Episode 65 - Die on this Hill: Wheel of Fortune

Wedgehead podcast defends underrated 2007 Wheel of Fortune pinball against community criticism.

Synopsis

Hosts Alan (Wedgehead owner) and guests Ryan and Scott (Pinball Map creators) defend Wheel of Fortune (2007, Stern/Dennis Nordman) in the 'Die on this Hill' format. Scott argues the game's 'wet' aesthetic, non-standard flipper layout, and campy charm make it underrated despite its #254 ranking on Pinside and commercial failure. The episode critiques negative reviews while exploring why the game resonates with some players and discussing its unfinished code, theme licensing strategy, and design philosophy.

Highlights

• Wheel of Fortune has only 1,000 units manufactured and one remaining in Portland at a pickleball venue
• The game was never finished with complete code and has no wizard mode
• Wheel of Fortune was marketed toward Europe where it also failed, as the TV show had different hosts and language versions there
• Stern was struggling during Wheel of Fortune's 2007 development period with layoffs occurring
• Pat Sajak recorded custom callouts for the pinball machine
• The bobbleheads on Wheel of Fortune are likenesses of actual Stern employees: Lonnie Ropp, Dwight Sullivan, Keith Johnson (programmer), and Maria Alejandra (assembly line worker)
• Uncanny X-Men (2024) is the first Stern machine since Wheel of Fortune (2007) to feature non-standard flipper arrangement
• Wheel of Fortune ranks #254 out of 306 machines on Pinside Top 100 list

Entities

• Stern Pinball· company
• 24· game
• CSI· game
• Family Guy· game
• Pirates of the Caribbean· game
• Spider-Man· game
• Spy Hunter· game
• Uncanny X-Men· game
• Wheel of Fortune· game
• Pinball Map· organization
• Pinside· organization
• Shanghai Tunnel· organization
• Voodoo Donuts 2· organization
• Wedgehead· organization
• Alan· person
• David Thiel· person
• Dennis Nordman· person
• Dwight Sullivan· person
• Keith Johnson· person
• Lonnie Ropp· person
• Maria Alejandra· person
• Pat Sajak· person
• Ryan· person
• Scott· person