Mel Kirk from Zen Studios discusses the challenges and achievements of the company in 2023, including the release of Pinball M and the partnership with AtGames. He highlights the difficulties in licensing video footage and music, the importance of innovative features, and the company's plans for VR and mobile platforms in 2024. The interview also touches on the studio's strategy for expanding distribution and the complexities of digital pinball licensing.

Chris unboxed the Legends Pinball Arcade Control stick from AtGames, highlighting its solid design and build quality. Initial impressions of the Pinball M demo reveal some UI clunkiness but emphasize the importance of user feedback. Comparisons between South Park pinball tables in FX and FX2 show FX's improved lighting but FX2's more balanced visuals. The Butters Pinball table in Pinball FX is deemed superior due to better visual details. Zen Studios' partnership with Asmodee Games promises a significant influx of pinball content in 2024, including adaptations of popular board games.

The article discusses the AtGames Legends Pinball 4K, highlighting its features such as a 32-inch 4K playfield, built-in solenoids, and optional accessories. Concerns are raised about the Rockchip 3588 system-on-a-chip's ability to handle demanding games and the absence of a dedicated GPU. The pricing and availability of the cabinet, including pre-order discounts and limited editions, are detailed. The article also mentions the importance of haptic feedback and seamless PC connectivity for an immersive experience. The authors express excitement about the product's potential but question its value at the full price.

Zen Studios has announced a mature-rated pinball offering, Pinball M, which includes features like bloodier visuals and potentially more menacing music and callouts. The article speculates on the strategic reasons behind this move, such as catering to console restrictions and experimenting with new features. It also discusses the potential for new horror licenses and the integration of existing titles like Marvel Pinball and Star Wars Pinball. The VR landscape is addressed, noting the shift from Meta Quest Pro 2 to Meta Quest 3 and the challenges of VR adoption. The focus may shift more towards home-brew markets and commercial cabinets, with an official acknowledgment of the Pinball M platform expected in August 2023.

The article discusses the results of a poll conducted among viewers to determine the best new tables in Pinball FX, including both Williams and Zen Originals. The discussion is led by Jared Morgan, who provides insights into the top choices as voted by the audience.

The interview with Peter Grafl delves into various aspects of pinball game design, focusing on Zen Studios' approach compared to other companies like Stern, JJP, and Spooky. Topics include the influence of classic pinball designers, the importance of game mechanics and lighting, and the transition to Unreal Engine. The discussion also touches on user feedback, ROM status, and the challenges of accurately simulating different eras of pinball machines.

The BlahCade Pinball Podcast episode 258 discusses potential new pinball tables for Zen Studios' Pinball FX, based on hints from Mel and personal dream themes from the staff. Possible tables include Ms. Splosion Man, Plants vs. Zombies, Street Fighter, Super League Football, South Park, Portal, The Walking Dead, Aliens vs. Pinball, and Balls of Glory. Staff dream themes range from Transformers to Futurama, Back to the Future, Killer Instinct, Harry Potter, Jazz Jackrabbit 2, Cowboy Bebop, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Robotech, and Voltron.

The episode discusses Stern Pinball's new Foo Fighters game, designed by Jack Danger, featuring innovative elements like a bang-back post and inlane targets. The game is available in Pro, Premium, and LE models. Play Mechanix's Pulp Fiction pinball, designed by Mark Ritchie and built by Chicago Gaming Company, is highlighted for its nostalgic design and interactive features. The game comes in Special and Limited variants, with significant attention to detail and a classic era feel.

The BlahCade Pinball Podcast discusses the Peanuts Snoopy Pinball and Garfield Pinball tables, focusing on the Zen Coins and season pass aspects of the games. The reviews in the media are criticized for missing the fact that table purchases are optional. The gameplay is described as easy to understand, with tips provided for playing in Pinball FX Events. The Garfield Pinball table, which was new to the podcast hosts, is critiqued for unclear shotmaking and callouts. The hosts also offer suggestions to Zen on improving in-game instructions and note inconsistencies in the language used to describe shots.

Pinball FX has launched on Xbox and Playstation with a new currency system, tutorial, and musical piece. The Marvel tables, including Doctor Strange, have been improved. The practice of 'festering' by Farsight Studios is discussed, altering images to avoid licensing issues. Gameplay issues with The Addams Family table's THING mechanism and timing are highlighted. Zen Studios is criticized for altering game mechanism timings. The session includes playthroughs of Doctor Strange and Moon Knight, and Chris tries out two new Gearbox Entertainment tables, Brothers in Arms and Borderlands, with the latter being particularly challenging to understand.