# AMERICAN PINBALL TEASES GALACTIC TANK FORCE

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2023-02-25  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2023/02/25/american-pinball-teases-game-5

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## Analysis

American Pinball teases Galactic Tank Force, their fifth game, designed by Dennis Nordman and Paul Reno with artist Christopher Franchi. The machine features an industry-first: four live-action actors (Kerri Hoskins, Jeff Hoover, Mitchell Politt, Clementine Morfoot) performing original characters specifically created for the game rather than repurposing licensed footage. The cabinet is designed to resemble a tank shape when the head folds down, with this bespoke design potentially limited to LE models.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Galactic Tank Force features four live-action actors performing original characters specifically created for a pinball game, believed to be an industry first — _Article directly states this is 'believed to be an industry first' and describes the actors playing live-action roles created specifically for the game_
- [HIGH] The cabinet is designed to resemble the shape of a tank when the head is folded down — _Article explicitly describes the cabinet design as tank-shaped when head folds down_
- [MEDIUM] The bespoke tank cabinet design may only be available on Limited Edition machines due to increased manufacturing costs — _Article states this is 'expected to be found' and 'may end up only being available on the Limited Edition level machines'_
- [HIGH] Christopher Franchi designed American Pinball's new company logo and is the artist for Galactic Tank Force — _Article directly identifies Franchi as logo and game artist_
- [HIGH] The game will be revealed at Texas Pinball Festival in March 2023, likely during American Pinball's Friday 5pm seminar — _Article states 'The game is expected to be revealed at the Texas Pinball Festival in March, with American Pinball's seminar at 5pm on Friday the most likely time'_

### Notable Quotes

> "In what is believed to be an industry first, the game features the acting talents of four performers: Kerri Hoskins, Jeff Hoover, Mitchell Politt and Clementine Morfoot."
> — **Pinball News (article)**, N/A
> _Establishes the novelty of the live-action approach as an industry first_

> "The four are not merely providing voices or recording motion-capture for computer-generated animated characters, but instead playing live-action roles created specifically for the game."
> — **Pinball News (article)**, N/A
> _Clarifies the distinction between this approach and traditional voice/motion-capture work in licensed pinball games_

> "Since Galactic Tank Force is based on an original theme, American Pinball are free to create their own characters, with Kerri, Jeff, Mitchell and Clementine portraying them on the machine's display."
> — **Pinball News (article)**, N/A
> _Explains why original IP allows for this creative freedom unavailable to licensed game designers_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| American Pinball | company | Boutique pinball manufacturer releasing Galactic Tank Force as their fifth game |
| Galactic Tank Force | game | American Pinball's fifth release, designed by Dennis Nordman and Paul Reno, featuring live-action actors and tank-shaped cabinet |
| Dennis Nordman | person | Designer of Galactic Tank Force |
| Paul Reno | person | Co-designer of Galactic Tank Force |
| Christopher Franchi | person | Artist for Galactic Tank Force and designer of American Pinball's new company logo |
| Kerri Hoskins | person | Live-action performer in Galactic Tank Force |
| Jeff Hoover | person | Live-action performer in Galactic Tank Force |
| Mitchell Politt | person | Live-action performer in Galactic Tank Force |
| Clementine Morfoot | person | Live-action performer in Galactic Tank Force |
| Texas Pinball Festival | event | March 2023 event in Frisco, Texas where Galactic Tank Force is expected to be fully revealed |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Live-action video content in pinball machines, Original IP-based pinball game design, Bespoke cabinet design and manufacturing, American Pinball product announcements and roadmap
- **Secondary:** Tier-based availability (Pro/Premium/LE) in pinball manufacturing

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.82) — Article tone is enthusiastic about the innovations described (live-action actors, tank cabinet design), presenting them as groundbreaking industry firsts. No criticism or negative sentiment expressed.

### Signals

- **[design_philosophy]** American Pinball pursuing original IP strategy with custom live-action content creation instead of licensed IP repurposing (confidence: high) — Article emphasizes: 'Since Galactic Tank Force is based on an original theme, American Pinball are free to create their own characters' with live-action performances
- **[event_signal]** Galactic Tank Force full reveal scheduled for Texas Pinball Festival March 2023 during American Pinball seminar (confidence: high) — Article: 'The game is expected to be revealed at the Texas Pinball Festival in March, with American Pinball's seminar at 5pm on Friday the most likely time'
- **[announcement]** American Pinball officially teases Galactic Tank Force with designer names and live-action actor reveals (confidence: high) — Teaser video released Feb 24, 2023 with trademark reveal; full reveal planned for Texas Pinball Festival March 2023
- **[product_strategy]** Bespoke tank-shaped cabinet design potentially limited to LE tier due to manufacturing cost constraints (confidence: medium) — Article states: 'This bespoke design may end up only being available on the Limited Edition level machines, due to increased manufacturing costs'
- **[technology_signal]** Live-action video content recorded specifically for pinball game (not repurposed from licensed sources) represents potential industry innovation (confidence: high) — Article claims 'believed to be the first time actors have created and video recorded characters specifically for a pinball'

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## Transcript

Date: 24th February, 2023 American Pinball are today teasing their next release, the Dennis Nordman design, Galactic Tank Force, a game which promises to include at least one ground-breaking feature. So far, American Pinball are only referring to it as ‘Game 5‘ in their teaser video… ![American Pinball teasing their next release](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/american-pinball-game-5/003-american-pinball-teases-game-5.jpg) American Pinball teasing their next release However, the final frame shows the copyright and trademark details, and includes the name Galactic Tank Force as a trademark for the company. !The name of game 5 is revealed The name of game 5 is revealed The video begins with their new company logo, designed by Christopher Franchi who is also the artist for Galactic Tank Force. There is little about the game itself, although it does reveal the names of four of those contributing to it. Here’s the video. ![](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/american-pinball-game-5/american-pinball-game5-teaser-1.mp4) The teaser video for Galactic Tank Force from American Pinball In what is believed to be an industry first, the game features the acting talents of four performers: Kerri Hoskins, Jeff Hoover, Mitchell Politt and Clementine Morfoot. Since Galactic Tank Force is based on an original theme, American Pinball are free to create their own characters, with Kerri, Jeff, Mitchell and Clementine portraying them on the machine’s display. The four are not merely providing voices or recording motion-capture for computer-generated animated characters, but instead playing live-action roles created specifically for the game. Other titles might repurpose clips of actors taken from the original licenced assets, but this is believed to be the first time actors have created and video recorded characters specifically for a pinball. Another unusual design is expected to be found with the cabinet, which is designed to resemble the shape of a tank, at least when the head is folded down. This bespoke design may end up only being available on the Limited Edition level machines, due to increased manufacturing costs. ![Galactic Tank Force is based on an original design by Dennis Nordman and Paul Reno](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/american-pinball-game-5/002-american-pinball-teases-game-5.jpg) Galactic Reno The game is expected to be revealed at the Texas Pinball Festival in March, with American Pinball’s seminar at 5pm on Friday the most likely time. That is also the time the main show hall opens, giving the public the opportunity to play it immediately after the seminar. Pinball News will, of course, bring you more details of Galactic Tank Force right here, and we will be in Frisco, Texas to cover the full reveal at the Texas Pinball Festival too. In the meantime, a second promotional teaser – which will hopefully provide more information about the game – will be released next Saturday, and Pinball News will bring it straight to you.

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: a9381dda-ff40-4033-b96d-fa11d2f15bcc*