Stern to remake their old pinball machines | What classics will they make? | LOTR to become Spike 2?

In this video, we delve into the exciting news from Stern Pinball, where they're considering remastering DMD-era games based on demand. The speculation is rampant, leaving pinball enthusiasts wondering which beloved titles might make a comeback.
One intriguing aspect is the potential upgrade to Spike 2 software, transitioning from dot matrix displays to modern LCD screens. How would iconic machines like Sopranos, Metallica, The Walking Dead, and Game of Thrones fare with this enhancement, and would fans be eager to add them to their collections?
The buzz in the pinball community often centres around remakes of favorites like Lord of the Rings and TRON, with enthusiasts clamouring for their return. Ghostbusters, too, has been a subject of discussion, with rumours swirling about a potential Ghostbusters Vault in the works.
While the prospect of remakes is exciting, questions arise about Stern's recent build quality. Can they capture the intricate details and craftsmanship of the original models and statues, especially in the case of a Lord of the Rings remake?
And, of course, the burning question: how much will these revived classics cost? Join us as we explore the possibilities and uncertainties surrounding Stern's potential remastering venture. Don't forget to share your thoughts and wish-list in the comments below!
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[@nkyryry]

I don’t give a shit how collectors feel. Everyone who wants a specific game should be able to buy it. Remake them all for all I care. Sorry if your “investment” goes down in value, but it’s a game meant to be played. Not kept and flipped 10 years down the road.

[@quasarulas3968]

I’m glad rare games like cactus 🌵 canyon are being remade because it gives more people a chance to play them and the original 90s versions will always be valuable to certain collectors. It’s like vinyl people pay through the roof for an original repressing and it’s still the same shit at least every one can listen to the represses

[@007bondson1]

I agree 100% if you’re in this to try to flip it and just make money on an iconic game that’s BS to not want it to be remade. Others should go ahead and just sell it before prices drop before the next remake, and then not have the game. I’m hoping for MMr and AFMr … come on CGC. Hire more people do whatever you have to do the demand is there

[@elsquibbs]

I'd like to see LOTR and Simpsons Pinball Party.

[@zombie3833]

They aren't stopping LE's. They are doing away with re-releasing new versions of LE's (Elvira Blood Red, JP 30th, etc)

[@JosvanMeer]

Ghostbusters would probably my top pick. its not "old" but its an awesome theme. Lord of the rings and Game of Thrones would be next. If they are going to remake their dmd games that would be interesting in a Spike 2 form.

[@dmarqu11]

Good point, so proud of the chum bucket molding on the new Jaws pin promo. Too funny, Stern laughs all the way to the bank, as always.

[@JohnSmith78098]

You and Cary Hardy are some of my favorite ppl in the pin world!

[@fastbenny007]

I totally agree. Love watching both Chris and Carey. They both got me into pinball.

[@GonzosPinballFlipperama]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it.

[@markm9282]

I wasn't in the habit of buying NIB machines at the time so I missed out on Batman 66....I'd love a "Batusi" edition if they want to do an anniversary/special edition run lol :)

[@SpencerPlanton]

Tron would be an interesting remake. I would like to see that.

[@svenop]

Should be interesting to see OG Lotr prices drop now

[@eonbree8593]

id love that. honestly its like the one pin i want

[@moobutt]

Please let it be AC/DC Luci, LOTR and Tron!!!!! Oh and Ghostbusters!

[@mathiasg3335]

Imagine if they remake Sega's game, since they own those game. Apollo 13, starship Troopers, Twister, goldeneye, id4 and so many others

[@trondsi]

I would love to hear your thoughts on Jim Henson's Labyrinth Pinball Machine. I just played it, so here's my two cents: Nice theme and well integrated with the game, with very good use of David Bowie's voice (obviously made by fans of the movie, but no hint of Jennifer Connelly except a vague silhouette in the art!). Some very nice ramps/loops. Central orbit is dangerous. Multiball is pretty easy to get. Need to try it out more. :)

[@GonzosPinballFlipperama]

Hi mate, Firstly I'm highly unlikely to play one because our distributor over here in the UK won't be getting any. Secondly, I've never seen the film. I remember watching the Dark Crystal but not Labyrinth . . . .I've never seen Texas Chainsaw Massacre either.

[@trondsi]

@@GonzosPinballFlipperama Too bad, since it is quite fun with those "labyrinthine" ramps. It may be one of those cases where the pinball is better than the movie (shhh, don't tell any movie fans).

[@michaelfokas8884]

Simpsons!! Feel like that shouldn’t be a hard license to get. I also just finished my second watch thru of Sopranos and would love to see that game get re-made. Two machines I would love to own one day. Would love to play those games and get achievements and badges and stuff from insider connected. Would be fun.. Also to follow up on the no more LEs.. here’s an excerpt from a KnappArcade Article that came out recently. Earlier today I spoke with Stern Pinball's George Gomez on the subject and he said the following: "Looks like lots of confusion on the topic of future LE’s…to clarify, the magic words are LE. We may celebrate anniversaries with Prem level art packages or create other Premium level editions like Vaults, or remasters. We won’t make additional version LE’s... I’ll be reiterating that stuff on podcasts." He went on to add: "Any future anniversary edition will be based on a Premium game and not numbered or limited."

[@Boxoflightsarcade]

Sounds awesome. Where did you see they aren’t making LEs anymore? I wonder if it will just be pro and premium then? LOTR remake would be epic.

[@Boxoflightsarcade]

Sorry. Listened to the end so I get it now.

[@thesmoness]

Never said they were going to stop making LE's - it was some comment to say they wouldn't do re-runs of LE's anymore like with the JP 30th anniversay etc because it pissed of LE buyers. But there seems to be enough wiggle room in the language to still provide them the ability to make special additons we will see. Idc either way I don't buy LE's

[@thesmoness]

"no more LE's after launch" - there will still be LE's with each release

[@GonzosPinballFlipperama]

I thought it sounded like the other way around when I read the email.

[@jcg9998]

I'm guessing that they are going to make the DMD games with LCD screens. I have a distributor friend who told me over a year ago that Stern had already figured out the technology and were going to eventually sell Lord of the Rings using the new format.

[@GonzosPinballFlipperama]

That's my favourite post 😂

[@matthewdonnelly2392]

Stern no longer holds the license for LOTR. Don’t get your hopes up on that one.

[@jcg9998]

@@matthewdonnelly2392 Not questioning the accuracy of your statement. However, I'd have to believe that there is a lot of pent up demand for the game as I have heard many people say they would buy it. It would only be a matter of paying for the license. The cost to Stern would be relatively minimal considering the game has been designed already.

[@jcg9998]

@@GonzosPinballFlipperama Kaneda said on his podcast tonight that he spoke with George Gomez of Stern earlier in the day and Gomez told him that they had been buried in requests to remake Lord of the Rings, Tron and Ghostbusters. Gomez said that they are trying to work through the difficult problems of licensing (because the original people they dealt with are no longer working at those companies) and porting over the games to the current format. So there's that... we know that Stern is actually trying to get this done...

[@eonbree8593]

wait hold up? a remake of lotr?! my favorite machine?! count me in!

[@thesmoness]

If they did recreations of like LOTRO they couldn't get away with a lesser version it would need to be an exact recreation. But LCD vs DMD yah idk there.

[@GonzosPinballFlipperama]

I agree

[@szaszapperley3893]

I'm another one that missed the boat on a NIB Batman 66...I'm hoping Stern will pull that one from the vault and do some kind of special limited redo like Elvira.

[@rickpontificates3406]

The first game the new Stern company came out with was Secret Service and it was designed poorly, but one of their best games was Time Machine

[@dmarqu11]

Elvis is the only older I would like to see reproduced from Stern. I had one for a few years and wish I had the room to hang on to it. AC/DC would be great to see again. Not buying either one, but those are my two top choices of their past titles.

[@brunogaspar3977]

Frankly I think the idea quite odd! Would have to be for high demand games and with different improved art, lcd and spike 2 or 3 systems. STERN saves a lot of money because the games won’t need R&D and still charge 8K/9,7K. Is there ppl enough to justify remakes?

[@ryanp8021]

I’d like to see them do new playfield art on LotR. That’s a top tier game that deserves the Zombie Yeti treatment if they do remake it.

[@quasarulas3968]

I’d like to see it with new artwork as well, I like the dmd and don’t think it needs a tv with movie clips but I would prefer something more classic lord of the rings than neon cartoons. Old school hand painted film poster would be a much more fitting aesthetic. Something akin to old Star Wars and Indy posters imo

[@ryanp8021]

@@quasarulas3968Those posters you refer to are by Drew Struzan. His art on a pinball playfield would be perfection.

[@metamorphik9676]

fwiw I heard from a salesperson for a large distributor in the US that the re-leases will indeed have the same playfields but will be Spike2/LCD. Not saying that is 100% fact but that's what I was told.

[@mfranzusan3014]

I want stern to remake their OG first generation ss games. Literally get the home-use crowd excited for cheaper, non-licensed, general themed games that got them on the map. A current game is worth tens of thousands. The cost of a reasonable used Car. Update them with newer boards. Adjustable for tournament play. That would be great!

[@GonzosPinballFlipperama]

I like that idea.

[@SpencerPlanton]

I like this idea.

[@Gypsycat19]

Meteor

[@RecRoomWorld]

Tron and Ghostbusters please... and oh yes AC/DC of course

[@e5m956]

Just skip the lame pro version of AC/DC and just make the one with the under the playfield "welcome to hell" mini playfield!

[@RecRoomWorld]

@@e5m956 I second that!

[@rickdeckard4735]

I've always been super glad that some of my favorites like LotR, Star Trek, Walking Dead and Game of Thrones came out before LCD screens. They'd be absolutely hideous with them.

[@SpencerPlanton]

I have to agree. Less is sometimes more with regard to DMD / LCD.

[@stevescoolcollectibles5182]

I think if Stern Truedaux. They might as well do it from scratch. JJP really missed the boat not doing that license and Indy. How can you do Godfather, EJ and not ho for those two.

[@TheGamingHoser]

Call me a cynic but I see a pinball marketing war going on right now. Stern announces their newest game, Jaws. Next day Pedretti (through Cary Hardy) announces that they will be doing "mystery" Bally/Williams remakes. The type of announcement (not an officially produced video) and the timing makes me suspicious it was a marketing attempt by Pedretti to hurt Jaws sales by causing some excitement and distraction about these mystery remakes and possibly introduce some buyer doubt. Then Stern happens to announce "possible" DMD remakes immediately after the Pedretti leak that I think pissed them off. Is Stern just trying to poor cold water on the Pedretti remake announcement as revenge for trying to mess with their Jaws release marketing? I have a feeling they have zero plans for remakes and are just messing with Pedretti for trying to mess with their "Shark Week".

[@SpencerPlanton]

A monopoly is never a good idea. I am happy if the companies realise the value of the money in the customers pocket. It’s good for us and good for the hobby.

[@jcg9998]

They have been telling us that they will only remake the Premium and Pro versions and not the LE versions but I am still waiting for them to definitively state that they will no longer do what they did in the Anniversary edition of Jurassic Park. That is that they gave you powder coating, mirrored backglass, etc... They did not specifically state that they would not take any of the 'stuff' that you get in the LE and put it in the Anniversary Edition. Sure, no signatures but who cares about that?

[@slinger2112]

If they hold to what they say, a fixed number of LEs will still be made during the initial run of a cornerstone. If an Anniversary release happens, it will likely be Premium (leaving the opening for Pro also). I'd assume it'd be near the premium pricing at time of release (~$10k USD now), however their press release doesn't limit a price adder like Chris referenced in his video (+500USD or GBP). I wouldn't expect the Anniversary editions to include powder coating, shaker motors, anti-reflective glass, serial plaques. It'll be anniversary artwork, extra code (that is also shared back to the original run games), and a certificate celebrating the anniversary. They won't make as much profit per anniversary game (not as much LE markup), but since they aren't limited to a 2nd run of 500 or 1000... they can sell more, so may have an overall higher profit. Also, accessory sales for the bits that the Premium Anniversary don't include can drive profits too! This is my guess... but it fits with their statement. So... Godzilla 70th Anniversary Premium next year. They're still making Godzillas anyway... so just refresh the artwork for this year's builds... Sell more accessories... sell more toppers... don't piss off the Godzilla LE owners so much...

[@DoktaC4ibby]

I'd do unholy things for a Simpsons Pinball Party remake

[@afattori316]

Five versions of EHOH. Premium, LE, SLE, 40th, and BRKE.

[@FloydMaxwell]

Re-releasing LoTR, GoT & TWD sounds great to me

[@vespidcoffee]

I wonder how Stern will handle the John Trudeau games. I’m sure they don’t wanna continue having ties with that guy…

[@robertmachen4364]

The LoTR and Hobbit licenses were sold to Embracer in 2022. Does this mean a pinball machine cannot be licensed, well, not necessarily. As far as LEs, Stern will be making LEs but once the LE run on a LCD machine has been made that's it. No more LEs for that title. So LEs WILL be made just not remade. Any anniversary or signature editions of the game will be based on the Premium.

[@ThOoMii013]

Im so curious about you're opinion on virtual pinball. Lotr would also be my pick. I love to play that game at our pinball club in the Netherlands.

[@GonzosPinballFlipperama]

I have never played a virtual pinball machine . . . . The only time that I ever saw one was in a warehouse and it wasn't plugged in.

[@DJ.B_74]

There are a lot of beautifully recreated old Stern tables on visual pinball. If Stern starts making old tables again I'm wondering if Stern will take legal action against the VP community. Or at the very least send them Cease & Desist orders. I'm going to backup all my Stern Visual pinball tables because one day you won't be available to download them again.

[@zombie3833]

Stern remakes I want 1. Tron 2. X-Men (with 90s sounds and animations) 3. LotR 4. Star Trek (you need to give this more time. It's a phenomenal game) 5. Metallica Also, GoT is a sad show and a sadder game.

[@NoLimitsCommemorativ]

I know it was "SEGA" but South Park absolutely, 100% deserves a new table out. I'd buy it instantly based on theme alone.

[@aprilfalls2405]

High Roller Casino

[@AdamGtr86]

Kaneda already said it was Metallica for a while. Just like he called Jaws for a year and got leaked photos of Jaws which must have come from internal. Just like he knew Elton John which must have come internal. Pretty obviously Metallica since people keep sneaking info out of the companies to him and it's always confirmed.

[@moobutt]

For this year’s re-release…. Are you saying they’re never going to release any other old titles 🤣. Come on man, you know they’re putting these press releases out to get people prepped because there’s going to be more than just Metallica coming.

[@moobutt]

Or are you Kaneda and just trying to make sure that nobody speculates for themselves and that they only listen to you? 🤣🤣🤣

[@AdamGtr86]

@@moobutt Right, but wouldn't you have heard another name by now? Stern employees can't seem to keep their mouths shut and he hasn't mentioned any other game...

[@lesleybates9560]

Remake JAWS, where the shark eats the damn ball!

[@hitoriwa]

Most players don't want this because they still play Addam's Family where you have to wait over 6 seconds every time Thing grabs the locked ball. Plus, they tend to malfunction. It disrupts the flow of the game.

[@mooncloud6563]

TRON TRON TRON TRON

[@willempjebelgie]

Lotr and simpsons pinball party

[@GonzosPinballFlipperama]

I completely forgot about Simpsons.

[@soulman3590]

I want a company to make the evil dead. I'd buy it for sure.

[@svenop]

The gollum video game that recently came out was a dumpster fire.... Stern needs to remake Lord of the Rings!

[@chibang492]

Simpsons Pinball Party.

[@matthewdonnelly2392]

It won’t be Lord of the Rings, that’s for sure. The license for the entire franchise was purchased last year by a Swedish gaming company.

[@WhispersfromtheWarp]

Lotr please

[@e5m956]

AC/DC & Metallica for sure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@CapitalFoodAdventure]

They would have to be spike 2 - they have invested too much into insider connected not to have that on offer

[@GonzosPinballFlipperama]

That's a great point

[@moobutt]

Insider Connect is a useless cost adder for me. It’s no different than useless electronic features in cars that are designed to bloat customer costs. Pins should be available for consumers without coinmechs and insider connect at a reduced price. I neither need or want that stuff. They’re still building ALL the pins like we’re all operators.

[@addegbg1]

With Embracer as the new license holder for LOTR a remake will never happen. Way too expensive license.

[@Gypsycat19]

Stern pinballs from 2001 to 2012 were crap they started getting better when jersey jack started making pinballs im a williams system 11 fan as i have 10 of them stern should do there early 80s stuff including their data east machines

[@GonzosPinballFlipperama]

I have an interview with Jack coming up in a couple of days

[@Scud87X]

First!

[@GonzosPinballFlipperama]

Very quick

[@moobutt]

Oh, and the overrated vid was fantastic!

[@GonzosPinballFlipperama]

Thanks Moo . . . much appreciated

[@Brandon1Wright]

my guess is it won’t be spike 2 but spike 3 then they will have a platform that can handle future games and legacy