# STERN RELEASES RUSH PINBALL TEASER **Source:** Knapp Arcade **Type:** article **Published:** 2021-12-28 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/stern-releases-rush-pinball-teaser --- ## Analysis Stern Pinball announced Rush as its next pinball machine via press release and teaser on December 28, 2021, originally scheduled for in-person reveal at CES 2022 but pivoted to virtual presentation due to COVID-19. The announcement emphasizes Rush Pinball's integration with Insider Connected, Stern's new digital platform enabling score tracking, achievements, player profiles, and operator tools across connected machines. ### Key Claims - [MEDIUM] Insider Connected represents 'the greatest technological advance to pinball in decades' — _Official Stern press release; marketing language, not independently verified technological assessment_ - [HIGH] Rush has sold over 40 million records and filled stadiums during sold-out tours for decades — _Official Stern press release; factual claim about the band's commercial history_ - [HIGH] All Stern Pinball machines now ship with Insider Connected enabled — _Official Stern press release statement_ - [HIGH] Stern pivoted from in-person CES 2022 presentation to virtual due to fast spread of COVID cases — _Official press release explicitly states decision rationale_ - [HIGH] Insider Connected Pro provides remote updates and diagnostics tools for commercial operators — _Official press release feature description_ ### Notable Quotes > "Historically the pinball games in our CES booth attract large crowds. Given the current fast spread of COVID in many parts of the world, we concluded our virtual attendance would offer the most protection to pinball fans." > — **Stern Pinball (official statement)**, December 28, 2021 > _Explains major business decision to shift from in-person to virtual event format during pandemic surge_ > "Insider Connected, the greatest technological advance to pinball in decades, giving players even more reasons to play." > — **Stern Pinball (official statement)**, December 28, 2021 > _Core marketing claim for Insider Connected platform launch; establishes competitive positioning_ > "Rush, the iconic Canadian progressive rock band, has an impassioned global fan base. Rush has sold over 40 million records and filled stadiums during sold-out tours for decades." > — **Stern Pinball (official statement)**, December 28, 2021 > _Justification for Rush IP selection; establishes band's commercial and cultural credentials_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Stern Pinball | company | Major pinball manufacturer announcing Rush machine and Insider Connected digital platform | | Rush | game | New pinball machine by Stern featuring progressive rock band Rush IP; featuring Insider Connected integration | | Insider Connected | product | Stern's new digital ecosystem platform enabling score tracking, achievements, player profiles, and operator management tools across connected machines | | Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2022 | event | Major tech industry event where Rush was originally scheduled for in-person reveal; pivoted to virtual presentation | | Rush (band) | organization | Canadian progressive rock band whose IP/brand is featured in the new pinball machine | | Knapp Arcade | organization | Source outlet reporting on Stern's announcement | ### Topics - **Primary:** New game announcement: Rush Pinball, Insider Connected digital platform and ecosystem - **Secondary:** CES 2022 event format changes due to COVID-19, Operator tools and remote diagnostics, Music/band IP licensing in pinball ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.78) — Announcement is enthusiastic about Rush IP and Insider Connected innovation; COVID pivot is presented matter-of-factly without negative framing; overall tone emphasizes technological advancement and player engagement benefits ### Signals - **[event_signal]** CES 2022 presentation format shifted from in-person to virtual due to COVID-19 surge, impacting traditional industry announcement venue (confidence: high) — Press release explicitly states decision: 'Given the current fast spread of COVID in many parts of the world, we concluded our virtual attendance would offer the most protection to pinball fans' - **[licensing_signal]** Rush band IP secured for pinball machine; Canadian progressive rock band with 40+ million album sales and decades of stadium tours (confidence: high) — Official announcement of Rush pinball machine featuring the band; band credentials cited in press release - **[announcement]** Official announcement of Rush Pinball as Stern's next machine with Insider Connected integration (confidence: high) — Stern press release published December 28, 2021 announcing Rush for virtual CES 2022 reveal - **[product_strategy]** All Stern Pinball machines now ship with Insider Connected enabled, establishing it as foundational technology going forward (confidence: high) — Statement: 'All Stern Pinball machines now ship with Insider Connected enabled' - **[technology_signal]** Insider Connected represents major digital ecosystem evolution for Stern, introducing connected score tracking, achievements, operator diagnostics, and mobile/web integration across all new machines (confidence: high) — Press release describes Insider Connected as 'greatest technological advance to pilnball in decades' with platform details for players (profiles, locations, activities) and operators (remote updates, diagnostics) --- ## Transcript Minutes ago Stern Pinball published a press release and the first official teaser of its long-rumored next machine, Rush. Originally scheduled to be fully revealed at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show January 5th through 8th, Stern decided to do a virtual launch instead after the dramatic rise in COVID cases. STERN PINBALL TO VIRTUALLY SHOWCASE ITS NEW TECHNOLOGY, INSIDER CONNECTED™, AT THE 2022 CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW Stern’s New Rush Pinball Machines Featuring Insider Connected Will Be Revealed CHICAGO, IL and LAS VEGAS, NV – December 28, 2021 – Stern Pinball, Inc., will be returning to the Consumer Electronics Show virtually and not in-person. Historically the pinball games in our CES booth attract large crowds. Given the current fast spread of COVID in many parts of the world, we concluded our virtual attendance would offer the most protection to pinball fans. Highlighted this year will be Stern’s Insider Connected, the greatest technological advance to pinball in decades, giving players even more reasons to play. Insider Connected lets players track scores and offers new achievements for connected pinball machines. Through their mobile phones or computers, players can acces s their profiles, post scores, find the locations of connected machines, or explore pinball activities in their area. Insider Connected Pro provides tools for commercial operators to improve earnings and operational efficiency through remote updates and diagnostics. All Stern Pinball machines now ship with Insider Connected enabled. CES attendees and all pinball players can register for Insider Connected at insider.sternpinball.com/. Stern Pinball will showcase the new Rush pinball machines for the first time. Rush, the iconic Canadian progressive rock band, has an impassioned global fan base. Rush has sold over 40 million records and filled stadiums during sold-out tours for decades. Rush Insider Connected pinball machines will be displayed for the press during virtual press conferences all week long. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HO8HePnDqZc _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: e4322548-e69e-4239-baac-1fe46d4b4db4*