Pinball

GAD knows Pinball. Articles about new pinball games. How to place pinball in the best locations. How to choose a pinball machine for your home. Best tips on fixing pinball games. Greater America Distributing knows pinball machines and how to fix them. An authorized dealer of Stern Pinball, Chicago Pinball, Valley-Dynamo Pinball and Chicago Pinball. Distributing in Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa.

Pinball Expo is Coming to Chicago

Pinball Expo is Coming to Chicago 449 365 GAD Vending

Coming October 15 – 19 in Chicago, this is the premier pinball event of the year!

Open to the public (did we say ROAD TRIP)….

Event highlights:

PINBALL EXPO EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Tuesday, October 15:
Chicago Gaming Factory Tour & Galloping Ghost Arcade (lunch served)
Wednesday, October 16:
Logan Arcade, American Pinball Factory Tour & Enterrium (lunch served)
Thursday, October 17:
Jersey Jack Pinball Factory Tour & Seminars
Event Hall Open 12:00 Noon – Midnight
Friday, October 18:
Stern Pinball Factory Tour & Seminars
Event Hall Open 10:00 am – Midnight
Saturday, October 19:
Seminars, Autograph Session, Live Music
Event Hall Open 10:00 am – 2:00 am

SILVERBALL CELEBRATION

Although there was a 1948 United Baby Face pinball machine in his basement, it was during the annual family vacation to visit his aunt in Florida when a very young Rob Berk became completely captivated by the wonders of the silver ball. As Berk remembers, “My dad, for whatever reason, always made it a point to take the kids to the arcade. I guess he liked pinball, so it was his way of introducing me to it. And it became our ritual. In fact, there was a bookstore called Alfies on Alton Road in Miami Beach that had two pinball games and we would just play for hours.” The connection and fascination intensified when Berk’s father added a D. Gottlieb Texan, manufactured in 1960 and the last 4-player wood rail game from the company, to the family basement.

Rob Berk’s life was to completely change when he started college at Kent State University in 1972 and discovered as he recalls, “…a room full of pinball machines as far as your eye could see, and that really got me going to the point where I decided I wanted to collect pinball machines from the 1960s.” The first game he purchased was a 1969 Williams Post Time, which also triggered his love affair for add-a-ball pinball machines. His collection has grown to over 1,000 pinball machines, spanning all eras, with his personal favorite electro-mechanical game still being that very first Post Time and for more modern machines, he counts Williams’ Medieval Madness at the top of the list.

It was this ardent passion for pinball that drew Berk into an entirely different enterprise that has endured far beyond his initial plan. With pinball all around him and reading books on the subject as well as joining a club of collectors who would get together once a month to play games, Berk had a thought that would not only change his life, but also change the fortunes of pinball for more than thirty years and counting.

Berk had an idea as he expressed, “I was such a pinball enthusiast, playing as much as I could and reading about the history of the machines and industry. In doing this I learned the names of the artists and designers responsible for the games and realized they were bringing me a great amount of happiness through what they were creating. And I thought wouldn’t it be something special to recognize them and pay tribute to them.” And so it was that Pinball Expo was born over the November 22nd-24th weekend in Chicago in 1985.

For the first time, there was an exposition dedicated to celebrating individuals, many of whom were around when pinball was starting out during the height of the Great Depression in the early 1930s. This exposition allowed collectors, enthusiasts, and hobbyists to show their appreciation. Berk established a program of seminars featuring such legendary individuals as Alvin Gottlieb, Steve Kordek, Norm Clark, Wayne Neyens—men who had shaped an industry. There were exhibits of old and new machines, parts, and a banquet to top off a weekend pinball lovin’.

This first Pinball Expo was an overwhelming success and what Rob Berk and his associates thought was going to be just a one-time affair, has endured and continued to thrive for years. Recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running pinball exposition in the world, the Pinball Expo continues its tradition of paying homage to the wonders of pinball past, present and a peak into the future.

Beginning in 2021 the Pinball Expo was staged at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center in Schaumburg, Illinois. The festivities included a tour of the Stern Pinball factory, a full schedule of speakers and seminars, pinball tournaments, a vendor hall to find anything and everything imaginable for the pinball curious, and a host of other activities that, once again, brought the best of what pinball means to so many. For more information, please contact Rob Berk at ([email protected] or [email protected]); call 330-716-3139. Or contact us here.

Iron Maiden Pinball Tutorial

Iron Maiden Pinball Tutorial 1280 720 GAD Vending

Iron Maiden is back in production at Stern Pinball – and in stock at GAD.

Formed in 1975, Iron Maiden led the wave of British heavy metal music and became a global institution. Over the course of 40 years the band has come to embody a spirit of fearless creative independence, ferocious dedication to fans, and a cheerful indifference to critics. Iron Maiden has built a following that reaches every culture, generation, and time zone. With over 90 million album sales, more than 2,000 live performances in 63 countries, tens of millions of fans and 16 studio albums of unerring quality, Iron Maiden has more than earned its proudly-held status as one of the most influential and revered bands of all time.

The Iron Maiden pinball machines aim to reflect the same excitement, energy, and experience of a live Iron Maiden concert. Players will immerse themselves in an interactive Iron Maiden universe transforming into various forms of Eddie, the band’s legendary mascot. Players, as Eddie, will embark on a quest to defeat the Beast and his minions across the Legacy of the Beast mobile game and comic book world. Iron Maiden pinball entertains with an amazing array of modern and classic features, making it suitable for all skill levels.

All models include twelve Iron Maiden songs with players going to battle as Eddie with the help of four flippers, two spinners, a set of 3-bank drop targets, metal and wireform ramps, a captive ball mechanism, a dual up-post lock mechanism, and a center bullseye target.

GAD has Pro and Premium in stock. Call us to see what game makes sense for you, all the cost, and to set up installation.

New! Stern’s Brewery Pinball Map

New! Stern’s Brewery Pinball Map 523 399 GAD Vending

Stern Pinball has become mind readers!

Taking a breweries tour while playing the best pinball is amazing.

The map is interactive and allows you to zoom in, roll over the red bubbles and find directions.

Link to the awesomeness. 

Mastering Pinball: In Depth Skills and Strategies

Mastering Pinball: In Depth Skills and Strategies 818 503 GAD Vending

Check out their other videos for in depth skills and pinball strategies.

#DYK: GAD Knows Pinball

#DYK: GAD Knows Pinball 940 788 GAD Vending

GAD sells all types of new pinball games – and we have for 40 years. So, pinball is in our DNA.

Last year, Foo Fighters was our #1 selling pinball game. And, Stern’s creative additions to this game plus their award winning Insider Connected are the reasons why.

This year, there are so many new releases already,  it will be fun to look back and see what game will do the best. However, as of now, John Wick is doing very well. Again, because Stern’s innovations are so fun to play.

And, this year, Stern has reinvigorated a number of classic titles back in to limited production. These titles include Stranger Things, Deadpool, Black Knight Sword of Rage and Iron Maiden Legacy of the Beast. If you want to find out what we have in stock – click this link. Or call GAD to find out so much more about this pinball games.

To find where you can play Stern pinball – click this link.

GAD also knows some of the best games are yet to be invented but we don’t want to forget our past! If you are looking to play any old or new pinball game, there is a great look-up at Pinball Map.

All NEW! Stern’s Godzilla 70th Anniversary Pinball

All NEW! Stern’s Godzilla 70th Anniversary Pinball 523 523 GAD Vending

The all-new Godzilla 70th Anniversary Edition will debut at Stern Pinball’s official booth (#3721) and at the annual Stern Pop-up Arcade at the Marriott Marquis, July 25 – 28.

CHICAGO, IL – July 9, 2024 – Today, in honor of the 70th Anniversary of Godzilla, renowned gaming and entertainment company, Stern Pinball, Inc., has announced some exciting updates for fans of the iconic King of the Monsters, including a new Godzilla 70th Anniversary Premium Edition pinball machine and content enhancements across all machines.

One of Stern’s most popular, monster-packed pinball adventures, the Godzilla Pinball Machine allows players to progress through the game as Godzilla, fighting with their allies, Mothra, Rodan, and Anguirus, to battle the Xilien invasion and conquer Mechagodzilla to become King of the Monsters!

To celebrate this platinum anniversary, the team at Stern has created a special 70th Anniversary Premium Edition version of their Godzilla pinball machine. A dynamic black and white edition, the pinball game features special foil greyscale decals on the cabinet, new greyscale color toys and special backglass artwork to commemorate the special anniversary. Godzilla 70th Anniversary Premium Editions will be available worldwide.

Godzilla’s 70th anniversary is a huge milestone for the time-honored franchise,” said Seth Davis, President and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc. “In a continuing partnership with Toho, we’re thrilled to be a part of the global celebration by providing an all-new product and content update for all fans to enjoy.”

For Godzilla fans looking for even more kaiju-fighting fun, Stern has created an adrenaline-inducing software update available for all existing models of the game. The update introduces the King of the Monsters via a Challenge Mode. The King of the Monsters Challenge can be accessed through the game mode menu, and features the same standard mode rules as the original Wizard Mode. Players can also compete for the top score in a new ‘High Score To Date’ table added exclusively for this challenge mode.

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.                                         

Godzilla 70th Anniversary Premium Edition:                                                   $US 9,699

Godzilla 70th Anniversary Premium Edition, along with existing Godzilla Premium Edition and Pro Edition games, and accessories are available through authorized Stern Pinball distributors and dealers around the world, found here. Stay up to date by following Stern Pinball on TwitterInstagramFacebookYouTube and TikTok.

About Godzilla Pinball            

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!  To learn more about Stern Pinball’s Godzilla Editions, please visit https://sternpinball.com/game/godzilla/

About Insider Connected

Insider Connected is a comprehensive technology initiative to connect the universe of Stern pinball games. The platform increases player engagement with the games across commercial and home environments.

Registration for Insider Connected is available at insider.sternpinball.com/ or in the Insider Connected App on iOS and Android. 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 identifies that player at Stern pinball games anywhere in the world. When a player scans into the game, they can track progress, earn new game-specific achievements, engage with the player community, and participate in promotions and Challenge Quests.

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 John Wick, JAWS, Venom, Foo Fighters, 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 competing in high-stakes global competitions to novice players 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.

Get Hooked with the Full Line of JAWS Pinball Machine Accessories from Stern Pinball

Get Hooked with the Full Line of JAWS Pinball Machine Accessories from Stern Pinball 1039 539 GAD Vending

CHICAGO, IL – June 11, 2024 Press Release –Stern Pinball, Inc., announces a full line of JAWS pinball machine accessories compatible with the Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition (LE) models.  Stern Pinball’s monster hit game JAWS just got better with these newly available upgrades that will take your game to the next level.

Right from the plunge, dive straight into action with a custom sculpted Orca Barrel Shooter Knob as you go shark hunting and bounty collecting.

Fully dress up the inside of your game with the official JAWS Inside Art Blades. Featuring stunning and distinctive hand-drawn artwork by Michael Barnard, these art blades add an entirely new dimension inside this world under glass pinball experience highlighting iconic shark beach attack scenes.

Protect yourself and your game from shark attacks with the official JAWS Shark Bite Side Armor. Featuring the iconic JAWS logo and a laser cut shark bite, you’ll feel safe going back into your gameroom.

Make your game pop with the official Speaker Lighting System accessory. With intelligent RGB LED lighting, your speakers will light up and flash as you go shark hunting, fully integrated and dynamically responsive to game events.

And lastly, get fully immersed into the JAWS universe with the Amity Island Billboard Topper accessory. Featuring a backlit lenticular effect and choreographed lightshows, players can grab their harpoons and help Amity Island save the 4th of July!

“The JAWS pinball accessories will bring out the best of you and your pinball playing experience,” said Seth Davis, President and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc.  “Become the apex predator with these officially licensed items on your quest to conquer JAWS!”

Pricing and Availability:

Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: 

Amity Island Billboard Topper                                       $US     999.99

Orca Barrel Shooter Knob                                                 $US     149.99

JAWS Shark Bite Side Armor                                           $US     249.99

Speaker Lighting System                                                    $US     199.99

JAWS Inside Art Blades                                                      $US       99.99

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

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

About JAWS Pinball    

Stern’s JAWS pinball games will have players grabbing their harpoons and playing as Quint, Hooper, and Brody to save Amity Island’s residents and the Fourth of July!  As the grizzled fishermen, tackle the most dangerous ocean creatures on the planet.  Tension mounts as you see “blood in the water” from our animated lighting effects.  Fire pinballs at the motorized “Shark Fin” target swimming across the playfield.  Anticipation builds as you navigate the “Orca Boat” upper playfield, featuring a “Lookout Tower” ramp, a ship’s wheel horizontal spinner on the deck, and a “Radio” stand-up target to call for help.  Lookout!  A motorized custom sculpted “Great White Shark” bash toy comes crashing through the bottom of a fishing boat, terrorizing players in this thrilling pinball odyssey.  Will you survive JAWS?!! Learn more about JAWS Pinball herehttps://shop.sternpinball.com/collections/games/products/jaws-pinball

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 John Wick, JAWS, Venom, Foo Fighters, James Bond 007, 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.

#DYK: GAD has 3 Locations with Lots of Space

#DYK: GAD has 3 Locations with Lots of Space 940 788 GAD Vending

GAD is proud to be celebrating our 40th year in the business of equipment sales and service.

We stock and sell a wide variety of the best equipment in their respected categories.

At GAD’s three locations (Omaha, Kansas City and Des Moines), we stock both equipment and parts to support our various lines. We sell to the vending route trade, commercial business owners and to residential customers. All three of our showrooms are also open to the public.

Call us to find out how GAD can help solve your needs!

John Wick: On the Way

John Wick: On the Way 1920 1440 GAD Vending

Delivering another John Wick pinball game!

This John Wick PRO  is going to a local commercial customer in Omaha, NE and is available for play! (Give us a shout and we’ll give you locations where to play).

If you are interested in pinball for your home or office, let us know. We can talk through what you are looking for, age group that will be playing and your favorite movie, music or TV genre you’d like to play.

ABOUT JOHN WICK

Stern Pinball, Inc. announces its newest line of pinball games featuring the world’s greatest assassin, John Wick. Created in collaboration with Lionsgate, players will experience the thrilling and action-packed billion-dollar grossing John Wick franchise with film-inspired mechanical features and artwork alongside Stern’s all-new dynamic AI combat system. John Wick pinball games are available in Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition (LE) models. The John Wick film franchise is produced by Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, along with franchise director Chad Stahelski through his 87Eleven Entertainment production company.

In Stern’s John Wick pinball games, players step into the role of the world’s greatest assassin as he fights to escape his past. As the titular character, players can engage in high-speed car chases and fast-action drifting across the playfield, which incorporates models and artwork inspired by iconic locations from the franchise, including the New York Continental Hotel and the Red Circle Club, all set against a dramatically edge lit New York City skyline. Players can also open John Wick’s weapons crate to reveal a hidden shot target path to retrieve an array of weapons. Players must use the sculpted Blood Oath Marker carefully – or risk the consequences. Players need to survive other assassins, complete jobs for the legendary Factions of the High Table, and eventually take on John Wick’s “Special Assignment!”

To raise the stakes, John Wick pinball introduces Stern’s all-new dynamic AI combat system, an innovation that brings the frenetic combat of the legendary films to the game. The Stern team has created a primitive video game AI system to control the enemy lights on the playfield, setting the John Wick pinball games apart from prior pinball machines, where all lights were controlled by player actions, timers, and random number generations. In this new AI combat system, enemy icons are responsive to player behavior and will illuminate dynamically around the playfield to challenge the player. The enemies move tactically with this dynamic software to counter player objectives, creating a unique challenge in each game session. The system also features a new action video player that dynamically reflects player action – as you defeat three enemies, you’ll see video clips of John Wick doing the same in the films!

Accompanying the high-quality film and audio assets woven into the gameplay, John Wick pinball games will include custom narration by critically acclaimed actor Ian McShane as Winston and an original score composed by Charlie Benante of Anthrax and Pantera fame. Additionally, pieces of John Wick’s iconic suits used in connection with the production of the films will be included as a franchise artifact in the LE models, courtesy of Lionsgate. The John Wick pinball games will feature original neo-noir style paintings illustrated by acclaimed artist, Randy Martinez.

“Inspired by one of the most iconic and thrilling film franchises of our time, we’re releasing John Wick pinball games with the most advanced technology we’ve ever created,” said Seth Davis, President & CEO of Stern Pinball, “We can’t wait for players to try out our new combat system and experience the action.”

John Wick pinball games include Stern’s award-winning Insider Connected™ system, which enables players to interact with the game and a global network of players in multiple ways.  Through Insider Connected, players can track progress, earn new game-specific Achievements, take on special John Wick Quests and complete Faction Contracts to increase their Assassin ranking.

Insider Connected also provides an operator-focused toolset to drive location play through a better player experience, game location discovery, location leaderboards, performance analysis, automatic code updates, and remote diagnostics for easier maintenance.  Registration for Insider Connected is available at insider.sternpinball.com/ or in the Insider Connected App.  Download it today on iOS and Android.

Stern Tech School: How to Lift Your Playfield

Stern Tech School: How to Lift Your Playfield 662 751 GAD Vending

In this edition of Stern Tech School, Madeleine Benz shows you how to safely lift your playfield!

Of course, if you need assistance, Stern Pinball also has customer support. GAD also offers free phone support for our customers plus we have service techs in some areas that make service calls. GAD has a full parts department to support your needs as well.

GAD knows Pinball