In the pinball world there are but a few designers that have truly revolutionized the game. Pat Lawlor is among the top of that very elite list of people. Let's put it this way, if Pat were a president hey might be George Washington, Abraham Lincoln or Thomas Jefferson. Love his style or not, Pat has changed pinball forever with the groundbreaking introductions of the shaker motor, talking heads, a vertical playfield, you name it. If it was a crazy idea, it came from Pat. An innovators innovator always looking to push the limits of pinball. 

Having been outside of pinball since his stint at Stern pinball Pat has never stopped working on his pinball designs. As such it is with great privileg that JJP welcomes Pat to their team. Pat will rejoin working with long time friend and programmer Ted Estes to create his new game which will be, for the first time in many years, an original themed game from a major manufacturer and not a license which is great news for pinball fans who recall the era of Funhouse, Whirlwind and other games from Pat and team.

We look forward to seeing what this new team brings to pinball as it's rebirth is upon us here in 2014.  

Read the Press Release and video after the break.

Bumpers are seen on the playing field of the game "Paragon" of Daniel Spolar's private collection of pinball machines Monday, July 1, 2013 in Fort Myers, Fla. The Pittsburgh native has been collecting seriously with business partner David Denholtz since 2004. In 2007 they were contacted by the Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida saying that a "Spider-Man" machine had been sitting for a year and in need of service. Spolar thought the idea of a machine going to waste was not acceptable. He not only stepped in, fixed and maintains the machine today, but he helped to found projectpinball.org. (Corey Perrine/Staff )


Read the rest of the story via http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2014/jan/22/project-pinball-a-visit-to-the-pinball-asylum/?CID=happeningnow

Pinball may be a bit of an underappreciated art, but that doesn’t mean it’s lost and forgotten. Even in the increasingly expensive New York, pinball enthusiasts have found a way to carve out a part of the city for themselves.


The folks over at AnimalNY went and visited Modern Pinball NYC, a combination showroom and arcade, and talked to the top-ranked player of New York Steve Zahler about the current state of modern pinball.


via www.kotak_u.com.au

LAKEWOOD, NJ -- Jersey Jack Pinball Inc. said it has entered into an equity partnership with an investment firm identified only as JDA. The up-and-coming pinball machine manufacturer said the partnership will provide means to fund multiple game platforms, allow it to expand into related technologies and markets, and attract "deeper management" resources. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Jersey Jack Pinball's announcement provided little detail about its new partner other than that "JDA has a proven track record of success and generated over $40 million for their shareholders in their last transaction," and that the firm's principals are pinball enthusiasts who own more than 40 machines, including Jersey Jack's The Wizard of Oz. "We are very excited to combine the strengths of these two dynamic organizations," said Jack Guarnieri, who founded the pinball company in 2011. "The expanded talent, experience and financial strength that this brings will enhance the future products we are able to build and add to the enjoyment of our player base." Reaction to the news from the pinball community has been mixed, but many fans see the deal as a necessity. (See comments at Pinside.com). At the end of 2009, Stern Pinball Inc. brought in a group of investors led by David J. Peterson, a founder and managing director of Hagerty Peterson & Co. LLC (Barrington, IL). 
Jersey Jack Pinball began shipping the Wizard of Oz flipper game, now in full production, in the second quarter of 2013. At the end of last year, the factory had shipped more than 700 games. Much of the funding for Wizard of Oz development was provided by down payments for preorders. Its next title, The Hobbit, is scheduled to ship at the end of this year. The Wizard of Oz line consists of various models, including the 75th Anniversary game, the Emerald City edition and a "standard" machine. The latter is targeted at coin machine operators, who represent the smallest number of buyers. The 1,000-unit production run of the Emerald City edition is expected to end soon. The 75th Anniversary model, which pays homage to MGM's 1939 Technicolor classic, recently entered production; about 1,500 units are planned. Once 3,000 WoZ pinball machines are sold, Jersey Jack Pinball can likely say it's a $20 million company.

See more at: http://www.vendingtimes.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=EB79A487112B48A296B38C81345C8C7F&nm=Vending+Features&&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=B6126CB1783844459FEB5E3C2DA854C5#sthash.V5ZljWwV.dpuf

FARGO – A pinball arcade is coming to downtown Fargo.

Tilt Pinball will open sometime this month in former office space on the main floor of an apartment building at 413 Broadway, said owner Scott Nelson.

Nelson, an entrepreneur who operates rental property in downtown Fargo, plans to run the arcade without a staff as a membership-only operation.

Access will be controlled using a key-fob security system similar to the kind used by health clubs, said Nelson, who intends to keep the hours flexible.

“If you get off work at 3 in the morning, you can go play. If you get a break at lunch, you can go play,” Nelson said, adding there’s “a whole ton of people” who love pinball machines.

He said the person who helps keep his machines running has about 100 clients in the Fargo area.

Nelson said Tilt Pinball, which will have about 11 “pins” or pinball machines, grew out of his own need for a place to keep his personal collection of machines.

A membership in the arcade will likely cost $35 for the first year, with subsequent renewals costing $20 a year, Nelson said.

The membership gets people in the arcade. Once there, members and their guests will have to pay to play, the price per game being whatever the pinball machine originally charged.

“If it was a quarter, it’s a quarter. If it was 50 cents, it’s 50 cents,” Nelson said.

To contact Nelson, call (701) 799-3885. The arcade will also have a website at www.tiltpinballfargo.com

Tournament to raise funds for Kids Fight Cancer

MELROSE PARK, IL -- Stern Pinball Inc. will be a premier sponsor of the International Flipper Pinball Association's upcoming state championship series. The first-ever IFPA state series is expected to draw 440 finalists representing 28 different IFPA championships all taking place on Saturday, Feb. 8, in different locations across the country.

Every IFPA state championship will incorporate a special charity challenge to raise money for Kids Fight Cancer. Stern Pinball, a manufacturer of flipper games based here, will match funds during the tournament.

More than 5,000 players last year played in matches to qualify for this year's inaugural state series. The popularity of the series is a welcomed reminder of the renewed interest in pinball, according to the pinball manufacturer.

"We are pleased to sponsor the first IFPA state championship series. It is wonderful to acknowledge the talented players and be part of the resurgence," said Stern Pinball chairman and chief executive Gary Stern. "It's also a great opportunity for us to help out Kids Fight Cancer, a local Chicago-based organization, whose motto 'celebrate life' is represented in each creative project we undertake."

Founded eight years ago, the International Flipper Pinball Association now ranks more than 22,000 players competing in over 1,500 leagues and tournaments around the world. There are IFPA directors in 29 countries.

The winners of the IFPA state championship series will qualify for the IFPA's U.S. national championship, which will be held in May in Denver.

More information can be had from IFPA's Zach Sharpe at (847) 877-6344 or Josh Sharpe at (847) 601-1609).

- See more at: http://www.vendingtimes.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=EB79A487112B48A296B38C81345C8C7F&nm=Vending+Features&&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=A9EB11D00B744246B1B44287F09D6A0B#sthash.2tFJjNwV.dpuf

Two longtime pinball fans are taking advantage of a recent revival of the classic game with a new place for everyone to play right in Kips Bay. NY1's Roger Clark filed the following report.

It's the unmistakeable sound of balls hitting bumpers, points piling up, the noise exuding from a place where pinball is king.

"It's like mixing old school with new computer games so you feel like everyone can be part of it," said one pinball player.

"I mean there's an actual metal ball and you are actually hitting it," said another pinball player.

Modern Pinball NYC opened two and a half months ago, the brainchild of Steve Zahler and Steve Epstein, pinball players who met at a tournament a few years back. They've latched on to what seems to be the recent resurgence of pinball, opening the interactive showroom at 362 Third Avenue where you can buy a machine, but also play the games until your fingers just can't take it anymore.

In Epstein's case, it was a return to the business. His family owned an arcade near Times Square for years.

"The whole idea that pinball was coming back in New York City was on my radar and I thought it was time to re-open and come back really strong with something that was really special," Epstein said.

Pinball was actually illegal in the city for years until 1976. It went underground again as video games started popping up in places where pinball machines traditionally held court, and maintaining video games was a lot less expensive. That's when pinball began disappearing from corner stores and arcades.

"Pinball I believe was taken away from the people, and I think when people come here and start playing and see how much fun they are and reconnect with their past, they get addicted, and there is no pulling them away from that machine," Zahler said.

At Modern Pinball NYC they even have pinball classes to give you some tips on the game. But most of all, Zahler and Epstein want folks to have some fun playing the game they fell in love with.

"In my old store I probably used to play two hours a day here I play about an hour a day so there is a real reason to come back and do this," Epstein said.

For more information, visit modernpinballnyc.com

Watch the video here
 http://www.ny1.com/content/news/201797/modern-pinball-wizards-unite-at-kips-bay-arcade

After a bright-yellow false start, here is the real thing: the fourth-generation, 2015 Corvette Z06. If Chevrolet makes a ZR1 version of the C7 Corvette, it's going to be absolutely mega, because the Z06 is just about everything we got in the last ZR1, but better.

The new Z06 engine is just an inch taller than the LT1 in the Corvette Stingray, and there are few more powerful inches in the world: the LT4 is a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 producing "at least" 625 horsepower and 635 pound-feet of torque. The integrated 1.7-liter Eaton supercharger and intercooler sit in the engine's vee, that blower spinning beyond the ZR1's supercharger limit of 15,000 up to 20,000 rpm and utilizing shorter rotors to get up to speed more quickly. To keep gas mileage in check, you'll still benefit from Chevy's Active Fuel Management, as well as direct injection and variable valve timing. It's also been fitted with a dry-sump oil system that has a larger capacity than on the Stingray's Z51 package.

The Z06 will shift through either a seven-speed manual or the all-new 8L90 eight-speed automatic transmission that we thought was going into the Corvette and not into the Z06. It's a conventional automatic with a torque converter overseeing four gearsets and five clutches, and it's lighter than the six-speed in the Stingray while fitting in the same space. Chevrolet says there's no performance sacrifice, declaring that "wide-open-throttle upshifts executed up to eight-hundredths of a second quicker than the dual-clutch in thePorsche 911." Naturally, it will come with paddle shifters. Those who prefer three pedals will find their seven-speed manual fitted with a new dual-mass flywheel and dual-disc clutch.

Manhandling all that power are three downforce packages, the first being a splitter, spats at the front wheel arches and the rear spoiler in the Stingray's Z51 Performance Package. The carbon fiber aero kit adds winglets in front, carbon fiber rocker panels and a larger rear wing with a wickerbill. The Z07 Package will top it all off and include more bits, but Chevrolet hasn't told us what those bits will be since "development testing is ongoing." It has told us, though, that you'll do faster lap times than in the 2014 ZR1.

The cockpit gets a color overhaul to emphasize the driver, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, the choice of GT and Competition Sport seats, and Napa leather, aluminum, carbon fiber and micro-suede as the suite of materials. For the first time, you'll be able to enjoy it with the roof off, too: the race-ready aluminum frame has made a removable roof panel possible. With the panel removed, the 2015 Z06 is 20-percent stiffer than the ZR1; with it on, it's 60-percent stiffer.

It will go on sale in early 2015, but you can read about it now in the press release below and stay tuned for our live photos from the Detroit Auto Show floor.

Via Autoblog

Gary Stern and company rolled into Las Vegas with a lineup of games to showcase at this years Consumer Electronics Show (CES).  Games on the show floor include Metallica, AC/DC and Star Trek as well as their pint sized counterparts in "The Pin" model line up.

Read the press release below:

PR Newswire

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2014


LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Stern Pinball, Inc., the world's leading maker of real pinball games, today announced that it will exhibit at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and feature its full line of high performance pinball games. Located in South Hall 2 at booth 25112, Stern will be showcasing its arcade quality pinball machines, debuting its new Avengers and Transformers Consumer Pins™ and reveal new details about its soon-to-be released Ford Mustang pinball game.

CES attendees will be able to rock their flippers to Metallica and AC/DC pinball, embark on a voyage of the Starship Enterprise to defend the planets of the Federation in the highly-rated Star Trek game and join their favorite Avenger or Transformer for an action-packed adventure on one of Stern's stylish consumer machines.

"Our collection of pinball machines is sure to challenge and excite a range of gamers from music lovers to Trekkies to classic American car fanatics," said Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc. "Be sure to stop by our booth to play a few of Stern's chart-topping games and check out the newest editions to our lineup."

Stern Pinball is the leading designer and manufacturer of arcade-quality pinball games on the planet. The company traces its lineage to Philadelphia, PA in the 1930s where Sam Stern entered the business of operating pinball games. Sam subsequently moved to Chicago where he became part owner and President of Williams Manufacturing, a pioneer in the pinball industry. Sam passed his lifelong enthusiasm for the game and the business of pinball to his son, Gary Stern, who founded Stern Pinball. Today pinball remains one of the world's favorite pastimes.

About Stern Pinball, Inc.  
Stern Pinball, Inc., located just outside of Chicago, Illinois, is the leading producer of pinball games in the world. Stern's highly talented creative and technical teams design, engineer and manufacture popular arcade-quality pinball games. Recent popular Stern titles include Star Trek, Metallica, 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 in the United States. 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.

Media Contact: 
Amanda Brandt 
FortyThree, Inc. 
831.401.3175 
SternPinball@43pr.com

SOURCE Stern Pinball, Inc.




Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1669194#ixzz2pklzg1lt

The Pinball Arcade has had a fantastic run through its first two season of tables on console, PC and mobile devices and, according to a massive update over on the official fan blog, 2014 will be another epic year full of new tables, tweaks, fixes and features across all platforms. 

Pinball Arcade Fans site writer PIN WiZ posted a huge update to ring in the new year, relaying info directly from the development team at FarSight Studios to Pinball Arcade fans (Oh, NOW I get the site name!) concerning the next year’s worth of updates. 

“2013 was another successful year for FarSight Studios’ The Pinball Arcade, which saw the addition of 22 popular and classic tables…” the post reads. “FarSight plans to greatly improve the user experience in 2014 with new featuers, game modes and even more highly anticipated tables such as Black Knight 2000, Junkyard and WHO Dunnit!” 

For those unfamiliar with the game, FarSight emulates real-world pinball tables and makes them available on all manner of digital platforms, including the most recent release of Season One tables on the PlayStation 4. From long-time favorites and more modern classics to licensed tables they had to Kickstart just to get the opportunity to recreate, The Pinball Arcade’s collection of top-notch virtual tables has grown pretty dang impressive over the years, boasting tables like Theatre of Magic, Attack from Mars, Medieval Madness, Terminator 2, The Twilight Zone and more. 

But while the game is already boasts an impressive virtual arcade, FarSight has set its sights even higher in 2014, gearing up to deliver 10 new tables for Season Three, alongside a host of new features like Challenge Mode, which gives players additional goals to shoot for after they’ve mastered existing goals, and online head-to-head play that features multiple payers tackling the same table at once, with your opponent’s score visible on your own screen. 

The 2014 update promises additional online modes, too, as well as a brand new user interface (praise the lord) to make navigating your table collection and getting in a game easier than ever. Existing tables will also receive new emulation tweaks for better play, and the game will also boast support for Linux, home cabinets and DirectX 11. 

Perhaps the most surprising addition of all is Pinball After Dark, which will likely be a separate game entirely that will allow FarSight to emulate more mature tables that would not be appropriate for the family-friendly core game. 

For those of you gaming on consoles, FarSight is planning a complete re-launch ofThe Pinball Arcade for Xbox platforms while the content train keeps rolling on the PS3, PS4 and Vita. The PS4 should get all Season 2 tables sometime around April, with Season 3’s first table, Fish Tales, available sometime in March. The final two Season Two packs are slated for January release on the PS3 and Vita. 

Via cinemablend.com