The Mandalorian pinball

To say we are fans of Brian Eddy designed pinball machines would be a gross understatement! There is a reason why Brian’s machines have withstood the test of time and are still ranked as the best pinball machines of all time – they are pure fun and are approachable for all players, regardless of skill level.

When Stern Pinball announced back in March 2018 that Brian would be making his return to pinball, the excitement among his many fans (us included) was palpable. There was speculation on what Brian would be working on over at Stern, with his maiden (Stern) title being Stranger Things, released in December 2019. Since then, Brian had been working on his sophomore Stern game, which we now know was The Mandalorian. Officially released on May 11, 2021, The Mandalorian has garnered a lot of interest and attention around the world, all for good reason – it’s a Brian Eddy designed pinball machine of one of the most popular Disney+ TV series based on the largest pop culture franchise in history.

As Star Wars fans and of course, Mando fans, we have also been caught up in the excitement of all things The Mandalorian pinball, so it was great to have a chat with Brian about his experience in designing this highly anticipated pinball machine.

AUSRETROGAMER: How difficult was it designing and creating The Mandalorian while season 2 was still in progress?
Brian Eddy [BE]: It was certainly a challenge. We wanted to use both seasons, so we focused on ways of making it happen right from the start. Disney wasn’t able to tell us much about season 2 during development. It was all kept very secret, just like the reveal of The Child in season 1. So like everyone else, we had to wait for each episode to air to see what happened and what content would work in the game. Disney was very supportive of using season 2 and helped us plan ahead on how we could make it happen. The art needed to be pretty much done before Season 2 even aired, so we did things like leaving space on the backglasses and playfield for certain characters or items. We didn’t know who or what they would be, but Disney said, “you should leave some space here for 3 characters”. Then when the episode aired and the item was revealed, the artist, Randy Martinez, would quickly fit in the item to get us to production on time. We did the same in software and left certain holes in modes for themes we expected we would want from season 2. It actually worked out really well and allowed us to pick and choose from the best characters and scenarios that fit the game but was rather tricky at times since it came so late in the development cycle.

ARG: Did you have to re-design or retro-fit any design aspects (mechs/shots etc) as season 2 unfolded? If so, what where they?
BE: We did not change any mechs/shots for season two. We knew with the development timeline, that would not be possible. But that was fine as we picked the core concepts of the series and items from season 1, we knew it would be in season 2 to make sure they would still be relevant and stayed away from ones we thought would not be a big part. Though I will say, we were shocked when the Razor Crest was blown up toward the end of season two as it was a core of the series, but it’s still a really important element and a tight tie-in with Mando.

ARG: Which model do you begin designing for first and why?
BE: I start with the premium. I like to look at the whole picture of the design and how all the elements work together and fit on the playfield. How does each element enhance that model but not change it completely. Then for the Pro, look at what elements can be removed while still making sure the core playfield is there. It’s a tough balance as I want all the models to be fun and a little unique in their own way. I think we found that balance well on Mandalorian, each model plays similar, but a little different, and both are fun!

The Mandalorian Lead Designer, Brian Eddy (Left) with Lead Software Engineer, Dwight Sullivan

ARG: This machine oozes Brian Eddy with clever and unique mechs, intelligent design that draws players of any skill levels and flowy shots that ramp up the difficulty (in a good way!) – do you have a favourite mech, shot or design aspect in The Mandalorian pinball machine(s)?
BE: I always like to have flow in a pinball machine which is a core element I love in Steve Ritchie games. You will have these moments when playing where you just hit shot after shot, each shot leads to another, and it just feels great when you pull it off. Shot-wise, the right up/down scoop is fun because it changes the flow and allows you to loop continuously on one shot for a set period of time. A fun “how many times can you do it” break from flipper to flipper flow. But I think my favorite is the Encounter rotating playfield. It’s deceptively simple but challenging to play well. We start it out flat with simple rules of hitting lit targets, and most people can play this for a bit. Then as you get comfortable and get deeper into the game, it will start rotating steeper and steeper, and your reactions need to be quicker and tuned to the new gravity. At times it’s moving when you are playing, so there are lots of variations. It’s also obvious what you need to do to hit the flashing targets, but it’s hard to master. That adds up to a lot of fun long-term. Rule design-wise, I like most things to be pretty straightforward and easy to follow for anyone who jumps in. The programmer, Dwight Sullivan, is doing a fantastic job achieving that feel while adding in some long-term strategic elements for the more skilled players, like saving Beskar to trade at the Foundry for features.

ARG: We also absolutely love the look of the rotating Encounter upper mini playfield (on the Prem/LE models), how did you come up with that and were there many iterations from concept to final design?
BE: Yes, lots of iterations. I went through several different layouts. I had more targets at first and different playfield shapes, but some were too hard to hit and not as fun. I tried larger and smaller playfields, and each had its pluses and minuses. I wanted to be able to go near vertical, so that drove some of the size and balance also. I tried mini flippers but went with full size as you just didn’t have enough time to make targeted flips or enough power for it to work as well when vertical with the mini flippers. Spacing was a big issue between the flippers also. Too much, and it was way too hard when vertical, too little, and the ball wouldn’t drain. Then fitting it all onto the playfield was a tight space challenge. The mechanical engineer, Tom Kopera, did an amazing job fitting it in and delivering a ball no matter what angle it’s at. I didn’t want it to be an element of the playfield where you went, and play was stopped for a long time while you were playing it and then back to the main playfield. I wanted it to feel like a shot on the main playfield, integrated into the flow, where you could go anytime for a quick unique challenge, even in a multiball. On the Pro, I find it a similar but different experience. Since you only have one flipper, there can be some bumping element to playing it well that is fun in its own way. We also increase and decrease the flipper strength to help ramp up the difficulty. So both are fun to play in their own ways.

ARG: When this machine came up, did you have to fend off other designers to get the gig?
BE: I was already a big fan when it came up and would have fended off others, but I didn’t need to do that. I was ready to start my next game, and George Gomez came to me and said it was available and if I was interested. I jumped on instantly even though the schedule was a bit tight, but it was worth it for such a great title. So it came down to the right time, right place, right theme, the right team.

ARG: Are you a fan of the TV series? If so, what did you think of season two’s conclusion?
BE: Huge fan. I think it’s the best put-together Star Wars show to date. It’s a fresh take on the universe with the “space western” feel and all the nostalgic hooks and tie-ins to the existing Star Wars world. I loved the ending with Luke coming back. It was pretty emotional for a lot of people in my house. I think we all knew it was a possibility, but until it happened, we just didn’t know. Even Disney wouldn’t tell us a thing right up to when it aired. It was certainly satisfying to watch. I am sad that it seems like Grogu may not be as big an element in the next season, but he couldn’t have ended up with a better person to train him, so I’m sure we will see more of him in the series. I’m looking forward to where Disney will take the series and all the new series starting up like The Book of Boba Fett! It’s a great time for Star Wars fans!

It absolutely is a great time for Star Wars fans, and an even better time if you are into pinball! Brian’s love of the franchise has definitely translated well into The Mandalorian pinball machine, which on first impressions, looks great and plays well with signature Brian Eddy design elements injected all over the playfield. We can’t wait to play it!

image source: Stern Pinball