Episode 44: Pinball’s Power Shift: Did the Boutiques Just win Expo?!

🎙️ 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

In this episode, we’re diving into the world of pinball leaks, do you love ’em, hate ’em, or do they totally ruin the surprise and excitement for you? I’ll be sharing my take, and yeah… probably going off on a few tangents along the way. After working on the Harry Potter project with Jersey Jack Pinball, I’ve got a new perspective on leaks that I’ll open up about too. Do leaks actually hurt anyone, or is it just harmless fun? We’ll get into all of that and more, right here on this episode of The Flipside Podcast! 🕹️ LOOKING TO BUY A PINBALL MACHINE? Visit Flip N’ Out Pinball for new and used machines: 👉 https://www.flipnoutpinball.com/ Other creators mentioned on the Show: The Pinball Studio: thepinballstudio.com DirtyPoolPinball: https://www.youtube.com/@dirtypoolpinball 🎯 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 #leaks

In Pinball Rage: My Tournament Meltdown!, we dive into the chaotic (and sometimes emotional) world of competitive pinball, and yes, I had a bit of a moment. We’ll break down what tournament play is really like, how to know if it’s right for you, and what you should know before attending one. I’ll share the story of my own meltdown, what triggered it, and how you can avoid making the same mistake. But it’s not all rage and regret, when you go in with a clear head and the right mindset, pinball tournaments can actually be a ton of fun. You’ll meet passionate, like-minded players, and maybe even surprise yourself with how much you enjoy the experience!
 Looking to Buy a New or Used Pinball Machine? Check out Flip N’ Out Pinball: https://www.flipnoutpinball.com/ Looking for a tournament near you? Check out the official IFPA website! 
https://www.ifpapinball.com/calendar/ Check out ThePinballStudio!
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Stern Pinball just revealed the long-rumored JAWS 50th Anniversary Edition! In this episode, we react to the reveal and dive into the art, features, and whether it lives up to the hype. But that’s not all...Stern also dropped major code updates for several games that really needed it. We break it all down! 🦈 JAWS 50th Anniversary Edition – First impressions & reaction 🎮 Code updates on underperforming titles 💬 Community reactions and what it means for current owners Looking to Buy a New or Used Pinball Machine? Check out Flip N’ Out Pinball: https://www.flipnoutpinball.com/ LEAVE ME A VOICEMAIL, and I might play it on the show! https://www.speakpipe.com/RetroRalphVM Looking for more Pinball Content? Check out my pinball podcast, “The Flipside Podcast.” Video Version of the Podcast can be found here: / @theflipsideretroralph Want to listen to the podcast instead? Here are links to Spotify and Apple Podcasts! Spotify Link To Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/62ZF6rZ... Apple Podcast Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Subscribe to The Flipside Podcast so you don't miss an episode! https://rb.gy/uqi2an [RETRO RALPH MERCHANDISE AND CONTACT INFO] Get your Retro Ralph Merch Here: https://bit.ly/2YS5ukX Follow Retro Ralph on Twitter: https://bit.ly/39mdqzy Follow Retro Ralph On Instagram: https://bit.ly/3fU1Dew If you would like to get in contact with me directly, send me an email: [email protected] #JAWSPinball #SternPinball #PinballPodcast #PinballNews #JAWS50th #PinballUpdate #SternCodeUpdate #pinballcommunity

Predator Pinball is finally real—and it’s HERE! In this video, we break down everything you need to know about the new Predator pinball machine from Pinball Brothers. From gameplay and theme integration to mechs, music, and the controversial Arnold question—we cover it all! 🎯 Widebody layout, killer shots, and iconic moments 🧠 Why Predator was chosen as the follow-up to Alien 🎵 Featuring Alan Silvestri’s original score + new tracks by Olof Gustafsson 🛠️ Powered by FAST Pinball hardware for reliability 🔥 Only ~800 units being made – with optional “Trophy Package” This week, I also dove into Pinside to catch up on all the latest controversy around Harry Potter, Predator, and more… and honestly? It was depressing. This is pinball—it’s supposed to be fun! Looking to Buy a New or Used Pinball Machine? Check out Flip N’ Out Pinball: https://www.flipnoutpinball.com/ LEAVE ME A VOICEMAIL, and I might play it on the show! https://www.speakpipe.com/RetroRalphVM Looking for more Pinball Content? Check out my pinball podcast, “The Flipside Podcast.” Video Version of the Podcast can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFlipsideRetroRalph Want to listen to the podcast instead? Here are links to Spotify and Apple Podcasts! Spotify Link To Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/62ZF6rZGos5tFI77MaznZY Apple Podcast Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-flipside-pinball-podcast/id1753621594 Subscribe to The Flipside Podcast so you don't miss an episode! https://rb.gy/uqi2an [RETRO RALPH MERCHANDISE AND CONTACT INFO] Get your Retro Ralph Merch Here: https://bit.ly/2YS5ukX Follow Retro Ralph on Twitter: https://bit.ly/39mdqzy Follow Retro Ralph On Instagram: https://bit.ly/3fU1Dew #PredatorPinball #PinballBrothers #ArnoldSchwarzenegger #PinballMachine #HarryPotterPinball #PinballNews #PinsideDrama #80sMovies #PinballIsFun