Fresh off their 2024 TWIPY win for Custom Game of the Year with their work on Happy Gilmore, Brian Soares and Reby Hardy are back with a new custom game just in time for the 2025 edition of Pintastic New England.
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Based on The Hangover trilogy of films released between 2009 and 2013, this game represents a bit of a departure for the creative duo as it makes use of a new donor model: Stern’s 2007 release, Family Guy, instead of their usual choice of Stern’s Mustang machine.
Like Brian and Reby’s other projects, this game makes extensive use of detailed prop recreations, easter eggs buried in the artwork, and lots of fan-favorite quotes and callouts. I was particularly impressed by the detailed recreation of Teddy’s finger, Mr. Chow rotating toy, and the topper complete with a replica digital camera that cycles through stills from the films.
The game started as a concept in June 2024 before moving to production in the fall and was commissioned by the same collector (Robert Mooney) who was the genesis of their other TWIPY Award-winning game, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
I got a chance to play the game after a quick photo session for this article, and I walked away impressed with the level of detail and commitment to bringing the essence of the theme to the game. While I’ve played Family Guy a number of times, Hangover Trilogy benefits from not feeling like just a Family Guy clone. Sure, the layout and rules structure may be the same, but thanks to the art and customization work, I felt immersed in a new gameplay experience.
After playing, I was able to chat with Brian and Reby to answer a few questions about their work on this project.
Colin: First, how does it feel to be the winners of another TWIPY?
Brian: We received such great feedback first-hand during last year’s Pintastic show, which was great! It’s definitely rewarding knowing all the time we put in is appreciated by the pinball community and beyond.
Colin: Can you tell me about the story of how The Hangover Trilogy came to be? Who approached you, and what was the original concept?
Brian: A fellow pinball collector, Robert Mooney (who owns the custom Ferris Bueller pinball), and I were talking about what makes a great game theme after the recent experiences we had at Pintastic. So many funny and memorable lines, music, etc. The Hangover series came up, which we both enjoy, so I guess it started at that point.
Colin: This is the first time in a while you’re deviating from a Stern Mustang for your donor game, instead going with Stern’s Family Guy. What made you decide to go this route?
Brian: I knew it was time. When I started with the Happy Gilmore game Reby wanted me to use something different, but I didn’t listen because I really wanted to get working on the game and had a few ideas already. She probably would have passed if I did it again. There is so much work that goes into understanding the layout, code, DMD animation, and audio of each game. This next game had to be a fresh start for the design and to keep the pinball community interested.
Colin: What made you select Family Guy for this particular project? Were there specific game features or rules that you found appealing?
Brian: Family Guy checked a lot of boxes for me. I liked the overall gameplay, layout, modes, a mini pinball that is tied into the game and in this case I could directly replace characters from the show with ones from the movie.
Colin: Brian, were there any challenges adapting your work and processes to this new platform?
Brian: No, not really. I think now that I have three other DMD game builds under my belt, it’s made it a bit easier for me.
Colin: Reby, what about you? What was the biggest challenge in bringing this project to life?
Reby: The biggest challenge for this particular game was getting it done on time. Its completion was my personal record for turnaround time, as the deadline for it had to be met in between New York Fashion Week, filming for TNA Wrestling, traveling for work, a family vacation, dealing with everyone in my household getting sick at the same time, etc.
I wouldn’t say it was rushed, because the typical amount of work hours were definitely all there, but it was completed in feverish spurts, all at once, as opposed to spread out over a period of months, as my previous designs have been. I think a bit of that chaos comes through in its design. I feel hungover from making this game.
Colin: Was there any part of it that was easier than you anticipated?
Reby: The donor game for my last two designs was the same, so it was a nice change of pace to work with a different playfield layout and rules this time. Not easier at all, but I enjoyed the challenge.
Colin: Will Family Guy make it into your regular rotation of donor games for future projects?
Brian: Maybe, but it will really depend on the project and who the client is that’s asking for the game. I probably build 10 custom / rethemed games per year for clients all over the world. The DMD games take so much of my time so it will need to be something special.
Colin: What is the creative journey like for a project like this? Can you talk through some of the steps you go through getting started, how you get yourself into the universe of the film, and how you bring everything together in the finished product?
Reby: Getting started on a new game usually consists of renting the movie on YouTube before even thinking of any layouts or designs. However, being that this game had to cover content from three films and I have small children who need me every second of every day - at least it feels that way sometimes - I had to get it all in at once by watching the films back to back at 2x speed, multiple times, which I’m pretty sure permanently altered my brain chemistry in some way.
Colin: This game seems to have a ton of theme integration, including what you’re describing as the first ever “Stripper Flipper”. Can you tell us more about that feature?
Brian: We really tried to put a lot of thought into the toys and features which I hope people appreciate all those little details. A Hollywood prop master made the severed finger (Teddy’s from Hangover 2), and then I had a custom Stanford University ring made to place on it that matched Teddy’s as well. Gold bars (to match those stolen from Marshall in Hangover 3, toy tiger, mini Mr Chow that rotates and “heckles” you during the game. The shooter rod is based on the Jagermeister that Alan provides on the rooftop from the first movie. And then there is the “elevator” start button for rooftop access and Alan's pager which is interactive and displays messages from Mr. Chow.
Colin: How much of the creative vision was dictated by your client versus what was brought to the table by you and Reby?
Brian: Overall Robert pretty much let us do our thing. He had a few “must haves” but really just went with it. Reby had the majority of the graphic design direction based on my initial inputs. I worked around her artwork and added toys, etc.
Colin: Any fun easter eggs we can know about?
Brian: Tim Kitzrow recorded a number of callouts and funny lines for the game. One of those lines is a nod to Ferris Bueller. There are a couple Family Guy game carry-overs and a few from an upcoming game for the creators of South Park. The stripper flipper is based on a celebrity model.
Colin: What are you most proud of about this release?
Brian: I’d like to think each new game I make is better than the last! I’ve learned so much over the last few years building the custom / rethemed DMD games and this one includes all those experiences.
Colin: If you could choose anyone from the cast to play a split flipper game with, who would it be and why?
Reby: Character-wise, definitely Alan; he’d probably have some mathematical strategy to win the game. If we’re talking actors, I’d go with Heather Graham because duh 😍
Brian: All great cast members, but for me it would definitely have to be Mr. Chow. I think he’s an extremely funny guy. We probably wouldn’t do very well because I imagine his commentary during the game would be hysterical.
Colin: Where can folks see and/or play the game for themselves?
Brian: The game will be in the Extra Ball Lounge at the Pintastic Pinball and Gameroom Expo on April 10-13. Any shows beyond that are currently TBD.
Colin is the chief pixel pusher at Kineticist. He's a lifetime gamer who became enamored with pinball after taking in a family copy of the 1979 classic Joker Poker (the EM version). Since then he's bought, sold and repaired many machines, competed in all kinds of tournaments, and contributes to This Week in Pinball, the New England Pinball League, and Pin-Masters of New England. Previously, Colin spent over a decade working in marketing for agencies and tech startups. He also started and ran a music blog, happy hour website, and wrote a regular craft beer review column for Central Track in Dallas. Once aspired to be an artsy film director.
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