# Around the Playfield with Tanio Klyce
by [Jeff Patterson](/author/jeff-patterson) · August 15, 2018 · [This Week in Pinball](/news/category/this-week-in-pinball)

> Interview with Tanio Klyce.

![Bold red text reading "Around the Playfield" with shadow effect](https://media.kineticist.com/posts/around-the-playfield-brian-sherman-gweempose/inline/6839bb6566992e63f0471b64_65674b0128f29f6d0210dcd8_Screen-Shot-2018-05-23-at-7.06.07-AM.png)

# With Tanio Klyce

## **Flyer**

[Tanio Klyce](/pinball-people/tanio-klyce) is a Senior Software Engineer at Stern Pinball, and is the lead software person on the new Stern Pinball machine Deadpool.

# **Around the Playfield**

### **The Start Button: How did you first get into pinball?**

*In 1981, Black Knight was strategically placed in the movie theater lobby so that it was waiting for me when I finished watching the movie “Excalibur”. With my head filled with visions of medieval battle, glory, honor, and treachery, the Black Knight issued a challenge, and I accepted. The speed of the ball, the charging hooves, the angry robotic voice of my adversary immersed me in an experience that had me hooked. Prior to that I had played games like Evel Knievel that promised motorcycle stunts and cool outfits, but awarded me only a few bleeps and bloops, quickly followed by the inevitable humiliation of the drain. The Black Knight drew me in and kept me coming back for more. Through our many battles I developed basic flipper-button-to-eye coordination. After that training, other pins were fun for me because I had developed the skills required to keep the ball in play.*

### **The Plunge: What was the first pinball machine you bought?**

*Hyperball.*

### **The Skill Shot: What is your best pinball achievement or favorite pinball moment?**

*My favorite pinball moment so far has been my defeat of the Sharpe brothers at the Stern KISS Pinball launch party. I was the hero of Logan Arcade that night.*

### **Good Shots, Bad Bounces: What is your favorite and least favorite pinball machine?**

*Favorite: Firepower*

‍

*Least favorite: A machine in a truck stop off the highway in central California that was in dire need of maintenance. The left flipper did not work, and most of the balls were stuck in a vertical up kicker. It took my quarters and rewarded me with disappointment.*

### **The Wizard Mode: What is your dream theme you’d like to see made into a pinball machine?**

*“Minesweeper – The Movie – The Pinball Machine”*

### **The Tilt: What is the dumbest mistake you’ve made in pinball (mishap moving a machine, messing up trying to fix a machine, etc.)?**

*My first attempt at PCB repair was a Williams System 11 CPU board. I should have practiced desoldering ICs on something else first.*

### **The High Score: Describe the pinball hobby in one word.  
**

*Gratifying.*

### **Match – Next Game: Where do you see the pinball hobby in 5-10 years?**

*I see the pinball hobby, sport, and industry continue to grow and thrive.*

‍

*One of the exciting challenges in the future will be developing zero gravity pinball for space travelers.*

## Related
- Game: [Deadpool](/games/pinball/deadpool-2018)

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