Quoted from pin2d:
Homebrew ended up being the most complicated category, we (the TWIPY Committee) spent hours discussing homebrew. I also reached out to the homebrew builders to get more information on the status of the machines. The criteria for homebrew eligibility that the committee ended up voting for was that it has to be flippable, it has to have had a public showing, and has to be an original design. The original design stipulation excluded Led Zeppelin, Wonder Woman, Zelda, Motor City Taxi, etc. Perhaps we should add a best retheme category in future years.
For the dropdowns (like podcast), I was surprised by some of the results too - I couldn't believe the Spooky Podcast, Slap Save, Eclectic Gamers, etc., weren't in the top 10 (plus ties). But those were the results of the pre-voting at the beginning of December that determined the dropdowns.
Homebrew
that's why I reached out 2 years ago with the thread which shows finished games and why not apply the same parameters like stern games etc - consider it for the twippy when it is playable, with art, general rules and sounds. Listing half baked games isn't a fair listing as there are a heap of others as well that are half baked - eg Jack Dangers may be flippable but doesn't have art etc is not fair to the guys like Led Zepp and Spaceballs that put alot of effort and finished games is a bit of a kick in the guts for those guys. You are also isolating guys that don't have a show near them, in their state or country - maybe for next year base the selection off finished games with art, music, sounds and general rules as well as posted youtube videos instead of show attendance. I think your categories are getting very biased to pinball shows etc and locations and not aimed at a global melting pot of pinball involvement. Here are the ones I found that deserve to an option for the award.
( 4 Games)
1. Led Zeppelin
Boardset - Original Bally Boardset
Retheme - Led Zeppelin , which was a Freedom
rotordave , NZ
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/1976-bally-led-zeppelin-retheme
2. Legends of Camelot
Boardset - P3-ROC
Original Theme
matirwin , USA
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/legend-of-camelot
3. Spaceballs - The Pin
Boardset - FAST
Original Theme
wolfmarsh , USA
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/spaceballs-the-pin
4. Undertale
Boardset - Custom
Original Theme
@KellyCorcoran, USA
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/a-very-physical-undertale-fangame/page/2#post-4898171
Podcasts
Why not you just add those other common ones to the list as I am sure many people missed the pre-votes announcement.
