Unboxing of Whoa Nellie! April, 2015 - 2 / 2

TL;DR

Deadflip unboxing and week-long gameplay stream of Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons prototype from Stern.

Summary

Key Claims

• Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons is the newest pin production from Sam Stern

  high confidence · Direct statement: 'This is the newest pin production from Sam Stern.' Game provided on loan to Deadflip for streaming.

• The game has difficulty settings inside the software (easy, medium, hard)

  high confidence · Host states: 'If it turns out the game feels too easy for you, there are difficulty settings inside the software' and earlier 'there definitely is an easy, medium, and hard setting on the operating system.'

• The game features a tournament mode with software already installed

  high confidence · Host discovers: 'There's already a tournament software installed on this thing?' with confirmation 'That's radical.'

• Whoa Nellie! has mechanical reels in the backbox and a credit reel system

  high confidence · Host describes: 'Everything in the back box is mechanical, so those are actual reels... there's like a credit reel in there the top right.'

• The game has a real knocker (physical sound device)

  high confidence · Host confirms: 'Also, this game has a real knocker.'

• The game is approximately a foot shorter in the backbox (debated as 3-4 inches)

  medium confidence · Host states: 'The game is about a foot shorter in the back box.' Later disputed with 'It's like four inches' and 'That's three quarters of a ratchet.'

• The machine plays with small/baby EM flippers compared to medal/coin indicators

  high confidence · Host notes: 'Your flipper looks small compared to the medals. These are half-sized little baby EM flippers.'

• Deadflip streams Monday-Friday at 5pm Central on a new game each week

  high confidence · Host states: 'We stream Monday through Friday at 5 p.m. Central on a new game every week for a week long.'

• The game's difficulty can be adjusted by removing/modifying bumper rubbers and adjusting outlane height

Notable Quotes

• “Big thanks to Sam Stern, guys... If you want to show your appreciation, thank them on our behalf on Facebook.”

  Deadflip host@ 5:27 — Acknowledges Sam Stern's loan of the prototype machine for streaming, establishing the access channel.

• “This is the newest pin production from Sam Stern.”

  Deadflip host@ 17:29 — Confirms Whoa Nellie! is Stern's latest production game, indicating early access/beta streaming opportunity.

• “It definitely feels like an EM... the slingshots and the flippers are stronger than you would expect.”

  Deadflip host@ 10:04 — Characterizes the game's design philosophy—EM-style mechanics with modern flipper/slingshot strength.

• “There's already a tournament software installed on this thing? That's radical.”

  Deadflip hosts@ 38:33 — Unexpected discovery of pre-installed tournament mode, highlighting game's feature set.

• “This is what an EM would play like if it had strong flippers and slingshots. It's a whole new level of, like, complication and excitement on an EM.”

  Deadflip host@ 25:12 — Articulates the game's hybrid design philosophy—classic EM feel with modern mechanical response.

• “We're using your mom's internet right now for this show.”

  Deadflip host@ 0:33 — Running gag acknowledging streamers' and viewers' internet dependencies; community interaction.

Entities

Signals

• ?

  community_signal: Stern using content creator partnerships (Deadflip loan) to build awareness and gather feedback on Whoa Nellie! before wider release.

  medium · Sam Stern directly provided prototype for streaming; hosts encouraged viewers to thank Stern on Facebook; week-long coverage provides extended visibility.

• ?

  design_philosophy: Whoa Nellie! represents hybrid design merging EM-era gameplay mechanics with modern flipper/slingshot strength and software features (difficulty settings, tournament mode).

  high · Host analysis: 'This is what an EM would play like if it had strong flippers and slingshots. It's a whole new level of, like, complication and excitement on an EM.' Confirmed mechanical reels, DMD, software settings.

• ?

  event_signal: Deadflip operating as content platform for Stern's new game promotion; structured week-long coverage format mirrors established streaming/podcast outreach model.

  high · Deadflip hosts: 'We stream Monday through Friday at 5 p.m. Central on a new game every week' and commit to full week of Whoa Nellie! coverage.

• $

  market_signal: Whoa Nellie! positioned as non-licensed original IP pinball machine, potentially first of its kind from Stern in recent years; represents alternative to licensed IP dependency.

  medium · Host speculation: 'Is this the first non-licensed turn since Striker?' with uncertainty but framing as notable innovation.

• ?

  community_signal: Early indication of content creator access program: Stern providing prototypes to established streaming channels (Deadflip) for publicity and feedback.