Anna Lengyel, Lead Designer of Pinball FX, Zen Studios — Interview Series

It’s time to hit the tables and fire off yet another ball in Pinball FX’s latest expansions, Goat Simulator and Princess Bride. That’s right, developer Zen Studios has cooked up two more tables for its ever-expanding pinball series, and the team is currently gearing up to launch both DLCs on August 29, 2024.

To learn a bit more about the two expansions, we thought we’d reach out to lead designer, Anna Lengyel, if only to catch a few secrets ahead of the global release date.

Thanks for taking the time to speak with us! Before we talk turkey (or goats, in this case), please could you tell us a bit about yourself? How did it all start for you, and what brought you to Zen Studios?

Anna: I’m Anna Lengyel, Lead Designer of Pinball FX. I’ve been working at Zen Studios for almost five years as a game designer. I began working on Castle Storm II, but then I started learning about pinball, and slowly, I became a pinball designer. I’ve always loved pinball, but this is where I really found its beauty and depth.

Let’s talk a bit more about Zen Studios. When was the company founded, and what inspired the team to enter the world of pinball?

Anna: Our founders were huge pinball fans, and Hungary itself was a big supporter of pinball in the 80s and early 90s. Using their love for the hobby, they’ve created arguably the best pinball simulation out there.

Of course, we can’t forget the upcoming DLC tables that are due to arrive in Pinball FX, The Princess Bride and Goat Simulator. Could you tell us a bit more about each of these additions?

Anna: The two new tables are very different in style and genre, with different audiences in mind. Our goal is always to offer all our players a themed table that they will instantly love.

Goat Simulator is based on a very popular video game, full of jokes and random stuff. The table is also very colorful and funny. As the theme is mainly known to the young generation, we tried to make the table simpler. Easy to play, but hard to master.

Princess Bride celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, and the hype surrounding it made it an ideal choice, especially as it takes us back to an era where our key players come from. Of course, the film also has many fans within Zen Studio, so we were particularly excited to throw ourselves into creating the table. The game modes also tend to follow the events of the film, making sure to include as many important characters and events as possible.

Is that a Llama?🦙 No. It's that Goat again!🐐

Goat Simulator Pinball will lick its way into Pinball FX on August 29!

Check out the platforms at the end of the trailer. Ten Outta Ten would watch again. pic.twitter.com/bOTllAbeu6

— Zen Studios (@zen_studios) August 1, 2024

Pinball FX certainly isn’t a stranger when it comes to collaborating with other projects, either. Do you think the team will be open to the idea of working with other IP in the near future?

Anna: That’s always been a big attraction of the game, and I wouldn’t think that would change. We have so many ideas, and there are many epic franchises without a pinball table!

Do you have any advice for those who’ve yet to carve into the world of Pinball FX? Are there any dos or don’ts that could potentially aid players’ experiences?

Anna: 

• Use the table guide, you will have a much better experience with the tables if you know what to do. Usually, the modes are where the exciting parts of the tables are, and the table guide will help you get them going.
• When playing a new table, start at the beginning with Practice mode, where you get to know the table. Practice mode has infinite ball save so you can’t lose the ball and you can play the table for an hour. 
• If you’re a beginner pinball player, start with easier, simpler tables until you get the hang of the flow and secrets of the tables.
• Don’t be discouraged by the high scores at the top of the leaderboards. We have a lot of very professional players who play on a daily basis. Compete with your friends instead, it’s much more exciting and motivating. There’s a special notification system for that, where you’re always alerted if a friend has beaten you somewhere.

And how’s the fourth quarter looking for Zen Studios? Do you have your sights set on exploring any other projects over the coming months or years? If so, please could you tell us a bit more about what it is that you’re working on?

Anna: We say here at Zen that we always have something cooking—we are always working on multiple projects. What we can share now is that we have a mobile and a VR game in the works—both pinball games with many new ideas and ways to enjoy them.

The Princess Bride Pinball – Not just your basic, average, every day, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, ho-hum pinball table. Jump into a world of peril, revenge… and a bit of kissing.

Coming to PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, Epic Games and Nintendo Switch on August 29. #princessbride pic.twitter.com/TXwkGsZoGM

— Zen Studios (@zen_studios) August 2, 2024

Is there a way for us to stay in the loop ahead of Pinball FX’s upcoming chapters? Are we able to share any social channels, streams, or live events with our readers?

Anna: Of course! Our YouTube is a great way to stay informed, as it hosts our update show the ‘Pinball Bites’ where we talk about updates to the game itself, involve many of our partners in a ‘bite-sized’ way. The Pinball FX Reddit and Discord always hosts friendly discussions and competitions as well!

Do you have any final words for our readers?

Anna: See you on the leaderboards!

Amazing. Thanks for your time, Anna!

For more information on Zen Studios’ Pinball FX, be sure to check in with the team over on their official social handle here. Alternatively, you can visit the website for additional updates and news coverage here.