Wedgehead Pinball Podcast

Support the show and receive a link to our private discord: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcast In this episode I speak with Dan Forden, another legend of both the videogame and pinball industry. Whilst undoubtably known best for the Motral Kombat video game series, he also worked on a ton of pinball machines at Williams/Bally during the late 80s-90s golden era including: Bad Cats, Black Knight 2000, Mousin Around, Roller Games, Bride of Pinbot, Getaway: High Speed 2, Star Trek: Next Generation, The Shadow, No Fear, Safecracker…and a couple real obscure Brian Eddy games called Attack From Mars, and Medieval Madness! TOPcast Interview from 2010 Support the show

Support the show and receive a link to the private discord: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcast On this episode of the show we are joined by an old school pinball collector and international man of mystery, Tom Rader, who came onto the show to discuss his favorite pinball era of all time: Williams single player EM machines with their unusual looking upside down pear shaped heads. Most collectors now just refer to them as the "Reverse Wedgeheads" and we discuss all of them in this episode, along with designers Steve Kordek and Norm Clark, and even get into some long standing mystery over exactly who the artists were on some of these games. Since these games are pretty rare to see in the modern day, our guest made a handy pdf with links to all the IPDB pages so you can follow along visually: Reverse Wedgeheads Support the show

Help support the show and receive a link to our private discord server: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcast Alex is doing a second best game episode for best game ever since apparently, he's confused about the definition of "best game ever" actually means... In this episode we discuss the 1993 Williams Classic Barry Oursler game: Bram Stoker's Dracula and what makes it so great. But be warned, the swearwolves were in full effect on this episode...this is your adult content warning. Support the show

Support the show and receive access to our discord server: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcast In this episode we explore the role that physical layout and shot geometry has on the overall feel of a pinball machine. We discuss the classic spectrum of two genius designers who operated largely on opposite sides of the spectrum, Steve Ritchie and Pat Lawlor, and Alan discusses why if he doesn't like the way a game physically shoots, then he will NEVER enjoy that machine at all. But as per usual, adult language is used. This is your warning. Support the show

Support the show and receive a link to the private discord: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcast Local legend Cory Butcher joins us on the show to defend his love for the 1992 Gottlieb game, Cue Ball Wizard. On paper this game sold well, and earned well back in the day, but for some reason it hasn't aged so well in the 30 years since its release. Thankfully Butcher is here to educate all of us. As is tradition, profanity is used throughout the episode. Support the show

Support the show and receive a link to our private discord server: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcast Seattle pinball player and creator of the kickass pinball ratings website, pinballranker.com brings us all his episode that he wrote and recorded all about what he believes to be "The Best Game Ever" Warning: like all of our normal episodes, Conor has also chosen to use adult language, this is your warning. Support the show

Support the show and receive a link to our private discord server: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcast In this episode we dive deep into the pinball career of one of pinball's most successful designers. Barry designed over 30 pinball machines in the solid state era, sold obscene amounts of his designs, single handedly saved pinball in 1984, and was always a team player and a kind and willing collaborator. Despite all this, he's almost forgotten about in the modern-day discussion of pinball design legends, and we talk about why in this episode. TOPcast Interview w/ Barry: pinrepair.com/topcast/topcast_35.mp3 But in case you don't know by now, adult language is used in the episode so sensitive ears be warned. Support the show

Support the show and receive a link to our private discord server: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcast It took me awhile, but the second episode of my pinball economics series is finally here, and I am exploring the concept of "value" as it pertains to the business of pinball operating. It all starts with: Is looking at the coinbox overrated? I hope you all enjoy this second deep dive into the life of pinball operating and the underlying economics of the venture, but as usual...some adult language is used in the process. Support the show

Help support the show and receive a link to our private discord community: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcast We are joined by longtime supporter of the bar and podcast, Conor Wilson who created an awesome new website to make ranking your favorite pinball machines that makes it simple, easy, and fun to do, and allows you to share your lists with your other pinball friends. You can start your journey here at: pinballranker.com As always, some swear words may be used in the passionate discussion Support the show

Support the show and receive a link to our private discord server: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcast We are back and celebrating the best games in all categories and handing out awards for the best pinball machines of 1995! Warning: Adult Language is used. Support the show

Support the show & get a link to our private discord channel: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcast In this episode Alex went into the lab and locked himself away to run the tests and to finally come up with the “Top Ten Games of All Time: No Opinions, Just Facts” list and that's what we're sharing with you on this episode. Everybody knows the pinside list is deeply flawed and skewed towards brand new games, but the real top ten list is right here… at least according to Alex. As always though, we are adults and we use adult language. This is the sensitive ears disclaimer. Support the show

Support the show and receive your link to the private discord: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcast Bonus Episode of the show coming at you featuring two local portland players and friends who met through the discord for this show, Rob and Miggy! They recorded this episode to tell everybody why they love Pat Lawlor and his 1992 game "The Addams Family" so much. You can hear the excitement in their voices and no, the playback has not been sped up, they are just naturally that hyped up all the time! Enjoy! Support the show

Support the show and receive a link to our private discord server: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcast There's something very different about Stern's latest game, and for really the first time ever on the show, we're breaking from our normal format and covering a brand-new game from the location player and operator's perspective. This feels like a historic moment, and so we're going to talk about the first couple weeks of Pokémon on location and what they did differently with this title and why this feels like it's breathing fresh life into the pinball hobby. But if this is your first episode of the show, we use adult language when we speak and I make zero efforts to censor. This is your warning. Support the show

Support the show and receive a link to our private discord: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcast In this episode we cover the 20 machines that Gottlieb made from 1982-1985 and discuss all the weird, strange, wacky, and good games and innovative designs that they churned out during the doldrum years of the mid 1980s. But buckle up, there's adult language throughout. Support the show

Support the show and get a link to our private discord: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcast Our friend Lisa, a pinball tech at Next Level comes on the show to defend her love for Stern's Austin Powers machine from 2001, and makes sure to state clearly that she does NOT like the movies at all. We read all the bad reviews we could find online and Lisa educates us on why they are all wrong. But be warned if this is your first time, we do use adult language on the show. Support the show

Support the show and receive a link to our private discord: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcast In this episode Alan sets the record straight on the true greatest game of all time, Dennis Nordman's masterpiece, 1993's Whitewater made by Williams. Listen to us discuss why Whitewater not only excels in all aspects, but why it truly transcends the medium. Normal disclaimer: We curse when we get excited, and this episode is about the GOAT, so there's some spicy language throughout. Support the show

Support the show and receive a link to our private discord: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcast In this episode we discuss 6 names from the EM era that you should be aware of, two from each of the Big Three of Williams, Bally and Gottlieb. This episode really is a love letter to EM machines, and all the very talented designers of pinball's most popular, but least celebrated era. But as always, we use some adult language when we get really excited, and this is your warning that we are more hopped up than two fat kids on Mountain Dew in this episode! Support the show

Support the show and receive a link to the private discord channel: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcast AJ of Flip a Coin in Colorado is back to discuss the current affairs of operating brand new pinball machines in the year 2026 and beyond. AJ buys lots of new games from Stern, Barrels of Fun, JJP, and CGC and he's here to cut through all the marketing talk and just discuss the business side of buying NIB games and trying to make money with them on route. As always though, we might swear a bit throughout... Support the show

Support the show and receive a link to our private discord channel: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcast This episode we explore the period from 1995-1999 when Gary Stern successfully convinced another Japanese arcade game manufacturer to partner with him and rebrand from Data East to Sega for the North American coin-op pinball market. These games are mostly pretty low production run games, with some clear cost cutting measures in place, and the art packages are pretty uneven too. Many pinheads haven't seen or played these games very much, if at all, but they still seem to get a bad rap in general if they have. But Alex and Alan explore why these games are generally pretty fun, and they cover them all in this episode. But as usual, adult language is used in this episode, as in all other episodes. Support the show

Support the show and grab a link to our private discord: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcast In this episode we are joined on the show by veteran pinball machine mover, casual on location pinball player, and Alex's wife, Megan aka the Watergirl and she is here to give her thoughts on all the 2025 pinball releases from her unique perspective as a non-nerd, and non middle-aged man. Hear about how the average pinball player views all these games, the results are guaranteed to surprise you. But as usual, we do swear in the episode...this is your warning. Support the show