# Pat Lawlor to Design Game for Jersey Jack Pinball **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2014-01-24 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/news/jjplawlor.html --- ## Analysis Jersey Jack Pinball officially announced on January 24, 2014 that legendary pinball designer Pat Lawlor is designing a new original-theme game for the company, marking his return from retirement. Lawlor will collaborate with longtime Williams partner Ted Estes on rules and software, building on JJP's existing platform of The Wizard of Oz and upcoming Hobbit titles. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Pat Lawlor is designing an original-theme game (no license) for Jersey Jack Pinball — _Official announcement from JJP with video message from Pat Lawlor himself_ - [HIGH] Ted Estes, Pat's long-time Williams collaborator, will work on software and rules alongside Keith Johnson — _Announced in official JJP statement and Pat's video introduction_ - [HIGH] This will be JJP's third game (after Wizard of Oz and Hobbit) — _Pat Lawlor's video message stated it would be 'the company's third game'_ - [HIGH] The Wizard of Oz had shipped over 700 units by December 2013 — _Official JJP announcement states '700 games shipped as of December 2013'_ - [HIGH] Pat Lawlor designed The Addams Family, described as the best-selling pinball machine — _JJP announcement credits Pat with 'best selling pinball machine The Adams Family'_ ### Notable Quotes > "redefined the limits of pinball" > — **Pat Lawlor**, Video message > _Lawlor's assessment of JJP's contribution to the industry, justifying his return from retirement_ > "it was going to be a wonderful experience and challenge to be building the company's third game" > — **Pat Lawlor**, Video message > _Direct quote expressing Lawlor's enthusiasm about the project_ > "The game will be an original idea enabling Pat and his Team to imagine and to create. If you are a true pinball enthusiast you are going to love this pinball machine" > — **Jack Guarnieri**, Official announcement > _JJP founder emphasizing the original-theme focus and positioning it as a must-have for enthusiasts_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Pat Lawlor | person | Legendary pinball designer coming out of retirement to design original-theme game for JJP; known for The Addams Family | | Jersey Jack Pinball | company | Premium pinball manufacturer announcing Pat Lawlor collaboration; founded 2011; currently shipping Wizard of Oz (700+ units by Dec 2013) and developing Hobbit | | Ted Estes | person | Long-time collaborator with Pat Lawlor at Williams; now at JJP working on software/rules; will work with Lawlor on new game | | Keith Johnson | person | JJP staff member working on software and rules development for The Wizard of Oz alongside Ted Estes | | Jack Guarnieri | person | Founder of Jersey Jack Pinball; quoted in official announcement | | The Wizard of Oz | game | JJP's first game; 700+ units shipped by December 2013; currently in full production | | The Hobbit | game | JJP's second game in development; expected to ship late 2014 | | The Addams Family | game | Classic pinball machine designed by Pat Lawlor; described as best-selling pinball machine | | Williams | company | Classic pinball manufacturer where Pat Lawlor and Ted Estes previously collaborated | ### Topics - **Primary:** Pat Lawlor's return from retirement, Original-theme games vs. licensed properties, Jersey Jack Pinball's product roadmap - **Secondary:** Legacy designer talent acquisition, Industry speculation and announcement timing ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Announcement is celebratory in tone, framing Pat Lawlor's return as a major industry event. Community has been speculating positively ('subject of much speculation'). Original-theme focus aligns with fan requests. No critical or negative sentiment present. ### Signals - **[sentiment_shift]** Community has been speculating about Pat Lawlor's involvement with JJP; original-theme focus addresses explicit fan demand (confidence: high) — Article states announcement 'has been the subject of much speculation over the past few days' and notes 'many pinball fans have been calling' for original themes - **[design_philosophy]** JJP positioning Pat Lawlor project as opportunity to 'explore the space of new technology available today in the JJP platform' (confidence: medium) — Founder Jack Guarnieri statement about Lawlor creating 'a game that truly lets him explore the space of new technology' - **[personnel_signal]** Pat Lawlor, legendary designer, returns from retirement specifically to design game for Jersey Jack Pinball (confidence: high) — Official announcement with Lawlor's video confirmation; described as 'returning to Pinball' after retirement - **[announcement]** Jersey Jack Pinball announces third game title with legendary designer collaboration; original-theme (unlicensed) (confidence: high) — Official JJP press release and video announcement on January 24, 2014 - **[product_strategy]** Jersey Jack Pinball pipeline: Wizard of Oz shipping, Hobbit late 2014, Pat Lawlor game TBD (confidence: high) — Official announcement stating Hobbit shipping 'late in 2014' and Lawlor game as third title --- ## Transcript Date: 24th January, 2014 It's been the subject of much speculation over the past few days, but today Jersey Jack Pinball officially announced that Pat Lawlor will come out of his pinball retirement to design a game for the company. In a video message, Pat said Jersey Jack Pinball had "redefined the limits of pinball" and it was going to be "a wonderful experience and challenge" to be building the company's third game. Pat Lawlor It will be an original theme - without a licence - something for which many pinball fans have been calling. No details of the game's subject or title were revealed, but Pat did introduce his long-time collaborator at Williams, Ted Estes - who has been working at JJP alongside Keith P. Johnson to develop the software and rules for The Wizard of Oz - and announced Ted would be working with him on the new game. Pat and Ted The announcement from Jersey Jack Pinball came in the form of an e-mailed announcement, which you can read below, and this video message. Here's the JJP announcement. Jersey Jack Pinball Announces the Collaboration of their Next Machine with the Legendary Pinball Designer Pat Lawlor Lakewood, New Jersey - January 24, 2014 - Jersey Jack Pinball, Inc., the industry leading designer and manufacturer of premium, no compromise pinball machines is very proud to announce the collaboration of their next machine with the legendary pinball designer Pat Lawlor. Pat is returning to Pinball to build an EPIC machine with JJP. Pat is well-regarded by millions of pinball enthusiasts around the world for what he has been able to create over the years like the best selling pinball machine The Adams Family.  Pat will have the help and support of the JJP team along with his long time teammate Ted Estes.  It is our intention that Pat will be able to create a game that truly lets him explore the space of new technology available today in the JJP platform. "The game will be an original idea enabling Pat and his Team to imagine and to create. If you are a true pinball enthusiast you are going to love this pinball machine" said JJP Founder Jack Guarnieri.About Jersey Jack Pinball, Inc. Jersey Jack Pinball, Inc. was founded in 2011 with a passion to build premium, no-compromise pinball machines. Games built with passion and games that are fun to play which will become treasured for years to come. The first game that Jersey Jack Pinball, Inc. is building is The Wizard of Oz Pinball Machine. The game is now in full production with more than 700 games shipped as of December 2013. More games are popping up in commercial locations and in home game rooms all around the world. The company is in development of The Hobbit Pinball machine which will ship late in 2014. Contact Jen Guarnieri, Marketing Coordinator Jersey Jack Pinball, Inc. 1645 Oak Street Lakewood, NJ 08701 P: (732) 364-9900 Ext 203 jen@jerseyjackpinball.com Back to the News page Like this page? 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