Two pinball obsessives walk into a podcast. Erika Svensson from Erika's Pinball Journey and Manu Smith of Mystery Pinball Theater 3000 bring you Pinball Minority Report. A no-agenda hang about the games, events, and rabbit holes taking up way too much of their lives. Subscribe, then come find them on YouTube and everywhere else. They're doing a lot.
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From Pac-Man Homework to Stern Pinball - Elizabeth Gieske Interview | Ep. 12
Saison 1 · Épisode 12
vendredi 23 octobre 2026 • Durée 01:10:36
In this episode of Pinball Minority Report, Erika and Manu sit down with Elizabeth Gieske, Transformers lead software developer at Stern Pinball. Elizabeth was a tournament player before she was a developer.
We get into how a college Pac-Man assignment led her to pinball, what her Stern interview was really like, and why a confusing game is the game’s fault, not yours (it’s all about doors). She also takes us behind the scenes on Transformers: the Optimus vs. Megatron split-flipper mode, the new Prime Training mode that teaches real flipper skills, how version numbers actually work, and how she turned a conversation into the Scars mode on Jaws. Plus, our dev friends’ rapid-fire questions on debugging, AI, and flipper codes.
We recorded this one just before Pinball Expo 2026 in Schaumburg, IL, where Elizabeth spoke on the Transformers panel and the Women in Pinball panel, moderated by Erika. Thanks to everyone who came out!
Manu and Erika talk about a once-in-a-lifetime visit to a private pinball collection: 100+ games, pristine wood rails, 1950s and 60s electromechanical arcade pieces, and a one-of-a-kind wood rail homebrew. We also cover our plans for Pinball Expo in Schaumburg, IL, then answer listener questions on shots vs. toys, home maintenance costs, and running a Multimorphic P3 on location.
⚠️ DISCLAIMER: PLEASE READ ⚠️ We are NOT sponsored by, paid by, or employed by Multimorphic. We both own a P3 because we genuinely enjoy the platform, and that’s it. Every player, home owner, and operator is different. Play one first, do your own research, and think about your own skill and comfort level with repairs before you buy. Erika has a small partnership with For Amusement Only Games (Nick Baldridge) that gets buyers a free engraved tumbler, but she earns no money from it. These are just our opinions and experiences.
🎯 CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction and episode overview
01:06 Upcoming events and community shout outs
03:52 Private Pinball Collection Tour
07:37 Homebrew Woodrail - Screamo
10:33 Pinball Roadtrip to Pinball Expo
15:23 Homebrews at Pinball Expo, Marco Booth
20:49 Women in Pinball Panel moderated by Erika
24:48 Viewer Questions and Shoutouts
25:44 Toys Vs Shots? How Important is Flow?
32:13 How much maintenance costs in a home machine?
39:00 P3 Maintenance Questions
52:03 Closing Remarks
56:28 Pinball maintenance costs and common issues
📍 SEE US ON THE ROAD & AT EXPO
Saturday, Oct 10: Erika and Aaron Davis at the Electric Bat Arcade with two homebrews to play: Bootleggers and Dark Chaos
Two Pinball Nerds, One Denver Show, Zero Regrets | Ep. 10
Saison 1 · Épisode 10
samedi 19 septembre 2026 • Durée 47:35
Erika and Manu are back with pinball news, stories, and a recap of the Rocky Mountain Pinball Showdown in Denver! This week: Stern's new Fallout pinball (Pro & Premium hands-on impressions), a Pokémon code update, Zen Pinball FX, Jason Zahler's historic three-peat as IFPA World Champion, and Erika's on-the-ground report from Denver.
Space Cadet Pinball, District 82 & Designing with Barry Oursler | Ep. 9
Saison 1 · Épisode 9
samedi 5 septembre 2026 • Durée 01:07:16
This week on Pinball Minority Report, Manu and Erika are joined by rules designer and industry veteran Steven Bowden (FunWithBonus) for a deep dive into CNC Dan's real-life Space Cadet Pinball build and whether the classic Windows game can actually be translated into a physical machine.
Steven talks about Deeproot Pinball's unreleased Space Cadet-inspired project designed by Barry Oursler, shares the story behind designing Barry O's Barbecue Challenge as a tribute to the late Barry Oursler, and breaks down his math-brained, come-from-behind win on Twilight Zone at District 82. We also get into diversity in competitive pinball, women in the scene with Bells and Chimes, and the story behind Steven's t-shirt.
Chapters: 00:00 Cold Open & Show Intro
00:37 Welcome to Pinball Minority Report
01:42 Introducing guest Steve Bowden (Fun with Bonus)
02:56 What is Space Cadet Pinball?
05:50 Can CNC Dan's Physical Build Actually work?
09:23 Steve's History with the Unreleased Space Cadet-inspired Machine
11:34 Pinball Worlds Colliding in the Comments
14:30 Time Shock Pinball
15:44 Shoutout to Indie Gamer Chick
17:00 Marketing Story Behind Space Cadet on Windows
19:34 Steve Bowden Pinball History
22:15 Who is Barry Oursler?
22:39 Barry O's Barbecue Challenge Pinball Machine
23:50 Barry O's Deep Dive
34:05 Diversity in Pinball: Steven's Experience
40:12 Women in Pinball & the Belles & Chimes League
43:44 "We Don't Get Your Kind Around Here" T-Shirt Story
Is "Affordable" Pinball Actually Worth It? | Ep. 8
Saison 1 · Épisode 8
vendredi 21 août 2026 • Durée 55:52
Manu and Erika dig into the economics of the pinball hobby: what it actually costs to keep up with new releases, why the market has shifted from arcades to home collectors, and whether pinball would even survive without licensed IPs like Godzilla, Harry Potter, and Jaws (spoiler: 78 of the current Pinside Top 100 are licensed).
Then, an honest look at Wonderland Amusements' budget home machine, Alice Goes to Wonderland - what it gets right, who it's actually for, and why comparing it to a $10k Stern misses the point entirely.
The conversation covers various aspects of the pinball industry, including pinball news, community engagement, and the impact of pinball shows on game launches. It delves into the excitement and anticipation surrounding new pinball releases and the influence of community events on the industry. It explores the emotional connection to music pins and the impact of music on pinball gameplay. Additionally, it highlights the engaging and fun experiences Erika had at Comic-Con, including interactions with fellow pinball enthusiasts and the excitement of playing new pinball games.
00:43 Discussion of Recent Pinball Game Announcements
02:19 Experience at Multimorphic and the Dungeon Crawler Carl Reveal
05:29 Details on Ender's Game and Its Development
08:22 Comparison of Dungeon Crawler Carl and Ender's Game Mechanics
Imoto on Arcades, 40,000 Pinball Parts & Building an Inclusive Community | Ep. 6
Saison 1 · Épisode 6
vendredi 24 juillet 2026 • Durée 01:11:35
The Pinball Minority Report podcast features a conversation with Imoto Arcade, co-owner of Captain Crazy's Paradise in Foley, Alabama, and the creator of the Imoto Pinball Challenge. The discussion covers Imoto's pinball origin story, her journey into the pinball industry, and the significance of pinball in her life. The conversation also delves into the challenges and excitement of pinball, as well as the importance of supporting local arcades and the pinball community. The conversation covers a range of topics including pinball machines, Oscar-nominated movies, pinball trivia, and the challenges of maintaining pinball machines. It also delves into the importance of inclusive spaces in pinball and the experiences of women in the pinball community. The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to pinball, including pinball games, the pinball community, pinball shows, and the homebrew pinball experience. Imoto shares insights on the pinball community and the process of creating and showcasing homebrew pinball games at pinball shows. The conversation also delves into the challenges and excitement of being part of the pinball community.
Takeaways
Pinball is a significant part of Imoto's life and has played a crucial role in her personal and professional journey.
The conversation highlights the importance of supporting local arcades and the pinball community, as well as the challenges and excitement of being part of the pinball industry. Pinball enthusiasts are passionate about collecting and maintaining specific pinball machines and parts.
Creating inclusive spaces in pinball is essential for welcoming diverse communities and ensuring a positive experience for all players.
Homebrew pinball games are a significant part of the pinball community, and showcasing them at pinball shows provides valuable feedback and support for creators.
The pinball community is a passionate and supportive group that values creativity, collaboration, and the sharing of experiences and knowledge.
New Games + Dungeon Crawler Carl (Who's Making It?) | Ep. 5
Saison 1 · Épisode 5
vendredi 10 juillet 2026 • Durée 54:49
The conversation covers the latest pinball news, including the release of Sonic by Jersey Jack Pinball and the impact of different pinball companies' strategies on the market. It also delves into the influence of licensing, limited runs, and the outreach of pinball companies to YouTubers for promotion. The conversation covers pinball marketing strategies, the considerations for owning a pinball machine, and new pinball machine releases and modules. Pinball companies are leveraging content creators for promotion, and owning a pinball machine requires careful consideration of space, budget, and technical support. Additionally, new pinball machine releases and modules are discussed, highlighting the excitement around potential new games and experiences.
Takeaways
Pinball news and releases
Different pinball companies and their strategies Pinball companies are reaching out to content creators to review and promote their pinball machines.
Owning a pinball machine requires consideration of space, budget, and access to technical support.
Erika and Manu discuss their experiences at the Golden State Pinball Festival and Fanime, highlighting the community involvement, pinball tournaments, and cosplay culture. They also share insights from the impact of pinball on the anime community. The conversation also covers the distinction between operators and home buyers, the challenges of pinball design and serviceability, and the discussion of Stern's newest Transformers pinball game.
Takeaways
Community involvement in pinball events is essential for creating a fun and engaging experience.
Pinball has the potential to bridge gaps and introduce new audiences to the game through events
Distinction between operators and home buyers
Challenges of pinball design and serviceability
Discussion of Stern's Transformers pinball game
Chapters
00:00 Intro
03:24 Community Engagement at Golden State Pinball Festival
08:39 Challenges and Triumphs of Bringing a Pinball Machine to an Event
19:43 Experiencing Fanime: A New Perspective
26:56 Fanime Experience and Community Engagement
32:09 Operator vs. Home Buyer Perspectives
48:49 Transformers Pinball: Anticipation and Insights
54:37 Outro
Winchester Mystery Hoax | Ep. 3
Saison 1 · Épisode 3
vendredi 5 juin 2026 • Durée 50:27
In this episode, Manu and Erika discuss the true story of Sarah Winchester, pinball at FANIME, and the LGR pinball machine. They delve into the debunking of the Winchester Mystery House story and share insights about the Fanime convention. Erika discusses her excitement about bringing pinball to the Fanime convention and the impact it will have. They also talk about the outreach efforts within pinball and the potential for pinball to reach new audiences through YouTube.
Takeaways
Sarah Winchester's story is debunked, revealing her as an innovative and intelligent woman.
Fanime is a vibrant anime convention with cosplay, art, and merchandise. Pinball's potential to reach new audiences through events like the Fanime convention and YouTube outreach.
The impact of pinball outreach efforts and the potential for pinball to grow in popularity.
05:46 The Winchester Mystery House: Fact or Fiction?
22:18 Exploring FANIME: A Celebration of Anime Culture
24:18 Exploring Anime Conventions and Art
25:45 Bringing Pinball to Fanime
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Pinball Expo, Schaumburg, IL: Homebrew creator interviews streamed live on Marco Pinball’s Twitch
Saturday, Oct 17, 8 PM: Women in Pinball panel moderated by Erika, with Cayman Kai (CayFlips / Austin Pinball Collective), Deborah Tahlman, Elizabeth Gieske (Stern Pinball), and Krystle Gemnich (Jersey Jack Pinball). It follows the JBS Show live chat with Jamie Birchell, Retro Ralph, and Cale Hernandez.
💛 SPONSOR: Rewind Pinball Northern California’s distributor for Stern and Barrels of Fun. Reach out to Adam for Fallout, Transformers, Pokémon, and more. You can also visit his arcade The Rewind Arcade in Sebastopol, CA.
