# Pinball News & Notes: Zen's New Pinball FX Partner; Cactus Canyon LE Delays; Venom LE Production

**Source:** Knapp Arcade  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2023-09-20  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/pinball-news-notes-zen-s-new-pinball-fx-partner-cactus-canyon-le-delays-venom-le-production

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## Analysis

Zen Pinball announces a partnership with AtGames to include Pinball FX tables in a new 4K virtual pinball cabinet launching at $1,399 with 15 pre-loaded tables. Chicago Gaming Company faces production delays on Cactus Canyon LE until Q4 2023, raising questions about Pulp Fiction timing. Stern Pinball reportedly begins Limited Edition Venom production.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Zen Pinball and AtGames announced a partnership to include Pinball FX tables in an upcoming 4K digital pinball table with Addams Family theme — _Official announcement Friday evening; author directly references partnership details_
- [HIGH] AtGames 4K table will launch at $1,399 with 15 pre-loaded tables and hundreds more available via à la carte or subscription — _Author states final pre-order price and technical specifications_
- [MEDIUM] Chicago Gaming Company has hit an unexpected snag delaying Cactus Canyon LE production until Q4 2023 — _Author reports distributor communications to customers about production halt_
- [HIGH] AtGames pre-order deposits of $200 begin September 22nd with early-adopter discounts — _Specific date and deposit amount provided_
- [MEDIUM] Stern Pinball has begun Limited Edition Venom production — _Author reports 'talk' and speculation that production has begun_

### Notable Quotes

> "The new AtGames table will be there for people who want to check it out. It looks worlds better than the sub-par Arcade1Up pinball offerings."
> — **Author (Knapp Arcade)**, N/A
> _Comparative assessment of AtGames cabinet quality vs. competitor products; positive positioning for upcoming product_

> "Of course, the exact details of the appearance remain...wait for it...a mystery lol."
> — **Author (Knapp Arcade)**, N/A
> _Playful reference to Mystery Pinball Company's intentional secrecy about Pinball Expo appearance_

> "People are now wondering if CGC will begin producing its upcoming Pulp Fiction pinball machines during the heavily rumored Cactus Canyon production lull."
> — **Author (Knapp Arcade)**, N/A
> _Speculates on manufacturing timing and production strategy implications from CGC's delays_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Zen Pinball | company | Digital pinball platform developer; announced partnership with AtGames to include Pinball FX tables in 4K cabinet |
| AtGames | company | Virtual pinball/arcade cabinet manufacturer; launching new 4K digital pinball table with Zen partnership at $1,399 |
| Chicago Gaming Company (CGC) | company | Pinball manufacturer facing production delays on Cactus Canyon LE until Q4 2023; developing Pulp Fiction pinball |
| Stern Pinball | company | Major pinball manufacturer; reportedly beginning Limited Edition Venom production |
| Cactus Canyon LE | product | Chicago Gaming Company Limited Edition pinball machine; production delayed until Q4 2023 |
| Pulp Fiction | product | Upcoming Chicago Gaming Company pinball machine; timing uncertain due to Cactus Canyon production delays |
| Venom LE | product | Stern Pinball Limited Edition game; production reportedly beginning |
| Pinball Expo | event | Chicago-based pinball show where AtGames 4K cabinet and Mystery Pinball Company will appear |
| Mystery Pinball Company | company | Undisclosed manufacturer planning appearance at Pinball Expo; details intentionally kept secret |
| Arcade1Up | company | Competitor virtual pinball cabinet manufacturer; described as offering sub-par pinball products |
| Addams Family | product | Theme for new AtGames 4K digital pinball table |
| Pinball FX | product | Digital pinball platform by Zen Pinball featuring Bally/Williams and original tables |
| Knapp Arcade | company | Content source; pinball news and commentary publication |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Digital/Virtual Pinball Partnerships, AtGames 4K Cabinet Launch, Chicago Gaming Company Production Delays
- **Secondary:** Manufacturing and Supply Chain, Stern Pinball Production, Pinball Expo 2023, Limited Edition Releases

### Sentiment

**Mixed** (0.55) — Positive regarding AtGames partnership and 4K cabinet (superior to Arcade1Up); neutral/cautious regarding CGC delays and speculation; hopeful about Stern Venom LE production. Author maintains informative, somewhat playful tone without strong emotional investment.

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** Speculation that CGC may prioritize Pulp Fiction production during Cactus Canyon lull, indicating manufacturing capacity allocation decisions (confidence: low) — Author notes 'heavily rumored' timing question; reflects community speculation rather than confirmed plans
- **[event_signal]** Pinball Expo Chicago will feature new AtGames 4K cabinet and Mystery Pinball Company with undisclosed details (confidence: high) — Author confirms conversations with Pinball Expo organizers about both vendor appearances
- **[market_signal]** AtGames positioned as premium alternative to Arcade1Up in virtual pinball cabinet market with superior product quality (confidence: medium) — Direct comparative assessment: 'looks worlds better than the sub-par Arcade1Up pinball offerings'
- **[community_signal]** Mystery Pinball Company planning public appearance/announcement at Pinball Expo with intentionally secretive promotional strategy (confidence: medium) — Author notes 'exact details remain a mystery' and playful tone suggests deliberate secrecy for marketing effect
- **[announcement]** Zen Pinball and AtGames partnership announced with new 4K digital pinball cabinet featuring Addams Family theme, 15 pre-loaded tables, and subscription/à la carte content model (confidence: high) — Official announcement Friday evening with specific pricing ($1,399), pre-order deposit ($200), and launch date (September 22)
- **[product_strategy]** Chicago Gaming Company Cactus Canyon LE production halted with resumption targeted for Q4 2023 (confidence: medium) — Distributor communications to customers reporting production stop; temporary halt acknowledged

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## Transcript

Good morning everyone. Here's a few pinball odds and ends that I've come across over the past couple of days.

First up, on Friday evening Zen Pinball, maker of Bally / Williams and original pinball tables through its Pinball FX platform, announced a new partnership with AtGames. The partnership will kick off with the inclusion of a number of Pinball FX tables in AtGames' upcoming 4K digital pinball table, which will utilize an Addams Family theme. I have included all of the details on the new product below.

AtGames will begin taking $200 pre-order deposits for the new AtGames 4K virtual pinball table on Friday September 22nd. They are offering a discount to consumers who pre-order the earliest. The final price pre-order price for the game is listed as $1,399. The VPs come loaded with 15 tables and the ability to download hundreds more on an à la carte basis or via subscription.

I've been speaking with the folks at the always fantastic Pinball Expo show in Chicago over the past several weeks and supposedly the new AtGames table will be there for people who want to check it out. It looks worlds better than the sub-par Arcade1Up pinball offerings.

Speaking of Pinball Expo, I'm also hearing that the Mystery Pinball Company that we discussed on Friday will be making an appearance at the show as well. Of course, the exact details of the appearance remain...wait for it...a mystery lol.

Switching over from digital pinball to real pinball, there's a lot of chatter out there that Chicago Gaming Company has hit an unexpected snag that has delayed production of its Cactus Canyon Limited Edition machines. One distributor has been informing customers that Cactus Canyon LE production has temporarily stopped and won't resume until the fourth quarter of 2023. People are now wondering if CGC will begin producing its upcoming Pulp Fiction pinball machines during the heavily rumored Cactus Canyon production lull.

On to Stern Pinball, where there is talk that production of the Limited Edition of its newest cornerstone game, Venom, has now begun. Hopefully Stern will share a peek at Venom LE production in its upcoming "Factory Friday" social media post.

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: aeb1202c-addb-4d37-b459-6781200115b6*