Cincinnati, OH
Quoted from mbaumle:In terms of trademark/canonical features that I've noticed:
Pat Lawlor: games always seem to have some type of "horizonal gameplay" (which lends the use of those 3+ flippers) and a "shot through the pop bumpers." References to "The Power." Hand on red button. Jackpot scored from a horizontal shot from an upper left or right flipper.
Steve Ritchie: Tons of flash lamps. Fast and flowing games. Cannons/ball launchers.
Mark Ritchie: Ramp symmetry--either crisscrossing or not.
Barry Oursler: Wicked outlanes that make you want to rage quit.
John Popadiuk: Long sweeping ramps around the playfield. Lush themes and concepts. Unsavory business practices. Empty Cabinets.
Ted Zale: Mushroom bumpers a-plenty. Zipper Flippers. Askewed top rollovers.
Ed Krynski: Uncanny ability to crank out a shitton of unique games that were easy to understand, hard to master.
Steve Kordek: (see: Ed Krynski)
That's what I can come up with from memory. I'm sure I've missed some things.
Quoted from mbaumle:In terms of trademark/canonical features that I've noticed:
Pat Lawlor: games always seem to have some type of "horizonal gameplay" (which lends the use of those 3+ flippers) and a "shot through the pop bumpers." References to "The Power." Hand on red button. Jackpot scored from a horizontal shot from an upper left or right flipper.
Steve Ritchie: Tons of flash lamps. Fast and flowing games. Cannons/ball launchers.
Mark Ritchie: Ramp symmetry--either crisscrossing or not.
Barry Oursler: Wicked outlanes that make you want to rage quit.
John Popadiuk: Long sweeping ramps around the playfield. Lush themes and concepts. Unsavory business practices. Empty Cabinets.
Ted Zale: Mushroom bumpers a-plenty. Zipper Flippers. Askewed top rollovers.
Ed Krynski: Uncanny ability to crank out a shitton of unique games that were easy to understand, hard to master.
Steve Kordek: (see: Ed Krynski)
That's what I can come up with from memory. I'm sure I've missed some things.
This is an excellent summary and analysis.
Specifically, I'd just add that Lawlor likes low-set pop clusters and deep-set ramps. Oursler often has a shot that loops around the back of the playfield. JPop is about mechanical innovation and efficient use of space.
