I’m not sure what it is about January 4th and Stern but last year it was Spider-Man Vault Edition getting an announcement and today it is the long rumored Aerosmith.
Aerosmith Pinball
Kicked around the pinball rumor mill for a while now (particularly when some concept artwork for it showed up online), this marks yet another entry for Stern’s love of older rock bands (is it ok to use the term ‘classic’ yet or would that make too many of us feel old?). This follows the likes of Elvis, The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Metallica and KISS. This table is designed by John Borg.
The design follows in the footsteps of the soon to be shipping Batman 66 in that it makes use of a large color LCD screen in the lower backbox. The hardware for this has been dubbed “SPIKE-2” for handling the HD visuals and high fidelity audio. Unlike Batman 66 however, Stern is doing a Pro model this time and so far there is no “Super Limited Edition” model announced. Granted, when certain machines sell more units than others, Stern has rolled out special Premium editions before (ex: AC/DC Luci Premium model).
Among other features that all models share are the “Jacky’s 3D sculpted mechanical ball locking toy box” which appears to work just like the Ark of the Covenant toy from Stern’s Indiana Jones pinball (2008). Some people love that (it’s a great way to surprise the player with the multiball), some hate it (the latter due to the playfield damage over time from falling balls). Players can also choose their multiball number at 3, 4, 5 or 6 multiballs, which is an interesting feature. All models also have 3 pop bumpers, “Rats in the Cellar Spinner” and more. You can check out the full breakdown of features here (click to enlarge)
Each model also features their own unique art package designed by “Dirty” Donnie Giles, who has produced artwork for many bands as well as Stern’s Metallica pinball.
Accessories such as inner art blades (to cover up the black sides) will also be available.
Stern already is setting the game up at the CES 2017 trade show. It’s too bad that they give the arcade/amusement industry less attention with their new releases (such as not bringing Batman 66 to IAAPA 2016) but their target market is more collectors than operators these days, so that would be why. If you want to see a sneak peak at the game from what Stern provided on Facebook today, click here.
Pro Model
As you would expect, the Pro model is the least expensive of the model choices and thus it comes with fewer features. Among those are lacking the mini playfield that the Premium and LE models have.
Premium Model
I’ve long felt that if you are going to get a Stern pin for a commercial location then Premium is the way to go. No need to go over the top with the more collectible LE while getting more features that makes the game more interesting and fun to play.
Aerosmith Limited Edition
For the Aerosmith collector who has to have it all and has the money to buy it
Stern has stated that it is available through Stern distributors although I do wonder how soon it will begin shipping as I am hearing that only now are Batman 66 orders starting to ship.
Let’s post the official PR for Aerosmith and ask: What do you think of this from all of the info released today?
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Stern Pinball Gets Back in the Rock and Roll Saddle With Its Release Of Aerosmith Pinball
Leading Pinball Manufacturer and Global Brand Management Firm Epic Rights Announce Newest Addition to Rock Lineup
ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL – January 4, 2016 – Stern Pinball, Inc., the world’s oldest and largest producer of arcade-quality pinball machines, and Epic Rights, Aerosmith’s global licensing agent, jointly announced today the availability of a new line of pinball machines that honor the classic and iconic rock band, Aerosmith.
Stern Pinball’s Aerosmith machines reflect the high-energy and excitement that accompanies the experience of a live Aerosmith concert. Players will rock to nine famous Aerosmith hits in the concert arena playfield and embark on an exhilarating pinball experience. Players score points and finish game objectives to raise the audience’s levels of energy, thrill and enjoyment. Higher scores amplify the experience–the higher the energy level, the bigger and louder the show–resulting in an Aerosmith pinball experience that cannot be matched.
The hard-hitting feisty American rock group best known for their powerful fusion of rock and blues has reached fans for more than four decades. This colorful band includes the much loved pop culture personalities of Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. With sales of more than 70 million albums in the United States and more than 150 million albums worldwide. Aerosmith is one of the world’s all time best-selling American rock bands. To date, they have been awarded 25 gold albums, 18 platinum albums and 12 multi-platinum albums.
“We’re thrilled to have Aerosmith join the ranks of Stern Pinball’s rock and roll line-up,” said Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball. “Aerosmith is an iconic band with a devoted fan base. Fans of both the band and pinball will be able to appreciate the extraordinary experience that the Aerosmith pinball machines provide.”
The Aerosmith machines all feature original hand-drawn art provided by “Dirty” Donny Gillies, who has produced work for bands including The Hellacopters, The Melvins, Queens of the Stone Age, The Wildhearts, Electric Frankenstein and the 5.6.7.8’s, but is most noted for his work with metal band Metallica. In addition, the machines feature custom speech from Brendon Small, creator of Metalocalypse, the American animated television series centering around a death metal band. Players will be mesmerized by the interactive “Jacky on the Box” mechanical feature on the playfield. Jacky sits on a toy box allowing players to launch pinballs through the air and slam dunk the steel ball into the box. The more balls launched into the box, the higher the opportunity for a player to earn multiballs.
“The Aerosmith pinball machines are an ideal way to expand the band’s global brand because they provide a unique and fun experience for fans and consumers of all ages,” said Lisa Streff, Executive Vice President, Global Licensing, of Epic Rights.
In addition to the heart pounding music and game experience, the machine features a full-color high-definition display. In conjunction with Stern Pinball’s new SPIKE-2 electronic platform, the display enables high-definition graphics and innovative animations. The game includes a high-fidelity 3-channel audio system that is three times more powerful than audio systems of previous generations. Aerosmith Pinball entertains with an amazing array of modern and classic features, making it suitable for all skill levels.
Aerosmith Pinball is available through authorized Stern Pinball distributors and dealers around the world.
MSRP:
Pro Model: $6199
Premium Model: $7899
Limited Edition Model: $8999
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 titles include Batman ‘66, Ghostbusters, Game of Thrones, 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 Pinball’s’s games are crafted by hand and assembled by Stern Pinball’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.
**Game Features Shown Subject to Revision or Change
Just a little gameplay: