Grilling the Game: The Recipe Behind Barry O's Barbecue Challenge

Summary

In this heartfelt video, the narrator discusses the development of 'Barry's Barbecue Challenge,' a pinball game honoring Barry Oursler's 40-year career in game design. The game, initially titled 'CarHop,' evolved to reflect American barbecue culture after discovering the name was already taken. The script details the game's design process, from initial sketches to the incorporation of thematic elements, and the emotional journey of creating a tribute to Barry after his passing during development. The video captures the passion and dedication of the team as they transform the game into a fitting homage to Barry's legacy.

Takeaways

• 🚗 The speaker attended a car show and barbecue challenge, which inspired the game 'Bario's Barbecue Challenge'.
• 🎮 The game is a tribute to Barry O'Neal's 40 years in game design, with the speaker having a personal connection to the 'Space Shuttle' pinball game.
• 🔄 The game's theme changed from 'Car Right' to 'Barbecue' to avoid confusion with an existing game and to capture Americana culture.
• 🍔 The game design process involved visiting various barbecue restaurants in Texas to capture the essence of American barbecue.
• ⏳ Barry O'Neal was known for his fast development in the industry and had submitted his design for the game in January 2022.
• 📝 The initial design had elements like Spinners on ramps, which were kept throughout the development process.
• 🔄 The game's design went through several iterations, with the speaker and Barry O'Neal working closely to refine it.
• 🕰 The game was initially planned to be called 'CarHop', but the name was changed to 'Barry Alzer's Barbecue Challenge' after Barry's passing.
• 💔 Barry O'Neal passed away due to complications from cancer treatment, which deeply affected the team.
• 🏆 The game aims to honor Barry O'Neal's legacy and his contributions to the pinball industry.
• 🎲 The game design emphasizes simplicity and affordability while maintaining the challenge and fun of pinball.

Q & A

What is the name of the game that Dave and Barry Alzer were developing together?

The game they were developing is called 'Barry's Barbecue Challenge'.

Why did the game's theme change from 'Car Right' to 'Barbecue'?

The theme changed because 'CarHop' was already a game title from the 1980s, and 'Barbecue' was considered more representative of Americana and the essence of summer gatherings in the United States.

What personal significance does the theme of 'Space Shuttle' have for Dave?

The 'Space Shuttle' theme is significant to Dave because it was his first pinball game ever played, and it inspired his passion for pinball.

What was the original name of the game before it became 'Barry's Barbecue Challenge'?

The original name of the game was 'CarHop' before it was changed to honor Barry Alzer.

How did the development of the game progress after Barry Alzer's passing?

After Barry Alzer's passing, the team at American Pinball continued to develop the game, incorporating elements that Barry wanted and ensuring that the game would be a tribute to him.

What was the first draft of the game design like?

The first draft of the game design was a simple sketch with Spinners on the ramps, and it served as a starting point for further development.

What elements from the barbecue theme were initially considered for the game inserts?

The initial inserts considered for the game included CarHop, Burgers, fries, and drinks, representing elements of a barbecue setting.

What was the significance of the rule of three in the game design?

The rule of three is a classic design principle used by Barry Alzer, which was applied to the game's ramps and other elements to create a balanced and visually appealing layout.

What type of display were they considering for the game to keep it simple and affordable?

They were considering an alpha-numeric display or a dot-matrix display to keep the game simple and affordable.

What event did Dave organize in 2009 that was related to pinball and barbecue?

In 2009, Dave organized a pinball show in Niagara Falls, New York, which coincided with a barbecue festival and a car show, creating a unique event that combined multiple elements of Americana.

How did the game's development timeline progress from the initial draft to the final design?

The game's development timeline involved multiple iterations, starting with a basic draft, then adding inserts and rules, and finally refining the design to incorporate the barbecue theme and pay tribute to Barry Alzer.

Outlines

00:00

🚗 Introduction to Barry's Barbecue Challenge

The script introduces Barry's Barbecue Challenge, a pinball game designed by Barry Oursler and the narrator. It discusses the game's development, the inspiration behind it, and the personal significance of the Space Shuttle theme for the narrator. The game's evolution from an initial car theme to a barbecue theme is explained, reflecting the quintessential Americana experience of summer barbecue festivals and car shows. The script also highlights the rapid development process of the game, with Barry's whitewood drawing submitted in January 2022 and the incorporation of various elements like drop targets and spinners on ramps.

05:03

🔄 Design Iterations and Barry's Legacy

This paragraph delves into the iterative design process of the pinball game, with Barry being described as a fast and efficient game designer. The script mentions the second iteration of the game's design, where elements like CarHop, burgers, fries, and drinks were introduced as part of the game's inserts. The importance of maintaining simplicity and affordability in the game's design is emphasized, alongside the use of classic Barry design elements like the rule of three action on the ramps. The narrative also shares personal anecdotes about working with Barry, including visits to barbecue restaurants in Texas for inspiration and the emotional impact of Barry's passing during the game's development.

10:04

🏆 Honoring Barry's Memory and Game Development

The final paragraph focuses on the emotional aftermath of Barry's passing and the decision to rename the game to Barry Alzer's Barbecue Challenge in his honor. It details the team's determination to continue Barry's vision for the game, incorporating his design preferences and ideas that were discussed prior to his passing. The script also discusses the game's mechanics, emphasizing its simple appearance but challenging gameplay, and shares a personal story of a high-scoring game session between the narrator and Steve, highlighting the game's risk and reward elements. The paragraph concludes with reflections on the game's title and its connection to classic pinball games from the past.

Keywords

💡Bario's Barbecue Challenge

Bario's Barbecue Challenge is the central theme of the video, referring to a pinball game that is being developed as a tribute to Barry Oursler's 40 years in game design. The game is described as a simple yet challenging experience, capturing the essence of Americana and the spirit of barbecue festivals. It is mentioned multiple times throughout the script as the game that the speaker is developing and discussing with Barry.

💡Pinball

Pinball is a type of arcade game that involves a ball bouncing around a playfield with various targets and obstacles. In the video, pinball is the medium through which the tribute to Barry Oursler is expressed, with the development of the 'Bario's Barbecue Challenge' game. The speaker's passion for pinball is evident, as it is the reason he is involved in the project and the reason for his career in pinball.

💡Car Show

A car show is an event where various cars are displayed, often for competition or public viewing. In the script, the car show is mentioned as part of the setting where the speaker is, and it serves as a metaphor for the diversity and excitement that the 'Bario's Barbecue Challenge' game aims to capture, similar to the variety of cars at a show.

💡Americana

Americana refers to the cultural artifacts and symbols that are considered representative of American culture. The video script uses the term to describe the theme of the 'Bario's Barbecue Challenge' game, which is deeply rooted in the quintessential American experience of barbecue festivals and car shows, reflecting a part of the country's identity.

💡Game Design

Game design involves the creation of video games and their rules, as well as the overall concept, including the setting, characters, and gameplay mechanics. The script discusses the game design process in the context of developing 'Bario's Barbecue Challenge,' highlighting the collaborative efforts between the speaker and Barry Oursler.

💡Space Shuttle

Space Shuttle is mentioned as the speaker's first pinball game, which holds a special place in his heart. It is used as a personal anecdote to illustrate the speaker's connection to pinball and how the release of 'Bario's Barbecue Challenge' is a significant milestone in his life, coming full circle from his first experience with the game.

💡CarHop

CarHop originally was the name of the game that was being developed but was changed due to the existence of another game with the same name. The term is used in the script to show the evolution of the game's concept and how the team pivoted to the barbecue theme, which is more representative of American culture.

💡Whitewood Drawing

A whitewood drawing refers to a preliminary sketch or blueprint of a pinball machine's design. In the script, it is mentioned that Barry Oursler had submitted his whitewood drawing for 'Bario's Barbecue Challenge' in January 2022, indicating the progression of the game's development.

💡Barbecue Festivals

Barbecue festivals are events that celebrate the cooking of barbecue, often with competitions and large gatherings. The script mentions these festivals as the inspiration for the game's theme, emphasizing the Americana aspect and the communal and festive nature of these events.

💡Rule Set

A rule set in the context of a game refers to the collection of rules that govern how the game is played. The script discusses the development of the rule set for 'Bario's Barbecue Challenge,' showing the iterative process of game design and how the rules evolve as the game is being developed.

💡Barry Alzer

Barry Alzer is a renowned figure in the pinball industry, known for his 40 years of game design. The video is a tribute to his work and legacy, with the development of 'Bario's Barbecue Challenge' being a significant part of that tribute. His influence and contributions to the game are a recurring theme throughout the script.

Highlights

Introduction of 'Bario's Barbecue Challenge', a pinball game developed as a tribute to Barry Ots' 40 years in game design.

Emotional significance of the game for the speaker, as 'Space Shuttle' was their first pinball game experience.

The game's initial concept was 'Car Right', but it evolved due to the existence of a game named 'CarHop' and changing times.

The essence of Americana and summer barbecue festivals captured in the game's theme.

Barry Ots' reputation as the 'fastest gun' in the pinball industry and his rapid development of the game.

The game's design process, starting with a simple draft and evolving through iterations.

The importance of the 'rule of three' in pinball design, evident in the game's ramps and other elements.

The game's transition from 'CarHop' to 'Barbecue Challenge', reflecting the American barbecue culture.

Barry Ots' favorite activities, including visiting barbecue restaurants in Texas for inspiration.

A historical pinball event in Niagara Falls, New York, which combined a barbecue festival with a pinball show.

The first draft of the game's design and its significance in capturing the initial ideas.

The iterative design process, including discussions on scaling and display types for the game.

The game's affordability and simplicity as key design goals, influenced by Barry Ots' vision.

The impact of Barry Ots' passing on the project and the team's decision to honor him by renaming the game.

The team's commitment to continue Barry's vision and incorporate his design preferences into the final game.

The game's challenge to master, reflecting the classic design of games from the Williams era.

Personal anecdotes of playing 'Barry's Barbecue Challenge' and the competitive spirit it fosters.

The game's title as a fitting tribute to Barry Ots, aligning with classic game themes from the past.

Transcripts

[Music]

there he is hey Dave here you go I just

came back from the car show right car

show you know how much it was they got

cars and bikes and everything here at

the barbecue challenge absolutely

something that I'm hoping you're going

to discover when you play this game

Bario's barbecue challenge a game that I

am pleased and thankful to both American

pinball bar aler and a whole team here

to have this game developed and present

to you I I'm just

hoping that this is a worthy tribute to

Barry alzer's 40 Years of game design

I'll tell you when I was talking with

Barry yeah and he let me know what the

gist of the initial design was going to

be when he was inviting me on the pro on

the project to be CoD game designer with

him and he said space shuttle and I got

to tell him I got to remind him that

space shuttle was my very first pinball

game I ever played in my life so that is

why space shuttle holds a very close

feeling in my heart it's like the

release of this game is a loop of my

life okay really that's what it feels

like that I got like I get to have my

name anywhere near Barry to release a

game based on Space Shuttle my first

experience in pinball is the reason why

I'm in pinball today and then some

people ask me all the time they go why

barbecue well so originally the game

started out as car right but I explained

to Barry that a game called CarHop had

already been developed by gly back in 84

85 and not only that times have changed

there weren't really a lot of car hops

in in the United States however we came

across something that's truly

Americana Americana to the point that

every summer there are hundreds if not

thousands of barbecue festivals corn

boils big kind of outdoor Gatherings

where there's car shows or just like the

one we're right here at right right yeah

going on across America and in these

moments there's some real fun things to

do so we captured that Essence in the

pinball Barry was the fastest gun in the

industry understand that so in January

of

2022

right Barry had already submitted his

Whitewood drawing in fact I think St he

had submitted this drawing already to us

and in fact if you can see over here on

the right there's the the drop targets

are way over here on the right side The

Spinners are still on the ramps the

saucers are in the spots there's just a

few fine points that we had to make um

the barbecue theme is not random I went

to many barbecue restaurants in Texas

with Barry it was one of the very uh one

of his favorite things to do right and

when he was ready to go to lunch you

better be ready absolutely okay I do the

same thing with you you better be ready

okay and so there were quite a few

barbecue restaurants we Texans went and

visited uh many days so and it was one

of the things that he took his uh good

friends to and I was I'm glad to be able

to count myself one of them so so to go

back a few quite a few years earlier in

2009 okay this is some time ago wow I

put on a pinball show in Niger Falls New

York and it was with a barbecue festival

at the same time and we had a car show

so we had a barbecue festival outside a

pinball show inside with about 100 pins

and we had a car show going on at the

same time plus a band and a bunch of

other things and it was a it was a hoot

of a weekend perfect and most people

were like this this is what's going on

well when we talked about barbecue

it just started coming together when uh

this game was going to be called CarHop

and we started to work on it uh we just

want to get something down nice and

quick just to get the ideas down

absolutely all right just to get

anything on paper based on the you know

quick design the first draft and here it

is here is the first ever draft draft

there's not much on it but I keep it for

the history of it because it is

literally the first thing that Barry and

I wrode on to see what was going going

to be in the game all right and this is

one of those just get it down really

quickly and as we're talking about other

things we'll get back to it later and

then you know at least we'll have this

and we'll get things started and my

initial rule set was based off this

skeleton got it right and if you look

back far enough even right there we

already had the Spinners on the ramps

because the ramp Spinners were something

that I had always thought would be

really cool we go back in history far

enough we could see it on some games

like capcom's Kingpin on the center ramp

so there are many times that you know we

borrow little things but we definitely

had some fun with this so Barry was the

fastest gun and he was developing this

very fast he had basically submitted

this to Steve myself the engineering

team here at American pinball and that

was on a Friday and he was uh with the

phone call was pretty easy uh he was so

excited about shooting the game playing

it couldn't wait to come back up here to

Chicago to spend time with people and

talk about it and uh he um gave me all

the paperwork I had set up a time frame

with him it was the end of January and I

said to uh Bar says give us about a

month to two months maybe you know he

was going through some cancer treatment

at the time and he said probably by

around April he'd be good so we we while

this is happening understanding in the

background Barry and I are still talking

I mean I'm on the phone with him we're

talking about you know updating certain

different versions of this I can go over

here get more versions of it and this

like wait let me give me a give me a

moment I'll be back okay I'm back okay

more more iterations right so this is so

while that that timeline was going on

here I have a second iteration where we

started getting in what some of the

inserts were going to be so some of them

right so we have m we have CarHop we

have Burgers we have fries we have

drinks we have soda here right so things

are starting to come together yes we are

still finding that these are the locks

the drop Target Bank was still on the

right we were still wanted to see how

was that going to work would it be

possible to have that sweepable effect

into the top hole so we were still

experimenting with some of that

then I started to get a little bit of

what the rules might

I mean this is still very dirty as far

as the inserts this is just getting them

down as to what the numbers might be

notice you might notice the scaling is

quite small yep on this or different

plans on what what type of scaling this

might be correct would it be a uh alpha

numeric right we we to alpha numeric we

toyed with a dot matrix dot matrix

display right because I mean one of the

keys of this game is to have it be a

simple looking game right also more

affordable game more affordable game all

right so that's kind of where the

scaling was you can see The Telltale

rule of three action going on with the

ramps and some of the other aspects that

are classic Barry design I would say

absolutely and so we move on

to the next contestant here right so

here is where you can slowly start

seeing the radial design coming into

play as far as the inserts right this

would be would become a key Point later

yeah it does look like a clock for a

subtle reason which wasn't quite

developed here yet but was in my mind

right so and so yes things are more

start starting to go into play we still

have the malt we still have the soda we

still have the targets here we still

have this we still have the Spinners on

the ramps and all of that so as you can

see I'm very glad I was able to keep all

this history by the way this is this

feels this is uh very very very close to

my heart and I'm glad I have all this

and I'm glad that you all will be able

to see this absolutely as it was being

developed because I mean it was and is a

great honor and privilege to have been

working with Barry knowing that I mean

as you we were talking about Barry was

in discussion becoming up here yep to

Chicago I already was up here I was

already going to be discussing things

that I needed to talk with Barry about

like I wanted to ask him what uh medium

Burger means that doesn't you know

things like that you know that we were

working on to to uh to really solidify

the design get it made get it shooting

and then move on from there and

essentially me serving as Barry's

understudy on my journey to become a

game designer myself correct that was

the plan yes and we kept developing the

plan and we were about ready to build

the whitewoods right and then

unfortunately that fateful day probably

3 days after he submitted his drawing to

us uh his wife called me to tell me that

he had we had he had passed due to

complications doing his cancer

treatment which took the wind out of our

sales for a moment I know you were

beside yourself I know where I was I was

in I can point to right to that room

where I was in the office you you were

standing outside my office and you had

that look and I had already known man

before that time I mean yeah before that

time I got the call from Kathy right we

talk okay I uh calm myself down I think

you know I grieve do what you have to do

right I think we all grieved for a bit

right then you got to get yourself

together and be a professional

understand that Barry had touched a lot

of people in this industry yeah a lot

and we had a lot of people in this

industry come together and basically

called out you know that Barry was a

great guy and we we we did a press

release about his passing and it was

tough on his family

of course and we we worked hard but I

think it was like a two days after this

we brought the team together and that's

when the name changed the name changed

from barbecue challenge to Barry always

barbecue challenge right we knew we were

going to honor the man and Steve kind of

locked himself in his office for the

next couple days at that point I was

like I I decid first thing I did was

there were again as I said before there

were things I were going to be

discussing with Barry got it when we met

yep I

hurriedly wrote down wrote down and got

all my notes together so I didn't lose

anything CU if I lost anything that

would just hurt so much if I did so I

want to make sure I get everything down

make sure these are the things that

Barry wanted these are things that I

wanted these we talked about these are

things we were going to discuss right

got them down on the initial rule set so

that they would be retained and then as

I was doing that slowly but surely I

started making the game Barry's game

correct and you'll see what that means

later those of you who have already

played the game those of you who have

been to the seminars know what that

means be pointed these things out but

we'll get to that later and and some

people are still discovering what that

means and don't be feel bad when you see

this video and you learn some new stuff

today so I mean granted this is a great

game it's like we said

before simple on the outside but hard to

master it also you got to risk it got in

order to get it you got to risk it for

the brisket right you got to risk it for

the brisket there you go I like that

that's a good new

term understand that you know Barry 's

barbecue challenge Steve and I have been

playing against each other we've

actually streamed it you could see it on

our American pinball stream there was

one night where during the stream it was

Ray and me versus Steve right and I we

had put on a one billion points and

Steve Bowen was at 20 million with one

ball left cuz I did nothing one ball

Bowen I had did nothing up to that point

because I was risking things and not

cashing in he risked it off like my

Barbecue Cooking was just not quite

there like I had it but then I would

mess up at the end and just like

barbecue shows you got to present your

meal correctly that's correct otherwise

you will be punished for that and I was

and they weren't up to that point yeah

but you you ended up putting like two

billion points three billion points in

you know pass this and we were like okay

understand that barbecue challenge is

yet not a a just you know weird title

but it's a great title because it fits

in with the genre of the classic games

from the gone by Era of Williams and Bal

when they did things like taxi and Diner

fish fish tals you know now we have

barbecue challenge la

[Music]