# STAR WARS ANNOUNCED

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2017-06-08  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2017/06/08/star-wars-announced

---

## Analysis

Stern Pinball officially announced Star Wars Pinball machines on June 6, 2017, celebrating the Star Wars 40th Anniversary. The game is available in three tiers (Pro/$6,199, Premium/$7,899, LE/$8,999) on the SPIKE-2 platform, featuring original trilogy content, dual LCD screens on Premium/LE models, sculpted Millennium Falcon and TIE Fighter toys, and an exploding Death Star display.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Star Wars Pinball features speech and footage from original Star Wars trilogy — _Official press release from Stern Pinball_
- [HIGH] Limited Edition and Premium models feature two LCD screens and exploding Death Star interactive display — _Official product specification in press release_
- [HIGH] SPIKE-2 platform enables high-definition graphics and features a 3-channel audio system three times more powerful than previous generations — _Official Stern Pinball technology claim_
- [HIGH] Pro model priced at $6,199, Premium at $7,899, Limited Edition at $8,999 — _Official MSRP announcement_

### Notable Quotes

> "We are excited to bring these pinball machines celebrating the Star Wars galaxy and adventures to our fans. Our Star Wars Pinball machines give fans a fun, new way to enjoy the nonstop action and new game sounds, features and effects."
> — **Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball**, June 6, 2017
> _Official statement positioning Star Wars Pinball as major flagship release celebrating 40th Anniversary IP milestone_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Stern Pinball, Inc. | company | Manufacturer announcing Star Wars Pinball; headquartered in Elk Grove Village, IL; described as world's oldest and largest producer of arcade-quality pinball machines |
| Gary Stern | person | Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball making official announcement |
| Star Wars Pinball | game | New pinball machine celebrating Star Wars 40th Anniversary; available in Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition tiers |
| SPIKE-2 | product | Electronic platform powering Star Wars Pinball; enables high-definition graphics and 3-channel audio system |
| Lucasfilm Ltd. | company | IP rights holder for Star Wars trademark and copyrights |

### Topics

- **Primary:** New game announcement, Pricing and market positioning, Technology platform (SPIKE-2), Three-tier product differentiation
- **Secondary:** Licensed IP (Star Wars)

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.85) — Press release is promotional in tone with enthusiastic language about features and availability; no critical perspective present as this is official manufacturer announcement

### Signals

- **[announcement]** Official announcement of Star Wars Pinball machines in three-tier pricing model (Pro/Premium/LE) on SPIKE-2 platform (confidence: high) — Official press release from Stern Pinball dated June 6, 2017, with detailed specifications, pricing, and product features
- **[product_strategy]** Three-tier pricing strategy with feature distribution: Pro base model vs Premium/LE with dual LCD screens and Death Star display (confidence: high) — Announcement explicitly states 'Limited Edition and Premium models also feature two LCD screens, an exploding Death Star interactive display, and a hyperspace ramp' versus Pro model
- **[licensing_signal]** Star Wars 40th Anniversary licensing deal enabling original trilogy content, speech, and footage integration (confidence: high) — Press release emphasizes 'select speech and footage from the original Star Wars trilogy' and includes official Lucasfilm copyright notice

---

## Transcript

Stern Pinball Announces New Star Wars Pinball Machines ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL – June 6, 2017 – Stern Pinball, Inc., the world’s oldest and largest producer of arcade-quality pinball machines, proudly announced today the availability of a new line of pinball machines celebrating the Star Wars 40th Anniversary. Star Wars Pinball machines will be available in Pro, Premium and Limited Edition models. The game will immerse players in the dynamic and challenging Star Wars pinball environment as they battle to restore justice to the Galaxy. Stern’s Star Wars Pro, Premium and Limited Edition machines are packed with features that provide an irresistible game experience. The game includes select speech and footage from the original Star Wars trilogy; color-changing LED-lighted inserts; a sculpted LED-lit Millennium Falcon; and a sculpted TIE Fighter. The Limited Edition and Premium models also feature two LCD screens, an exploding Death Star interactive display, and a hyperspace ramp. “We are excited to bring these pinball machines celebrating the Star Wars galaxy and adventures to our fans,” said Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball. “Our Star Wars Pinball machines give fans a fun, new way to enjoy the nonstop action and new game sounds, features and effects.” In addition to the immersive theme and exciting game experience, Stern Pinball’s SPIKE-2 electronic platform enables high-definition graphics and innovative animations. The state-of-art electronic system also powers a high-fidelity 3-channel audio system that is three times more powerful than audio systems of previous generations. Star Wars Pinball entertains with an amazing array of modern and classic features, making it suitable for all skill levels. Pricing and Availability: Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: MSRP for sales to USA end-users, before any VAT, GST, Sales Tax, Duties, or other taxes Pro Model: $US 6,199 Premium Model: $US 7,899 Limited Edition Model: $US 8,999 Star Wars Pinball is available through authorized Stern Pinball distributors and dealers around the world. About Stern Pinball, Inc. Stern Pinball, Inc., headquartered just outside Chicago, Illinois, is the oldest and largest producer of arcade-quality pinball games in the world. Stern Pinball’s highly talented creative and technical teams design, engineer and manufacture a full line of popular pinball games, merchandise and accessories. Recent Stern titles include Aerosmith, Batman, Ghostbusters, Game of Thrones, WWE WrestleMania, The Walking Dead, Mustang, Star Trek, Metallica, XMen, AC/DC, Tron, Transformers, Avatar, and many more! All of Stern Pinball’s games are crafted by hand and assembled by Stern Pinball’s expert team. A broad range of players enjoy Stern’s games from professional pinball players that compete in high-stakes international 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 or www.facebook.com/sternpinball STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. © & TM Lucasfilm Ltd. |

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

---

*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 32b7643c-6716-4e07-ba07-129c2c9227f5*