# Review of the Year

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2001-01-01  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/news/roty.html

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## Analysis

Pinball News' inaugural year-end review (December 2000) recaps the industry's response to Williams' 1999 exit from pinball manufacturing. Three new companies emerged—Pat Lawlor Design, Illinois Pinball Inc, and Sharpe Communications—while Stern remained the sole active manufacturer, releasing Striker Xtreme and Sharkey's Shootout. The article documents industry transitions, including notable departures (Jon Norris, Steve Kordek) and rumors about Illinois Pinball's acquisition of Williams assets.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Williams withdrew from pinball manufacturing at the end of 1999 — _Opening statement establishing the context for the entire year's industry response_
- [HIGH] Pat Lawlor, Louis Koziarz, and John Krutsch formed Pat Lawlor Design to design games for coin-op amusement industry — _Directly stated as a company formation event in 2000_
- [HIGH] Gene Cunningham formed Illinois Pinball Inc using former Capcom technology he had purchased — _Explicitly stated as second major post-Williams startup_
- [HIGH] Roger Sharpe (former Williams Licensing and Marketing Director) created Sharpe Communications offering licensing, promotion, PR and advertising to coin-op industry — _Clearly documented as third post-Williams startup_
- [HIGH] South Park required a second production run in 1999 due to demand — _Stated as factual observation of Stern's 1999 success_
- [HIGH] Stern Pinball's Striker Xtreme was premiered at ATEI London in January 2000 — _Directly stated event with specific location and date_
- [MEDIUM] Sharkey's Shootout benefited from 'injection of former William's talent' — _Opinion-based assessment by Pinball News author about game quality improvement_
- [HIGH] Jon Norris left Stern after the imposition of a workplace smoking policy due to asthma — _Documented personnel departure with stated reasoning_
- [HIGH] Steve Kordek retired in December 2000 after 63 years in pinball — _Specific retirement announcement with tenure detail_
- [MEDIUM] Illinois Pinball Inc purchased rights to manufacture parts for spares only, not new games — _Rumor correction clarifying what IPB actually acquired versus industry speculation_

### Notable Quotes

> "2000 has been an exciting year for the world of pinball, following the depressing news of Williams' withdrawal from pinball manufacturing which so marred the end of 1999."
> — **Pinball News Author**, Opening paragraph
> _Frames the entire year's context—Williams exit was the defining industry event_

> "From the ashes of William's rose several new companies hoping to rebuild the pinball market, while diversifying into new areas."
> — **Pinball News Author**, Introduction section
> _Metaphorical description of industry recovery strategy post-Williams_

> "Striker Xtreme... was a little clunky in play, though it felt very solid and was a good start."
> — **Pinball News Author**, Stern games section
> _Mixed review of Stern's first game under new direction; highlights design compromise_

> "Sharkey's Shootout was a great improvement, with a much smoother gameplay and attractive look."
> — **Pinball News Author**, Stern games section
> _Positive assessment suggesting Stern's second game demonstrated learning curve and improvement_

> "Many pinball enthusiasts were so shell-shocked by the William's announcement that they've not yet appreciated the offerings Stern has produced."
> — **Pinball News Author**, Stern outlook section
> _Explains depressed community sentiment despite Stern's actual product quality_

> "The rumour mill has been grinding away at top speed this year mainly due to the lack of hard information."
> — **Pinball News Author**, Rumor section opening
> _Acknowledges information vacuum driving speculation about Illinois Pinball's intentions_

> "It seems that none of these were true. So far, IPB appears to have bought the rights to manufacture parts for spares use only - not for inclusion in new games."
> — **Pinball News Author**, Illinois Pinball rumor correction
> _Clarifies widespread misconceptions about IPB's business model_

> "Jon as an asthma suffer found the situation untenable and left."
> — **Pinball News Author**, Personnel departures section
> _Documents first notable post-Williams era departure from remaining manufacturer_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Williams (Williams Manufacturing/Electronics) | company | Major pinball manufacturer that exited the industry at end of 1999, catalyzing industry upheaval and creation of successor companies |
| Pat Lawlor Design | company | Startup company founded by Pat Lawlor, Louis Koziarz, and John Krutsch to design games for coin-op amusement industry post-Williams |
| Illinois Pinball Inc | company | Startup founded by Gene Cunningham using purchased Capcom technology; acquired Williams spares inventory and manufacturing rights but not rights to produce new games |
| Sharpe Communications | company | Startup founded by Roger Sharpe (former Williams Licensing/Marketing Director) offering licensing, promotion, PR, and advertising services to coin-op industry |
| Stern Pinball | company | Only active pinball manufacturer in 2000; released Striker Xtreme and Sharkey's Shootout; acquired from Sega previously |
| Pat Lawlor | person | Legendary pinball designer; co-founder of Pat Lawlor Design; described as 'ubiquitous game designer' |
| Louis Koziarz | person | Co-founder of Pat Lawlor Design alongside Pat Lawlor and John Krutsch |
| John Krutsch | person | Co-founder of Pat Lawlor Design alongside Pat Lawlor and Louis Koziarz |
| Gene Cunningham | person | Collector and enthusiast who founded Illinois Pinball Inc; purchased Capcom pinball technology |
| Roger Sharpe | person | Former Williams Licensing and Marketing Director; founder of Sharpe Communications |
| Gary Stern | person | Leadership at Stern Pinball; established design criteria for 'simpler, more fun mechanical-action pinball' |
| Jon Norris | person | Stern Pinball employee who departed in 2000 due to workplace smoking policy conflict related to asthma condition |
| Steve Kordek | person | Industry patriarch who retired December 2000 after 63 years in pinball; was archiving Williams pinball materials post-closure |
| South Park (Stern) | game | Stern Pinball game from 1999; required second production run due to exceptional demand |
| Harley Davidson (Stern) | game | Stern Pinball game from 1999; released after Sega buyout of Stern |
| Striker Xtreme | game | Stern Pinball's first game under Gary Stern's 'simpler, more fun' design philosophy; premiered ATEI London January 2000; mixed reception |
| Sharkey's Shootout | game | Stern Pinball's second game in 2000; improved gameplay and design over Striker Xtreme; benefited from former Williams talent |
| High Roller Casino | game | Announced as Stern Pinball's next game to be unveiled at ATEI January 2001 |
| Pool Player | game | Game by Illinois Pinball Inc shown at AMOA trade show September 2000; rebadged Breakshot games with reliability issues |
| Wizard Blocks & Playboy | game | Two uncompleted Williams Pinball 2000 games rumored to be acquired by Illinois Pinball Inc; rumor proved false |
| Pinball News | organization | Independent online pinball media outlet launched April 2000; published this year-end review as inaugural review of the year |
| ATEI London | event | Trade show where Stern premiered Striker Xtreme in January 2000; planned venue for High Roller Casino reveal January 2001 |
| AMOA trade show | event | Trade show in September 2000 where Illinois Pinball Inc displayed Pool Player games |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Post-Williams Industry Recovery and New Company Formation, Stern Pinball's Product Line and Design Philosophy Shift, Industry Rumors and Misinformation About Illinois Pinball Inc
- **Secondary:** Notable Personnel Departures (Jon Norris, Steve Kordek), Pinball News Launch and First Year Success, Community Sentiment and Market Confidence Post-Williams
- **Mentioned:** Trade Show Announcements and Upcoming Releases

### Sentiment

**Mixed** (0.55) — Optimistic about industry recovery through new startups and Stern's continued commitment (positive), but tempered by acknowledgment of market shock from Williams exit, mixed reception of first Stern games, and general community malaise despite product quality. Author expresses cautious hope for 2001.

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** Williams Manufacturing exits pinball industry at end of 1999, triggering cascade of industry restructuring and three major startup formations (confidence: high) — Opening statement and entire article structure built around this event; directly stated as 'depressing news' that 'marred the end of 1999'
- **[design_philosophy]** Stern Pinball shifts to 'simpler, more fun mechanical-action pinball' design criteria under Gary Stern leadership (confidence: high) — Directly stated: 'Stern had to start producing games meeting Gary Stern's criteria of simpler, more fun mechanical-action pinball'
- **[event_signal]** Pinball News launches April 2000 as independent online media outlet; first year response described as 'overwhelming' (confidence: high) — Explicitly stated: 'In April, Pinball News began with the aim of bring you the latest news in a clear and concise manner. Since then the reaction has been overwhelming'
- **[market_signal]** South Park exceptional demand requiring second production run in 1999 indicates strong operator/location interest despite industry upheaval (confidence: high) — Stated fact: 'South Park in particular was exceptionally popular, requiring a second production run to satisfy demand'
- **[personnel_signal]** Steve Kordek retirement after 63 years in pinball industry (confidence: high) — Explicitly stated 'December, industry patriarch Steve Kordek retired after 63 years in pinball'
- **[personnel_signal]** Jon Norris (Stern Pinball) departure due to workplace smoking policy conflict (confidence: high) — Documented as 'Jon Norris leave Stern after the imposition of a workplace smoking policy' due to asthma
- **[product_concern]** Stern's design progression shows improvement from Striker Xtreme (clunky but solid) to Sharkey's Shootout (smoother, attractive), suggesting iterative design learning (confidence: high) — Comparative review: Striker Xtreme 'a little clunky in play' vs. Sharkey's Shootout 'great improvement, with a much smoother gameplay'
- **[rumor_hype]** Widespread industry rumors about Illinois Pinball Inc acquiring Williams manufacturing rights, Bally name rights, and uncompleted Pinball 2000 games—all corrected as false (confidence: high) — Detailed section on rumor mill; clarifies IPB only acquired spares manufacturing rights, not game production rights
- **[sentiment_shift]** Community shell-shocked by Williams exit; insufficient appreciation for Stern's actual product quality despite improvements game-to-game (confidence: high) — Quote: 'Many pinball enthusiasts were so shell-shocked by the William's announcement that they've not yet appreciated the offerings Stern has produced'

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## Transcript

Story dated 23rd December, 2000

Welcome
to this, the very first Pinball News Review of the Year - a look back
at the events of the last 12 months. At
the end of this page you can share your thoughts about the past year
of pinball
with fellow readers.

2000
has been an exciting year for the world of pinball, following the
depressing news of Williams' withdrawal from pinball manufacturing
which so marred the end of 1999. From the ashes of William's rose
several new companies hoping to rebuild the pinball market, while
diversifying into new areas.

First
up was Pat Lawlor Design. The ubiquitous
game designer was joined by Louis Koziarz and John Krutsch in setting
up the new company, with the aim of designing games for the coin-op
amusement industry.

Secondly,
Illinois Pinball Inc was formed by collector
and enthusiast Gene Cunningham. He announced the company's intention
to produce games using the former Capcom technology he had previously
bought.

Third,
Roger Sharpe the former Licensing and Marketing
Director at William's, created Sharpe Communications. His company
offers licensing, promotion, public relations and advertising skills
to the coin-op industry.

All
three companies are based in, or around, Chicago.

Meanwhile, the one company still manufacturing pinball games showed
what it was made of, when it showed off a couple of new machines of
its own design.

Last
year Stern Pinball had produced first South Park and then Harley Davidson
after the buyout from Sega. South Park in particular was exceptionally
popular, requiring a second production run to satisfy demand.

This
year, though, Stern had to start producing games meeting Gary Stern
criteria of simpler, more fun mechanical-action pinball. Their first
game - Striker Xtreme - was premiered at
ATEI London in January. Designed to appeal to the European market
in particular, the game was a little clunky in play, though it felt
very solid and was a good start. The second game - Sharkey's
Shootout - was a great improvement, with a much smoother gameplay
and attractive look. Sharkey's clearly benefited from the injection
of some former William's talent.

Sharkey's
should build up interest in Stern's next game. Many pinball enthusiasts
were so shell-shocked by the William's announcement that they've not
yet appreciated the offerings Stern has produced. 2001 should be the
year that gives Stern the attention they deserve starting with High
Roller Casino - their next game - to be unveiled at ATEI in January
2001.

Along with the
new games, Stern has also found time to produce their own web
site. With good content and links, along with an extensive ROM
library, it has to be considered an invaluable resource.

The rumour mill
has been grinding away at top speed this year mainly due to the lack
of hard information. The main target has been Gene Cunningham and
Illinois Pin Ball Inc (note the two worded spelling) and their purchase
of various ex-Williams' assets.

It has been suggested
that IPB had bought the rights to manufacture new William's games,
to use the Bally name, and the two Pinball 2000 uncompleted games
Wizard Blocks & Playboy.

It seems that
none of these were true. So far, IPB appears to have bought the rights
to manufacture parts for spares use only - not for inclusion in new
games. He has also bought the remaining inventory of spares from William's,
and is looking at buying some of the spares left at the manufacturers.

Nothing has been
heard about the manufacture of new games by IPB. Gene was showing
three games called Pool Player at the
AMOA trade show in September, but these were rebadged Breakshot games
and proved not altogether reliable. A flyer for the game was released,
but since then IPB has been tied up with the spares issues.

2000
has also seen the departure of two famous names from the industry.
Following on from the mass layoffs from William's, this year saw Jon
Norris leave Stern after the imposition of a workplace smoking
Ryan Policky. Jon as an asthma suffer found the situation untenable and
left.

Then
in December, industry patriarch Steve Kordek
retired after 63 years in pinball. He had been working on archiving
the pinball-related material at William's since the closure.

Finally, 2000 saw
the launch of this web site. In April, Pinball News began with the
aim of bring you the latest news in a clear and concise manner.

Since then the
reaction has been overwhelming, and a huge thanks goes out to our
readers and to the many people who have contributed articles, reviews,
pictures and ideas to make this first year of Pinball News such a
great success.

Now,
here's your chance to comment on the past year in pinball. What do
you think have been the highs and lows, who will be most missed and
what hopes do you have for 2001?

Let
us know by either email to review@pinballnews.com
or click
here to go to our direct response page.

You
can read the comments sent in by readers here.

In
the meantime, Pinball News wishes you a very merry Christmas and a
happy and prosperous 2001.

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to the news index

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©

Pinball News 2000

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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