I thought you must accidentally blurted out some insider secret and deleted it to cover your tracks

Dennis, your always throwing Oktoberfest under a bus. This time its a D rated game because the theme is alcohol. True this may steer people away who have kids or don't drink for whatever reason. However there are just as many like me who like to party and laugh and bought it for that reason!
So according to you would Halloween be a D tier because Michael is going around killing people? How would you rate Big Lebowski #17 on the top 100 that has a physical white russian cocktail on it? If you want to rag the gameplay on Oktoberfest that is fine but the theme for many people in the midwest and internationally translates very well.

Sales don't lie...

Still making them

I thought I noted others would enjoy the theme... I would have to play back my words I do not remember. But I agree I do throw the Oktoberfest theme under the bus. On theme alone there are other holidays that would have sold better, in my opinion. YMMV

I know you don't like the art, Joe Balcer design, and music which is fine, everyone is entitled to an opinion but I think making a connection between the theme and just alcohol is a stretch. If you go to a festival or play the game you will see its just as much about Gemutlichkeit, families, music, rides, and of course food!
Despite what anyone preconcieves about this theme look at these facts.
# of pinsiders who have Hot wheels on their want list 162.
The number for Oktoberfest is 218.
"Numbers don't lie"

I may need to get me to an Oktoberfest!

Nice use of Wish List numbers, I never researched where the game stood here versus other AP titles.

I still think Saint Patrick's Day would have sold better though!

Oktoberfest is a horrible theme....but I think the art package/presentation killed it dead. Had it had an art package like a classic Bally Williams game...the quality of MM or MB - it would have been received a little better. I hate golf, but I love No Good Gofers. The personality & charm of the art has a lot to do with that. You look at Oktoberfest and it just looks disgusting.

Oktoberfest art would have been better if it had focused exclusively on boobs and beer with a dash of monkey grab-ass.

And it still sucks. I owned one and couldn't get rid of it fast enough. No offense to anyone who had a hand in it.

Yes, I'm sure it is not in hot demand in south Dakota or Kansas.
I would like to see a winter theme game, I miss the old ski ones like wipeout and hot doggin. A winter olympic theme with a ski jump or bob sled would be neat.

Enjoy your break from podcasting Zach. Hope you return again soon, it's part of my weekly routine listening. See you in the Ville.

I have to say I really enjoy these podcasts. I look forward to my 2 hour drive up north every weekend, knowing I have these to keep me entertained and informed.
Thank you to all the podcasters.

Same; here is my obligatory "thanks for the entertainment, hope you keep it going after your break" post!

ooooooooh i’m saving this one until i’m in my COMFY SOCKS

Silverballs the best

Can't wait to listen to this one.

Can you recommend a show pairing for tighty-whities, a Hypercolor shirt and a dab rig?

“‘Yours’ would’ve been a much better punchline jsyk

ahhh yes here we go

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I knew I recognized those socks from that sticky Lane Bryant catalog.

Thanks Dan

dear dave and ron,

stop making these shows so information-packed, you’re going to wear out the tape on my podcatcher because i keep having to rewind so i don’t miss any of these TASTY NUGGETS

jesus are you trying to kill me

Awesome work Joel! You and Matt Morrison have the "conversational interview" format nailed. Great stuff.

Also, Keith saying they don't put levels on the lab whitewoods... ?!?!?!

Also also, "Shoot the Wamps" guy being Toho Canon is hysterical.

is joel v. keith the most wholesome pinball podcast of 2022? too early to tell, but the bar has been set preeeetty high.

Yeah Keith was a joy to talk to. Clearly he enjoys what he does for a living and is REALLY good at it.

nah i only buy my women’s socks heavily used

why not wearing something pretty to feel pretty?

2F920179-66A9-4902-842D-80D84CBA5E96.jpeg

*tarantino intensifies*

You really should pull out the Halloween section. It was a grossly inaccurate and a horrible review of a game that you played twice. Did Spooky not grease your palms enough or what? That review sounded like someone with an agenda...

Jeff

Re-listened to this section (starts at 1:00:00) and it seemed pretty objective and honest to me. Joel's generally really positive on everything, and even says several times that he doesn't enjoy being negative. He owns a TNA (Spooky) and has said many times that it's one of his favorite games ever. He also clearly reserved his judgment until he had an opportunity to play it (despite knowing how his cohosts feel about it). All signs of objectivity if you ask me.

He's probably too nice of a guy to defend himself but, imo, suggesting his opinion is based on handouts (or lack thereof) from manufacturers... that's more of an affront than his "review" of Halloween is.

Right... Not sure how you took that from what was said but it really was a "I wasn't smart enough to play it so it must suck"...

Jeff

That whole section of the podcast is about how approachable/understandable games are, and what players (casual and experienced) are drawn to or find enjoyable.

These guys are allowed to have their opinions without being labeled as shills.

Sure but, when their opinions are so negative it'll likely impact others perceptions that's just not right.

Jeff

Movie reviewers, music reviewers, Broadway critics….what’s the difference?

I'm sorry if my first impressions of playing the game were not positive. I really liked the look of the game and the topper was very cool. My entire goal of that section was to discuss how a non pinball player might react to the game. Neither my brother-in-law nor I had any idea what to hit during one mode and we were locked out from doing anything else. All we wanted to do was get to the upper playfield and couldn't. Communication in pinball is key and we were lost enough in those two games that we didn't have any urge to pay to play it any further. I voiced the same thing with G&R and admitted Hobbit had similar flaws and I owned/loved Hobbit! The goal was not to tell all Halloween owners they made a mistake or all people waiting on a game should back out. I agree that would be very harmful to Spooky and I have no interest in doing that. I guarantee there are Halloween owners that love the game (I'm assuming you are one of them) and I truthfully am really happy for you. Everyone has the right to love the games they own even if others disagree. I was just sharing my initial playing impressions and encourage others to form their own opinion after playing the game. Maybe Spooky hears the feedback and does something with it.

I record a podcast because I like talking pinball with my friends. We don't have any agendas and definitely have ZERO financial incentive to express any particular opinion. There are plenty of podcasters that love talking about all the things wrong in pinball and all the crap that needs fixed and to be honest I have no interest in being one of them. Pinball is a hobby that I love and if I wasn't having fun in it or enjoying it I wouldn't be a part of it. I'm sorry if my opinion brought some unwanted negativity into your day and as JStoltz pointed out that is not my norm.

Joel, really not sure what episode he was listening to because your review was honest and IMHO, spot on. And yes, he owns the collectors edition.
Keep up the great work guys. You are quickly becoming my favorite podcast and I listen to almost all of them. Thanks!

Joel, Some of us appreciate a straight up review and you accomplished that in spades. Don’t apologize or soften your positions, in fact I wish you’d be more savage. You are at a 2 on the scale and I want an 11. Step it up, up, up!

If someone’s opinion is affecting someone in any significant way, that’s on the recipient of the opinion. Can’t anyone think for themselves anymore?

Btw, I don’t feel your rating of Halloween is being completely objective and honest. But that’s your right, and it doesn’t affect me in any way. See how easy that is?

The Pinball Show Ep 94: Pinball Wishes and Arcade Dreams

Hosts: Dennis Kriesel & Jason Knapp

- Introducing Jason Knapp of Knapp Arcade
- We Hear From Three Correspondents
- Stern Pinball Backlog and ScoopGate
- American Pinball Award Nomination
- Jersey Jack Pinball and Anime
- Alien LV Shipping
- Funhouse 2.0 Gameplay
- The Deeproot Pinball Auction
- Unmarketable Dream Themes
- Pinball Market Trends

Knapp Arcade: https://www.knapparcade.org/
Eclectic Gamers Podcast: https://eclecticgamerspodcast.wordpress.com/eclectic-gamers-podcast/

email: [email protected]
website: thepinball.network
facebook: facebook.com/thepinballnetwork
twitch: twitch.tv/pinballnetwork
youtube: youtube.com/thepinballnetwork
instagram: @thepinballnetwork
twitter: @therealTPN
review: thisweekinpinball.com/the-pinball-show/

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-tiqha-11ceded

I actually own the game, versus walking up to it on location playing it twice and then using my platform to shit all over the game. But hey, if you want to take the opinion of someone who sounded like they had no idea what they were talking about over people who actually own the game then knock yourself out.

To be clear, my issue is never going to be with people giving reviews I don't agree with and that's not my issue here either. Of course people are free to offer their own opinion but those with a platform can abuse that trust which is exactly what happened here. It wasn't even a review, it was a "shit all over the game because I'm not smart enough to understand how to play it" commentary which is at best lazy, at worst an agenda. That was my issue. Spooky has put together something unique, special, and awesome here and to see it dismissed so quickly and with so much ignorance rubbed me the wrong way.

Lastly, my review (if you've read it) or rating of Halloween is me being completely honest from how I see it, now to your point of course that honesty is subjective for sure. Not everyone has to like the same games, no one is asking for that.

Jeff

TBH I think they had a totally valid criticism that UM/HWN does a terrible job of explaining objectives to the player or what they should be trying to do. That sort of stuff comes with more polish, but it's very accurate assesment at this point of development.

I think the more interesting criticism is how the upper-upper playfield is handled. Players will instinctively want to get up there right away because it's one of the features that stands out the most when you first walk up. However, the game doesn't make it easy to get up there or gives you much clue about how to get there. (I know there are some shortcuts to get there, but that's only because I'm familiar with the rules already. It's not intuitive or likely to be stumbled into by chance)

I think there are some game design benefits to not letting the player go straight to the upper-upper playfield right away, but it's a choice that does go against what a typical person will inherently want to do when stepping up to a game for the first time. I think there is an interesting debate here with pros/cons to both approaches.

You are correct (I think), his input was not labeled a review. It was a first impressions or a quick-take. A review would have been more detailed and savage. Listeners have changed the intent of his words and have done him a disservice by calling it a review. But when he does give a review, I’ll watch it because it will tell things as they are.