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Winchester Mystery House Pinball with Karl DeAngelo

PodcastAnalysis updated today55 min listen
From the creator

Karl DeAngelo joins us to talk about the smash success of his debut game, Winchester Mystery House. Want to buy a Barrels of Fun game? Head to flipnoutpinball.com Facebook -...

Listen on LoserKid Pinball Podcast

Highlights

  • Winchester Mystery House sold out all 525 units in 48 hours at Pinball Expo
  • The game currently has six modes implemented with seven more planned (13 total, referencing Sarah Winchester's favorite number)
  • Carl said the game was 25% code-complete at reveal, but may have understated that figure
  • The turntable uses a single stepper motor direct-driving a heavy stainless steel platter and rotates both ways
  • David Van Ness approached Carl after seeing him post about a homebrew machine on the Fast Slack channel in January 2024
  • The game features a Pepper's Ghost holographic effect in the upper right corner showing spirits/ghosts
  • The key mechanic was inspired by Carl's second tour of Winchester Mystery House when a locked door prevented further access
  • Jeff Dodson of Dirtypool Pinball handled audio design; Brad Albright did artwork
  • Carl performed much of the mechanical engineering with help from Travis and Luke over the project timeline
  • David Van Ness told Carl the freedom on this game won't be the standard for future projects

Notable quotes

“it sold out all 525 in 48 hours, if that. Two days. Absolutely insane.”
Josh Roop
“I wanted a way to convey how the house is confusing, how it's easy to get lost in it. So I thought, okay, multiple paths, multiple ways to get lost.”
Karl DeAngelo
“I didn't want anyone to be locked into playing the same thing over and over and over again. So the keys are a way to add the variety so that you can use a key and explore how you want.”
Karl DeAngelo
“It's this big stainless steel platter... It's just a single stepper motor direct driving that turntable. So it's a really simple mechanism overall.”
Karl DeAngelo
“we landed on that Pepper's Ghost just because it's such a great effect. It really hasn't been used enough in pinball, I feel.”
Karl DeAngelo
“There are 13 planned... 13 was Sarah Winchester's favorite number. So she has 13 all throughout the house.”
Karl DeAngelo
“It's just 20, 25 years of playing pinball... I used to restore games... I would modify games to make them play a little better.”
Karl DeAngelo
“I may have been a little light on the 25%. I'll admit that.”
Karl DeAngelo
“everyone playing the game there was no one that was like this feels bare bones everyone was like this feels really good”
Josh Roop
“Sir was very open to our ideas and did not push back on pretty much anything.”
Karl DeAngelo

Entities

  • Barrels of Fun· company
  • Pinball Expo 2025· event
  • Winchester Mystery House· game
  • Winchester Mystery House· location
  • Ace Kogi· organization
  • Fast Slack channel· organization
  • Inland Empire Streaming· organization
  • LoserKid Pinball Podcast· organization
  • Brad Albright· person
  • David Van Ness· person
  • Jeff Dodson· person
  • Josh Roop· person
  • Karl DeAngelo· person
  • Luke· person
  • Nicole· person
  • Sarah Winchester· person
  • Scott Larson· person
  • Travis· person
  • Zach· person
  • Mini Flipping Out Pinball· venue/organization

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