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Looking to the future, Stern Pinball Announces Hiring of a New President

Looking to the future, Stern Pinball Announces Hiring of a New President 486 467 GAD Vending

CHICAGO, IL – October 14, 2021 – Stern Pinball, Inc. today announced the hiring of Seth A. Davis, 43, as President. Gary Stern, the Founder of Stern Pinball, will continue to serve as Chairman and CEO of the company. Dave Peterson will continue to serve as Vice Chairman and EVP of the company. As President, Seth will join the company’s leadership team and be accountable for the future performance of the company and its extended enterprise. He will report to Gary Stern.

A life-long gamer, prior to joining Stern Pinball, Seth spent a combined twenty-one years at The Walt Disney Company and the General Electric Company. He served in a wide variety of functions and in intrapreneurial roles, at increasingly senior levels.

Seth spent thirteen years at Disney where he gained experience in multiple businesses and was accountable for driving growth through strategy and execution. He led and managed both small and large teams spanning business, creative, and technical disciplines.

Immediately prior to joining Stern Pinball, Seth served on the executive team responsible for the highly successful subscription-based streaming services, Disney+ and ESPN+. Earlier in his career, Seth served in Disney Corporate Financial Planning leading business transformation projects; as Head of Product Management for Connected Experiences within Disney Games and Consumer Products as part of Walt Disney Imagineering; as leader of Disney’s Digital Games Console and PC line of business; and, as Director of Disney Games’ Strategy, Market Analytics, and Product Planning.

Before Disney, Seth spent eight years at the General Electric Company. He served as Senior Manager, Finance at GE Capital responsible for Strategic Analysis and Marketing. He started his GE career in the Financial Management Program where he completed four national rotations through GE business units and earned his Six Sigma Black Belt Certification.

“I am very excited to have Seth join our team at Stern Pinball,” said Gary Stern. “Seth’s appointment will further help secure our future. His experience in gaming, operations, strategy, and general management will help us continue our aggressive growth plans. As a life-long gamer, Seth understands the passion of pinball fans and our obligation to serve that growing global community through great pinball games and experiences.”

“I’m honored and very excited to join Stern Pinball,” said Davis. “I’m really looking forward to working with Gary, Dave, and the rest of the leadership team, as well as our distribution, supply, and licensing partners to serve the pinball community. We have a great foundation on which to build and I’m very excited about the future of Stern Pinball and pinball in general.”

“Seth is a great fit for the culture at Stern Pinball,” said Peterson. “He has complementary skills and a personality that fits well with the leadership team and the extended organization overall. He understands the passion of our customers and the company’s priorities. Moreover, he has a record of success in analogous game businesses where creativity, technology, and business disciplines intersect.”

Seth earned his MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where he majored in Entrepreneurial Management. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University with a double major in Accounting, and Information Management and Technology.

Seth, his wife Allison, and their three children are relocating to the Chicago area from Los Angeles.

About Stern Pinball, Inc.

Stern Pinball, Inc. is a global lifestyle brand based on the iconic and outrageously fun modern American game of pinball.  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 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 Munster’s, 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.

How To Add a Machine to Maximize High Traffic Areas

How To Add a Machine to Maximize High Traffic Areas 368 255 GAD Vending

Own a commercial facility? Bar? Restaurant? Mall? Retail Store? Arcade? High foot traffic area? Apartment complex? Office?

Looking to gain more automated cash flow without adding staff? Need something socially distancing that can be easily cleaned?

If you own or manage a space with lots of people passing through that you want to capture interest and revenue, read on……

It is expensive to get people to show up at your facility. You work at advertising, marketing, customer service, cleanliness, social distancing regulations, best product mix and everything else to get and retain customers. (Customer can be defined as – customer, tenant, employees, shoppers, staff, client – whoever it is that you want to engage.) So anything you can do to further engage – and profit from – your foot traffic is critical.

Add strategic machines to solve problems and create ROI!

ATM

A free standing ATM in a high traffic area can = profit!

  • You can charge a transaction fee.
  • You can reduce credit card fees by encouraging customers to pay in cash.
  • You can reduce employee time by allowing customers to self service for cash.
  • You can add additional revenue to other games, pinball or machines with cash access.

What should you consider? ATM’s generally cash flow in one or more of the following conditions:

  • 150 people through the doors daily,
  • when you are encouraging cash tips to staff,
  • you are looking to provide a service to your customer,
  • when it’s cheaper to have an unattended operation or unattended during off hours,
  • and/or when there are cash based services nearby.

CLAW/CRANE GAMES

Claw (Crane) games with non-ticket redemption (no tickets to mess with) is an ideal addition to a family based establishment. These are the cabinet games with stuffed animals with a movable claw that picks up a toy and delivers to the player.

  • Ideal for a restaurant waiting area where families gather.
  • Include in an apartment clubhouse that caters to families.
  • Add to an arcade, game room or family lounge area.
  • Stand alone machine in a pizza restaurant.

To maximize profit – keep you claw game maintained and well stocked. Keep your machine clean – not only by the restocking vendor but employees should clean between every patron. Post a hand sanitizer or wipes nearby.

GAD Vending sells and maintains claw machines in MO, KS, NE and IA. GAD Vending does not stock claw games but we can suggest companies that do.

DIGIAL MUSIC/JUKEBOX

No great party experience is complete without great music!

The new digital music jukeboxes have amazing capabilities that add to your user immersive experience – and can reduce expenses.

Digital music can be a new profit center:

  • Allow users to be the DJ and pay for their favorite tracks (and associated music videos) to play.
  • Run specials through your music software.
    • Promote specials
    • Tease holiday events
    • Pop Up specials
  • Sell advertising.
  • Appeals to all generations. The online music catalogs, along with associated video, is extensive.

Digital music software can reduce costs:

  • Bundles your trivia games into your software cost.
  • Replaces canned background music and can be programmed to change song selections thru the various day parts.
  • Supports karaoke.
  • Tracks your music play.
    • Music licensing companies assume you are playing music 100% of the time to 100% of your occupancy. Digital music tracks the exact songs played and creates a digital report so you pay on what you play.
  • Pre-programs available to eliminate DJ’s.

Digital music adds energy to unexpected places:

  • Add a digital jukebox to the front door of your retail store. Instead of elevator music, this adds the option to change music styles as you choose – or as your customers choose on their phone.
  • Add a digital jukebox in an employee lounge area. GAD Vending can program a free play option.
  • Add a digital jukebox to a restaurant/bar that changes from Baby Boomers to Millennial over the course of the evening.

Music to your ears? GAD Vending knows digital music and speaker installation.

VENDING MACHINES

Vending machines allow the owner to provide refreshment options without adding employees.

Try a mixed product vending machine – one machine offering drinks and snacks. A healthy option vending machine. Coffee vending machine. Or a simple bottle water vending machine. Whatever your customers are most looking for. This can free up employees to wait on customers with more complex needs.

Add vending machines in a high traffic area like by restrooms, lounge areas or break rooms. Anywhere customers or employees look to rest for a moment.

Add customer confidence! Use touchless payment – and even touchless ordering – using a smartphone app. This allows customers the cleanest, least touch options.

GAD Vending sells and repairs vending machines. Our warehouses have vending machines in stock with parts to configure a machine that best fits your needs. We have sales and service personnel in Kansas City, Omaha and Des Moines.

GOLDEN TEE PGA TOUR

Just like with a claw game for kids – Golden Tee PGA Tour is an ideal stand alone game machine.

Golden Tee PGA Tour is available in both commercial and home use versions. And, Golden Tee has a long established software upgrade schedule.

Add a single Golden Tee PGA Tour game to an entry way, low use/high visibility area.  Golden Tee PGA Tour is essential to an arcade, game room, pinball area. Add Golden Tee PGA Tour tournaments with their worldwide software support.

MONEY CHANGERS

Money changers are for customers that need to change bill-to-bill, bill-to-coin, pay stations and bill/coin counters. Add next to an ATM to give your customers self service capabilities.

Concerned about money changer and ATM security? Ask GAD Vending for security suggestions (we don’t publish security suggestions!)

If you have an unattended business like a car wash, coin operated laundry, or arcade, you need GAD Vending. GAD Vending inventories new money handling machines in our warehouses in Omaha, Des Moines and Kansas City. Our service techs also have parts to fix money changers.

GAD VENDING

At GAD Vending, we sell and service a variety of vending, games, ATM and other machines. We stock new and used machines at our warehouses in Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas City. And, we service machines. Call us at (402) 553-2812 to find out what we can do for you!

Godzilla – The Hype is Real

Godzilla – The Hype is Real 1200 632 GAD Vending

The King has arrived!  Toho International, Inc. and Stern Pinball announced a new line of pinball machines based on the iconic King of the Monsters, Godzilla! And the hype is real.

The game trailer premiered directly on Toho’s official YouTube channel with the press and media exposure train not slowing down with features on The NerdistHYPEBEASTColliderSuperHeroHypeThe Pop InsiderMoviewebShackNewsJoBloLicense GlobalAusretrogamerHardcore GamerYahoo!, and a deep dive by This Week in Pinball to name a few.

The official reveal stream with Dead Flip and the game team was mirror broadcast by the world famous streamer, Shroud on his Twitch channel https://www.twitch.tv/shroud (collective following base of over 20 million followers across all social media platforms!). This live stream event had over 600,000 live views between both platforms reaching a massive new audience of eyeballs.

Visit the official Godzilla game page for full details on this action-packed pinball experience including the official game trailerPro model game features, and Premium/LE model game features!  You can also check out the reveal stream on the Pro model with Dead Flip and Chicago Belles & Chimes here!

If you are interested in owning a Stern Pinball Godzilla game in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota or Kansas City – check in with your local GAD office. We have a limited number on order and available for commercial or home pre-purchase.

Electric Darts

Tradition Favorite with a Digital Twist. Think DARTS!

Tradition Favorite with a Digital Twist. Think DARTS! 2083 2083 GAD Vending

Own a bar, restaurant, arcade or lounge? Looking for better ways to engage your customers? Games with natural social distancing and easy to clean? Or just want the best digital dart game for your home? New Digital Darts bring this all-time favorite game into 2021.

The newest digital darts give you expanded player benefits thru the internet. Allows players to remote play, join tournaments or just play a local game with friends. Individual score tracking is available across machines. And players can enjoy worldwide rankings, statistics and competitions – from home and their favorite social establishment.

Darts do require space – but this traditional games gives you natural socially distancing. Many serious players bring their own darts. Or you can provide (or sell) disposable darts for maximum cleanliness.

One of the premier digital dart games is the Arachnid G3 Fire coin operated dart game. The G3 Fire is a revolutionary dart machine – and here’s how!

  • Larger 24” monitor for easier play.
  • Enhanced camera for better scoring.
  • Automatic target flip.
  • New games to keep the players engaged.
  • Live, remote play available with internet access.
  • Supports standard and remote leagues. (Printable brochure.)
  • Glowing, red, attention getting cabinet.

Looking to get a new digital dart game in NE, IA, MO or KS? GAD Vending stocks new and refurbished dart games at our warehouses. Call us to arrange for your new games today!

Guns n’ Roses Internet Connectivity and Update Tutorial

Guns n’ Roses Internet Connectivity and Update Tutorial 663 472 GAD Vending

Step by step how to set up internet connectivity on your new Guns n’ Roses Pinball. If you have any questions, contact your  service tech at GAD.

Retro Raccoons Review

Retro Raccoons Review 947 875 GAD Vending

Arcade Heroes Review Excerpt:

Today we can get you up to speed on those improvements thanks to the information passed along to me by Adam Wray of Glitchbit. This enhanced build will better fit into arcade (non-bar) locations, with a broader appeal, while still working for those venues that serve adult beverages. These improvements came along thanks to feedback that was heard at that show (as a note to any indie devs out there – that’s a great reason to attend an industry trade show with your product, as you’ll talk with potential buyers and might find out why they will – or will not – purchase your game) along with feedback obtained through location testing.

Let’s start with the animated gif that was sent my way, then I’ll break it down in case you don’t catch it all:

Here are all of those features in a handy bullet point list of this new cabinet design:

  • Drinks mode (for bars)
  • Cash mode (for non-bar arcades)
  • Higher splash guard
  • New cash door & cash acceptor vault
  • Improved control panel design with new art & controls layout
  • Custom liquid tray
  • New Handles
  • Wheels
  • Leg levelers

With all of that, the cabinet is still going to be “under $5k” on the price point and begins mass manufacturing for arcades to pick up soon. A precise date hasn’t been given, but I would venture to guess that Retro Raccoons will be available before the summer is over.

If you have played the game already, what did you think about it? If not, what do you find appealing?

The King of the Monsters Arrives to Stern Pinball

The King of the Monsters Arrives to Stern Pinball 427 340 GAD Vending

THE KING OF THE MONSTERS ARRIVES! TOHO INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND STERN PINBALL ANNOUNCE NEW GODZILLA PINBALL MACHINES

CHICAGO, IL – September 14, 2021 – Stern Pinball, Inc. and Toho International, Inc., the subsidiary of the Japanese entertainment studio Toho Co., Ltd, announce a new line of pinball machines based on the iconic Toho film franchise featuring the King of the Monsters, Godzilla!  The Godzilla pinball machines are available in Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition (LE) models.

Godzilla is the longest running film franchise created by Toho, with thirty-two films produced since 1954. The popularity of the films have made Godzilla one of the most recognizable symbols in pop culture worldwide. In addition to numerous accolades and cinematic awards for film, music, and special effects, the Godzilla film series and licensed characters have generated over $1 billion in merchandise sales around the world.

In this monster-packed pinball adventure, players become Godzilla! The evil aliens, the Xiliens, use mind control rays to take control of the monsters King Ghidorah, Gigan, Megalon, Ebirah, and Titanosaurus. The Xiliens are demanding all of Earth’s resources. Godzilla and its allies, Mothra, Rodan, and Anguirus, battle the Xilien invasion with the goal of conquering Mechagodzilla to become King of the Monsters!

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.

Only 1,000 LE machines will be available. The LE version includes an exclusive full color mirrored backglass inspired by Mechagodzilla, iconic custom cabinet artwork, custom high gloss metallic silver 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.

“Partnering with Toho, we have brought the Godzilla universe to pinball” said Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc.  “Insider Connected enables players, owners, and operators to interact with their machines like never before.”

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 Model:                                                      $US 6,899

Premium Model:                                             $US 8,999

Limited Edition Model:                                    $US 10,499

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

About Stern Pinball, Inc.

Stern Pinball, Inc. is a global lifestyle brand based on the iconic and outrageously fun modern American game of pinball.  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 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.

About Toho

Toho Company, Limited, is a Japanese entertainment studio focused on the development, production, exhibition, and distribution of powerful live action and animated content including motion pictures, television and theater. Founded in 1932, Toho remains a prominent force in bringing brands and original storytelling with versatile talents to audiences worldwide. Its subsidiaries include Toho Cinemas, the highest grossing exhibition company in Japan, and Toho International, Inc., a U.S. established incorporated company that manages and commercializes Toho’s intellectual property portfolio. To learn more about Toho, visit: www.toho.co.jp/en/.

Follow Godzilla!

Twitter: @TOHO_GODZILLA

Instagram: @godzilla_toho

YouTube: GodzillaToho

###

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

*Final video and audio pending licensor approval.

GAD Knows Retro Raccoons

GAD Knows Retro Raccoons 947 875 GAD Vending

What a blast to the past! Retro Raccoons takes players back – and in a great way – to past arcade games.

Retro Raccoons is a retro styled, patented arcade that entertains up to 4 players with dozens of unique minigames. Each player has their own joystick, button and cupholder. New content and minigames are added periodically to ensure gameplay stays fun and fresh. Updates require Wifi or Ethernet access.

Retro Raccoons features the patented “Cheers” mode for bar and barcade locations. Requires players to place their drinks in the cup holders to participate, ensuring customers purchase a drink. Additionally, there is a traditional Cash Mode (bill acceptor) which makes it great for family friendly arcade locations.

Features include:

  • 40+ minigames
  • 2-4 player
  • New content added periodically
  • Large cup holders for bottles, cans or glasses
  • Light up marquee
  • For bar, restaurants, arcades, family friendly locations, homes and private establishments

Retro Raccoons is made in America featuring quality parts and an Intel CPU. This game is ETL Certified for both commercial and home use.

Sensational Retro Fun For Arcades, Bars & More!

  • Installed Dimensions: H: 72″ W: 38″ D: 27.5″ Weight: 245lbs.
  • Shipping Dimensions: H: 79″ W:46″ D: 32″ Weight: 256lbs.
  • Electrical: 120V @ 2A, 240W
  • Condition: New
  • Manufacturer: Incredible Technologies