For many years, Team Pinball has collaborated with Pedretti Gaming, a prominent name in the pinball manufacturing industry, providing essential hardware and software solutions for their popular Funhouse and Whirlwind 2.0 kits, as well as for the dedicated Funhouse remake machine. This established working relationship, characterized by years of successful joint ventures and mutual reliance, has now fractured, leading Team Pinball to issue a public statement detailing their perspective on the dissolution of a highly anticipated project: the remake of Capcom’s iconic Big Bang Bar pinball machine.

The decision to release this statement, according to Team Pinball, stems from a commitment to transparency and a desire to inform the pinball community about the circumstances that led to their withdrawal from the Big Bang Bar remake. This move comes after a period of silence and mounting speculation within the enthusiast circles, fueled by the project’s prolonged development and eventual cessation of communication.

Genesis of a Collaboration: The Big Bang Bar Remake Initiative

The ambitious undertaking to revive the beloved Big Bang Bar began to coalesce in 2022, bringing together three distinct entities with specialized expertise. Pedretti Gaming and Manufacturing was designated to handle the crucial manufacturing aspects of the project. Team Pinball was tasked with the intricate development of the game’s software and electronics, the technical backbone of any modern pinball machine. The third key player was Melvin Williams, an individual with a deep understanding of the original game, responsible for all prototyping and redesign work, ensuring the new iteration stayed true to its legendary predecessor while incorporating necessary modernizations.

This tripartite collaboration aimed to leverage each party’s strengths to deliver a faithful and high-quality remake of a game highly sought after by collectors and players alike. The original Big Bang Bar, released by Capcom in 1996, is renowned for its distinctive artwork, engaging gameplay, and unique sound design, making a remake a potentially lucrative and exciting venture for all involved.

The Initial Fracture: Disagreements Emerge

However, the collaborative synergy that marked the project’s inception proved to be fragile. Team Pinball’s statement indicates that the initial collaboration between the three parties eventually dissolved due to irreconcilable disagreements that arose between Melvin Williams and Pedretti Gaming. These disputes, the specifics of which are not detailed by Team Pinball, led to a significant rift, halting progress on the joint effort.

At the time of this initial breakdown, Melvin Williams had successfully completed the prototypes for the Big Bang Bar remake and held all associated intellectual property and documentation related to his redesign and prototyping efforts. This positioned Williams as a central figure in the project’s early stages, holding key assets and knowledge.

A Continued Partnership: Team Pinball and Pedretti Gaming Forge Ahead

Despite the disruption caused by the Williams-Pedretti impasse, Team Pinball found themselves continuing their working relationship with Pedretti Gaming on other projects. The statement highlights a period of almost four years where Team Pinball and Pedretti Gaming operated together "on very good terms." This extended period of cooperation suggests a strong working rapport, with Team Pinball describing their relationship as extending beyond mere business, viewing Pedretti Gaming personnel as friends as well as partners. Even during challenging production cycles and stressful periods, the communication and interactions remained respectful and amicable, according to Team Pinball’s account. This sustained positive relationship likely served as a foundation for future collaborations.

A New Agreement: Team Pinball Acquires a Prototype

The narrative takes a significant turn in October 2024. Team Pinball, with the explicit agreement and knowledge of Pedretti Gaming, purchased one of the original prototypes directly from Melvin Williams. This acquisition was not a simple transaction; it was underpinned by a clear understanding of future roles and responsibilities. The agreement stipulated that Team Pinball would be responsible for completing the game, providing the necessary software and electronics support. Crucially, they were also to provide the manufacturing PCB (Printed Circuit Board) files, a critical component for mass production. In return, Team Pinball was to receive royalties for each machine sold, a standard arrangement in such collaborative development projects.

This acquisition represented a pivotal moment, signaling a renewed commitment from Team Pinball to see the Big Bang Bar remake through to completion, albeit under a new partnership structure with Pedretti Gaming.

On-Site Collaboration and Shifting Dynamics

In 2025, the newly acquired prototype was shipped to Pedretti Gaming’s facility. Team Pinball representatives personally traveled to the manufacturing site to finalize the machine, utilizing their version 2 PCBs. During this crucial on-site phase, Pedretti Gaming implemented several significant physical modifications to the machine. These updates included changes to the cabinet design and the replacement of the initial blank whitewood playfield with the final printed version. Notably, this final printed playfield had also been collaboratively designed with Melvin Williams back in 2022, indicating a continuity of design elements.

At this juncture, the Big Bang Bar remake was reportedly nearing completion. The statement emphasizes that only software polishing and final adjustments remained, suggesting that the core development was largely finished and the project was on the cusp of entering its production-ready phase.

Communication Breakdown and Unforeseen Roadblocks

Following the on-site collaboration, Team Pinball and Pedretti Gaming continued working together remotely. However, this phase of cooperation was abruptly cut short when communication suddenly ceased. Initially, Team Pinball surmised that the communication blackout might be related to Pedretti Gaming’s concurrent production of the Predator pinball machine, a project that was known to be demanding significant resources and attention.

Later, Team Pinball was informed that the Big Bang Bar remake would be postponed to 2026. This delay was accepted by Team Pinball, as they indicated that additional time for refinement was not a concern for them and could potentially benefit the final product.

The Demand for Prototype Return and Escalating Conflict

The situation took a drastic and unexpected turn when Team Pinball requested the return of their prototype. Their intention was to continue the software polishing and finalize the machine independently, preparing it for production. This request was framed within the context of their ongoing business cooperation, with Team Pinball intending to return the machine to Pedretti Gaming afterward, as was their established practice.

The response to this request was a stark and definitive "NO." This outright refusal came as a profound shock to Team Pinball, particularly because Pedretti Gaming simultaneously declared their decision to halt the manufacture of the Big Bang Bar remake altogether.

Following this initial refusal, Team Pinball received further communication suggesting that the prototype could be returned, but only if they agreed to cover the costs associated with the cabinet swap, playfield changes, and other modifications that had been implemented during the development process. While disappointing, Team Pinball indicated their willingness to bear these costs to retrieve their prototype, a willingness that, in their view, underscored the continued recognition of the prototype’s ownership by Team Pinball.

A Definitive Stance and Financial Implications

After another period of silence and continued communication breakdown, Team Pinball was ultimately informed that the prototype would not be returned under any circumstances. The justification provided was that the prototype was now considered the property of Pedretti Gaming. This final assertion directly contradicted the earlier statements suggesting a willingness to negotiate payment for modifications to facilitate its return, creating a significant point of contention and a perceived breach of trust.

The financial ramifications of this situation for Team Pinball are substantial. They estimate their total loss to be approximately €90,000. This figure encompasses the cost of the prototype they purchased directly from Melvin Williams, custom electronics developed for the game, colored DMD (Dot Matrix Display) frames, extensive PCB development, and years of dedicated software development. This considerable financial investment, now seemingly lost, represents a significant setback for the company.

Perceived Intentions and Community Transparency

Reflecting on the unfolding events, Team Pinball expresses a deep-seated concern about the potential motivations behind Pedretti Gaming’s actions. They candidly state their suspicion that they may have been expected to solely recover the prototype and bring the machine to a near-complete state, only to be subsequently "pushed out of the project entirely." While acknowledging the lack of definitive proof, Team Pinball asserts that, from their perspective, this feeling is difficult to dismiss given the totality of the circumstances.

Team Pinball’s decision to go public with their account is not driven by a desire to create drama within the pinball community. Instead, it is presented as a necessary step towards transparency and a means of explaining their side of the story. They believe the community deserves to understand why they are no longer involved in the Big Bang Bar remake project and, by extension, other projects associated with Pedretti Gaming.

The statement also aims to clarify the persistent rumors that have circulated regarding the Big Bang Bar remake over the years, including the recurring mention of Melvin Williams’s name. His role in creating the prototypes and possessing the original Capcom parts and molds is highlighted as the reason for his continued association with the project’s discussion.

Team Pinball emphasizes that they possess supporting documentation, including agreements, screenshots, photographs, and development records, to substantiate their claims. Their objective is to provide a factual account, allowing the pinball community to form their own informed opinions on the matter. The hope is that this detailed explanation will shed light on a complex and disappointing situation for all parties involved and for the enthusiasts eagerly awaiting the return of a classic pinball title.