Founded in 2015 by Dhaval Vasani, American Pinball stepped in to assist John Popadiuk and his faltering startup, Zidware. While their debut game, Houdini, drew inspiration from a Popadiuk concept, Popadiuk was let go before the game saw completion. Notably, the company built its reputation on unlicensed themes like Houdini and Oktoberfest, which offered designers increased creative freedom, a feature cherished by fans. This approach stood in contrast to their licensed theme, Hot Wheels. Based near Chicago, the heart of pinball’s world, American Pinball skillfully merged longstanding industry expertise with modern innovation.