# Planetary Pinball Filed Trademarks for Big Bang Bar at the End of 2022

**Source:** Knapp Arcade  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2023-02-02  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/planetary-pinball-filed-trademarks-for-big-bang-bar-at-the-end-of-2022

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## Analysis

Planetary Pinball filed U.S. trademarks for "Big Bang Bar" and "Big Bang" in November-December 2022, suggesting the company believes it holds remake rights to the rare Capcom pinball machine. The trademark filing supports earlier rumors of a Big Bang Bar remake by an unexpected manufacturer (possibly Dutch Pinball or a new entrant), with speculation that potential friction between Planetary Pinball and Chicago Gaming over Cactus Canyon delays may have prompted the search for an alternative manufacturer.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Planetary Pinball filed for trademark protection for 'Big Bang Bar' and 'Big Bang' with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in November-December 2022 — _Knapp Arcade article, directly stated as filing evidence_
- [MEDIUM] Big Bang Bar is being remade — _Knapp Arcade author's January 18th post (referenced but not provided); author frames this as rumor they reported_
- [MEDIUM] Some people reached out claiming Planetary Pinball never had the rights to Big Bang Bar before the trademark filing — _Knapp Arcade author paraphrasing community feedback; unverified hearsay_
- [LOW] There appears to be friction between Planetary Pinball and Chicago Gaming Company over Cactus Canyon production timelines — _Knapp Arcade author's speculation: 'from an outsider's perspective, there definitely seems to have been some friction'_
- [LOW] Big Bang Bar remake will be manufactured by an unexpected/unexpected company (not Chicago Gaming) — _Knapp Arcade author's rumor reporting; described as 'second part of the rumor'_
- [LOW] Some have hinted that Big Bang Bar might be Dutch Pinball second game — _Knapp Arcade author: 'Some have hinted to me that it might be Dutch Pinball second game. I have no idea if that's true'_

### Notable Quotes

> "This new news, ties in very nicely with my January 18th post that I wrote here on Knapp Arcade about how Capcom's rare pinball machine Big Bang Bar is being remade."
> — **Knapp Arcade (author)**, N/A
> _Establishes connection between trademark filing and earlier rumors of Big Bang Bar remake_

> "some people reached out to me stating that Planetary Pinball never had the rights to the game, but this Trademark news clearly makes it look like they believe they do"
> — **Knapp Arcade (author)**, N/A
> _Indicates community skepticism about Planetary Pinball's claim to Big Bang Bar rights, contradicted by trademark filing_

> "From an outsider's perspective, there definitely seems to have been some friction between Planetary Pinball and Chicago Gaming Company (CGC) over how long it has taken to produce the Cactus Cactus Canyon (Remake) machines."
> — **Knapp Arcade (author)**, N/A
> _Speculates on potential business relationship strain that may drive manufacturer selection for remake_

> "There has been other rumblings about new players entering the pinball manufacturing scene, so maybe one of them?"
> — **Knapp Arcade (author)**, N/A
> _Hints at possibility of new/emerging manufacturers entering space for Big Bang Bar remake_

> "There's definitely some smoke here. Will there be fire?"
> — **Knapp Arcade (author)**, N/A
> _Summarizes speculative tone and open questions about trajectory of Big Bang Bar remake project_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Planetary Pinball | company | License holder of Bally/Williams pinball machines; filed trademarks for Big Bang Bar in late 2022; rumored to be seeking remake manufacturer |
| Big Bang Bar | game | Rare Capcom pinball machine from 1999; subject of remake rumors; trademark filed by Planetary Pinball in Nov-Dec 2022 |
| Chicago Gaming Company | company | Current manufacturer for Cactus Canyon Remake and Pulp Fiction; rumored tension with Planetary Pinball over production delays; potentially not selected to manufacture Big Bang Bar remake |
| Dutch Pinball | company | Netherlands-based boutique manufacturer; rumored (by some sources) to potentially produce Big Bang Bar as their second game |
| Capcom | company | Original publisher/creator of Big Bang Bar pinball machine |
| Bally | company | Historical pinball manufacturer; license held by Planetary Pinball |
| Williams | company | Historical pinball manufacturer; license held by Planetary Pinball |
| Cactus Canyon | game | Pinball remake in production by Chicago Gaming Company; delays cited as potential source of tension with Planetary Pinball |
| Pulp Fiction | game | Pinball title in production by Chicago Gaming Company; cited as occupying CGC's manufacturing capacity |
| Knapp Arcade | organization | Source publication; pinball enthusiast/industry blog that reported trademark filing and Big Bang Bar remake rumors |

### Signals

- **[licensing_signal]** Planetary Pinball filed U.S. trademarks for Big Bang Bar (Nov-Dec 2022), indicating assertion of remake rights or defensive IP positioning (confidence: high) — Direct trademark filing records cited in article
- **[machine_intel]** Big Bang Bar remake in development; manufacturer identity unconfirmed but rumored to be non-Chicago Gaming entity (confidence: medium) — Trademark filing + author's January 18 rumor report linking to remake announcement
- **[industry_signal]** Potential friction between Planetary Pinball and Chicago Gaming over Cactus Canyon production timeline may influence manufacturer selection for future remakes (confidence: low) — Author's speculative observation: 'from an outsider's perspective, there definitely seems to have been some friction'
- **[product_strategy]** Planetary Pinball actively pursuing remake licenses beyond Williams/Bally library (Capcom's Big Bang Bar), expanding licensing strategy (confidence: high) — Trademark filing for non-Williams/Bally IP; author notes this ties to earlier remake rumors
- **[rumor_hype]** Community speculation about who will manufacture Big Bang Bar remake; Dutch Pinball and new entrants mentioned as possibilities (confidence: low) — Author reports: 'Some have hinted to me that it might be Dutch Pinball's second game' but notes 'I have no idea if that's true'
- **[market_signal]** Chicago Gaming Company described as having hands full with Cactus Canyon and Pulp Fiction, potentially limiting capacity for additional remake projects (confidence: medium) — Author's observation: 'CGC seems to have its hands full with Cactus Canyon and Pulp Fiction pinball at the moment'
- **[leak_detection]** Trademark filing for Big Bang Bar appears to be earliest public evidence of remake project; filed in late 2022, article published after January 18 rumor post (confidence: high) — Trademark filing predates article but author received community tips before public filing

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## Transcript

In late 2022, specifically November and December, Planetary Pinball - the license holder of Bally / Williams pinball machines, filed for Trademark protection for the phrases "Big Bang Bar" and "Big Bang" with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

This new news, ties in very nicely with my January 18th post that I wrote here on Knapp Arcade about how Capcom's rare pinball machine Big Bang Bar is being remade. After I posted that, some people reached out to me stating that Planetary Pinball never had the rights to the game, but this Trademark news clearly makes it look like they believe they do.

The second part of the rumor that I reported was that Big Bang Bar was going to be manufactured by an unexpected company. From an outsider's perspective, there definitely seems to have been some friction between Planetary Pinball and Chicago Gaming Company (CGC) over how long it has taken to produce the Cactus Canyon Remake machines. Could this friction lead to Planetary turning to another manufacturer to produce a run of Big Bang Bars? Time will tell, but it wouldn't surprise me. Even if there isn't any friction between the two companies, CGC seems to have its hands full with Cactus Canyon and Pulp Fiction pinball at the moment.

The question is, if Big Bang Bar is being remade and it's not by CGC, then who? Some have hinted to me that it might be Dutch Pinball's second game. I have no idea if that's true. There has been other rumblings about new players entering the pinball manufacturing scene, so maybe one of them? There's definitely some smoke here. Will there be fire?

Here's a link to my previous article on this subject for anyone who's interested:

RUMOR: Unexpected Company to Remake One of the World's Rarest Pinball Machines This Spring

https://www.knapparcade.org/post/rumor-unexpected-company-to-remake-one-of-the-world-s-rarest-pinball-machines-this-spring

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-08-04 | Item ID: e8844515-533b-4151-98c1-8a9621f27848*