Episode 122 - Die on This Hill: Cue Ball Wizard

Wedgehead defends Q-Ball Wizard as an underrated 1992 Gottlieb gem with vibes and gameplay depth.

Synopsis

Wedgehead A A Pinball Podcast hosts Alan and Alex defend Gottlieb's 1992 Q-Ball Wizard with guest Corey Butcher, who ranks it #50 on his all-time list despite it sitting at #307 on Pinside's rankings. The episode explores why this once best-selling System 3 Gottlieb game: with iconic cowboy-themed art, a centerpiece cue ball toy, and pool-themed gameplay: deserves reconsideration as a fun, earner-friendly machine with strong aesthetic appeal and accessibility.

Highlights

• Q-Ball Wizard was the best-selling System 3 Gottlieb game and earned legendarily well for operators in the 1990s
• Jon Norris designed Q-Ball Wizard as his attempt at making a tavern game and a version of 8-Ball Deluxe
• System 3 flippers are direct-power flippers, not electronically controlled, making them distinct from modern DMD flipper designs
• Q-Ball Wizard has a pity multiball on the third ball if the player doesn't achieve multiball on the first two balls
• The Double mode in Q-Ball Wizard doubles scoring, extra balls, and jackpots, and doubles the music speed and causes the entire machine to flash
• Brooks and Dunn was the last game Gottlieb was working on when the company failed, and if completed, could have saved Gottlieb
• IPDB lists 95 results for billiards/pool-themed pinball machines throughout history
• Q-Ball Wizard continues to earn 'okay' money on location despite casual players not sessioning it long-term

Entities

• D. Gottlieb & Co.· company
• Brooks and Dunn· game
• Class of 1812· game
• Cue Ball Wizard· game
• Eight Ball Deluxe· game
• Getaway· game
• Godzilla· game
• Guardians of the Galaxy· game
• Pinball Pool· game
• The Addams Family· game
• Pinside· organization
• Wedgehead Pinball Podcast· organization
• Alan· person
• Alex the Waterboy· person
• Boston (Ty)· person
• Constantino Mitchell· person
• Corey Butcher· person
• Jeanine Mitchell· person
• Jon Norris· person
• Keith Elwin· person
• Margaret Hudson· person
• Nate Stellhorn· person
• Rhodes· person
• Travis· person
• Waltz· person