WAP #51 "BJ and Stern news! *sample*"

TL;DR

WAP discusses copyright issues, announces retro music pivot, celebrates community.

Summary

Key Claims

• Sonic the Hedgehog pinball is coming later this year (2026) from Jersey Jack Pinball, designed by Steve Ritchie, based on the game not the movies

  high confidence · Don states directly: 'sonic the hedgehog coming later this year' and 'it's not the movies it's the game perfect perfect'

• Jersey Jack Pinball's Sonic game reminds some people of F14 Tomcat in terms of gameplay/flow

  medium confidence · Genghis: 'i'm hearing from people that have seen the game that it reminds them a little bit of f14 tomcat'

• Beetlejuice production at a Stern facility started on Monday (first day of the new year) at the factory

  high confidence · Don: 'yesterday was monday it's the new year everybody's back at the factory it was the first day of beetlejuice production'

• WAP received a copyright strike from a 1950s Frank Sinatra cover despite previously using all kinds of music without issue

  high confidence · Genghis: 'i can't believe like a 1950s cover frank sinatra old song got us a copyright strike of all things all that stuff we've played so far'

• When a podcast reaches a certain listener threshold, copyright claim bots/systems monitor the channel more actively

  medium confidence · Don: 'when you have a certain amount of listeners, I will, they will, they, they will come in and keep an eye on you'

Notable Quotes

• “sonic the hedgehog coming later this year...it's not the movies it's the game perfect perfect”

  Don @ early segment — Confirms Sonic pinball 2026 release and game-based theme direction

• “return to form for steve richie being like everything that he's done all of his knowledge all of his experience going into sonic”

  Don @ early segment — Positions Sonic as major career statement for legendary designer Steve Ritchie

• “i'm hearing from people that have seen the game that it reminds them a little bit of f14 tomcat”

  Genghis @ early segment — Insider gameplay comparison; suggests fast flow and ramp-heavy design similar to classic JJP title

• “yesterday was monday it's the new year everybody's back at the factory it was the first day of beetlejuice production”

  Don @ mid segment — Confirms Beetlejuice production start date at Stern facility

• “a 1950s cover frank sinatra old song got us a copyright strike of all things all that stuff we've played so far”

  Genghis @ early-mid segment — Documents unexpected copyright enforcement targeting classical/standard music

• “When you have a certain amount of listeners, they will come in and keep an eye on you”

  Don @ mid segment — Explains escalation of copyright enforcement at scale; relevant to creator economics

Entities

Signals

• ?

  business_signal: Beetlejuice production initiated at Stern factory on first Monday of 2026; manufacturing cycle beginning

  high · Don: 'yesterday was monday it's the new year everybody's back at the factory it was the first day of beetlejuice production'

• ?

  community_signal: Insider access to Sonic gameplay; people have reportedly seen the machine and compare it to F14 Tomcat, indicating test play or early access feedback circulating

  medium · Genghis: 'i'm hearing from people that have seen the game that it reminds them a little bit of f14 tomcat'

• ?

  announcement: Sonic the Hedgehog pinball officially confirmed for 2026 release from Jersey Jack Pinball, designed by Steve Ritchie, based on video game IP not movie franchise

  high · Don: 'sonic the hedgehog coming later this year...it's not the movies it's the game perfect perfect'

• ?

  product_strategy: Sonic mentioned as coming 'later this year' (2026) rather than specific earlier quarter; typical pattern of JJP delays evident

  medium · Don says 'sonic the hedgehog coming later this year' without specific month; Genghis mentions 'radcals and topper' suggesting design still in progress

• ?

  technology_signal: WAP podcast forced to shift from diverse music licensing (hip-hop, rock, classical standards) to retro 8-bit/16-bit chiptune music due to copyright enforcement

  high · Genghis: 'from now on no more hip hop intros nothing It will be 60 bit 80 bit Embrace the retro'; hosts confirm unexpected Frank Sinatra strike triggered change

Topics

Sentiment

positive(0.75)— Hosts express enthusiasm about upcoming games (Sonic, Beetlejuice), celebrate podcast milestones and community support, but frustration with unexpected copyright enforcement tempers overall tone slightly. Birthday celebration and retro music shift add levity.