A weekly pinball podcast brought to you by the people that run Wedgehead, a pinball bar in Portland, Oregon. Each week Alan and Alex discuss a different pinball topic, with a focus on location play, often with other interesting guests. If you have any questions, or might want to guest on a future episode, please email : wedgeheadinfo@gmail.com.
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Episode 52 - Gateway Games
54:52
54:52
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54:52
In this episode Alan and Alex discuss the best games to trick your normie friends and family into liking and playing pinball. We discuss the parameters of what we think makes a great gateway game, what makes a bad gateway game, and tips for making their first time playing more fun. We are also now accepting questions for our 1 year anniversary epis…
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Episode 51 - How to Draw Dinosaurs w/ Johnny Crap
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49:46
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49:46
In this episode, freelance pinball artist Jonathan Bergeron joins us from his studio in Montreal, Canada to discuss his life as a commercial artist doing gig posters and merch designs for bands like Mastodon, Guns 'n Roses, Suicidal Tendencies, Judas Priest, and many many more, as well as how he got pulled into the pinball industry as the artist fo…
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Episode 50 - The 90s Pinball Renaissance Pt.2 w/ Roger Sharpe
1:21:48
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1:21:48
The man/myth/legend Roger Sharpe is back again on the show to speak more about the pinball renaissance of the 1990s. In this second episode we dive more into some of the many people that made these games special. We talk about designers like Steve Ritchie, Pat Lawlor, and Dennis Nordman. Programmers like Larry DeMar, Lyman Sheats, and Dwight Sulliv…
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Episode 49 - The 90s Pinball Renaissance Pt.1 w/ Roger Sharpe
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1:16:33
Alan and Alex are joined on the show once again by Roger Sharpe, aka the 'Man Who Saved Pinball' to discuss his career at Williams from 1988-1999 as the Marketing Director. Roger tells us some great stories about getting hired, the merger of Bally into Williams, his role in licensing games, and more. And we discuss a lot about the different technol…
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Episode 48 - Insider Connected
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58:28
Alan and Alex are joined on the show by their friend Tyler White from LA to discuss Stern's Insider Connected platform, and why he loves to use it, and how he wants to see it grow into the future. Stern's IC is a feature that has been on all their games since Godzilla (2021), and has retrofit kits to connect all their Spike 2 games going back to Ba…
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Episode 47 - Gottlieb vs. Paramount Pictures
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39:36
In this episode, our friend and member of our local Portland Pinball scene, Nate Tayloe joins us on the show to educate us on the weird case where Gottlieb chose to sue Paramount Pictures over alleged copyright and trademark infringement due to the inclusion of Gottlieb's "Silver Slugger" pinball machine in the 2000 movie, "What Women Want" starrin…
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Episode 46 - Die on this Hill: Rocky & Bullwinkle
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57:01
Ty Ueda from Pop's Pinball Parlor in Boston, Ma. is back to defend another game on the show, this time it's 1993's Rocky & Bullwinkle and Friends! Released by Data East and designed by frequent DOTH designer extraordinaire, Tim Seckel, this game probably barely qualifies as it seems to sit somewhere in the middle of truly hated or truly respected. …
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Episode 45 - Pinball Art Director w/ Greg Freres
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1:13:32
We're joined again on the show by Greg Freres whom we spoke to in the last episode, about the legendary Bally Art Department of the early solid state era. But in this episode we focus our discussions on his ascension to head of the art department at Williams/Bally after the 1988 merger, guiding them through their wild 1990s pinball renaissance unti…
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Episode 44 - The Notorious Bally Art Department w/ Greg Freres
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52:13
In this episode, Alan and Alex are joined on the show by long time pinball artist Greg Freres, and they discuss Greg's time working in the late 1970s and early 1980s art department at Bally, a truly remarkable time period for pinball art. Greg tells us all about the different processes that revolutionized the industry, working under art director Pa…
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Episode 43 - MEGALOCATIONS!
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1:00:53
In this MEGA sized episode of the podcast, Alan and Alex discuss the rise and increase in the number of pinball MEGALOCATIONS with 100+ machines. We discuss traveling to these pinball destinations, what to expect playing massive collections in warehouse buildings, and talk about our own experiences at some of these locations such as Past Times, Nex…
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Episode 42 - Die on this Hill: Sega Godzilla
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37:44
Sean Irby, homebrew pinball designer from our last episode rejoins the show to defend his "Die on this Hill" game: Sega's Godzilla. Before Stern released their Godzilla to a near deafening roar of approval, Gary's previous pinball venture had a much less successful go at a Godzilla game, based on the similarly ill - fated Godzilla movie starring Ma…
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Episode 41 - Homebrew Games
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40:03
In this episode, Alan and Alex are joined on the show by Sean Irby, a northwest pinball neighbor from Seattle to discuss the making and development of homebrew pinball machines, AKA making your own pinball machine. Over the last 5 years, the homebrew pinball community has exploded thanks to the availability of boards, mission pinball framework, and…
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Episode 40 - Die on this Hill: Hook
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46:42
In this special edition of our popular 'Die on this Hill' series, Alan teams up with his buddy AJ, the owner and operator of the Flip a Coin Arcade, to defend Data East's Hook. Alex is there as the resident hater on the show, and he GLEEFULLY reads AJ and Alan an avalanche of awful reviews scoured from the depths of the internet. Buckle up, this on…
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Episode 39 - Operator Spotlight: Flip a Coin
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45:37
We are joined on the show by Adam 'AJ' Jordan, owner and operator of the 'Flip a Coin Arcade' that they built in the basement of his girlfriend's bakery, the 'Bite Me Cake Company' in Pueblo, Colorado. We talk about building a scene in a small town, taking a leap in the middle of covid, and how his day job as an autobody repair guy has bled over in…
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Episode 38 - Die on this Hill: Orbitor 1
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38:25
Our pal Jeff Johnsen, the operator of Walt's in LA, is back on the show to defend the last pinball machine that the original Stern Electronics company ever made, Orbitor 1. Jeff tells us about the historical significance of the game, including the two pinball outsiders and NASA engineers, who brought their concept and ideas for an entirely new play…
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Episode 37 - Operator Spotlight: Walt's
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43:29
We speak with Jeff Johnsen, owner and operator of Walt's Bar in LA's Eagle Rock neighborhood about how his father taught him and his brother how to work on games as kids, almost blowing themselves up in the process. We talk about the LA pinball scene, pricing games, giving up his route, and how to properly rehab an old plumbing supply store into an…
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Episode 36 - Die on this Hill: Lethal Weapon 3
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42:38
Pinball restoration artist Ashley Ludwig (@ludwigsynopsis) is back on the show to defend her favorite trashy 90s pin, Lethal Weapon 3. Made by Data East in 1992, and based on the hit series of odd couple buddy cop films, Ashley passionately tells us why she thinks that LW3 is actually better than the Addams Family, and we confront her with the heap…
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Episode 35 - Payment Systems
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54:23
Ever wanted to know why operators choose to use quarters vs tokens? Or why so many large arcades have ditched coins altogether and installed card readers on their games? Or why Wedgehead moved over to a freeplay model? Then this episode is for you. Alan and Alex discuss each payment system in depth and outline the pros and cons of each from both th…
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Episode 34 - Pinball Restoration
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51:39
In this episode Alan and Alex are joined on the show by Ashley Ludwig (@ludwigsynopsis on instagram) to discuss the finer points of restoring old pinball machines. Ashley restores old pinball machines full time in Rochester, NY and she enlightens us on the skill and craftsmanship it takes to get to the level at which she operates. Make sure to foll…
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Episode 33 - Die on this Hill: A Nightmare on Elm Street
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54:00
Ian Matheson, owner and operator of Propeller Arcade comes back onto the show to defend his love of all things Freddy Kreuger, but especially his love for Gottlieb's 1994 pinball machine, A Nightmare on Elm Street. Hear Ian passionately defend Freddy as a great gateway game, with incredible theme integration as Alan reads him scores of bad reviews …
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Episode 32 - Stern's 'Miracle' Year
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57:58
It's the year 1980, and the US Olympic Hockey team shocks the world and beats the Soviet team in a stunning 4-3 upset in Lake Placid, NY during the height of the cold war. But another miracle happens in pinball that same year too, as a fledgling Stern Electronics releases 9 excellent machines in 1980. They were the clear last place manufacturer beh…
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Episode 31 - Operator Spotlight: Propeller Arcade
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53:56
In this episode Alan sits down to talk with Ian Matheson, operator at Propeller arcade inside of Propeller Brewing in Halifax, Canada. We talk about how he got started, including some incredible stories about the old school underground Nova Scotia pinball scene before opening his public arcade which include stories of setting machines on fire in th…
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Episode 30 - Throwback Games
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45:27
In this episode, Alan and Alex discuss the outlier machines released in the last 7 years without ramps, and with simpler rulesets. We talk about Total Nuclear Annihilation, Beatles, Bond 60th, and Pulp Fiction, and why we love seeing the variety added to modern pinball offerings. But sometimes we use swear words.…
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Episode 29 - Modern Pinball
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1:00:38
In this episode we finally talk in depth about "Modern" pinball, where it started, what defines the modern era, and the different innovations or changes to the classic game that we all know and love. For all the listeners out there that have been asking us to talk more about modern games, this episode is for you. And if you want to hear more about …
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Episode 28 - Die on this Hill: Sharkey's Shootout
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37:37
In this edition of our popular "Die on this Hill" series, we are rejoined on the show by Mitch Curtis, the operator known as 'Pinball Over Boston' as he jumps onto the show to defend one of his favorite underappreciated games, 2000's Sharkey's Shootout made by the fledgling Stern Pinball. Mitch is a very passionate boy, and speaks at length about h…
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Episode 27 - Operator Spotlight: Pinball Over Boston
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51:26
In this episode of our 'Operator Spotlight' series Alan and Alex speak with Mitch Curtis of Pinball Over Boston, about his decade of running a pinball route in the Boston area. We cover what it was like starting out, how he grew it, how he handled the covid 19 shutdowns, and what it's like for him nowadays on the other side. We talk about his locat…
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Episode 26 - Die on this Hill: Space Jam
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40:48
In this edition of our "Die on this Hill" series, John Dozier of Inner Orbit Pinball rejoins the show and steps up to defend Sega's 1996 pinball machine based on the hit movie, Space Jam! This game is actually the LOWEST rated game that we have featured thus far on the show, and the internet has some strong opinions! And despite this being a family…
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Episode 25 - Operator Spotlight: Inner Orbit
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In the latest addition of our Operator Spotlight series, Alan speaks with John Dozier of Inner Orbit pinball about his pinball route based in Springfield Missouri. John began operating pinball machines about 10 years ago, and was drawn in due to a familiar refrain of the modern pinball operator - there just weren't any good machines to play in his …
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Episode 24 - Pinball Setup
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In what will surely be the most controversial episode of the podcast, Alan and Alex discuss all the different ways that people can choose to customize the setup of their pinball machines. Pitch, tilts, outlanes, rubber types, toy and lighting mods, as well as software settings, we go through them all. We discuss the differences in setups, and we sh…
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Episode 23 - How to Talk to an Operator
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47:37
In this episode we discuss how to get to know your friendly neighborhood pinball operator, including tips for making a good first impression, and how to find the proper channels in which to communicate with them about machine malfunctions. Alan speaks about it from the Operator's point of view, while Alex shares his insights as an expert Operator W…
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Episode 22 - Die on this Hill: Sinbad
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33:23
Rachel and Cale from the Electric Bat join us on the show once again, and they are back to defend their favorite Gottlieb System 1 game: Sinbad! Listen to us discuss the merits of this first generation solid state effort from the kings of the EM era, and respond to all the hater reviews that we scrounged up on the internet. ...obligatory warning fo…
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Episode 21 - Harry Williams: Pinball Prophet w/ Roger Sharpe
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1:16:17
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1:16:17
In this episode we are joined by a very special guest, the man who saved pinball with a single shot, and who wrote the first published book on the history of pinball, Mr. Roger Sharpe. https://wedgeheadpdx.com/podcasts/ Link is to some bonus materials on our website to see all the games that we are talking about in this episode. Roger is a legend i…
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Episode 20 - Operator Spotlight: Electric Bat Arcade
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49:02
In this episode, Alan and Alex are joined on the show by Rachel and Cale, owners and operators of the Electric Bat Arcade in Tempe, Arizona. We discuss the Phoenix Valley pinball scene, the history of the Bat, their legendary Tuesday night league that regularly draws 100+ players, operator pet peeves, splits, tokens, and much more. Join us for this…
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Episode 19 - Die on this Hill: Bad Cats
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29:40
In this episode, Jessica DeNardo from Barrels of Fun pinball returns to the show to defend one of her favorite games of all time, 1989's Bad Cats designed by Barry Oursler with art and theme concept by the inimitable Python Anghelo. Listen to Jessica explain what makes Bad Cats a great game, and respond to all the internet haters! Meow Meow Meow Me…
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Episode 18 - The Susan B. Anthony Years / Bally
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55:33
In this episode, Alan and Alex are joined by their good friend and staunch solid state pinball evangelist, Ty Palmer. Ty is a fiend for early solid state machines, and will happily go weeks or months without playing a single game newer than 1985. For his first appearance on the show, we decided to narrow down this era to one manufacturer, Bally, an…
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Episode 17 - Extra Button Gimmicks
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40:44
In this episode of the podcast, Alan and Alex are joined by their friend Jessica DeNardo, a multi talented woman who hosts her own pinball podcast (the Pinball Podcast), makes and sells her own pinball inspired clothing (Soft Plunge), founded the Portland chapter of the Belles & Chimes, worked as a pinball tech in Florida, and has recently moved to…
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Episode 16 - So You Wanna Buy a Pinball Machine?
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40:55
In this episode Alan and Alex discuss the most common new post on any pinball forum, subreddit, or facebook group: Buying your own pinball machine to put into your house. This episode is meant to give a better, more whole picture of owning pinball machines. Alex is a home collector, and Alan owns Wedgehead as an operator, and they discuss why you d…
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Episode 15 - Die on this Hill: No Fear
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39:50
On this episode, Alex sits in the hot seat to defend his love of 1995's No Fear: Dangerous Sports. A divisive game design by the king of flow, Steve Ritchie. Hear Alan and Alex discuss the game, and read and react to some bad reviews they found for the game. Alex owns this game, and he's VERY passionate about it, so tune in and see why you might ne…
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Episode 14 - So You Wanna Play Pinball?
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41:31
In this episode of the podcast Alan and Alex reminisce over how they got into the hobby, and dive into some conversation aimed at newbies to the hobby who have gotten bit by the pinball bug. We give some advice about proper etiquette, how not to sound like a dipshit on location, the joys of playing with others, and how to become a better player thr…
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In this widebody episode of the Wedgehead pinball podcast, Alan and Alex welcome the return of Chris Rhodes back to the show. He is the other half of Wedgehead, and he is back to discuss the 7 widebody pinball machines released by Bally/Williams during 1993 and 1994. We cover the definition of a "Superpin" and have a discussion about about each gam…
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Episode 12 - Die on this Hill: WWF Royal Rumble
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28:35
In the 3rd installment of our "Die on this Hill" series, we welcome back Greg Dunlap, former pinball programmer whom we interviewed on Episode 11, to defend Data East's 1994 game 'WWF Royal Rumble. Hear why Greg thinks this an underrated game, and hear our reactions to the pile of bad reviews I found for it all over the internet. ...includes some a…
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Episode 11 - Life of a Former Pinball Programmer
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43:31
In this episode, Alan and Alex are joined by Greg Dunlap, a computer programmer that worked at both Bally/Williams doing slot machines and then later at Pat Lawlor Designs, working on programming lightshows and animations for Early Stern Pinball machine titles like Ripley's Believe It or Not, Monopoly, Nascar, and Roller Coaster Tycoon. Hear about …
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Episode 10 - Die on this Hill: Popeye Saves the Earth
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44:31
In this episode, Alan speaks with Daniel and Ty from Pop's Pinball Parlor in Massachusetts about why they unironically love the 1994 Bally Williams Superpin: Popeye Saves the Earth. This is the second edition of our "Die on this Hill" series, and I give them the floor to explain themselves about why they enjoy this terrible game so much, before rea…
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Episode 9 - Operator Spotlight: Pop's Pinball Parlor
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44:05
In this episode Alan interviews Daniel and Ty, two buddies and pinball operators from New England. We speak about how they started operating games, what types of games they choose to operate, how to find locations and how they keep them happy, as well as some more nuts and bolts talk about fees and permits for running a route in the Boston suburbs …
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Episode 8 - Pinball Terminology Explained (new players start here)
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40:26
Sample Definition Pop Bumper : The round (usually) mechanism on the playfield of a pinball machine, often found in clusters, that contracts when the ball hits it, and slams it off into another direction, typically into another pop or two on the way out of the cluster. It's a randomizing mech found on most pinball machines from the 1950s until today…
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Episode 7 - Die on this Hill: Gilligan's Island
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25:37
In this episode, we are doing a special new segment which we hope to continue in the future. It's called "I'm gonna die on this hill!" and it's where we have a guest on to speak about and defend a "bad" game that they unironically love. In this first DOTH episode we bring Zoe Vrabel back to talk about her DOTH game, Gilligan's Island. Tune in to he…
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Episode 6 - Howdy Pardner!
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37:21
Special guest Zoe Vrabel joins Alan and Alex as they discuss the history of the popular casual team based pinball tourney format "Howdy Pardner!" We discuss what it is, how it works, and what makes it so much different than standard pinball tournaments, and describe how Alan created the format from scratch to host each Thursday night at Wedgehead. …
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Episode 5 - Video Modes
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34:26
In this episode Alan and Alex talk about what Alex likes to describe as the "best thing that has ever happened to pinball!". Hear about what they are, when they started, and whose fault they are. We discuss our opinions on them in general and talk about some of our favorites, and which ones should be deleted for good. Are they fun and engaging, or …
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Episode 4 - The Brief History of Wedgehead
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31:20
In this episode Alan is joined by his business partner Chris Rhodes, and they form like Voltron into Wedgehead. We discuss how we met, the beginning of our pinball bar, the evolution and challenges presented by covid and the economy, and about what we feel makes us different from the rest with some occasional colorful swears. Disclaimer: This episo…
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Episode 3 - Boutique Manufacturers
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32:23
In this episode Alan and Alex talk about the rise of the little guys in pinball, and what it means to have so many small and independent pinball makers. We discuss our experiences with some of these manufacturers and their games from both the operator and the home collector's perspective, and we talk about some of the positive and some of the negat…
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