The Flipside Pinball Podcast
by RetroRalph
Welcome to "The Flipside" with RetroRalph, where arcade nostalgia meets pinball passion! Known for his YouTube channel dedicated to arcade gaming, RetroRalph now explores the pinball world after three years of fascination with flippers and bumpers. Join Ralph on this journey as he aims to bring new life to pinball, just as he did for arcades. "The Flipside" dives deep into retro gaming and pinball culture through discussions, gameplay, and interviews. Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the hobby, Ralph's enthusiasm promises an exciting exploration of gaming history. Join RetroRalph on "The Flipside" for a tilt-worthy adventure through the arcade and pinball realms!
Episodes
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Pinball Expo 2026 BROKE ME! Big Reveals, P3 Drama & Why I'm DONE!
Pinball Expo 2026 is officially in the books, and what a crazy year it was! I’m finally recovering from the dreaded Expo Crud, and there’s a TON to talk about! From Steve Ritchie’s retirement and some incredible new games to my unfiltered thoughts on Multimorphic’s P3, we’re covering it all! We...
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I played all the new games, here's my take...
It’s the last Flipside before Pinball Expo, and there is a LOT to talk about. I’m sharing my first impressions of Bon Jovi, Fallout, and Tales of the Arabian Nights Remake, including what surprised me, what disappointed me, and which game I can’t stop playing. We also get into Dutch Pinball’s…
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2026 Pinball Is Getting OUT OF CONTROL… And I Made It Worse!
This might be the craziest year pinball has seen in a long time… and I may have made it even crazier for myself. 😂 In this episode of The Flipside Podcast, I break down the insane number of new pinball machines hitting in 2026, including Fallout, Bon Jovi, Tales of the Arabian Nights, Yukon…
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I Played Fallout Pinball - Elwin’s Best Game Ever? Plus: Was Stern Media Day a Bust?
The highly anticipated Fallout pinball machine from Stern Pinball is finally here, and I’ve played it! In this episode of The Flipside, we break down Keith Elwin’s latest creation and ask the big question: Could Fallout be his greatest pinball machine ever? Stern opened the wallet and gave the…
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Episode 65: Fallout Pinball Rumors, Goonies at Expo & Another Pinball Company?!
Fallout is coming… and if the rumors are true, Stern might be about to drop something pretty damn wild. On this episode of The Flipside Podcast, I’m fired up and we’re covering a TON. We get into everything we think we know about the rumored Keith Elwin Fallout pinball machine, why I still don’t...
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Episode 64: Bon Jovi vs Dungeon Crawler Carl vs Ender's Game | Which One?!
Three major new pinball machines. One person who has played them all. In Episode 64 of The Flipside Podcast, Retro Ralph sits down with Jamie Burchell to discuss his exclusive hands-on experiences with Barrels of Fun’s new Bon Jovi pinball machine, plus Dungeon Crawler Carl and Ender’s Game for…
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Episode 63: Sonic vs. Transformers Pinball Review + The Wildest Year in Modern Pinball?!
Sonic Pinball vs. Transformers Pinball - if you could only bring one home, which would it be? In this episode of The Flip Side Pinball Podcast, I review and compare Sonic Pinball by Jersey Jack Pinball and Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye by Stern Pinball. These are two completely different...
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Episode 61: The Golden Age of Pinball: Is It Happening RIGHT NOW?
Are we living in the golden age of pinball right now? In this episode, we dive into one of the biggest questions in the pinball hobby: is modern pinball better than ever, or are we just caught up in the moment? I also talk about how my own perspective might be shaped by when I entered the hobby.…
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Episode 60: Is There REALLY a Problem With Transformers Pinball?
The new Transformers pinball machine from Stern Pinball is finally here… but so is the controversy surrounding it. In this episode, we dive deep into the rumor that Optimus Prime was originally supposed to transform in the game, where that rumor may have started, how the pinball community ran…
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Episode 59: Stern Accidentally Leaked Transformers Pinball… Autobots, Roll Out!
On this episode of The Flipside, we’re talking about the leak that lit up the pinball community — Stern accidentally showing images of the Transformers playfield and cabinet through the Insider Connected app. We’ll break down what appeared, what it tells us about the game, how this may have…
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Episode 58: The Goonies Pinball Leak Everyone Is Talking About!
The Goonies pinball rumors are heating up after a very interesting discovery inside Spooky Pinball’s Beetlejuice code. Did Spooky accidentally leak their next game, or is this just some clever pinball marketing? In this episode of The Flipside, we dig into the Goonies rumors, the latest…
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Episode 57: Beetlejuice vs. Pokémon: Theme Monster vs. Mass Appeal
These are two wildly different games with two very different strengths, and the community has a lot to say about both of them. We’re breaking down how players are reacting to each title, where the praise is landing, where the criticism is coming from, and which game might actually matter more for...
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Episode 56: Pinball Fans Called In… Here’s What Happened!
This episode of The Flipside Podcast gets a little wild… because we’re letting the viewers take the wheel. That means listener-submitted voicemails, random questions, unexpected topics, and absolutely no telling where this thing is going next. We cover pinball, some totally off-the-rails...
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Episode 55: Who STOLE the Show at Texas Pinball Festival?! 👀 + American Pinball Is BACK!
Texas Pinball Festival 2026 is in the books… and wow, there’s a LOT to unpack. In this episode of The Flipside, we break down: 👉 Who really stole the show at TPF 👉 The biggest surprises and standout games 👉 American Pinball is back and better than EVER! 👉 The moments everyone is talking about...
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Episode 54: Turner Pinball Just Did WHAT?! Yukon Yeti = Whitewater 2?!
Alright guys… this one’s interesting 👀 Turner Pinball just revealed Yukon Yeti, a Klondike Gold Rush–themed game that feels like it’s taking a real shot at being a spiritual successor to White Water pinball machine. In this episode of The Flipside, I break down my initial thoughts on the layout,...
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Episode 53: Is American Pinball Bringing Back Circus Voltaire?!
In this episode, we dive into the chaos surrounding the Pokémon LE launch and the frenzy that followed. Is there really a crossover happening between hardcore Pokémon fans and new pinball players, or is that narrative overblown? We break down what we’re seeing, what it could mean for the hobby…
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Episode 52: After Playing Pokémon Pinball at Stern HQ… Here Are My Thoughts
Pokémon Pinball is officially here, and this is my full breakdown after attending Stern Pinball’s Media Day at the factory. This new Stern Pinball release is co-designed by Jack Danger and George Gomez and brings the largest entertainment IP in the world to modern pinball. That’s a big swing. In...
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Episode 51: Pinball at the Beach FOMO 🌊 Pokémon Is Almost Here?! + Major Pinball Buzz
In this episode, I’m joined by my buddy Jamie from The JBS Show as we break down the much-talked-about Pokémon pinball trailer, why it told us nothing, who the game might actually be for, and what it could mean for the future of pinball. We also dive into our serious FOMO from Pinball at the…
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Episode 50: Is Stern Pinball a victim of its own success?
In this episode of The Flipside, we dive into one of the biggest conversations happening in pinball right now. There is a growing perception that boutique pinball manufacturers are offering more value than Stern Pinball, and we explore whether that perception is fair, exaggerated, or something...
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Episode 49: Pinball 2026: What’s REALLY Coming (Rumors vs Reality)
What’s really coming to pinball in 2026? In this episode of The Flipside, we break down everything we know and everything we’re hearing about upcoming pinball machines, rumored titles, manufacturer roadmaps, and where the industry is headed next. This isn’t just a rumor roundup. We dig into...
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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…
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Episode 47: Spooky’s Big Win… And Stern’s Big Shrug?
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...
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Episode 46: Can Spooky Pinball catch lightning in a bottle twice w/ Beetlejuice?
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...
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Episode 45: Walking Dead Pinball Returns for 2025 - But Should You Care?
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,...
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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...
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Episode 43: The Pinball Expo Hype Show w/Jamie!
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...
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Episode 42: Inside Stern’s New Star Wars Pinball + SPIKE 3 Secrets!
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…
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Episode 41: Star Wars Pinball Delayed?! The Truth About Licensing & Expo Hype!
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…
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Episode 40: Star Wars Teaser Trailer Disappointment - It's my cousins fault!!
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...
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Episode 39: Is there a lack on Innovation in modern pinball?
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...
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Episode 38: Do Pinball Leaks Suck? What I Learned Working Behind the Scenes
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...
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Episode 37: Pinball Rage: My Tournament Meltdown!
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...
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Episode 35: JAWS 50th Anniversary Edition Revealed… But the Real Surprise? Stern’s Code Updates!
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...
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Episode 34: Harry Potter Drama Explodes on Pinside – Oh, and Predator Pinball Is Here Too!
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,...
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Episode 33: I Played Harry Potter Pinball & Filmed the Featurette!
In this episode, I share my first impressions after playing Jersey Jack Pinball’s highly anticipated Harry Potter machine — but that’s not all. I was honored to help tell the story behind this game by filming the official featurette, giving fans a rare glimpse behind the curtain at how this…
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Episode 32: Spooky Surges, Potter Vanishes, and Kong Gets an Upgrade!
I finally got my hands on Evil Dead pinball by Spooky—and holy hell, it’s GOOD. In this episode, I share my first impressions, what makes it click, and why this might be Spooky’s best machine yet! But… where’s Harry Potter from Jersey Jack Pinball? The hype is real, but the silence is deafening....
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Episode 31: Harry Potter - The Final Countdown, will it live up to the hype?!
🎙️ In this episode of TheFlipside, we dive into the highly anticipated release from Jersey Jack Pinball: the Harry Potter pinball machine! With one of the most beloved franchises in cinematic history—spanning eight blockbuster films and a massive global fanbase—Jersey Jack is taking on one of…
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Episode 30: King Kong Pinball Is Finally Here… But Does It Deliver?
The wait is over—the full trailer for Stern’s King Kong is finally here, and in this episode of The FlipSide, we’re breaking it all down together. From the layout glimpses to the art and animations, I’m sharing my unfiltered first impressions and live commentary as we dissect everything revealed…
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Episode 29: The Kong Gong – Secrets, Speculation, and First Reactions to King Kong!
In this episode of The FlipSide, we’re diving into Stern’s King Kong pinball teaser. We didn’t get much in the trailer—but let’s talk about what we did see. Are we excited or disappointed? And if it was a bit underwhelming… does it even matter? Because let’s be honest—Keith Elwin always brings…
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Episode 28: Is Pinball Evolving or Dying w/ Jamie from Wormhole Pinball!
In this episode of The FlipSide, I sit down with Jamie from Wormhole Pinball for an in-depth and fun conversation covering everything from our experience hosting the TWIPY Awards to exploring the legendary Wormhole Vault—a collection of rare and unique pinball machines from the past. We dive into...
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Episode 27: Barrels of Speculation - So Many New Pinball Machines in 2025!
In this episode, we dive deep into the latest pinball rumors, industry news, and some wild speculation—because why not? We kick things off by discussing what Barrels of Fun might have in store for their next game and explore possible themes like Dune, G.I. Joe, and The Goonies (links below for...
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Episode 26: What’s the Next Big Game from Barrels of Fun? Epic TWIPY Weekend Highlights & Your Voicemails!
In Episode 26, we dive into the exciting speculation around Barrels of Fun’s next big game! Plus, we recap the highlights from the epic TWIPY Weekend and listen to your voicemails. Don’t miss out on the latest updates, behind-the-scenes fun, and more! Tune in now for all the details! LEAVE ME A...
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Episode25: 3 Shocking Pinball Rumors That Might Just Be TRUE
In this episode, I dive into an intriguing message I received about three pinball rumors and why they might actually be true. Could Barrels of Fun be working on an IP from our childhood that would make it a must-buy game? Jersey Jack seems to be gearing up for a Harry Potter release, but what…
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Episode 24: I Spent 4 Years Collecting Pinball Machines and Here's What I Learned!
It all started with one trip to Pinball Expo—just one. I came back home, bought my first machine, and from that moment on, it’s been all pinball, all the time. Machines have come and gone, and through the years, I’ve learned a lot about what I love in a game and what just doesn’t stick. But…
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Episode 23: My Cringe Gary Stern Moment, Your Voicemails, & 2025 Pinball Rumors!
In Episode 23 of The FlipSide Podcast, I share my hilariously cringe-worthy encounter with the one and only Gary Stern—yes, it’s as awkward as it sounds! Plus, I take your voicemails to spotlight your thoughts and predictions and dive into what the future of pinball could look like in 2025. Don’t...
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Episode 22: Dungeons & Dragons Pinball - We Played it - Initial Thoughts w/ Ian from Nudge Magazine!
In this episode, we’re diving deep—how deep? A full 45 minutes! But with so much to cover, it’s worth it. I’ll introduce you to Ian from Nudge, share our behind-the-scenes experience at Stern Pinball’s media day, and give you our honest thoughts on Stern’s newest cornerstone release, Dungeons &...
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Episode 21: "Dungeons & Dragons Pinball Debuts! Live Reaction + TWIPYs Voting Opens & Pinball Cup is Heating up!"
The FlipSide is back with an action-packed episode! This week, we dive into the much-anticipated Dungeons & Dragons pinball release from Stern. Will it cast a spell on fans or roll a natural 1? We'll break down the gameplay, art, and features to determine if this title will be a critical hit or a...
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Episode 20: "Is Pinball Dying? Foo Fighters Vault, Stern’s Next Cornerstone & Pinball Hype!"
In this action-packed episode of The FlipSide Podcast, we’re diving into some of the hottest topics in pinball! Stern has announced that Foo Fighters is heading to the vault, but why so soon? We’ll break down the possible reasons behind this unexpected move. Plus, there’s controversy brewing in…
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Episode 19: "The TWIPYs are Back & Stern’s Next Game is King Kong?!"
In this episode, the TWIPYs are back! We’ll cover how you can participate, who’s hosting, how to vote, and who might take home the win! Plus, the Pinball Rumor Mill is really heating up—and maybe even getting a little strange. We’ll dive into your voicemails and discuss the wild rumor about an...
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Episode 18: "Evil Dead ruined my childhood, Listener Voicemails & Maybe Avatar just isn’t that fun”
In this hilarious and thought-provoking episode, we dive into the terrifying nostalgia of Evil Dead and how it left some of us scarred for life (in the best way). Next, we answer YOUR listener voicemails, tackling burning questions, hot takes, and a few unexpected surprises. Finally, we confront...
About this show
Welcome to "The Flipside" with RetroRalph, where arcade nostalgia meets pinball passion! Known for his YouTube channel dedicated to arcade gaming, RetroRalph now explores the pinball world after three years of fascination with flippers and bumpers. Join Ralph on this journey as he aims to bring new life to pinball, just as he did for arcades. "The Flipside" dives deep into retro gaming and pinball culture through discussions, gameplay, and interviews. Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the hobby, Ralph's enthusiasm promises an exciting exploration of gaming history. Join RetroRalph on "The Flipside" for a tilt-worthy adventure through the arcade and pinball realms!
Hosted by
RetroRalph