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.

Review: 6 Cool, Goofy Features of Stern’s New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pinball Machine

Review: 6 Cool, Goofy Features of Stern’s New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pinball Machine 896 502 GAD Vending

(IGN Dec 8 2020) We unbox the new Stern Premium TMNT machine (2020) and check out all of its new features. There was a turtles machine way back in 1991 by Data East made it, but other than the art, the old machine is not great. Stern’s new machine has a lot more going for it, but it still keeps that tradition of cool comic-book-y Ninja Turtles art as its best feature. At the center of the playfield is a spinning disc with a magnet in its center. In Ninja Pizza Multiball, the magnet catches the balls allowing the disc to fling them like so many pizza slices out of a pizza box. There’s also a pizza eating contest mode lit by this little target that has you mash this button on the lockbar as fast as possible to up your slice count. Ninja Turtles features three ramps, including one only accessible via the upper left flipper. Two of the ramps can be fed back to either flipper thanks to the Raphael glider diverter, which switches position based on a press of the lockbar button. You can use this feature to loop fast ramp shots — it feels great. The backglass features an HD screen with custom art and animations that are based on 3D models — while there’s no original vintage cartoon scenes here, the original theme song is used to full effect. There are of course four ninja turtles, and you can choose to play as any of them. They each have unique bonuses, and also unique skill shots. Nailing the right ramp qualifies Turtle Power Multiball. This multiball spews 4 balls onto the playfield out of a little door in the miniature van. We can’t wait to spend more time with Turtles, and we hope you get to play it, too, when it’s safe and everyone is healthy and playing pinball again. Until then, you can add this to your home arcade, this Premium model with extra features, like that glider diverter, has an MSRP of $7699.

Stern Code Updates

Stern Code Updates 632 790 GAD Vending

Stern is continuously working to update and improve software for our machines.  There are always code updates and bug fixes in various stages of development; we will release them upon update completion.  Here are some of the latest updates and the status of things in the works.  If you would like to join our mailing list for code updates, please send an e-mail to Code.Updates@sternpinball.com.  If you do encounter any bugs please feel free to provide information to bug.report@sternpinball.com

  • Avengers: Infinity Quest – For all Avengers owners, please make sure you are up to date with the most current code version (v0.94.0) released last week. Be on the lookout for a new code update later this month.
  • Stranger Things – For all Stranger Things owners, please make sure you have updated your game to the most current code version (v1.00.0) released last week. This code contains numerous game enhancements, additional polish, adjustments, system updates and bug fixes.
  • Black Knight: Sword of Rage – For all Black Knight owners, please make sure you are up to date with the most current code version (v1.02.0) released last week. This code update includes game enhancements, additional polish, game adjustments, bug fixes, system updates and the DJ Mixer feature!
  • Elvira – For all Elvira owners, please make sure you are up to date with the most current code version (v1.01.0) released last month.
  • Deadpool – For all Deadpool owners, please make sure you are up to date with the most current code version (v1.05.0) released last month. This code update includes numerous game enhancements, additional polish, game adjustments, bug fixes, system updates and the DJ Mixer feature

If you have other questions or bug issues, contact your GAD representative.

Home Game Rooms Are Forever Changed with COVID

Home Game Rooms Are Forever Changed with COVID 1042 1042 GAD Vending

Across the Midwest, Greater America Vending (GAD) has seen an increase in demand of new home game rooms.

“People working and schooling from home are looking for better ways to take a break,” according to Mike Dobel, principal at GAD. “Especially with games that can be played in tournament style – in home or over the internet. “

And, our game manufacturers are responding.

New for fall includes: 

  • Golden Tee 2021 Home Edition
  • Pac Man Air Hockey
  • Stern Pinball Star Wars Comic Art game
  • Stern Pinball Avengers: Infinity Wars Home Edition

All of the game manufacturers are responding to increase demand and at GAD Vending there are games coming in daily. This may not be enough! All games are first come, first serve.

Our offices are located in Omaha, KC and Des Moines. Call for game availability. To order. Or for parts and service on existing games.

Happy Holidays! Fill Your Stocking with Pinball and Arcade Games

Happy Holidays! Fill Your Stocking with Pinball and Arcade Games 1042 1042 GAD Vending

GAD Stocks Pinball and Games!

Home game rooms are all the rage with COVID. And, the most demanded holiday gift looks to be pinball in the stocking.

Don’t wait. Availability will be limited on many titles.

Warehouses for pick-up are located in Omaha; Kansas City; and Des Moines.

COVID has changed the Pinball industry

COVID has changed the Pinball industry 2083 2083 GAD Vending

GAD adapts and expands across the Midwest

(Omaha, NE  November 17, 2020) With the continuing isolation and work from home imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic more and more people are repurposing space into home game rooms and arcades. This has caused a shortage of arcade games across the country. Greater America Distributing (GAD) is uniquely positioned to answer the demand.

Mike Dobel and Larry Bailey, owners of Greater America Distributing (GAD), are expanding personnel to meet the new demands.  With a number of recent retirements, Andy Dobel is welcomed as a new partner.  Armed with an outside perspective, Andy sees expanding opportunities in the markets they serve as the pandemic continues to heavily impact people’s lives, especially in the sales and service of arcade and pinball games for the home.

After a 16-year career in the railroad industry, Andy brings a new outlook to the distributor side of vending and games.  “Our role in our customer’s success has never been more important.  We strive to ensure we provide all the resources and expertise necessary to keep our line of products performing their best,” says Andy Dobel.  A strong background in logistics and customer service gives the younger Dobel a uniquely positioned skill set to slide into his new role quickly.

Homebound families are constantly looking for a fun break. This includes quick competition between people either in the same household or anywhere in the world.  “One of my goals is to provide unique remote gameplay to engage everyone in the family,” says Mike Dobel. “Many of our games come configured to connect via the internet to allow remote head-to-head or team competitions. With competition play in mind, we stock games for all ages.”

With the increase in demand, the industry is experiencing a strain on supply. “Thanks to our long standing relationship with the pinball manufacturers we are able to keep a large number of game titles in stock in the face of increased demand,” according to Bailey.  “GAD is also able to outfit any home with a complete game room from online darts and Golden Tee to pinball and even the nostalgic Multicade consoles featuring Pacman, Galaga, Space Invaders and dozens more.”

With offices and warehouses in Omaha, Des Moines and Kansas City, GAD is able to stock new and used equipment and parts. Our sales and service departments are working at full staff to keep our essential commercial operating at peak efficiencies while taking on the new residential demands. Curbside pickup is available for all our equipment and parts.

Hands Free Pinball: Creative Thinking…

Hands Free Pinball: Creative Thinking… 1078 602 GAD Vending

May not be for every player but a bit of creative thinking makes this vintage pinball game hands free.

 

 

Should you buy a new Stern Pinball Machine?

Should you buy a new Stern Pinball Machine? 1172 624 GAD Vending

Stern Pinball’s EVP and Chief Creative Officer George Gomez takes us on a behind the scenes look into the SPIKE™ electronics hardware system! Complementing the immersive themes and exciting gameplay experiences of Stern Pinball machines, Stern Pinball’s powerful SPIKE™ electronics hardware system enables high-definition graphics and innovative animations. SPIKE™ reduces system complexity and energy usage, resulting in enhanced reliability and simplified servicing.

Ask questions on operations, pricing and inventory availability at GAD Vending. Sales and service in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska.

Stern Pinball Factory Virtual Tour

Stern Pinball Factory Virtual Tour 1073 595 GAD Vending

Take a look behind the scenes at the Stern Pinball Factory in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Best ever filmed! Host Jack Danger of Dead Flip Pinball Streaming on Twitch shows you how we make pinball machines from scratch here in the worlds largest pinball factory! This content was originally shown LIVE on Twitch for the 2020 Chicago Pinball Expo.

LOCATE TO PLAY A STERN PINBALL GAME – https://sternpinball.com/pinball-locator/

LOCATE TO PURCHASE – https://sternpinball.com/buy-a-game/

Fox News: Coronavirus leads to spike in pinball popularity

Fox News: Coronavirus leads to spike in pinball popularity 1816 1011 GAD Vending

From Fox News: 

Pinball machines have become a popular pastime as more people look for non-conventional forms of at-home entertainment in the midst of the pandemic.

And with additional pocket money to spare this year due to the reduction in traditional expenditures like travel or dining out, pinball machine sales have surged amongst first-time buyers.

As the largest manufacturing pinball makers in the world, Stern Pinball has been a direct beneficiary of the upswing. The Chicago-based company has grown five-fold over the course of the pandemic, with its current backlog orders at record levels.

“It’s a challenge to entertain everybody when your options of going out have been removed,” board member, owner and Vice Chairman and EVP of Stern Pinball, Inc. Dave Peterson told FOX Business. “People quarantined at home are looking to entertain their families, and pinball is a terrific way to do that. Now our real challenge as a company is to scale our manufacturing up in order to work off those backlogs and meet that demand.”

Read the entire article here. 

Hot Wheels Review

Hot Wheels Review 1250 662 GAD Vending