DPP #228 "Day 1 dispatch! BJ reception, BOF excites!"

Day 1 Pinball at the Beach dispatch: Beetlejuice dominates Spooky booth, Barrels excites with Winchester, Stern presence minimal.

Synopsis

Don reports from Day 1 of Pinball at the Beach 2026 in St. Pete Beach, Florida, providing on-the-floor coverage of manufacturer booths and game reception. Beetlejuice (12 show units) is generating massive interest with positive community reception; Spooky's booth is crowded with lines all day. Barrels of Fun has two Winchester Mystery House machines drawing consistent play. Stern's presence is notably diminished compared to prior years, with X-Men receiving mixed reviews due to rushed development. Don discusses Pokemon hype concerns, speculating against FOMO-driven LE speculation, and expresses cautious optimism about Turner Pinball potential upcoming releases.

Entities

• Barrels of Fun· company
• Jersey Jack Pinball· company
• Mad Pinball· company
• Spooky Pinball· company
• Stern Pinball· company
• Turner Pinball· company
• Pinball at the Beach· event
• Texas Pinball Festival· event
• Beetlejuice· game
• Merlin's Arcade· game
• Metallica Remastered· game
• Pokemon Pinball· game
• Sonic the Hedgehog· game
• Space Hunt· game
• Winchester Mystery House· game
• X-Men Pinball· game
• Christopher Franchi· person
• David Vaness· person
• Don· person
• Dylan· person
• Jack Danger· person
• Roger Sharp· person