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Pinball Expo 2024 recap: new shop tour, homebrew surge, Alice in Wonderland mods, and game-data access for mod makers.
Stern's Booth structural materials were repurposed to elevate the Homebrew section at Expo 2024
high confidence · Rob mentioned that Stern changed their booth setup route and made metal structuring available for the homebrew booth
Ninja Eclipse sold out its 100-game allotment after major design improvements addressing Expo feedback
high confidence · Davey stated Chris addressed negative feedback from prior year, made cabinet and plexiglass alterations, and sold out 100 units
Homebrew section ranked #2 in post-Expo surveys of best shows, behind only Stern
medium confidence · Davey mentioned newsletters and surveys showed homebrew came in number two, with Stern at number one
Stumblor Pinball is planning a commemorative plaque for collectors of all four Tokyo Neon Godzilla mods
high confidence · Davey explained they're developing a lit Stumblor Edition plaque for Godzilla middle-building mod buyers
Dutch Pinball's Alice in Wonderland features direct USB game-data integration for mod boards
high confidence · Davey detailed USB connection between MPU and Lollipops board enabling real-time switch, lamp, and mode data access
Stellar (young player, age 13-14) scored 38 billion on Attack from Mars at Expo
high confidence · Rob noted Stellar scored 38 billion mid-competition, up from opening-day 24 billion
A 10-year-old Dutch kid champion posted 30 million on Alice in Wonderland at Dutch Pinball Open
medium confidence · Davey mentioned Ren posted this was the highest score at both Expo and DPO
Stumblor Pinball's new St. Louis shop is approximately three times larger than their previous space
high confidence · Rob stated the new facility is three times bigger with improved parts organization and workspace
Rob received help from S (early Godzilla designer) for his Godzilla topper buildings after S had a baby
“we've been trying to do some sort of extra special stuff for that just because you know it's the last one of the series... we're hoping to light [a plaque] up as well”
Davey@ 5:44 — Reveals Stumblor's commemorative strategy for Tokyo Neon Godzilla finale, tying collector completionism to physical merchandise
“if every manufacturer was doing this then all you'd really have to do is just plug in a mod board via USB to somewhere... and suddenly that mod board is able to understand what's going on in the game”
Davey@ 24:05 — Articulates vision for industry-standard game-data accessibility enabling next-generation mods, describes Alice as proof-of-concept
“he sort of absorbed all that you know let's not sugarcoat it negative feedback and turned it around... he's now sold out of his 100 game allotment”
Davey@ 17:22 — Highlights Ninja Eclipse's redemption arc after addressing Expo feedback, signals strong homebrew market demand
“homebrew and you know Aaron who organizes it all... [is] just going from strength to strength when it comes to their presence at these shows”
Davey@ 16:10 — Acknowledges homebrew's growing competitive standing at major industry shows, credits organizer Aaron
“it looks now like the cabinet that we would all want to see... if you're even mildly interested it's easy to want to help support Chris”
Rob@ 18:13 — Reflects broader collector/community sentiment toward Ninja Eclipse design quality and manufacturing legitimacy
“I've always been so impressed with their PCB work... they're always introducing these really cool ideas”
event_signal: Pinball Expo 2024 delivered strong homebrew presence (ranked #2 in post-event surveys), X-Men and Metallica dominated hype, and Alice in Wonderland drew long queues. Stern recalibrated booth strategy allowing metal structures to be repurposed for homebrew section.
high · Multiple sources confirmed homebrew ranking #2, X-Men/Metallica high hype, long Alice lines; Davey noted Stern booth structural donation
technology_signal: Dutch Pinball's Alice in Wonderland implements direct USB game-data connection between MPU and mod boards (Lollipops), enabling real-time access to switches, lamps, and game modes. This represents significant infrastructure shift enabling mod makers to tap game logic without light-sensing workarounds.
high · Davey detailed USB implementation, explained elimination of light-sensing resistors and double adapters, noted potential for industry-wide adoption if other manufacturers follow
manufacturing_signal: Stumblor Pinball relocated to new St. Louis facility approximately 3x larger than previous space, improving workstation density, parts organization, and production workflow. New shop includes dedicated 360° photo setup, multiple 3D printers, laser cutter, chip programming station, and playtest machines.
high · Rob conducted detailed workshop tour showing workstations, parts organization, equipment, and noting faster production capability
product_launch: Stumblor Pinball advancing Tokyo Neon Godzilla series finale (middle-building mod) with commemorative Stumblor Edition collector plaque. Also developing Jaws buoy mod and Captain Fantastic topper (new format targeting older machines). Godzilla Conqueror Edition in production; Twilight Zone resuming early 2025.
high · Davey outlined production priorities: finishing existing orders (Subway, noodle bar, Tokyo Neon Phase 1-3), then Jaws, then Godzilla finale; Rob delegating buildings to S
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medium confidence · Rob mentioned delegating to S who had helped initially and recently became available again
PinSound uses audio-sensing triggers (not direct game data) to activate display/speaker animations
medium confidence · Davey referenced friend Vincent explaining PinSound recognizes audio signals to trigger effects
Davey@ 32:09 — Praises PinSound's engineering and design innovation, signals high respect within mod maker community
“we've got Godzilla conqueror Edition on the line uh and that's pretty busy for us... twilight zone is kind of on the back burner we're gonna be picking that back up probably early next year”
Davey@ 4:09 — Production priority signal: Godzilla Conqueror currently high-priority, Twilight Zone deferred to Q1 2025
“the rails were like a huge success... that's a lollipops board... it's on the outside of the cabinet but man does it look good”
Rob and Davey@ 22:24 — Validates Stumblor Pinball's LED rail contribution to Alice in Wonderland aesthetic as marquee feature
community_signal: Homebrew pinball machines showing sustained momentum at industry events, ranking #2 in Expo 2024 post-show surveys and generating organic buzz. Ninja Eclipse's recovery from prior-year criticism signals community appetite for boutique/smaller-run machines and willingness to invest in emerging designers.
high · Davey noted homebrew scoring #2 in surveys, Chris's sold-out 100 units, community hype threads, and positive coverage from figures like Carrie Hardy
design_innovation: Stumblor Pinball's LED rail system for Alice in Wonderland enables mode-responsive lighting patterns synchronized to game state (Queen of Hearts = red fiery pattern, White Rabbit = chasing white lights). Implementation via routed channels under side rails with embedded LED strips.
high · Davey demonstrated Lollipops v3 meteor-pattern effect, explained mode-triggered animations, noted Melvin Williams's laser-cut rail design innovation
product_strategy: Stumblor introduced 'Captain Fantastic' topper as new simpler format targeting lower-volume machines (older games) that cannot justify complex toppers. Strategy acknowledges market segmentation and aims to monetize collector demand across broader range of titles.
medium · Rob mentioned Captain Fantastic as 'new format' announced at Expo for older machines with lower sales volume but collector interest
sentiment_shift: Homebrew pinball machines transitioning from niche hobby to credible market segment. Ninja Eclipse's design refinements and sellout, strong Expo presence, and positive community reception suggest collectors increasingly view homebrew as legitimate alternative to established manufacturers.
high · Davey praised Chris's maturity in absorbing feedback and executing improvements, noted overflow of positivity and sold-out status; Rob emphasized cabinet quality and collectibility
competitive_signal: Young pinball players demonstrating elite competitive skill and distinctive playing styles. Stellar (age 13-14) scored 38 billion on Attack from Mars; Dutch kid champion (age 10) posted 30 million on Alice in Wonderland at DPO—both highest scores across major events.
high · Rob noted Stellar's nonchalant style and 38B score mid-competition; Davey cited Ren's post of 10-year-old Dutch champion's 30M on Alice
personnel_signal: Rob delegated Godzilla topper buildings to S (early Godzilla designer) after S completed parental leave following birth of his child. Signals informal freelance relationships and division of labor in boutique mod shops based on availability and expertise.
medium · Rob mentioned S had recently become available after parental responsibilities, took on buildings to help meet original 2024 deadline
technology_signal: Davey articulates vision for industry-standard game-data accessibility via USB, eliminating current workarounds (light-sensing resistors, pin adapters). Alice in Wonderland's implementation creates proof-of-concept for other manufacturers to adopt same approach, potentially opening mod-maker ecosystem.
medium · Davey explained why direct USB connection is superior to current methods, noted spare output on Lollipops board for third-party mod makers, expressed hope other manufacturers will follow
product_concern: Attack from Mars units require pre-shipping updates/QA; multiple machines set aside in Stumblor's new shop for tweaks. Suggests ongoing quality-control challenges or design iterations on this title.
medium · Rob's shop tour showed Attack from Mars units with 'various little nuances that need to be updated before we get those done'