# BATMAN 66 FEATURES **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2016-09-15 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2016/09/15/batman-66-features --- ## Analysis Stern Pinball announced Batman 66, a game based on the original 1960s TV series featuring Adam West as the voice talent. The game marks several industry firsts: full-color LCD display replacing DMD, Spike 2 control board, and a collector-focused three-tier pricing model (Premium/LE/Super-LE with no Pro level). The game is being produced through Ka-Pow Pinball, a partnership involving Gary Stern's former Data East/Sega colleague Joe Kaminkow. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Batman 66 will be the first Stern game to feature a full-color LCD display instead of traditional single-color DMD — _Official announcement article dated September 15, 2016_ - [HIGH] The game is expected to herald the arrival of the Spike 2 control board with more memory and processing power — _Official Stern announcement indicating Spike 2 development connection_ - [HIGH] Batman 66 will have no Pro level, only Premium, Limited Edition (240 units), and Super-LE (30 units by invitation) — _Official pricing and production tier announcement_ - [HIGH] Batman 66 is being produced through Ka-Pow Pinball, a new company set up by Joe Kaminkow (former Data East and Sega Pinball partner of Gary Stern) — _Official announcement identifying production partnership_ - [HIGH] Eugene Jarvis (Head of Raw Thrills) is working on Batman 66 alongside George Gomez and Lyman Sheets — _Official credits in announcement_ ### Notable Quotes > "This is a landmark game for Stern in several ways." > — **Pinball News author**, N/A > _Sets up the game's historical importance in Stern's product line_ > "This emphasises the point that this is not a simple re-branding of Stern's 2008 Batman – The Dark Knight game in the same way the recent Spider-Man Vault Edition remake was re-branded by applying comic book artwork and characters to Steve Ritchie's original design." > — **Pinball News author**, N/A > _Clarifies Batman 66 is a distinct design, not a reskinned Dark Knight_ > "Also new is how Batman 66 is squarely aimed at collectors rather than operators. In fact there will be no Pro level game at all, with only Premium, Limited Edition, and a new Super-LE to wring even more cash out of uber-collectors." > — **Pinball News author**, N/A > _Identifies strategic market positioning shift toward collectors and premium pricing_ > "Entry to a special VIP meet-and-greet with Adam West and a Batmobile was said to only be open to buyers of the Batman 66 game" > — **Pinball News author**, N/A > _Demonstrates high-end marketing strategy tied to exclusive experiences_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Stern Pinball | company | Manufacturer announcing Batman 66 game; celebrating 30th anniversary | | Batman 66 | game | New Stern Pinball game based on 1960s TV series; landmark title with LCD display and Spike 2 board | | Adam West | person | Original Batman TV series star; providing voice talent for Batman 66 game | | Ka-Pow Pinball | company | New production company partnering with Stern for Batman 66; founded by Joe Kaminkow | | Joe Kaminkow | person | Former Data East and Sega Pinball partner of Gary Stern; founder of Ka-Pow Pinball | | Gary Stern | person | Stern Pinball leadership; former partner with Joe Kaminkow at Data East and Sega Pinball | | George Gomez | person | Stern Pinball designer; designer of Dark Knight (referenced); working on Batman 66 | | Eugene Jarvis | person | Head of Raw Thrills; collaborating on Batman 66 design alongside Stern team | | Lyman Sheets | person | Stern Pinball designer/programmer; working on Batman 66 | | Steve Ritchie | person | Designer of original Dark Knight (2008); referenced for Spider-Man Vault Edition redesign | | Spike 2 | product | New Stern control board with enhanced memory and processing power; expected to launch with Batman 66 | | Data East | company | Historical pinball manufacturer; former employer of Joe Kaminkow and Gary Stern | | Sega Pinball | company | Historical pinball division; former employer of Joe Kaminkow and Gary Stern | | Pinball Expo | event | October event where Stern announced Batman 66 during Epic 30th Anniversary Extravaganza | | Raw Thrills | company | Company where Eugene Jarvis serves as Head; staff collaborating on Batman 66 | ### Topics - **Primary:** Hardware innovation (LCD display, Spike 2 control board), Collector-focused pricing strategy and market segmentation, Licensed IP and talent (Adam West voiceover), Production partnership and industry consolidation (Ka-Pow Pinball) - **Secondary:** Design differentiation from prior Batman games, Stern 30th anniversary milestone, End of DMD era for standard releases ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.78) — Announcement framed as landmark achievement with industry-first technology and prestigious talent. Tone is celebratory of innovation but carries subtle criticism of collector-focused pricing strategy ('wring even more cash out of uber-collectors'). Overall positive reception to game announcement despite reservations about market approach. ### Signals - **[business_signal]** New production partnership structure with Ka-Pow Pinball; involves external design talent (Eugene Jarvis from Raw Thrills) suggesting potential shift in Stern's internal production model (confidence: high) — Ka-Pow Pinball described as 'a new company set up by Gary Stern's former partner at Data East and Sega Pinball, Joe Kaminkow' with Eugene Jarvis collaboration - **[event_signal]** Batman 66 announcement coincides with Stern's 30th anniversary celebration and Pinball Expo VIP event (confidence: high) — Game 'being released to coincide with Stern's own 30th anniversary year' and announcement made during 'Epic 30th Anniversary Extravaganza party during Pinball Expo' - **[licensing_signal]** High-profile talent acquisition (Adam West) for voice work; exclusive experience marketing tied to game purchase (VIP meet-and-greet with Batmobile) (confidence: high) — 'they have brought in the original Batman, Adam West, to voice it' and 'Entry to a special VIP meet-and-greet with Adam West and a Batmobile was said to only be open to buyers of the Batman 66 game' - **[market_signal]** Collector-focused pricing model with no Pro tier; three-tier structure (Premium/LE/Super-LE) targeting high-value buyer segment with substantial deposits ($500-$2,000) (confidence: high) — 240 LEs at $2,000 deposit, unlimited Premiums at $500 deposit, 30 Super-LEs by invitation only - **[product_strategy]** Batman 66 positioned as distinct from Dark Knight rather than simple reskin; includes dual LCD displays and playfield redesign (confidence: high) — Article states game is NOT 'a simple re-branding of Stern's 2008 Batman – The Dark Knight game' and will feature 'a second smaller panel on the playfield' - **[technology_signal]** Full-color LCD display replacing DMD as standard Stern platform feature; Spike 2 control board launch marking significant hardware evolution (confidence: high) — Official announcement: 'This is expected to mark the end of the DMD panel for all but Vault Edition releases' and 'expected to also herald the arrival of the Spike2 control board' --- ## Transcript **Date:** 15th September, 2016 **Stern Pinball today finally announced details of their upcoming Batman game based on the original TV series rather than any of the numerous big screen variants, and they have brought in the original Batman, Adam West, to voice it.** The new *Batman 66* game is named after the year when the TV series first aired on the US network ABC. That makes it 50 years old, and the game is being released to coincide with Stern’s own 30th anniversary year. [![The Batman '66 flyer](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/batman-66/1.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/batman-66/1.jpg) The Batman 66 flyer This is a landmark game for Stern in several ways. To start with, it will be the first game to feature a full-colour LCD display instead of the traditional single-colour dot-matix display. The LCD display has been in development for several years and is expected to also herald the arrival of the Spike2 control board with more memory and processing power to drive the display. Stern game have had LCD displays before of course. Whoa Nellie! – Big Juicy Melons has a less than big and juicy display built into the apron, while WWE Wrestlemania’s LE and Premium models had a more impressive panel showing wrestling clips. Ghostbusters LE and Premium also had a small LCD for the Ecto-Goggles feature, but this is expected to mark the end of the DMD panel for all but Vault Edition releases. Not content with one LCD, Stern have also added a second smaller panel on the playfield for *Batman 66*. This emphasises the point that this is not a simple re-branding of Stern’s 2008 Batman – The Dark Knight game in the same way the recent Spider-Man Vault Edition remake was re-branded by applying comic book artwork and characters to Steve Ritchie’s original design. The *Batman 66* will keep the crane toy from George Gomez’s Dark Knight design but other areas of the playfield will be changed. Also new is how *Batman 66* is squarely aimed at collectors rather than operators. In fact there will be no Pro level game at all, with only Premium, Limited Edition, and a new Super-LE to wring even more cash out of uber-collectors. 240 LEs will be available, each one requiring a $2,000 deposit now. An unlimited number of Premiums can be built, but a $500 deposit is needed to get Stern to actually send one of them down the production line. 30 Super-LEs can only be bought by invitation, although it’s not clear who will be invited or who will be inviting them. The existence of the *Batman 66* game has been known for some months and it was confirmed when Stern announced their Epic 30th Anniversary Extravaganza party during Pinball Expo in October. Entry to a special VIP meet-and-greet with Adam West and a Batmobile was said to only be open to buyers of the *Batman 66* game, although no details were known about the game at that time. The final point of interest is how *Batman 66* is being produced with Ka-Pow Pinball which is a new company set up by Gary Stern’s former partner at Data East and Sega Pinball, Joe Kaminkow. [![Gary Stern and Joe Kaminkow](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/batman-66/253.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/batman-66/253.jpg) Gary Stern and Joe Kaminkow Head of Raw Thrills, Eugene Jarvis, is also apparently working on the game alongside George Gomez and Lyman F. Sheats Jr. from Stern. [![Eugene Jarvis](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/batman-66/2.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/batman-66/2.jpg) Eugene Jarvis Batman 66 is expected to be available in November and we’ll bring you all the latest details and pictures of the new game just as soon as we get them. _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 3967b9ed-1fbe-4011-94bf-9c873d309b02*