# QUEEN PINBALL REVEALED

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2021-09-29  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2021/09/29/queen-pinball-revealed

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## Analysis

Pinball Brothers unveiled a non-playable prototype of their Queen pinball machine at a pop-up store on London's Carnaby Street in September 2021. The game, originally designed by Heighway Pinball before the company's 2018 collapse, has been redesigned as a standard-width machine with live performance themes, featuring a guitar-shaped upper playfield, three-ball Wembley Multiball, and band member collection mechanics similar to Monster Bash. The finished game is expected to launch approximately 6 months after the store's January 2022 closure.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Queen was originally designed by Heighway Pinball as a widebody machine before the company collapsed and was liquidated in May 2018. — _Direct historical statement about Heighway Pinball's bankruptcy and Queen's origin._
- [HIGH] The Pinball Brothers version is a standard-width redesign continuing the live performance theme rather than studio albums or promotional videos. — _Explicit comparison of design philosophy between Heighway and Pinball Brothers versions._
- [HIGH] The prototype on display at Queen: The Greatest is non-playable and lacks several mechanisms and complete software. — _Explicitly stated: 'the game on display at the Queen: The Greatest store is a non-playable prototype' with 'several mechanisms missing' and 'no software other than to produce a light show.'_
- [MEDIUM] The finished Queen game is expected to launch approximately 6 months after the pop-up store closes in early January 2022. — _'the finished game probably won't be launched for another 6 months after that' and 'the next time we see it will probably be when it is officially launched later in 2022.'_
- [HIGH] The game features a three-ball lock device for Wembley Multiball as a primary game feature. — _Detailed description of ball lock mechanism: 'there is a three-ball lock device which is used to start Wembley Multiball.'_

### Notable Quotes

> "Queen was one of the titles being developed by Heighway Pinball before the company collapsed and was liquidated in May 2018."
> — **Pinball News**, n/a
> _Establishes the game's troubled history and lineage from defunct manufacturer to Pinball Brothers._

> "The Pinball Brothers version continues with to be based on the live shows, but is now a standard width game with a redesigned playfield, although some elements from the original design remain."
> — **Pinball News**, n/a
> _Clarifies design philosophy and format change from Heighway's widebody concept._

> "Before we go any further, it is important to note that the game on display at the Queen: The Greatest store is a non-playable prototype. It is very much a work-in-progress which was brought to London purely for display at the store."
> — **Pinball News**, n/a
> _Manages expectations for community; transparency about prototype status prevents misinterpretation of feature completeness._

> "While this prototype will be available to view until the store closes early in January 2022, the finished game probably won't be launched for another 6 months after that."
> — **Pinball News**, n/a
> _Provides timeline expectations for full release (mid-2022)._

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Pinball Brothers | company | Boutique pinball manufacturer producing the Queen game; took over the project from collapsed Heighway Pinball. |
| Heighway Pinball | company | British boutique manufacturer that originally designed Queen as a widebody machine; company collapsed and was liquidated in May 2018. |
| Queen | game | Pinball machine themed after rock band Queen, featuring live performance imagery, band member collection mechanics, and upper playfield shaped like Brian May's 'Red Special' guitar. |
| Dave Sanders | person | Designer of the original Heighway Pinball Queen machine. |
| Barry Oursler | person | Co-designer of the original Heighway Pinball Queen machine. |
| Queen: The Greatest | event | Pop-up store on London's Carnaby Street (57 Carnaby Street, W1) that opened September 27-29, 2021, housing the Queen pinball prototype in its basement until early January 2022. |
| Freddie Mercury | person | Queen band member; represented in game via center ramp with microphone artwork and Virgo zodiac sign. |
| Brian May | person | Queen band member; represented in game via right orbit lane with Cancer zodiac sign; his 'Red Special' guitar is featured as the upper playfield. |
| Roger Taylor | person | Queen band member; represented in game via left orbit lane with Leo zodiac sign. |
| John Deacon | person | Queen band member; represented in game imagery at pop-up store and via band member collection mechanic. |
| Monster Bash | game | Referenced as mechanical design precedent for Queen's band member collection system (collect instruments and complete individual objectives). |
| Scared Stiff | game | Referenced as mechanical design precedent for Queen's upkicker saucer mechanism (similar to Spider Hole-to-Boney Beast ramp routing). |
| Red Special | product | Brian May's iconic guitar; forms the basis for Queen pinball's upper playfield design and one of the game's multiball modes. |
| Wembley Stadium | location | Queen's legendary concert venue; represented in game as a playfield model and as the name of the three-ball lock multiball mode. |
| Pinball News | organization | Industry media outlet providing this detailed prototype preview and article. |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Game design and mechanics, Manufacturer transitions and IP recovery, Prototype development and production timeline
- **Secondary:** Theme licensing and band member integration, Upper playfield and multi-ball mechanics
- **Mentioned:** Pop-up retail and experiential marketing

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.78) — Article expresses enthusiasm for the game design ('We can barely wait!'), provides comprehensive technical detail without criticism, and treats Pinball Brothers' redesign as a legitimate continuation of abandoned Heighway project. Tone is excited and forward-looking despite noting prototype incompleteness. No negative sentiment detected.

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** Pinball Brothers acquired and redesigned abandoned Heighway Pinball title (Queen), converting widebody machine to standard-width format with playfield redesign. (confidence: high) — 'Queen was one of the titles being developed by Heighway Pinball before the company collapsed and was liquidated in May 2018... The Pinball Brothers version continues... is now a standard width game with a redesigned playfield.'
- **[event_signal]** Queen: The Greatest pop-up store on Carnaby Street serves as public exhibition venue for pinball prototype through January 2022, providing accessibility for community engagement. (confidence: high) — Pop-up store located at 57 Carnaby Street London hosting non-playable Queen prototype in basement; open to public viewing until early January 2022.
- **[licensing_signal]** Queen band IP licensing to Pinball Brothers; game uses actual photographs from band's live performances composited for backbox artwork. (confidence: high) — 'The images of the four band members were all based on actual photographs taken during their stage performances. They were then composited to fit within the backbox's dimensions.'
- **[announcement]** Official unveiling of Queen pinball prototype by Pinball Brothers at London pop-up retail location. (confidence: high) — Non-playable prototype displayed at Queen: The Greatest pop-up store with detailed mechanics and design confirmed by manufacturer representatives.
- **[product_strategy]** Queen pinball expected to launch 6 months after January 2022 pop-up store closure, placing release in mid-2022; project has already experienced significant delays from original Heighway timeline (2018 collapse). (confidence: medium) — 'the finished game probably won't be launched for another 6 months after that' and 'the next time we see it will probably be when it is officially launched later in 2022.'
- **[technology_signal]** Queen uses inductive switches for outlane/inlane detection rather than mechanical rollover switches; utilizes up-post ball stop mechanism for Break Free kickback. (confidence: high) — 'Both lanes use inductive switches rather than mechanical rollover switches' and 'The Break Free kickback uses an up-post to stop the ball.'

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## Transcript

Date: 29th September, 2021 Location: 57 Carnaby Street, London, W1, UK. On Monday of this week a pop-up store opened its doors on London’s Carnaby Street. Called Queen: The Greatest, the shop is dedicated to merchandise and memorabilia from the band Queen. ![London's Carnaby Street](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/001-queen.jpg) London’s Carnaby Street ![The Queen: The Greatest pop-up store](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/002-queen.jpg) The Queen: The Greatest pop-up store ![The ground floor of the shop](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/085-queen.jpg) The ground floor of the shop Upstairs are assorted posters, records, T-shirts, teddy bears, coasters, pencil sets, drinks bottles and lots more. ![Queen merchandise for sale](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/082-queen.jpg) Queen merchandise for sale Downstairs you can find more merchandise along with a brand new Queen pinball machine from Pinball Brothers. ![Queen guitars, clothing , mugs and more](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/076-queen.jpg) Queen guitars, clothing , mugs and more ![Brian May and John Deacon](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/080-queen.jpg) Brian May and John Deacon ![The Queen pinball machines](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/056-queen.jpg) The Queen pinball machines Queen was one of the titles being developed by Heighway Pinball before the company collapsed and was liquidated in May 2018. The game was designed by Dave Sanders and Barry Oursler as a widebody machine and used assets from Queen’s live performances rather than their studio albums or promotional videos. The Pinball Brothers version continues with to be based on the live shows, but is now a standard width game with a redesigned playfield, although some elements from the original design remain. ![The Queen game from Pinball Brothers](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/003-queen.jpg) The Queen game from Pinball Brothers Before we go any further, it is important to note that the game on display at the Queen: The Greatest store is a non-playable prototype. It is very much a work-in-progress which was brought to London purely for display at the store. There are several mechanisms missing and there is no software other than to produce a light show and play audio and videos of the live performances on the backbox LCD panel and through the speakers. ![The display game cannot be played](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/019-queen.jpg) The display game cannot be played While this prototype will be available to view until the store closes early in January 2022, the finished game probably won’t be launched for another 6 months after that. However, this does give us a good opportunity to see progress on the game so far. We were also fortunate to be able to speak with two of the Pinball Brothers about the machine and get a good understanding of the intended rules. ![The cabinet side art](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/029-queen.jpg) The cabinet side art ![The backbox artwork](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/030-queen.jpg) The backbox artwork ![The front of the cabinet](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/031-queen.jpg) The front of the cabinet ![The artwork around the start button](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/032-queen.jpg) The artwork around the start button ![The artwork around the shooter rod](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/033-queen.jpg) The artwork around the shooter rod ![The backglass artwork](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/084-queen.jpg) The backglass artwork ![The LCD panel](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/053-queen.jpg) The 18.5-inch LCD panel The images of the four band members were all based on actual photographs taken during their stage performances. They were then composited to fit within the backbox’s dimensions. ![Freddie Mercury](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/072-queen.jpg) Freddie Mercury ![Brian May](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/071-queen.jpg) Brian May ![Roger Taylor](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/073-queen.jpg) Roger Taylor ![John Deacon](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/074-queen.jpg) John Deacon The backglass is secured in place with a cylinder lock, while it also has cutouts are the bottom for the sound from the stereo speakers. ![The lock for the backglass](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/075-queen.jpg) The lock for the backglass ![The speaker cutouts](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/070-queen.jpg) The speaker cutouts ![Behind the backbox](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/054-queen.jpg) Behind the backbox So, let’s take a look at the playfield. ![Queen's playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/058-queen.jpg) Queen’s playfield The game comes fitted with interior cabinet art. ![Interior cabinet art](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/020-queen.jpg) Interior cabinet art Queen has three flippers; two in the usual position and a third on on a guitar-shaped mini-playfield at the top right. ![The bottom arch and the two main flippers](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/028-queen.jpg) The bottom arch and the two main flippers ![The main flippers at the bottom of the playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/065-queen.jpg) The main flippers at the bottom of the playfield with the extra ball/ball saver insert Above the flippers are numerous inserts designed to show your progress through the game. One of the main rules is to complete all four band members. This works in a similar way to Monster Bash in that you can collect the instrument for each member, but also have to complete their individual objectives in order to fully light them and get their signatures. ![The instruments for each band member - piano, guitar, bass and drums](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/022-queen.jpg) The instruments for each band member – bass, piano, drums and guitar ![The band members with their signature inserts](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/049-queen.jpg) The band members with their signature inserts ![The progress inserts](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/046-queen.jpg) The progress inserts On the left of the flippers are the inlane and outlane. The inlane is fed from the left ramp return and features a multiplier insert under a rather cloudy clear plastic. The outlane has a ‘Break Free!’ kickback lane with artwork featuring the hairstyles worn in the I Want To Break Free music video. ![The left inlane and outlane](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/034-queen.jpg) The left inlane and outlane The Break Free kickback uses an up-post to stop the ball, but this post hadn’t been installed on this prototype machine. Both lanes use inductive switches rather than mechanical rollover switches. Above the outlane are the piano drop targets. These are intended to match piano keys, with white drop targets in front which reveal black standup targets behind. ![The piano drop targets](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/005-queen.jpg) The piano drop targets ![The piano drop targets with standup targets behind](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/069-queen.jpg) The four piano drop targets with three standup targets behind Moving up the playfield we have the left orbit lane. ![The left orbit lane entrance](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/010-queen.jpg) The left orbit lane entrance This lane is colour coded and features the zodiac sign (Leo the lion) for drummer Roger Taylor. The band’s logo is comprised of the zodiac signs of each member. The lane leads up to the top of the playfield and under a model of Wembley Stadium where there is a controlled gate which can stop the ball and send it through a set of rollover lanes and into the pop bumpers. ![The rollover lanes and drum pop bumpers](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/015-queen.jpg) The rollover lanes and drum pop bumpers ![The rollover lanes and pop bumpers](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/051-queen.jpg) The rollover lanes and pop bumpers The ball exits the pop bumpers into the left orbit lane. There is also a spinner at the left entrance to the orbit lane featuring artwork from the show crew passes. Next to the left orbit is a lane which is guarded by a drop target and leads to an upkicker. ![The upkicker lane](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/011-queen.jpg) The upkicker lane When the drop target is down and the ball enters the saucer, it is kicked up through a flap onto the wireform above, much like the Spider Hole kicks the ball onto the Boney Beast ramp in Scared Stiff. ![The upkicker saucer and ramp return flap](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/062-queen.jpg) The upkicker saucer and ramp return flap As this is a prototype, the flap wasn’t made of the correct spring steel which will be used in the production model. Either side of the lane are two standup targets. The are two of the E-A-D-G set of four standups which represent the pitch of the four strings on the bass guitar. To the right of the upkicker is the centre ramp. ![The centre ramp](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/024-queen.jpg) The centre ramp This ramp represents Freddie Mercury, having the microphone artwork and also his Virgo zodiac sign. The ramp feeds to the left, behind Wembley Stadium and onto the ramp return wireform, but there are three devices which can interrupt its journey. Firstly, there is a controlled magnet which can grab the ball and drop it down into the rollover lanes. A soft shot to the ramp can also achieve the same effect. ![The magnet on the centre ramp](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/014-queen.jpg) The magnet on the centre ramp Secondly, there is a three-ball lock device which is used to start Wembley Multiball. This device wasn’t fitted to this protoype game, but the opto switches for the locked balls are visible. ![The opto switches for the Wembley Multiball ball lock](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/040-queen.jpg) The opto switches for the Wembley Multiball ball lock Finally, once balls exit the lock on the way to the left inlane, a diverter arm can activate to send them on another wireform across the playfield to the right return lane. ![Queen's playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/058-queen.jpg) The two centre ramp return wireforms To the right of the centre ramp is another lane protected by a drop target. ![The right inner lane](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/063-queen.jpg) The right inner lane This lane feeds under and feeds what is probably the game’s main ‘toy’ – the ‘Red Special’ guitar upper playfield. ![The guitar upper playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/006-queen.jpg) The guitar upper playfield A ball arrives on the upper playfield via an upkicker which send it onto the playfield on the right side. This then feeds the upper playfield’s full-size flipper. ![The feed onto the upper playfield and onto the flipper](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/061-queen.jpg) The flipper The upper playfield flipper can shoot three illuminated standup targets which will light lock, an exit lane which leads to the three-ball lock below the guitar, or a captive ball. ![The three standups on the upper playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/060-queen.jpg) The three standups on the upper playfield The exit to the lock is to the right of the Radio GaGa model. ![The Ragio GaGa model with the lock exit to the right](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/016-queen.jpg) The right The captive ball and its ball guides were not installed on this prototype, but there’s quite some distance between the newton ball and the captive ball target. ![The captive ball feature on the upper playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/039-queen.jpg) The captive ball feature on the upper playfield ![The back panel, lock exit and captive ball lane](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/018-queen.jpg) The back panel, lock exit and captive ball lane The ball can also exit the upper playfield just below the flipper, which send it onto the centre ramp’s right return wireform and into the right inlane. ![The ball can also exit below the flipper](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/038-queen.jpg) The ball can also exit below the flipper ![The exit from the upper playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/037-queen.jpg) The exit from the upper playfield There are three further lanes to explore on the main playfield level. Directly below the guitar upper playfield is the right ramp lane which feeds the ball onto the centre ramp and so can be variously stopped by the magnet and dropped into the pop bumpers, locked for Wembley Multiball or diverted to the right inlane. ![The right ramp lane](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/025-queen.jpg) The right ramp lane Either side of the right ramp lane are the final two E-A-D-G standup targets. The right orbit lane is next, featuring the crab of the Cancer zodiac sign of Brian May. This lane can also feed the upkicker onto the upper playfield when lit. ![The right orbit lane represents Brian May](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/044-queen.jpg) The right orbit lane represents Brian May The final shot is to another lane on the right side of the playfield, the Q-U-E-E-N lane. ![The Q-U-E-E-N lane](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/043-queen.jpg) The Q-U-E-E-N lane This lane is also blocked by a drop target which is used to collect a jackpot after making combo shots. At the end of the lane is a standup target which adds a letter to spell Q-U-E-E-N. ![The right side of the playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/012-queen.jpg) The right side of the playfield Below the Q-U-E-E-N lane we come to the right inlane and outlane. The right inlane also has a multiplier insert and is fed from the centre ramp’s right return wireform. The outlane features and Encore virtual ball save as opposed to the physical kickback on the left side. ![The right inlane and outlane](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/035-queen.jpg) The right inlane and outlane You will notice that even the shooter lane has playfield artwork rather than the more usual bare wood. ![Shooter lane artwork](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/021-queen.jpg) Shooter lane artwork Apart from the band members and instruments to collect, there are also albums to complete and four extra features – Frenzy, Eh-Ho, Wembley Multiball and Red Special Multiball (named after Brian May’s guitar) – to get to the wizard mode. ![Some of the albums to collect](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/050-queen.jpg) Some of the albums to collect ![The progress inserts](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/046-queen.jpg) The progress inserts That concludes our first look at this prototype Queen pinball. ![Thanks to Pinball Brothers for their help with this article](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/013-queen.jpg) Thanks article Finally, there was a flyer for the game on top of the backbox. This lists the 14 live tracks used. ![The game flyer](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/055-queen.jpg) The game flyer ![The back of the flyer](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/086-queen.jpg) The back of the flyer If you are in London you can visit the game in the basement of Queen: The Greatest at the end of Carnaby Street until early January. No changes to the game on display are planned before the store closes, so the next time we see it will probably be when it is officially launched later in 2022. After this preview, we look forward to seeing the completed game. ![We can barely wait!](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/081-queen.jpg) We can barely wait! As an added bonus, here’s a short video of the game in its attract mode. Because it contains Queen music there’s a chance it will be taken down due to copyright infringement, but we’ll give it a go. [](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/queen/Prototype1.mp4) The prototype Queen game from Pinball Brothers

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