# Pinball Expo 42 in October

**Source:** Replay Magazine  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2026-06-05  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.replaymag.com/pinball-expo-42-in-october/

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## Analysis

Pinball Expo 42 is scheduled for October 14-17, 2025 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center near Chicago. The event will feature factory tours, legendary designer guests Paul Faris and Tony Ramunni, 40+ homebrew games, a 1930s tournament, and Stern Pinball's 40th anniversary celebration with unannounced surprises.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Pinball Expo 42 is scheduled for October 14-17 at Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center — _Replay Magazine article, official event announcement_
- [HIGH] Paul Faris and Tony Ramunni will be special guests at the expo — _Replay Magazine article lists both designers as confirmed attendees_
- [HIGH] The Homebrew Community will feature 40-plus homemade pinball titles — _Replay Magazine article_
- [HIGH] Stern Pinball will celebrate their 40th anniversary at the show with surprises planned — _Rob Berk (expo chairman) quoted in Replay Magazine_
- [HIGH] The expo will include a 1930s Pinball Tournament — _Replay Magazine article_

### Notable Quotes

> "Stern Pinball will be celebrating their 40th anniversary at the show, so the expo's chairman Rob Berk said to look forward to many surprises in their booth."
> — **Rob Berk (Pinball Expo chairman)**
> _Signals upcoming Stern announcements or product reveals at Expo 42; hints at undisclosed surprises tied to Stern's anniversary milestone_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Pinball Expo 42 | event | 42nd annual Pinball Expo scheduled for October 14-17, 2025 at Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center |
| Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center | event | Venue hosting Pinball Expo 42 near Chicago |
| Paul Faris | person | Legendary pinball designer; creator of Centaur, Xenon, Back to the Future, and other classic titles; confirmed special guest at Expo 42 |
| Tony Ramunni | person | Legendary pinball designer; creator of Black Knight, Spy Hunter, Elektra, and other classic titles; confirmed special guest at Expo 42 |
| Rob Berk | person | Chairman of Pinball Expo; provided statement about Stern's 40th anniversary and planned surprises |
| Stern Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer celebrating 40th anniversary at Expo 42; planning booth surprises and announcements |
| Homebrew Community | organization | Community showcase at Pinball Expo featuring 40+ homemade pinball games |

### Signals

- **[event_signal]** Pinball Expo 42 officially announced for October 14-17, 2025 with confirmed special guests, factory tours, and 40+ homebrew games (confidence: high) — Official announcement in Replay Magazine with venue, dates, and programming details
- **[announcement]** Expo 42 venue confirmed as Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center, continuing the tradition of hosting the show near Chicago manufacturing epicenter (confidence: high) — Article specifies exact venue location and dates
- **[industry_signal]** Two legendary Williams-era pinball designers (Paul Faris, Tony Ramunni) confirmed as special guests, highlighting industry nostalgia and legacy appreciation (confidence: high) — Both designers listed with their classic game credits; positioned as special attractions
- **[product_strategy]** Stern Pinball leveraging 40th anniversary milestone at Expo 42 with booth surprises and unannounced reveals (confidence: high) — Rob Berk (expo chairman) explicitly states to 'look forward to many surprises' in Stern booth tied to anniversary celebration
- **[community_signal]** Homebrew pinball community continues expanding presence at Expo with 40+ playable homemade titles showcased (confidence: high) — Article highlights '40-plus titles' in Homebrew Community section, indicating sustained or growing participation
- **[event_signal]** Pinball Expo 42 includes specialized 1930s Pinball Tournament, demonstrating diverse programming beyond modern competitive play (confidence: high) — 1930s Pinball Tournament explicitly listed in event programming

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## Transcript

The 42nd Pinball Expo is set for Oct. 14-17 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center right near Chicago – the epicenter of the pinball industry. Attendees can expect very popular factory tours, special guests Paul Faris (Centaur, Xenon, Back to the Future, etc.) and Tony Ramunni (Black Knight, Spy Hunter, Elektra, etc.), the Homebrew Community of homemade pinballs (featuring 40-plus titles), the 1930s Pinball Tournament and so many more special events. Stern Pinball will be celebrating their 40th anniversary at the show, so the expo’s chairman Rob Berk said to look forward to many surprises in their booth. Visit www.pinballexpo.com/admission to secure your tickets, get your booth and see everything that’s on the agenda.

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v5)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-06-05 | Item ID: d5891fea-729d-49b8-a8dd-a01712c80404*