Ben Heck

Ben Heck (Ben Heckendorn) is a noted console modder turned pinball designer who significantly impacted the industry in the 2010s. Largely self-taught in electronics and carpentry, Heck built a fully custom, one-off pinball machine called “Bill Paxton Pinball” in 2010 that showcased a homebrew approach, including a custom microcontroller-based control system. He later partnered with Spooky Pinball to create “America’s Most Haunted” (AMH), an original-themed game that launched in 2014 as Spooky’s first production machine. This was a pivotal title in the modern pinball renaissance, demonstrating that small, independent manufacturers could bring new ideas to a market historically dominated by major companies.

Heck’s custom “PinHeck” control platform powered AMH and subsequent Spooky games, helping standardize cost-effective, embedded electronics in pinball. AMH’s commercial success (a sellout run of 150 units) proved that smaller teams could compete with established players by blending creative design, modern hardware, and direct engagement with enthusiasts.