INTERVIEW - Bon Jovi Pinball w/ David Van Es & Luke Underwood
Flip N Out Pinball Podcast
45 min
Summary
Barrels of Fun reveals design philosophy behind Bon Jovi pin: approachable concert experience with competitive depth.
David Van Es and Luke Underwood from Barrels of Fun discuss the development of Bon Jovi, their first music-themed pinball machine, which was approached by Bon Jovi's team to create a game celebrating their four-decade legacy. The game emphasizes approachability for new players while maintaining competitive depth, features innovative mechanics like the heart-and-dagger moving magnet, outlane flipper saves, and a Newton spinner loop, and is designed around 17 Bon Jovi songs with three difficulty tiers (Gold/Platinum/Diamond records).
Highlights
- Bon Jovi's team approached Barrels of Fun to make the game; it was not initiated by David Van Es personal fandom
- The game features 17 Bon Jovi songs, each with its own mode, across three difficulty tiers (Gold, Platinum, Diamond)
- Bon Jovi has over 10 billion streams and a catalog spanning from the 1970s to 2000s
- The design philosophy prioritizes approachability for non-pinball players while maintaining competitive depth through Phil Grimaldi progressive difficulty system
- The heart-and-dagger mechanism can catch balls, move them up/down, shoot through, and feed multiple playfield sequences
- Van Es originally wanted a two-flipper game but team convinced him a third flipper was necessary for shot accessibility
- Tommy and Gina (characters from Bon Jovi songs) appear as commentators during side modes
- Bon Jovi's family (brothers) runs the company and approves all game elements; approvals sent directly to Jon Bon Jovi even while on tour
Barrels of Fun has officially revealed Bon Jovi Pinball, and before the game makes its public debut, we sat down with Founder, CEO, and Game Designer David Van Es, along with Prototype Engineer Luke Underwood, to learn the story behind the machine. In this interview, David and Luke discuss: • How Bon Jovi became Barrels of Fun's next title • The creative process behind designing the game • Translating one of the world's biggest rock bands into pinball • Gameplay philosophy, flow, and unique playfield features • The music, artwork, lighting, and audio experience • What players can expect when they step up to Bon Jovi for the very first time This conversation gives the designers an opportunity to explain the vision behind the game in their own words. If you enjoy our content, please consider subscribing to the channel and turning on notifications so you never miss future interviews, industry news, and pinball discussions. For pricing or to reserve your Bon Jovi Pinball machine: 🌐 📧 📧
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