GAD Knows What's Going On

Recent News

GAD Knows How To Celebrate the 4th

Want to Celebrate the 4th with games?  GAD knows how to celebrate. WE love to cook with fire, blow stuff up and have massive picnics. We also love to play lots of games.  Here’s a couple of things you can try:  Take your digital dart board outside for the day. It adds the extra element of wind to make the game more challenging.  Want to be inside? Create a game circuit to compete with friends and family. Keep score so each team can compete for prizes. Go from one pinball to another – or pinball to Golden Tee to darts.  Looking for something to do while waiting for it to get dark? Sit at your Classic-cade table and play through all the classic arcade game favorites!  GAD will be closing early on Friday and all weekend to celebrate 

Read More »

Stern Pinball: Transformers Pinball In Stock

Transformers Premium Edition Features from Stern Pinball  The TRANSFORMERS franchise has captivated generations of people worldwide across toys, comics, television, film and merchandise. Now, fans can experience the legendary battle between Autobots and Decepticons like never before through immersive, action-packed pinball. TRANSFORMERS: More Than Meets the Eye by Stern Pinball is available now in Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition (LE) models. In Stern Pinball’s TRANSFORMERS: More Than Meets the Eye, players join Optimus Prime and the Autobots in their mission to stop Megatron and the Decepticons from stealing Earth’s energy, conquering Cybertron, and dominating the universe. TRANSFORMERS: More Than Meets the Eye pushes mechanical innovation to new heights with a fully animatronic Megatron robot toy with an articulated fusion cannon that rotates and fires pinballs back at players. Soundwave’s cassette deck locks pinballs before launching them into high-intensity action while a custom sculpted Optimus Prime robot bash toy stands ready

Read More »

Why Pinball Games Have Moved from Bars to Basements

GAD Understands Home Game Room Demands Pinball originally was seen as a gambling machine. A game that promoted truancy and skipping school to play. So much so, it was banned for over 40 years. But that was the early days before the solid- state electronics were introduced in the 1970’s.  This began game on.  Game developers now had the ability to really create games that people would play in mass arcades, bars and other entertainment venues. But this didn’t last. As we all know , ih the 1990’s many games went digital, to game consoles and other forms of engagemnt.  But some gamers kept to the traditional pinball games. And Gary Stern at Stern pinball figured out unique ways to keep relevant. From going international to finding new audiences, Gary almost single handed keep arcade games and pinball relevant. Enter the Gen Xers. They craved the nostalgia and need to

Read More »

Join the Stern Army

Want to Host a Stern Army Event? Stern Pinball Join the Stern Army to enhance your local pinball scene. With epic Launch Parties, monthly events and prize support, the Stern Army helps boost your business and keep the excitement alive! Contact your local game rep or GAD for more information. Or flip an email over to sternarmy@sternpinball.com to get connected today! GAD Knows Stern Army   https://youtu.be/7vVr8LvKIWM?si=_8bUaf0FeSqI5yBF

Read More »

Stern Pinball: Pokemon Premium Pinball Features Explored

Pokemon Premium Edition Features from Stern Pinball In Pokémon by Stern Pinball, Trainers embark on an unforgettable journey across four distinct habitats, discovering, catching, and bonding with many of their favorite Pokémon. Players will shoot the illuminated, mechanically animated Poké Ball to catch Pokémon, build their ultimate team, and complete their Pokémon Collection. The playfield also features beautifully crafted Pokémon-themed ramps, spinners, and targets. Watch as the animatronic Pikachu reacts to your gameplay, cheering you on every step of the way! Trainers can battle their way through rival trainers and compete in the arena through dynamic, custom battle sequences. Danger lurks as Team Rocket and their infamous boss, Giovanni, plot trouble. The interactive Meowth Balloon toy swoops down onto the battle arena to challenge the Trainer. Premium games include an interactive electromagnet that adds chaos to the battle arena. Premium Game Features Include:  Pikachu animatronic toy reacts to playfield action with

Read More »

Stern Pinball: Newest Transformers

CHICAGO, IL – May 20, 2026 – Today, Stern Pinball, Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of pinball games, in collaboration with Hasbro, Inc., a leading games, IP and toy company, revealed and released a new adrenaline-fueled pinball experience celebrating one of the most iconic and successful entertainment franchises in the world – TRANSFORMERS. The TRANSFORMERS franchise has captivated generations of people worldwide across toys, comics, television, film and merchandise. Now, fans can experience the legendary battle between Autobots and Decepticons like never before through immersive, action-packed pinball. TRANSFORMERS: More Than Meets the Eye by Stern Pinball is available now in Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition (LE) models. In Stern Pinball’s TRANSFORMERS: More Than Meets the Eye, players join Optimus Prime and the Autobots in their mission to stop Megatron and the Decepticons from stealing Earth’s energy, conquering Cybertron, and dominating the universe. TRANSFORMERS: More Than Meets the Eye pushes mechanical innovation to new heights with a fully animatronic

Read More »

Stern Pinball: SPIKE 3 Speaker/Lights Available

Spike 3 Sound and Lights by Stern Pinball There are times that our job is just too much fun – and this new accessory from Stern just makes our day.  Add this light and sound kit yourself (see video) or check with us! We have service techs in some of our markets that can install for you or help you with phone support.  GAD Knows Cool Pinball Accessories https://youtu.be/AKqGEDerdvo?si=MYApT6Zovk_IiGMthttps://youtu.be/yZyLC4eotqQ?si=N3mGwv_mUuV8ur8H

Read More »

Stern Pinball: Pokemon Premium Pinball

Meet Pokemon Premium Edition from Stern Pinball In Pokémon by Stern Pinball, Trainers embark on an unforgettable journey across four distinct habitats, discovering, catching, and bonding with many of their favorite Pokémon. Players will shoot the illuminated, mechanically animated Poké Ball to catch Pokémon, build their ultimate team, and complete their Pokémon Collection. The playfield also features beautifully crafted Pokémon-themed ramps, spinners, and targets. Watch as the animatronic Pikachu reacts to your gameplay, cheering you on every step of the way! Trainers can battle their way through rival trainers and compete in the arena through dynamic, custom battle sequences. Danger lurks as Team Rocket and their infamous boss, Giovanni, plot trouble. The interactive Meowth Balloon toy swoops down onto the battle arena to challenge the Trainer. Premium and Limited Edition games include an interactive electromagnet that adds chaos to the battle arena. Every element of Pokémon by Stern Pinball has been

Read More »

Celebrating Memorial Day

GAD Understands Home Game Room Demands It’s going to be4 a great summer! Celebrations will be fun iwth the 250 USA celebrations.  Between picnics and fireworks, there’s always a bit of down time to entertian your guest. How about outfitting a home game room for your guest to get their entertainment on?  A few suggestions –  America Pinball’s Barry O’s Barbeque Challenge game is a fun, family friendly game. And very summer themed!  Stern’s most recent release of Pokemon is a winner! This game playes so well for all ages and it doesn’t amtter if you have ever found a Poke ball or not . So much fun.  Stern has a number of games thar are family favorites and we have in stock. Choose from Jurassic Park, Godzilla, Stranger Things and Agengers. Plus many, many more titles.  Golden Tee PGA Tour Home Edition is an easy edition to any home.

Read More »

Hands-Off: How Vending Operations Can Enable End Location to Bring Results

Meet Spirit Box How One CPI Customer is Changing the End Location Game Service is a pain point that affects the bottom line. This is especially true for operators performing independently. Tasked with overseeing every detail of their machine, from installation to filling to servicing, operators’ costs can be limiting to growth and business expansion. What if there was a way for operators to be hands-off? Enter Spirit Box, the company delivering a business model both beneficial to their company, and the end location.  Rethinking Machine Management Empowering Students, Streamlining Operations Spirit Box LLC supplies custom vending machines to high schools as alternatives to their traditional, brick-and-mortar spirit stores. What is unparalleled about Spirit Box is their school program that empowers students to supervise the vending machines, acting as onsite operations and business managers. Philip Baird, CPI customer and VP of Business Development at Spirit Box, explained the genesis and

Read More »

Traveling to Chicago this summer? How about a Stern Factory Tour!

Heading near Chicago this summer? How about a FREE Stern Factory Tour? Here’s how to book: Stern Pinball New All-Access Perk Unlocked: Book Your Free Stern Factory Tour! Ready to see where the magic happens?We’re excited to announce that factory tour scheduling is now open exclusively for All-Access members with a paid subscription! As a member, you get:• 1 FREE factory tour per year (Admission for you + 1 guest)• Additional guests or tours: just $25 per person During this one-hour, guided factory tour, you will:• Step behind the scenes at the Stern Pinball factory• Watch pinball machines come to life — from initial wiring to cabinet decaling• Learn about the craftsmanship, technology, and passion that powers every Stern game• Experience an up-close look at the world’s leading pinball manufacturer How to Book1. Click the link below to open the booking page2. Log into your All-Access Insider Connected account using the link on the booking

Read More »

Stern Pinball: Coin Operators Advantage

In this behind-the-scenes tour, Robert Severson takes you inside a working pinball factory to discover what it takes to bring these electromechanical marvels to life. From raw playfields to fully assembled machines, this spotlight offers a rare look at how modern pinball is imagined, engineered, and built—largely by hand. Featuring interviews with Gary Stern, George Gomez, and Zach Sharpe (son of pinball legend Roger Sharpe), this video explores what makes pinball timeless. From artwork that sparks the imagination to the interactive choreography of ramps, targets, bumpers and flippers that physically respond to every movement of the ball, Stern Pinball blends craftsmanship, technology and decades of experience to create immersive experiences that transport players into fully realized worlds of sound, light and motion. Every switch. Every coil. Every mechanism. Built to entertain you—and to make you come back for more. This is a rare look inside the headquarters of the world’s

Read More »