Episode 90 - Pinball Hindsight Awards 1990

Wedgehead Podcast launches Pinball Hindsight Awards for 1990, crowning Funhouse and Pat Lawlor as top game and designer.

Synopsis

Wedgehead Pinball Podcast celebrates its 90th episode by introducing a new recurring series: the Pinball Hindsight Awards, retrospectively evaluating the best pinball games of 1990. Hosts Alan and Alex the Waterboy review nominees across 11 categories including art, mechanics, software, and design, awarding recognition to iconic games like Funhouse, Whirlwind, and Dr. Dude, while examining the remarkable output of Bally Williams, Data East, and Gottlieb in that year.

Highlights

• Bally Williams released significantly more games in 1990 than competitors; Data East made three games and Gottlieb made four, while modern Stern makes about three per year
• Funhouse's interactive talking head (Rudy) pioneered a design approach that influenced successful Bally Williams games throughout the 1990s
• Jon Norris programmed modes into Deadly Weapon (1990) before Larry DeMar is commonly credited with inventing modes for Addams Family (1992)
• Pat Lawlor released both Whirlwind and Funhouse in 1990, both considered among his best games 35 years later
• Phantom of the Opera's female figure was modeled after artist Paul Faris's daughter
• Gottlieb System 3 street-level games (non-ramp designs) from this era functioned well compared to later DMD implementations
• Steve Ritchie ruled the 1980s as top-selling designer; Pat Lawlor ruled the 1990s

Entities

• Bally Williams· company
• Data East· company
• Gottlieb Premiere· company
• Deadly Weapon· game
• Dr. Dude· game
• Funhouse· game
• Roller Games· game
• Whirlwind· game
• Alan· person
• Alex the Waterboy· person
• Bill Futzenrooter· person
• Chris Granner· person
• Dan Forden· person
• Dennis Nordman· person
• Ed Boon· person
• Greg Freres· person
• John Hay· person
• John Krutsch· person
• John Yowsey· person
• Jon Norris· person
• Larry DeMar· person
• Pat Lawlor· person
• Pat McMahon· person
• Paul Faris· person
• Steve Ritchie· person