# Autobots, Transform and Roll Out!

**Source:** Kineticist  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2026-06-25  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.kineticist.com/news/transformers-pinball-tutorial

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## Analysis

Stern Pinball has released Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye, a new pinball machine designed by Elliot Eismin based on the Generation 1 cartoon using the SPIKE 3 system. The game features a playfield inspired by Jack Danger earlier Stern designs with narrower shots, unique combo flow, and a challenging bumper/slingshot arrangement. Rule design includes five missions, a mini-wizard mode called One Shall Fall, and innovative mechanics like a single add-a-ball that can convert to a playfield multiplier.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] George Gomez designed the 2011 Transformers pinball machine based on Michael Bay live-action films — _Kineticist article states this as historical fact about first pinball exposure_
- [HIGH] Elliot Eismin was mentored by George Gomez on John Wick in 2024 before designing Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye — _Kineticist article explicitly credits mentorship and positions Transformers as Eisman's second game as lead designer_
- [HIGH] Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye uses Generation 1 cartoon as basis rather than Michael Bay films — _Kineticist article states 'this time used the original Generation 1 cartoon as a basis instead of the films'_
- [HIGH] The game prioritizes narrower shots leading to unique combo flow and a deadly arrangement of bumpers/slingshots — _Kineticist article describes design philosophy as departure from 'traditional fan layout'_
- [HIGH] Only 2 of 5 missions need to be played to access mini-wizard mode One Shall Fall — _Kineticist detailed rules section confirms mission count and mini-wizard access requirement_
- [HIGH] Megatron's cannon fires ball across playfield on Prem/LE models but acts as ball lock on Pro model — _Kineticist playfield overview explicitly documents this variance between model tiers_
- [HIGH] The playfield bears striking resemblance to Jack Danger earlier Stern designs, particularly Foo Fighters — _Kineticist article directly compares layout design to Foo Fighters and attributes to Jack Danger_
- [HIGH] The game has only one upper flipper and a standard bottom configuration with two inlanes and outlanes — _Kineticist playfield overview provides structural layout details_

### Notable Quotes

> "Transformers is a franchise that has been a frequent ask to turn into a pinball machine."
> — **Kineticist**
> _Sets context for community demand and franchise appeal in pinball_

> "now with the SPIKE 3 system allowing them to accurately represent the original show"
> — **Kineticist**
> _Links hardware capability to theme authenticity and generational preference shift_

> "departs quite a bit from that game's more traditional fan layout, instead prioritizing narrower shots that lead to unique combo flow"
> — **Kineticist**
> _Describes Eisman's design philosophy as deliberate departure from convention_

> "The machine has a few unique approaches to standard Stern rules, including only giving the player one add-a-ball per game, but allowing this add-a-ball to turn into a playfield multiplier with accurate shooting."
> — **Kineticist**
> _Highlights innovative rule design combining resource scarcity with skill-based reward mechanism_

> "Hitting a standup target errantly can send the ball out of control, so be on guard if you happen to hit one of them accidentally."
> — **Kineticist**
> _Notes potential difficulty spike from unintended target hits, relevant to player strategy_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Stern Pinball | company | Manufacturer of Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye pinball machine |
| Elliot Eismin | person | Lead designer of Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye; second game as lead designer after John Wick mentorship |
| George Gomez | person | Designer of 2011 Transformers pinball machine based on Michael Bay films; mentored Eisman on John Wick |
| Jack Danger | person | Stern designer whose playfield design philosophy influenced Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye, particularly Foo Fighters layout |
| Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye | game | New Stern pinball machine based on Generation 1 Transformers cartoon, designed by Elliot Eisman using SPIKE 3 system |
| Transformers | game | Historical pinball machine designed by George Gomez in 2011 based on Michael Bay films; first Transformers pinball |
| John Wick | game | Stern pinball machine that preceded Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye; designed by George Gomez with Elliot Eisman mentorship |
| Foo Fighters | game | Earlier Stern pinball design by Jack Danger that influenced Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye playfield layout |
| Hasbro | company | IP rights holder for Transformers franchise licensed for pinball |
| Michael Bay | person | Director of Transformers live-action films that inspired 2011 pinball machine design |
| Optimus Prime | product | Autobot leader character; has sculpt on playfield above side ramp with target below that increases multiball jackpot |
| Megatron | product | Decepticon leader character; featured as sculpt on playfield with built-in cannon and scoop; serves as final shot in One Shall Fall mini-wizard mode |
| Grimlock | product | Dinobot character that marks left orbit shot on playfield; gates to dinobot missions |
| Soundwave | product | Character associated with cassette target mode and cassette combo mechanics |
| SPIKE 3 | product | Stern's pinball hardware system enabling accurate representation of Generation 1 cartoon aesthetic and theme |
| One Shall Fall | product | Mini-wizard mode accessible after playing two of five missions; final mode hurry-up targets Megatron scoop |
| Kineticist | organization | Publication providing detailed strategic and tactical game guide for Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye |

### Signals

- **[gameplay_signal]** Eisman's design prioritizes narrower shots leading to unique combo flow rather than traditional fan layout, creating a departure from standard Stern design philosophy (confidence: high) — Article states design 'prioritizing narrower shots that lead to unique combo flow and a truly deadly arrangement of bumpers and slingshots'
- **[design_innovation]** Novel approach to standard Stern rules: single add-a-ball per game that can convert to playfield multiplier with accurate shooting, combining resource scarcity with skill-based reward (confidence: high) — Article describes 'only giving the player one add-a-ball per game, but allowing this add-a-ball to turn into a playfield multiplier with accurate shooting'
- **[design_innovation]** Five-mission structure with only 2 required to access mini-wizard mode lowers barrier to endgame content while rewarding deeper play (confidence: high) — Article states 'five easy-to-learn missions, only 2 of which need to be played to access the mini-wizard mode'
- **[design_philosophy]** Playfield design influenced by Jack Danger's earlier Stern layouts (particularly Foo Fighters) but adapted with narrower shot architecture (confidence: high) — Article notes 'playfield of Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye bears a striking resemblance to Jack Danger's earlier designs for Stern, particularly Foo Fighters'
- **[gameplay_signal]** Standup targets can errantly send balls out of control, creating risk/reward tension and suggesting challenging playfield management (confidence: high) — Article warns 'Hitting a standup target errantly can send the ball out of control, so be on guard if you happen to hit one of them accidentally'
- **[product_strategy]** Pro, Premium, and LE models have feature differentiation (Megatron cannon mechanics vary by tier), supporting value ladder and collector stratification (confidence: high) — Article documents Megatron cannon behavior differs: 'fires the ball across the playfield onto the left ramp on the Prem / LE model, but on the Pro model, this cannon acts as a ball lock'
- **[personnel_signal]** George Gomez mentored Elliot Eisman on John Wick (2024), establishing a mentorship relationship that influences next-generation Stern designer development (confidence: high) — Article states Eisman 'After being mentored by Gomez on John Wick in 2024, Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye marks Elliot Eismin's second game as lead designer'
- **[licensing_signal]** Stern chose Generation 1 cartoon over Michael Bay live-action films for new Transformers machine, reflecting community preference and SPIKE 3 capability for faithful G1 representation (confidence: high) — Article notes 'Stern opted to return to the franchise, but this time used the original Generation 1 cartoon as a basis instead of the films, now with the SPIKE 3 system allowing them to accurately represent the original show'
- **[gameplay_signal]** Energon cube mechanic allows players to reduce next mission difficulty or 'rust' it for harder challenge with higher value, adding strategic depth (confidence: high) — Article describes 'Energon makes the next mission easier if the player opts to use one. If they don't, completing the mission will rust the next mission and make it harder to complete but more valuable'
- **[design_innovation]** Single upper flipper with standard bottom configuration compensated by shot variety and non-obvious ball routing, creating novel playfield flow (confidence: high) — Article states 'game has only one upper flipper and a standard bottom with two inlanes and two outlanes, the game compensates with a variety of shots that range in difficulty'

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## Transcript

Transformers is a franchise that has been a frequent ask to turn into a pinball machine. The series’ first exposure to pinball was in 2011 when George Gomez designed a machine based on the Michael Bay live-action films, a classic fan layout with a few unique toys and gimmicks to spice up the gameplay. 15 years later, Stern opted to return to the franchise, but this time used the original Generation 1 cartoon as a basis instead of the films, now with the SPIKE 3 system allowing them to accurately represent the original show. After being mentored by Gomez on John Wick in 2024, Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye marks Elliot Eismin’s second game as lead designer and departs quite a bit from that game’s more traditional fan layout, instead prioritizing narrower shots that lead to unique combo flow and a truly deadly arrangement of bumpers and slingshots on the playfield’s lower half. Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye presents the player with five easy-to-learn missions, only 2 of which need to be played to access the mini-wizard mode, One Shall Fall. Players looking for substantial points can aim for stacking the missions with Dinobot missions started at the left orbit, the main Transformers Multiball, side modes started by rolling through the lit inlanes, or activating the playfield multiplier by shooting the lit captive ball. The machine has a few unique approaches to standard Stern rules, including only giving the player one add-a-ball per game, but allowing this add-a-ball to turn into a playfield multiplier with accurate shooting. Read on and learn how to approach this game that isn’t quite what it seems! The Autobots and Decepticons have waged war across the galaxy for eons, but have crash-landed on Earth. The robots reawaken 4 million years later and find Earth to be their new battleground, fighting over the Energon cubes that powered their previous civilization. Playfield Overview The playfield of Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye bears a striking resemblance to Jack Danger’s earlier designs for Stern, particularly Foo Fighters. Though the game has only one upper flipper and a standard bottom with two inlanes and two outlanes, the game compensates with a variety of shots that range in difficulty and send the ball to locations that aren’t obvious on first viewing. The first major playfield element is the left orbit, marked by the dinobot Grimlock. This left orbit shot is gated by two standup targets used to light dinobot missions, and shooting the left orbit feeds the ball to the upper right flipper at a controlled pace, allowing them to hit any of the three shots from it. To the left of Grimlock is a hidden slingshot that can make survival out of the bumper and slingshot area more difficult than usual. The left ramp is a reverse scoop that can be hit from either lower flipper, even as an early backhand from the left flipper, and sends the ball at a fast speed back to the left flipper. The final shot in this area of the playfield is the captive ball, which collects letters in BUMBLEBEE once the playfield X insert has been lit with hits to the right pop bumper. Three shots can be made with the assistance of the upper right flipper. The side target, called the space bridge, can only be hit with a late shot from the upper flipper; this is also where mystery awards are scored after enough bumper hits, where extra balls can be earned, and where balls can be added during multiball. The side ramp is a very difficult ramp that requires a strong shot for the ball to make it fully around, but is heavily rewarding as it collects Combiner parts and is used in all multiballs as the super jackpot shot. A sculpt of Optimus Prime, the Autobot leader, is located above the side ramp, comparable in function to the captive ball on John Wick; the target below the sculpt increases the main multiball jackpot value, or lights the lock if it isn’t currently lit. To the right of Optimus is a VUK that can be hit from either lower flipper, which locks balls for Transformers Multiball and acts as a bailout shot that sends balls to the right flipper by default. The center spinner is in a similar position to the center spinner on Foo Fighters and can be hit from either flipper, but shots to it from the right flipper more consistently feed the upper flipper to set up the space bridge or side ramp shots. To the right of the spinner are a 3-bank of drop targets blocking a large scoop and a sculpt of Megatron, the Decepticon leader. Shooting the scoop sends balls into the same area as the VUK described earlier, and the scoop can be hit from either lower flipper. Megatron also has a built-in cannon that can fire the ball across the playfield onto the left ramp on the Prem / LE model, but on the Pro model, this cannon acts as a ball lock that diverts the ball to the upper flipper for follow-up shots. This cannon can be fed by shooting the right ramp, the steepest shot on the game, which feeds the lower right flipper if it isn’t loading the cannon. The right orbit is simply the mirror image of the center spinner and can only be hit from the left flipper. Further to the right on the playfield are the cassette target, used to light Soundwave modes and cash out cassette combos, and the game’s sole pop bumper, used to light mystery and the captive ball towards playfield X advances. Scattered across the playfield are 7 standup targets. Two gate the left orbit, one is near the side ramp, one is near the center spinner, two gate Megatron’s scoop, and one is near the right ramp. These targets are all used to light Tech Specs at the major shots, used to start a mini-wizard mode called Tech Spec Mania or multiply their respective shots once missions have been completed. Hitting a standup target errantly can send the ball out of control, so be on guard if you happen to hit one of them accidentally. - Skill shot – soft plunge to the upper flipper and hit any lit shot. The most valuable skill shot is the space bridge which scores 8M and 10 seconds of ball save. - Missions – shoot the Megatron scoop to start a mission selected using the flippers before hitting the scoop. Autobot Run – combo mode. Microbots – ramps / drop target mode. Solar Needle – standups / captive ball mode. Prime Target – left / right ramp mode. Golden Lagoon – shots build spinner mode. Hit Megatron after making enough shots to score the final blow, complete the mission, and enable 2x scoring at any shot while Tech Spec is lit there. - Shoot the spinner to collect Energon cubes. Energon makes the next mission easier if the player opts to use one. If they don’t, completing the mission will “rust” the next mission and make it harder to complete but more valuable. - One Shall Fall – Play two missions to light the mini-wizard mode. Hit purple shots while avoiding red shots to weaken Megatron’s defenses, then hit the Megatron scoop to score the final blow hurry-up.

_(Acquisition: web_scrape, Enrichment: v5)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-08-04 | Item ID: 26aa2019-9623-41fb-ab53-ec7fd4eb6f0f*