Pinball

Stern Pinball’s James Bond Pinball Machines Are Shaken, Not Stirred

23/09/2022 By ausretrogamer

SternPinball Announces New
James Bond 007 Pinball Machines
Featuring the Award-Winning InsiderConnected™

The world’s most famous British Secret Service agent gets the Stern Pinball treatment, all shaken, but not stirred! The world’s largest pinball manufacturer has unveiled their latest pinball machine: James Bond 007, celebrating the iconic James Bond films.

This new cornerstone series features the original 007 actor, Sean Connery, available in Pro Edition, Premium Edition, and Limited Edition (LE). Stern Pinball will also release a special James Bond 007 60^th Anniversary Limited Edition pinball machine featuring all six James Bond actors!

source: Stern Pinball

In Dr. No (1962) Sean Connery propelled 007 into the cultural zeitgeist, bringing the legendary literary figure to life through adrenalised action sequences, ground-breaking gadgets and effects, memorable characters, and timeless villains.

Stern’s James Bond 007 cornerstone pinball machine highlights film footage and iconic music from the films that built the 007 legend: Dr. No, From Russia With Love (1963), Goldfinger (1964), Thunderball (1965), You Only Live Twice (1967), and Diamonds Are Forever (1971). Players are immersed into the world of espionage in this action-packed pinball experience, tackling assignments, teaming up with key allies, and stopping SPECTRE’s villainous schemes.

Gather gadgets from Q Branch as pinballs get ejected through the roof of a custom sculpted Aston Martin DB5. Break through the Osato Chemicals drop targets to battle SPECTRE at the Bird 1 rocket base. And hold your breath on the gravity defying, magnetic jetpack as it transports pinballs across the playfield.

All James Bond 007 pinball machines will include Stern’s award-winning Insider Connected™ system, which enables players to interact with the game and a global network of players in a variety of ways. Through Insider Connected, players can track progress, earn new game-specific achievements, engage with the player community, and participate in promotions and Challenge Quests. Insider Connected also provides an operator-focused toolset to drive location play through Location Leaderboards, build player loyalty, analyze performance, make adjustments remotely, and maintain the machines. Registration for Insider Connected is available at insider.sternpinball.com/.

Limited to 1,000 machines globally, the highly collectible cornerstone Limited Edition includes an exclusive full-color mirrored backglass inspired by Thunderball, masterfully adapted cabinet artwork, custom high gloss and powder-coated pinball armor, a custom designer-autographed bottom arch, exclusive inside art blades, upgraded audio system, anti-reflection pinball playfield glass, shaker motor, a sequentially numbered plaque, and a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Stern Chairman Gary Stern and President Seth Davis.

Stern’s James Bond 007 60^th Anniversary Limited Edition pinball machines will immerse players in the history of 007. Limited to 500 machines globally, the highly collectible 60^th Anniversary Limited Edition offers players a retro-inspired playfield packed with exciting mechanical action. Control the chaos from Oddjob’s kinetic spinning disc hat, survive tactical precision shots against 10 drop targets, escape SPECTRE’s evil henchmen navigating pinballs through 4 fast-flowing optical spinners, learn assignments through an in-playfield LCD screen, and rack up high scores on classic-style score reels.

Fittingly, the new James Bond 007 pinball machines will be on show for the first time to media and public in London. On September 26^th the games will be on display and available to play as part of the Bond-themed Christie’s Late, a public event celebrating the forthcoming Christie’s Sixty Years of James Bond Charity Auction. Shortly after, they will be a part of the James Bond at 60 weekend at the British Film Institute on the South Bank, September 30^th-October 2^nd.

Pricing and Availability:

Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (“MSRP”)*^:

*MSRP for sales to USA end-users, before any VAT, GST, Sales Tax, Duties, or other taxes.
^Australian pricing has not been announced at this stage

Pro Edition: $US 6,999
Premium Edition: $US 9,699
Limited Edition: $US 12,999
60^th Anniversary Limited Edition: Price Yet to be announced

James Bond 007 pinball machines and accessories are available now through authorised Stern Pinball distributors and dealers around the world. Pro and Premium Editions will also be available at the 007Store.com

PS: We love the retro inspired artwork, as it is in keeping with the time-based theme. George Gomez (Lead Designer) always makes extremely playable pinball machines, and this one looks to be in keeping with his design philosophy of making it unique and fun!

Limited Edition

Premium Edition

Pro Edition

image source: Stern Pinball Inc.

Pokémon Pinball Machine – It’s For Real

18/09/2022 By ausretrogamer

A dad of a Pokemon fan created an incredible real life Pokemon pinball machine!

Imagine being skilled enough to reskin an old pinball machine into an amazing Pokemon pinball machine?! Luckily for Redditor bosgetti, their father had the requisite skill set to create such a unique, customised and incredible pinball machine.

In case you were wondering, the donor EM pinball machine was a Chicago Coin Hi-Score Pool.

PS: Check out this amazing machine on imgur now!

story source: Reddit

Pinball Expo ’22 is Celebrating its 38th Year!

25/08/2022 By ausretrogamer

Oh how we wish we could go to this year’s Pinball Expo! We’ll be watching from afar. But, if you are one of those lucky folks that will be attending, Pinball Expo’s Rob Berk reckons this will be the biggest and best yet…..

Playing Magic Girl (the broken one!) at Flipout 2018! Beautiful to look at, but that’s about it!

MAGIC GIRL IS BACK!

After seven years in the making, the elusive Magic Girl pinball game is finally complete! The storied history of this machine can be traced back to 2015 when its first designs were being formulated. Through a troubled development cycle only 19 machines were ever built… but none of them were truly complete and had many missing components. But, through the hard work of American Pinball and an intrepid team of builders in the Netherlands, Magic Girl has finally been restored and the first ever fully-functional Magic Girl pinball machine will be unveiled on U.S. soil at Pinball Expo 2022!

INTERNATIONAL FLAIR

Pinball Expo 2022 will also be hosting the first ever Pinball Expo World Cup Tournament! Players from around the world are signing up to compete, with tournament attendees on board from the U.S., Spain, and the Netherlands – and we’re looking for more! With guest speakers also hailing from Australia, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, Pinball Expo’s global influence has never been greater!

…BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

ENTERRIUM is opening its doors to Pinball Expo 2022 attendees to enjoy pinball, games, food, and fun! Come on down and catch up with old friends and meet new ones too at this upscale restaurant, bar, and arcade in Schaumburg, Illinois! The entire facility will be open with all pinball machines, arcade machines, bowlers, and more available to play at no charge!

And finally, the Vendor Hall this year will have longer show hours and will be packed with great manufacturers including Stern Pinball, Jersey Jack Pinball, Chicago Gaming, Pinball Adventures, American Pinball, Spooky Pinball, and – all the way from Sweden – Pinball Brothers who will be there to show off their latest games : Alien and Queen! And we’re working with even more manufacturers to have their latest creations on display!

…BUT WAIT, THERE’S EVEN MORE!

For the first time ever Jersey Jack Pinball will be hosting a tour of its pinball facility! Check the website for more details!

Pinball Expo is truly an “Everything for Everybody” show and you’re guaranteed to have a pinball experience to remember in 2022!

Visit www.PinballExpo.com for more information about the event and to book your rooms today!

Thank you,

Rob Berk
Pinball Expo Chairman

image source: Better.net

story source: IFPA

Is A Stern Masters Of The Universe Pinball Machine Coming in 2023?

23/08/2022 By ausretrogamer

Will Stern Pinball join forces with Randy Martinez to create a cornerstone title based on Masters of The Universe in 2023?

Yeah, the title may be wishful thinking, but who doesn’t like a spicy rumour – we do, as long as it becomes true!

For those of you that know us well, you’ll know that we love the old 80s Masters Of The Universe and pinball! Since the silverball bug bit us over a decade ago, we have been patiently waiting (and praying) for a pinball manufacturer to acquire this license and make our dream theme into a real pinball machine – and according to this poll, we aren’t alone!

We usually stay away from rumours, but this time we are adding fuel to the already on fire rumour mill. At last month’s California Extreme expo, the amazing artist, Randy Martinez, made a point about his love for Jaws, Seinfeld, The Big Lebowski, Star Wars, basketball and MOTU to YouTuber/Streamer, Mike Mattsson (aka: DRI374), and how us pinball peeps loving reading into the smallest of tidbits that may (or may not) be true:

“I gotta be careful in how I say this. Well, I’ll give the answer that I gave at the other pinball shows that Stern was there for. These are purely my personal tastes, I’m not confirming or denying anything.”

Further to this, at the recent 2022 San-Diego Comic-Con, Randy stated that (about his love of Star Wars, basketball and MOTU art):

“And by the way, these styles have nothing to do with pinball. This is stuff that I’ve actually worked on before. I know how people talk out there. I’m new to this but I’m learning. I know how people take stuff and run.”

Yep, we have run with it Randy! If you have no idea who Randy Martinez is (Ed: shame on you!), he is the artist that created the gorgeous art packages for Stern Pinball’s The Mandalorian and Star Wars Comic Art pinball machines (which we own) amongst his many brilliant bodies of artistic work. So it stands to reason (and a lot of wishful thinking!) that Randy is again involved with Stern in developing the art package for a Masters of The Universe cornerstone pinball machine in 2023!

Randy Martinez proudly stand with two of his pinball artwork creations! Could he be making a third art package for Stern Pinball?
image source: Randy Martinez via Instagram

Randy tells Mike (aka: DRI374) that we will see a Stern Pinball machine with his artwork very very soon – meaning: in the next 18 months!

So what would a Masters Of The Universe pinball machine be like? Well, we would like to see us able to transform from Prince Adam to He-Man by lighting up the I-H-A-V-E-T-H-E-P-O-W-E-R targets which would then kick off a He-Man Battle multiball mode. Imagine if there was something mechanical in the game that would physically transform Adam to He-Man!!! Of course Castle Grayskull would have to feature prominently too, perhaps like the interactive castle in Medieval Madness, without the need to destroy it – He-Man would have to defend the Castle! The pin would be a classic good versus evil battle, with the ultimate goal being to defeat Skeletor and his army of evil-doers before he takes over Castle Grayskull and Eternia. We have so many ideas, but there is only so much you can fit onto a pinball playfield. Coupled with Randy’s comic art style, we reckon a Stern Pinball Masters Of The Universe machine would be an absolute winner!

So let’s will this rumour to reality and hope that Stern Pinball is listening 😉

source: From the personal MOTU collection of ausretrogamer

The Ultimate Pinball Machine Coffee Table

18/08/2022 By ausretrogamer

This creation has to be seen (and played) to be believed!

This Centaur pintable (pinball machine coffee table) is no ordinary and boring coffee table. Designed and made by Loren (BuildXYZ), this amazing creation consists of a real fully functioning Centaur pinball playfield, albeit in a coffee table format. Loren created this in time for Rockler Woodworking and Hardware’s 2021 #RocklerHobbyChallenge.

Ahhhhh, feet-up on the glorious Centaur pinball coffee table

The different skills and disciplines required to make such a labour-intensive creation should not be underestimated. From the beautiful carpentry, artwork and playfield restoration, to the coding, engineering the custom score decoder chip, Loren left no stone unturned.

We reckon BuildXYZ could not have picked a better classic pinball than Bally’s 1981 early solid-state machine, Centaur. The labour of love is evident in every little detail on this one-off coffee table. To be able to use it as your lounge room’s coffee table and be able to play Centaur, we reckon it doesn’t get any better than this!

source: buildxyz

Popping the hood! Be sure to not spill your coffee!

Rotisserie, baby!

Ooh la la, this is a beauty!

We’d be proud too if we created such a masterpiece!

story & image source: BuildXYZ

Film: ‘Pinball – The Man Who Saved The Game’

15/08/2022 By ausretrogamer

PINBALL (The Man Who Saved The Game) is based on the true story of Roger C. Sharpe, the GQ journalist and real-life pinball wizard who in 1976 single-handedly overturned New York City’s 35-year ban on pinball machines. With Roger onboard as the Executive Producer and Technical Consultant, we are assured that this will be an accurate account of the events in 1976 that saved the silverball game.

The “shot” that saved pinball
source: 40th Anniversary “He Called The Shot” Painting featuring Roger Sharpe

The film was officially selected and will make its world premiere in October at the 30th anniversary of the Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF). The film festival takes place from October 7th to October 6th, 2022. If you are lucky enough to be able to attend, general admission tickets will go on sale beginning September 27th, 2022 – we so wish we could be there to watch this film!

image source: Pinball Film

Stern Pinball Inc. Flexes Their Vast Pinball Muscle

11/08/2022 By ausretrogamer

There is no doubt that Stern Pinball Inc. has played a huge part in the renaissance of pinball, so it is great to see the world’s biggest pinball manufacturer not sit on their laurels and bask in their success. Stern keeps striving and pushing the boundary of innovation, events and supporting the pinball community around the world with thousands of competitions.

Stern announced their The Godzilla Stern Heads-Up Pinball Invitational in partnership with Toho International Inc., owners of the Godzilla franchise, which is on August 10, starting at 7pm (CST local time). Catch all the action on YouTube!

The other announcement Stern made last week (August 3rd) was that they were launching new Insider Connected features, like mobile ID and Home Teams – which was great to see. However, we were quite excited to see that Stern had released the replacement arches for Insider Connected for their Batman 66 and Star Wars (Premium/LE) pinball machines. These replacement arches have quickly sold out, so we are keeping a very keen eye on one for our Star Wars Comic Art Premium machine! Go team Stern!

image source: Stern Pinball

Tiny Pinball That Can Play Pinball Fantasies

29/07/2022 By ausretrogamer

This miniature homemade pinball machine is so darn cute!

Don’t be deceived by its tiny looks – this little beast can play one of the greatest pinball games from the 90s, Pinball Fantasies, on its tiny screens! To make it even more like its bigger and heavier brother, it sports a working plunger and haptic feedback for added realism – mind totally blown!

For those of you that want to know the technical aspects of this creation, check out it out here.

source: Sprite_tm

story source: hackaday.com

Pinball Brothers Will Rock You With The New Queen Pinball Machine

22/07/2022 By ausretrogamer

QUEEN & PINBALL BROTHERS ANNOUNCES NEW PINBALL MACHINE:

QUEEN – LIVE IN CONCERT!

With over 300 million albums sold worldwide, the iconic British rock band Queen are one of the biggest bands ever. Formed in London in 1971, Queen have released 15 studio albums, toured extensively, and produced innovative film, video and theatre shows for over 5 decades and they continue to pull in the crowds around the world.

The time has now come to honour this legendary band with a pinball machine based on their truly spell-binding songs – all played LIVE!

The game will be available in two different editions: Champions Edition and Rhapsody Edition. The Rhapsody Edition is limited to a run of 1,000 numbered games and comes with a certificate of authenticity. The limited Rhapsody Edition will come with a number of unique add-ons and the two editions will be different in appearance – see pics below!

Pinball Brothers have worked closely with the band to ensure their approval, which features the following live songs:

A Kind Of Magic,
Another One Bites The Dust,
Bohemian Rhapsody,
Hammer To Fall,
I Want To Break Free,
Killer Queen,
One Vision,
Play The Game,
Radio Ga Ga,
Seven Seas Of Rhye,
Somebody To Love,
We Will Rock You,
We Are The Champions; and
Who Wants To Live Forever

Game Features

The game features 14 live songs accompanied by call outs by the band, exclusively recorded for the game. Featured also is Brian May’s legendary Red Special guitar, in the shape of an upper playfield where you can lock balls to start the Red Special multiball. Or you can visit the epic Wembley Stadium to lock balls to start yet another of the game’s many multiballs.

Keep an eye on the Radio – it might help you time your flips! Collect autographs, instruments, band members, tour passes and posters on your way to eventually reaching the final wizard mode »I Want it All!«

The game is presented with an awesome full RGB light show and a Hi-Fidelity sound system, including an 8” bass speaker. It is hard to imagine a better way of experiencing Queen live, whether it be at the club or in your own living room. It is truly immersive! This machine will truly rock you!!!

Pricing and Availability

Champions Edition (Orange artwork)* 9,295 USD
Rhapsody Limited Edition (Golden artwork)^ 10,995 USD

* The Champions Edition will become available in Q1 2023.
^The Rhapsody Edition is limited to 1000 units and will be available through Pinball Brothers’ global distributors.

The new Queen pinball machines can be pre-ordered via your local distributor right now! For Australian folks keen on these machines, please contact Mr. Pinball Australia.

Follow all things Queen Pinball on the dedicated Queen.Pinball Instagram page!

How To Afford A Real Pinball Machine In Your Home

04/07/2022 By ausretrogamer

Pinball has been around for a long long time. As an iconic cultural phenomenon, pinball has had more golden ages than we can count! It just so happens that it finds itself again in the middle of another golden age era.

With popularity at an all-time high, it seems pinball has attracted players from all walks of life, age and gender. The by-product of this popularity is that affording a pinball machine in your home right now may seem like an out of reach possibility, however, we are here to tell you that there may be a way!

Of course you can go and play pinball at a location near you (which you should, if you are able to), but if you are like us, you’d want to have a pinball machine in your home, ready to be played whenever you get the urge to belt the silverball around the playfield.

New or Old Pinball Machines: Profit or Break-even

The cost of ownership is quite steep, with new pinball machines fetching well above the AU$10K mark these days. The second-hand market isn’t much better, with popular old titles costing way more than new machines – it’s crazy times! There was a time in the early 2000s when you could pick up machines for the same price it costs to buy a PS5 now, but those days are long gone. You can still find cheap machines, but you’ll have to be prepared to look long and hard (and possibly travel interstate) and spend a lot of time and more money in getting it to a working and playable state.

If you have the means to be able to purchase a new or second-hand pinball machine, we are here to tell you that this investment will pay itself in spades, not just in fun times (which is priceless!), but when it comes to moving the machine on to replace it with another one, you’d expect to make a tidy profit or at worse, break-even. There are caveats though, if you abuse your machine and don’t take good care of it, then of course you won’t get top dollar. From our own experience, we have never lost on a sale of one of our machines, which means we haven’t needed to dip into our savings or redraw from the home loan to afford the next pinball that catches our eye. Since machines seem to go up in price (there has been no price correction in over a decade!), what may seem expensive right now, could look like a bargain in a year or two. Again, the initial outlay is quite high, so only jump in if your finances allow it.

Swapping

If you already own a pinball machine(s) at home that you don’t want to offload it to afford another one, then swapping is an option that many pinball owners get into to get their fix. There are many pinball based social media groups and forums that have swapping available, so if you want to swap your Stern Spider-Man for another title, this is the best way to go! Like with any swap, it’s best done with others that you may know or who have a reputable standing in the community that are local to your area.

Rent A Pinball Machine

You read that right! If you don’t have a machine to swap or you can’t justify outlaying AU$10K+ for one, then there is another way to enjoy pinball in your home – rent one (or more)! The global pandemic had a huge impact on location pinball, so some operators, like Ryan from Melbourne Pinball Hire, got creative by offering their extensive range of pinball machines for rent. The rent process is pretty straight forward – you find the machine you want, contact the operator, pay for the month’s rent and then wait for the machine to be delivered and setup for you. All you have to do then is enjoy playing the machine without any other worry! The longer your rental agreement (like a multi-month rental), the better the price.

Once again, there are plenty of pinball operators out there that offer their machines for rent, so hit the pinball social media groups to find the nearest one, or if you are in Victoria, then Melbourne Pinball Hire has a great collection of pins to choose from between AU$375 – AU$500 per month!

JJP’s Guns N Roses machine rental from Melbourne Pinball Hire

image source: Melbourne Pinball Hire

DISCLAIMER: We are not a financial advisor. None of the information provided in this article should be considered as financial advice. This feature is strictly informational/educational.