R.i.p. Steve Kordek

Pinball News Website·article·analyzed·Feb 19, 2012

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.024

TL;DR

Steve Kordek, pinball design pioneer, dies at 100 after 56-year career.

Summary

Steve Kordek, legendary pinball designer who revolutionized the industry by establishing the standard two-flipper bottom-of-playfield configuration, died on February 19, 2012, at age 100. Over a 56-year career starting at Genco in 1947, Kordek designed over 100 games and sold more than 200,000 machines, becoming a mentor figure and living conscience of pinball history until his death.

Key Claims

Steve Kordek designed over 100 different layouts and sold more than 200,000 games over a 56-year period
high confidence · Main article states this as established fact about his career output
Kordek's decision to place two flippers at the bottom of the playfield became the de-facto standard adopted by all other pinball companies
high confidence · Article emphasizes this as his foundational design innovation that shaped the entire industry
Kordek designed his first solo game, Triple Action, after standing in for Harvey Heiss at Genco
high confidence · Directly stated in article as the origin of his pinball design career
Kordek invented drop targets on the Vagabond machine, the first with true drop targets
high confidence · Jim Jansen tribute credits Kordek with inventing drop targets; Vagabond named as first true drop target machine
Kordek started his pinball career in 1947 at age 20 after a chance encounter sheltering from rain at Genco
high confidence · Main article and Jim Jansen tribute confirm 1947 start date and Genco origin story

Notable Quotes

“'Legendary' is a word often used as hyperbole, but if there is one man in the pinball world to whom the word must surely apply it is Steve Kordek”
Pinball News article author @ Introduction — Establishes the scope of Kordek's legendary status in the industry
“I just keep hoping, each and everyone of you. Each and every one of you, know how to remember what it means to enjoy and play great pingame... it is so important, so important; thank you.”
Steve Kordek @ 100th birthday celebration video — Kordek's final public sentiment about pinball, emphasizing the importance of enjoyment and play in the medium
“When you play a pinball machine, you just feel the magic hand of the designer.”
Jim Jansen (Dutch Pinball Association) @ Tribute section — Reflects on how designers imprint their vision into machines; contextualizes Kordek's influence
“Kordek's name can be found on over 100 pinball machines; this is a number which will never be matched by any other pinball designer. Certainly not in these days, when only 3 or 4 new titles are launched yearly.”
Jim Jansen @ Tribute section — Emphasizes the unprecedented scale of Kordek's design output relative to modern production
“he was the living conscience of pinball, and had created his own legacy in the industry”
Jim Jansen @ Tribute section — Characterizes Kordek's role as keeper of pinball history and values through industry decline and recovery

Entities

Steve KordekpersonGenco ManufacturingcompanyWilliams ElectronicscompanyHarvey Heissperson Larry DeMarperson Pat Lawlorperson Brian Eddyperson Steve Ritchie

Signals

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event_signal: Pinball Expo established as critical annual gathering point where Kordek maintained presence regardless of health; suffered broken hip in 2010 incident at the event
high · Article notes 'Every single year he visited Pinball Expo in Chicago. No matter what happened, Kordek always came by' and 'Steve had been ill since a suffered a broken hip when he was blown over by strong winds outside Pinball Expo in 2010'
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sentiment_shift: Steve Kordek's death and legacy reflect deep reverence for foundational industry figures; Pinball Expo and broader community demonstrated sustained affection and acknowledgment of his mentorship role
high · Article states 'The affection in which he was held was demonstrated last month when friends and family gathered to celebrate his 100th birthday' and describes him as 'the living conscience of pinball'
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design_philosophy: Kordek's conservative design approach (two flippers positioned at bottom) became the industry standard and foundational principle for all subsequent pinball machine design
high · Article states 'That decision proved to be hugely popular and before long all the other pinball companies had copied him and that became the de-facto position for flippers to the present day'

Topics

Steve Kordek's foundational design innovations (flipper placement and drop targets)primaryCareer longevity and output (100+ game designs, 56-year career)primaryKordek's mentorship and influence on pinball industry cultureprimaryComparison of Kordek to other legendary designers (Pat Lawlor, Steve Ritchie, John Popadiuk)secondaryKordek's role as living historian of pinball during industry decline and recoverysecondaryCommemoration of Kordek's 100th birthday and final public statementssecondaryImpact of Williams pinball division closure on Kordek's legacymentionedPinball Expo as venue for Kordek's sustained community engagementmentioned

Sentiment

positive(0.92)— Article is a respectful obituary and celebration of Kordek's life and legacy. Tone is reverential and emotional, emphasizing his contributions and the affection he was held in by the community. Jim Jansen's tribute is particularly warm and reflective. Only minor sadness at his passing and the closure of Williams pinball division.

Transcript

raw_text · $0.000

Date: 19th February, 2012 'Legendary' is a word often used as hyperbole, but if there is one man in the pinball world to whom the word must surely apply it is Steve Kordek, who died today at the age of 100. Steve Kordek at Pinball Expo Starting with a chance encounter, sheltering from the rain and being offered a job at the Genco pinball factory, Steve's break came when he stood in for Harvey Heiss and designed his first solo game, Triple Action. Steve's conservative design teachings led him to use only two flippers, but he chose to place them at the bottom of the playfield. That decision proved to be hugely popular and before long all the other pinball companies had copied him and that became the de-facto position for flippers to the present day. Steve Kordek with his Williams Jokerz! in his basement (picture: Łukasz Dziatkiewicz) But Steve will be remembered for far more than just that design decision, because a prolific and highly successful career followed, designing over 100 different layouts and selling more than 200,000 games over a 56-year period. Steve at Pinbrawl 2006 (picture: John Kosmal) It would be easy to imagine someone with so many years and so many games to their credit becoming blasé or disillusioned with the industry to which they gave so much, but not Steve. His excitement, enthusiasm and experience rubbed off on those he worked alongside, making him a mentor and figurehead for all who followed in his footsteps, both at Williams and throughout the pinball business. Steve in his office at Williams (picture: Duncan Brown) The affection in which he was held was demonstrated last month when friends and family gathered to celebrate his 100th birthday. Steve's 100th birthday celebration (picture: Duncan Brown) You can see a video of the presentation made to Steve by Larry DeMar here on YouTube and many of the tributes paid to him here in a smaller version of the book given to Steve. Steve had been ill since a suffered a broken hip when he was blown over by strong winds outside Pinball Expo in 2010 - the show which he always made a special effort to attend - and had been in a wheelchair since coming out of hospital. Despite that, his indomitable spirit ensured he continued to have, just as he always described his career in pinball, "One heck of a time!". Further tributes to Steve: National Public Radio (NPR) Vending Times Steve's Facebook page Washington Post Wall Street Journal Chicago Mag Chicago Tribune Gizmodo Time LA Times Daily Mail The Register Pinball News recordings of Steve talking about his experiences in the pinball industry: Pinball Expo 2003 Pinball Expo 2006 Pinball Expo 2007 Pinball Expo 2008 Pinball Expo 2009 Jim Jansen (@jimfjansen), journalist and PR-Chief of the Dutch Pinball Association (NFV) has also written his tribute to Steve: I've been playing pinball for over 30 years now. I don’t remember exactly when I found out that pinball machines were not ‘regularly manufactured’ products. It was just the opposite; they were all designed in the greatest detail, by real people. By men, in most cases, whose business cards showed job titles like ‘Pinball Designer’. When I really understood that, I immediately realised the commonalities between Twilight Zone and The Addams Family, and between Attack from Mars and Medieval Madness. Those pinball machines were designed by the very same people; to be specific, by Pat Lawlor and Brian Eddy. When you play a pinball machine, you just feel the magic hand of the designer. The best, funniest or most creative designer simply doesn’t exist because it’s all about a matter of taste... and you know what that’s like: you simply can’t argue taste. From a commercial perspective, Pat Lawlor might be seen as the most successful Designer ever, as his The Addams Family is still generating a lot of cash in coin-operated situations. Even after 20 years! Steve Ritchie seem to own the patent on creating the ultimate rapid-playing machines. John Popadiuk knows how to turn universal themes into ingenious machines. There’s no single Designer who stands out in my favourites list, but there is certainly one who is recognized as the most legendary: Steve Kordek. Steve passed away last week (Feb 19, 2012), at the age of one hundred years. Almost eighty(!) years ago, Kordek, being a youngster aged 20, walked through the doors of Genco Manufacturing. Just after the second world war - in 1947 to be precise - Kordek invented something very simple but revolutionary at the same time. This is the set of items which we, being the ‘die hard pinball players’, enjoy daily. Even after almost 80 years, Kordek found out that you just needed 2 flippers in a pinball machine, and those had to be positioned at the bottom of the playfield. It sounds so simple, and in fact it is. But there was only one person who invented this, and that man is called Steve Kordek. In the many years after his innovation with the flippers, Kordek changed the world of pinball in an inimitable way. Those lucky readers who have been able to play a Williams’ Vagabond once, will know that this was the first machine with true drop targets. These were also invented by Kordek. Kordek’s name can be found on over 100 pinball machines; this is a number which will never be matched by any other pinball designer. Certainly not in these days, when only 3 or 4 new titles are launched yearly. When you’ve been involved in the creation of such an enormous number of machines, making your selection of all time favourites seems quite impossible. But, from an unusual perspective, 1976 was one of the most successful years for Steve. In that year, both Space Mission and Grand Prix were launched. More than 10,000 machines were manufactured of each title. Seven Up was a special machine as well, not only because Pat Lawlor once confessed to it being his all time favourite, but because of the theme, the backglass and the gameplay. Vacation America from 2002 was the last machine Kordek worked on. This wasn’t a commercial project, but one designed for ‘Home Use Only’. Since Kordek passed away, there’s one image carved in my memory: Kordek staying in the Williams’ manufacturing hall, holding the body of the very last Star Wars Episode One Pinball 2000 machine. Steve with the last Star Wars Episode One (picture: Duncan Brown) The pinball division closing its doors: this image being a striking metaphor for the pinball industry slowly passing away. Fortunately it never went that far, and until his very last days Kordek was involved with everything happening in the pinball industry. Every single year he visited Pinball Expo in Chicago. No matter what happened, Kordek always came by to talk about pinball and about the history of pinball. There was simply one reason for doing so: he was the living conscience of pinball, and had created his own legacy in the industry. As Steve turned 100, a great birthday movie was created. You can still watch it on YouTube. In this movie, Larry DeMar reviews Steve’s life, telling anecdotes and showing images. Steve takes care of the peroration himself: ‘I just keep hoping, each and everyone of you. Each and every one of you, know how to remember what it means to enjoy and play great pingame... it is so important, so important; thank you.’ I think that line says it all. Back to the News page Like this page? Share it with your Facebook friends: Back to the front page