challenge; declared 'game over'
Boutique manufacturer known for Galactic Arcade Tank Force, Munsters, and other IP-based games; criticized for mid-campaign marketing strategy changes and premature game reveals; David Fix is leader
Struggling manufacturer attempting fire sales; Kaneda declares 'game over' status; Barbecue Adventure not discounted despite broader promotional efforts
Manufacturer; released Barry O's Barbecue Challenge; Kaneda reports negative reception and poor sales outlook; owned by Mukesh (implied)
Smaller boutique pinball manufacturer; contrasted with Stern for more personable distributor communications
Questioned for releasing Galactic Tank Force without confirmed demand; machine depreciated from ~$11k to $7.5k in one year, illustrating poor demand assessment.
Boutique pinball manufacturer; primary target of Kaneda's critique; games include Houdini, Oktoberfest, Hot Wheels, Legends of Valhalla, Tank Force, Barry's Barbecue Challenge
Boutique pinball manufacturer; Kaneda describes as 'running on fumes' with bad creative leadership under David Fix; Burro's Barbecue Challenge game getting no attention; Cuphead and Ryan McQuade games in jeopardy
Boutique manufacturer; Kaneda predicts company is effectively dead; criticizes upcoming Cuphead as dead-on-arrival
Manufacturer in decline; Barrio BBQ Challenge game universally panned; Kaneda predicts company will go away; criticized for using other people's money
Boutique manufacturer owned by David Fix; produces games like Cuphead, Hot Wheels, Star Wars: The Mandalorian; harshly criticized for poor theme selection and lack of market research
Manufacturer; criticized for 6 years of market study resulting in 'colossal disaster' game releases with no sales traction; described as lacking accountability and making continued poor decisions
Manufacturer; context suggests competitive landscape and theme licensing environment
Referenced as example of manufacturer brand positioning and customer experience standards
Manufacturer credited with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland; smaller manufacturer focused on special interest themes
Mentioned as company in operation in Dubois, Pennsylvania; now acquired by Multimorphic parent per KB
Boutique manufacturer; next game rumored to be Cuphead or He-Man; planning Expo reveal
Manufacturer; Cuphead in production; Kaneda criticizes marketing and calls for leadership change
Pinball manufacturer; rumored to develop Pokemon; Kaneda questions pricing strategy and target demographic.
Cuphead promised but not delivering; linked to Ametron public market ambitions in India; described as deprioritizing pinball
Defunct manufacturer. Did not renew trademarks for company name or game IPs (Cuphead, others). Described as finally 'done.'
Manufacturer holding open house on vacation date mentioned; not visited by Ryan Kuyper
Pinball manufacturer; expected to release new game in March window
Boutique manufacturer backed by McKession's company; designing Galactic Tank Force (original IP); rerunning Houdini; missing home-run licensed themes; marketing challenges vs. Stern.
Manufacturer of Galactic Tank Force; released confusing teaser/gameplay video that drew host's critique
Manufacturer of Houdini; uses larger LCD displays than Stern
Held open house over weekend with brats, beer, and Oktoberfest playable; operates large manufacturing facility; rumors of potential contract manufacturing; discussed as potential partner/merger candidate with Spooky
Pinball manufacturer; mentioned as part of industry-wide pricing increase trend
Manufacturer producing Houdini with design tweaks based on seminar feedback; emphasizing operator-friendly features
Pinball manufacturer working on boutique game lineup; recently gave interview to Pinball Magazine about roadmap
Planning to release two games in 2024, with Legends of Valhalla expected first
Pinball manufacturer; provided factory tour during Chicago Pinball Expo; recently hired Steve Bowden; working on Legends of Valhalla
Boutique manufacturer; machines criticized as heavily debated/argued about by people who haven't played them
Struggling boutique manufacturer; Cuphead in coding phase; Kaneda predicts company may shift to contract manufacturing after Cuphead
Mentioned in context of Kaneda's personal affordability constraints; produces $15k+ machines
Boutique manufacturer mentioned in broader context of industry pricing and theme selection failures
Cuphead title stuck in development limbo; four years under new leadership with limited momentum; needs major hit
Manufacturer; criticized for lack of visible game unboxings and unclear production volume
Manufacturer of Houdini; Ron suggests caution but sees promising people and direction
Smaller manufacturer transitioning to contract manufacturing after losing Ryan McQuaid; developing Cuphead
Pinball manufacturer; developing Barbecue-themed game; criticized for poor game design and leadership; considering sale according to rumors
Recently acquired; first game under new ownership rumored to be Cirqus Voltaire remake
Pinball manufacturer; recently shipped Houdini two days ahead of deadline
Pinball manufacturer producing Legends of Valhalla, consistently praised by hosts for game quality
Manufacturer of Galactic Tank Force, confirmed March 2026 release with art by Christopher Franchi
Modern pinball manufacturer, Dave Brennan served as service manager for two years
Boutique pinball manufacturer criticized for lack of community trust, poor track record, and benefiting only from competitor inventory shortages
Manufacturer with representative who invited Don to visit facility in Austria; created wooden beer opener promotional item
Target of satire for art quality; mentioned as developing Hot Wheels game
Pinball manufacturer; uses Bader as playfield manufacturer (same as Spooky Pinball)
Pinball manufacturer; Don previously mentioned wanting manufacturer access similar to Stern
Boutique pinball manufacturer; working on Cuphead game with staff reportedly working unpaid/underpaid; struggling financially per Ian's remarks
Boutique pinball manufacturer; rumored to bring next title to Texas Pinball Festival; Kaneda critical of recent releases
Boutique manufacturer criticized for 3-year development of Galactic Arcade Tank Force with minimal mechanical innovation; owns Pinball Factory workshop
Manufacturer of Magic Girl; criticized for marketing department decisions and promoting troubled machine; history of burning customers financially per Kaneda
Pinball manufacturer mentioned in Mad Pinball distribution portfolio.
Manufacturer that lost He-Man license; rumored to have Ryan McQuaid working on Altered Beast
Pinball manufacturer with upcoming game release; in tentative talks with Nudge for collaborative Budge the Nudge event
Manufacturer; Galactic Arcade Tank Force game underperforming; LEs still available; signature edition at $17,500; Kaneda assesses as 'whiffed'
Boutique manufacturer; Kaneda predicts is in greatest jeopardy of collapse due to lack of hit games after 4-5 releases; Galactic Arcade Tank Force order uncertainty mentioned
[Triage: American Pinball's quality and design execution improved over time, with early games receiving criticism while later titles like Hot Wheels (2023) demonstrated capable production and good design.]
[Triage: The company's branding strategy changed after the January 2026 acquisition, with an initial plan to transition to Orbit Games reversed in favor of retaining the American Pinball brand.]
[Triage: American Pinball's status changed from defunct/non-operational in 2025 to actively operating under new ownership as of January 2026, representing a legitimate business revival rather than conflicting information about the same period.]