Coin-Op Carnival, a 64-page print publication, is the only source for full-color, completely illustrated content documenting the history and stories surrounding electro-mechanical coin-operated amusement devices (pinball and pre-video arcade games manufactured prior to 1978). Each issue includes an interview with a game designer, in-depth game reviews, E.M. tech explained, product spotlights, comics, and more. Every page of the publication features new full-color illustrations from university professor and award-winning comics artist, Ryan Claytor. Articles written by both myself and Ryan Claytor.
We began by determining the length of the series (four issues), and the basic content in each issue. Our focus was to produce the most accessible and historically accurate publication possible.
Volume 1 focuses on the life and accomplishments of Wayne Neyens, the oldest living pinball designer. We had the good fortune of meeting and befriending Wayne through this process, and Ryan spent considerable time ensuring that the illustrations of the factory in the "Wayne Leaves Western" interstitial comic were as true-to-life as possible.
We each provided a game overview (Gottlieb's "Mystic Marvel" for my part, and Williams' "Space Pilot" for Ryan), and I produced a technical article about relays. Ryan added a product review documentary of the Musée Mécanique's Zelinsky Collection, housed on Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco.
The research, editing, and illustration process took almost two years for the first volume.
We've received much praise for our initial volume, and there is great demand for the next issue in our four volume series. We sold through our initial 1,100 copy print-run before the end of our tour, requiring a second printing of another 1,000 copies. Coin-Op Carnival #1 is carried by two pinball supply houses and received national distribution through Diamond Comics, allowing comic shops throughout North America to carry Coin-Op Carnival #1.
Ryan and I are currently working on Coin-Op Carnival #2. If you would like to learn more about the book, or purchase it upon release, please see the website at coinopcarnival.com.
