# STAR WARS PIN **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2019-07-19 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2019/07/19/star-wars-pin --- ## Analysis Stern Pinball unveiled the Star Wars Pin at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, a $4,499 home-market pinball machine designed to appeal to casual family buyers. The game adapts the Spider-Man Pin playfield with Star Wars theming, featuring cost-reduction measures including a lighter cabinet build, plastic lock bar, and smaller LCD backbox display. Stern is attempting to crack the home retail market after mixed success with previous Pin titles (Transformers, Batman, Spider-Man) through its traditional distributor network rather than big-box stores. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Stern has been successful selling to home collectors but has not matched that success through regular retail channels to non-collectors — _Opening statement about Stern's market performance, factual assessment of company history_ - [HIGH] Star Wars Pin uses a modified playfield layout from Spider-Man Pin with new Star Wars art and toys (Death Star, TIE Fighter) — _Direct technical description of the game's design and component sourcing_ - [HIGH] The cabinet is a lighter build held together with visible bolts and features a plastic lock bar instead of metal — _Detailed specifications with accompanying photographs showing construction details_ - [HIGH] This is the first time a Stern home game has used an LCD backbox display — _Explicit statement noting this as a first for Stern's home game lineup_ - [HIGH] The game has a retail price of $4,499 MSRP, close to the street price of the Pro arcade model — _Official pricing announcement from Stern Pinball's July 18, 2019 press release_ - [HIGH] Star Wars Pin is being sold through Stern's traditional distributor network, not big-box stores like Costco — _Explicit statement about retail channel strategy differing from previous Pin titles_ - [HIGH] The game features at least four multiball modes: Death Star, TIE Fighter, R2-D2, and Jedi Multiball (wizard mode) — _Official rules listing provided in the article_ ### Notable Quotes > "The Star Wars™ Pin™ is designed to provide quality family entertainment and bring pinball fun to homes everywhere. We are pleased to bring these pinball machines celebrating the Star Wars™ galaxy and adventures to our fans." > — **Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc.**, July 18, 2019 press release > _Official company vision statement for the Star Wars Pin product and its intended market positioning_ > "One of the key problems Stern have had so far with the 'Pin' series is finding the right price point - one which might typically be considered 'discretionary spending' for a family's home game room." > — **Article author (Pinball News)**, Not timestamped > _Editorial assessment of structural challenges in Stern's home market strategy across the Pin product line_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Stern Pinball, Inc. | company | Chicago-based pinball manufacturer announcing Star Wars Pin home game at $4,499 price point | | Gary Stern | person | Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, quoted in official announcement endorsing Star Wars Pin product | | Star Wars Pin | product | New home pinball machine by Stern unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, based on Spider-Man Pin playfield with Star Wars theme | | Spider-Man Pin | product | Previous Stern home pinball game whose playfield layout was adapted for Star Wars Pin | | San Diego Comic-Con | event | Exhibition where Star Wars Pin was unveiled on the Star Wars stand in July 2019 | | Star Wars (franchise) | product | IP licensing providing theme and content (footage, characters, imagery) for the home pinball game | | Transformers Pin | product | Previous Stern Pin title attempting to reach family/non-collector home market | | Batman Pin | product | Previous Stern Pin title attempting to reach family/non-collector home market | | Costco | company | Big-box retailer previously targeted for distribution of Pin titles; not involved in Star Wars Pin distribution | | SPIKE electronics | product | Stern's hardware platform used in Star Wars Pin, enabling HD graphics and animations while reducing complexity and energy use | ### Topics - **Primary:** Home market expansion strategy, Product cost reduction and accessible pricing, Distribution channel strategy (distributor vs. retail) - **Secondary:** Hardware/platform evolution (LCD backbox, SPIKE system), Theme licensing and IP integration, Playfield design philosophy (Spider-Man Pin adaptation) - **Mentioned:** Game rules and multiball modes ### Sentiment **Neutral** (0) — Article presents factual product announcement and technical specifications without editorial opinion. No critical or promotional language; straightforward journalism describing design choices, pricing, and market positioning. ### Signals - **[design_philosophy]** Star Wars Pin reuses Spider-Man Pin playfield architecture rather than designing original layout, reflecting cost-containment strategy (confidence: high) — Article explicitly states game 'uses a modified playfield layout from Stern's earlier Spider-Man Pin title, with a new playfield art package' - **[market_signal]** Stern shifting Pin distribution from big-box retail (Costco) back to traditional distributor network, suggesting previous retail channel strategy underperformed (confidence: high) — Article explicitly states previous Pin titles aimed at big-box stores but Star Wars Pin has 'no mention of any conventional retail outlets stocking' the machine - **[market_signal]** Star Wars Pin $4,499 retail price positioned as close to Pro arcade model street price, raising question of whether cost-reduction measures justify home market positioning or create pricing confusion (confidence: medium) — Article notes $4,499 'not too far, far away from the street price of the Pro arcade model' and editorial comment that Pin series has struggled with 'right price point' - **[announcement]** Stern officially announces Star Wars Pin home game with $4,499 MSRP targeting casual family market; first Stern home game with LCD backbox display (confidence: high) — Official July 18, 2019 press release from Gary Stern announcing product availability through authorized distributors - **[product_concern]** Multiple cost-reduction measures (visible bolts, plastic lock bar, reduced shooter rod housing, single speaker in dual-grille backbox) suggest potential quality trade-offs (confidence: medium) — Detailed technical observations: 'lighter build held together with bolts which are visible on the exterior,' 'plastic lock bar,' single speaker fixture despite dual grilles - **[technology_signal]** First adoption of LCD backbox display in Stern home games, representing hardware evolution in Pin product line (confidence: high) — Article specifically notes: 'The backbox display has also been significantly reduced in size, although it is now an LCD which is the first time this type of display has been used in a Stern home game' --- ## Transcript Stern Pinball have been pretty successful selling to the home collector market, but despite several attempts they haven’t matched that success selling games through regular retail channels to non-collectors. Previous titles such as Transformers, Batman and Spider-Man were pitched at family buyers with no experience of purchasing through distributors who wanted a simple and easy process to get a full-size authentic pinball in their home. Now Stern are having another attempt to crack the home market with a Star Wars game which was unveiled on the Star Wars stand at the San Diego Comic-Con exhibition. ![Stern Pinball's new Star Wars Pin home game](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/star-wars-pin/05-star-wars-pin.jpg) Stern Pinball’s new Star Wars Pin home game Called the Star Wars Pin, the game uses a modified playfield layout from Stern’s earlier Spider-Man Pin title, with a new playfield art package and some Star Wars toys added in the form of a Death Star and an animated TIE-Fighter.  The cabinet art package and backbox art uses elements from the Pro and the Premium arcade models. ![The right side cabinet artwork](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/star-wars-pin/08-star-wars-pin.jpg) The right side cabinet artwork To reduce cost and make the game more accessible, there have been several changes compared to the arcade versions. The cabinet is a lighter build, held together with bolts which are visible on the exterior. There is also no coin slot, although there is still a coin door for accessing the game’s interior. ![The cabinet is bolted together](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/star-wars-pin/07-star-wars-pin.jpg) The cabinet is bolted together The lock bar is now a plastic affair, with the game’s start button moved up to make it more obvious how to start a game and add players. There is still a shooter rod, but the metal housing has been down-sized. ![The game's lock bar and start button](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/star-wars-pin/03-star-wars-pin.jpg) The game’s lock bar and start button The backbox display has also been significantly reduced in size, although it is now an LCD which is the first time this type of display has been used in a Stern home game. Although there are two speaker grilles on the display panel, it looks as though there is only a single speaker fitted which looks a little odd. ![The Star Wars Pin display panel](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/star-wars-pin/06-star-wars-pin.jpg) The Star Wars Pin display panel Moving on to the playfield, the game features two all-metal ramps, three drop targets, three pop bumpers, and a spinner along with the Death Star and TIE Fighter toys. ![The playfield from Stern's Star Wars Pin](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/star-wars-pin/01-star-wars-pin.jpg) The playfield from Stern’s Star Wars Pin Shots to the Death Star are initially blocked by the three-bank of drop targets, but once those are down the left ramp can be made to shoot past the one-way gate to the standup target inside the Death Star and a then back to the flippers on the left wireform. ![Playfield detail from Star Wars Pin](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/star-wars-pin/02-star-wars-pin.jpg) Playfield detail from Star Wars Pin Star Wars Pin utilises the same two-post lock mechanism used in the Spider-Man Home game, allowing multiball to be started at any point in the game. ![The central playfield area](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/star-wars-pin/04-star-wars-pin.jpg) The central playfield area The game features at least four multiball modes – Death Star, Tie-Fighter and R2-D2 being regular modes, with Jedi Multiball being the wizard mode. The rules read: Spell F-O-R-C-E to light Rebel shots. Make Rebel shots when lit to assemble the Rebels. Collecting any two Rebels lights Extra Ball. Assembling all of the Rebels prior to attacking the Death Star increases Death Star score value. Right ramp destroys TIE fighters and starts TIE Fighter Multiball. Complete Rebel Alliance symbols to increase bonus multiplier. Lite Empire top lanes for time Double Scoring mode. Pop bumpers build TIE Fighter Multiball jack pot values. Knock down the TIE Fighter drop targets to start Death Star Multiball and attack the Death Star. Freeing a captive ball starts R2-D2 Multiball.  Hitting the R2 target adds a ball. Complete all features to start Jedi Multiball. One of the key problems Stern have had so far with the ‘Pin’ series is finding the right price point -one which might typically be considered ‘discretionary spending’ for a family’s home game room.  Earlier models have often been thought expensive for a cut-down arcade experience, but that hasn’t deterred Stern from setting a retail price of $4,499 – something not too far, far away from the street price of the Pro arcade model. Interestingly, although this is marketed as a home game, it is still being sold through Stern’s traditional distributor network. Previous titles had been aimed at big-box stores such as Costco, but there is no mention of any conventional retail outlets stocking the Star Wars Pin. Here’s how Stern announced their new Pin title. There’s also a short video of some gameplay here: Stern Pinball Announces New Star Wars™ Pin™ Affordable Pinball Machine for the Home CHICAGO, IL – July 18, 2019 – Stern Pinball, Inc., a global lifestyle brand based on the iconic and outrageously fun modern American game of pinball, announced today the Star Wars™ Pin™, a new stylish, affordable and fun pinball machine designed and engineered for the home. Stern’s new Star Wars™ Pin™ immerses players in the dynamic Star Wars™ galaxy. The Pin™ is packed with features that provide players with an irresistible game experience including select speech and footage from the original Star Wars™ trilogy, color-changing playfield inserts, a custom sculpted Death Star, and a custom sculpted and interactive TIE fighter. The easy to setup Star Wars™ Pin™ is built to last and engineered with genuine Stern commercial-quality parts. The playfield is housed in a stylish cabinet with dynamic, high definition artwork. The all-LED playfield lighting provides optimal color and brilliant light shows. “The Star Wars™ Pin™ is designed to provide quality family entertainment and bring pinball fun to homes everywhere,” said Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc. “We are pleased to bring these pinball machines celebrating the Star Wars™ galaxy and adventures to our fans.” Complementing the immersive theme and exciting gameplay experience, Stern Pinball’s powerful SPIKE™ electronics hardware system enables high-definition graphics and innovative animations. SPIKE™ reduces system complexity and energy usage, resulting in enhanced reliability and simplified servicing. Pricing and Availability: Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (“MSRP”)\: $US 4,499 \MSRP for sales to USA end-users, before any VAT, GST, Sales Tax, Duties, or other taxes. The Star Wars™ Pin™ is available to pre-order now through authorized Stern Pinball distributors and dealers around the world. About Stern Pinball, Inc. Stern Pinball, Inc. is a global lifestyle brand based on the iconic and outrageously fun modern American game of pinball. Headquartered minutes from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport in the heart of North America, the company creates, designs, engineers, manufactures, markets, and distributes a full line of technologically advanced terrestrial and digital pinball games, parts, accessories, and merchandise. Stern Pinball serves digital, consumer, commercial, and corporate markets around the globe. Recent Stern Pinball titles include Black Knight: Sword of Rage, The Munsters, The Beatles, Deadpool, Iron Maiden, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars™, Aerosmith, Ghostbusters, KISS, Metallica, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Star Trek, AC/DC, Batman, and Spider-Man*. A broad range of players enjoy Stern Pinball’s games from professional pinball players who compete in high-stakes international competitions around the globe to novice players who are discovering the allure of the silver ball for the first time. To join the fun and learn more, please visit www.sternpinball.com. _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: baba3720-c5d2-404e-b8f1-7cdb2e503d08*