PINBALL EXPO 2025 - PART TWO

TL;DR

Pinball Expo 2025 Part Two: factory tours, Hall of Fame inductions, and industry seminars.

Summary

Key Claims

• Stern Pinball factory tours offered Friday with four time slots (8:45am, 10:15am, 11:45am, 1:15pm) at $35 add-on fee for non-package holders

  high confidence · Direct event schedule information from Pinball News coverage

• George Gomez and Seth Davis hosted seminar on Stern's new Spike 3 control system describing improvements and benefits to both future and older Spike-based titles

  high confidence · Official seminar schedule listing and speaker identifications

• Harry Potter is Jersey Jack Pinball's latest release with design team led by Eric Meunier

  high confidence · Seminar listing 'The Making of Harry Potter' with JJP design team panel

• Pat Lawlor and Larry DeMar reminisced about early collaboration at Williams on Wreck'n Ball (later Banzai Run) through to the pinball division's closure

  high confidence · Direct seminar description of 'Then & Now' panel

• Rob Anthony, a popular pinball repairman, passed away between Expo 2024 and 2025; his ashes were housed in a pinball-shaped casket brought to the show

  high confidence · Explicit coverage of Rob Anthony memorial segment with photos of his casket

• Fred Young, voice artist and 2024 Hall of Fame inductee, passed away shortly after his induction

  high confidence · Direct statement in Fred Young tribute section

• PAPA World Championship was resurrected and held at Enterrium in Schaumburg in 2025

  high confidence · Panel discussion 'The New P.A.P.A. World Championships' with organizing team

• Pinball: The American Game documentary was screened at Expo, created by filmmakers Mark Helms and Alejandro Torné

  high confidence · Evening seminar with filmmaker introduction and video screening

• Barrels of Fun displayed Dune and Winchester Mystery House in a darkened play room adjacent to autograph session

Notable Quotes

• “George Gomez and Seth Davis host this talk which looks at Stern Pinball's new Spike 3 control system, describing the improvements it brings to future games as well as the benefits it gives older Spike-based titles.”

  Pinball News (paraphrasing seminar description) @ Friday 4:30pm — Indicates Stern's technology roadmap emphasis on Spike 3 and backward compatibility strategy

• “Pat Lawlor and Larry DeMar reminisce about their early years making pinball together at Williams, from their collaboration on Wreck'n Ball – later to become Banzai Run – through to the eventual closure of the company's pinball division.”

  Pinball News (seminar description) @ Friday 6:00pm — Historical perspective from legendary Williams designers on pinball's golden era and industry decline

• “In this seminar the design team, led by game designer Eric Meunier, talk about the creation of the Harry Potter game how so many aspects of the theme were integrated into the design of the artwork, sound, voice calls and playfield mechanisms.”

  Pinball News (seminar description) @ Friday 7:30pm — Confirms Jersey Jack Pinball's Harry Potter release and design philosophy integration

Entities

Signals

• ?

  business_signal: Barrels of Fun (Dutch Pinball) actively promoting recent releases (Dune, Winchester Mystery House) at Expo with dedicated darkened play room

  high · Floor coverage noting Barrels of Fun darkened room with both games available for play; team presence at autograph session

• ?

  community_signal: PAPA World Championship tournament resurrected and held at Enterrium in Schaumburg 2025 after period of inactivity

  high · Saturday morning panel 'The New P.A.P.A. World Championships' with organizing committee discussing resurrection and logistics

• ?

  event_signal: 41st Pinball Expo 2025 held October 15-18 at Renaissance Schaumburg with major manufacturer participation, Hall of Fame inductions, and comprehensive seminar schedule

  high · Detailed event coverage with dates, location, seminar schedule, factory tours, and Hall of Fame ceremony

• ?

  community_signal: Pinball community mourning and memorializing two significant losses: Fred Young (voice artist, 2024 Hall of Fame) and Rob Anthony (legendary repairman)

  high · Dedicated tribute segments Friday evening; Rob Anthony's ashes in pinball-shaped casket brought to Expo; formal recognition from community organizers

• ?

  competitive_signal: PAPA World Championship tournament structure and organization being formally documented and studied at industry level

  medium · Dedicated panel with organizing committee (Ryan Claytor, Penni Epstein, Josh Sharpe, Andy Bagwell, Ruthanne Bagwell) discussing tournament resurrection and logistics

Topics

Sentiment

positive(0.72)— Coverage is celebratory of industry achievements, legacy recognition, and community gathering. Respectful tributes to deceased members (Fred Young, Rob Anthony) add emotional weight. Technical discussions on Spike 3 suggest forward momentum. Some industry history nostalgia (Williams closure) provides balanced perspective. No significant controversies or negative sentiment present in this coverage.