Lyman F. Sheats Jr.
Lyman F. Sheats Jr. was both an elite pinball player and a groundbreaking software engineer whose work shaped modern pinball design. Beginning his career at Data East, he quickly made a name for himself by programming games that struck the rare balance between immediate fun and rewarding depth. His subsequent move to Williams/Bally in the mid-1990s led him to collaborate on legendary titles such as Attack From Mars, Medieval Madness, and Monster Bash, all of which remain cherished for their engaging rule sets, humorous themes, and clever software innovations like hidden “Lyman’s Lament” modes and automated “Phantom Flip” features.
After Williams exited pinball, Sheats brought his talents to Stern Pinball, where he continued pushing technical and creative boundaries on games like AC/DC, Metallica, and Batman ’66—often with post-release code updates that substantially elevated each machine’s depth. Renowned for his top-level tournament skills, Sheats drew on his competitive insights to craft balanced experiences for novices and experts alike, inspiring a new generation of programmers to integrate narrative, complexity, and fun into their designs. Following his passing in January 2022, Sheats left a legacy as one of the industry’s most respected innovators, forever changing how pinball is played, programmed, and remembered.
