How long did it take to build?

3 months.

Can you actively play on the pinball machine?

Yes, the machine functions just as any other pinball cabinet would, with flippers, a plunger, ball return, and detailed playfield. Please don’t touch though, as it is all Lego, no glue!

Is it all Lego?

Aside from the table legs, clock, and wood, everything is Lego, including the walls, playfield, electronics, motors, and figures.

How do the electrical components / motors work?

I used the Lego Power Functions system, which only requires batteries to run, and the build uses a total of 5 motors and 2 battery boxes.

Have you displayed the machine anywhere else?

I displayed the machine at Brickworld Chicago 2019, the annual Lego convention, and the machine, out of thousands of displays, won Best Replica.

How do you transport it to each event?

The legs are unscrewed from the wooden table, and the cabinet moves as one large section, with plenty of internal supports.

What was the inspiration for the machine?

I’ve always loved pinball casually and wanted to get a machine for my house. When asking my parents, I was confronted with a “no”, but thought I could make one myself instead. Having experience with Lego in the past, I made a prototype, full sketch of the playfield, and began working on the machine.

Are there any other machines like this one?

No, this is the only full-size all-Lego Pinball Machine in the world!

Have you made anything else with Lego?

I have been building with Lego for most of my life, and my latest project was a life-size, fully operational Claw Machine.

To see Luke’s pinball machine in action and other creations, visit his social media below

YouTube- Luke99

Website- luke99studios.com

The post Pinball Machine out of Legos appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.

Earlier today, Stern Pinball formally announced through a video and a news release on its website that it has developed and is now selling a Transformer pinball table, specifically titled Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye. This table is themed around the 1986 animated film, Transformers: The Movie, although it also utilizes story elements from the 1984 television series. The project was developed with a mind for the movie’s fortieth anniversary this year.

As to be expected from Stern’s retro releases, this table makes extensive use of footage and music from the original property. Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime and Frank Welker as Megatron both make custom call-outs. Additionally, there is a new special mode centered around The Touch by Stan Bush, the song from the original film. Original music from The Knights of Unicron also features heavily into this table.

Of particular interest to pinball fans is a competitive mode allowing two players to directly play against each other, one as Optimus Prime, and one as Megatron, on the same table. Lead designer Elizabeth Gieske, who also developed the Jaws table, has also brought over some of the innovations from that well-received project, like in-game currency, console style gameplay, and distinctive alternate game modes. As is typical for Stern releases, Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye is available in three editions, Pro for $6,999, Premium for $9,699, and Limited for $12,999, with extra features scaling for the higher levels.

The post Stern Pinball releases new Transformers Pinball Table appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.

Are you fan of the new digital pinball machines and what makes them better or worse than the standard machines?

I AM A FAN OF DIGITAL PINBALL MACHINES IF WE ARE COMPARING THEM TO STANDARD ‘MECHANICAL’ MACHINES. THEY DO OFFER A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CHALLENGE AND EXPERIENCE. HOWEVER, FOR THE MOST PART, WHAT THEY DO LACK IS THE LEVEL OF PHYSICAL INTERACTIVITY ONE EXPERIENCES FROM PLAYING A STANDARD PINBALL MACHINE. BUT FOR MANY, THE GAMES ARE ENJOYABLE AND THE MORE PEOPLE PLAYING ANY TYPE OF PINBALL IS GREAT FOR PINBALL.

What was the best era for Pinball gaming in your opinion?

THERE REALLY HAVE BEEN SO MANY ‘ERAS’ FOR PINBALL WITH MUCH DUE TO VARIOUS TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS—FROM PURE MECHANICAL GAMES TO ELECTRO-MECHANICAL, SOLID STATE AND NOW THE STATE OF THE ART.  BUT FOR PURISTS MAYBE THE LATE ‘50S AND ‘60S FOR GOTTLIEB MACHINES, THE MID-TO LATE ‘70S FOR BALLY MACHINES AND THEN THE SURGE OF PINBALL FROM THE LATE ‘80S THROUGH THE ‘90S LED BY WILLIAMS AND BALLY.

In your opinion, are there enough or too little Pinball Expos and conferences held each year?

PERSONALLY, I AM AMAZED BUT ALSO EXTREMELY GRATIFIED BY THE SURGE IN POPULARITY FOR PINBALL AND THE FACT THAT ALL THE VARIOUS EXPOS AND EVENTS BEING STAGED ANNUALLY AROUND THE WORLD IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE INCREASED INTEREST AND EXCITEMENT SURROUNDING PINBALL. ADMITTEDLY, IF THERE WASN’T AN AUDIENCE FOR ANY GIVEN EXPO, IT PROBABLY WOULDN’T TAKE PLACE AND, IF ANYTHING, THE NUMBERS ARE GROWING EACH AND EVERY YEAR.

What’s your opinion of the Console Pinball games (Xbox, PlayStation) that recreate the original machines onto the TV screen?

HAVING BEEN DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE VERY EARLY ‘VIRTUAL’ PINBALL GAMES ON THE NINTENDO SYSTEM AS WELL AS FOR THE PC AND THEN, AGAIN, WITH FARSIGHT AND THE WILLIAMS/BALLY CATALOG; I THINK THESE EFFORTS AND SO MANY OTHERS HAVE HELPED INTRODUCE A NEW GENERATION OF PINBALL PLAYERS. AND FOR THOSE WHO DON’T HAVE THE SPACE OR FINANCES TO OWN THEIR OWN ‘MECHANICAL’ PINBALL MACHINE, AT LEAST THEY ARE STILL ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THE WONDERS OF THE SILVER BALL.

Did you agree on the pinball ban in New York City on the 1970s?  What is your opinion on this topic?

WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO NEW YORK CITY, I WASN’T EVEN AWARE THAT PINBALL WAS ILLEGAL. FOR ME THE DIRECT RESULT LED TO MY WRITING MY PINBALL BOOK AND TESTIFYING IN NEW YORK AS WELL AS GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO DESIGN PINBALL MACHINES AND, ULTIMATELY, MOVE BACK TO MY HOMETOWN OF CHICAGO TO WORK AT WILLIAMS BALLY/MIDWAY. TO TAKE IT ONE STEP FURTHER, IT HAS ALSO BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF MY SON’S LIVES. SO, ALTHOUGH I COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON PINBALL, NOT ONLY IN NEW YORK CITY BUT ELSEWHERE, IF IT WEREN’T FOR THE BAN, MY LIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. SO, I SUPPOSE, THE BAN WAS A POSITIVE FOR ME PERSONALLY.

Do you remember your first pinball machine you played and what do you remember about it?

WELL I DID RECOUNT THAT EXPERIENCE IN MY PINBALL BOOK ALTHOUGH, ADMITTEDLY, THE GAME I PLAYED WHILE STANDING ON AN ORANGE CRATE WAS A BASEBALL PITCH AND BAT MACHINE. IF ANYTHING, THE FIRST ‘MEANINGFUL’ GAME THAT HAD AN IMPACT WAS GOTTLIEB’S ‘HURDY GURDY’. IT WAS THE MACHINE UPON WHICH I PERFECTED MY PINBALL PLAYING SKILLS AND ALSO THE FIRST GAME I EVER ‘TURNED’.

What are your opinions about today’s generation of Pinball?  How do you compare them to older, classic machines?

I THINK TODAY’S GAMES ARE INCREDIBLY DIVERSE IN MANY WAYS WITH ELABORATE PLAYFIELD LAYOUTS AND RULE SETS WHICH PROVIDE SOMETHING FOR ALMOST EVERY PINBALL PLAYER. BY AND LARGE I LIKE THEM ALL AND TAKE MY HAT OFF TO THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING THEM TO LIFE. IN TERMS OF COMPARISON TO ‘OLDER, CLASSIC’ MACHINES, THAT BECOMES A MORE DIFFICULT PROPOSITION BECAUSE TASTES CHANGE AS DOES TECHNOLOGY. GIVEN MY LIFE WITH PINBALL I AM PARTIAL TO THE MACHINES WHICH FIRST CAPTURED MY FASCINATION BUT THEIR OVERALL SIMPLICITY WOULDN’T APPEAL TO THE MAJORITY OF TODAY’S PLAYERS IN MUCH THE SAME WAY THAT AN OLD BLACK AND WHITE MOVIE MIGHT NOT RESONATE COMPARED TO A CURRENT BIG SCREEN SPECIAL EFFECTS SPECTACULAR.

Did you ever think when you were younger you would be on a Video game Trading card? 

I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE ON A VIDEO GAME TRADING CARD OR THAT PINBALL WOULD BECOME SUCH AN INTEGRAL PART OF MY LIFE.

When did you first meet Walter day and where was it at?

WALTER AND I FIRST CROSSED PATHS WHEN I TOOK OVER THE EDITORSHIP OF VIDEO GAMES MAGAZINES BACK IN 1983. WE WERE THE FIRST MAGAZINE TO REALLY RECOGNIZE TWIN GALAXIES AND PUBLISHED THE TWIN GALAXIES NATIONAL SCOREBOARD IN THE PAGES OF THE MAGAZINE.

If you could describe Walter Day in one word, what would that word be and why?

PASSIONATE. WALTER HAS STAYED THE COURSE OVER THESE MANY DECADES IN PURSUIT OF REALIZING A DREAM AND ACKNOWLEDGING INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE LEFT THEIR MARK ON THE HISTORY AND LEGACY OF VIDEO GAMES AND PINBALL MACHINES. I ADMIRE HIS PERSERVERANCE AND DEDICATION TO CELEBRATING SUCH A DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE. WALTER IS AN ORIGINAL AND A GENUINELY WONDERFUL FELLOW AND, DARE I SAY, A DEAR FRIEND.

What is your favorite pinball machine past and present and why?

THAT IS ALWAYS A DIFFICULT QUESTION, IT’S LIKE ASKING WHO IS MY FAVORITE SON (THEY BOTH ARE BY THE WAY). OBVIOUSLY, I HAVE A SOFT SPOT IN MY HEART FOR THE GAMES I DESIGNED. BUT THERE HAVE BEEN MACHINES I DO COUNT AS ‘FAVORITES’—MILLS OFFICIAL FROM 1932 FOR THE SIMPLICITY OF DESIGN AND VERY COMPELLING GAME PLAY. THERE IS, OF COURSE, HURDY GURDY AND COW POKE FROM THE ‘60S; SKY JUMP FROM THE ‘70S WHICH INSPIRED MY DESIGN FOR SHARPSHOOTER AND THE LIST IS FAR TOO VOLUMINOUS WHEN I LOOK AT MY OWN PERSONAL COLLECTION AND THE GAMES FROM THE ‘80S, ‘90S ON THROUGH TO TODAY.

What would your design and theme of the perfect pinball machine be and why?

THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION MIGHT HAVE TO REMAIN A MYSTERY UNTIL AND IF I GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO DESIGN ANOTHER PINBALL MACHINE.

If you could only own one pinball machine, what would it be and why? 

WOW, THAT IS DEFINITELY A DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER GOING BACK TO WHICH OF MY CHILDREN I LOVE MORE—I LOVE ALL MY GAMES AND EVEN THOSE THAT I WISH I HAD BUT DON’T.

What does it take to be a Pinball Journalist?

I SUPPOSE THE BEST ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION, ALTHOUGH I AM NOT CERTAIN THERE ARE ANY TRUE ‘PINBALL JOURNALISTS’ IS THAT THEY HAVE AN APPRECIATION AND LOVE OF THE GAMES. WHATEVER THEY MAY BE WRITING ABOUT, THAT THEIR OBJECTIVE IS TO PORTRAY THE SUBJECT MATTER IN A WAY THAT IS CLEAR AND TRUE.

 Are pinball machines aimed mainly at children, adolescents or adults?

YES. PINBALL IS FOR THE YOUNG AND YOUNG AT HEART. MEN, WOMEN, BOYS, GIRLS. THE GAMES CAN ENTHRALL SOME SUCH AS MY SEVEN AND FIVE-YEAR OLD GRANDSON AND GRANDDAUGHTER JUST AS EASILY AS APPEALING TO THEIR MUCH OLDER GRANDFATHER AND GRANDMOTHER.

Do you prefer playing pinball alone or against someone and why?

I ACTUALLY LIKE BOTH ALTHOUGH IT IS FUN TO COMPETE OR AT LEAST PLAY WITH SOMEONE ELSE. PINBALL IS A VERY SOCIAL EXPERIENCE AND WHETHER IT IS PLAYING FOR FUN OR IN A TOURNAMENT OR LEAGUE, I AM JUST GLAD I STILL PLAY AND EVERY ONCE IN WHILE I AM ABLE TO DO SOMETHING THAT MAYBE I DIDN’T THINK I COULD EVER DO AGAIN.

Which company makes/made the best pinball machines and why?

 I THINK ALL THE CURRENT COMPANIES ARE MAKING SOME VERY MEMORABLE GAMES AND I WILL DEFER TO OTHERS WHO MIGHT HAVE OPINIONS ON WHICH MIGHT BE THE BEST.

Do you learn anything from playing pinball?

AS LONG WINDED AS I HAVE BEEN ALREADY, THIS QUESTION IS ONE THAT I COULD COMMENT ON WITH PROBABLY AN EXTREMELY VERBOISE NARRATIVE, SO I WILL DEFER AND SAY ‘YES’—YOU CAN LEARN MUCH FROM PLAYING PINBALL.

Are pinball machines good for relieving stress?

FOR MANY, MYSELF INCLUDED, THE ANSWER IS ‘YES’. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE LOSING YOURSELF FROM THE VAGARIES OF THE REAL WORLD BY PLAYING A GAME AND GETTING IMMERSED IN THAT FANTASY WORLD UNDER GLASS.

Where do you see the pinball world in the next 20 years?

STILL GOING STRONG WITH AN ENTIRELY NEW GENERATION OF PLAYERS CAPTIVATED BY THE WONDERS OF PINBALL AND WHAT IT DELIVERS AS A TOTALLY IMMERSIVE SENSORY LEISURE TIME FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT, NOT REPLICABLE BY ANYTHING ELSE.

The post Video Game Trading Card Spotlight – Roger Sharpe appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.

Earlier today, Stern Pinball confirmed the existence of a Pokémon Pinball table and immediately made it available to order. While the Pokémon franchise is a broad one spanning decades, the Stern table is noteworthy for hearkening back to the 90s era of the franchise. All the Pokémon immediately visible in the trailer hail from the first generation of games which were released in 1996.

The visual and musical style of the table also appears to be directly influenced by the earliest iteration of the Pokémon cartoon. Visual clips on the interface appear to derive from the initial 90s era cartoon. Additionally, the Pokémon theme from the earliest days of the cartoon as sung by Jason Paige features prominently throughout the trailer.

The gameplay itself centers around catching Pokémon across four habitats. It was not immediately clear from the initial press release how many Pokémon will appear in the table. Pokémon has been used with a pinball concept before, with Pokémon Pinball from 1999 for the Game Boy Color and Pokémon Pinball: Ruby and Sapphire for the Game Boy Advance in 2003 both being beloved retro titles.

The Pro Edition of Stern’s Pokémon Pinball retails for $6,999. The Premium edition retails for $9,699. Finally, the Limited edition, of which only 750 machines will be produced, retails for $12,999. More details about the differences between editions can be found on Stern’s website here.

The post Stern Releases Pokemon Pinball Machine appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.

The post Update on Stern Pinball’s Next Game; Jersey Jack Pinball Augmented Reality; Last Call for Labyrinth appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.

CHICAGO – July 2, 2025 – “Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water…” Today, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Jaws, legendary gaming and entertainment company, Stern Pinball, Inc. in collaboration with Universal Products & Experiences, are thrilled to announce a special update that will excite cinephiles, sharkheads and collectors alike. The celebration is marked with the debut of the new Jaws 50th Anniversary Premium Edition pinball machine, along with new content enhancements available across all connected Jaws-inspired machines.

To mark this golden anniversary, the Stern team has crafted an epic version of its popular Jaws pinball machine. The JAWS 50th Anniversary Premium Edition features a reimagined playfield with glitter-enhanced artwork and brass powder-coated wireform ramps. This collector’s item also boasts a distinctive 50th Anniversary hologram sticker along with a unique translite and cabinet decals. The pinball machine is outfitted with a bold “Blood Red” armor kit, including matching legs, hinges, front molding and side armor with standard premium shape.

“We’re honored to celebrate 50 years of Jaws with a new pinball experience that captures the heart and soul of the film,” said Seth Davis, President and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc. “With the 50th Anniversary Premium Edition, we’ve added new cosmetic features that we know all pinball fans and Jaws enthusiasts will love just in time for the 4th of July!”

For Jaws fans looking for even more fun, Stern has created an updated code with new features, including Team Play and Co-op, where players can collaboratively play with friends, share progress and more. This update introduces new wizard modes including the “Wheel Award Final Wizard Mode” and the final “Smile you sonofa…. Wizard Mode.” You’re gonna need a bigger gameroom!

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.                                         

Jaws 50th Anniversary Premium Edition:                                                   $US 9,699

Jaws 50th Anniversary Premium Edition, along with existing Jaws Limited Edition games, Premium Edition games, Pro Edition games, and accessories, are available through authorized Stern Pinball distributors and dealers around the world, found here or on the official Stern Store here. Stay up to date by following Stern Pinball on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok.

About Jaws     

Directed by Academy Award® winner Steven Spielberg, Jaws set the standard for edge-of-your-seat suspense, quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon and forever changing the movie industry 50 years ago on June 20, 1975. When the seaside community of Amity finds itself under attack by a dangerous great white shark, the town’s chief of police (Roy Scheider), a young marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss) and a grizzled shark hunter (Robert Shaw) embark on a desperate quest to destroy the beast before it strikes again. Featuring an unforgettable score that evokes pure terror, five decades later, Universal Pictures’ Jaws remains one of the most influential and gripping adventures in motion picture history.

About Universal Products & Experiences

Universal Products & Experiences (UP&E) globally drives the expansion and elevation of NBCUniversal’s iconic collection of brands, intellectual properties, characters, and stories based on the company’s extensive portfolio of properties created by Universal Pictures, Illumination, DreamWorks Animation and NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. The division executes this through innovative physical and digital products, as well as engaging retail and product experiences across our expansive global theme park destinations (for both owned and third-party IP), location-based venues, e-commerce product platforms, and retailers around the world. Along with global brand strategy and creative, UP&E’s lines of business include Consumer Products and Games, along with Theme Parks Products & Retail. UP&E is a division of Universal Destinations & Experiences, part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. More information is available at universalproductsexperiences.com.

About Insider Connected

Insider Connected™ is Stern Pinball’s community network that allows players and owners to engage with pinball games in rapidly expanding ways. The platform unites pinball players around the world and enhances fun through a variety of useful online features. Insider Connected is included with every new Stern product and available as an addon for existing games.

Registration for Insider Connected is available at insider.sternpinball.com or in the intuitive Insider Connected™ mobile app on iOS and Android. By tapping a device on any enabled machine, players can track and resume game progress wherever they play, earn new game-specific achievements, engage with the pinball community, and participate in promotions and Challenge Quests. In addition to offering benefits to players, Insider Connected allows Stern to serve its game owners worldwide by upgrading games, offering new features and quests and extending the longevity of machines for years to come.

About Stern Pinball, Inc. 

Stern Pinball, Inc. creates compelling entertainment that inspires a lifetime love of games, sparks passion, forges friendships, and connects people everywhere through fun, innovative, technologically advanced pinball games, and experiences.  Headquartered minutes from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport in the heart of North America, the company creates, designs, engineers, manufactures, markets, and distributes a full line of technologically advanced terrestrial and digital pinball games, parts, accessories, and merchandise.  Stern Pinball serves digital, consumer, commercial, and corporate markets around the globe.

Recent Stern Pinball titles include King Kong: Myth of Terror Island, Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye, Metallica Remastered, The Uncanny X-Men, John Wick, JAWS, Venom, Foo Fighters, James Bond, Rush, Godzilla, The Mandalorian, Led Zeppelin, Avengers: Infinity Quest, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Stranger Things, Elvira’s House of Horrors, Jurassic Park, Black Knight: Sword of Rage, The Munsters, The Beatles, Deadpool, Iron Maiden, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars, Aerosmith, Ghostbusters, KISS, Metallica, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Star Trek, AC/DC, Batman, and Spider-Man.  A broad range of players enjoy Stern Pinball’s games, from professional pinball players competing in high-stakes global competitions to novice players discovering the allure of the silver ball for the first time.  To join the fun and learn more, please visit www.sternpinball.com.

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All trademarks and product names are the property of their respective companies.

The post Stern Pinball Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Universal Pictures and Steven Spielberg’s Jaws with New Pinball Machine Launch at San Diego Comic-Con appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.

The Uncanny X-Men Pinball Accessories:

Rally the heroes of the past to save the future and your The Uncanny X-Men pinball experience with these newly available upgrades that will level up your game!

Star Wars: Fall of the Empire:

Are you a Jedi yet? Check out a bunch of gameplay streams of the new code and get up to speed on the official rules in this rulesheet for Star Wars: Fall of the Empire! https://sternpinball.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Star-Wars-Fall-of-the-Empire-Rulesheet-v5.pdf

The Making of King Kong: Myth of Terror Island Pinball:

See the 8^th wonder of the world come to life behind the scenes in the making of King Kong: Myth of Terror Island pinball!

Metallica Remastered Sweepstakes:

Congratulations to Derek from New Jersey on being the winner of Stern Pinball’s Metallica Remastered Sweepstakes!

While not everyone can be Derek, we appreciate your participation and with Metallica Remastered pinball, everybody wins. To extend the fun, through December 31st if you buy a Metallica Remastered Premium pinball machine and reference the code MET2025 with your authorized Stern reseller (you can also provide the code in your Contact for Availability form submission), you will receive an exclusive highly collectible Metallica Remastered foil poster set while supplies last!

https://shop.sternpinball.com/products/metallica-poster-set

Insider Connected:

Beat their scores.

We know you have it in you.

➡️ https://sternpinball.com/beat_that_score/

New All-Access Perks Are LIVE!

Sign up for All-Access today to compete with your friends and look good doing it with:

IC Home Leaderboards: Compete with your friends by making a leaderboard for your home pinball machine.

Shipping Savings: Get FREE shipping (Continental US) or discounted shipping for Alaska, Hawaii and international on the Stern Pinball Shop. Gear up for less!

Go For Gold: You’ll now appear in Gold on the game and on leaderboards, showing the world you’re an All-Access elite.

Be a PRO at Home: Access tech alerts and machine stats in your new Gameroom PRO.

Need the Details? Check the FAQ!

For all the rules, restrictions on the free/discounted shipping, timing on the next factory tours (starting in 2026), and other important info, head straight to our updated FAQ page:

https://stpb.co/ICHelp

Stay connected and play in ongoing community events! Featuring monthly quests and leaderboards, there’s no shortage of what you’ll be able to achieve including Beat That Score!

Gameroom of the Month:

Congrats to Travis Robertson for winning Gameroom of the Month! Do you have a special home gameroom you want to share with the world? Submit your incredible gameroom directly to Insider@sternpinball.com for your chance to be featured as our next winner!

Stern Army Updates:

The Stern Army continues to grow with troops spreading the gospel of pinball across the globe. Stern Army locations receive first priority shipment of new Stern games for hosting official Launch Parties in addition to supporting events with prizes, giveaways, promotional materials, and tools for hosting recurring tournaments and leagues. Engage and expand your local pinball community and to join the Stern Army, please reach out to SternArmy@sternpinball.com

Location of the Month:

Congrats to Rocksteady Pizza Parlour of Warsaw, Indiana for winning Location of the Month! Do you have a special location you want to share with the world?  Submit your pictures directly to Insider@sternpinball.com for your chance to be featured as our next winner!

Stern Pro Circuit:

Congrats to all competitors at this year’s Free Play Florida Stern Pro Circuit tournament. In the end, Nick Mueller secured his first circuit victory! For full details on the Stern Pro Circuit and to keep up with the current standings and schedule, please visit – https://sternpinball.com/stern-pro-circuit/

Upcoming Stern Pro Circuit Events:

Stern Pro Circuit 2025 Schedule:

Only a few events remain on the 2025 season of the Stern Pro Circuit!

Kerry King:

Slayer guitarist Kerry King dives into his decades-long admiration of pinball and how his technical skills as a musician helped him excel across Stern machines!

Stern Rewards Program:

In partnership with the International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA), the Stern Rewards Program annually provides IFPA players who qualify the chance to purchase a new Stern Pinball machine at a special IFPA price plus the opportunity for additional Stern merchandise discounts. Detailed rules for the Stern Rewards Program, including an updated list of qualifiers and updated list of rewards available can be found HERE.

The IFPA is excited to announce that Stern has added King Kong: Myth of Terror Island Pro and Premium to the rewards program!

Gary Cam:

What happens when you give Gary the keys to the cameras? Watch and find out!

Status of Code:

We are continuously working to update and improve software for our machines. There are always code updates and bug fixes in various stages of development; we will release them upon update completion. If you would like to join our mailing list for code updates, please send an e-mail to Code.Updates@sternpinball.com. If you do encounter any bugs please feel free to provide information to bug.report@sternpinball.com. Get Connected and play! https://insider.sternpinball.com/

Code updates and read me files are available at https://sternpinball.com/support/game-code/

Merch and Accessories:

Check out our Stern Shop for all accessories, collectibles, clothing and more!

Stern Pinball accessories are also available to purchase from your local authorized dealer – https://sternpinball.com/find-a-dealer/

Ask Jack Anything:

You’ve got questions? Jack has answers! Ask Jack Anything* is a place to communicate more personably with us at Stern Pinball. Think of it as a digital suggestion box. Don’t be afraid to reach out about anything. It’s as anonymous as you want it to be! ⚡

https://sternpinball.com/askjack/

Random Tutorials, Interviews and more:

Check out a slew of fun content, tutorials, and interviews including a special one with Gary and Jack over in the Netherlands!

The post STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – DECEMBER 2025 appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.

The Walking Dead Remastered:

There’s a Horde coming with a technologically advanced version of one of the most beloved pinball games of all time… The Walking Dead Remastered! Stay tuned to see the game in action for the first time soon and the opportunity to get your hands on it before it hits locations worldwide… just don’t get bit!

Star Wars: Fall of the Empire:

Are you a Jedi yet? Check out a bunch of streams of gameplay on the new code and get up to speed on the official rules in this rulesheet for Star Wars: Fall of the Empire! https://sternpinball.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Star-Wars-Fall-of-the-Empire-Rulesheet-v4.pdf

Pinball Expo 2025:

We had a BLAST connecting with the pinhead community at this year’s Pinball Expo. Check out the fun we had along the way!

King Kong: Myth of Terror Island Pinball Accessories:

Go bananas and make your King Kong pinball machine the 8^th wonder of the world!

Elvira Vault Spotlight:

The taunting is over and the playing begins before Stern Pinball’s Elvira’s House of Horrors goes into the vault. Join our crew in the haunted mansion as they wade through ghouls, ghosts, monsters & so much more. As part of the Stern Vault Program, Elvira’s House of Horrors has been removed from active production and will remain in the vault for a minimum of two years without any guarantee of returning. These games are almost completely sold out, so contact for availability before it’s too late!

Insider Connected:

New All-Access Perks Are LIVE!

Sign up for All-Access today to compete with your friends and look good doing it with:

IC Home Leaderboards — Compete with your friends by making a leaderboard for your home pinball machine.

Shipping Savings — Get FREE shipping (Continental US) or discounted shipping for Alaska, Hawaii and international on the Stern Pinball Shop. Gear up for less!

Go For Gold — You’ll now appear in Gold on the game and on leaderboards, showing the world you’re an All-Access elite.

Be a PRO at Home — Access tech alerts and machine stats in your new Gameroom PRO.

Need the Details? Check the FAQ!

For all the rules, restrictions on the free/discounted shipping, timing on the next factory tours (starting in 2026), and other important info, head straight to our updated FAQ page:

https://stpb.co/ICHelp

Stay connected and play in ongoing community events! Featuring monthly quests and leaderboards, there’s no shortage of what you’ll be able to achieve!

Beat That Score:

Be the Challenge, Play the Challenge! https://sternpinball.com/beat_that_score/

Gameroom of the Month:

Congrats to Verena Zorn for winning Gameroom of the Month! Do you have a special home gameroom you want to share with the world? Submit your incredible gameroom directly to Insider@sternpinball.com for your chance to be featured as our next winner!

Stern Army Updates:

The Stern Army continues to grow with troops spreading the gospel of pinball across the globe. Stern Army locations receive first priority shipment of new Stern games for hosting official Launch Parties in addition to supporting events with prizes, giveaways, promotional materials, and tools for hosting recurring tournaments and leagues. Engage and expand your local pinball community and to join the Stern Army, please reach out to SternArmy@sternpinball.com

https://youtu.be/7vVr8LvKIWM?si=we1i2gQujuXuvtSr

Location of the Month:

Congrats to Intersect Brewing of Fort Collins, Colorado for winning Location of the Month! Do you have a special location you want to share with the world?  Submit your pictures directly to Insider@sternpinball.com for your chance to be featured as our next winner!

Stern Pro Circuit:

Congrats to all competitors at this year’s Pinball Expo Flip Out Stern Pro Circuit tournament. In the end, all the way from Sweden no less, Arvid Flygare outlasted the competition for his first circuit victory! For full details on the Stern Pro Circuit and to keep up with the current standings and schedule, please visit – https://sternpinball.com/stern-pro-circuit/

Upcoming Stern Pro Circuit Events:

Stern Pro Circuit 2025 Schedule:

Only a few events remain on the 2025 season of the Stern Pro Circuit!

Stern Pro Circuit Championship:

The best of the best duked it out at the 2025 Stern Pro Circuit Championship, presented by Mountain Dew in conjunction with the International Flipper Pinball Association & Enterrium! Who ended up with crown? Catch a replay of the competitive event of the year!

Stern Rewards Program:

In partnership with the International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA), the Stern Rewards Program annually provides IFPA players who qualify the chance to purchase a new Stern Pinball machine at a special IFPA price plus the opportunity for additional Stern merchandise discounts. Detailed rules for the Stern Rewards Program, including an updated list of qualifiers and updated list of rewards available can be found HERE.

The IFPA is excited to announce that Stern has added King Kong: Myth of Terror Island Pro and Premium to the rewards program!

Status of Code:

We are continuously working to update and improve software for our machines. There are always code updates and bug fixes in various stages of development; we will release them upon update completion. If you would like to join our mailing list for code updates, please send an e-mail to Code.Updates@sternpinball.com. If you do encounter any bugs please feel free to provide information to bug.report@sternpinball.com. Get Connected and play! https://insider.sternpinball.com/

Code updates and read me files are available at https://sternpinball.com/support/game-code/

Merch and Accessories:

Check out our Stern Shop for all accessories, collectibles, clothing and more!

Stern Pinball accessories are also available to purchase from your local authorized dealer – https://sternpinball.com/find-a-dealer/

Ask Jack Anything:

You’ve got questions? Jack has answers! Ask Jack Anything* is a place to communicate more personably with us at Stern Pinball. Think of it as a digital suggestion box. Don’t be afraid to reach out about anything. It’s as anonymous as you want it to be! ⚡

https://sternpinball.com/askjack/

Random Tutorials, Interviews and more:

Check out a slew of fun content, tutorials, and interviews including a special one with Business Insider!

The post STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – NOVEMBER 2025 appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.

CHICAGO, IL – November 4, 2025 – Today, Stern Pinball, Inc., the largest designer and manufacturer of pinball games in the world, in partnership with AMC Networks revealed and released The Walking Dead Remastered – a technologically advanced version of one of the most beloved pinball games of all time featuring one of the most well-known franchises in the world, AMC’s The Walking Dead. This property has captivated global audiences since its television premiere in 2010. The hit TV series, spin-off shows, video games, merchandise, and more have reshaped the modern landscape of horror storytelling. Powered by Stern’s new SPIKE 3 technology platform, Stern Pinball is excited to bring to life The Walking Dead Remastered to the current generation of pinball players, taking them on an epic journey through legendary moments from the series as they fight to survive the apocalypse. The Walking Dead Remastered pinball game is available now in Premium and Limited Edition (LE) models, along with a full line of accessories available soon.

In Stern Pinball’s The Walking Dead Remastered pinball game, players will battle walkers and survive key scenes from The Walking Dead in an immersive physical pinball experience like none other.  The development team, led by John Borg, the designer of the original game, have created a modern version of the original masterpiece.  The playfield features enhanced versions of the “Cell Block C” Prison building, bicycle girl ramp, and an interactive Well Walker toy.  The fan-favorite crossbow device that shoots a pinball has been re-engineered and updated for increased precision and flexibility in gameplay.  The game also features new RGB lighting and illuminated zombie heads on the slingshots.

Extra care and attention to detail have gone into every facet of The Walking Dead Remastered, honoring the original masterpiece by John Borg and Lyman F. Sheats, Jr. The game includes an updated version of the revolutionary ruleset that introduced a new mode structure and risk-reward elements that have stood the test of time. Through the iconic Prison, Well Walker, and Blood Bath multiballs and the depth of each Dead Feature mode (Barn, CDC, Riot, Tunnel, and Arena), players are immersed in a pinball battle that can ultimately leave a “Last Man Standing”… that is, if you’re able to survive the Horde and escape Terminus along your adventure.

In The Walking Dead Remastered, players will be introduced to newly developed visuals that blend high-quality video elements with a vibrant painterly art style, both on the cabinet and on the display. Extraordinary care has been taken to ensure the new visuals mirror scenes from the classic game, while also going beyond with additional updates. Software enhancements will introduce additional game rules, including new custom audio call-outs from actors Michael Rooker (Merle) and Danai Gurira (Michonne). Players will also experience Stern’s Insider Connected (IC) system that provides advanced connectivity features, enabling real-time engagement and a more connected experience for all.

The Walking Dead Remastered features Stern’s next-generation SPIKE 3 technology platform, which includes a larger 18.5” full HD display with true color depth, along with a more powerful processor, and a new high fidelity immersive audio system. Players will get to experience completely overhauled 3D-rendered graphics and custom animations that pay homage to the dot matrix display from the original  pinball machine. SPIKE 3 electronics also feature more efficient power handling, improved Wi-Fi support, and wireless headphone capabilities.  This release will also feature an updated cabinet lighting customization system designed to allow for internal and external expression lighting on all versions of the game.

Limited to 500 games globally, the highly collectible Limited Edition model includes the updated Expression Lighting System™ and Speaker Expression Lighting System with The Walking Dead-themed game effects, a full-color mirrored backglass, full-color high-definition cabinet decals, exclusive custom The Walking Dead Remastered pinball armor, a custom designer-autographed bottom arch, upgraded audio system, anti-reflection pinball playfield glass, shaker motor, a sequentially numbered plaque, a signed Certificate of Authenticity, and a digital Insider Connected LE owner’s badge on registration.

“The Walking Dead is one of the most memorable and influential pinball games in our time, and we’re proud of the entire Stern team for elevating this iconic game onto our new platform,” said Seth Davis, President & CEO of Stern Pinball. “We’re always looking to create new immersive and thrilling gameplay experiences in pinball, and there’s no better way to do that than by bringing The Walking Dead back from the dead and to an entirely new generation of zombie lovers and pinball players.”

“The Walking Dead pinball was best-in-class when it debuted ten years ago, and its enduring appeal is a testament both to the game, and the strength of the franchise,” said Clayton Neuman, Head of Games & Franchise at AMC. “This remaster exceeds the original in every conceivable way, and we can’t wait for the next generation of The Walking Dead and pinball fans alike to get their hands on it.”

The Walking Dead Remastered is available through authorized Stern Pinball distributors and dealers worldwide. Find out more and contact us for availability in your location on the game information page here. Stay up to date by following Stern Pinball on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

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.                                               

Premium Edition:                                                  $US   9,699

Limited Edition:                                                     $US  12,999

The Walking Dead Remastered pinball games feature Stern’s best-in-class commercial quality reliability backed by a pinball best-in-class one-year warranty.

About Insider Connected

Insider Connected™ is Stern Pinball’s community network that allows players and owners to engage with pinball games in rapidly expanding ways. The platform unites pinball players around the world and enhances fun through a variety of useful online features. Insider Connected is included with every new Stern product and is available as an add-on for existing games.

Registration for Insider Connected is available at insider.sternpinball.com or in the intuitive Insider Connected™ mobile app on iOS and Android. By tapping a device on any enabled machine, players can track and resume game progress wherever they play, earn new game-specific achievements, engage with the pinball community, and participate in promotions and Challenge Quests. In addition to offering benefits to players, Insider Connected allows Stern to serve its game owners worldwide by upgrading games, offering new features and quests, and extending the longevity of machines for years to come.

About Stern Pinball, Inc.

Stern Pinball, Inc. creates compelling entertainment that inspires a lifetime love of games, sparks passion, forges friendships, and connects people everywhere through fun, innovative, technologically advanced pinball games and experiences.  Headquartered minutes from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport in the heart of North America, the company creates, designs, engineers, manufactures, markets, and distributes a full line of technologically advanced terrestrial and digital pinball games, parts, accessories, and merchandise.  Stern Pinball serves digital, consumer, commercial, and corporate markets around the globe.

Recent Stern Pinball titles include Star Wars: Fall of the Empire, King Kong: Myth of Terror Island, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: The Tyrant’s Eye, Metallica Remastered, The Uncanny X-Men, John Wick, JAWS, Venom, Foo Fighters, James Bond, Rush, Godzilla, The Mandalorian, Led Zeppelin, Avengers: Infinity Quest, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Stranger Things, Elvira’s House of Horrors, Jurassic Park, Black Knight: Sword of Rage, The Munsters, The Beatles, Deadpool, Iron Maiden, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars, Aerosmith, Ghostbusters, KISS, Metallica, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Star Trek, AC/DC, Batman, and Spider-Man.  A broad range of players enjoy Stern Pinball’s games, from professional pinball players competing in high-stakes global competitions to novice players discovering the allure of the silver ball for the first time.  To join the fun and learn more, please visit www.sternpinball.com.

About AMC Networks

AMC Networks (Nasdaq: AMCX) is home to many of the greatest stories and characters in TV and film and is the premier destination for passionate and engaged fan communities around the world. The Company creates and curates celebrated series and films across distinct brands and makes them available to audiences everywhere. Its portfolio includes targeted streaming services AMC+, Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now, ALLBLK and HIDIVE; cable networks AMC, BBC AMERICA (which includes U.S. distribution and sales responsibilities for BBC News), IFC, SundanceTV and We TV; and film distribution labels IFC Films and RLJE Films. The Company also operates AMC Studios, its in-house studio, production and distribution operation behind acclaimed and fan-favorite original franchises including The Walking Dead Universe and the Anne Rice Immortal Universe; and AMC Networks International, its international programming business.

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All trademarks and product names are the property of their respective companies.

The post Fight the Dead, Fear the Living in The Walking Dead Remastered, Stern Pinball’s Newest Pinball Machine appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.

One of the big growing pains of the third generation of video games was the longtime hi-score mechanic, or more specifically, its slow move to irrelevance. As NES games started to trend toward level variety, as opposed to gradually increasing difficulty in infinite repetition, simply finishing the game at all became the accomplishment players strived for, rather than trying to get a high score. As points stopped mattering, by the fourth generation, most games stopped bothering to include them at all, and speedruns became the standard achievement.

In most cases, simply giving up on high scores made more sense than trying to better integrate them into varied gameplay. Without the tight time, quarter-begging limits of arcade game levels, play centered around high scores just wasn’t very fun, and tended to incentivize player behavior that made little sense outside of just getting high scores for the sake of getting high scores. It certainly didn’t help that when Street Fighter II revolutionized the arcade with player versus player showdowns, the exact score of the players seemed absurdly irrelevant compared to who won and how.

Enter Kirby’s Pinball Land, a cute little title for the Game Boy that did its very best to make the hi score great again. Only the third Kirby game overall, the 1993 classic, as the name implies, has adorable art wrapped up in a pinball aesthetic. But it also has a surprisingly sophisticated scoring system, all built around the classic pinball mechanic of having to do whatever it takes to keep from losing a life.

What makes Kirby’s Pinball Land work so well as a conversion of the pinball concept is that the scoring system is transparent, and rational. Each of the three stages has three tiers, with limited opportunities for points from incidental collisions. The big risk in the first tier is simply falling all the way down to the bottom and losing a life. But the top two tiers of each stage have a warp star, the second tier taking the player to a high score potential minigame, and the third tier taking the player to a boss fight.

The boss fights aren’t difficult. Like the rest of the pinball gameplay, the risk is not that Kirby itself can be damaged. Rather, their main form of attack is paralyzing the flippers, causing Kirby to tumble down helplessly back to the third tier. Kirby’s Pinball Land has the dubious distinction of Whispy Woods, the anthropomorphic tree, going from the easiest boss fight in most Kirby games to the toughest in this one. Despite being a stationary target, Whispy Woods gives little warning before dropping spiky gordos on the flippers, and its normally underwhelming air puffs, strategically aimed right between the flippers, can likewise banish Kirby back to the third tier in a hurry- especially annoying because Whispy Woods is the most RNG dependent of all stages. Falling down to a game over is much easier than getting back up compared to the other two.

Yet going after Whispy Woods is always the smartest move, as is going after any other boss, for the simple reason that the five thousand points scored per hit is a much better, reliable return on points per second than any other strategy. True, the second-tier bonus stages can eventually get higher returns…but warp stars are much rarer than whatever the mechanism is for advancing from the second tier to the third tier. In this way, despite fundamentally being a score attack title, Kirby’s Pinball Land still rewards the player for trying to see all the game, as had become the standard by 1993.

Beating King Dedede may not yield a proper ending, (just a “here we go again” cutscene), yet repeatedly pummeling King Dedede yields so many points even compared to other bosses there simply isn’t any reason not to pick a fight with him as quickly as possible. As with the other bosses, King Dedede is less tough in his own right as he is capable of getting in a luckily timed stun at a crucial moment. Whether the game is played simply as a survival title by a casual gamer or as a serious score attack by a pinball wizard, both styles of play are well-rewarded.

Kirby’s Pinball Land hasn’t aged like a fine wine just because of this excellent merging of styles, though. It’s just really well-designed for pick-up-and-play gaming in general, much like Tetris. Newer hardware only makes the cute spritework that much better aged- the game looks fantastic in color on the Chromatic, which is little surprise given it had to be playable thirty years ago without the benefit of a backlight. It also helps that the game is really cheap- it was popular enough in its day, and forgotten enough today, that it’s quite easy to nab a cartridge for just ten bucks.

Incredibly, Nintendo isn’t actually selling Kirby’s Pinball Land today on its modern hardware at all. Although even if you could get it on the Switch, I’d probably still recommend it for original or similar hardware anyway. Kirby’s Pinball Land is a very compact experience, pinball in your pocket, if you will. And it is just so very satisfying to be able to pick it up on a whim and be bouncing around dream land in mere seconds.

The post Kirby’s Pinball Land and the last stand of hi-score based gameplay appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.