Episode 48: Pinball Drama, Stern Hate, & the Sleeper Hit of 2025?!

In this episode, things get a little spicy 🌶️. We break down pinball drama that honestly didn’t need to happen, why it’s suddenly cool to hate on Stern Pinball, and whether The Walking Dead Remastered is actually better than people give it credit for. We also dive into Predator by Pinball Brothers and why it might be the sleeper hit of 2025 that no one is really talking about — yet. All that and more on Episode 48 of The Flipside Podcast with Retro Ralph. 🕹️ LOOKING TO BUY A PINBALL MACHINE? Visit Flip N’ Out Pinball for new and used machines: 👉 https://www.flipnoutpinball.com/ 🎯 WANT TO COMPETE? Find a tournament near you on the official IFPA calendar: 👉 https://www.ifpapinball.com/calendar/ 📣 LEAVE ME A VOICEMAIL I might play it on the show! 🎙️ https://www.speakpipe.com/RetroRalphVM ⸻ 🎙️ CHECK OUT MY PINBALL PODCAST – “The Flipside” 📺 Watch the video version on YouTube: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@TheFlipsideRetroRalph 🎧 Prefer to listen? Subscribe here: • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/62ZF6rZGos5tFI77MaznZY • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-flipside-pinball-podcast/id1753621594 ✅ Don’t miss an episode – Subscribe to The Flipside! 👉 https://shorturl.at/t2pVG ⸻ 🛒 RETRO RALPH MERCH & CONTACT INFO 👕 Get your merch: https://bit.ly/2YS5ukX 🐦 Follow on Twitter: https://bit.ly/39mdqzy 📸 Follow on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3fU1Dew #TheWalkingDeadPinball #WalkingDeadPinball #SternPinball #PinballPodcast #PinballCommunity #PinballNews #PinballCollectors #NewPinballRelease #PinballRemake #TheWalkingDead #TWD #HorrorGaming #ZombieGame #GamingPodcast #ArcadeLife #RetroGamingCommunity #ArcadeCollecting #CollectorsCommunity #HypeOrNot #isitworthit

Beetlejuice is a massive win for Spooky Pinball, no debate there. But what does that success mean for the rest of the hobby? Are we now expecting more from every manufacturer, including the market leader, Stern Pinball? And the big question… does Stern even care? In this episode, we dive into the ripple effect Beetlejuice is having across pinball. Is Stern better off staying the course, or are boutique manufacturers proving that players want more value, more innovation, and more personality in every game? Does this shift the landscape, or is it just noise in the bigger picture? I don’t have all the answers but we’re going to talk about all of it on this episode, and trust me… it’s going to get interesting. 🕹️ LOOKING TO BUY A PINBALL MACHINE? Visit Flip N’ Out Pinball for new and used machines: 👉 https://www.flipnoutpinball.com/ 🎯 WANT TO COMPETE? Find a tournament near you on the official IFPA calendar: 👉 https://www.ifpapinball.com/calendar/ 📣 LEAVE ME A VOICEMAIL I might play it on the show! 🎙️ https://www.speakpipe.com/RetroRalphVM ⸻ 🎙️ CHECK OUT MY PINBALL PODCAST – “The Flipside” 📺 Watch the video version on YouTube: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@TheFlipsideRetroRalph 🎧 Prefer to listen? Subscribe here: • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/62ZF6rZGos5tFI77MaznZY • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-flipside-pinball-podcast/id1753621594 ✅ Don’t miss an episode – Subscribe to The Flipside! 👉 https://shorturl.at/t2pVG ⸻ 🛒 RETRO RALPH MERCH & CONTACT INFO 👕 Get your merch: https://bit.ly/2YS5ukX 🐦 Follow on Twitter: https://bit.ly/39mdqzy 📸 Follow on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3fU1Dew #beetlejuice #pinball #spookypinball

In this special LIVE episode of The FlipSide Podcast, we’re diving into everything happening in pinball right now , the big reveals, the rumors, and your live questions! 🍻 There will be drinks, so who knows where this one’s going to end up… We’ll be talking Beetlejuice, The Walking Dead Remastered, and what’s coming next in pinball! 🕹️ LOOKING TO BUY A PINBALL MACHINE? Visit Flip N’ Out Pinball for new and used machines: 👉 https://www.flipnoutpinball.com/ 🎯 WANT TO COMPETE? Find a tournament near you on the official IFPA calendar: 👉 https://www.ifpapinball.com/calendar/ 📣 LEAVE ME A VOICEMAIL I might play it on the show! 🎙️ https://www.speakpipe.com/RetroRalphVM ⸻ 🎙️ CHECK OUT MY PINBALL PODCAST – “The Flipside” 📺 Watch the video version on YouTube: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@TheFlipsideRetroRalph 🎧 Prefer to listen? Subscribe here: • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/62ZF6rZGos5tFI77MaznZY • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-flipside-pinball-podcast/id1753621594 ✅ Don’t miss an episode – Subscribe to The Flipside! 👉 https://shorturl.at/t2pVG ⸻ 🛒 RETRO RALPH MERCH & CONTACT INFO 👕 Get your merch: https://bit.ly/2YS5ukX 🐦 Follow on Twitter: https://bit.ly/39mdqzy 📸 Follow on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3fU1Dew #EvilDeadPinball #SpookyPinball #RetroRalph #PinballLive #HalloweenLivestream #BeetlejuicePinball #RudyVsRalph #PinballShowdown #PinballCommunity #PinballBattle #EvilDead #Beetlejuice #HorrorPinball #PinballStream

The Walking Dead Pinball is officially back, remastered, polished, and ready to take another bite out of the hobby! 🧟‍♂️ But does this game really need a second run? In this video I give my initial reaction and honest assessment of Stern Pinball’s Walking Dead Remaster. We dive into what’s new, what’s changed, and whether this legendary zombie-themed machine still earns a spot in today’s crowded pinball lineup. The original TWD is a modern classic for a lot of player, brutal gameplay, high stakes, and some of the most chaotic moments in pinball. But with so many new releases and remakes hitting the market, the question is… do we need this right now? Let’s talk gameplay, code, art, sound, and where this remake fits in an era of high-end pinball, boutique machines, and constant new drops. Drop your thoughts in the comments, is this a hype comeback or a cash grab remake? 🕹️ LOOKING TO BUY A PINBALL MACHINE? Visit Flip N’ Out Pinball for new and used machines: 👉 https://www.flipnoutpinball.com/ 🎯 WANT TO COMPETE? Find a tournament near you on the official IFPA calendar: 👉 https://www.ifpapinball.com/calendar/ 📣 LEAVE ME A VOICEMAIL I might play it on the show! 🎙️ https://www.speakpipe.com/RetroRalphVM ⸻ 🎙️ CHECK OUT MY PINBALL PODCAST – “The Flipside” 📺 Watch the video version on YouTube: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@TheFlipsideRetroRalph 🎧 Prefer to listen? Subscribe here: • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/62ZF6rZGos5tFI77MaznZY • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-flipside-pinball-podcast/id1753621594 ✅ Don’t miss an episode – Subscribe to The Flipside! 👉 https://shorturl.at/t2pVG ⸻ 🛒 RETRO RALPH MERCH & CONTACT INFO 👕 Get your merch: https://bit.ly/2YS5ukX 🐦 Follow on Twitter: https://bit.ly/39mdqzy 📸 Follow on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3fU1Dew #TheWalkingDeadPinball #WalkingDeadPinball #SternPinball #PinballPodcast #PinballCommunity #PinballNews #PinballCollectors #NewPinballRelease #PinballRemake #TheWalkingDead #TWD #HorrorGaming #ZombieGame #GamingPodcast #ArcadeLife #RetroGamingCommunity #ArcadeCollecting #CollectorsCommunity #HypeOrNot #isitworthit

🎙️ In Episode 44 of The FlipSide Podcast, we dive deep into Pinball Expo 2025 and something felt different this year. The usual massive crowds lining up for the newest Stern Pinball release? They weren’t there. Instead, players were turning their attention to boutique pinball manufacturers like Jersey Jack Pinball, Barrels of Fun, and Pinball Brothers, who seem to be gaining serious momentum. So what’s going on? Has Stern, the biggest name in pinball, lost its edge? Or is the community simply craving something new? Maybe it’s Star Wars fatigue, or maybe it’s the rise of fresh ideas and risk-taking from the smaller companies changing the game. We break down the energy on the show floor, the surprising crowd reactions, and what this shift could mean for the future of pinball. 👉 Tune in to find out if the boutique revolution is real , only on The FlipSide Podcast! 🕹️ LOOKING TO BUY A PINBALL MACHINE? Visit Flip N’ Out Pinball for new and used machines: 👉 https://www.flipnoutpinball.com/ 🎯 WANT TO COMPETE? Find a tournament near you on the official IFPA calendar: 👉 https://www.ifpapinball.com/calendar/ 📣 LEAVE ME A VOICEMAIL I might play it on the show! 🎙️ https://www.speakpipe.com/RetroRalphVM ⸻ 🎙️ CHECK OUT MY PINBALL PODCAST – “The Flipside” 📺 Watch the video version on YouTube: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@TheFlipsideRetroRalph 🎧 Prefer to listen? Subscribe here: • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/62ZF6rZGos5tFI77MaznZY • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-flipside-pinball-podcast/id1753621594 ✅ Don’t miss an episode – Subscribe to The Flipside! 👉 https://shorturl.at/t2pVG ⸻ 🛒 RETRO RALPH MERCH & CONTACT INFO 👕 Get your merch: https://bit.ly/2YS5ukX 🐦 Follow on Twitter: https://bit.ly/39mdqzy 📸 Follow on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3fU1Dew #PinballExpo #SternPinball #TheFlipSidePodcast #BoutiquePinball #SpookyPinball #BarrelsOfFun #PinballCommunity #PinballNews #Pinballpodcast

Pinball Expo 2025 is almost here, and this year’s lineup might be one of the biggest yet. In this episode, we break down everything you can expect when the show takes over Schaumburg, IL, from October 15–18. We’ll cover the hottest new titles hitting the floor for the first time — Portal by P3 Multimorphic, Dune by Barrels of Fun, Predator by Pinball Brothers, and Stern’s Star Wars: Fall of the Empire. The homebrew scene is bigger than ever, with even more space dedicated to creative passion projects, while Spooky Pinball looks to showcase Evil Dead and maybe even tease Beetlejuice. On the rumor radar: could Stern finally pull the trigger on a Walking Dead Remaster? And will Pedretti or CGC reveal their next remake? We’ll dive into the chatter. 🔥 Don’t Miss The Pinball Roundtable! Join Jamie, Cale, and Ralph on the JBS Show – Subscribe Here and never miss an episode! - https://www.youtube.com/@jamie_burchell?sub_confirmation=1 🕹️ LOOKING TO BUY A PINBALL MACHINE? Visit Flip N’ Out Pinball for new and used machines: 👉 https://www.flipnoutpinball.com/ 🎯 WANT TO COMPETE? Find a tournament near you on the official IFPA calendar: 👉 https://www.ifpapinball.com/calendar/ 📣 LEAVE ME A VOICEMAIL I might play it on the show! 🎙️ https://www.speakpipe.com/RetroRalphVM ⸻ 🎙️ CHECK OUT MY PINBALL PODCAST – “The Flipside” 📺 Watch the video version on YouTube: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@TheFlipsideRetroRalph 🎧 Prefer to listen? Subscribe here: • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/62ZF6rZGos5tFI77MaznZY • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-flipside-pinball-podcast/id1753621594 ✅ Don’t miss an episode – Subscribe to The Flipside! 👉 https://shorturl.at/t2pVG ⸻ 🛒 RETRO RALPH MERCH & CONTACT INFO 👕 Get your merch: https://bit.ly/2YS5ukX 🐦 Follow on Twitter: https://bit.ly/39mdqzy 📸 Follow on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3fU1Dew

Hey everyone, welcome back to the show! Today we’re covering Stern Pinball’s brand‑new Star Wars: Fall of the Empire, the company’s first cornerstone release on the next‑generation SPIKE 3 platform. I was lucky enough to visit Stern’s headquarters for launch day, so I’m going to tell you all about my hands‑on impressions, the game’s artwork and layout, what’s under the hood with Spike 3, and even drop some exclusive news on what the platform means for the future. Let’s dive in.

In this episode of The FlipSide Podcast, I dig into the buzz around Stern Pinball’s Star Wars: Fall of the Empire and why the chatter about a “botched launch” is way overblown. The truth? When you’re working with a massive license like Star Wars, the license holder holds the power. I’ll give you a bit of a behind-the-scenes look at how these licensing dynamics can impact release schedules—and why what we’re seeing is more business as usual than a crisis. I also share highlights from my recent trip to Utah, where I found two amazing pinball locations and discovered that RC Willey (yep, the furniture store!) sells pinball machines. And with Pinball Expo just around the corner, the hype train is in full swing! We’re likely to see some exciting new reveals and get more hands-on time with titles that dropped earlier this year, including: • The Walking Dead Remaster (not officially confirmed, but I’m highly confident) • Predator by Pinball Brothers • Dune • Star Wars: Fall of the Empire • Portal • …and who knows what other surprises might pop up. All this and more in Episode 41...let’s dive in! 🕹️ LOOKING TO BUY A PINBALL MACHINE? Visit Flip N’ Out Pinball for new and used machines: 👉 https://www.flipnoutpinball.com/ 🎯 WANT TO COMPETE? Find a tournament near you on the official IFPA calendar: 👉 https://www.ifpapinball.com/calendar/ 📣 LEAVE ME A VOICEMAIL I might play it on the show! 🎙️ https://www.speakpipe.com/RetroRalphVM ⸻ 🎙️ CHECK OUT MY PINBALL PODCAST – “The Flipside” 📺 Watch the video version on YouTube: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@TheFlipsideRetroRalph 🎧 Prefer to listen? Subscribe here: • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/62ZF6rZGos5tFI77MaznZY • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-flipside-pinball-podcast/id1753621594 ✅ Don’t miss an episode – Subscribe to The Flipside! 👉 https://shorturl.at/t2pVG ⸻ 🛒 RETRO RALPH MERCH & CONTACT INFO 👕 Get your merch: https://bit.ly/2YS5ukX 🐦 Follow on Twitter: https://bit.ly/39mdqzy 📸 Follow on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3fU1Dew #pinball #rumors #news

Star Wars: Fall of the Empire Teaser Trailer Reaction, but What Did We Learn? The Star Wars: Fall of the Empire teaser trailer just dropped, and guess what we learned? Absolutely nothing! I break down my thoughts on what this could mean for pinball fans. Is Stern Pinball really bringing Episodes IV, V, and VI like many of us expected, or are we about to see Stern’s own vision of the Star Wars universe? Honestly, I don’t know yet, but it’s going to be a blast to speculate. On this episode, I’ll dive into the past 24 hours, share my reaction, and talk about what this teaser might mean for Stern Pinball’s next big cornerstone game. 🕹️ LOOKING TO BUY A PINBALL MACHINE? Visit Flip N’ Out Pinball for new and used machines: 👉 https://www.flipnoutpinball.com/ 🎯 WANT TO COMPETE? Find a tournament near you on the official IFPA calendar: 👉 https://www.ifpapinball.com/calendar/ 📣 LEAVE ME A VOICEMAIL I might play it on the show! 🎙️ https://www.speakpipe.com/RetroRalphVM ⸻ 🎙️ CHECK OUT MY PINBALL PODCAST – “The Flipside” 📺 Watch the video version on YouTube: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@TheFlipsideRetroRalph 🎧 Prefer to listen? Subscribe here: • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/62ZF6rZGos5tFI77MaznZY • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-flipside-pinball-podcast/id1753621594 ✅ Don’t miss an episode – Subscribe to The Flipside! 👉 https://shorturl.at/t2pVG ⸻ 🛒 RETRO RALPH MERCH & CONTACT INFO 👕 Get your merch: https://bit.ly/2YS5ukX 🐦 Follow on Twitter: https://bit.ly/39mdqzy 📸 Follow on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3fU1Dew #starwars #pinball #2025

In Episode 39 of The FlipSide Pinball Podcast, we dive deep into the hot topic of pinball innovation. Is modern pinball starting to feel stagnant? Could today’s machines take better advantage of new technology to make the experience even more exciting? We’ll break down what innovation could mean not just for location owners looking to attract players, but also for the home buyer who might feel a little intimidated getting into the hobby. Plus, we ask the tough question: why does there seem to be resistance to innovation in pinball, are we, the community, part of the problem? Let’s talk about the future of pinball technology, innovation, and the evolution of the hobby and see where the conversation takes us. 🕹️ LOOKING TO BUY A PINBALL MACHINE? Visit Flip N’ Out Pinball for new and used machines: 👉 https://www.flipnoutpinball.com/ 🎯 WANT TO COMPETE? Find a tournament near you on the official IFPA calendar: 👉 https://www.ifpapinball.com/calendar/ 📣 LEAVE ME A VOICEMAIL I might play it on the show! 🎙️ https://www.speakpipe.com/RetroRalphVM ⸻ 🎙️ CHECK OUT MY PINBALL PODCAST – “The Flipside” 📺 Watch the video version on YouTube: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@TheFlipsideRetroRalph 🎧 Prefer to listen? Subscribe here: • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/62ZF6rZGos5tFI77MaznZY • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-flipside-pinball-podcast/id1753621594 ✅ Don’t miss an episode – Subscribe to The Flipside! 👉 https://shorturl.at/t2pVG ⸻ 🛒 RETRO RALPH MERCH & CONTACT INFO 👕 Get your merch: https://bit.ly/2YS5ukX 🐦 Follow on Twitter: https://bit.ly/39mdqzy 📸 Follow on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3fU1Dew #Pinball #technology #innovation