claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.036
Don covers American Pinball's Circus Voltaire, Barrels' Dungeon Crawler Carl, Jersey Jack's connectivity patent, and his Beetlejuice build.
American Pinball is making Circus Voltaire and bringing it to market
medium confidence · Don states this based on clarification from American Pinball's new leadership about a '90s game title, but notes 'this is the closest that I've heard that this thing's actually coming out' and 'we don't even have confirmation this is the game that's coming.'
Barrels of Fun has confirmed Dungeon Crawler Carl as their next game
medium confidence · Don: 'Barrels, while I would prefer the last Starfighter, I want to see what Carl can do with Carl here' and 'this is basically confirmed at this point is coming out. Who knows? Who knows, really?'
Jersey Jack Pinball filed a patent for something called 'Jack in the Box' - an interactive/online connectivity system
medium confidence · Don reports finding a patent filing in a NAP article mentioning Jersey Jack working on a 'competitor to the Stern Insider Connected' with downloadable/updatable content.
Multimorphic will not have a new P3 module game at TPF
high confidence · Don states: 'the rumors have been confirmed by Multimorphic through their email that went out to all their super fans, which I had gotten earlier in the day as well, that there won't be a new Multimorphic P3 module game at the Texas Pinball Festival.'
Stern Pokemon pinball LEs sold out in ~30 minutes and are selling for $20k-$40k on secondary market
high confidence · Don: 'LEs are selling for $20,000, $25,000 on eBay for $40,000. That's $20,000 plus the eBay fees. Madness, man.'
Beetlejuice (Spooky) is in production with 50+ units built, possibly 80+ total in pipeline, two months into build
high confidence · Don observed games at Pinball at the Beach, saw game #52 at the factory, and personally witnessed QC process confirming multiple games in production.
Three Musketeers (Hexamedia) will debut at TPF on March 20th
high confidence · Don confirms: 'this game will simultaneously be debuting at the texas pinball festival on march 20th' and Hexamedia is holding a media day in Bordeaux the same day.
“Circus Voltaire...this is the closest that I've heard that this thing's actually coming out. We have American Pinball's new head honcho, Jan Michael Vincent, I think is his name...wants to bring out these Bally classics, these Bally Williams classics.”
Don @ ~5:00 — Signals American Pinball's intention to produce Bally/Williams classics, though Don expresses uncertainty about confirmation.
“Dungeon Crawler Carl...This book and this property that I had not heard of, it's not even been a week, and then here I am confronted with it...people are inundating me with, Don, you need to go listen to this audiobook.”
Don @ ~12:00 — Indicates rapid rise in Dungeon Crawler Carl's cultural relevance, driving interest in the Barrels of Fun game adaptation.
“Jersey Jack pinball coming out with something called Jack in the Box...I almost didn't want to even say anything because I want it to happen because I'm just going to be thinking about those onion rings every time I'm logging into a Jersey Jack game.”
Don @ ~20:00 — Humorous take on Jersey Jack's patent filing for connectivity system; reveals Don's enthusiasm for the feature despite the name collision with the fast-food chain.
“My Beetlejuice game, the game play field, is now completely wired...after spending 10 hours today soldering, screwing, running wires...I can now walk over to the games that are on the line in final inspection, and I'm actually able to pick out all the little areas that would be of concern.”
Don @ ~28:00 — Demonstrates Don's hands-on manufacturing experience building Beetlejuice and the quality-control insights it provided.
“Multimorphic...I was getting my hopes all set for a brand new P3 multi-morphic game to debut at TPF...sadly we heard the rumors have been confirmed by Multimorphic through their email...that there won't be a new Multimorphic P3 module game at the Texas Pinball Festival.”
Don @ ~41:00 — Official confirmation that Multimorphic is not debuting new P3 content at TPF, attributed to Portal demand.
“Pokemon's coming. It's not out yet. which is a little weird...LEs are selling for $20,000, $25,000 on eBay for $40,000...That's $20,000 plus the eBay fees. Madness, man.”
announcement: American Pinball clarified they are bringing a 1990s Bally/Williams classic to market; Circus Voltaire rumored/partially confirmed.
medium · Don reports American Pinball's new leadership clarified 'a 90s game that they were doing' and 'this is the closest that I've heard that this thing's actually coming out' but also states 'we don't even have confirmation this is the game that's coming.'
rumor_hype: Dungeon Crawler Carl book/audiobook experiencing rapid cultural momentum; Barrels of Fun game adaptation generating community anticipation.
high · Don reports seeing book in Barnes & Noble, hearing from multiple community figures (Kineticist, Retro Ralph), and receiving listener messages about the audiobook; multiple people are linking the book's popularity to the upcoming pinball game.
technology_signal: Jersey Jack Pinball filed patent for 'Jack in the Box,' an online/interactive connectivity system to compete with Stern Insider Connected.
medium · Patent filing discovered in NAP Arcade article mentioning 'some kind of interactive or downloadable, contentable, updatable, internetable' system from Jersey Jack working on 'a competitor to the Stern Insider Connected.'
manufacturing_signal: Spooky Pinball (Beetlejuice) producing ~2 games per day; 50+ units completed ~2 months into production cycle; pipeline extends to 80+ machines.
high · Don directly observed: 'They're banging out like two games or so like personally every day...Saw it. Watched it.' Game numbers indicate 12 at Pinball at the Beach, 50+ in pipeline, with 'another 30 or so' games coming, total approaching 80+ with possible nonlinear numbering.
groq_whisper · $0.088
Halo (Chicago Gaming) was rumored for TPF but may not appear, moving at 'the speed of CGC'
low confidence · Don speculates: 'halo was being kicked around as maybe debuting at the show but maybe it's moving at the speed of cgc which means that won't be there'
Pokemon Day coincided with Pokemon's 30th anniversary on March 27th
high confidence · Don: 'we did miss the, on the 27th, like my birthday day was also the birthday of Pokemon apparently 30 years ago.'
Don @ ~56:00 — Highlights extraordinary secondary market pricing for Stern Pokemon LE and the gap between retail and market value.
“Turner...the spotlight is on you...the floor is all yours buddy...what is there for us to walk in and get excited about?”
Don @ ~49:00 — Calls out Chicago Gaming Company (Turner) as the last major Texas manufacturer with opportunity to announce new title at TPF, as Multimorphic and Spooky are not debuting new games.
“We went 24 and a half minutes without mentioning Stern and we haven't dried up on content. What a time to be alive and in the pinball hobby.”
Don @ ~51:00 — Reflects on how much activity is happening in pinball beyond Stern, indicating a healthy, diverse market.
sentiment_shift: Significant community interest in Dungeon Crawler Carl game driven by book's popularity; similar to historically successful IP-tied pinball releases.
high · Don notes the book display at major retailer, multiple community figures discussing it, listener inundation, and his own enthusiasm despite not knowing the IP previously.
product_strategy: Stern Pokemon pinball LE sold out in ~30 minutes; secondary market pricing reached $20k-$40k despite game not being officially limited.
high · Don: 'LEs are selling for $20,000, $25,000 on eBay for $40,000...That's $20,000 plus the eBay fees. Madness, man. That's what's going on. On a game that's technically not limited, what in the world, Don?'
business_signal: Multimorphic prioritizing Portal module production over new P3 game debut at TPF due to high demand.
high · Don cites confirmed email from Multimorphic: 'there won't be a new Multimorphic P3 module game at the Texas Pinball Festival. Why even go? Cancel flights' attributed to Portal demand.
event_signal: Texas Pinball Festival (~2 weeks away) will feature Three Musketeers debut and Beetlejuice in lineup; Multimorphic absent with new content; Chicago Gaming positioned as wild card.
high · Three Musketeers confirmed debuting March 20th at TPF; Multimorphic email confirms no new game; Don observes Beetlejuice machines ready; speculates on Chicago Gaming opportunity.
design_philosophy: Ringmaster mechanism from Circus Voltaire (1990s) influencing contemporary design; similar pop-up magnet mechanics seen in Dune and X-Men.
medium · Don notes: 'we saw similar mechanisms to the ringmaster's head surface recently like in dune William the Worm...clear throwback...Uncanny's X-Men have a sentinel that rises from the playfield as a bash toy, not unlike our friend the creepy purple Ringmaster.'
content_signal: Hexamedia holding media day in Bordeaux for Three Musketeers game, inviting press and influencers to pre-event coverage.
high · Don received media invite to Hexamedia's March 20th media day in Bordeaux art gallery; simultaneous TPF debut ensures visibility through dual event coverage.
licensing_signal: Dungeon Crawler Carl licensing trend reflects industry shift toward recently popular IP rather than classic/nostalgic properties.
medium · Don advocates for licensing contemporary hits: 'I would like us to get back to a point in pinball where licensed titles are coming out kind of in the same time frame that the popular show or whatever or book or property exists' and cites Dungeon Crawler Carl as positive example of timing.