An Open Letter to the Pinball Community: How Toxicity is Draining the Fun from Pinball

Editors note: the following is a guest contribution from Enzo La Pegna (Pinball Collective) about an issue many of us experience in the pinball community on a regular basis. This is something that's close to my own heart, and one of the motivating factors for starting Kineticist, so I'm happy to give Enzo's thoughts a home and a signal boost.

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To pinball fans everywhere,

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Pinball is all about passion. It’s a mix of art, engineering, and pure fun that brings people together, whether you’re a lifelong player or just discovering it. It’s a hobby built on nostalgia, competition, and excitement. But lately, there’s been a growing issue in the community, one that’s becoming too big to ignore.

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There’s a level of negativity, entitlement, and outright toxicity creeping into discussions about pinball, especially towards the people who actually make these games. Designers, coders, artists, and engineers – the ones pouring their hearts into this industry – are being ripped apart online, sometimes in ways that go beyond just “criticism,” turning into personal attacks.

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It’s not just disappointing – it’s damaging. And it’s time we talk about it.

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There’s nothing wrong with opinions. Everyone has different tastes in pinball, and feedback helps the industry grow. But there’s a significant difference between constructive criticism and straight-up tearing people down.

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Lately, it seems like every new release is met with instant outrage. If a layout isn’t what someone expected, if code updates take time, or if a theme doesn’t appeal to a certain group, some people will react like it’s a personal insult to them. Instead of discussing what works and what doesn’t, too many comments go straight to insults and abuse.

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“This designer is an idiot; they should quit.”

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“This is the worst game ever made; what a joke.”

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“Lazy, uninspired garbage code.”

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And that’s just the mild stuff.

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Forums, Facebook groups, and other online spaces have become full of this kind of talk. It’s one thing to say you don’t like a game, but attacking the people behind it or even the customers who are planning to purchase this game? Unnecessary.

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Pinball is a small industry. There aren’t endless designers, coders, and engineers out there making these games. If the cost of working in this space means constant abuse, some of them will decide it’s just not worth it. That’s how the industry loses talent, and if it keeps happening, it’ll hurt everyone. If designers know that no matter what they do, they’ll get smashed online, they’ll stop taking risks. They’ll play it safe to avoid the backlash. And if that happens, we’ll end up with bland, repetitive designs instead of fresh, exciting games.

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Negativity spreads. If newcomers see that the loudest voices in pinball are just angry, aggressive, and bitter, why would they want to be a part of it? We’re supposed to be growing the hobby, not turning people away.

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Pinball has had a huge resurgence in the last decade, with more manufacturers, games, and places to play than we’ve seen in years. But if the online culture around pinball stays this toxic, it will push people away, discourage investment, and slow down the industry’s growth.

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Some members of the community forget that the people making these games are real people with families, emotions, and personal challenges. They love pinball just as much as we do, but they also have limits.

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When you work on a game for years, solve problem after problem, refine every little detail, and finally release it to the world, only to be met with a wall of negativity, it’s crushing.

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Imagine putting your heart into something, and the feedback you receive is:

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“This is rubbish. How do they still have a job?”

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“This game is a joke; I wouldn’t play it if it were free.”

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“They should be ashamed of themselves.”

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That stuff doesn’t just disappear once it’s posted online. The people behind these games see it, and it sticks with them. It creates stress, anxiety, self-doubt, and for some, it makes them question whether they even want to keep making pinball machines at all.

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In other industries like gaming, music, and film, there has been more awareness lately about how online abuse affects creators. But in pinball? No one really talks about it. And that’s a huge problem. 

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Even pinball content creators who put themselves out there to entertain, inform, and engage with the community, like pinball machine creators, are finding themselves on the receiving end of relentless criticism, often simply for enjoying a new release or speaking positively about certain manufacturers. The notion that any form of enthusiasm equates to bias is not only misguided but also dismissive of the time, effort, and passion these individuals put into their work.

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It’s one thing to disagree with a review or an opinion, but it’s another to attack the credibility or integrity of someone simply because they don’t share the same viewpoint. This negativity can take a real toll on mental health. Imagine spending hours producing content, only to be met with a flood of personal attacks or accusations of being bought out by companies. It’s exhausting, demoralising, and, over time, can drive people away from the hobby altogether.

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Not only are the game designers and content creators susceptible to this toxicity, but ironically, so are the end users. Some people have been targeted for liking a particular game or brand, criticised for their choices, and have even been dictated to regarding how to sell their games and for what price. People have a right to enjoy the hobby without fearing backlash from their fellow community members. There are even those who are too scared to comment online - this is not what the game is about.

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So, what needs to change? The language we use. No one is saying, “Don’t criticise pinball”; it’s about the delivery.

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Constructive Criticism Over Attacks‍

If you don’t like a game or a piece of content, that’s fine! Try to explain why in a way that adds to the discussion. Saying, “I think the layout is clunky because of X,” is useful. Saying, “this game is trash, and the designer is a hack,” is useless.

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Respect the Creators‍

These games don’t just appear out of thin air. There’s a team of passionate people behind them. They don’t owe you a perfect game. They’re making something they believe in, and they’re always trying to improve. The same can be said for content creators.

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Encourage New Talent‍

If pinball is going to survive, we need new designers, new coders, new artists and new content creators to join the industry, but if all they see is negativity and abuse, why would they want to?

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Make the Community Better‍

Pinball should be a welcoming environment. Support your local operators. Share the games you love. Bring new people into the hobby. Focus on the good stuff instead of just tearing things down.

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Pinball has always been about skill, challenge, and excitement. But right now, the biggest challenge isn’t on the playfield; it’s in how we treat each other.

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We, as a community, have the power to shape the future of this hobby. We can make it a space where creativity is celebrated, discussion is constructive, and the focus stays on the love of the game.

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To all players, collectors, operators, manufacturers, designers, and content creators, we can do better. Let’s make pinball a place of passion, not hostility or toxicity. 

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Because, at the end of the day, pinball is meant to be fun. Let’s not ruin it for ourselves or for the people who make it happen.

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Let’s flip the script on negativity.

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Sincerely,

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Enzo - Pinball Collective