Steamboat Willie 2.0 - An Electromechanical Journey into Homebrew with Craig Monyhan

When Constraints Create Magic: Craig Monyhan's Steamboat Willie 2.0

What happens when you bet a friend you can build a pinball machine for under $1,000 — and you've never built one before? You create something extraordinary.

Homebrew designer Craig Monyhan brought his electromagnetic Steamboat Willie 2.0 to Pinball Expo 2025, and it stopped us in our tracks. This wasn't just a pinball machine. It was a masterclass in creative problem-solving, family collaboration, and honoring pinball's roots.

"I bet I can do it for under $1,000," Craig told his skeptical friend. He did it for $400 on his first version. This version? Under $700. Every single part.

The $700 Challenge

Craig didn't start with a budget and work backward. He started with limitations and let them guide every creative decision. Didn't know how to do color matching for artwork? Build a black-and-white game. Want that authentic tactile feel of electromagnetic pinball? Salvage parts from a 1960s Apollo machine and let the physical resources shape the design.

"I didn't know how to make my colors look the same," Craig admits. "So I just started with black and white."

Steamboat Willie 2.0 is a true electromagnetic game. The solenoids fire like EM machines. There's a hum you can feel. It's tactile, visceral, and perfectly matched to the era of the theme.

Even the backglass lighting came from the original Apollo light holder — bulbs placed exactly where they were in the 1960s, with Craig designing his artwork around those constraints. That's how pinball used to be made. That's the tradition he honored.

A Family Affair

Craig's dad engineered every moving part — the crane, the spinning wheel (which doubles as a kid magnet at shows), all of it. When Craig would say "we can't do that," his dad would text back a few hours later: "Okay, I figured out how to do it."

His mom hand-painted and stencil-painted the cabinet sides.

"We spent so much time in the garage together," Craig says. "That was really cool."

This game isn't just a machine. It's a memento of garage time, shared problem-solving, and a family building something together. You can't put a price on that.

Gameplay That Respects Your Time

Three modes. One multiball. A wizard mode that bursts into color after an entire game in black and white. It's not overly complex — Craig was clear about that. But it's complete. You're making meaningful progress. You're working methodically toward goals. And when you finish all three modes, you're rewarded with something special.

The Part That Made Us Smile

Midway through the interview, Craig mentioned that a coil caught fire earlier that day. Casual. Matter-of-fact. "There's smoke coming out — Q1 is good. Demon integration." He brought a suitcase full of replacement parts to the show, knowing these games get hundreds of plays and things break.

And when he needed rare coils? Phil Forrester Jr from the Phil's Pinball swooped in like a super hero to save the day. That's the pinball community taking care of eachother. :]

This project isn't just about a cool new pinball machine — it's about creativity, community, and the DIY heart that keeps pinball evolving. Whether you're a fan of classic cartoons, a homebrew builder, or just love seeing passion turned into art, this game is for you.

🎥 Watch the full interview with Craig Monyhan to see Steamboat Willie 2.0 in action, hear about the EM design philosophy, and get inspired to start your own build.

"You can't create great art with unlimited resources," Craig says. "It just becomes arts and crafts."

Want to build your own game? Check out this blog post for more info on how and where to get started: https://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts-blog/homebrew-loot-crates