claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.025
Homebrew Top Gun Pinball showcased at TPF 2026; Brad built it via VPX, Fast Pinball, and self-taught coding.
Brad spent approximately 6 months developing Top Gun in VPX before building the physical machine
high confidence · Brad stated 'after about 6 months of that, I got the idea that I can build this for real'
Brad contacted Aaron from Fast Pinball and spent an hour and a half on the phone to discuss the project and acquire necessary hardware
high confidence · Brad: 'I contacted Aaron from Fast Pinball. Spent about an hour and a half on the phone with him telling him everything I had envisioned'
Brad used Claude AI to learn coding by prompting it with step-by-step requests at a beginner level
high confidence · Brad: 'I'm using Claude AI to help teach me how to do it... Tell me at a first grade level how do I do this?'
The game features 10 training missions, with 5 from the original 1986 Top Gun and 5 from Top Gun Maverick
high confidence · Brad: 'The top five are from the 1986 movie. The bottom five are from Top Gun Maverick'
This was the first public showing of Top Gun Pinball at Texas Pinball Festival 2026
high confidence · Marco: 'this is the first show that Top Gun has been at'
Brad has no prior experience with CAD, coding, or welding and works in finance/marketing
high confidence · Brad: 'I didn't know how to do anything. I work in finance marketing... No experience with CAD, coding, welding or anything like that'
Brad used Trident Pinball for the initial playfield blank and then designed features on it
high confidence · Brad: 'I contacted Ernie from Trident Pinball and uh got a playfield... just basically the shooter lane'
Brad's future project ideas include Fast and Furious and potentially Twilight-themed pinball machines
high confidence · Brad: 'my wife and I are on the same page. We both would like to do Fast and Furious' and 'I would do Twilight, but I just can't mentally grasp how I can make that a pinball game'
“I don't like clunkiness. I like flow.”
Brad@ 1:54 — Core design philosophy emphasizing smooth shot mechanics and playfield coherence over technical complexity
“I didn't know how to do anything. I work in finance marketing... No experience with CAD, coding, welding or anything like that, but I wanted to teach myself some new skills”
Brad@ 5:31 — Demonstrates homebrew accessibility and self-directed learning barriers in the community
“My goal for this game was for people to feel like they're part of the movie experience, have fun, talk about it, and then walk away and think that's not a garage game.”
Brad@ 12:57 — Reveals design intent and aspiration to create production-quality homebrew
“I'm using Claude AI to help teach me how to do it. So I put prompts in there saying, 'I want to do X, Y, and Z. Tell me at a first grade level how do I do this?'”
Brad@ 6:08 — Emerging use of generative AI as learning tool for code self-instruction in homebrew development
“What I've seen is excitement, which it warms the heart because that's the goal, right? Everyone has just been so excited and had such great things to say about it.”
Brad@ 13:09 — Reflects positive community reception and emotional validation of labor-intensive homebrew project
design_innovation: Brad's development approach demonstrates a structured homebrew pipeline: VPX simulation → conceptual playtesting → physical playfield build → Fast Pinball hardware integration → iterative code development. This represents a replicable methodology for aspiring homebrew designers.
high · Brad spent 6 months in VPX, tested the concept on blank playfield before coding, then integrated Fast Pinball hardware and used community/AI resources for code learning.
technology_signal: Claude AI is being actively used as a learning tool to scaffold code education in homebrew pinball development, lowering the barrier for non-programmers to teach themselves necessary skills.
high · Brad explicitly stated he used Claude AI with step-by-step prompts to learn coding concepts at beginner level, describing it as 'a key to teach me how to do what I needed to do'
community_signal: Homebrew pinball is becoming more accessible to non-technical makers through available platforms (VPX, Fast Pinball), hardware-as-a-service vendors, and AI-assisted learning. Brad's successful project with zero prior CAD/coding experience demonstrates lower barriers to entry.
high · Brad had no CAD, coding, or welding experience and works in finance/marketing; community forum shared code examples; Fast Pinball offered turnkey solutions; Claude AI provided instruction.
event_signal: Texas Pinball Festival 2026 featured prominent homebrew showcase with Top Gun Pinball as centerpiece debut. Strong positive community reception indicates festival's role in elevating homebrew visibility and celebrating custom projects.
high · Top Gun Pinball debuted at TPF 2026 Thursday-Saturday; Marco noted excitement and positive responses; families bonding over the machine; positioned as gallery-quality experience.
youtube_auto_sub · $0.000
design_philosophy: Brad's core design philosophy emphasizes 'flow' and shot coherence over mechanical novelty, with deliberate avoidance of 'clunkiness.' Ramps designed with variable ball returns to maintain player engagement and unpredictability while keeping shots feeling smooth and responsive.
high · Brad repeatedly emphasized dislike of clunkiness and commitment to flow; ramps designed with different ball travel paths; shots tweaked to 'feel clean and make you feel rewarded'
gameplay_signal: Top Gun Pinball features layered rule complexity: 4 training missions with perks, 10 pilot missions (5 from each film), multiball with dynamic MiG combat, and specialized modes like inverted (reverse flippers, switch-based). Rules encourage repeated play and skill progression.
high · Brad detailed training missions (ICEMAN), pilot missions (TOP GUN spelling), multiball (LOCK), and Inverted mode with reverse flippers and 10 random punishments for MiG attacks
product_strategy: Brad's IP strategy focuses on family-resonant, personal-value films (Top Gun, Fast and Furious, Twilight) rather than licensed commercial properties. Games serve dual purpose: entertainment and familial bonding/memorial (dedicated to grandfather and service members).
high · Brad: 'My favorite. It's my wife's favorite. My kids enjoy it. Something we can bond with.' Future projects tied to family watching habits (Top Gun, Fast and Furious, Twilight all watched together).
gameplay_signal: Game is deliberately challenging ('a little bit like evil' per Marco) with unpredictable ball physics and punitive multiball mechanics (no-hold flippers, reverse flippers, GI blackout, MiG respawns). Design aims to keep players engaged and 'on their toes' rather than forgiving.
high · Brad: 'It's got to be fast. It's got to be in your face. It's got to keep you on your toes.' Inverted mode described as 'switch-based' with challenges; MiG mode has 10 random punishments.
manufacturing_signal: Brad intentionally tested playfield printing and clear coat processes on the first physical machine. Whitewood artwork served dual purpose: aesthetic and production validation for future iterations or larger runs.
high · Brad: 'I got to test the printing process and the clear coat as well to see how it looks in production... I think it worked out pretty well'
sentiment_shift: Top Gun Pinball received enthusiastically positive reception at Texas Pinball Festival debut. Marco reported excitement, family bonding moments, and general acclaim, with Brad expressing emotional satisfaction at feedback quality and community reaction.
high · Marco: 'I'm obsessed. I will bogart your line if I have an opportunity.' Brad: 'What I've seen is excitement, which it warms the heart... Everyone has just been so excited and had such great things to say about it.'
content_signal: Marco Pinball producing dedicated long-form content on homebrew machines at major festivals (Texas Pinball Festival 2026). Indicates growing media focus on homebrew category as newsworthy/engaging content for community.
high · Full podcast/video episode dedicated to Top Gun Pinball interview; Marco described joy of covering homebrew projects; reference to future YouTube publication