Tucson Pinball Podcast – Episode 79 – CAD Monkey

American Pinball seeks junior designer; host reflects on CAD work and Zidware's cautionary tale.

The host discusses American Pinball job posting for a junior pinball designer, reflecting on his own CAD/mechanical engineering background and the appeal of pinball design. He then recounts the cautionary history of Zidware, a company run by legendary designer John Popadiuk (J-Pop), whose mismanagement and endless development timelines led to financial collapse, pre-order disputes, and lawsuits: though it did yield positive outcomes like Jeremy Packer (Zombie Yeti) becoming Stern's art director. The host concludes that American Pinball recent acquisition and hiring activity signals promising new leadership and well-funded expansion.