Dirty Pool Podcast - Ep12 - Manu - Streaming, Free Gold Watch, and Virtual Pinball

From Free Gold Watch to virtual tables and movie nights, Manu Smith has built one of the most distinctive voices in the pinball streaming world. We talk about his early days in the Bay Area pinball scene, the rise of Mystery Pinball Theater 3000, and how virtual pinball became a lifeline for players and creators alike. Plus: what really goes down during those chaotic movie nights, and how Manu keeps the MST3K spirit alive in a sea of playfield glass.

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📡 Twitch – twitch.tv/dirtypoolpinball

📺 YouTube – youtube.com/@DirtyPoolPinball

📷 Instagram – instagram.com/dirtypoolpinball

📘 Facebook – facebook.com/dirtypoolpinball

00:00:00 - Intro

00:00:26 - Meet Manu!

00:01:28 - Secret Vpin Project? / Pincredibles

00:02:55 - Virtual Pinball is made from real components now.

00:05:05 - Vpin vs. Real pins (Varkon?)

00:06:00 - Bonus Shatz Story

00:08:20 - The Origin of Manu's Vpin

00:11:15 - Vpin Cabinet Showcase

00:12:46 - Can you play a Vpin on location?

00:14:45 - Check out the mpt3k discord (https://discord.gg/fxFjFK2Q) for more help on Vpins

00:14:56 - How to build a Vpin, start with a cabinet.

00:15:35 - @borgdog and his Star Wars homebrew shoutout.

00:18:30 - Of course @IEPinball influenced the streaming at free gold watch.

00:20:24 - Pinball 101 throw back!

00:21:29 - Don't fart?

00:24:00 - Pro tip HDMI handshakes

00:26:24 - What goes into a Vpin

00:32:10 - Homebrew Vpin to Homebrew Pin... pin

00:35:24 - Sterns Pinball Arcade

00:37:55 - Recreating games in virtual.

00:38:24 - It's just code... Fishbowl.

00:40:35 - Manu almost chokes on my bad stern joke.

00:41:30 - This is SO TRUE. Virtual is the gateway drug.

00:44:44 - Using virtual pinball to learn rulesets.

00:46:00 - Talking about @multimorphic6445 P3 Pinball.

00:51:44 - Showing kids real pins when they're used to iPad @ZenStudios Pinball FX

00:54:00 - Riffing on movies live on twitch with @MysteryPinballTheater3000

00:56:35 - Manu's advice on how to find your own niche as a streamer

01:02:13 - It's the Raven thing.

01:03:00 - Worst game ever? Thunder-something

01:04:00 - The difference between good bad, and bad bad

01:06:30 - What is Free Gold Watch?

01:09:41 - Manu's thank you list to the people that have helped.

01:12:41 - Accessibility for repair in pins. The good and the bad.

01:15:31 - Talking Vegas Pinball Museum

01:17:31 - What's coming up for Manu! ... spoilers it's pinball expo and CAX

01:18:18 - Lets go Rob Berk! @pasttimesarcade

01:18:45 - Hot Bodies? .... Hardbodies? It's Hardbody... close enough.

01:19:53 - Check out https://www.twitch.tv/mpt3k

01:20:30 - Talking about how cool George @DontPanicFlip is.

01:21:59 - Thanks! Bye!

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