Game Dev Advice: The Game Developer's Podcast

The Pinball Episode with Roger Sharpe from PINBALL: The Man Who Saved the Game

Mar 17, 2023

59:12

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Introduction

3min

The Man Who Saved the Game

2min

The Importance of Endurance in Life

4min

The Importance of Playing Pinball

6min

The Tipping Point in Life

2min

How to Get Your First Job Now in Pinball

4min

How to Repair a Pinball Machine

3min

The Best Pimballs I've Worked On

4min

The History of Pinball Machines

6min

10.

The Future of Pimball

3min

11.

The Future of Pimball

5min

12.

The Role of Licensing in Creative Teams

2min

13.

The Importance of Having a Photographic Memory

3min

14.

The Magic of Pimball

3min

15.

Pinball Games From the 60s and Early 70s

3min

16.

The 007: A New Game

2min

17.

The Importance of Playing Pinball

6min

I welcome Roger Sharpe, President and CEO of Sharpe Communications, and the star of the new movie - PINBALL: The Man Who Saved the Game. Hear about his marketing agency and how the idea to turn his story into a movie started back in 2020. We then discuss how pinball used to be illegal in New York City, discovering pinball in college, working at GQ, being challenged to write a book, and testifying at City Hall it was a game of skill, not a game of chance.

Learn about life choices, working in advertising, how others got their start in pinball, plus ideas how you could get into the industry now. Hear about home enthusiasts being a huge boost, going international, and thousands of events, tournaments, and leagues happening every year.

We then dive into some of his favorite games and projects, including the ones he designed, along with his licensing work on Elvira, NBA Jam, Mortal Kombat, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Terminator 2, Arctic Thunder, and other games. Learn about the growth of barcades, the explosion of the industry, the difference to video games, and cooperative play. Hear about his concern on the recent pricing of pinballs, not going too hardcore on the game design, and thoughts on licensing.

Towards the end he shares a great story about Gary Stern, the legendary Harry Williams, his pinball book, and some current games he’s playing or interested in. Learn about websites you can check out, the March 17th, 2023 release date, the irony of making pinballs in Chicago but not being legal years ago, and how this little indie movie is winning awards (go check it out).

Bio:

Roger Sharpe’s demonstration of pinball as a skill-based game overturned New York City’s thirty-five-year ban on pinball machines in 1976. His story, now a film, “PINBALL: The Man Who Saved the Game” came out March 17th, 2023. Roger is also the former Director of Marketing and Licensing at Williams Bally/Midway, a pinball historian, a player, and former pinball designer at Stern, Williams, and Game Plan.

Show Links:

* Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game website

* Apple TV Movie link (U.S.)

* YouTube Movies and TV link (U.S.)

* Moving Picture Institute website

* Vertical Entertainment website

* Stern Pinball website

* Jersey Jack Pinball website

* IFPA website

* Midwest Gaming Classic website

* Texas Pinball Festival website

* Scorebit website