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Sally Cohen

Stern’s Upgrade to Insider Connected

Stern’s Upgrade to Insider Connected 446 317 GAD Vending

Stern Pinball continues to expand its award-winning Insider Connected platform with new features including the brand new Location Map. Upon logging in to Insider Connected, players can search for their favorite Stern Pinball machines near them on the new Insider Connected Location Map!

Such a great app for all your Stern Pinball play! Can also track your home pinball game play, team play and if you want to play as a pro.

GET CONNECTED AND PLAY! http://sternpinball.com/insider

James Bond 60th Anniversary LE – 1 Available

James Bond 60th Anniversary LE – 1 Available 940 788 GAD Vending

The highly collectible James Bond 007 60th Anniversary Limited Edition pinball machine highlights the entire franchise of 25 films, all James Bond actors, villains, and henchmen. And GAD has 1 available (while supply lasts). 

Stern Pinball’s James Bond 007 60th Anniversary Limited Edition pinball machines will immerse players in the history of 007.  Limited to 500 machines globally, the rare 60th Anniversary Limited Edition offers players a one-of-a-kind pinball experience.  Control the chaos from Oddjob’s kinetic spinning disc hat as you battle villains and utilize special gadgets.  Survive tactical precision shots against 10 drop targets as you start Mission Multiball mayhem.  Escape SPECTRE’s evil henchmen as you navigate pinballs through 4 fast-flowing optical spinners.  Like a hidden gadget from Q Branch, learn your assignments through a custom LCD screen located inside the playfield and watch your high scores rack up on the unique classic-style mechanical score reels.

Log into our award-winning Insider Connected™ system, which enables players to interact with the game and a global network of players in a variety of ways.  Through Insider Connected, players can track progress, earn new game-specific achievements, engage with the player community, and participate in promotions and Challenge Quests.  Insider Connected also provides an operator-focused toolset to drive location play through Location Leaderboards, build player loyalty, analyze performance, make adjustments remotely, and maintain the machines.  Registration for Insider Connected is available at insider.sternpinball.com/.

Commemorating this exclusive pinball machine, the James Bond 007 60th Anniversary Limited Edition includes the official James Bond 007 pinball topper, an exclusive full-color mirrored backglass inspired by 60 years of James Bond, custom high gloss and powder-coated pinball armor, a custom designer-autographed bottom arch, an exclusive Union Jack pinball shooter knob, upgraded audio system, anti-reflection pinball playfield glass, shaker motor, a sequentially numbered plaque, and a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Stern Chairman Gary Stern and President & CEO Seth Davis.

“For the ultimate James Bond fan, we wanted to celebrate 60 years of this beloved film franchise in style. Partnering with EON Productions/Danjaq, MGM Studios and Aston Martin, we created a timeless pinball experience.” said Gary Stern, Chairman.  “Get connected today and become a legend.”

Happy PI-nball Day

Happy PI-nball Day 1707 2048 GAD Vending

Geeking out on PI Day by playing a lot of PI-nball.

If you don’t have your own pinball (we can fix that if you want), check out Stern’s pinball locator map.

And check this out.

Mandalorian March Madness and Insider ConnectedTM:

Stern Pinball keeps expanding its award-winning Insider Connected platform and there is no better way to check out how you compare with your fellow pinball players than with your very own player profile stats XP meter and how you stack up against the competition with a game high score percentile!

And with season 3 and Mando Mania in full swing, find the nearest Mandalorian machine and test yourself on this special month-long Leaderboard on any connected Mandalorian pinball machine. From March 1st through the 31st, log in with your Insider Connected account to any Mando pinball machine at your home or at a location near you to climb up the ranks, follow the action, and see who will emerge victorious and earn those ultimate bragging rights and prizes! Courtesy of the IFPA, the top 8 scores on the verified location Leaderboard will win prizes plus 8 random players on the global Leaderboard just for participating.

This is the way. https://www.ifpapinball.com/mando/

Jersey Jack’s The Godfather Rules

Jersey Jack’s The Godfather Rules 150 150 GAD Vending

Before seriously playing any pinball game, the rules are a good thing to review. And in the case of Jersey Jack’s The Godfather Pinball, the rules are a lot of fun! Going through all the movie lingo is a blast while learning what makes this game so much fun to play.

Check out the rules. To find a game near you to play, call us (we know the games are in Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas City). If  you are looking to buy a game for your home, GAD does that too. Plus we have a full service department to answer questions and supply replacement parts.

Jersey Jack’s The Godfather 50 Year Anniversary Pinball

Jersey Jack’s The Godfather 50 Year Anniversary Pinball 1920 1080 GAD Vending

GAD Knows The Godfather

LIMITED EDITION FEATURES

  • Metallic Black Armor & Legs
  • Furious Floyd Caporegime head
  • High quality gloss decals
  • Michael Corleone central Playfield image
  • Individually Numbered Limited Edition Plaque
  • Limited to 5,000 units
  • Performances by Slash and Mark Tremonti of Speak Softly Love
  • Moving, Shooting, Beat-em-up articulating Caporegime sculpted interactive toy
  • Player-Controllable Spinning Disk Take-Down amplifier toy
  • Dual Bi-directional shooting Main Steel Ramps
  • Laser-Etched & Enameled Steel Cityscape Upper Loop Ramp
  • Bi-Directional ball travel Lift Ramp
  • 3 Ball Lock-up Mechanism with direct feeds to all 3 Flippers
  • Controllable 3-shot-entrance Subway System
  • Glory Bumper™ Illuminable Multimaterial Fountain Sculpture
  • 3 unique Ball-Locking Playfield features
  • Active Newton-ball Compound Area
  • Don Vito Corleone sculpted bust
  • 2 Playfield Multiplier Weapon-Boosting Spinners
  • 3 Arc Beacon™ Flashers
  • 29 unique controllable ball paths
  • 2 Regular, 10 Super, 1 Hidden Skill Shots
  • 1 Exposed-core Playfield Magnet
  • Lhai scampata right outlane Ball-save feature
  • 450+ Individually controllable Playfield RGB LEDs
  • Toolless Moveable/Removeable Magnetic Rule and Pricing Cards
  • High risk/high reward Action Button feature
  • Hotrail-Integrated Caporegime Health Meter
  • JJP RGB LED Hotrails, Shaker Motor, Invisiglass,
  • Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, High Score Camera, Backglass lighting

How Vending Can Solve Fourth Wall Revenue

How Vending Can Solve Fourth Wall Revenue 2048 1011 GAD Vending

Most retailers have dead space that isn’t earning as much revenue as it should. Smart, large box retailers look at every inch to make sure they maximize not only customer experience but also profitability. And so should you.

Vending is an excellent way to achieve this.

First, vending machines aren’t cheap but they are unattended, use very little floor space and can be changed out to various uses as demand dictates. For example, who would have thought 6 years ago we’d be outfitting PPE solution vending machines? But the pandemic changed that.

Vending machines payment solutions have changed with the times as well. While cash is accepted, there are touchless solutions available as well. There are apps as well so returning customers can program their favorites in for quick ordering. The apps also help the vending owner with inventory control, out of service issues and so much more!

Plus vending machines can be so easily branded to your business. Give your customer added flexibility to choose what they want, when they want it.

Here are a few ideas to get you thinking how a specialty vending machine can satisfy your customer and increase your cash flow:

  • Give the bartender a helping hand! Bars are using vending machines to vend individual drink options like champagne, canned drinks and beer. (Visit your state’s liquor license requirements first.) These drink vending machines are also popular at festivals, entertainment zones, concerts and other venues with a closed area, high traffic and a party waiting to happen!
  • Put a vending machine near a swimming pool. Load it with sunscreen, inflatables and water wings.
  • In a school, vending machines can have office supplies, binders and all types of classroom necessities.
  • Showroom samples are easily branded in a vending machine.
  • Employee vending machines can have a mini store stocked with over the counter medications, simple safety items, and more.
  • Put in a Crane coffee vending machine with a whole bean grinder to replace a coffee station or expensive k-cup machine.
  • A beauty vending machine has many possibilities to maximize floor space. Try in a mall, airport or hotel – wherever they is high foot traffic.
  • Add a utility payment kiosk.
  • A coin changer machines are a popular machine. It helps your customer redeem their coins and gives you a source of change for your establishment.
  • Create an electronics vending machine with headphones, chargers and other electronics to create a shoplifting secure, unattended solution.

For more ideas, take a look at Crane’s LookBook here. Contact GAD for more ideas, brainstorming and information.

GAD Knows Vending

Pinball’s March Madness

Pinball’s March Madness 940 788 GAD Vending

Could March be any more fun? Basketball just doesn’t have much when compared to what is coming from pinball creators.

STERN ANNOUNCES NEW PINBALL

GAD already has 2 LE’s on the way. Plus we’ll have Premium and Pro versions as well.

Thanks Stern for another kick ass heavy metal machine.

JERSEY JACK

Coming soon to Jersey Jack is another great game – not sure what yet but the art work gives us a few guesses.

AMERICAN PINBALL 

This is an exciting new direction for American Pinball. Galactic Tank Force is going to be a new genre that we are excited to play.

We don’t know much yet other than it’s an original theme, plus Dennis Nordman is on design and art is by Christopher Franchi.

From the teaser material it looks like a spoofy, campy sci-fi romp perfect for family play. More coming from American pinball about this game for sure.

Immediate Pinball Classics You Should Have

Immediate Pinball Classics You Should Have 1080 1080 GAD Vending

GAD respects Stern tremendously. They have a tough job.

Develop new, exciting games to wow the pinball fanatics. Keep the best pinball games available for those that are saving up to buy their next game. Have affordable games for commercial use, arcades, bars and for home use. And have lots of different types of games available to satisfy a diverse range of ages, passions and interests.

How does Stern do it? We don’t know but we are glad they do! With that, they have decided that within their production schedule they are keeping a few of the emerging favorite games. Here are three that we stock.

If you are looking at buying any of these games, contact us on where to play or check on Stern’s website for their pinball locator.

THE MANDALORIAN

Within the Star Wars franchise, the emerging star is The Mandalorian TV series. Stern has captured this franchise by bringing their experience with other Star Wars pinball games to make this game phenomenal.

Features of The Mandalorian­-inspired pinball machines include a large custom sculpture of Grogu, authentic video and audio from seasons one and two, and exclusive custom speech performed by actor Carl Weathers (Greef Karga). The game includes the iconic title theme song by Ludwig Göransson and stunning hand-drawn artwork by Randy Martinez, one of today’s most popular comic artists.

ELVIRA’S HOUSE OF HORRORS

This is the third and campiest installment of the Elvira pinball trilogy!  Trying to sell her mansion through “Alternate Realty”, Elvira’s house is haunted by the movie characters from her past.  These ghouls, ghosts, monsters, and strange assortment of vintage characters with horrific acting skills seek revenge on Elvira while she and the player confront them, sending them back to the “film” from which they came!  Elvira’s House of Horrors immerses players in a fun, campy, B-movie universe filled with all of the humor expected from the Mistress of the Dark including custom speech and, in a pinball first, exclusive filming of Elvira for custom video scenes featured throughout the game!

Elvira’s House of Horrors has earned her place in the Stern’s current production schedule. And, GAD is a fan! We stock and sell Elvira on a regular basis. If you haven’t played this game, you are missing out! Give it a try.

GODZILLA

Chaos and destruction ensue on the playfield with Godzilla multiball, started by shooting one of the various shots in and through the centrally located skyscraper.  In the Premium and LE models, a motor actuates the skyscraper, diverting balls through each of its five stories as it collapses, ultimately locking three balls on its roof.  The Premium/LE playfield also features a collapsing bridge ramp. This animated breakaway ramp is guarded by a custom molded Godzilla and can divert pinballs back to the flipper or directly onto the playfield during Bridge Attack multiball.

On the Premium and LE models, Mechagodzilla features a motorized three-bank target set which rotates to reveal a spinner and jump ramp. Players will engage the Kaiju in battle by launching  pinballs with the jump ramp and bashing the magnetic ball catch on its chest to start Mechagodzilla multiball.

All models of Godzilla pinball machines feature an innovative “Magna Grab” magnetic newton ball, capable of catching pinballs from five different shot paths, including off the plunge. This device can also divert pinballs to set up shots from the upper left flipper. The game also includes the iconic title song “Godzilla” by Blue Oyster Cult, stunning hand-drawn artwork by Zombie Yeti, intricate wireform ramps, three spinning targets (Heat Ray, Mechagodzilla, and Monster Rampage), three flippers, three “powerline” themed stand-up targets and a UFO pop pumper. The game highlights video and audio from ten* Toho Showa Era Godzilla films to create a one-of-a-kind immersive Godzilla pinball experience.

Godzilla pinball machines also debut Stern’s Insider Connected system, which includes a QR code reader on the bottom arch that enables players to interact with the game and this new network in a variety of ways. Stern Insider Connected provides new entertainment and player engagement features and an operator focused tool set to drive location play and remotely manage every aspect of the machines. Insider Connected goes live with the launch of Godzilla, with the full scope of features scheduled for roll out over the next year.

Foo Fighters and Stern Pinball Announce New Rock and Roll Pinball Machines

Foo Fighters and Stern Pinball Announce New Rock and Roll Pinball Machines 1600 914 GAD Vending

Headlining Exclusive SXSW Event

CHICAGO, IL – February 28, 2023 – Stern Pinball, Inc. unleashes a new line of pinball machines celebrating and created in cooperation with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class of 2021 inductees Foo Fighters.  The Foo Fighters pinball machines are available in Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition (LE) models.

Foo Fighters first stepped onto the world stage in 1995 with their classic self-titled debut album.  Over the course of their career, the band has released 10 studio albums, amassed over 32 million records sold worldwide, won 15 Grammy Awards, were recipients of the first-ever MTV “Global Icon” award, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.  One of the biggest headliners on the global stadium, arena and festival circuits, their music will soon begin filling game rooms and entertainment locations in pinball form.

 

Stern’s Foo Fighters machines bring the Foo Fighters concert experience home as players are immersed in an epic pinball adventure featuring 15 iconic songs spanning the band’s expansive catalog, including All My Life, Best of You, Breakout, Everlong, Holding Poison, I’ll Stick Around, Learn to Fly, Monkey Wrench, My Hero, Run, Something from Nothing, The Pretender, This is a Call, Times Like These, and Walk.

More than two years in the making and with creative input from the band’s own Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett, Rami Jaffee, and the late, great Taylor Hawkins, Stern’s Foo Fighters is a top-shelf pinball machine—and so much more. An entire new universe has been developed with jaw-dropping hand-drawn artwork and custom animations including “Foo Fighters Saturday Morning Action Time!”—a fictional TV series chronicling the band’s quest to save rock and roll… AND THE WORLD!  Join Foo Fighters on this rescue mission to thwart the evil, mysterious alien Overlord and his army of bots.  Search the Area 51 upper playfield to break into and unleash pinball chaos.  Jump in the van for a righteous tour of duty to save humanity from extinction and let rock rule!

Foo Fighters pinball machines include Stern’s award-winning Insider Connected™ system, which enables players to interact with the game and a global network of players in a variety of ways.  Through Insider Connected, players can track progress, earn new game-specific achievements, engage with the player community, and participate in promotions and Challenge Quests.  Insider Connected also provides an operator-focused toolset to drive location play through Location Leaderboards, build player loyalty, analyze performance, make adjustments remotely, and maintain the machines.  Registration for Insider Connected is available at insider.sternpinball.com/.

Limited to 1,000 machines globally, the highly collectible Limited Edition includes the Expression Lighting System™.  With 96 intelligent RGB LEDs, the Expression Lighting System enables full color spectrum control.  Positioned in pockets cut into the cabinet sides to provide color themed full playfield illumination, this integrated playfield lighting system is synchronized to custom light shows specifically designed for every song and dynamically responsive to game events.  The LE version also includes an exclusive Rock-Battle inspired full-color mirrored backglass, exclusive full color high definition reflective foil decal cabinet artwork, custom high gloss Overlord green powder-coated pinball armor, a custom designer-autographed bottom arch, exclusive inside art blades, upgraded audio system, anti-reflection pinball playfield glass, shaker motor, a sequentially numbered plaque, and a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Stern Chairman Gary Stern and President & CEO Seth Davis.

“Partnering with Foo Fighters, we created an entirely new pinball universe under the backdrop of incredible music.  The energy from this unique, fast and flowing game design, choreographed with spectacular lightshows and stunning hand-drawn artwork has created the ultimate gaming experience,” said Seth Davis, President & CEO.  “Get connected today and become a hero.”

The new Foo Fighters pinball machines will be on display and available to play at a special debut launch event at The House of Internet party during SXSW March 10th-12th at The Pershing in Austin, Texas.

Pricing and Availability:

Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (“MSRP”)*:

*MSRP for sales to USA end-users, before any VAT, GST, Sales Tax, Duties, or other taxes.                                

Pro Edition:                                                     $US 6,999

Premium Edition:                                            $US 9,699

Limited Edition:                                            $US 12,999

Foo Fighters pinball machines and accessories are available now through authorized Stern Pinball distributors and dealers around the world.

About Insider Connected

Insider Connected is a comprehensive technology initiative to connect the universe of Stern pinball machines. The platform is designed to enhance and extend player engagement with the games across both home and commercial environments. It also presents professional operators of the pinball machines a robust set of tools to drive location play, build player loyalty, analyze performance, make adjustments remotely, and maintain the machines.

Registration for Insider Connected is available at insider.sternpinball.com. Players can also register at a connected game by scanning a registration QR code on the machine. Once a player registers, they are issued a unique QR Code that can be used to identify that player at any connected Stern pinball machine anywhere in the world. When a player scans into the machine, they can track progress, earn new game specific achievements, engage with the player community, and participate in promotions and Challenge Quests.

“Insider Connected is transforming how players interact with pinball machines. Operators are benefiting from new tools that drive repeat play and help maintain games remotely while players can earn special entertainment location badges,” said Seth Davis, President and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc.

About Stern Pinball, Inc.

Stern Pinball, Inc. creates compelling entertainment that inspires a lifetime love of games, sparks passion, forges friendships, and connects people everywhere through fun, innovative, technologically advanced pinball games, and experiences.  Headquartered minutes from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport in the heart of North America, the company creates, designs, engineers, manufactures, markets, and distributes a full line of technologically advanced terrestrial and digital pinball games, parts, accessories, and merchandise. Stern Pinball serves digital, consumer, commercial, and corporate markets around the globe.

Recent Stern Pinball titles include James Bond, Rush, Godzilla, The Mandalorian, Led Zeppelin, Avengers: Infinity Quest, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Stranger Things, Elvira’s House of Horrors, Jurassic Park, Black Knight: Sword of Rage, The Munsters, The Beatles, Deadpool, Iron Maiden, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars, Aerosmith, Ghostbusters, KISS, Metallica, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Star Trek, AC/DC, Batman, and Spider-Man.  A broad range of players enjoy Stern Pinball’s games from professional pinball players who compete in high-stakes 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.

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All trademarks and product names are the property of their respective companies.

Uncomplicated Payment at EV Charging Stations

Uncomplicated Payment at EV Charging Stations 2048 998 GAD Vending

EV Charging Open Payment Solutions

In Europe, electric vehicle adoption has been on the rise in recent years, with projected market unit sales expected to reach 5.5 million vehicles in 2027.1 With this growing demand for electric cars comes a requirement for a convenient charging experience that all drivers can enjoy.

However, an easy, reliable charging experience is currently not the case in much of Europe for drivers that use unfamiliar chargers. This is, in large part, due to drivers facing an inconsistent payment structure across charging stations. For example, one charging station could require payment from a specific subscription app or a contactless payment option and another could require a different subscription app. This results in drivers potentially finding themselves in the unfortunate and frustrating situation of being unable to use chargers if they don’t have the correct app or contactless payment option. And with 90% of charging stations in Europe not being equipped with a credit card reader, drivers have much higher chances of finding themselves in this scenario.2

Life is complex enough and with vehicle manufacturers executing on improved battery performance, it’s not surprising that charge anxiety is likely replacing range anxiety. In simple terms, EV drivers want the same frictionless payment experience as buying a latte or purchasing petrol at the petrol station. Let’s not create payment anxiety on top of this.

Having found a charger that’s up and running, surely making payment simple and consistent must be a win for everyone in the value chain? Let’s keep the complex function of electric vehicles in the technology and performance of the vehicle itself and not bring it into the everyday aspect of payment at the “pump.”

Having to download an app, or having a subscription to a club may suit many, but as electric vehicles become ubiquitous, doesn’t the consumer have the right for more payment flexibility? Drivers already deal with range anxiety associated with route planning and journey duration, adding a complex way to refuel, or continuing to proliferate app-based payment as the only option will only create a new type of anxiety around payment. Working towards a more sustainable future needs accessibility for all, so ensuring payment is familiar is a very easy way to remove a headache and pain point for drivers.

Fortunately, CPI provides an open payment solution that provides drivers with a familiar payment experience that prevents payment anxiety and meets all regulatory requirements around PIN acceptance.

1 Source: https://www.statista.com/outlook/mmo/electric-vehicles/europe

2 Source: https://chargemap.com/pass