Dirty Pool Podcast Ep02 – Bowen Kerins on Designing Dune and the Art of Pinball Rules

What makes a pinball ruleset click? In this episode of the Dirty Pool Pinball Podcast, we’re joined by Bowen Kerins—rules designer at Barrels of Fun—to unpack how a game's structure comes together behind the glass. From early concepts to deep code layering, we talk about balancing challenge, flow, and accessibility. Bowen shares insights from his current work on Dune, along with stories from his days as a top tournament player and one of the first major pinball streamers.

00:00:00 - Intro

00:00:30 - Bowen Kerins!

00:00:59 - The Origins Of Pinball Streaming

00:01:27 - Keith and Randy Elwin the First Pinball Camera

00:02:27 - No Pinball On Twitch

00:06:06 - Bowen the Mathematician

00:06:16 - Teaching Kids As A Gateway To Pinball Rules

00:09:22 - Is There a Perfect Classic Game Ruleset?

00:10:57 - How Artwork Guides The Player In Dune

00:11:45 - Start With A Grand Rule Idea and Build Backwards

00:12:56 - Do You Wait For The IP To Think Of Rules

00:14:22 - Rick and Morty as an Example

00:15:50 - Rolercoastersss Here's Your Question - Movie Modes and Order

00:18:49 - Multimorphic Final Resistance

00:19:32 - Dune Mode - Hunting For The Right Pitch

00:23:32 - Bowen Kerins Was On Who Wants To Be A Millionaire

00:26:07 - Bowen Kerins Designs Gameshow Math

00:27:46 - Deal Or No Deal Island...

00:30:46 - Oh Reddit.

00:31:55 - Pop Quiz w/ Courtney Cox

00:32:55 - Bowen has an Excellent Memory

00:34:42 - How Do You Get Into Gameshows?

00:36:38 - Back to Pinball?

00:37:54 - No, It's Still Talk About Deal Or No Deal Island...

00:41:07 - Actually Back to Pinball - New Code For Labrynth?

00:42:53 - When is a Game's Code Done?

00:45:20 - Dwight Sullivan, Legendary Programmer

00:48:00 - What's it Like Adding An Idea Into a Pinball Machine

00:49:51 - Giant Prolapsed Anus Worm

00:50:57 - A List of Pinball Machines With Butthole Shots

00:53:00 - Why Barrels Of Fun Games Are Awesome

00:54:50 - Dune and The Hidden Ways To Control The Ball

00:56:50 - Will The Worm Break?

00:57:36 - Barrels Includes a LOT for the Price.

00:58:56 - Are BoF Flipper Soft Or Is It In Your Head?

01:02:50 - Fun Vs. Scoring

01:04:00 - Talking Elwin Games

01:05:18 - Every Moment In A Pinball Machine Is Designed To Make The Player Feel Amazing

01:05:45 - Lynch Vs Dennis.

01:07:32 - Gem and the Holograms CONFIRMED

01:08:03 - Pinball Details Matter

01:10:03 - When Will The Final Wizard Modes Go In Dune...

01:10:28 - Zoom Dropout Ends.

01:12:12 - Are Games Coming Out Unfinished?

01:16:48 - Faith In A Company To Finish A Game's Code

01:20:00 - Which Of These 3 Games Would You Add To Your Collection?

01:20:45 - Is Thunderbirds Worse Than Raven?

01:21:42 - Thank You Bowen!

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