Dirtypool Pinball - PODCAST - An Exploration Of The Pinball Industry

▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj

It's podcast time with RAYDAY! Raymond Davidson of Stern Pinball known for titles like Rush, Metallica Remaster and of course Fall of the Empire. We’re lining up topics around rules design from a player mindset, how code evolves after location testing, and how modern games balance competitive depth with accessibility. Also getting into team workflow, post-launch updates, and how tournament play shapes coding decisions.

What’s one rule in a modern game that actually changed how you approach it?

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🔊 Discord – http://discord.gg/ySs5Wjb3Je

🛒 Apparel http://www.dirtypoolpinball.com

00:00:00 - Intro and Raymond Davidson joins the podcast

00:01:00 - Seattle pinball roots and early tournament access

00:03:00 - Traveling for tournaments and the $2 bill payout

00:04:07 - PAPA, getting humbled, and improving through competition

00:05:23 - Getting hired at Stern and starting on Avengers

00:06:01 - First Stern lab stories and working with John Borg

00:07:32 - Led Zeppelin and getting real rules design ownership

00:08:04 - Using code to bring out the best parts of a layout

00:09:38 - Led Zeppelin wizard mode and pressure after multiball

00:10:46 - What carries over from older code frameworks

00:11:29 - Whitewood testing and finding out what is actually fun

00:12:38 - Watching streams to see how players really behave

00:14:02 - Death Star cashouts and risk versus reward

00:14:48 - Rush combos, Foo Fighters moments, and rewarding mastery

00:16:23 - Making deep games accessible within a few shots

00:18:18 - Scoring balance and why big points matter

00:19:56 - Unexpected bugs and the secret Metallica add-a-ball

00:21:08 - Favorite final code and what still nags at him

00:22:00 - Revisiting Led Zeppelin and skipped multiball objectives

00:23:17 - Filtering community feedback without chasing every opinion

00:24:42 - Remastering older games and constant rules ideas

00:25:44 - Favorite butthole shots and Lord of the Rings design

00:27:32 - Why Simpsons Pinball Party still works so well

00:28:11 - Theme integration versus scoring balance

00:30:22 - Roving shots, Death Star 2, and avoiding gimmies

00:31:18 - Speeder bikes and thematic mechanical action

00:33:10 - Bonus missions without blocking Jedi progression

00:34:16 - Star Wars as the first Spike 3 release

00:36:18 - Stream friendly UI, bigger scores, and real constraints

00:39:32 - Making the best of design limits

00:40:05 - John Wick, rejects, and code improving a harsh game

00:40:32 - Zach working across Star Wars, John Wick, and X-Men

00:42:13 - Video modes and what actually holds up

00:42:46 - Licensing limits and what can appear on screen

00:45:18 - Named Stern updates and the Rebel Rebellion problem

00:47:01 - Stern office tournaments and absurd employee scores

00:48:34 - Tournament travel, PTO, and Stern supporting play

00:49:23 - Jedi Mania, streaming games, and learning from co-op

00:51:29 - Development speed bumps beyond licensing

00:53:23 - Spike 3 video formats and H.265 workflow

00:54:42 - Spike 3 hardware questions and upgrade limits

00:56:10 - Simple layouts, deep rules, and matching code to playfield

00:57:20 - Why teams matter more than manufacturer labels

00:59:00 - AI, internal tools, and what should never reach final assets

01:01:02 - Stern Insider, multiplayer possibilities, and score visibility

01:03:33 - Wrap up and final Raven choice

01:04:33 - Great Pyramid outro and cult signoff

#pinball #sternpinball #raymonddavidson #pinballpodcast #pinballdesign #pinballrules #competitivepinball #pinballcommunity #pinballlife #arcade #arcadeculture #retrogaming #gamingpodcast #pinballplayers #pinballfans #pinballinterview #gamedesign #rulesdesign #pinballstrategy #modernpinball #dirtypoolpinball #greatpyramid #cultofpinball #pinballtalk #pinballstream #arcadegames #gamingcommunity #pinballmachine

▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj

We’ve got Kaite Martin joining the Dirty Pool Podcast. You may know her from Scorbit, NYC Pinball, or from helping keep the New York scene visible and active. We’re digging into tournament culture, media coverage, what it takes to grow pinball in a major city, and how newer players find their way into the hobby. We’ll also get into women in pinball, making spaces feel more welcoming, and what still needs work. If you were building a city around pinball culture, what would be the first thing you’d fix?

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📡 Twitch http://www.twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball

📺 YouTube http://www.youtube.com/@dirtypoolpinball

📷 Instagram http://www.instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball

📘 Facebook http://www.facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball

🔊 Discord – http://discord.gg/ySs5Wjb3Je

00:00:08 - Intro

00:03:25 - Learning pinball at a dive bar

00:04:59 - Buying Paragon and filling apartments

00:07:13 - Fourteen games in a NYC home

00:08:24 - Tenants, tournaments, and noise

00:10:12 - Moving games through tight doors

00:11:52 - New York pinball then and now

00:13:23 - Taking over games at Buttermilk

00:18:19 - Bells and Chimes New York history

00:19:34 - Old operators and location standards

00:22:42 - Hosting a 44 player home tournament

00:25:02 - Future Spa and tough tournament games

00:28:24 - Home tournaments and bad ROI

00:30:30 - Bells finals and accessible venues

00:31:48 - Balancing league and casual settings

00:34:30 - Putting personal games on location

00:36:37 - Home games breaking during tournaments

00:38:18 - Home tournament party stories

00:45:00 - Rotating games at the bar

00:46:18 - Game weights and apartment floors

00:47:31 - Drinking and competitive pinball

00:50:07 - Losing, resetting, and moving on

00:57:10 - Pinball, pets, and community

00:59:05 - Getting more people into pinball

01:01:34 - Fast round begins

01:02:01 - Medieval Madness vs Attack from Mars

01:07:04 - Powerballs and Safe Cracker

01:10:00 - Best bar lineup picks

01:13:18 - Local players worth knowing

01:15:00 - Staying excited about pinball

01:18:35 - Women’s events and local trophies

01:21:58 - Trophy staircase and old house layout

01:22:19 - Recruiting new league players

01:25:00 - Apartment pinball warnings

01:26:10 - Small games and real pinball feel

01:30:00 - Raven, Jetsons, and bad games

01:34:00 - Karl DeAngelo and pinball friendships

01:37:58 - Scorbit at Buttermilk

01:39:25 - Whipped tournament plug

01:40:03 - Wrap up and Great Pyramid

#DirtyPoolPinball #Pinball #PinballPodcast #KaiteMartin #Scorbit #NYCPinball #NewYorkPinball #WomenInPinball #ArcadeCulture #PinballCommunity #CompetitivePinball #TournamentPinball #PinballLife #Silverball #ArcadeGames #Podcast #GamingPodcast #PinballStream #ModernPinball #PinballFans #DPP #PinballTalk #Esports #ArcadeScene #Collectors #PinballNews #Flippers #Multiball

▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj

💰 Kaneda’s Pinball Podcast

http://www.patreon.com/kanedapinball

Back to the table with another long-form conversation, this time with Chris Kooluris from Kaneda’s Pinball Podcast.

Starting with where that voice comes from and how unfiltered commentary fits into a hobby that usually leans more reserved. From there, getting into how criticism, access, and relationships with manufacturers intersect once a platform starts to grow.

We’ll spend some time on what actually makes a modern game hold up beyond the first few weeks, and where expectations are landing right now.

Closing things out around the rumor side of pinball. How early information moves, what makes something credible, and the call between sharing it or sitting on it.

We’ll see where it goes once the mics are live.

Question for you:

If you had reliable early info on a new release, would you want to hear it right away or wait for the full reveal?

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📺 YouTube http://www.youtube.com/@dirtypoolpinball

📷 Instagram http://www.instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball

📘 Facebook http://www.facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball

🔊 Discord – http://discord.gg/ySs5Wjb3Je

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:30 - Why Kaneda avoids interviews and what this one is about

00:03:30 - How the Kaneda's podcast actually started and early intent

00:06:25 - Kaneda vs Chris, persona vs real person

00:07:40 - Misconceptions about him and why people lock opinions early

00:09:00 - The pressure to like every new pinball release

00:10:30 - Being critical without trying to be negative

00:12:30 - What modern pinball should be delivering at its price

00:15:00 - Friction with manufacturers and where that comes from

00:18:00 - Staying independent while still getting real information

00:21:00 - Why some pinball creators last and others disappear

00:24:00 - Is modern pinball improving or just getting more complex

00:27:00 - Games that changed his opinion over time

00:30:00 - If he designed a machine, what matters most first

00:33:00 - How the leaks and insider info side actually started

00:36:00 - Where information really comes from behind the scenes

00:39:00 - Reporter vs commentator, how he sees his role

00:42:00 - Sitting on information vs deciding to release it

00:45:00 - Do leaks help build hype or damage launches

00:48:00 - How pinball culture has shifted over the last decade

00:51:00 - Is the hobby becoming more accessible or more gated

00:54:00 - Competitive players vs collectors dynamic

00:57:00 - What people outside pinball misunderstand

01:00:00 - Being “Kaneda” vs just being Chris off mic

01:03:00 - Looking back at the show and how it evolved

01:05:30 - Barrels of Fun hints and guessing future themes

01:07:00 - Chat jumps in, theories and speculation spiral

01:08:30 - Wrapping up, plugs, and raid setup

#Pinball #DirtyPoolPinball #PinballPodcast #PinballCommunity #PinballDiscussion #PinballNews #PinballRumors #PinballLeaks #ArcadeLife #ArcadeCulture #PinballLife #PinballAddict #PinballFans #RetroGaming #ArcadeGames #PinballStream #PinballCreator #PinballMedia #PinballIndustry #SternPinball #JerseyJackPinball #SpookyPinball #DutchPinball #TurnerPinball #PinballCollectors #GamingCommunity #PodcastLife

▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj

I sit down with the highest ranked pinball player in the world, Jason Zahler, to get into what competitive pinball actually looks like at that level. We get into his early start, climbing to number one, how he approaches tournaments, what separates top players from everyone else, and how he keeps his edge when every event matters. What's it like inside the mind of a prodigy pinball player... Also does Zahler speak???

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📘 Facebook http://www.facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball

00:00:00 - Intro and bringing on the world number one

00:02:00 - Starting young and early competitive path

00:04:00 - Early tournaments and realizing competitive potential

00:06:00 - Talent vs work ethic and what actually matters

00:08:00 - Building real skill rules knowledge vs raw play

00:10:30 - Favorite games and why strategy depth matters

00:12:30 - Classic games risk reward and scoring pressure

00:15:00 - Keith Elwin design discussion and what makes his games different

00:17:30 - Modern games and adapting to deeper rule sets

00:20:00 - Practice habits and balancing school life

00:22:30 - Playing less but staying sharp and efficient

00:25:00 - Physical side of pinball and tournament endurance

00:27:30 - Mental game and controlling tilt under pressure

00:30:00 - Staying positive and avoiding bad mindset traps

00:32:30 - Adjusting quickly to tournament machines

00:35:00 - Risk management and avoiding costly mistakes

00:37:00 - Recovering after bad balls and staying focused

00:39:30 - Fatigue and surviving long multi day events

00:42:00 - Finding the zone and playing at peak level

00:44:30 - Advice for players with limited practice time

00:47:00 - Choosing tournaments and managing travel schedule

00:49:30 - Past grind years vs current selective approach

00:52:00 - Abe Flips video and visual learning for pinball skills

00:54:00 - Studying high level play to improve execution

00:56:00 - Time commitment required to stay competitive

00:58:00 - Advice for breaking into competitive pinball

01:00:00 - Common mistakes newer players make

01:02:00 - Growing pinball and exposure challenges

01:04:30 - Streaming and visibility helping the scene

01:07:00 - Why pinball clicks once people try it

01:09:30 - Final thoughts on the community and future

01:11:00 - Outro and Praise the Great Pyramid

#pinball #pinballwizard #competitivepinball #pinballpodcast #dirtypoolpodcast #ifpa #pinballcommunity #arcadegames #flippercontrol #pinballlife #pinballplayers #pinballaddict #pinballculture #arcadeculture #retroarcade #gamingpodcast #silverball #tilt #nudging #pinballtips #highscore #tournamentplay #pinballstream #dirtypoolpinball #homearcade #pinballenthusiast #classicarcade #modernpinball

▶ Full Dirty Pool Podcast Playlist

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9lWVjGsygallsiz2_TJ_oxIlhl29fLC&si=iLC8oBnZfl_U7pJj

Abe Flips from AbeFlips.com joins the Dirty Pool Podcast to talk about his new instructional series Mastering Pinball and the state of modern pinball education. Abe has become one of the most respected teachers in the hobby through his clear breakdowns of real control techniques, helping players move beyond random flipping and actually understand how pinball works. His videos carry forward the instructional legacy of Keith Elwin and company’s classic Pinball 101 era, but updated for the modern generation of competitive and home players. We talk about how the series came together, why teaching pinball still matters, and how the community continues passing down knowledge one tutorial at a time.

⚪ Mastering Pinball Contributors:

Jeff Teolis : https://www.pinballprofile.com/

Scott Danesi : http://www.scottdanesi.com/

Robert Glashüttner : https://theballiswild.net/

Simon Platzer : https://www.grainhouse.productions/

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📷 Instagram http://www.instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball

📘 Facebook http://www.facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball

00:00:00 - Introducing Abe Flips and the rise of modern pinball tutorials

00:01:20 - Pinball 101 and the early history of pinball training videos

00:02:20 - The long wait for Mastering Pinball after the trailer

00:03:30 - Filming massive slow motion footage for pinball techniques

00:05:00 - Explaining flipper skills and visual teaching methods

00:07:20 - Demonstrating drop catch mechanics in slow motion

00:08:30 - Scott Danesi’s music and the Blu-ray release decision

00:10:00 - Filming locations and access to many different machines

00:12:30 - Planning shots and building repeatable ball feeds

00:14:00 - Using extreme high-speed cameras for pinball physics

00:16:00 - Advanced nudging to extend flipper reach

00:17:10 - Virtual pinball machines and learning rules digitally

00:18:30 - Moving from YouTube tutorials to a full film project

00:20:20 - Balancing humor and serious instruction in the film

00:22:00 - Using colored balls to reveal spin and ball behavior

00:25:40 - Production timeline and unexpected licensing hurdles

00:28:00 - Studying pro player footage to discover new techniques

00:29:40 - Lighting setups and challenges filming high-speed video

00:31:00 - The Mastering Pinball masterclass and community Discord

00:33:00 - Stage flipping and how flipper hardware changes skills

00:35:00 - How slow motion analysis improves real gameplay

00:36:10 - Mechanical insights like flipper bushings and dead bounces

00:38:00 - Stern catch, tip passes, and advanced control techniques

00:41:00 - Community reactions and player improvement after watching

00:44:00 - Advice for learning and practicing new pinball skills

00:47:30 - Future plans and continuing pinball education content

00:50:20 - Final thoughts on the impact of Mastering Pinball

00:53:40 - Wrapping up the podcast and raid outro

00:54:19 - Great Pyramid

#pinball #pinballpodcast #abeflips #pinballtips #pinballtutorial #pinballstrategy #pinballskills #pinballtraining #pinballtechniques #competitivepinball #pinballcommunity #pinballplayers #pinballhowto #pinballlearning #pinballculture #pinballstream #dirtypoolpinball #pinballtalk #pinballfans #homepinball #pinballaddict #pinballwizard #pinballworld #modernpinball #pinballcoaching #pinballpractice #pinballgames #pinballlife