# American Pinball Teases New ShowBiz Pizza Place Rock-afire Explosion-Themed Claw Machine; Is Transformers Next from Stern Pinball? **Source:** Knapp Arcade **Type:** article **Published:** 2025-12-03 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/blog/american-pinball-teases-new-showbiz-pizza-place-rockafire-explosionthemed-claw-machine-is-transformers-next-from-stern-pinball --- ## Analysis American Pinball revealed a Rock-afire Explosion-themed claw machine (not a pinball game), based on the 1980s ShowBiz Pizza Place animatronic band. The article speculates that Stern Pinball's next cornerstone release in January 2026 will likely be Transformers (designed by Elliott Eisman) or Pokemon (by Jack Danger/George Gomez), with an AI-generated image circulating claiming to show Transformers at CES 2026. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] American Pinball revealed a Rock-afire Explosion Claw Machine — _Author directly states 'this morning, American Pinball revealed what the product is...a claw machine' with Facebook images shown_ - [MEDIUM] Stern's next cornerstone pin is mostly likely a cartoon Transformers designed by Elliott Eisman — _Author speculates based on teaser video from George Gomez; hedged language ('mostly likely') indicates prediction rather than confirmation_ - [MEDIUM] The alternative to Transformers is Pokemon by Jack Danger/George Gomez — _Author presents as two possible options for the next cornerstone release_ - [LOW] An AI-generated image claims Stern will show Transformers at CES January 2026 — _Author explicitly states 'It's not real, it's AI generated' but notes the actual game may still appear at the show_ - [HIGH] George Gomez teased Transformers 14 years ago — _Author references video from 14 years ago where Gomez teased the concept_ ### Notable Quotes > "Well, this morning, American Pinball revealed what the product is...a claw machine." > — **Knapp Arcade author**, early content > _Confirms American Pinball's reveal of Rock-afire Explosion product as claw machine, not pinball_ > "I had kind of been hoping that American was going to reproduce the animatronic robot band itself. Now that would be cool, though there is probably a very limited market for expensive singing robots lol so I get why they didn't." > — **Knapp Arcade author**, mid-content > _Shows community expectation management; author acknowledges commercial logic behind product choice_ > "Stern's next cornerstone pin is mostly likely a cartoon Transformers designed by Elliott Eisman. It will be either that or Pokemon by Jack Danger / George Gomez." > — **Knapp Arcade author**, mid-content > _Key speculation about Stern's next release with named designer credit_ > "There's a new image floating around out there that claims Stern will show off a new Transformers pinball machine at the Consumer Electromics show in January 2026...It's not real, it's AI generated. Having said that, the game may indeed actually make its first appearance at the show." > — **Knapp Arcade author**, late content > _Important caveat distinguishing between AI-generated marketing image and potential actual announcement; suggests high confidence in January reveal_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | American Pinball | company | Boutique pinball manufacturer; revealed Rock-afire Explosion claw machine product | | Stern Pinball | company | Major pinball manufacturer; teased upcoming Transformers or Pokemon cornerstone release for January 2026 | | George Gomez | person | Stern Pinball designer; teased Transformers concept 14 years ago; possibly involved in Pokemon design with Jack Danger | | Elliott Eisman | person | Rumored designer of cartoon Transformers pinball for Stern | | Jack Danger | person | Stern Pinball designer; possibly working with George Gomez on Pokemon pinball alternative | | ShowBiz Pizza Place | company | 1980s arcade/pizza restaurant chain; featured Rock-afire Explosion animatronic band | | Rock-afire Explosion | product | 1980s animatronic band from ShowBiz Pizza Place; subject of American Pinball's new claw machine | | Transformers | product | Rumored next Stern Pinball cornerstone release; speculated to be G1 cartoon version designed by Elliott Eisman | | Pokemon | product | Alternative rumored Stern Pinball cornerstone release; speculated to be designed by Jack Danger/George Gomez | | Consumer Electronics Show (CES) | event | January 2026 event where Stern Transformers pinball is rumored to debut | | Knapp Arcade | person | Content creator/blogger reporting on pinball news | ### Topics - **Primary:** American Pinball product announcement (claw machine), Stern Pinball next cornerstone release speculation, Transformers pinball rumors and CES 2026 - **Secondary:** Pokemon pinball as alternative Stern release, AI-generated marketing imagery in pinball community, ShowBiz Pizza Place nostalgia/licensing ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.72) — Author expresses nostalgia for ShowBiz Pizza and shows enthusiasm for community speculation about Stern's next release. Some mild disappointment that American Pinball chose claw machine over animatronic band reproduction, but acknowledged as commercially sensible. Overall tone is excited and speculative. ### Signals - **[event_signal]** Stern Pinball expected to reveal new cornerstone game at CES January 2026 (confidence: medium) — Author notes AI-generated image circulating of Transformers at CES, but acknowledges image is fake while suggesting actual game may debut there - **[leak_detection]** AI-generated Transformers CES image circulating online; author notes it's fake but game may be real (confidence: medium) — Author explicitly identifies image as AI-generated but suggests Stern may still announce Transformers at CES - **[personnel_signal]** Elliott Eisman rumored as designer of Transformers G1 cartoon pinball; Jack Danger/George Gomez rumored on Pokemon alternative (confidence: low) — Author presents designer attributions as speculation without corroborating sources - **[announcement]** American Pinball officially revealed Rock-afire Explosion claw machine after weeks of teasing (confidence: high) — Author states 'this morning, American Pinball revealed what the product is...a claw machine' with Facebook images shown - **[rumor_hype]** Stern Pinball next cornerstone likely Transformers (cartoon) or Pokemon for January 2026 release (confidence: medium) — Author speculates based on George Gomez teaser video from 14 years ago and current industry rumors; hedged language indicates unconfirmed --- ## Transcript News American Pinball Teases New ShowBiz Pizza Place Rock-afire Explosion-Themed Claw Machine; Is Transformers Next from Stern Pinball? k knapparcade December 3, 2025 Over the past couple of weeks, American Pinball has been teasing that a new product based upon the animatronic band from the 1980s Chuck E Cheese-like kids arcade Showbiz Pizza Place is coming. I personally have really fond memories of going to kids' birthday parties at ShowBiz Pizza back when I was little. I literally remember playing BurgerTime and Spy Hunter there. I have a lot of nostalgia for the brand. Well, this morning, American Pinball revealed what the product is...a claw machine. On its Facebook page, AP showed two images of a Rock-afire Explosion Claw Machine. I had kind of been hoping that American was going to reproduce the animatronic robot band itself. Now that would be cool, though there is probably a very limited market for expensive singing robots lol so I get why they didn't. * Next up is a fun video with Stern Pinball’s George Gomez teasing a new Transformers pinball machine… 14 years ago. Will history repeat itself this January? It certainly sounds as though it will. Stern’s next cornerstone pin is mostly likely a cartoon Transformers designed by Elliot Eismin. It will be either that or Pokemon by Jack Danger / George Gomez. There's a new image floating around out there that claims Stern will show off a new Transformers pinball machine at the Consumer Electromics show in January 2026 (see comments). It’s not real, it’s AI generated. Having said that, the game may indeed actually make its first appearance at the show. What do you think? Would you be interested in a Transformers G1 pin? Transformers Pinball Coming Soon from Stern Pinball - YouTube Stern Pinball Transformers Pinball Coming Soon from Stern Pinball Stern Pinball Search Info Shopping 0:00 / •Live • _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 56f64979-e14b-4037-bd77-e1efa83014d8*