For Amusement Only Em And Bingo Pinball Podcast

Robo-Frenzy is about 70% wired! Multi-Races now has a computer and I've begun thinking about laying out the new electronic and mechanical features. A Chicago Coin Soundstage was unboxed recently.  The video (on Facebook) can be viewed here: Today's featured game is a really neat one - Gottlieb's 1948 Alice in Wonderland. You can reach me at  or via the bingos line at 724-BINGOS-1 You can listen to the show on iTunes, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Google Play Music, Spotify, Facebook, Twitter (bingopodcast) or follow me on Instagram (also bingopodcast). The show's website is foramusementonly.libsyn.com If you like video games, you might enjoy Gaming on Ten Minutes a Week at   Thank you very much for listening, and I'll talk to you next time.

A short episode today, wherein I discuss wiring Robo-Frenzy (approx 50% done), and a listener question about adding progressive jackpots to a bingo pinball machine.  I put on my best tech hat and respond. Thank you, as always, for listening! You can reach me at  or via the bingos line at 724-BINGOS-1 You can listen to the show on iTunes, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Google Play Music, Spotify, Facebook, Twitter (bingopodcast) or follow me on Instagram (also bingopodcast). The show's website is foramusementonly.libsyn.com If you like video games, you might enjoy Gaming on Ten Minutes a Week at   Thank you very much for listening, and I'll talk to you next time.

Robo-Frenzy is taking shape, the wiring has begun in earnest.  I talk a bit about how I am prototyping the light board, how the wiring is going and the basic functions that are wired. A reminder that I'm running a contest!  Anyone that can send me evidence of a current/new 5 in a line on a game will receive a free Bingo Row print!  The illustration by Ryan Claytor of Elephant Eater Comics () is amazing.  Non-bingo-owners can get in touch if they would like a copy. Today's game is 1952's Gottlieb "Quartette" - Thank you, as always, for listening! You can reach me at  or via the bingos line at 724-BINGOS-1 You can listen to the show on iTunes, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Google Play Music, Spotify, Facebook, Twitter (bingopodcast) or follow me on Instagram (also bingopodcast). The show's website is foramusementonly.libsyn.com If you like video games, you might enjoy Gaming on Ten Minutes a Week at   Thank you very much for listening, and I'll talk to you next time.

This year's White Rose Gameroom Show was incredible! I speak a bit about each game in Bingo Row, and do a recap of the happenings day-by-day. JeffC's amazing unboxing video is in this thread:  Tons of pictures in that thread, and lots of information. I discuss the unknowns listed on the sign in front of the game individually and the answers to our burning bingo questions. And - a contest!  Anyone that can send me evidence of a current/new 5 in a line on a game will receive a free Bingo Row print!  The illustration by Ryan Claytor of Elephant Eater Comics () is amazing.  Non-bingo-owners can get in touch if they would like a copy. Lastly, I speak about some upcoming projects, including a Sing-Along, and of course, Robo-Frenzy. Thank you, as always, for listening! You can reach me at  or via the bingos line at 724-BINGOS-1 You can listen to the show on iTunes, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Google Play Music, Spotify, Facebook, Twitter (bingopodcast) or follow me on Instagram (also bingopodcast). The show's website is

I'm headed to the York show - Friday Oct 12th and Saturday Oct 13th, 2018. Come see me, play all the bingos in Bingo Row, and compete for a chance to win a beautiful limited edition Bingo Row print! Today's main topic is a review of Pinball Magazine #5 - I strongly encourage all folks with any interest in EMs to pick up a copy and read about Wayne Neyens, his amazing career and life, an interview with Steve Young, and much more. Hats off to Jonathan Joosten - this interview and retrospective is very thorough, and has been a joy to read. Today's featured game is 1952's United Steeple Chase. Thank you, as always, for listening! You can reach me at  or via the bingos line at 724-BINGOS-1 You can listen to the show on iTunes, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Google Play Music, Spotify, Facebook, Twitter (bingopodcast) or follow me on Instagram (also bingopodcast). The show's website is foramusementonly.libsyn.com Thank you very much for listening, and I'll talk to you next time. Read more at http://foramusementonly.libsy

The York show (White Rose Gameroom Show) will be here before we know it! Come to the show and hang out with us in Bingo Row  Beautiful new giveaways, a brand new bingo unboxing, extremely rare games on free play, and a lot of fun! The Multi-Bingo is complete!  I've finished all the various programming bits and this is the final programming episode of the podcast for the Multi-Bingo (I promise). Today's game is 1938's Genco "Gay Time".  It has a mechanism that kicks the ball into various pockets and increments your score.  The final pocket will kick down and back into play.  Very neat idea from the era of experimentation. "A Spring Tonic for Sick Locations" https://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=3117

The Multi-Bingo is about to make its yearly showing at the York show!  That means I have the typical final tweaks and touches to complete. The Multi Manual is available here:  I was also co-author on an article published on Pinball News about gambling pingames: https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2018/08/23/gambling-pingames-manufacturer-perspectives/ Check it out and let me know what you think. Listener Cait brings a very interesting article from Automatic Age regarding the first pinball piracy case - Who's Goofy vs. Bally Goofy! The Ottawa Pinball Show (Sept. 22 and 23rd) will have both games on display, with Goofy playable as part of the pinhistory booth.   Go check out the cool games - thank you for bringing them - I wish I could be there! Today's game is 1950's Genco "Canasta" - a very interesting-looking turret game:  Thank you, as always, for listening! You can reach me at  or via the bingos line at 724-BINGOS-1 You can listen to the show on iTunes, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Google Play Music, Spotify, Fac

This episode, I start off with a few technical details about how the animations function within the Multi for the mechanical backbox number movements. Today's game is the 1932 Northwest Coin Machine Company Fan-Tan.  An interesting roulette game with a playing card theme.   Thank you, as always, for listening! You can reach me at  or via the bingos line at 724-BINGOS-1 You can listen to the show on iTunes, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Google Play Music, Spotify, Facebook, Twitter () or follow me on Instagram (also ). The show's website is foramusementonly.libsyn.com  Thank you very much for listening, and I'll talk to you next time.  

The York show is coming!  October 12th and 13th, 2018, please join us in Bingo Row for several special spectacles.    - A group of bingo pinball machines free to play all weekend  - The Multi-Bingo, featuring all 142 domestically produced bingo pinball machines  - A brand NEW Silver Sails, still sealed in the box, to be publicly unboxed on the show floor Friday.  If it is playable, it will be available for play!  - Giveaways for any four or five in a row on any machine at Bingo Row - limited edition posters of the Bingo Row illustration by Ryan Claytor!  - And some other surprises that I cannot name yet.   Join us!  Win a poster!  Watch a historic unboxing!   For the second half of the episode, I interview Sophia, as Ticker Tape might be leaving the building on Friday.  She wanted to give her thoughts on the games and eventually started telling me about "po-ta-to, to-mah-toe" and expounding on what makes Double-Up so great.   Thank you, as always, for listening! You can reach me at  or via the bingos line at

I am back from a very special vacation - Dennis Dodel was willing to open his gameroom to a few of us traveling to Wayne Neyens' 100th birthday celebration! I had an excellent time and discuss some of the games and what makes them special. Thank you Dennis! Next, I traveled to Wayne's home to help him ring in his 100th year  and discuss some of what made that special event so extremely special to me. Thank you Wayne, for being such an amazing man - you are an inspiration, and I am so honored and humbled to have been one of the people cheering you on at your party. The citation presented to Wayne: The man himself, finishing a ball on his "Spirit of '76": And finally, a photo of us together, in front of the toolbox he used at Gottlieb(!):

United's coin flash animations are in process - I discuss the mechanical differences between Bally and United games from the perspective of coin flash, then give some simple updates on Robo-Frenzy and Multi Races. Jones Plugs are fantastic for allowing simple connection/disconnection of the head of a game or a coin door from the cabinet body, but it's important to double check these plugs when your game is having problems, especially if a new (to you) game, or a game that has recently been moved. Lastly, the game for today is Gottlieb's "Double-Shuffle" from 1949.  Twin scoring, similar to Twin Bill, but with a simple, fun sequence on either side of the playfield.  Attractive artwork and backglass animation round out the package. Extra special - 1/2 Million?  Sign me up. Thank you, as always, for listening! You can reach me at  or via the bingos line at 724-BINGOS-1 You can listen to the show on iTunes, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Google Play Music, Spotify, Facebook, Twitter () or follow me on Instagram (also )

The biggest news for today's episode: the announcement of the Multi Races project.  Thanks to Dennis Dodel for the name! The plan is to make another Multi-type game that will allow you to play all 49 of the one-ball horse race games.  Very excited to get started.  I've made a thread here:  The Multi-Bingo still needs some animations written for a handful of Bally games and almost all of the United games. Robo-Frenzy - I decided a while ago upon a design for the timer unit - I had previously stacked too much on that one unit.  I'm moving certain circuits to trip relays instead, which will simplify the timer unit design.  Unfortunately, I ordered the wrong part.  After York, I'll get back to the game. Two small updates to the last podcast, I talk about repairing the Bally Ballerina and going through the underside of the Williams Rag Mop that Ryan and I discussed. Thank you, as always, for listening! You can reach me at  or via the bingos line at 724-BINGOS-1 You can listen to the show on iTunes, Pocket Casts, S

Ryan Claytor () joins me for a discussion of all things vacation: Fixes for -  1) Williams "Penny Pitch" 2) Gottlieb "Paul Bunyan" () 3) Bally "Sheba" () 4) Chicago Coin "Fox Hunt" () 5) United "Thunderbird" Talk about 1) Williams "Rag Mop" () 2) Bally Ballerina () (After the show was recorded, I was able to go fix up Ballerina, and work through the playfield of Rag Mop. ) Discussion about Coos' backglass foils - beautiful work!  For the final "Year of Flipperless" game, we go over Genco's 1940 masterpiece, "Metro".  Multiple sequences, extremely challenging play, and my daughter's new favorite game. Russ Jensen's writeup is here:  and is a great read on the ruleset. We also talk about Ryan's thoughts on finishing his Williams "Swinger" () His Pinside thread is located here:  And the Flipperless buy/sell/trade thread:    Bingo Row is coming soon!  Ryan and I chat about the upcoming festivities. Thank you, as always, for listening! You can reach me at  or via the bingos line at 724-BINGOS-1 You can listen to t

A great story from Graham TerMarsch - three donated Bally Big Times were used to teach kids at his son's school about reverse engineering and they ended up restoring one of the games - congratulations everyone! This week I also wanted to highlight a couple of interesting notes on the Pinside forum regarding bingos: One person has trouble with their left and right buttons in a Magic Screen game, with a simple, but easy to overlook fix: And second, another owner converts his beautiful Bally "Bikini" to have wooden rails - an interesting modification: The Rocky Mountain Pinball Showdown is this weekend, June 8-10 in Denver, CO.  Phil Bogema will be there this year and will be bringing two beautifully restored Bally bingos: Parade and Carnival Queen.  Phil does stunning work, and I look forward to hearing the show reports from players there.   Today is the penultimate "Year of Flipperless" game: 1932's Amusement Corporation of America's "Ski-Doo 23":   As always you can find me on Facebook at  Instagram  Twi

I just came across an announcement that the Canada Pincon is going to have a history of pinball booth with: 1932 Bally Goofy 1935 Bally Bumper 1932 Bally Ballyhoo 1939 Keeney Thriller and a 1954 Bally Surf Club! If you're in the area, check out the show at  - and let me know how you enjoy the history of pinball games! Getting back to my roots a bit, thought I would talk a little about how to narrow down a backbox illumination problem in a Gottlieb woodrail, as a question came up on Pinside recently. Lastly, we're headed towards the end of the Year of Flipperss - today's entry is 1935's Rockola "TNT": As always, if you'd like to get in touch, you can email me at  or call me on the bingos line at (724) BINGOS-1 - (724-246-4671) - thank you for listening and I'll talk to you next time.

Allentown Pinfest was last weekend and it was a lot of fun.  Thank you to friends new and old that made it a huge success for the Multi and for me. The Multi played well at Allentown, despite a pretty bone-headed mistake I made in coding before the show... lots of compliments and lots of help forthcoming or received at the show. I did sneak away and play the beautiful custom "Nightmare Before Christmas" machine ) - and the creator also learned about bingos in turn. I'm looking forward to York now, and how I will implement the improvements planned (and maybe a couple of surprises)! Today's Year of Flipperless game is United's 1946 "Sea Breeze" - a beautiful fun-looking game with multiple sequences. http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=2079

Allentown is coming next week - 5/3-5/5/18.  I will be there with the Multi on Saturday only 5/5!  Come say hello and try the game.  I look forward to seeing everyone there. I talk about some of the development challenges in getting the game ready to show the new animations, including the small touches like flashing the insert lamps on coin flash.   Today's Year of Flipperless is 1938's Bally "Arcade". http://ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=3650

Discussion of some of the difficulties with animating the coin flash for each game.  Some discussion of outstanding bugs. Today's Year of Flipperless game is 1938's Chicago Coin "Swing". I love games with mechanical diverters as well as the captive ball feature.   http://ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=2481

Robo-Frenzy is coming along, awaiting some new parts.  I discuss a bit about how difficult it is for me to wire up a stepper from scratch. The Multi is progressing on several fronts, and I'm working on adding coin flash for every game. Our Year of Flipperless game is 1939's Exhibit Avalon. A very beautiful and interesting looking game, with uniquely shaped bumpers. http://ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=117&picno=5616

Sing Along tear down started - and that playfield is really rough.  I located a different used playfield that should clean up ok.  Very excited to rebuild this game. Robo-Frenzy wiring continues, albeit slowly. I speak about some repairs, including Shoot-A-Line and a Dixieland that just would not stay fixed, ending it with a Williams Skylab. Finally, the Year of Flipperless has a new entry: 1946's Bally Double Barrel. http://ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=708