Pinball. There’s nothing quite like the sound and the feel of pulling back that plunger, letting the ball go sailing up into the playfield, and timing those flippers to keep your game alive.
While video games may have surpassed pinball in popularity, there’s still a high demand for great pinball machines. And Stern Pinball, since their founding in 1986 as Data East Pinball, has consistently filled that demand. Recent pinball titles include such titles as James Bond, Godzilla, The Mandalorian, and Stranger Things. And now, Stern has partnered with Lionsgate to introduce the John Wick franchise to the world of pinball.
In the John Wick pinball games, players step into the role of the titular character as he fights to escape his past. Players engage in high-speed car chases and fast-action drifting across the playfield, which has iconic locations from the franchise, like the New York Continental Hotel and the Red Circle Club.
John Wick pinball also introduces Stern’s new dynamic AI combat system. This system controls the enemy lights on the playfield. This sets the John Wick pinball games apart from prior pinball machines, where all lights were controlled by player actions, timers, and random number generations. With the AI combat system, enemy icons are responsive to player behavior and 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!
The John Wick pinball games include custom narration by franchise actor Ian McShane, and an original score composed by Charlie Benante of Anthrax and Pantera fame. The games also include Stern’s Insider Connected system, which enables players to interact with the game and a global network of players. 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.
There are three different models of the John Wick pinball available: A Pro Edition, priced at $6,999, a Premium Edition, at $9,699, and a Limited Edition, at $12.999.
The Limited Edition is limited to 1,000 units worldwide, and includes the Expression Lighting System and Speaker Expression Lighting, which deliver custom light shows specifically designed for every song and is dynamically responsive to game events. It also also includes a full-color “Stained Glass” mirrored backglass, full-color reflective brushed silver foil high-definition cabinet decals with hand-drawn artwork by Randy Martinez, exclusive custom powder-coated pinball armor, a custom designer-autographed bottom arch, upgraded audio system, anti-reflection pinball playfield glass, shaker motor, a sequentially numbered plaque, and a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Stern President & CEO Seth Davis.
John Wick pinball games and accessories are available now through authorized Stern Pinball distributors and dealers worldwide. For more information, head to the Stern Pinball website.
Click through to read all of “You Won’t Need a Gold Coin to Play This ‘John Wick’ Pinball Machine” at GeekDad.If you value content from GeekDad, please support us via Patreon or use this link to shop at Amazon. Thanks!
