Your pointy-flipper rage in action!

If you ever get a chance, I'd say take a look at the playfields. Just from a geometry standpoint, they are pretty interesting (to varying degrees). Even though they are all single-level, I'd say each street level game is laid out in a way that various parts of the field feel segmented out, with Title Fight probably being the most pronounced with three very different layout styles within the same game. Plus two games (Title Fight and Deadly Weapon) did that Game Plan tactic of putting a pop bumper where you'd normally expect a sling. But most of the layouts have pretty unique looks (Silver Slugger is probably the most conventional).

Of course, I'm just talking geometry. The PAPA guide lists Deadly Weapon, Title Fight, and Vegas as too easily exploited for good competitive play (Deadly Weapon due to the mystery award being way too unbalanced, the other two have high-value shots that are very easy to repeat). But not much to be done about that.

Anyway, I'd really love to see another single-level game with a highly creative layout. I think TNA shows that interest exists for such games, at least from time to time.

Yes, that would be great to hear from them. Even some that are no longer in the business if they can be tracked down. Also Nino from Australian Pinball Restorations. What about Wade Krause and Mirco? Kevin and Mike from CPR?

hay i am the Biggest Distributor in the World, Weight Wise

Cameron Silver - for a homegrown success story.

From Timezone Arcade Australia to Bally Williams pinball USA.

Nothing wrong with pinball drama when appropriate and I don't know why anyone would consciously choose to avoid it particularly as it seems to go hand in hand with the underlying machinations and commercial backroom deals of the pinball hobby.

Forewarned is forearmed after all.

I had to comment on this... Beetlejuice was a huge hit and 78 million for 1988 was a lot of money in the box office... If you don't know what you are talking about don't talk out of your behinds... Batman, was one of the movies that really exploded the box office... And it was beetlejuice that primed Burton for that job. And what got keaton it too... THink about the original star wars... It's first run was around 300 million... That was in 77... Not too far removed from the current box office standards and that was the biggest smash hit... Well since Jaws... But, again it was Jaws that primed Star Wars... So YES. Beetlejuice was a really big hit, a big deal... Not a cult movie, and had a kids tv show... You may know pinball, but you don't know film... Just admit what you don't know... Or you got a computer look it up... Van Damme was a box office draw and most of his 80s and early 90s films only made around 15-25 million... And he was a huge, huge star... Jeez.

And Superman was an insane hit... Again, don't cherry pick box office figures without the context. Not just inflation, but ticket prices were much cheaper back in the day. Superman was one of the biggest hits of that year... Same with Superman II... Yes, it didn't get the return of the first one... But, it still was an iconic and top grosser for that year as well. Obviously you guys are not movie buffs. And I don't think you understand the appeal of Christopher Reeve as Superman, or even how the last two of his films while being stinkers, he still was iconic... I remember the day I heard about his injury... It was huge devastating news. I was in Elementary school in an assembly. A kid told me Superman was paralyzed. And it was national news... And to many, many people he WAS SUPERMAN.

I do apologize... I don't know why I got so cheesed off at you guys... You're pinheads not movie buffs... I'm sorry. But, yes Beetlejuice wasn't a cult film. It was a huge hit. Back in the day, only a handful of movies grossed over 100 million. There were less tentpole movies. Now, you have multiple tentpole films released in the same month sometimes the same week, other times just a week apart... That never happened. It would be 4 films to see in the summer... That kind of stuff. Just a bit of knowing your source material... But, I was an angry jerk. I am sorry.

Don't worry man. Pretty obvious that I'm not a movie buff these days but, being the age I am, I lived through those movies too back when I was only into going to the cinema (to play pins too of course). Both amazing films and yes they were successful too.

My point was that I think Superman still has a great brand and mass appeal. Beetlejuice less so but would make a beautiful looking pin.

Wonder if it’s Beetlejuice 1 or 2?

Guys. Everyone. You really need to take a step back and read between the lines. Please.

Could it be, that obtaining a license is defensive business tactic. Could it be a smoke screen for all we know. Or a specific ambition for a game designer. Or simply what is affordable in relation to how well recognised and desirable a movie (for staying at movie licenses) is.

Sure, there are hugh international 80's classics, bigger than say Beetlejuice. But if it was a free pick and choose, don't you think we would have seen Die Hard, Back to the Future and Top Gun pinball machines already.

You know, it would not surprise me, if the Ghostbusters license was infact too expensive and difficult, in relation to how well received that game turned out to be.

The theatrical box office is irrelevant for a movies value now a days. Both in terms of price to acquire and appeal in a game.

And speaking of smoke screens, I'll tell you. Steve Richie is not making a Black Knight game. Let alone a two level playfield design. Come on.

As long as you aren't suggesting pineapple juice as the beverage choice. We have enough XXXXL matching black tshirt wearing drones as a result down here as it is.

I give you a middle of the road 5 for always taking the path of least resistance and being the sheep rather than a shepherd of the local scene.

That's why K man gets the vox pop for best podcast despite being banished from the biggest pinball forum on the planet.

P-insanity.

There you go fellas, some more hate mail, the floodgates are open now.

I enjoy listening to Kaneda because he isn't constrained by forum politics with his subject matter.

I explained that to you from the beginning.

At the same time though it makes logical sense for any prudent person to keep his ear to the ground on what is being broadcasted locally at the coalface.

I never even implied you were getting paid but thanks for clarifying publicly anyway. Down here though, hierarchical based politics tends to carry higher currency value than actual money. Weird huh?

Not to worry your tshirt is in the mail, I'm sure.

Rather than raw performance of dollars, it might be best to sort movies by U.S. box office performance.

Superman (1978): 3rd highest (#2 Animal House and #1 Grease)
Superman II (1980): 2nd highest (#1 was Empire Strikes Back)
Beetlejuice (1988): 11th highest (not listing all the others, #3 was Coming to America, #2 was Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and #1 was Rain Man)

For comparison, Ghostbusters was the #1 box office film in 1984.

So, I personally wouldn't consider Beetlejuice a huge hit at threatres given it didn't make the top 10 for the year (whereas the first two Superman films were both theatrical behemoths), though whether it is a cult classic depends on your definition (I tend to associate cult classics with being box office bombs, which Beetlejuice definitely was not, it was successful as 11th is still a very good rank, but I do think it gained more acceptance after home release).

I can't even remember if I saw it in theatres as a kid. I liked it. Weird movie. Saw the cartoon some, but I don't think it ever hooked me and I did not regularly watch it.

On topic, would I want to see Beetlejuice as a pin? It's not a theme that I feel strongly about, but I think it would be easy to program a story around. Superman I would be more interested in, though I have a lot more experience watching Superman II and would prefer the theme to use the first two movies (they are closely tied together, and I think having General Zod as an adversary in the game is too good to ignore). Three and four I wouldn't even reference, though.

Kaneda's podcast is a raging dumpster fire of negativity and outright bullshit. We'd all be better off if it would smolder and die.

Hmmm ... I'm sensing you're not a fan.

Seems like Ryan C isn't happy with Kaneda lately either. I enjoy listening to him overall, but he does have a tendency to get overly dramatic and beat dead horses (Andrew Heighway currently).

Can't really blame Kaneda for the ad nauseum Heighwayman topic.

He was one of the more prominent figures who maintained a level of scepticism about Mr Hydrofoil and voiced that opinion publicly from the beginning despite anyone saying anything that was less than fawning admiration being an extremely unpopular position at the time.

Funny how those persons who go outside the safety net status quo and do their own independent due diligence about some wannabe pinball startups are so often vilified in the short term, but turn out to be vindicated in the long run.

Beetlejuice is probably one of those rumors to go catch a mole

Don't forget to vote for Transformers.

GREAT interview, man you guys continue to put out one amazing episode after the other! Thank you for making my commute to work that much more interesting, I like listening so much I don’t even mind being stuck in traffic!

Any chance it might happen again sometime in the future?

The only thing I didn't like about Jeremy's interview was when he was making answers shorter. Ramble on, man! Those are the kind of stories/details pinheads want.

I consider your interviews the main course of the podcast and prefer it when you start with them instead of the news. Since I'm a regular on Pinside and TWIP there isn't much you can tell me beyond your own opinions of the news that I haven't already heard. That's why the interviews are GOLD - unique content. Also, two thumbs up for Slam the Top 100, kudos for maintaining a weekly pace, and thanks for the occasional Australian slang lessons. Cheers!

Budgie_Smugglers_Back (resized).jpg

We love the interviews too. Especially as we really don't know how they will go and usually end up being a great chat with ALOT of new information. Appreciate the feedback, the order will depend on when we think we can record them and how much news is happening at the time. But understand that they have now become the focus for alot of people.

Hmmm, the 40/40/20 - LE/Prem/Pro rule for domestic sales. Interesting.

Doesn't take a mathematician to work out total sales when LE numbers are preallocated from Chicago.

From 77 ACDC LE in 2012 to 33 GBLE to 18 Batman LE in 2016. AS was in the teens in 2017 and GOTG sold "less than expectations." Maybe we need a year on year sales bar chart?

RRP goes up, sales go down but profit per unit increases and simultaneously implement a sales strategy to kill off the operator market segment entirely.

95/5 Home buyers/Ops sales ratio and no one sees where this is heading long term?

If it ain't broke don't fix it - say it again for the record. SMH.

Banana republic - Used by then Federal Treasurer Keating as a warning for the future of an industry when too much unwarranted importance is placed on one segment of the market resulting in its overall demise.

What did they say about TRON LE?

Just that Tron is the not-in-production game they get requests for the most.

Am I the only one who can't get this to load? The MP3 downloads as 0 KB.

Roid Rage?

Huh, working for me too now. Must have been an anomaly.

Marty's audio was a bit distorted this time around. Great episode though, super interesting interview with the Australian distributor. Thanks guys, keep it up! Edit: Saw the distortion was known and mentioned already in the show notes, sorry!

Yes unfortunately it recorded the audio from my webcam not my headset mic. Only realised after we had finished recording, I was gutted when I started editing. Mistake never to be made again.

Marty, I thought you were unwell and recording from the dunny

Great show guys,
Love your work

Top call on the QS Ryza, Played that one alot, super cool
Nice one

Definitely sounds like it.

It'll be another good one, that's for sure! I won't give it away

Are we allowed to guess? Is it someone from Pinnovating?