# HOT WHEELS REVEALED

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2020-03-12  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2020/03/12/hot-wheels-revealed

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## Analysis

American Pinball unveiled Hot Wheels, their third pinball title based on the Mattel toy car brand, at Amusement Expo in New Orleans. Designed by Joe Balcer, the game features a spinning Hot Wheels car toy, dual orbits, ramps, and battle modes spelling B-A-T-T-L-E, with an anticipated retail price of $6,200–$6,400. No official announcement was made; details came from social media photos and visitor reports, with full specifications expected after the show.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Hot Wheels is American Pinball's third pinball title — _Official reveal at Amusement Expo; confirmed by American Pinball's presence and Pinball News reporting_
- [HIGH] Game is designed by Joe Balcer — _Stated in opening paragraph as expected/confirmed detail_
- [MEDIUM] Anticipated retail price around $6,200–$6,400 — _Estimate based on standard-width, no-unique-assembly design; not officially confirmed by American Pinball_
- [HIGH] Game is two-flipper standard-width without unique playfield assemblies — _Visual inspection at show by Pinball News reporter_
- [HIGH] American Pinball distributors were left without game feature or price details — _Direct quote: 'Even American Pinball's distributors were left without game feature or price details'_

### Notable Quotes

> "Although the game was on the American Pinball stand, there was no official announcement about either the game or its appearance at the show."
> — **Pinball News**
> _Highlights the unofficial nature of the reveal; information came from social media and visitor reports, not American Pinball's formal announcement_

> "American Pinball told Pinball News they would be releasing full details of the game along with publicity photographs once they get back to Illinois after the show closes."
> — **American Pinball (reported by Pinball News)**
> _Indicates formal announcement is forthcoming; this article represents pre-announcement coverage based on show floor observation_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| American Pinball | company | Boutique pinball manufacturer; unveiled Hot Wheels at Amusement Expo |
| Hot Wheels | game | Pinball machine based on Mattel die-cast toy car series and spin-off TV cartoon; third American Pinball title |
| Joe Balcer | person | Designer of Hot Wheels pinball |
| Mattel | company | IP licensor; Hot Wheels toy car brand owner |
| Amusement Expo | event | Coin-op trade show in New Orleans where Hot Wheels was unveiled |
| Houdini | game | American Pinball's first title; same backbox profile design language as Hot Wheels |
| Oktoberfest | game | American Pinball's second title; had extended cabinet side rails |
| Pinball News | organization | News outlet covering the reveal; interviewed American Pinball about announcement timing |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Game announcement and reveal, Game design and playfield mechanics, Pricing and market positioning
- **Secondary:** IP licensing (Mattel Hot Wheels), Cabinet and backbox artwork/design, American Pinball product roadmap

### Sentiment

**Neutral** (0.5) — Article is factual and observational, presenting technical specifications and design details without editorial judgment. No negative or positive framing; straightforward reporting of show floor findings.

### Signals

- **[leak_detection]** Unofficial reveal via social media photos and visitor reports before formal American Pinball announcement (confidence: high) — Quote: 'there was no official announcement about either the game or its appearance at the show. Instead, social media pictures and reports from show visitors tell us all we know so far'
- **[market_signal]** Hot Wheels anticipated at $6,200–$6,400; cost-conscious design with standard playfield, no unique assemblies (confidence: medium) — Analysis states 'expected to keep the cost of the game down, with an anticipated retail price of around $6,200–$6,400'
- **[announcement]** Hot Wheels officially revealed at Amusement Expo; third American Pinball title; full details forthcoming (confidence: high) — Game displayed on American Pinball stand; company confirmed formal announcement pending
- **[product_strategy]** Hot Wheels features spinning car toy as central playfield element; dual orbit design; battle modes; lower-cost tier positioning (confidence: high) — Detailed playfield description: spinning Hot Wheels car, dual orbits, B-A-T-T-L-E standup targets, Redline/Track/Loop Crash/Victory Lap multiballs

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## Transcript

At the Amusement Expo coin-op trade show in New Orleans, American Pinball unveiled their third pinball title. As expected it is Hot Wheels, based on the Mattel die-cast toy car series and the spin-off TV cartoon series, and designed by Joe Balcer.

![The American Pinball stand at Amusement Expo](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/hot-wheels/08-hot-wheels.jpg)

The American Pinball stand at Amusement Expo
Picture: Pinside

Although the game was on the American Pinball stand, there was no official announcement about either the game or its appearance at the show. Instead, social media pictures and reports from show visitors tell us all we know so far. Even American Pinball’s distributors were left without game feature or price details.

American Pinball told Pinball News they would be releasing full details of the game along with publicity photographs once they get back to Illinois after the show closes.

What we can see so far indicates Hot Wheels is a two-flipper standard-width game, apparently without any unique or innovative play-field assemblies. This is expected to keep the cost of the game down, with an anticipated retail price of around $6,200-$6,400.

The backbox uses the same shaped profile as the company’s first title, Houdini, with the curved design more appropriate to the curved plastic track which is such a feature of the Hot Wheels brand.

The cabinet side rails are much plainer than we have seen previously, where both Houdini and Oktoberfest had extended rails with plates which protected the flipper area.

The cabinet artwork heavily features the orange race track along which the toy cars travel with the Hot Wheels name featuring boldly. The backbox front is unusual as the game’s LCD monitor is offset from the centre. The artwork does help justify its position to the left, but it’s still an unusual placement for a backbox LCD display.

![The cabinet and backbox artwork](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/hot-wheels/06-hot-wheels.jpg)

The cabinet and backbox artwork

![The Hot Wheels playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/hot-wheels/01-hot-wheels.jpg)

The Hot Wheels playfield
Picture: Pinside

On the playfield the main ‘toy’ is a Hot Wheels car which is mounted high above the playfield on a spinning arm. The speed at which it spins varies as certain features are advanced.

![The upper part of the playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/hot-wheels/02-hot-wheels.jpg)

The upper part of the playfield

There appear to be two orbit lanes – one inside the other, a kickback lane, two ramps and an upkicker with drop target in front. The upkicker uses a ‘webslinger’ style kickout to place the ball on the left ramp return.

Players can spell B-A-T-T-L-E on the bank of standup targets on the left of the playfield in order to start one of the games battle modes. They can also collect cars to help build towards a complete set.

![The playfield layout and artwork](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/hot-wheels/05-hot-wheels.jpg)

The playfield layout and artwork

The inlanes and outlanes spell out E-P-I-C which, when started, gives advanced scoring on ramps, loops, pop bumpers and on the car targets.

There are several multiball modes in the rules – Redline, Track, Loop Crash and Victory Lap are mentioned on the rules card.

![The game's rules guide](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/07-hot-wheels/)

The game’s rules guide
Picture: Pinside

We’ll be back with much more about American Pinball’s new Hot Wheels game once the company formally announces it and gives details of the features, models and prices.

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 99b8a9ca-291a-4bf9-9564-e34cf68d2b5e*