Featured PostGamingPinball

Reveal: Stern Pinball Announces New ‘Stranger Things’ Pinball Machine!

Stranger Things Pinball Machine with logo and playfield background
0

If your Christmas lights are on the fritz, don’t waste your time checking each bulb. It’s not faulty wiring. No, the disturbance you’re experiencing is from the Upside Down… and Stern Pinball! Straight from Hawkins, Indiana, or rather, Stern’s factory outside of Chicago, comes the latest supernatural anomaly… a Stranger Things pinball machine!

The pinball masters over at Stern Pinball have been on a roll with killer pinball machine properties with Star Wars, Deadpool, and even Jurassic Park, but no movie or television series seemed as tailor made for a pinball machine release as the insanely popular Netflix series Stranger Things! After a long wait, the anticipation pays off as game has finally been revealed!

Is it too late to update my Christmas list, Santa?

Stranger Things pinball machine "Pro" model cabinet

The new game follows Stern’s established release model with three versions: pro, premium, and LE. All versions feature hand-drawn art that looks so good you’d think it was photoshopped assets directly from the show. Of course all models now utilize a large LCD display for scoring but also include two hideout ball scoops, a Demodog spinner, three custom ramps, a giant Demogorgon bash toy and game rules that will transport players into the Upside Down with Will, Lucas, Dustin, Hopper, Joyce, Mike, and Eleven.

What will you actually do in the game? Well, the press release give us a glimpse into the action:

“Experience the terrifying forces in Hawkins, Indiana that turn this small town “upside down” with supernatural elements, strange sightings, and government secrets. Stranger Things pinball machines will immerse players in a search to unravel the extraordinary mysteries and secret government experiments taking place at the Hawkins National Laboratory. The gameplay focuses on unlocking the hidden meanings of supernatural events occurring in and around the town, including the appearance of a girl known as “Eleven” with telekinetic abilities.”



Stranger Things Pro Pinball Playfield with ramp in up position

Stranger Things Pinball Pro Playfield Layout

Stern Pinball’s Stranger Things pinball machine with ramp in lowered position to reveal Demogorgon bash toy.

Where things really (r)amp up are with the premium and LE models. Always innovating, Stern Pinball added a first-ever video projector that displays images and animations directly on the playfield, creating dramatic interactions with gameplay action. The projector screen itself doubles as ramp that will flip down for players to bash the Demogorgon toy. Other advanced features include a cool telekinesis ball lock as if Eleven were levitating attackers in the air. Take a look at the premium updgraded art and playfield below:

Stranger Things Pinball premium cabinet

Stranger Things Pinball premium cabinet

The limited edition is truly limited, and only 500 will be made. What can you expect for your extra dollars? According to the press release:

“The LE model includes additional unique features such as an exclusive mirrored backglass, exclusive custom themed cabinet artwork, a custom autographed bottom arch, exclusive custom art blades, anti-reflection pinball glass, a shaker motor, and a sequentially numbered plaque.”

Stranger Things Pinball LE cabinet Limited Edition

Stranger Things Pinball LE Limited Edition Playfield

All this fun doesn’t come cheap. The pricing model has the pro at $6,099, the premium at $7,699, and the LE priced at $9,099! While the sticker shock may cause you pause, I can attest to the build quality and replay value of a Stern Pinball machine. They are rock solid, and build to high standards for either home use or public play.

Since Stranger Things pinball has just been announced, I’m not sure when we’ll finally start seeing the game out in the wild, but 2020 will be fun, exciting, and certainly STRANGER than ever before! Keep your eye on www.sternpinball.com for more details!



Preston Burt
Preston is a writer and graphic designer. He lives outside Atlanta, GA with his awesome wife and two amazing daughters (10 and 14). The host of the Wayback Attack Podcast, he has an affinity for VHS tapes and an obsession with arcade games and pinball machines. He has written for Paste and RETRO Magazines and is a founder of the Southern-Fried Gaming Expo.

Comments

Leave a Reply

Login/Sign up