keith johnson | Fun With Bonus

Feb13

Tournament Highlights! Episode 02 [VIDEO]

Back once again, for the Renegade Master! Back once again with the ill behavior!

Sep10

Oh, Look! An update on The Hobbit.

Because all of this Game of Thrones news can’t just sit out there unchallenged.

Apr26

Somewhere Over the Rainbow! [Wizard of Oz Pinball]

Karl DeAngelo has just posted a video of the final wizard mode on Jersey Jack’s The Wizard of Oz.

May13

Balls of Steel [Video Documentary]

An moment of pinball history… freshly released “New Old Stock” on YouTube, after a decade. If you are a pinball tournament fan or competitor, you will see many recognizable faces. Unfortunately, this tournament was dominated by the sub-par title, Roller Coaster Tycoon. I am a competitor myself, and I acknowledge that I am a bit strange. Given that, I think that’s why I couldn’t help but think whether the players were actually playing the game the way it was intended or if they decided to time out most of the modes on the game. I couldn’t really tell from the video series. I wonder if any of the players remember. It’s a good thing that now the Pinball Expo tournament is run by Trent Augenstein, a perennially top ranked player. The event runs much better now than what you see here in the video. Balls of Steel is an independent, unfunded documentary short about the world of competitive pinball. We’d hoped to get funding for something feature-length, and we used this video as our pitch. We got some meetings, but no money. So, a decade later, here it is. On YouTube. Part 1 In part 1 of 3, we are introduced to the pinball subculture, tour the Stern Pinball factory, and meet our protagonist Sean “the Storm” Grant at the Pinburgh 2001 match play tournament. Part 2 In part 2 of 3 we get to know our protagonist, Sean “the Storm” Grant, and watch him try to qualify for match play at the 2002 Pinball Expo in Chicago. (Plus go on a random “traveling man” date in the process.) Part 3 In the 3rd and final part of this indie doc short, Storm sweats it out to see if he keeps his spot among the qualifying players, and then moves on to what he considers his forte, match play. Will he put up or shut up? Balls of Steel is an independent, unfunded documentary short about the world of competitive pinball. We’d hoped to get funding for something feature-length, and we used this video as our pitch. We got some meetings, but no money. So, a decade later, here it is. On...

Feb28

Lord of the Rings – The Two Towers Multiball

Programmer Keith Johnson took the time to share a detailed comment on what is happening during The Two Towers Multiball. He posted it on the PAPA commentary video I did semi-recently. I wondered what kind of formula was involved when determined how players progressed through this Multiball. Well, wonder no more.

Nov30

Wizard of Oz at IAAPA 2012

PinGame Journal, and pinball tournament veteran Jennifer Peavler interviewed Joe Balcer and Keith Johnson about Jersey Jack Pinball’s The Wizard of Oz.