http://www.damienleveck.com/portfolio-posts/pinballers/

Craig,

I think critiques are appropriate if not desired. A simple yes or no is fine but debate, yes debate is entertaining. If you like it cool, if you hate it cool, if you think it will sink the hobby cool, if you think it will elevate awareness and want Jared as your poster child, well....

Yeah but I still answer your call. You are my favorite, even with that avatar.

Haha, dude that's just my ulcer. It's all day everyday.

LOL! Ah, Facebook.

I made a similar post at the same time as this one, just basically the link, on an offroad forum (another hobby I have) and I find the two post fascinating.

Here on the pinball forum (the pinball people) the majority have a distaste for the "show" with a resounding clamor of fear of rising prices and public perception.

While on the offroad forum (the average Joe that is not into pinball), all be it a much smaller thread and understandably so, not one person had a negative thing to say about it and most said they found it entertaining and would watch it.

The reality is that what was portrayed in that sizzle is what sells, and people make TV to make money. If a Hollywood exec thought watching Bowen narrating himself playing pinball would sell that's where the focus would be, it's not (although I like watching Bowen's videos). Sharpe would have to comment but I would imagine even his Sizzle that he doesn't want to show has a fair amount of drama (be it manufactured or otherwise) because that is what is required to appeal to the masses. Pinside is not the masses. People (the masses) want to be enthralled by inter personal dynamics of the "characters" and the base story line, be it pinball or cars or whatever ends up in the background. The point that someone made, something to the effect that the pinball hobby doesn't need a TV show. He is correct, it also doesn't need Stern or Pinside or RGP or Expo or all the people profiting from designing mods or tournaments, pinball doesn't need any of this....unless you want it to thrive and grow. This hobby (any hobby) exist because of capitalism, a TV show is merely an extension of that capitalism. You don't have to like it but like it or not the exposure is good.

A serious question and not just trying to argue. How does it ruin the hobby for you?

I am genuinely into pinball, I have sought out and restored rare games because of my enjoyment of the hobby, I go to different pinball shows because of my enjoyment of the hobby, I have pins in my house because of the enjoyment of the hobby, my enjoyment of the hobby is what got me into buying and selling pins. I did not sign on to this project to ruin the pinball hobby and it's going to end up as an agree to disagree thing but I can in no way see something like this ruining the pinball hobby.

Fair enough, it would appear that the hobby for you is about money. So yes, in that regard a show like this could potentially ruin the pinball hobby for you.

You should introduce yourself to me someday, and please mention your post when you do. Just so I have a point of reference. If we've already met I'd really enjoy meeting you again.

I purposely posted it the way I did with no explanation or grand portrayal because I wanted an honest reaction to it. There was at least one of us on the cast that wanted to make a huge grandiose post, well I didn't want the reaction tainted or guided.

As I said in the c2c interview, if anyone on the cast takes what is said here (or anywhere) to heart they should have never put themselves out there to begin with. I for one have absolutely zero regrets for doing this project, it was a very fun experience that I can at the very least say I got to try.