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New Details on American Pinball Game: No Corners Cut, Unique & Different Dennis Nordman Layout

Knapp Arcade·article·held·Feb 20, 2023
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Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.023

TL;DR

American Pinball dev details GTF's unique layout, satirical direction, and his departure after major contributions.

Summary

Josh Kugler, a former American Pinball employee, revealed details about Galactic Tank Force development in a Pinside forum post. The game features a unique layout by Dennis Nordman and Paul Reno, with expanded satirical direction by Kugler and Jack Haeger. Kugler was parted ways with AP in March 2025 despite significant contributions to rules, code, story, and light board design. The game is scheduled for showcase at Midwest Gaming Classic and Texas Pinball Festival (March 24 unveiling).

Key Claims

  • Galactic Tank Force has a unique and different layout compared to most recent games

    high confidence · Josh Kugler, former American Pinball employee, quoted in Pinside forum post

  • No corners were cut on Galactic Tank Force

    high confidence · Josh Kugler direct statement in forum post

  • The game's concept originated from Dennis Nordman and Paul Reno, then was expanded and made more satirical by Josh Kugler and Jack Haeger

    high confidence · Josh Kugler detailed account of design collaboration

  • Galactic Tank Force will be shown at Midwest Gaming Classic and unveiled Friday March 24 at 5:00 PM Central at Texas Pinball Festival

    high confidence · Article author citing Kugler's information about scheduled unveiling

  • American Pinball scheduled lineup as of March 2025 was: Galactic Tank Force, Dennis Nordman second game, then Barry Oursler last game

    medium confidence · Josh Kugler statement about production schedule from when he departed in March

  • The next American Pinball game will feature redesigned light boards

    medium confidence · Article citing discovery in forum thread, specific game not identified

  • Josh Kugler created the rules, developed story, wrote more than half the script, co-directed actors, designed light boards, and had code coded for Galactic Tank Force

    high confidence · Kugler's detailed accounting of his contributions before departure

  • Kugler was told he was no longer needed at American Pinball due to 'a change in direction' in March 2025

    high confidence · Kugler's statement about his departure circumstances

  • Jersey Jack Pinball previously used Bader (light board manufacturer) but 'burned that bridge'; Spooky and American Pinball now use all of Bader's capacity

    medium confidence · Josh Kugler industry observation in forum post

Notable Quotes

  • “No corners were cut on this game, and it's an interesting layout, that is unique and different from most recent games.”

    Josh Kugler @ Pinside forum post — Direct endorsement of game quality and differentiation in crowded pinball market

  • “I do think Dennis' layout following this one is one of his best ever, and bummed I won't get to do rules and code on it.”

    Josh Kugler @ Pinside forum post — Kugler's regret about departing before working on Nordman's next design, suggesting high confidence in pipeline quality

  • “The games concept was Dennis and Paul Reno, but Jack Haeger and I expanded it quite a bit and in a direction that was, well, a bit more satirical, and while not every one loved it at first, I suspect most are pleased with how it all came together.”

    Josh Kugler @ Pinside forum post — Details collaborative design process and hints at community reception dynamics for satirical direction

  • “Regardless, sounds like you will see it soon and can decide for yourselves, as I said, it is going to give y'all A LOT to talk about.”

    Josh Kugler @ Pinside forum post — Suggests the game will be controversial or discussion-generating, possibly due to satirical tone or unique mechanical choices

  • “jJP used Bader at one time, but then burned that bridge. I think spooky and AP are now using all of Bader's capacity.”

    Josh Kugler @ Pinside forum post — Reveals manufacturing supply chain dynamics and potential capacity constraints among manufacturers

  • “End of last March, we parted ways, the only thing I was told was that due to a change in direction I was no longer needed.”

    Josh Kugler @ Pinside forum post — Indicates leadership/direction shift at American Pinball that affected personnel decisions

  • “Not sure why I was not needed, considering on GTF I created the rules with ferret, developed the story with Dennis and Jack, wrote more than half the script, co-directed the actors, designed new light boards and had the rules and mechs coded.”

Entities

Josh KuglerpersonDennis NordmanpersonPaul RenopersonJack HaegerpersonBarry OurslerpersonAmerican PinballcompanyGalactic Tank Force

Signals

  • ?

    machine_intel: Galactic Tank Force is functionally complete with playable code and rules, awaiting asset completion (art/animations replacing placeholder storyboards); one full prototype completed and ready for showcase

    high · Josh Kugler stated 'The game was totally playable at that point and we were waiting on assets to replace all the placeholders' and article confirms 'one full prototype machine is now complete'

  • ?

    event_signal: Galactic Tank Force scheduled for public unveiling Friday March 24 at 5:00 PM Central at Texas Pinball Festival, with prior showcase at Midwest Gaming Classic

    high · Article states game 'will be unveiled on Friday March 24th at 5:00 PM Central at the upcoming Texas Pinball Festival' and 'shown off at the upcoming Midwest Gaming Classic'

  • ?

    design_philosophy: Galactic Tank Force intentionally designed with unique playfield layout distinct from recent pinball games; satirical thematic direction added during development

    high · Kugler: 'No corners were cut on this game, and it's an interesting layout, that is unique and different from most recent games' and 'expanded it quite a bit and in a direction that was...a bit more satirical'

  • ?

    personnel_signal: Josh Kugler, major contributor to Galactic Tank Force (rules, code, story, script, light boards, directing), departed American Pinball in March 2025 due to 'change in direction'

    high · Kugler stated 'End of last March, we parted ways' and detailed his extensive contributions while expressing confusion about departure

  • ?

    operational_signal: American Pinball underwent strategic/directional changes in March 2025 that affected personnel decisions and potentially game development approach

Transcript

raw_text · $0.000

Yesterday, the former American Pinball employee Josh Kugler, shared some details on American Pinball's (AP) upcoming game...likely called Galactic Tank Force. Kugler was heavily involved in the early development of the pin. According to him, the game's layout is different from most recent games, which will be very refreshing. Furthermore, he said that no corners were cut on it. The game's initial concept was formulated by its designer, Dennis Nordman, and Paul Reno. It was then refined by Josh and Jack Haeger, making it more "satirical," which I take to mean adding more humor. As I mentioned in my previous post, one full prototype machine is now complete. The game will be definitely shown off at the upcoming Midwest Gaming Classic and probably will be unveiled on Friday March 24th at 5:00 PM Central at the upcoming Texas Pinball Festival. Later on we discovered that as of last March, the scheduled lineup of upcoming games from American Pinball was Galactic Tank Force, the Dennis Nordman's second game then Barry Oursler's last game. Another interesting tidbit from the thread is that the next AP game will have redesigned light boards. Here's a link to the full conversation on the subject from over on Pinside: https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/the-next-american-pinball/page/40#post-7414350 "No corners were cut on this game, and it’s an interesting layout, that is unique and different from most recent games. I do think Dennis’ layout following this one is one of his best ever, and bummed I won’t get to do rules and code on it. The games concept was Dennis and Paul Reno, but Jack Haeger and I expanded it quite a bit and in a direction that was, well, a bit more satirical, and while not every one loved it at first, I suspect most are pleased with how it all came together. Regardless, sounds like you will see it soon and can decide for yourselves, as I said, it is going to give y’all A LOT to talk about. jJP used Bader at one time, but then burned that bridge. I think spooky and AP are now using all of Bader’s capacity. Btw I hear the name pronounced wrong all the time, it is bod-er." He went on to add the following: "Been gone from AP for almost a year, but when I was there, the plan was GTF, Dennis game 2, and then Barry O's last design. Whether that is still the plan, your guess is as good as mine." and "End of last March, we parted ways, the only thing I was told was that due to a change in direction I was no longer needed. Not sure why I was not needed, considering on GTF I created the rules with ferret, developed the story with Dennis and Jack, wrote more than half the script, co-directed the actors, designed new light boards and had the rules and mechs coded. The game was totally playable at that point and we were waiting on assets to replace all the placeholders we had put in, most of which were storyboard images created by either Jack or myself during story/rules development."

Josh Kugler @ Pinside forum post — Reveals scope of Kugler's technical and creative contributions and suggests potential for unfinished work or handoff issues

  • “The game was totally playable at that point and we were waiting on assets to replace all the placeholders we had put in, most of which were storyboard images created by either Jack or myself during story/rules development.”

    Josh Kugler @ Pinside forum post — Indicates GTF was functionally complete but art/asset production incomplete at time of Kugler's departure

    • game
    Texas Pinball Festivalevent
    Midwest Gaming Classicevent
    Pinsideorganization
    Jersey Jack Pinballcompany
    Spooky Pinballcompany
    Badercompany
    Knapp Arcadeorganization

    medium · Kugler's departure attributed to 'change in direction' with no further explanation; timing coincides with KB context indicating acquisition by J.B. Vincent LP

  • ?

    manufacturing_signal: Bader light board manufacturer capacity is being fully utilized by Spooky Pinball and American Pinball; Jersey Jack Pinball previously used Bader but relationship ended negatively

    medium · Josh Kugler: 'jJP used Bader at one time, but then burned that bridge. I think spooky and AP are now using all of Bader's capacity'

  • ?

    product_concern: At time of Josh Kugler's March 2025 departure, Galactic Tank Force had functional gameplay but art assets were still being developed to replace placeholder storyboards

    high · Kugler: 'we were waiting on assets to replace all the placeholders we had put in, most of which were storyboard images created by either Jack or myself'

  • ?

    product_strategy: American Pinball's scheduled lineup (as of March 2025) is: Galactic Tank Force, then Dennis Nordman's second game, then Barry Oursler's last game

    medium · Kugler: 'End of last March, we parted ways, the only thing I was told was that due to a change in direction I was no longer needed...the plan was GTF, Dennis game 2, and then Barry O's last design'

  • ?

    community_signal: Galactic Tank Force's satirical direction received mixed initial community reception, though Kugler expects broader approval of final result

    medium · Kugler: 'while not every one loved it at first, I suspect most are pleased with how it all came together' and 'it is going to give y'all A LOT to talk about'

  • ?

    design_innovation: American Pinball's next game after GTF will feature redesigned light boards, representing technical/manufacturing innovation

    medium · Article states 'the next AP game will have redesigned light boards' discovered in Pinside thread

  • ?

    collaborative_development: Galactic Tank Force design evolved from original Nordman/Reno concept through collaborative expansion by Josh Kugler and Jack Haeger, involving iterative story/rules refinement

    high · Kugler detailed collaborative process: 'The games concept was Dennis and Paul Reno, but Jack Haeger and I expanded it quite a bit' with story and rules development documented