# GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY REVEALED

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2017-10-31  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2017/10/31/guardians-of-the-galaxy-revealed

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## Analysis

Stern Pinball officially announces Guardians of the Galaxy pinball machines in Pro ($6,199), Premium ($7,899), and Limited Edition ($8,999) variants. The game features Marvel characters including Groot, Rocket, and Star-Lord battling Ronan, with SPIKE-2 electronics, interactive toys, and hand-drawn artwork. Available through authorized distributors worldwide.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Guardians of the Galaxy pinball machines available in Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition models — _Official Stern Pinball announcement with specific MSRP pricing_
- [HIGH] Game features interactive ball-eating Groot toy and custom sculpted Rocket figure — _Feature list in official announcement_
- [HIGH] SPIKE-2 platform enables HD graphics with 3-channel audio system 3x more powerful than previous generation — _Technical specifications in official product details_
- [HIGH] Limited Edition and Premium models feature extra magnets, custom artwork, RGB lighting, and sculpted Groot arms — _Feature differentiation listed in announcement_
- [MEDIUM] Guardians of the Galaxy is one of Marvel's most exciting and successful franchises worldwide — _Quote attributed to Gary Stern, CEO, opinion-based assertion_

### Notable Quotes

> "Guardians of the Galaxy is one of Marvel's most exciting and successful franchises worldwide. We feel that this theme connects perfectly with pinball in creating a high energy pinball experience."
> — **Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc.**, October 31, 2017
> _CEO rationale for theme selection and market positioning_

> "Stern Pinball and Marvel Studios share a love for these memorable characters and have a long, successful history of collaboration."
> — **Gary Stern**, October 31, 2017
> _Emphasizes established partnership and licensing relationship with Marvel_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Stern Pinball, Inc. | company | World's oldest and largest producer of arcade-quality pinball machines; headquartered near Chicago, Illinois |
| Marvel Comics | organization | Publisher of Guardians of the Galaxy comic book series; partner for licensing |
| Marvel Studios | organization | Movie studio behind Guardians of the Galaxy film franchise; collaborative partner with Stern Pinball |
| Gary Stern | person | Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc. |
| Guardians of the Galaxy Pinball | game | New Stern Pinball machine featuring Marvel franchise characters |
| SPIKE-2 | product | Stern's electronic platform enabling HD graphics and enhanced audio systems |
| Star-Lord | game_character | Guardians of the Galaxy protagonist featured in pinball game |
| Groot | game_character | Guardians character; features as interactive ball-eating toy in pinball |
| Rocket | game_character | Guardians character; custom sculpted figure that blasts ball back at rocket speed |
| Ronan | game_character | Antagonist in Guardians of the Galaxy pinball narrative |
| Infinity Stone | game_element | Plot device in game; revealed by interactive color-changing Orb |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Product Announcement, Marvel Licensing, Three-Tier Pricing Model
- **Secondary:** SPIKE-2 Technology, Interactive Toy Features

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.85) — Celebratory official announcement tone with emphasis on successful partnership, exciting franchise properties, and technical advancement. No critical or negative framing present.

### Signals

- **[licensing_signal]** Marvel Studios partnership extends to Guardians of the Galaxy pinball; ongoing collaborative relationship between Stern and Marvel (confidence: high) — CEO quote: 'Stern Pinball and Marvel Studios share a love for these memorable characters and have a long, successful history of collaboration'
- **[announcement]** Stern officially announces Guardians of the Galaxy pinball in three tiers (Pro/Premium/LE) with specific MSRP, features, and release timeline (confidence: high) — Official press release with complete feature list, pricing ($6,199/$7,899/$8,999), and distribution details
- **[product_strategy]** Three-tier model with strategic feature distribution: LE/Premium include extra magnets, RGB lighting, sculpted Groot arms; all models share core Groot/Rocket interactive toys (confidence: high) — Feature list showing LE/Premium exclusives while maintaining consistent base features across tiers
- **[technology_signal]** SPIKE-2 platform deployment with HD graphics and 3-channel audio system claimed to be 3x more powerful than previous generation (confidence: high) — Technical specifications: 'state-of-the-art electronic system...high-fidelity 3-channel audio system that is three times more powerful than audio systems of previous generations'

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## Transcript

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| Stern Pinball Announces New Guardians of the Galaxy Pinball Machines ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL – October 31, 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 popular movie franchise, Guardians of the Galaxy. Guardians of the Galaxy pinball machines will be available in Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition models. The Guardians of the Galaxy are a fictional intergalactic superhero team based on the successful American comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The game will immerse players in a dynamic, challenging, and galactic pinball environment where Star-Lord, Rocket, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, and Groot battle Ronan to stop him from using the Infinity Stone to destroy the galaxy. “Guardians of the Galaxy is one of Marvel’s most exciting and successful franchises worldwide. We feel that this theme connects perfectly with pinball in creating a high energy pinball experience,” said Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc. “Stern Pinball and Marvel Studios share a love for these memorable characters and have a long, successful history of collaboration.” Stern’s Guardians of the Galaxy Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition models are packed with features that provide an irresistible gameplay experience. Each game features a sculpted and interactive ball-eating Groot. In addition, a custom sculpted Rocket figure will keep players on their toes as it blasts the ball back at rocket speed. Color-changing inserts highlight the mysterious and interactive Orb, which opens to reveal the powerful Infinity Stone. The Limited Edition and Premium models also feature extra magnets, custom artwork, RGB lighting, and sculpted Groot arms that sprawl across the playfield. In addition to the immersive theme and exciting gameplay experience, Stern Pinball’s SPIKE-2 electronic platform enables high-definition graphics and innovative animations on the LCD screen. The state-of-the-art electronic system also powers a high-fidelity 3-channel audio system that is three times more powerful than audio systems of previous generations. All models feature stunning and distinctive hand drawn art. Guardians of the Galaxy 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 Guardians of the Galaxy 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 Star Wars, Aerosmith, Batman, Ghostbusters, Game of Thrones, WWE WrestleMania, The Walking Dead, Mustang, Star Trek, Metallica, X-Men, 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 All trademarks and product names are the property of their respective companies. |

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 50b5bf81-8f56-4138-ad22-826e73c77a02*