Collector Dan Howard presents rare Gemini recreation and original Star Wars homebrew at GSPF 2026.
Summary
Dan Howard (Board Dog) showcases two custom homebrew pinball machines at Golden State Pinball Festival 2026: a Mission Pinball Framework-controlled recreation of the rare 1978 Gottlieb Gemini using P3-Rock controller, and an original Star Wars design inspired by 1970s Gottlieb aesthetics running on Cobra Pin hardware. Both machines feature electromechanical elements, chime-based audio, and demonstrate Howard's philosophy of designing games that blend modern control systems with classic mechanical and artistic approaches. Howard is actively developing additional games including Highlander (1985 theme) and Descent (1995 video game theme), all styled after Gottlieb eras.
Key Claims
Gemini was made in quantities of 300 units, originally released in 1978 as an Ed Krinsky design
high confidence · Dan Howard discussing Gemini specifications at GSPF 2026
Gemini playfield reproduction was completed in approximately two weeks before the show
high confidence · Dan Howard stating 'this is 2 weeks old literally got this together two weeks ago'
Gemini playfield uses Mission Pinball Framework and P3-Rock controller board
high confidence · Dan Howard explaining Gemini's control system at GSPF 2026
Star Wars game was originally designed in virtual pinball approximately 10 years ago
high confidence · Dan Howard: 'I designed it in virtual pinball like 10 years ago'
Star Wars physical machine took approximately 6 months to build, with software development spanning several years
high confidence · Dan Howard discussing Star Wars build timeline at GSPF 2026
Star Wars uses Cobra Pin hardware controller with custom extra driver add-on board
high confidence · Dan Howard explaining Star Wars hardware setup
Dan Howard holds a Computer Science degree from 1986 that he never used professionally, instead becoming a hydrogeologist
high confidence · Dan Howard biographical statement during interview
Howard is developing at least three additional games, including Highlander (1985 themed) and Descent (1995 video game themed), all styled as Gottlieb games
high confidence · Dan Howard: 'I'm working on at least three more. Oh, you are all God leaves? I'm just curious. Oh, actually, yeah.'
Mission Pinball Framework is written in Python and is one of the most accessible programming languages for beginners
high confidence · Interview discussion of MPF coding accessibility
Notable Quotes
“This is a game I've always just loved. I've never played a real one. I did a recreation of it in virtual pinball BBX. And played the heck out of that and managed to acquire parts to be able to build one.”
Dan Howard@ 0:58 — Explains Howard's motivation for Gemini recreation—combining passion for the game with practical acquisition of parts
“I programmed all of that in so that's rad. That's so cool. So this is basically like a almost like a preservation technique, you know, to kind of rebuild a 70s game with with a lot of modern games, but make it behave like a like an old one.”
Host@ 6:48 — Identifies the broader cultural/technical significance of Howard's approach as preservation and historical recreation
“I designed it to be like a Godly. If God had gotten the Marvel Star Wars license in 78 instead of Spider-Man and Hulk, if they had gotten Star Wars, this artwork is all the Marvel comics artwork from the 78 comics.”
Dan Howard@ 15:10 — Articulates the core design philosophy: a counterfactual Gottlieb Star Wars game using period-authentic Marvel comic artwork
“I have a computer science degree from 1986 that I never used. Oh, okay. All right. Became a hydro geologist and moved off different ways.”
Dan Howard@ 19:01 — Personal background explaining how he came to pinball design and coding despite non-technical career
“Cobra Pin is based on Open Pinball Project, okay, which was designed to be a lowcost thing. Now, it's one guy out of his garage designing and doing this.”
Dan Howard@ 20:39 — Provides insight into Cobra Pin ecosystem and manufacturing model—garage operation by single developer
design_philosophy: Dan Howard explicitly designs custom pinball machines to emulate Gottlieb-era design language, mechanics, and aesthetics from 1970s-1980s. This philosophy spans all his projects (Gemini recreation, Star Wars original design, Highlander, Descent) and influences flipper types, mechanical choices, playfield layouts, artwork sourcing, and chime audio.
high · Howard: 'I designed it to be like a Godly. If God had gotten the Marvel Star Wars license in 78 instead of Spider-Man and Hulk... I like kind of rare games... It's part of why I wanted this game... they're all going to be styled like god leaves.'
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design_innovation: Howard demonstrates innovative hybrid approach: electromechanical playfield components and authentic EM aesthetics paired with modern software control (Mission Pinball Framework, P3-Rock, Cobra Pin) to enable complex rule logic, code-based emulation of EM nuances, and precise behavior replication of vintage machines.
high · Gemini uses Mission Pinball Framework/P3-Rock to control original EM mechanisms including score reels, chime units, and score motor. Howard programmed EM-specific behaviors like 'if you hit two drop targets as one, you'll only get credit for one.'
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technology_signal: Cobra Pin presented as low-cost, single-developer garage hardware alternative to established platforms (P3-Rock, Fast Pinball). Positioned for hobbyists seeking affordable entry point despite less corporate support infrastructure.
high · Howard: 'Cobra Pin is based on Open Pinball Project... which was designed to be a lowcost thing. Now, it's one guy out of his garage designing and doing this. So, the support and everything behind it isn't quite as big as P3 Rock or Fast... but the cost isn't anywhere near as big either.'
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community_signal: Homebrew pinball community actively exhibits custom machines at regional pinball festivals (GSPF 2026, Northwest Pinball Show). These shows serve as both social gatherings and public showcase venues for independent builders, fostering community engagement and peer recognition.
All right, folks. Uh, I'm here at the Golden State Pinball Festival 2026. I'm here with a gentleman that have two absolutely stunning games here. Uh, and I'm going to start uh with the with the God's Gemini, and you're going to hear the story about that. It's crazy. And then we have a Star Wars we're going to get to a little bit later. So, uh, who are you and uh, welcome to the channel. >> Thanks. Um, my name is Dan Howard. I go
All right. All right. Now, now it rings a bell. Okay. that that that name I'm I recognize. >> All right, there you go.
Star Wars game features custom-length chime bars to extend from 3 to 6 chimes for playing Imperial March melody
high confidence · Dan Howard explaining chime modifications: 'I made some custom length chime bars to give me one lower and two higher notes'
“It's just Star Wars. It's totally based on Star Wars the movie. Yeah. There there's no in my world, A New Hope as a subtitle does not exist. No. There were three Star Wars movies made.”
Dan Howard@ 22:24 — Expresses 1970s purism—Howard's design philosophy centered on original trilogy era only, rejecting later retconning
“I originally had three and I could play the first two measures. And I decided and I looked at the next couple measures and I go, 'What do I need? I need three more notes.' So I made some custom length chime bars to give me one lower and two higher notes.”
Dan Howard@ 30:17 — Demonstrates iterative problem-solving and commitment to detail—custom fabrication to achieve specific audio/musical goals
“I'm just curious. Oh, actually, yeah. Yeah, they're all going to be styled like god leaves. Yeah. I'm actually going to put the godly system 3 flippers on the next one.”
Dan Howard@ 31:39 — Confirms Howard's design philosophy is consistently Gottlieb-inspired across all future projects, with specific mechanical choices
“I kind of use themes that exist. Yeah. as opposed to an original theme. Mainly because it gives me artwork, sometimes gives me sound.”
Dan Howard@ 32:06 — Explains practical constraint: licensed themes provide source art and audio assets that simplify development
“I'm retired. I have to have hobbies. Yeah. I mean the thing is you I see I see the future myself in you, right? Because I want to do this as well.”
Host / Dan Howard@ 33:24 — Reveals Howard's retirement status enables full-time hobbyist development; host sees himself in similar trajectory
high · Howard brought two custom games to GSPF 2026 for first time attendance, plans to exhibit both at Northwest Pinball Show in 3 weeks. Motivated to share with 'homebrew guys' and broader community.
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product_strategy: Howard consciously selects licensed IP themes (Highlander 1985, Descent 1995) over original themes to leverage existing artwork and audio assets, reducing design burden and accelerating development. Themes chosen to match specific game eras for aesthetic coherence.
high · Howard: 'I kind of use themes that exist... as opposed to an original theme. Mainly because it gives me artwork, sometimes gives me sound.' Highlander chosen for 1985 alpha-numeric era theme, Descent for 1995 fake DMD era.
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manufacturing_signal: Playfield reproduction for Gemini completed in ~2 weeks (artwork scanning, Photoshop restoration, CNC work, direct printing/clear coating). Star Wars physical build took ~6 months of fabrication after 10+ years of VPX design and several years of software development. Timelines suggest distributed labor and iterative approach.
high · Howard: 'this is 2 weeks old literally got this together two weeks ago... Physically building it was maybe 6 months... The MPF part of it was over several years.'
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gameplay_signal: Star Wars demonstrates design principle balancing accessible core mechanics with substantial rule depth: simple playfield layout but 7 distinct multiball modes, mission structure, lock stealing, skill shot, Greedo hurry-up, and ball save logic. EM-inspired but beyond period-authentic complexity.
high · Howard: 'simple layout doesn't mean simple rules... There's seven different multiballs... So there's a lot going on... if you drain out the right out lane, it lights the left one for extra ball... if you get to ball three and you haven't lit a lock, it lights one of the outlines for extra ball.'
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restoration_signal: Gemini playfield art sourced from new-old-stock original, scanned, digitally restored via Photoshop (removing pluck marks), then direct-printed and UV clear-coated. Demonstrates modern digital restoration techniques applied to preserve/reproduce period-accurate artwork while exceeding original condition.
high · Howard: 'I bought I got a new old stock playfield... And I scanned that... the playfield I got is pretty heavily plked and wouldn't be good in a playfield in a game... he touched it all up, fixed everything... This is direct printed, clear coated... it looks fantastic.'
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collector_signal: Gemini positioned as high-value grail machine (original estimates ~$10,000 on PinSide, rare with only 300 units produced). Howard's reproduction targets accessibility to rare game experience and preservation of hard-to-find title.
high · Host: 'on pinside pricing is currently like $10,000... I can't imagine how much this game would sell for because it looks absolutely brand new... it looks like original... This is This is the whole This is one of those grail games, right?'
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content_signal: YouTube long-form interview content capturing detailed technical discussions and gameplay demonstrations of homebrew machines. Positioned as educational media for community (mechanics, code, hardware choices, design philosophy) and entertainment.
high · Video is titled 'Off the LDB: Gemini & Star Wars with Dan Howard' recorded at GSPF 2026, structured as conversational interviews with gameplay footage and detailed technical walk-throughs.
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operational_signal: Homebrew game transport to distant shows presents significant logistical challenge (cannot fit overhead, requires plane travel and ground logistics). Limits participation to regional shows; major venues like Pinball Expo in Chicago geographically/logistically prohibitive for individual builders.
medium · Howard: 'Maybe Rocky Mountain, but it's a trek to get to Chicago... Yeah. To bring a game anyway... it's just like it's logistics. You can't really put this in a in overhead pin, right?'
and I brought these two games down to to share cuz it's kind of fun to do and get together with the homebrew guys. >> Yeah. And uh so Gemini is just this is a
Yeah. And uh so Gemini is just this is a game I've always just loved. I've never played a real one. I did a recreation of it in virtual pinball BBX. All right. And played the heck out of that. and managed to acquire parts to be able to build one. So, I built this playfield. This is a a reproduction playfield. >> Yeah. And I I do own an original
Yeah. And for the folks uh seeing this game and wondering what the hell is that? And that is because this is a they made 300 of these. >> 300. Yeah. So, it's an Ed Krinsky
$10,000 for an EM. And and like I wouldn't I can't imagine how much this game would sell for because it looks absolutely brand new. like the back glass you were able to source like it looks like original there's one mark on it in the lower right corner by >> yeah I did I didn't see that
all right so you mentioned code so it's not electromechanical or it is it's kind of a hybrid Oh, it is. So, it's controlled by Mission Pinball Framework. All right. Um P3 Rock is the controller board set. Oh, wow. Um that runs it all. So, you can see it's got an attract. There's no attracts in EM. >> Oh, that's right. That's trippy. Yeah.
Oh, that's right. That's trippy. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But it is made with EM all the EM mechanicals, the score reels. I actually have the player unit in the back box >> and I tried to emulate in code firing
that's one of the cool things with EMS, I think, is just hearing the the everything kind of spinning and, you know, when you rip a spinner or when you get like a big special, you know, get a 10,000 point kind of score, the whole machine kind of, you know, rattles, right? >> It's got an original God leap chime
Further down the line. But the the first goal was to get it working as original. Yeah. Yeah. That's that's really rad. And I guess uh like some of those uh weird Spanish games, they have like score reels, but they have solid state sound, right? >> Yeah. So you you could be able to do
Yeah. That that's the that's the upside of designing your own games. You kind of set the rules of what you want to do, right? >> Yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely. So,
so and uh how did you uh get the artwork because that is something that you've edited yourself or did you had an artist kind of you know >> created? I bought I got a new old stock
that is better at Photoshop and all that. So, the playfield I got is pretty heavily plked and wouldn't be good in a playfield in a game. >> Okay. Gotcha. Um, so he touched it all
Okay. Gotcha. Um, so he touched it all up, fixed everything, got it all working pretty. This is direct printed, clear coated. Yeah, it looks fantastic. So I did the CNC work and then had somebody else do the hard work on it. >> Oh, yeah.
Yeah, it looks it looks very legit, like proper, you know, this this is how they made the games back in the 70s, right? So >> yeah, it's just awesome. It's part of
That's crazy. Let me see if I can get some of that sound in back there. like like most of the games of the era, it's not really complicated. >> It's, you know, bonus driven.
Yeah. Almost. It is. Yeah. So when they're lit, when you hit one of the drop targets is what? 1,000 plus 1,000 for each red star. So it starts the score motor, gives you a th00and, then it checks. If that one's lit, it gives you a,000. If that one's lit, that So you can get up to 5,000 on the drop targets. >> Oh
And I did program in the EM nuances to where if you hit two drop targets as one, you'll only get credit for one. >> Oh wow. So basically if the score motor
They can't score anything else. I programmed all of that in so that's rad. That's so cool. So this is basically like a almost like a preservation technique, you know, to kind of rebuild a a 70s game with with a lot of modern games, but make it behave like a like an old one. >> Yeah.
Although it's set up a lot steeper than God would have back then. Oh yeah, it definitely it doesn't feel very floaty. Let's just put it that way. >> Yeah,
I actually de-tuned it. The flippers and the pops and the slings were way too strong when I first put it together. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You don't want
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You don't want to I mean, when you do that on the old games, it's usually you get cracked plastics and stuff like that. >> You don't want that.
Oh, it's three ball. Yeah. We're at the pinball show. People want to get moving. There's not a lot of difference between three ball and five ball in the rules wise. Oops. Um the only thing is the pop bumpers on three ball would normally score a,000 points. On five ball they score 100. Okay. I actually have them set for 100 on three ball. >> Okay.
All right, let's see the backhand there. Look at that. Beautiful. Yeah, this is turning into something. Oh, look at that. Now, this is special. drop targets, right? Bonus multiplier. >> Bonus multiplier. I got the special.
Yeah, this looks like an absolute uh dream for any everything like the the playful is like glass, right? So So what what clear coat there did you did you see? This a UV clear coat printed UV clear coat. >> Okay, there's a custom
Okay, there's a custom Clear coat looks absolutely fantastic. So trippy with all the little faces. Like this 70s vibe here is just absolutely gorgeous. Look at all that hair going down there. Yeah, this is the back glass is just absolutely stunning.
And did you do the cap paint as well because that you know See the See the details here. It has that, you know. >> So, I recreated I recreated the stencils
All right. So, the next game here we're going to check out is uh I'm just going to do it like that so we can see the game. So, this is uh so we can just hang around here. Um so, this is an old custom EM game or >> custom. I did the design originally in
Okay. And then uh just last year I made the real version of it. So it's my my full design, full coating, built the cabinet, did the stencils, everything on it. So the artwork is all from Marvel comics from 78. >> Oh, okay. Gotcha. Yeah. It kind of looks
the new ones are made out. I made this to be light. All right. Awesome. This chain looks so sick. It really has that, you know, 80s Star Wars comics vibe to it and has a lot of gothle elements to it. So, let's let me see if I can get the b the borg dog. Yeah, there we go. >> All right. So, so so what are we looking
Gotcha. And I didn't design it with the intention of building a real one. Mhm. But it evolved into that as I got more into into real pinballs. So, you can get both. There's two different versions of virtual of this on BP Universe. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> This one is kind of advanced beyond
This one is kind of advanced beyond those. Has a lot more. So there's like seven different multiballs. Seven different multiballs. And >> there's there's four main ones and then
Oh And stuff like that. So there's a lot going on that that it doesn't it I designed it to be like a Godly. If God had gotten the Marvel Star Wars license Mhm. in 78 instead of Spider-Man and Hulk, if they had gotten Star Wars, >> this artwork is all the Marvel comics
Yeah, I had several comic Star Wars comic books and they look exactly like like these. Yeah. So, this highly inspired by a lot of Got Leaf games. Yeah. Um I I have features like Alien Star, the right in lane lights the spinner for ripping. Ah, gotcha. Things like that. The one reel slinging the one dummy one on the right that's in a lot of God leaf games. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So again, you know, God leaf flippers. It's mostly all God mechs all the way to go spinner godly pops. Yeah. They're godleaf styled, but it's actually day to east pops. >> Okay. that are the one unit you just put
Oh, understood. Understood. So, is there anything hiding beneath the big kind of plastic up there or be behind the Death Star? So, that's where one of the multiball locks is. I have a diverter. >> Oh, and when tractor beam on is what's
And when you lock a ball, you have that three bank of targets. That's actually from Attack from Mars. Yeah. Yeah. >> That lowers down. There's a captive ball
That lowers down. There's a captive ball that you have to hit that'll go back and hit a target and that's how you start the multiballs. >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So, it is a bank that
training loop is the advanced training when lit. So there's two targets in the that those three targets advanced loop when they're lit. Rescuing leas hitting the five drop targets down which have stormtrooper art on them. >> Yeah.
light. Yeah. Yeah. So this is more the god leaf style. So once you complete three of those will either light the droid or the death star for lock. You lock a ball and then that lowers and you hit the captive ball to start a multiball. Or you can complete the other mission and you can light block both of them and then you'll start a three ball multiball. So there's two different two balls depending on which one you lock and then the three ball and then there's an add ball. If you complete the drop targets in order starting from the top one down. >> Oh
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's Yeah. Mission Pinball framework is written in Python. It's one of the most easy programming languages to learn. I I'd argue. I'm not a software engineer either, but I I look at a lot of code sometimes and Python is by far the easiest to to read as a >> definitely a learning curve and that was
definitely a learning curve and that was definitely the hardest part for me physically building this and wiring and all. I was very comfortable doing that. >> Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Understood. Understood. And so what what hardware platform do you use on this game? Is that different from Gemini or is it similar? >> This one uses Cobra Pin hard controller.
which was designed to be a lowcost thing. Now, it's one guy out of his garage designing and doing this. So, the support and everything behind it isn't quite as big as P3 Rock or Fast. No, but the cost isn't anywhere near as big either. >> No, no, no. Understood. Understood. So
No, no, no. Understood. Understood. So that is definitely a good solution if you kind of want an easy cheap start all in one kind of thing. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
to go with my virtual pinball cabinet if you're familiar with those that have a TV in the back. This cabinet was my virtual pinball cabinet >> and I designed it with the Star Wars to
And and you can you can play test within Mission Pinball Framework and test everything out. There were there were bugs and there probably still are and >> Yeah. Yeah. Thanks for tweaking and I
uh Yeah, I was born 76. So, it's like when Empire Strikes Back came out kind of came out, I kind of became aware of Star Wars and then I just completely lost it, you know, like everyone did. >> Yeah.
Oh, that's a good rip. >> Yeah. The chimes actually can't keep up with it. So, it'll often times play keep playing chimes after you're done. >> That's stuttering.
Yeah. Lefting lane pops up. Greedo. >> Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's crazy. Just like you can hear the >> pop. If you pop up Greo three times and
That's not So when Greo kills you, the flippers die, lights go off, and the playfield turns red like blood spilling out from the middle. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. That's it. So, I put in fun little things. I don't know. When you If you drain out the right out lane, it lights the left one for extra ball. >> You spend way too much time on this
You spend way too much time on this game. Oh my god, this is so funny. So, it also it gives you if you get to ball three and you haven't lit a lock, it lights one of the outlines for extra ball. So, I just got that extra ball. >> It's like a consolation.
The multiball is pretty basic. It just scores 2x scoring while you're in the however many balls on the playfield. >> So there's one captive ball in there.
He says extra ball on the displays. I keep forgetting that I add things and look up at the displays and go, "Oh, yeah, that's >> and that didn't give me a No, no, no.
And I decid and I looked at the next couple measures and I go, "What do I need? I need three more notes." So I I made some custom length chime bars to give me one lower and two higher notes. >> Oh yeah. Yeah. Ah, that's super rad.
Oh yeah. Yeah. Ah, that's super rad. Yeah. Super rare game. So uh folks always wonders where you can play these games. So are you going to the Northwest Pacific? >> Yeah. Both of these will be at the
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But it's just like it's a logistics. You can't really put this in a in overhead pin, right? It's not even going in a hole, right? >> Yeah. That's the things we do for
Yeah. That's the things we do for pinball. Yeah. I mean, is there is there any other kind of interesting detail that you can reveal about this game? Uh do you have any new games coming out or you know what's your what's your process? >> I'm working on at least three more.
Yeah. Yeah. I mean the thing is you I see I see the future myself in you, right? Because I want to do this as well. But I got I got a day job, dude. Right. I can. >> It is a time consuming uh
you know, making the cabinets, doing the wiring, the playfield, all figuring out how to do all this is a blast. >> Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Thank you so
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Thank you so much for bringing them down here for people to to enjoy that. People is going to be stoked to see and play these games. >> Uh thank you so much for being on the