MEET THE CAST
Where do you even start when it comes to a tale as rich and storied as that of the coin-op industry? Having gathered interviews over a span of almost three years, we traveled across the country to provide an open and honest account of an industry as told directly by those who've helped to shape it. Featuring diverse voices ranging from 50-year veterans to up-start arcade owners, the film follows the design, production, and operation of location-based games and amusements. Compiled from over 50 hours of interviews, “For Amusement Only” is, at its core, a heartfelt story of our desire as humans to perfect the connections we make with each other through play.
Jeremy Saucier
Jeremy Saucier serves as the assistant vice president for interpretation and electronic games at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. In this role, he oversees the museum's collection of coin-operated amusements and arcade games. As a leading expert in arcade and coin-op history, he contributes significantly to the preservation and interpretation of electronic gaming history, with a particular focus on how coin-operated games helped democratize video gaming. Holding a doctorate in American cultural, intellectual and political history, Saucier's scholarly work includes extensive research on arcade culture, coin-operated amusements and the broader significance of play in culture.
Carly Kocurek
Carly Kocurek is a cultural historian and media studies scholar specializing in the history and cultural impact of coin-operated amusements and video gaming in the United States. As a professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology, she explores how these entertainment technologies have shaped American culture. Her book “Coin-Operated Americans: Rebooting Boyhood at the Video Game Arcade” examines how arcade games became associated with teenage boys and influenced public spaces in the 1970s and 1980s. Through her research, Kocurek investigates the complex relationships between coin-op, gender dynamics and moral panics from early mechanical amusements to modern arcade video games.
Joe Coppola
While currently the president of Innovative Concepts in Entertainment (ICE), Joe Coppola started his journey with the company when he was 15 years old, working his way up from painting Super Chexx players to leading a global enterprise. With over 30 years of experience in the amusement industry, Coppola followed in his father, Ralph's, footsteps, playing a pivotal role in helping the company evolve from its humble beginnings in a small facility in Tonawanda, New York, to a thriving business with over 200 employees and a 200,000-square-foot manufacturing space. Under his leadership, ICE has maintained its commitment to creating timeless, competitive family games that continue to be played in arcades worldwide.
Drew Krouse
A passionate designer with over 25 years of experience in the industry, Drew Krouse is known for his commitment to quality, innovation and focus on engaging, skill-based games. Overseeing a diverse range of products, Krouse attributes ICE's success to the talented team he works with and is committed to mentoring the next generation of game creators. Remaining open to new ideas, he often seeks inspiration from everyday items and experiences. Always looking to improve and evolve, Krouse maintains a focus on what ICE does best while exploring partnerships with other industry leaders. His philosophy of "do what's right for the game" and trust in his team have helped ICE withstand the test of time and continue creating successful arcade games.
Mark Conlon
Currently plant manager at ICE, Mark got his start applying stickers to cabinets in 1993 before working his way up through game building, line lead and critical assembly. With over three decades of experience at ICE, Conlon understands that arcade game manufacturing requires extensive manual labor and craftsmanship. He and his team has been instrumental in enhancing production efficiency and workforce development, helping reduce game lead times from six months to three to five weeks by optimizing labor and internal processes. Working in a fast-paced environment, he describes ICE as "a field hospital in the military — busy, crazy and hectic," but he takes pride in seeing their games bring joy to others.
Elie Harfouche
After moving from Lebanon to the United States in 1982 and later settling in Buffalo, Harfouche joined ICE 27 years ago, starting in the woodshop before working his way up to plant manager. With his extensive experience in manufacturing and operations management, Harfouche has been instrumental in optimizing plant operations and scaling production to meet growing demands. Under his leadership, ICE has maintained its reputation for producing high-quality arcade games, currently manufacturing around 160 games per week across 18 different game lines. His hands-on management style and dedication to quality have helped establish ICE as an industry leader in arcade game manufacturing, with their products being shipped and enjoyed worldwide.
Gary Stern
It's not hyperbole to say Gary Stern has a lifetime's worth of experience in coin-op. Having been born into the business, his father, Sam, started out as an operator before becoming owner and president of pinball pioneer, Williams Electronics. Gary would eventually go off on his own, helping to found Data East Pinball. The company would change hands a few times before Gary brought it back into the Stern name. Weathering the storm of the past 35 years, Stern Pinball has the distinction of being the industry's oldest and most revered pinball manufacturer. Today, the company operates from a 100,000-square-foot facility near Chicago's O'Hare Airport, employing over 350 people and producing three new pinball models each year.
George Gomez
Getting his start at Midway Games back in 1978, George Gomez has had a direct hand in developing many of the industry trends over the past five decades. An industrial designer by trade, Gomez has done everything from upright video games to pinball, redemption and console games. His innovative mindset and attention to player experience have earned him widespread respect in the gaming industry, with many considering him one of the most influential designers of his generation. Already with tiles like Tron and Spy Hunter to his name, Gomez left the industry briefly to design toys before returning, this time to make pinball. Today, he oversees the studio at Stern Pinball, responsible for development in almost every sphere.
Eugene Jarvis
Though his first love was pinball, Eugene Jarvis became enamored with video games after playing Space Invaders. A natural innovator, he continues to bring fresh perspectives to game design. During the early years, he was instrumental in the development of the smash arcade hit, Defender. Immediately, Jarvis found himself completely captivated by the "pure struggle of man versus machine" that video games offered. He would have continued success over the decades with titles such as Robotron: 2081, NARC and Cruis'n USA. Following the closure of Midway Games in the early 2000s, Jarvis went on to start his own studio, Raw Thrills, which would produce its own string of hits and is, to this day, one of the most prolific arcade studios in the world.
Larry DeMar
Larry DeMar is a video game and pinball designer renowned for his contributions to the arcade gaming industry. Playing a pivotal role in developing both video games and pinball machines, DeMar co-designed arcade titles like Defender and Robotron: 2081 as well as The Addams Family and Twilight Zone. In 1995, DeMar became director of engineering at Williams™ Pinball. Following his exit from pinball, he founded Leading Edge Design, focusing on gaming concepts for the casino industry. Throughout his career, DeMar's passion for games has never wavered — from his early days playing pinball to his ongoing involvement in the gaming industry, his enthusiasm for creating engaging player experiences remains as strong as ever.
Warren Davis
Best known as the creator of the popular game Q*bert, Warren Davis began his journey in video games when he answered a newspaper ad from Gottlieb in the early 1980s. As one of the pioneering programmers during the golden age of arcade games, he helped develop innovative titles at Gottlieb's video game division, working in an environment that encouraged creativity and experimentation. His groundbreaking work on Q*bert helped establish new possibilities for character-based arcade games and influenced game design for years to come. His passion for entertaining others extended beyond games, leading him to eventually pursue a career in acting. While his work may keep him out in Hollywood, he maintains ties to the world of coin-op.
Jeff Lee
Jeff Lee is a pioneering video game artist best known for his work at Gottlieb, where he created the iconic character Q*bert. Working with limited technical capabilities — just 16 colors and blocky sprites — Lee helped define the visual style of early arcade games in the 1980s. His creative process was meticulous and hands-on, requiring him to visualize complex animations frame by frame. He developed his artwork using a light desk and grid paper before transferring designs to the game hardware through a custom utility program. Despite company policies against crediting developers, Lee would often leave his mark through high score table initials. His work on Q*bert has endured for over 40 years, becoming a classic of the arcade era.
Nolan Bushnell
A titan of innovation, Nolan Bushnell revolutionized entertainment as the founder of Atari and the visionary who helped bring the video game industry into existence. His journey began while managing arcade games at an amusement park, where he gained valuable experience with pinball machines and early mechanical arcade attractions. Bushnell was also responsible for founding Chuck E. Cheese, innovatively combining arcade gaming with family dining. His deep understanding of coin-operated entertainment helped him bridge the gap between traditional arcade amusements and video games, establishing new business models for the industry. His innovations have earned him a place in both the Video Game and Consumer Electronics Halls of Fame.
Wyatt Bushnell
Wyatt Bushnell is an American engineer and entrepreneur specializing in out-of-home entertainment. As CEO of Coin Crew Games, he develops innovative arcade and console games, carrying forward the family legacy of his father, Nolan Bushnell. His passion for coin-operated amusements has led to successful collaborations with major entertainment venues like Dave & Buster's, Sky Zone Trampoline Parks and Great Wolf Lodge, where he's helped create engaging attractions including the popular Hot Wheels King of the Road arcade machine. While the pandemic forced Coin Crew Games to pivot toward console game development, Bushnell remains committed to the unique social value of arcade gaming and out-of-home entertainment experiences.
Elaine Hodgson
Elaine Hodgson is the co-founder, president and CEO of Incredible Technologies (IT), a leading developer of coin-operated video games and casino gaming technology. Starting her career as a biochemist who transitioned into computer programming, she entered the coin-op industry through Marvin Glass and Associates, originally working on arcade games for Midway Games. In 1985, she co-founded IT, which gained prominence with the release of the Golden Tee golf series. Over its 35+ year history, Golden Tee has continually evolved while revolutionizing location-based entertainment with its innovative tournament system and consistent earnings model. Hodgson is recognized as one of the few women leading a major amusement and gaming company.
Roger Sharpe
Known as "The Man Who Saved Pinball," Roger Sharpe made history in 1976 when he proved before a New York city council that pinball was a game of skill — not chance — eventually persuading them to overturn the city’s notorious 35-year ban on the game. A lifelong advocate for the game, Sharpe authored the book “Pinball!” and eventually went on to design several games for manufacturers including Williams™ Pinball, Game Plan and Stern Electronics. He also co-founded the Professional Amateur Pinball Association (PAPA) and serves as co-chair of the International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA). His continued advocacy has helped to not only protect and legitimize a game but it's also reshaped how we think about the coin-operated amusement industry as a whole.
Josh Sharpe
Josh Sharpe is a prominent figure in the pinball community, renowned for his competitive achievements and organizational leadership. Following his father, Roger's, path in the amusement industry, Josh turned his passion for pinball into a career. He now serves as chief financial officer (CFO) at Raw Thrills, a leading arcade video game manufacturer in Chicago, where he works alongside Eugene Jarvis and team to create cutting edge out of home experiences. As a father of three, his children have naturally inherited the Sharpe family's enthusiasm for pinball. Most recently, Josh achieved a lifelong dream by helping create the Pulp Fiction pinball machine, contributing to its rules and design in close collaboration with the development team.
Zach Sharpe
The son of renowned pinball advocate Roger Sharpe, Zach continues the family's significant legacy in the pinball community as a celebrated player and marketing professional. Having achieved the world's #1 ranking as a competitive player, he brings unique insights from both the competitive and business sides of the industry. Currently the director of marketing at Stern Pinball, Sharpe's deep understanding of the game enhances his role at Stern Pinball, where he focuses on expanding the company's global presence and enriching the pinball experience for enthusiasts. Sharpe is a vocal advocate for the broader coin-operated amusement industry, working to promote the cultural and economic value of arcade entertainment in modern society.
Jack Guarnieri
Jack "Jersey Jack" Guarnieri is a veteran of the amusement industry, renowned for his significant contributions to pinball. He began his career in 1975, servicing electromechanical pinball machines, and later expanded into operating game rooms and amusement centers. In 1999, he founded PinballSales.com, distributing pinball machines to consumers. Recognizing a demand for high-quality, innovative pinball experiences, Guarnieri established Jersey Jack Pinball in 2011. The company has since released acclaimed machines like The Wizard of Oz and Guns N' Roses, introducing industry firsts such as LCD screens and LED lighting. Guarnieri's passion and vision have been instrumental in revitalizing modern pinball.
Brian Poklacki
An industry veteran, Brian has worked in coin-op for over 50 years. He first got his start at Bally before eventually working for Gary and his father at Stern Electronics. During his time at Stern Electronics, he gained invaluable experience in manufacturing various arcade products, from pinball machines to jukeboxes. Known for his hands-on approach and dedication to quality, Brian can often be found on the factory floor helping to solve technical challenges and improve production processes. In 1984, he started Partec, contracting with companies like SEGA to manufacture arcade and redemption games. Currently occupying a 170,000-square-foot facility in Franklin Park, Illinois, Partec is outputting more games per day than anywhere else in the world.
JON JAMSHID
Jon Jamshid is an arcade operator and collector with deep expertise in classic arcade games. As a key figure at The 1up Arcade Bar, he combines his passion for gaming with technical knowledge of maintaining vintage machines. His background as a collector informs his unique approach to arcade management, where he carefully curates games based on both popularity and nostalgia value. Having started his journey playing Pong against his uncles and later amassing his own impressive home collection, Jon brings decades of hands-on experience to his role. He works closely with his team to monitor game performance and rotate machines based on player engagement while maintaining a commitment to preserving arcade gaming culture.
Jourdan Adler
Jourdan Adler is the founder and owner of the 1up Arcade Bar in Colorado. Since launching the first location in 2011, he has expanded to four locations. A longtime arcade enthusiast who's collected games since the 1990s, Adler has built 1up into a distinctive brand that combines classic arcade games, modern pinball machines and carefully curated aesthetics that blend nostalgia with modern socializing. The business model emphasizes authentic arcade experiences using tokens rather than card systems, setting 1up apart from larger chain establishments. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Adler advocated for the safe reopening of arcade bars, highlighting the financial challenges faced by such establishments during this time.
Stephanie Gross
Stephanie Gross is the co-founder of Wonderville, an indie arcade bar in Brooklyn, New York. Together with her husband, Mark Kleeb, they established Wonderville to showcase independent games, music and art. While Mark focuses on the technical and creative aspects of the arcade cabinets, Stephanie manages the business operations and ensures regulatory compliance. She strongly believes in the growth potential of the arcade scene, particularly with the rise of indie game development and alternative control schemes. Her vision for Wonderville goes beyond traditional arcade gaming — she sees it as a community space where games, art and music intersect, making arcade gaming more accessible to diverse audiences.
Mark Kleeb
With a background in electrical engineering, Mark Kleeb has built over 50 custom arcade cabinets for indie game developers since 2010. Mark also serves as an adjunct professor at New York University's Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) and Steinhardt's Music Technology program, where he teaches courses on arcade game design and electronics. His expertise in both hardware and software has made him a sought-after consultant for arcade installations across the country. In 2013, he founded Death By Audio Arcade, further contributing to the indie gaming community. His work at Wonderville and in academia has been instrumental in promoting and supporting independent game development.
Josh Debonis
Josh DeBonis is an award-winning game designer and president of BumbleBear Games, a company pioneering modern arcade experiences. In 2011, he co-created Killer Queen with Nikita Mikros, which they later adapted into a popular 10-player arcade game. DeBonis has taught game design at The New School's Parsons School of Design and the NYU Game Center. He co-founded NYC-Playtest, a group dedicated to game development collaboration. DeBonis believes arcade games continue to fill a unique social niche in modern society, creating spaces where people gather to build communities and share experiences together, particularly in venues like arcade bars where games like Killer Queen drive both engagement and revenue through their ability to bring people together.
Nikita Mikros
Co-founder and CEO of BumbleBear Games, Nikita Mikros is an indie game developer specializing in local multiplayer arcade games. A veteran game designer, Mikros has worked on approximately 70 games throughout his career. Besides his colaboration with Joshua DeBonis, which has garnered multiple awards and a dedicated player community, Mikros has also developed games for clients such as Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and LEGO. Since 1994, he has taught game design and programming at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Despite the challenges faced by traditional arcades in the digital age, Mikros remains passionate about creating social gaming experiences that bring people together in physical spaces.
Nate Vanderkamp
Lead artist at Raw Thrills, Nate joined the company in April 2001. Throughout his tenure at the company, he has contributed to several notable arcade titles, including Jurassic Park: Arcade and Cruis'n Blast. Driven by his passion for creating visceral arcade experiences that cannot be replicated at home, Nate loves making games that bring people together in communal, face-to-face competition. Often working with licensed properties, he prefers to distill the essence of what makes the property appealing rather than copying the source material directly. After more than 20 years at Raw Thrills, Nate remains enthusiastic about the companies continued growth. His dedication and expertise continue to solidify his reputation in the gaming industry.
Steve Hack
A seasoned programmer currently serving as the lead programmer and product owner at Raw Thrills, Steve has had an illustrative career in coin-op that has spanned over two decades. He specializes in creating intuitive control systems and interfaces for a wide variety of game types — from driving games to adaptations of popular titles like Space Invaders and Guitar Hero. Steve values the creative freedom and hardware control that arcade development offers, allowing his team to design custom input devices, display configurations, and physical components that wouldn't be possible in console or mobile gaming. Steve's extensive experience and leadership have significantly contributed to Raw Thrills' reputation for delivering engaging and innovative experiences.
Kevin Uskali
Kevin Uskali is the chief technology officer (CTO) at Raw Thrills. His passion for innovation has led to developing unique features like motion platforms and immersive gaming experiences with wind effects and vibrating controllers. Throughout his tenure, Kevin has contributed to the development of several notable arcade titles, collaborating with various individuals throughout the gaming industry. As a visionary in arcade technology, Kevin continues to push boundaries in the gaming world, finding new ways to deliver experiences that can't be replicated at home. His willingness to experiment with emerging technologies like VR has helped to position Raw Thrills at the forefront in the arcade industry.
Eduardo Salomon
Eduardo Salomon is the brand manager for New Wave Toys, a specialty collectibles company that creates one-sixth scale mini arcade machines. Based in Los Angeles, California, Salomon and his team focus on recreating classic arcade cabinets from the 1980s with meticulous attention to detail, including functional gameplay, authentic attract modes and era-appropriate aesthetics. Driven by nostalgia and passion rather than mass production, Salomon describes their creations as "playable art" that allows their devoted community of collectors to reconnect with their formative arcade experiences in a collectible format that balances quality craftsmanship with accessibility.
Walter Day
Often called the father of esports, Walter Day was a businessman who fell in love with video games before opening Twin Galaxies arcade in the fall of 1981. His passion began the moment he first played Space Invaders, leading him to seek out arcades across the nation just to play more games. This love affair with gaming was so strong that he opened Twin Galaxies not primarily to make money, but to have an excuse to play more video games. His arcade flourished during the golden age of the arcade, but market oversaturation led to widespread closures, including Twin Galaxies in 1984. Despite this setback, Walter's pioneering work tracking high scores nationwide helped inspire today's thriving competitive gaming scene.
ChrisTOPHER Riley
Chris Riley is the owner and operator of arcade games at West County Lanes in the St. Louis area. His journey began with collecting video game consoles, which led to acquiring his first arcade cabinet — a Tempest machine. What started as a hobby filling his parents' basement with arcade games evolved into a business opportunity when he received a call to supply games for the area's first arcade bar. Riley specializes in non-redemption arcade games and pinball machines, focusing on maintaining classic games while embracing modern pinball innovations. His passion for arcade gaming extends beyond profit, emphasizing the importance of preserving gaming history and creating diverse gaming experiences for players.
Todd Tuckey
TNT Amusements was Todd's venture into the world of coin-op. Though by 1984 he had seen numerous operators go belly up, including his own former business, he stumbled upon a burgeoning collectors market after liquidating some used inventory. His keen eye for quality and deep knowledge of arcade mechanics quickly made him a trusted name in the collecting community. With decades of experience operating commercial equipment, Todd continues to buy and sell pinball and arcade games, shipping to locations all over the planet. Every cabinet has a story, and Todd tells all on his entertainingly popular Youtube channel with over 50,000 subscribers.
Mike Burgess
Owner of the world's largest all-pinball arcade, Mike's collection is matched only by the size of his heart. Known simply as the “Wizard,” he continues to enchant all who chance upon his silver ball sanctum. Opening Wizard's World in 2017, Mike has quadrupled the business in just a few years. He attributes this growth to a broader resurgence in pinball's popularity, noting how new technology like Stern Insider Connected has drawn in fresh audiences. While older enthusiasts rediscover their passion for the game, a new generation is falling in love with pinball's unique physical experience — something that, as Mike points out, can't be replicated on a phone or gaming console.
Chuck Trowbridge
Anything taking a quarter, Chuck had it out there: pinball machines, jukeboxes, kiddy rides, gumball machines, sticker machines, cranes. Known in the business as a "street operator," Chuck attributes the longevity of the company to its diversity of locations and ability to remain mobile. The job demanded constant attention — from maintaining and repairing machines, to collecting money, restocking prizes and responding to service calls at all hours. Preferring to service the truck stops, bowling alleys and laundromats of the world, his route would average 25 locations in a given week, racking up well over 1 million miles along the way.
Kent Tolliver
Kent Tolliver is a former coin-operated video game operator and lifelong best friend to Chuck Trowbridge. In 1981, during the height of the arcade gaming boom, Kent and Chuck founded TNT Entertainment, placing and servicing video games in locations across northeastern Indiana. While maintaining their day jobs, they built their business through dedication to customer service and staying current with the latest games. After leaving the coin-op industry, Kent worked for 26 years in the automotive industry before retiring in 2015 to focus on family and writing. His retirement has allowed him to pursue creative writing, resulting in several short stories and his debut novel, “When Angels Fall.”