Mike Vinikour

Mike Vinikour is a longtime pinball industry professional whose multi-decade career spans roles in both arcade video games and modern pinball development. He began his career in the early 1990s at the legendary Williams/Bally/Midway organization, where he contributed primarily as a game tester on popular arcade titles like Mortal Kombat before transitioning into software-related work on pinball machines. Despite pinball’s market downturn at the end of the decade, he remained active in game development, moving into console video games. Ultimately, Vinikour returned to pinball at Stern Pinball, one of the few surviving manufacturers, where he has since worked in various capacities including rule design, software coding, and overseeing field test programs for recent Stern releases such as Stranger Things, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and James Bond 007.

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Vinikour’s contributions focus heavily on shaping pinball’s rule structures and introducing new technological features. He co-holds at least one patent related to multi-mode amusement device technology, underscoring his role in refining deeper, more dynamic gameplay experiences. Through projects like Stern’s Expression Lighting System and by integrating complex, multi-layered rule sets, he has influenced the modern direction of pinball design. His ability to bridge classic arcade gaming concepts with contemporary software advancements has earned him respect among industry veterans and pinball enthusiasts alike. Vinikour’s story illustrates pinball’s tumultuous history and its recent renaissance, as well as the crucial role innovative designers play in ensuring the game’s continued appeal.