Drawing was not new to me, and sketching wonderfully curvilinear and sublimely subjective ball paths was too much to let go. I contacted the Bally Manufacturing Company on Belmont Avenue in Chicago and asked for a tour. I came to Chicago and after showing my sketches over a hearty steak, managed to snag an entry level job in the design engineering department. I was in and learning the ropes from the pinball gods. Engineering departments are magical and secretive places in the pinball industry, and tales of clearing three security guards, two passcode entries and surly receptionists are common.
Game development takes at least a year from original sketch to production.
Hush, hush is the key. A novel device or new technology leaked out and quickly adapted by a competitor could yield huge fiscal damage and leave those responsible in ruin. Typical games have 200 parts of which 150 are unique. Ever since the 30's most tables and schematics were drawn on sheet canvas or newly invented vellum. All work was methodically drawn by hand with pencil or India Ink.