# Review of the Year

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2005-12-23  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/news/2005.html

---

## Analysis

Pinball News' 2005 year-in-review covers Stern's continued dominance with The Sopranos and NASCAR/Grand Prix, the landmark acquisition of Williams manufacturing rights by Mr Pinball Australia (later The Pinball Factory), resurgence of competitive tournaments (PAPA, European Championships), new magazines and shows, and emerging independent manufacturers. The year marked significant industry consolidation around IP licensing and a growing home market segment.

### Key Claims

- [MEDIUM] Sales of new games to home owners doubled from 10% to 20% in 2005 — _Pinball News review, attributed to industry observation but no specific market researcher cited_
- [HIGH] Mr Pinball Australia purchased manufacturing rights and patents from Williams including the right to remanufacture Williams/Bally games and use the Bally name — _Pinball News exclusive report; described as shocking industry news prompting Gary Stern's response_
- [HIGH] The PAPA 2004 flood destroyed 233 games; 2005 tournament rebuilt and drew 275 players — _Direct reporting with specific numbers; Bowen Kerins won 2005 PAPA championship_
- [HIGH] Dennis Nordman joined Stern as a former Williams designer — _Pinball News reporting; joined alongside Lawlor, Ritchie, and Gomez_
- [HIGH] Gary Stern's press release questioned the extent and duration of Mr Gillard's Williams rights — _Direct quote from Stern's official response to The Pinball Factory deal_
- [HIGH] Big Bang Bar production by Gene Cunningham was delayed from March to November 2005 and still incomplete — _Status update in year-end review; original March target revised to November without completion_
- [MEDIUM] Mark Ritchie left Incredible Technologies; Orange County Choppers game subsequently dropped by IT — _Reported but attributed with 'believed' qualifier; not confirmed by direct source_
- [HIGH] European Pinball Championships returned in 2005 after last being held in 1997; Roy Wills won the title — _Direct reporting with specific dates and winner name_

### Notable Quotes

> "We question the extent, if any, and the duration, of the right Mr. Gillard has received"
> — **Gary Stern**, 2005, in response to Williams IP acquisition
> _Stern's official concern about competitor's licensing scope; signals market anxiety over IP consolidation_

> "Without doubt 2006 will be a fascinating year for pinball and you can be sure Pinball News will be here to bring you all the details - First and Free."
> — **Pinball News editorial**, December 23, 2005
> _Publication's closing statement; demonstrates Pinball News' positioning as primary independent industry media_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Stern Pinball | company | Market leader; released The Sopranos and NASCAR/Grand Prix in 2005; Gary Stern issued press releases regarding Williams IP deal |
| The Sopranos | game | Stern's 2005 game based on HBO series; achieved moderate sales before production shifted to re-runs |
| NASCAR/Grand Prix | game | Stern's second 2005 game; Pat Lawlor design with racetrack feature; rebranded as Grand Prix outside North America |
| Mr Pinball Australia | company | Later became The Pinball Factory; acquired Williams manufacturing rights and patents; developing Crocodile Hunter Outback Adventure |
| The Pinball Factory | company | Rebranded Mr Pinball Australia after Williams deal; obtained rights to produce authentic Williams parts and remanufacture Williams/Bally games |
| Crocodile Hunter Outback Adventure | game | Game by Mr Pinball Australia/The Pinball Factory; whitewood appeared in 2005, full release planned for 2006 |
| Big Bang Bar | game | Gene Cunningham production; delayed from March to November 2005; still incomplete at year-end; expectations high for release in 2006 |
| Gene Cunningham | person | Game designer/producer; creating Big Bang Bar |
| Pat Lawlor | person | Legendary pinball designer; designed NASCAR/Grand Prix for Stern in 2005 |
| Dennis Nordman | person | Former Williams designer; joined Stern in 2005; first task was redemption game design |
| Mark Ritchie | person | Game designer; designed Orange County Choppers for Incredible Technologies; reportedly left IT in 2005 |
| Gary Stern | person | Stern Pinball leader; celebrated 60th birthday in 2005; subject of speculation about possible company sale |
| George Gomez | person | Stern designer mentioned alongside Lawlor, Ritchie, and Nordman |
| Bowen Kerins | person | World Pinball Champion 2005; won PAPA championship with 275 competitors |
| Roy Wills | person | European Pinball Champion 2005; won first European title in 8 years |
| Tim Arnold | person | Planning to open Pinball Hall of Fame in Las Vegas early 2006 |
| PAPA | event | World pinball championship; 2004 venue damaged by flood (233 games destroyed); 2005 tournament rebuilt with 275 players in August |
| European Pinball Championships | event | Returned in 2005 after 8-year hiatus since 1997; held in The Netherlands |
| UK Pinball Show | event | New pinball show held in Birmingham November 2005; attracted 140+ games; plans for 2006 repeat |
| Pinball Expo | event | Relocated from Ramada to Wyndham Hotel in Chicago in 2005; moved with short notice but executed smoothly |
| Pinball News | organization | Independent pinball media outlet; broke exclusive news of Williams IP deal; described as 'First and Free' industry source |
| Illinois Pin Ball | company | Lost exclusive license to make/sell Williams parts; created online store and licensed other companies for parts/playfields |
| Pinball Hall of Fame | organization | Museum being opened by Tim Arnold in Las Vegas; scheduled to open early 2006 |
| World Poker Tour | game | Stern's 2006 game preview; planned for January reveal; will use company's new hardware system |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Market consolidation around IP licensing, Home collector market growth, Competitive tournament resurgence, Independent/boutique manufacturer emergence
- **Secondary:** Stern's market dominance and leadership, Williams IP transition and aftermarket parts
- **Mentioned:** Pinball media expansion

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.72) — Year-end review emphasizes excitement and growth: home market doubled, tournaments revived after disaster, new manufacturers emerging, new shows launched. Only negative note is licensing conflict/cease-and-desist actions and manufacturing delays. Overall tone is optimistic about 2006.

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** Gary Stern subject of speculation about possible company sale at age 60; indicates potential market uncertainty about Stern leadership transition (confidence: medium) — Article mentions 'much speculation about his possible sale of the company' but no confirmation or specific sourcing
- **[market_signal]** Multiple new independent pinball manufacturers entering market (Gene Cunningham/Big Bang Bar, Mr Pinball Australia, others) alongside established Stern; viewed as competitive development (confidence: high) — Review structure emphasizes new manufacturers and product pipeline; framed as significant trend for 2006
- **[event_signal]** PAPA tournament recovered from catastrophic 2004 flood (233 games destroyed) with rebuilt 2005 championship drawing 275 players; European Pinball Championships returned after 8-year hiatus (confidence: high) — Specific numbers reported; Bowen Kerins won PAPA; Roy Wills won European title
- **[licensing_signal]** Acquisition of Williams manufacturing and remanufacturing rights by Mr Pinball Australia (The Pinball Factory) triggered cease-and-desist actions against unauthorized parts makers and marketplace shutdowns, creating industry consolidation around IP control (confidence: high) — Pinball News exclusive; Gary Stern issued press release questioning scope/duration; Illinois Pin Ball lost exclusive license; websites shut down and eBay auctions cancelled
- **[market_signal]** Home collector segment growth doubled from 10% to 20% of new game sales; Elvis and Harley Davidson identified as big sellers (confidence: medium) — Reported as observation but no source attribution; indicates shift toward home vs. commercial operator market
- **[personnel_signal]** Dennis Nordman joined Stern as former Williams designer; Mark Ritchie reportedly left Incredible Technologies after Orange County Choppers cancellation (confidence: high) — Nordman confirmed joining Stern with Lawlor, Ritchie, Gomez; Ritchie departure described as 'believed' but sourced to Incredible Technologies context
- **[product_strategy]** Big Bang Bar by Gene Cunningham delayed from March to November 2005 and still not released; Crocodile Hunter Outback Adventure delayed by Williams licensing deal (confidence: high) — Whitewood appeared in 2005 but completion still pending; Big Bang Bar originally March, revised to November, neither date met
- **[technology_signal]** Stern developing new hardware system expected to debut with World Poker Tour in January 2006 (confidence: medium) — Stated as preview; no technical details provided but represents planned platform evolution

---

## Transcript

2005

Story dated
December 23, 2005
.

As we head towards the end of another year and look back at the events of the past twelve months, there's no doubt 2005 has been both an exciting and a dramatic time for pinball fans.

The year began with Stern's new game The Sopranos making appearances at the IMA and ATEI shows in Nürnberg and London respectively. Based on the popular HBO TV series, the game achieved moderate if unspectacular sales before giving way on the production line to a series of re-runs.

Sales of new games to home game room owners was on the rise, doubling from 10% to 20%. Games such as Elvis and Harley Davidson were the big sellers but other models continued the trend making the market a significant proportion of overall sales.

But Stern weren't the only ones making, or planning to make mechanical action games. Gene Cunningham started his production of Big Bang Bar games although it has taken longer than expected to complete the project. A delivery date - originally planned for March 2005 and then revised to November - is still some way off but hopes for a successful outcome are high.

Video pinball games appeared with an arcade version of Pro Pinball's Big Race USA from Spain's Recreativos Presas, a payout Addams Family from Nova and the return of Orange County Choppers from Incredible Technologies, although it is believed the latter has subsequently been dropped by IT and the game's designer Mark Ritchie has left the company.

Meanwhile, development continued at Mr Pinball Australia on their game Crocodile Hunter with the first whitewood appearing, showing some of the features expected in the final version due out in 2006.

Crocodile Hunter whitewood

But there were other developments from the Melbourne-based company as Pinball News exclusively broke the news of their purchase of numerous manufacturing rights and patents from Williams including the right to make authentic Williams parts from October and to remanufacture any existing Williams/Bally game. It also allowed Mr Pinball Australia to use the Bally name on future games.

It wasn't long before Mr Pinball Australia became The Pinball Factory, the website was revamped, the upcoming game became Crocodile Hunter Outback Adventure and it sported the Bally logo.

The shock news of the deal also prompted action from others in the pinball industry. Gary Stern quickly issued a press release designed to calm the nerves of his distributors and said "We question the extent, if any, and the duration, of the right Mr. Gillard has received".

Illinois Pin Ball, faced with the loss of their exclusive licence to make and sell Williams parts eventually created an online store to sell their parts and licensed other companies to make parts and playfields.

With the rights to produce authentic Williams parts licensed to The Pinball Factory, it wasn't long before those making unauthorised parts using copyrighted artwork found themselves targets for cease and desist letters. Websites selling these parts were shut down and eBay auctions were cancelled resulting in much resentment.

Dennis Nordman

Back at Stern, another former Williams game designer joined the team. Dennis Nordman joined Messrs Lawlor, Ritchie and Gomez with his first job being the design of a redemption game. Gary Stern also celebrated his 60th birthday amidst much speculation about his possible sale of the company.

Shortly after, Stern Pinball started production of its second game for 2005 - Nascar. Based on the motor sport, this Pat Lawlor design featured a racetrack around the outer edge of the playfield. Because of the theme's relative anonymity outside North American, it was rebranded as Grand Prix in other territories.

A couple of new pinball magazines started up in 2005. Pinball Today in the UK produced its first issue in April but has yet to release a second although it is expected soon. Coin-Op Collector in Belgium launched at the start of the year and is still going strong, but despite returning at the end of 2004 following a three year break, Multiball Magazine's 2005 editions never materialised.

Something that did return against all odds was the PAPA world pinball championships. Last year's devastating flood ruined 233 games and the 2005 event was in serious doubt. But thankfully they managed to rebuild and 275 players competed in August with Bowen Kerins winning the title of World Pinball Champion.

The European Pinball Championships, last held in 1997, made a triumphant return in 2005 in The Netherlands. Roy Wills won the European title and a trip to PAPA.

European Pinball Championships

The UK got a new pinball show. Cunningly called the UK Pinball Show it was held in Birmingham in November and attracted over 140 games from collectors and game sellers across the country. Plans are being made to repeat the show in 2006.

UK Pinball Show

Pinball Expo moved down the street to a new home at the Wyndham Hotel in Chicago following the demolition of the previous venue, the Ramada. Despite the relatively short notice change of location and dates, the show went very smoothly.

Pinball Expo

And so we look forward to 2006 and all it has in store for pinball fans. January should see the first look at Stern's next game - World Poker Tour. It should utilise the company's new hardware system so we will be seeing how that performs. 2006 should also see the release of Crocodile Hunter Outback Adventure by The Pinball Factory. Delayed by the Williams deal and parts manufacturing, the game will be closely examined to see how it competes with Stern.

Not only that, but Big Bang Bar must surely be completed in 2006. How true will it be to the original and how will it play? And the long awaited Pinball Hall Of Fame should open early in the year in Las Vegas as Tim Arnold and company bring their dream to reality.

Without doubt 2006 will be a fascinating year for pinball and you can be sure Pinball News will be here to bring you all the details - First and Free.

Back
to the news index

Back
to the front page

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

---

*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: bce1777d-c548-4986-96bc-7b5870ba42c0*