Kineticist
@kineticist.com
The preferred website of pinball nerds everywhere.
https://www.kineticist.com/
Newsletter = This Week in Pinball.
Awards = The TWIPYs
For pinball community content feeds, see @pinbott.gg
https://www.kineticist.com/
Newsletter = This Week in Pinball.
Awards = The TWIPYs
For pinball community content feeds, see @pinbott.gg
American Pinball's very first project in 2015 was a deal with John Popadiuk. A decade and six entities later, those same designs just walked back through the door — carried by new Creative Director Melvin Williams. www.kineticist.com/post/melvin-...
Melvin Williams Joins American Pinball as Creative Director | Kineticist
Melvin Williams has been named Creative Director of American Pinball, bringing RAZA, Magic Girl, and other Popadiuk IP to AP's rebuilt operation in Palatine, IL
www.kineticist.com
February 17, 2026 at 10:12 PM
American Pinball's very first project in 2015 was a deal with John Popadiuk. A decade and six entities later, those same designs just walked back through the door — carried by new Creative Director Melvin Williams. www.kineticist.com/post/melvin-...
The 2025 TWIPY Awards are live!
An alien shipwreck. A mysterious element in Chicago's water supply. A pinball artist who cracked interdimensional travel. The 2025 TWIPY Awards get... weird.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3Uo...
An alien shipwreck. A mysterious element in Chicago's water supply. A pinball artist who cracked interdimensional travel. The 2025 TWIPY Awards get... weird.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3Uo...
The 2025 TWIPY Pinball Awards Show
YouTube video by BASH Pinball
www.youtube.com
February 15, 2026 at 1:25 AM
The 2025 TWIPY Awards are live!
An alien shipwreck. A mysterious element in Chicago's water supply. A pinball artist who cracked interdimensional travel. The 2025 TWIPY Awards get... weird.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3Uo...
An alien shipwreck. A mysterious element in Chicago's water supply. A pinball artist who cracked interdimensional travel. The 2025 TWIPY Awards get... weird.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3Uo...
Stern Pinball has revealed their next cornerstone title, and it's the one everybody's been waiting for: Pokemon. Photos, key storylines, features and more at the link. www.kineticist.com/post/stern-p...
Stern Pinball Reveals Pokemon Pinball | Kineticist
Stern reveals Pokemon Pinball — pricing from $6,999, animatronic Pikachu, 180+ catchable Pokemon. Nintendo's first pinball license in 34 years.
www.kineticist.com
February 13, 2026 at 6:19 PM
Stern Pinball has revealed their next cornerstone title, and it's the one everybody's been waiting for: Pokemon. Photos, key storylines, features and more at the link. www.kineticist.com/post/stern-p...
Big if true. www.kineticist.com/post/dutch-p...
RUMOR: Dutch Pinball Partnering with Stern Pinball to Produce Back to the Future | Kineticist
CoinTaker owner Melissa Marquette confirms rumors that Dutch Pinball is partnering with Stern Pinball to produce and release a Back to the Future pinball.
www.kineticist.com
February 13, 2026 at 2:09 AM
Big if true. www.kineticist.com/post/dutch-p...
The Pinball Capital of the World doesn't have a world-class place to play. Francis Wisniewski is betting big he can fix that. Get to know Francis ahead of The Pinball Capital's grand opening in April. www.kineticist.com/post/the-pin...
The Pinball Bet | Kineticist
The Pinball Capital of the World lacks a world-class place to play. Francis Wisniewski is making a seven-figure bet that his new venue in Stone Park can fix it.
www.kineticist.com
February 10, 2026 at 5:46 PM
The Pinball Capital of the World doesn't have a world-class place to play. Francis Wisniewski is betting big he can fix that. Get to know Francis ahead of The Pinball Capital's grand opening in April. www.kineticist.com/post/the-pin...
DPX is shutting down and Melvin Williams is out at Dutch Pinball. Here's what we know and what it means for Alice owners.
www.kineticist.com/post/dpx-is-...
www.kineticist.com/post/dpx-is-...
Dutch Pinball Exclusive (DPX) Is No More | Kineticist
DPX is defunct after new investors entered Dutch Pinball. Melvin Williams claims Alice IP ownership and plans to seek US manufacturing partners.
www.kineticist.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:00 PM
DPX is shutting down and Melvin Williams is out at Dutch Pinball. Here's what we know and what it means for Alice owners.
www.kineticist.com/post/dpx-is-...
www.kineticist.com/post/dpx-is-...
This Week in Pinball, we’re watching the egg crack.
And looking for our missing TWIPYs co-host.
twip.kineticist.com/p/incubating
And looking for our missing TWIPYs co-host.
twip.kineticist.com/p/incubating
Incubating
Stern Teases Pokemon | New Score Card | No More IFPA Opt Outs | We Lost Matt | OBX Goes National | Links | More!
twip.kineticist.com
February 6, 2026 at 10:49 PM
This Week in Pinball, we’re watching the egg crack.
And looking for our missing TWIPYs co-host.
twip.kineticist.com/p/incubating
And looking for our missing TWIPYs co-host.
twip.kineticist.com/p/incubating
New edition of The Score Card from Matt Owen! ALL the winners of the 2025/2026 IFPA NACS State/Provincial Championships + the first Stern Pro Circuit event of the year. www.kineticist.com/post/the-sco...
The Score Card: States & Starfighters | Kineticist
Full results from every 2025-26 IFPA State/Provincial Championship, plus the first 2026 Stern Pro Circuit event at Starfighters Pinball Festival.
www.kineticist.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:19 PM
New edition of The Score Card from Matt Owen! ALL the winners of the 2025/2026 IFPA NACS State/Provincial Championships + the first Stern Pro Circuit event of the year. www.kineticist.com/post/the-sco...
Reposted by Kineticist
@nbcnews.com reporting this as an exclusive when my outlet has been covering it for months. cool.
February 1, 2026 at 3:37 AM
@nbcnews.com reporting this as an exclusive when my outlet has been covering it for months. cool.
American Pinball is getting into the classics business—and they're not just doing straight remakes.
www.kineticist.com/post/america...
www.kineticist.com/post/america...
American Pinball Partners with Planetary Pinball Supply to Produce Classic Williams and Bally Games | Kineticist
American Pinball announces long-term partnership with Planetary Pinball Supply to produce reimagined classic Williams and Bally pinball machines.
www.kineticist.com
January 26, 2026 at 3:21 PM
American Pinball is getting into the classics business—and they're not just doing straight remakes.
www.kineticist.com/post/america...
www.kineticist.com/post/america...
This Week in Pinball, a lot of things aren't quite as dead as they seem. twip.kineticist.com/p/not-dead-yet
Not Dead Yet
American Pinball Revived | New Pinball Rumors | Moving Units #5 | IFPA Leadership Updates | TWIPY Voting Ends | Links | More!
twip.kineticist.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:02 PM
This Week in Pinball, a lot of things aren't quite as dead as they seem. twip.kineticist.com/p/not-dead-yet
Three months of data, three new releases, and some telling trendlines.
twip.kineticist.com/p/moving-uni...
twip.kineticist.com/p/moving-uni...
Moving Units: '24/'25 Sales Tracker (#5)
Three months of data, three new releases, and some telling trendlines
twip.kineticist.com
January 22, 2026 at 9:31 PM
Three months of data, three new releases, and some telling trendlines.
twip.kineticist.com/p/moving-uni...
twip.kineticist.com/p/moving-uni...
Down to the wire on TWIPY voting—polls close at midnight ET. A few of these races are genuinely tight. If you've got a favorite you want to see take it, today's the day. twipys.com/2025-twipys-...
2025 TWIPY Awards Ballot
The TWIPY Awards voting ballot. Vote for the greatest in pinball for 2025!
twipys.com
January 20, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Down to the wire on TWIPY voting—polls close at midnight ET. A few of these races are genuinely tight. If you've got a favorite you want to see take it, today's the day. twipys.com/2025-twipys-...
We sent American Pinball president Ron Lindeman a list of questions about the acquisition. He answered all of them, including how the deal came together in under 90 days, the status of Cuphead, whether former employees might return, and more.
www.kineticist.com/post/america...
www.kineticist.com/post/america...
14 Questions with American Pinball President Ron Lindeman | Kineticist
Ron Lindeman answers questions on the JB Vincent LP acquisition, what's next for product development, and how American Pinball plans to rebuild trust.
www.kineticist.com
January 16, 2026 at 10:44 PM
We sent American Pinball president Ron Lindeman a list of questions about the acquisition. He answered all of them, including how the deal came together in under 90 days, the status of Cuphead, whether former employees might return, and more.
www.kineticist.com/post/america...
www.kineticist.com/post/america...
American Pinball acquired by JB Vincent LP. A look at the new owner's background and the challenges ahead for the pinball manufacturer. www.kineticist.com/post/america...
American Pinball Under New Ownership | Kineticist
American Pinball acquired by JB Vincent LP. A look at the new owner's background and the challenges ahead for the pinball manufacturer.
www.kineticist.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:40 PM
American Pinball acquired by JB Vincent LP. A look at the new owner's background and the challenges ahead for the pinball manufacturer. www.kineticist.com/post/america...
Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It's been one month since my last This Week in Pinball Newsletter. twip.kineticist.com/p/the-confes...
The Confessional
TWIPYs Voting Opens | Sterling Mitoska Interview | Is IPDB Dying? | December Recap | Clearing Out the Notebook | Links | More!
twip.kineticist.com
January 9, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It's been one month since my last This Week in Pinball Newsletter. twip.kineticist.com/p/the-confes...
IPDB.org has been the pinball community's go-to database for over two decades. But the data tells a troubling story: database updates are down 93% since 2020, 71% of major pinball releases since 2020 are missing entirely, and search visibility has collapsed.
www.kineticist.com/post/is-ipdb...
www.kineticist.com/post/is-ipdb...
Is IPDB Dying? Visualizing the Slow Death of a Pinball Institution | Kineticist
IPDB database updates have dropped 93% since 2020, and 71% of recent pinball releases are missing. A data-driven look at the decline of a community resource.
www.kineticist.com
January 8, 2026 at 11:18 PM
IPDB.org has been the pinball community's go-to database for over two decades. But the data tells a troubling story: database updates are down 93% since 2020, 71% of major pinball releases since 2020 are missing entirely, and search visibility has collapsed.
www.kineticist.com/post/is-ipdb...
www.kineticist.com/post/is-ipdb...
On the surface, Sterling Mitoska is your average teenager. That is, until he starts playing pinball. Read on (link in comments) for our convo with the 14-year-old that's been tearing up the IFPA rankings. www.kineticist.com/post/sterlin...
A Chat with Pinball Prodigy Sterling Mitoska | Kineticist
Talking with the young pinball prodigy Sterling Mitoska about competitive pinball and some of his favorite games.
www.kineticist.com
January 8, 2026 at 11:17 PM
On the surface, Sterling Mitoska is your average teenager. That is, until he starts playing pinball. Read on (link in comments) for our convo with the 14-year-old that's been tearing up the IFPA rankings. www.kineticist.com/post/sterlin...
It's time! 2025 TWIPY pinball awards voting is open. We stripped it down this year to what matters: 7 categories, all focused on the games. Game of the Year. Best Art Package. The Lyman F. Sheats Award for Best Rules and Code, and more!
Vote today: twipys.com/2025-twipys-...
Vote today: twipys.com/2025-twipys-...
January 5, 2026 at 8:31 PM
It's time! 2025 TWIPY pinball awards voting is open. We stripped it down this year to what matters: 7 categories, all focused on the games. Game of the Year. Best Art Package. The Lyman F. Sheats Award for Best Rules and Code, and more!
Vote today: twipys.com/2025-twipys-...
Vote today: twipys.com/2025-twipys-...
The best pinball machines of 2025 wowed us with their innovation, fine-tuned flow, and excellent layouts, producing some truly standout experiences. In celebration of this year's best release, Matt Owen whips up a list of the best pinball machines of 2025. www.kineticist.com/post/best-pi...
The Best Pinball Machines of 2025 Ranked | Kineticist
Ranking the best pinball machines released in 2025.
www.kineticist.com
December 29, 2025 at 8:24 PM
The best pinball machines of 2025 wowed us with their innovation, fine-tuned flow, and excellent layouts, producing some truly standout experiences. In celebration of this year's best release, Matt Owen whips up a list of the best pinball machines of 2025. www.kineticist.com/post/best-pi...
On this edition of The Score Card, we're recapping the final SPC tournaments of the year, jumping from Florida's biggest arcade expo to a cozy convention in Ohio, before crossing the finish at a beloved arcade in Illinois.
www.kineticist.com/post/the-sco...
www.kineticist.com/post/the-sco...
The Score Card: Season's Endings | Kineticist
Recapping the world of competitive pinball tournaments for the end of 2025.
www.kineticist.com
December 18, 2025 at 8:04 PM
On this edition of The Score Card, we're recapping the final SPC tournaments of the year, jumping from Florida's biggest arcade expo to a cozy convention in Ohio, before crossing the finish at a beloved arcade in Illinois.
www.kineticist.com/post/the-sco...
www.kineticist.com/post/the-sco...
A new pinball rumor began circulating today, pointing to a potential Resident Evil–themed machine developed by a previously unknown European manufacturer based in Switzerland. Here's what we know.
www.kineticist.com/post/residen...
www.kineticist.com/post/residen...
www.kineticist.com
December 17, 2025 at 10:21 PM
A new pinball rumor began circulating today, pointing to a potential Resident Evil–themed machine developed by a previously unknown European manufacturer based in Switzerland. Here's what we know.
www.kineticist.com/post/residen...
www.kineticist.com/post/residen...
Quick comparison between Stern launch events posted on social media for The Walking Dead Remastered vs Metallica Remastered.
December 9, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Quick comparison between Stern launch events posted on social media for The Walking Dead Remastered vs Metallica Remastered.
Yesterday's official Walking Dead Remastered stream finally outlined the game’s future—new modes, revamped rules, a smarter crossbow, and co-op are on the way. The launch, though, hasn’t been smooth. Here’s what’s going on.
www.kineticist.com/post/twdr-sh...
www.kineticist.com/post/twdr-sh...
Walking Dead Remastered Shuffles Out of the Gate | Kineticist
Walking Dead Remastered launches with delays, cabinet changes, and new code in development. Here’s what’s happening with Stern’s latest pinball release.
www.kineticist.com
December 9, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Yesterday's official Walking Dead Remastered stream finally outlined the game’s future—new modes, revamped rules, a smarter crossbow, and co-op are on the way. The launch, though, hasn’t been smooth. Here’s what’s going on.
www.kineticist.com/post/twdr-sh...
www.kineticist.com/post/twdr-sh...