Daily Pinball Digest for 5/21/2025

A new monster is on the horizon, quite literally, as Pinball Brothers gave everyone a sneak peek at their widebody Predator machine, sparking plenty of talk about playfield design and themes. Meanwhile, Stern’s King Kong continues its steady stream of gameplay coverage, and the King himself is popping up in streams and podcasts. Off the playfield, we’re seeing new location openings, arcades expanding, and some industry events gearing up for summer. Whether you’re following new releases or arcade business moves, today’s news paints a busy scene at every level of the game.

Industry News

Knapp Arcade: Pinball Brothers Shares a Glimpse of the Playfield for Upcoming Predator Pinball Machine!
2025-05-20
Pinball Brothers released an early playfield teaser for their upcoming widebody Predator machine. The glimpse reveals some signature elements and ramps, rekindling discussions about licensing, layout, and how Predator may stand apart from their previous Alien release.
Link: https://www.knapparcade.org/post/pinball-brothers-shares-a-glimpse-of-the-playfield-for-upcoming-predator-pinball-machine

Knapp Arcade: Predator is a Widebody Pinball Machine; King Kong Pro Gameplay Video; Memorial Day Pinball Sale; FIRE!
2025-05-20
Following the Predator teaser, this update confirms it's a widebody and dives into the freshly released King Kong Pro gameplay footage. There are also quick notes on Memorial Day sales and an incident involving a FIRE! machine.
Link: https://www.knapparcade.org/post/predator-is-a-widebody-pinball-machine-king-kong-pro-gameplay-video-memorial-day-pinball-sale-fir

Replay Magazine: Elev8 Fun’s Jensen Beach Holds Grand Opening
2025-05-20
Elev8 Fun opened its third family entertainment center in Jensen Beach, FL, featuring a huge range of attractions including a new arcade. Their phased opening and big push for the Treasure Coast area are outlined here.
Link: https://www.replaymag.com/elev8-funs-jensen-beach-holds-grand-opening/

Replay Magazine: Emerson Lanes Expands; New Arcade by Betson
2025-05-20
Emerson Lanes in Parkersburg, WV, just launched a new arcade, with Betson Enterprises designing and installing the setup. The move is part of the location’s broader effort to diversify and attract new guests beyond bowling.
Link: https://www.replaymag.com/emerson-lanes-expands-new-arcade-by-betson/

Replay Magazine: Action Lab Leadership Co-Hosts Amusement 360
2025-05-20
Action Lab Leadership co-hosted the Amusement 360 event, a multi-day training and networking program for FEC operators and teams, together with Creative Works. This marks Action Lab’s first time as a co-host of the event.
Link: https://www.replaymag.com/action-lab-leadership-co-hosts-amusement-360/

Replay Magazine: IATP Annual Conference Sept. 8-10 in Arizona
2025-05-20
The International Adventure & Trampoline Park Assn. has announced its next annual conference, set for Arizona this September, bringing together trampoline and adventure park professionals.
Link: https://www.replaymag.com/iatp-annual-conference-sept-8-10-in-arizona/

Replay Magazine: Ace Pickleball Club Next to New D&B
2025-05-20
A major building in Sugar Land, TX, will soon house both an Ace Pickleball Club and a new Dave & Buster’s, highlighting the continued blending of sports, entertainment, and gaming under one roof.
Link: https://www.replaymag.com/ace-pickleball-club-next-to-new-db/

Podcasts & Streams

dirtypoolpinball: Dirty Pool Podcast Ep04 – Ian Jacoby of Nudge Magazine
2025-05-20
A sit-down with Ian Jacoby of Nudge Magazine, covering the magazine's genesis, its role in pinball journalism, and thoughts on the state of the industry. Discussion touches on trends in competitive and casual play, and the kinds of editorial projects emerging in 2025.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZqQAt7G0rY

Arcade Hunters: Stern Pinball's King Kong: Myth of Terror Island! (Premium V.82)
2025-05-21
A first look at in-depth gameplay for the King Kong: Myth of Terror Island Premium, running the new V.82 code. The video showcases specific modes, rule changes, and the immersive feel that Stern is bringing to this title.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fKtQ9GV4Vk

Fox Cities Pinball: Gate No Work | #foxcitiespinball on #Twitch
2025-05-20
A troubleshooting-focused gameplay stream looking at gate issues on a currently streamed game. Expect technical talk mixed with live play.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0WhKIgodEc

HUPChallenge: ELTON JOHN: HUP'S STILL STANDING
2025-05-20
A gameplay session featuring Elton John, focusing on high-energy play and song selection, plus tips on getting deeper into the rule set.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQQUkKwbovA

Chris Hibler Pinball: Mars God of War, Behavior of a failed Votrax SC-01, Speech Garbled
2025-05-20
This detailed repair video explores troubleshooting a failed Votrax SC-01 speech chip in Mars God of War. The video provides insight into diagnosing garbled sound, chip replacement, and audio restoration in classic games.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU-_vOB2CzY

*Note: Our daily updates are a semi-automated project leveraging AI and human curation. It will evolve!

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