The Bro Of Flow: John Borg Part 2
Silverball Chronicles: A Pinball History Podcast
Release Date: 08/31/2023
The Eras Tour - Jersey Jack Pinball Part 2
Silverball Chronicles: A Pinball History Podcast
Want to Support the Show? Visit Our Patreon at or pick up a tee shirt at Last time we spoke about where JJP came from and the rise of Jack Guarneri in Ep 44. When we left JJP they were having financial troubles or ‘needed recapitalization to get off the preorder model’. Enter the investors with the Abass family. Let's talk changing business models, saying 'Brent' Abass instead of Brett Abass a few times (oops), changing artist and creating masterpieces, taking stuff out of games, amazing themes, criminally underrated games and the license to rule them all! ...
info_outline
Pinball Tapas - Segasa-Sega S.A. Sonic Pinball
Silverball Chronicles: A Pinball History Podcast
Want to Support the Show? Visit Our Patreon at or pick up a tee shirt at Segasa or Sega S.A. Sonic (or was it just Sonic?) Pinball was Spain’s major contribution to the golden age of pinball. Its products evolved from licensed electro-mechanical arcade designs to original solid-state pinball machines under the “Sonic” brand. Established 1968, Segasa (later Sega S.A. SONIC) initially, imported and distributed American amusement machines before transitioning to local manufacturing due to import restrictions. Production ceased in 1986, marking the end of Spain’s...
info_outline
The Seasoned Vet Keith Elwin
Silverball Chronicles: A Pinball History Podcast
Want to Support the Show? Visit Our at or pick up a tee shirt at Check out for all your pinball needs! Topic begins at 12:28 Episode Summary: Pinball has had a dramatic change since the end of the modern DMD era at Stern. The designers we all know and love from the 80s and 90s have begun to retire, slow down, or leave the industry. A new wave of designers has started to slide in and learn from the masters… The first major new designer to come along was the tournament player Keith Elwin. Some say Keith Elwin is the second coming of...
info_outline
Pinball Down Under Part 3: Home Pin?!
Silverball Chronicles: A Pinball History Podcast
Want to Support the Show? Visit Our at or pick up a tee shirt at Check out for all your pinball needs! Topic begins at 7:35 Episode Summary: In the third part of our Pinball Downunder series, we look at Homepin. Homepin was established in 2013 and was born from the hobby business of Mike Kalinowski. It seems like a really smart idea to set up manufacturing in the world's largest manufacturing country, China, but it turns out to be a mixed bag. Ron and Dave play it as straight as the possibility can from a manufacturer who struggled out of...
info_outline
Meet The Gottliebs Part 2: Alvin G. & Co.
Silverball Chronicles: A Pinball History Podcast
Want to Support the Show? Visit our Patreon at or pick up a t-shirt at Episode Begins at 16:52 Episode Summary: Ron and Dave Return to the Gottliebs, one of the best-known names in pinball. But did you know about Michael Gottlieb and the company he started with his father Alvin? Let’s chat about Gottlieb’s sale (again), the changes at the company and why they happened, Cheater the Gottlieb delivery driver, how Michael Gottlieb ended up in pinball following his family's exit, his famous pinball last name, Alvin G. & Co, when did Clowns becoming creepy,...
info_outline
Even Jersey Jack Pinball Left New Jersey
Silverball Chronicles: A Pinball History Podcast
Episode Summary: Join us this month where Dave says ‘Swing on Over’ like 40 times in the preamble, Ron spoils JJPs next game with the help of Jersey Jack himself, reviews of 70’s style, Jack’s business building and evolving that business over and over, pinball needing to move to the home consumer market, stripped down … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 44: Even Jersey Jack Pinball Left New Jersey →
info_outline
Are Barrels (Of) Fun?
Silverball Chronicles: A Pinball History Podcast
Have you ever heard the saying, “pinball is hard?” Well, the team at Barrels of Fun hasn’t and they decided to smash on ahead and impress pretty much everyone. It’s been over 24 months since they launched their company and their first licensed game… and (as of this recording) they’ve manufactured all the games they … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 43: Are Barrels (Of) Fun? →
info_outline
Pinball Down Under Part 2: Hankerin’ For Some Hankin + Mr. Pinball
Silverball Chronicles: A Pinball History Podcast
Do you find yourself craving? Do you ever hanker for a special little thing? Well, we have had multiple people email and inquire about Hankin, you might say they had a craving for another Australian-based episode. Let’s go down under again with Part 2: Hankerin’ for Hankin and Mr. Pinball! Let travel together down under … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 42: Hankerin’ For Some Hankin Plus Mr. Pinball →
info_outline
Meet The Gottliebs: D. Gottlieb & Co.
Silverball Chronicles: A Pinball History Podcast
The Gottlieb Family is an important part of pinball. David Gottlieb and Alvin Gottlieb made pinball what it is today. David’s vision and spirit, Alvin’s excitement and drive built the Gottlieb name into what it is today; and it will always live on. Join Dave and Ron this month as we talk about the beginnings … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 41: Meet The Gottliebs: D. Gottlieb & Co. →
info_outline
Pinball Down Under Part 1: Haggis Pinball
Silverball Chronicles: A Pinball History Podcast
Manufacturing is hard. Pinball is hard and when you’re starting on the other side of the world from all the suppliers and skilled labour, it’s that much harder. COVID-19 did not help Haggis Pinball is the latest cautionary tale of a pinball start-up who promised big and initially delivered but ultimately succumbed to the pressures … Continue reading Silverball Chronicles Ep 40: Pinball Down Under Part 1: Haggis Pinball →
info_outlineWant to Support the Show?
Visit our Patreon at www.patreon.com/silverballchronicles
Or pick up a tee shirt at https://tinyurl.com/kz5xt4hc
Episode Summary:
John Borg is known for his distinctive style and approach to designing pinball machines. His design philosophy is as distinct as a fingerprint. ‘Borgie’ focuses on creating layouts that offer smooth flow and satisfying shots. He aims to design pinball machines that provide players with a sense of continuous motion and engaging gameplay. His layouts often feature well-integrated ramps, orbits, and habitrails that facilitate fast and exciting ball movement across the playfield. John also gets the coolest theme.
This month Dave and Ron talk about how cool John Borg is and why Dave is not, what John did after he left Stern in 2000 and what he did when he got back, developing his style, reusing elements, orbit spinners (yeah!), John’s themes, and what makes Borgie’s second kick at a pinball career the path of a modern pinball legend.
Sources:
TopCast – Episode 27 – John Borg
Head 2 Head Pinball Podcast Ep 41 – Keith P. Johnson
Slam Tilt Podcast Ep. 100 Lyman Sheats Jr.
YouTube – IE Pinball – Big Buck Hunter Pro Wizard Mode Achieved. Here
YouTube – Stern Pinball: The Making of: Metallica, KISS, The Walking Dead, Areosmith, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Rush.
Shalhoub, Michael. The Pinball Compendium.
Internet Pinball Database. IPDB.org John Borg Game List. Here.
* This episode was created with the use of ChatGPT, which kinda sucks…