Episode 262 - Welcome to 2026!
Eclectic Gamers hosts discuss 2026 pinball wishlist and affordable v-pin setup advice.
1 hr 2 min listen · By Dennis Kriesel & Tony Kurkowski · Jan 4

Dennis Kriesel & Tony Kurkowski
Pinball and video games. We’re a mixed gaming podcast, but pinball and video games are our bread and butter, and our two permanent segments. Pinball generally receives the most attention of the two. We also, on occasion, cover other types of gaming (namely tabletop games such as RPGs and card games). We aren’t known as eclectic for nothing!
"Dennis and Tony are different. Not just in their content covered but in their principles. They avoid conflict of interest, they reject mainstream opinions and they back up those stances with straightforward ideals that enthusiasts would benefit from. They admit mistakes, and their humble approach to their relevance makes them that much more endearing. None of this matters if hosts lack the knowledge of the covered hobby or a desire to investigate the subjects they cover. Thankfully, this may be their strongest asset. Listen, learn and be entertained. It's a great show and one that deserves a following."
Podcast5 new in 90 days · latest Oct 25Rated 4.9 (14 ratings)
Pinball and video games. We're a mixed gaming podcast, but pinball and video games are our bread and butter.
Eclectic Gamers hosts discuss 2026 pinball wishlist and affordable v-pin setup advice.
1 hr 2 min listen · By Dennis Kriesel & Tony Kurkowski · Jan 4
Eclectic Gamers reviews 2025 pinball releases, calling it a strong theme year despite economic concerns.
1 hr 28 min listen · By Dennis Kriesel & Tony Kurkowski · Dec 21, 2025
Eclectic Gamers discusses Spooky's Beetlejuice FOMO strategy, production limits, and scalping in pinball collecting.
1 hr 1 min listen · By Dennis Kriesel & Tony Kurkowski · Dec 7, 2025
Beetlejuice sold out instantly; debate follows on FOMO strategy and hobby accessibility.
58 min listen · By Dennis Kriesel & Tony Kurkowski · Nov 23, 2025
Eclectic Gamers reviews Beetlejuice and The Walking Dead Remastered (Premium/LE) announcements with mixed reactions to art direction.
1 hr 17 min listen · By Dennis Kriesel & Tony Kurkowski · Nov 9, 2025
Expo recap: Winchester sells out overnight; Raza revival; Dutch Pinball BTTF delays amid Alice production issues.
1 hr 36 min listen · By Dennis Kriesel & Tony Kurkowski · Oct 26, 2025
Eclectic Gamers debates figurine pricing, Death Star defects, and whether boycotting low-effort Stern games sends any real message.
1 hr 21 min listen · By Dennis Kriesel & Tony Kurkowski · Oct 12, 2025
Pinball podcast ranks worst manufacturer decisions and speculates on upcoming Spooky games.
1 hr 7 min listen · By Dennis Kriesel & Tony Kurkowski · Sep 27, 2025
Stern's Fall of the Empire is competent but creatively disappointing: another original trilogy retread.
1 hr 13 min listen · By Dennis Kriesel & Tony Kurkowski · Sep 14, 2025
Star Wars Fall of the Empire announced as Spike 3 cornerstone; podcast explores pinball streaming challenges and digital/physical coexistence.
1 hr listen · By Dennis Kriesel & Tony Kurkowski · Aug 31, 2025
Eclectic Gamers discusses pinball complexity, Spike 3 viability, and gaming philosophy via listener emails.
1 hr 13 min listen · By Dennis Kriesel & Tony Kurkowski · Aug 17, 2025
Jack Danger shifts from Stern game designer to Head of Community role, likely due to project management burnout.
1 hr 22 min listen · By Dennis Kriesel & Tony Kurkowski · Aug 3, 2025
Episode 250: Consistency, art licensing in pinball, and ranking classic games.
1 hr 9 min listen · By Dennis Kriesel & Tony Kurkowski · Jul 20, 2025
Eclectic Gamers covers tabletop gaming, Jaws 50th Anniversary design, Steelbound P3 announcement, and collector vs. player definitions.
1 hr 8 min listen · By Dennis Kriesel & Tony Kurkowski · Jul 6, 2025
Pinball Brothers announces Predator game; Harry Potter art scandal sparks quality concerns.
1 hr 3 min listen · By Dennis Kriesel & Tony Kurkowski · Jun 22, 2025
Eclectic Gamers analyzes JJP's Harry Potter pinball reveal: strong design, three tiers, collector's edition praised.
1 hr 32 min listen · By Dennis Kriesel & Tony Kurkowski · Jun 8, 2025
Hypothetical: Which defunct pinball manufacturer (Gottlieb vs Williams) could succeed if resurrected today?
55 min listen · By Dennis Kriesel & Tony Kurkowski · May 25, 2025
Sparse pinball news drives discussion of designer brand power and dream Stern remasters.
50 min listen · By Dennis Kriesel & Tony Kurkowski · May 11, 2025
Dune and King Kong reveal reactions; concerns about game difficulty, pricing, and toy pacing.
1 hr 3 min listen · By Dennis Kriesel & Tony Kurkowski · Apr 27, 2025
Pre-announcement roundup of King Kong, Dune rumors, Harry Potter pricing/strategy before major reveals.
1 hr 2 min listen · By Dennis Kriesel & Tony Kurkowski · Apr 13, 2025