And oh what a glorious site it is. The long anticipated followup to JJP's Wizard of Oz pinball looks to finally be ramping up to production. This is great news for not only those waiting on their pre-order game but also those who will start to see these games arrive on location to wow the crowds with its HD display and Hi Fidelity sound reminiscent of the latest high end gaming machines from WMS. Keep your eyes out at your favorite pinball location, you may just see one on there soon.

​JJP press release below.

​Greetings Pinball Fans, 

It's a very exciting time at JJP, The Hobbit is on the assembly line! We are building up sub assemblies, playfields, cabinets and full games. The plan is to build a number of games for further extensive testing and then go into full production in January. Our suppliers have been working very hard to get us all the parts we need. Everyone knows that JJP games are loaded with fun, mechanical action, and new technology which keeps players coming back for more. Follow us on Facebook & Twitter as we post more updates and photos in the coming weeks!

Comedian and YouTube personality Roman Atwood recently purchased a 75th Anniversary Edition Wizard of Oz game and he posted a video of his unboxing which has already gone viral with over 1,6000,000 views. Click here to view the YouTube Link. Thanks to Roman for spreading JJP Pinball to the world! 
 
We currently have a limited number of 75th Anniversary & Standard Wizard of Oz Pinball Machines 
IN STOCK and ready to Ship immediately. We are also offering a White Glove Delivery Option which includes assembly of the machine in your home for an additional cost. For questions or to place an order, please email Jen@JerseyJackPinball.com or call 732-364-9900 ext 203.

We are also happy to announce that we have signed on with a Financing Company, Paramount Financial, as we are eager to help get our games into more locations and homes. Both individuals and businesses can apply for financing here - https://apply.paramountfinancial.com/apply.php.   
 
Now available for order, Our Patented Pindemption™ system. This system allows any Wizard of Oz Pinball Owner to transform their pinball machine into a virtual swipe card or physical tick­et-awarding redemption game. It features different styles of play (time-based instead of ball-based), a vastly reduced-in-complexity ruleset, and presentation of tickets won instead of points earned to the player. Click here to purchase Pindemption Dongle & Click Here to purchase the Ticket Topper.

                             Wishing a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to All! 

​Two Dutch guys are developing an app called “The Pinball Assistant”. With
this app you have knowledge about every pinball machines ever manufactured in the palm of your hand. You can look up pinball machines, get fun facts, playing tips, write your personal reviews as well as rate the pinball and register your personal high scores.
 
The Dutch pinball players Gerard Vos and Richard van Zijll de Jong are
launching a Kickstarter to raise money for their pinball app. They launched the Kickstarter at the Dutch Pinball Open, the crowdfunding will continue untill December 31st.
 
The Kickstart-contributors are rewarded with cool presents for their support. Depending on the pledged amount, the contributors will receive cool pinball photographs, a t-shirts, or a signed “Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Mellons” translite or even a signed Harlem Globetrotters backglass.
 
How did you get the idea for the Pinball Assistant?
Richard: “Gerard and I are always playing pinball against each other. We keep
scores, review pinballs and talk about strategies. We often try to find information about the played pinball machines. We noticed that good information is hard to find. It’s often incomplete, incorrect or it’s so extensive that it’s boring. With The Pinball Assistant we want to make an app that’s fast, practical and easy to use. We want to make a product that all pinball players will like.”
 
But there’s more to the story...
Gerard: “Yes, we also want to make sure that the pinball heritage is preserved. During the fifties and sixties the most beautiful machines were made. It is a terrible shame if information about those machines gets lost or will be stacked away to never be seen again. With our publishing background in mind we thought that it was time to do something about it.”
 
You’re asking for 17.000 US dollars. What will you use it for?
Richard: “We are planning to use the kickstarter-money for the technical development of the app. We not only have a huge database we want to share but we want to develop a good interactive component as well. We also need the money for getting the app in the stores and to inform the world about our app. The more money we raise, the more extras we are able to put in, our ideas are endless.”
 
Gerard: “But we also think it’s important to bring future players in contact with pinball. Therefore we will start in February 2016 providing opportunities for kids to play pinball in competitions in the Dutch Pinball Museum in Rotterdam and at the Dutch Pinball Association in Veenendaal. We would like to organize such an event a few times a year in other countries as well, depending on the success of the Pinball Assistant, of course.”
 
How can the pinball fans help?
 
Richard: “By backing our kickstarter-project. If you check out the link https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thepinballassistant/the-pinball-assistant
you can read all about our project The Pinball Assistant – Your PA to pinball.” 

Nearly four decades since the iconic Bally KISS pinball hit the streets, Stern pinball looks to capture the magic once again with a new spin a classic theme. While Rock n' Roll pinball machines such as AC/DC, Metallica from Stern have been a runaway success Stern pinball has teamed up with the worlds largest rock based marketing team to bring a new game to the masses. 

Stern pinball has smartly hired the same artist from the original 1978 game Kevin O'Conner to work his magic and bring that old school feel to the game insuring that fans of the original will be attracted to this new game. This was a smart move on Stern's part as the game captures the look of the original with a new playing experience provided by the game's designer John Borg.

Gameplay is yet to be seen but from the looks of its hand drawn art, playfield layout and throw back bumper caps so far the game looks like it will match up to it's classic counterpart in pinball history and one that rock fans will be sure to want to add to their pinball lineup. 

Good news for pinball fans with ears. The new SPIKE system's audio capabilities should prove a much needed upgrade to this music themed pinball as the sound on previous Stern games has been less than dismal. The game is built on Stern’s new SPIKE pinball platform, which includes an upgraded high-fidelity three-channel audio system over three times more powerful than previous generation pinball audio system. Now if we could get some backwards compatibility on AC/DC and Metallica we would really be rockin'.
 
KISS Pinball includes an amazing array of modern and retro features to appeal to players of all skill levels:

• 10 famous KISS hit songs: Deuce, Hotter Than Hell, Lick It Up, Shout It Out Loud, Detroit Rock City, Calling Dr. Love, Rock & Roll All Night, Love Gun, Love It Loud and Black Diamond
• Custom speech from Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons
• Full-color high-intensity animated LED music lights
• High-fidelity stereo sound effects and music
• Original Gene Simmons/Demon head molded toy
• K-I-S-S spell-out Drop Targets
• Blood-Spitting Demon Bass Solo player experience
• Fire-Breathing Demon “God of Thunder” Multiball Event
• Flying Starchild “Love Gun” Multiball Event

There will be three models available from the start which include:

Pro Model: $5,995 MSRP
Premium Model: $7,595 MSRP
Limited Edition Model: $8,795 MSRP

These prices are typically not the street price so check your favorite distributor(s) for the best price available.

Press release below:


Stern Pinball Joins The KISS Army With Its Release Of KISS Pinball

World’s Leading Maker of Arcade-Quality Pinball Games and KISS’ Global Brand Management Firm Epic Rights Announce Newest Addition to Rock Collection

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL – May 6, 2015 – Stern Pinball, Inc., the world's oldest and largest producer of arcade-quality pinball machines, and Epic Rights, KISS’ global licensing agent, jointly announced today the availability of a new line of Pro, Premium and Limited Edition KISS pinball machines, honoring one of the most influential and iconic rock bands of all time.

Formed in 1973, KISS is recognized for unique face paint, stage outfits and cornerstone personas known as: “Starchild,” “the Demon,” “Catman,” and “Spaceman.” KISS rose to popularity in the mid-1970s with their elaborate live performances and theatrics, including fire breathing, blood spitting, smoking guitars, shooting rockets, levitating drum kits, and pyrotechnics. KISS is highly regarded as one of the most influential bands of all time with worldwide album sales exceeding 100 million records. KISS has an unprecedented 28 gold albums to date, the most of any American rock band.

Stern Pinball’s KISS pinball machines reflect the energy, excitement and experience of a live KISS concert. Players will experience 10 famous KISS hits in the concert arena playfield and embark on an exhilarating experience ultimately becoming elite members of the KISS Army. Players score points and finish game objectives to fuel the audience’s energy and excitement. Higher scores amp the experience – the higher the energy level, the bigger and louder the show – resulting in a KISS concert experience like none other. Players are awarded for completing game goals with a variety of in-game front row seats, backstage VIP access and fun multi-ball modes that thrill players of all skill levels.

The game is built on Stern’s new SPIKE pinball platform, which includes an upgraded high-fidelity three-channel audio system over three times more powerful than previous generation pinball audio system. KISS Pinball includes an amazing array of modern and retro features to appeal to players of all skill levels:

• 10 famous KISS hit songs: Deuce, Hotter Than Hell, Lick It Up, Shout It Out Loud, Detroit Rock City, Calling Dr. Love, Rock & Roll All Night, Love Gun, Love It Loud and Black Diamond
• Custom speech from Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons
• Full-color high-intensity animated LED music lights
• High-fidelity stereo sound effects and music
• Original Gene Simmons/Demon head molded toy
• K-I-S-S spell-out Drop Targets
• Blood-Spitting Demon Bass Solo player experience
• Fire-Breathing Demon “God of Thunder” Multiball Event
• Flying Starchild “Love Gun” Multiball Event

“Partnering with rock royalty like KISS is a natural for us,” said Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball. “The KISS legacy is admired generation after generation by fans worldwide – KISS’ legendary songs and performances will create an extraordinary pinball experience for players of all skill levels.”

“We are always seeking avenues to expand the KISS brand experience and the new line of KISS pinballs from Stern are an ideal extension of the brand, providing an immersive KISS experience for consumers of all ages,” said Lisa Streff, Executive Vice President, Global Licensing, of Epic Rights. 

Pricing and Availability:

Pro Model: $5,995 MSRP

Premium Model: $7,595 MSRP

Limited Edition Model: $8,795 MSRP

KISS Pinball is available through authorized Stern Pinball distributors and dealers around the world.

About Stern Pinball, Inc.

Stern Pinball, Inc., headquartered just outside Chicago, Illinois, is the oldest and largest producer of arcade-quality pinball games in the world. Stern’s highly talented creative and technical teams design, engineer and manufacture a full line of popular pinball games, merchandise and accessories. Recent Stern titles include WWE WrestleMania, The Walking Dead, Mustang, Star Trek, Metallica, The Avengers, X-Men, AC/DC, Tron, Transformers, Avatar, Iron Man, Batman, Spiderman and many more! All of Stern’s pinball games are crafted by hand and assembled by Stern’s expert team. A broad range of players enjoy Stern’s games from professional pinball players that compete in high-stakes international competitions around the globe to novice players who are discovering the allure of the silver ball for the first time. To join the fun and learn more, please visit www.sternpinball.com.

About Epic Rights:

Epic Rights is a full service global branding, licensing and rights management company dedicated to building celebrities and entertainment brands via its broad global network of retailers, licensees and agents. Working with a roster of top clients and brands, Epic Rights’ services includes licensing/branding, music merchandising, social media management, VIP ticketing and fan clubs. Epic Rights also oversees sponsorships and endorsements, digital archiving of all creative/photos/media assets and manages worldwide e-commerce for its clients in addition to providing in-house legal resources for trademark registration and audit management.  Epic Rights is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. For more information, visit: www.epicrights.com.

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

What was once just a small run of hand-built games from the boutique pinball team comprised of famed pinball Designer Dennis Norman and legendary pinball artist Greg Freres is now making the jump to full production run courtesy of Stern Pinball. Whizbang Pinball LLC had built a very limited production of games and also offered an option to purchase parts to convert your own machine from an older, less desirable game if you had the skill set, time and desire to do so. 

As most people do not have that capability, Whiz Bang has teamed up with Stern pinball and has announced the availability of games to purchase for those whom want this new take on a classic piece of pinball art and gameplay.

With a completely unique cabinet and support structure the game is stunning and guaranteed to be the center of conversation in any room, pinball fan or not.

Press release below:

Stern Pinball Announces Immediate Availability of Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons™ Pinball Machine
World's Leading Maker of Arcade-Quality Pinball Games and Whizbang Pinball Announce It's Melon Season!

MELROSE PARK, Ill., March 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Stern Pinball, Inc., the world's oldest and largest producer of arcade-quality pinball games, and Whizbang Pinball LLC officially announced the availability of their Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons™ pinball machine.

Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons™ pinball takes players on a journey through the Mellon Family farm renowned for abundant produce.  Players score points on the farm operated by the lovely Melony Mellon and her twin sisters while avoiding the wrath of their over-protective shotgun-wielding father.  The colorful easy-to-learn game features a fun classically styled pinball playfield tuned for a balance of randomness and skilled shooting challenges.  The game rewards players of all skill levels.

"Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons™ offers an entertaining classic pinball experience," said Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball.  "We're excited to work with Whizbang Pinball to provide players and operators with a unique pinball game and a fun playing experience."

"I love the combination of designing a retro-style playfield powered by today's latest technology," said Dennis Nordman, Whizbang Pinball co-founder.

This unique blend of classic and modern technologies creates a new breed of pinball machine that presents pinball as an art form while maintaining the reliability and serviceability of modern commercial pinball machines.  The playfield, backglass, and cabinet art and styling, central to the game's unique visual quality, feature detailed original characters and fresh hand-drawn artwork that blend elements of mid-century pin-up art and classic pinball themes.

Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons™ offers many unique features including:

Original retro-style playfield designed by Dennis Nordman
Original retro-style hand-drawn graphics by Greg Freres featuring fresh fruit, a cool truck and the ever popular Mellon family
A unique, durable, weathered fruit crate cabinet design
A supplemental set of powder-coated legs for ease of operation and transportation
A standard coin-door for location play
Illuminated mechanical score reels
Retro-style bumper caps and flipper bats
Dual-action bullseye melon targets
A retro mechanical Knocker  
Space for crushed beer cans to set the perfect playfield angle (players can choose their own brand or use Whoa Nellie! branded cans)  
Pricing and Availability:

Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price ("MSRP") for the United States: US$6,499

Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons™ is available through authorized Stern Pinball distributors and dealers around the world.

Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons™ merchandise and accessories are now available through the Stern Shop: http://costore.com/sternpinball/welcome.asp and select authorized distributors and dealers around the world.

About Whizbang Pinball LLC

Founded in 2009 by Greg Freres and Dennis Nordman, Whizbang Pinball LLC is a design studio that presents boutique pinball as a new art form by integrating its extensive pinball industry experience with its artistic vision for a unique combination of art and technology.

About Stern Pinball, Inc.

Stern Pinball, Inc., headquartered just outside Chicago, Illinois, is the oldest and largest producer of arcade-quality pinball games in the world.  Stern Pinball's highly talented creative and technical teams design, engineer and manufacture a full line of popular pinball games, merchandise and accessories.  Recent Stern Pinball titles include WWE WrestleMania, The Walking Dead, Ford Mustang, Star Trek, Metallica, The Avengers, X-Men, AC/DC, Tron, Transformers, Avatar, Iron Man, Batman, and Spiderman. A broad range of players enjoy Stern Pinball's games from professional pinball players who compete in high-stakes international competitions around the globe to novice players who are discovering the allure of the silver ball for the first time.  To join the fun and learn more, please visit www.sternpinball.com.

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

What was once an adolescent driven, quarter-fueled pastime has recently been relegated to dark corners of bars or man caves of specialty collectors.

Arcades and the pinball machines that excited generations with dazzling lights and bouncing metal balls have faded into foggy memories of the past for many.

But the first Arcade Expo, which starts Friday in Banning, brings the chance to relive the glory days of youth.

More than 500 pinball machines – plus classic arcade games – will be powered up and ready to play at the three-day event. Organizers hope the site of the expo, which will also feature seminars on gaming and movie screenings, will eventually become The Museum of Pinball. But before finalizing grand opening plans, they want to get people out to play the games.

“This is a big party,” show director Kenny Hardy said by phone. “There are going to be more parties and events like this as time goes. As we have more people seeing what we’re doing out here, we can work on being open year round.”

Why make Banning the pinball mecca of Southern California?

Show organizers say the Pass-area city is the perfect spot because of its proximity to Los Angeles, Orange County, Las Vegas and Arizona. The future museum has about 40,000 square feet and has room to grow. They also own 80,000 square feet behind the property.

“In a weird way, I think we’re going to put Banning on the map,” Hardy said.

RETRO REUNION 

The concept came from two big collections of games.

Hardy said he met fellow pinball collector John Weeks and the duo decided to combine forces to show off the games. Many machines are from the ’70s and ’80s. Hardy estimates the expo will have about 750 total games. In addition to pinball machines, the event will include arcade classics such as “Donkey Kong Jr.” and “Missile Command.” The show also boasts obscure shooting and bowling games from the ’60s, Hardy said.

With so many machines from the past, the event will be a time machine of sorts. Playing favorites from year’s past is a great way to take people back to simpler times, Hardy said.

“It’s like a reunion with all of your old friends from the ’80s. Remembering your old friends and even making new ones. And sharing it with future generations. Because if we don’t do that, this stuff won’t stay relevant anymore and will just go away.”

Pinball enthusiasts share the sentiment.

Pat Choy, owner of the sale and restoration business Endless Pinball in Murrieta and Anaheim, works with J.J. Abrams production company Bad Robot and lists guitarist Slash and actress Megan Fox as clients. Some clients must have pinball machines they played for the first time with their girlfriends, he said.

Via http://www.pe.com/articles/pinball-758271-machines-hardy.html

Jersey Jack sent out an email update today that was pretty light in information but heavy in mystery.

In the release JJP announces their Open House and IFPA tournament on August 9th. What caught us off guard is the picture of Jack signing WOZ back boxes. That is not what is interesting about the picture though. What is interesting is the Midway style cabinet on the dolly behind Jack. 

Could this be a cabinet for the upcoming production run of Williams famed, Python Anghelo designed Pinball Circus? I will admit that I am not an expert in Vid art packages but to me the art is unfamiliar and looks to be very glossy which leads to the fact that it may have been freshly applied. 

Is this a hint at the upcoming Pinball Circus project that JJP is rumored to be producing? If so it is very exciting to see.

You may also notice another interesting image in the picture, a pinball machine shaped to look like a Chicago style hot dog cart! Hmmmm...... Could this be the prototype for Pat Lawlor's new game? Why would JJP have a hot dog cart in the warehouse? The mysteries continue to build! Perhaps the new prototype metal and umbrella cabinet are the real "Game Changers" that we have been waiting for in pinball. And you thought an High Def LCD panel was a big deal! I know that I would like a hot, snappy, juicy hot dog to shoot out at me when I get into the vault more than a silly token. Is there tasty, mustard laden pinball in our future? Only time will tell.

Post your comments below and let us know what you think or know ion the subject. 

Oh, by the way, here is the email that was sent out today in case you missed it.

Greetings Pinball Fans,  

This Saturday August 9th, Jersey Jack Pinball will host an Open House and what we hope will be the first place holder for the Jersey Shore Pinball and Gameroom Show.

There is an IFPA sponsored Pinball Tournament on Wizard of Oz that starts at 9 AM

We will have door prizes, a Pizza Party at 1 PM and an opportunity to see a pinball factory at the Jersey Shore. We will have vendors bringing Pinball machines and video games to play and sell. Games will be setup inside and in the parking lot for the swap meet.

We will have many collectible items to buy and we guarantee perfect weather 80 degrees, low humidity and no chance of rain.

Keith Johnson will be here too!

Please RSVP to Jen@JerseyJackPinball.com

Hope to see you here! 

Oakland Pinball Machines will finally be legal in the California city after an 80-year ban following the City Council public safety committee meeting on Tuesday, June 24. The ban is part of an effort by the city council to modernize and broaden the gambling laws of Oakland, California.


The 80-year old ban can be traced back to the 1930′s when pre-war pinball machines were popular. The tables were produced from the 1900s up until the 1930s when electronic versions were introduced between 1936 and 1948, giving rise to the “payout” machines. The idea behind these flipperless tables were in the player launching the ball and using skill and nudging to get the ball to land or trigger a payout from the bartender or proprietor turning a penny into something more.



The machines became more sophisticated, resulting in the game becoming more addicting, and many cities, including Oakland, banned all pinball machines outright. Once World War II broke out, the manufacturing companies essentially ceased production of the “payout” tables in favor of the war effort and over time the ban became obsolete.

When the war was over, pinball machines began ramping up production again and in 1950, the famous D. Gottleib Co. made the first table with the modern inward facing flippers called “Spot Bowler.” From there Gottleib and Williams rode a wave of new interest in pinball and, with the advances in technology, the tables became more complex and offered more intricate goals, lights,and sounds. There were even tables that spoke to you, such as the famous “Gorgar” table. As the pinball machine and arcade become more popular, cities decided to remove the old bans with one of the most famous cases being that of the New York City Council.

In 1976, the New York City ban on pinball tables was overturned by a historic shot made by Roger Sharpe, one of the best players in the city. Before the City Council, the demonstration provided the tangible evidence that the game was indeed based on skill, not chance. Sharpe explained that if he pulled the plunger back to the right position, the ball would go in a certain lane and before the assembled council and reporters he made the shot perfectly.

Now it is Oakland’s turn and according to the SFGate, the public safety committee of the Oakland City Council will vote to overturn the 80-year-old ban, which has not been strictly enforced. The recommendation before the council (PDF) will allow councilman Noel Gallo to start work on a broader campaign to update the gambling laws. The vote will remove a club poised above arcade owners and bartenders who have pinball leagues hosted at their establishments and will hopefully allow the only current pinball company, Stern, to make more tables in the area such as they usually display at CES.

Image Source | The Everett Collection

Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/1314708/oakland-pinball-machines-to-be-legalized-after-80-year-ban/#CZOxAf7j7H4rmTRB.99

Jersey Jack Pinball today announced some rather big news today as the company has hired legendary audio engineer or "pinball sound master" David Thiel to work on The Hobbit Pinball, the next Pat Lawlor game as well as future JJP games. Considering David's past work including the incredible sound on Tron Legacy pinball along with the groundbreaking sound system utilized by JJP, we can rest assured that the future of pinball will sound amazing.

In addition, JJP revealed new images of The Hobbit Pinball playfield art.

Read the press release and see the images after the break.

While certain games produced by Stern pinball have fallen flat on the sales and collectibility front, others have done the complete opposite and soared in collectibility as well as value. This action has led to the reality that some games such as Iron Man, Tron, AC/DC and others have become out of reach for players due to limited (though not intended) availability. 

Stern Pinball today announced a new 'Vault' edition Iron Man Pro in order to satisfy the consumer demand. The new run of machines will include updated technical specs inline with current production games features.

It is yet unclear as to how many of these 'Vault Editions' will make their way into production as licenses, parts availability and other factors have to be considered but either way it's a great way to keep the market in check while providing players with the games that they desire to play.

Stern Pinball Opens its Vault to Reintroduce Iron Man Pinball

World’s Leading Maker of Arcade-Quality Pinball Games Announces First Stern Vault Release With Iron Man Pro

MELROSE PARK, IL – June 12, 2014 – Stern Pinball, Inc., the world's oldest and largest producer of arcade-quality pinball games, announced today it is opening the Stern Vault for re-release of Iron Man™ Pro. The Iron Man pinball machine features visuals, speech, music and sound effects from the Marvel blockbuster films Iron Man and Iron Man 2. After numerous requests from the pinball community, Stern is re-introducing this exceptional game.

Originally released in 2010, the Iron Man Pro model continues to bring the battle between billionaire industrialist, Tony Stark/Iron Man, and his enemies to the fingertips and flippers of pinball players. With non-stop action, Iron Man Pro Vault Edition heightens the excitement, bringing back a classic game for the players of any age and skill level.

 

Iron Man Pro Vault Edition features technological and manufacturing upgrades utilized by Stern in its current Pro models.  Among the improvements is all LED playfield lighting.  Iron Man is manufactured with Stern’s updated modern metal and wood back box with red t-molding and with a decaled cabinet and speaker housing.  The Iron Monger, War Machine and Whiplash figures have been molded in one piece construction for improved strength.

“Operators tell us Iron Man is a great earning pinball game, and enthusiasts tell us it’s a great playing game.  We didn’t make enough,” said Gary Stern, founder, CEO and chairman of Stern Pinball.

Look for future Stern Vault Editions.

Pricing and Availability:

Pro Version:  $5,495 (MSRP)

About Stern Pinball, Inc.

Stern Pinball, Inc., headquartered just outside Chicago, Illinois, is the oldest and largest producer of arcade-quality pinball games in the world. Stern’s highly talented creative and technical teams design, engineer and manufacture a full line of popular pinball games, merchandise and accessories.  Recent Stern titles include Mustang, Star Trek, Metallica, The Avengers, X-Men, AC/DC, Tron, Transformers, Avatar, Iron Man, Batman, Spiderman and many more!  All of Stern’s pinball games are crafted by hand and assembled by Stern’s expert team. Both pinball enthusiasts and casual players around the globe enjoy Stern’s games. For more information, please visit www.sternpinball.com. 

###

 

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

Pinball machines and other arcade games don’t seem very nefarious now, but they apparently did in the early 1980s — enough so that city police code restricts these types of devices to fewer than 10 per business.

That’s why the Board of Supervisors this week approved a resolution that would exempt two businesses — one a yet-to-be opened bar in the Castro, another a screen printing shop in Cole Valley — from a section of police code limiting what it calls “mechanical amusement devices.”

Supervisors Scott Wiener and London Breed, whose districts include the businesses, proposed the exemption and said they now want to look at whether the code is obsolete and should be repealed. Wiener said the code is one of many affecting bars, restaurants and other businesses that may have made sense at the time but now seem bizarre. For example, two years ago he authored legislation to repeal outdated restaurant codes that, among other things, prevented some cafes from toasting the bagels they sold or serving ice cream in a cone (cups were all right).

“It almost seems like a kitschy thing now, but it’s part a of a broader theme,” Wiener said. “If you look at businesses and restaurants these days, there is so much variation, so much creativity — sometimes the municipal code doesn’t take into account the positive aspects of allowing businesses flexibility to offer products and services.”

The Cole Valley business, Free Gold Watch, offers T-shirt and other printing services as well as a number of pinball machines. The arcade games were flagged by the Entertainment Commission as possibly violating the police code. Neighbors love the arcade, however, and submitted dozens of letters in support, according to Breed’s office.

The soon-to-be opened Castro bar will be located on the northwest corner of Market and Sanchez streets at the location that formerly housed Leticia’s, a Mexican restaurant. Wiener said the owners, who also own the nearby Blackbird Bar, want to make it an arcade-themed watering hole. Since the police code actually restricts the number of arcade games by the businesses square footage, Wiener said they would be limited to three or four without the exemption.

If the supervisors author legislation to repeal the police code, they would probably still require business owners who want to host arcade games to apply for a special permit, he added.

via http://blog.sfgate.com/cityinsider/2014/04/23/like-pinball-supervisors-say-limits-on-arcade-games-are-outdated/