# FAB FOUR PLAY LONDON

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2018-11-30  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2018/11/30/fab-four-play-london

---

## Analysis

Stern Pinball and Ka-Pow Pinball unveiled The Beatles: Beatlemania Pinball at a pop-up store in London's Brunswick Centre (November 29 – December 12, 2018). The store featured four Gold Edition machines in a curated, gallery-like setting with Beatles memorabilia sourced from Apple Corps., designed to introduce casual players to pinball. The article provides an extensive technical breakdown of the game's playfield mechanics, hardware, and design choices, including innovative optical spinners, multiball gameplay, and references to the original Seawitch design.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] The pop-up store featured four Gold Edition Beatles pinball machines set on free play with no charge for entry — _Event documentation describing the Brunswick Centre pop-up store opening and operation_
- [HIGH] John Stergides, owner of Electrocoin (Stern Pinball UK importer/distributor), negotiated the Beatles licence with Stern, Ka-Pow, and Apple Corps. — _Explicit statement crediting Stergides' role in licensing and event creation_
- [HIGH] The Beatles pinball uses optical spinners rather than microswitch spinners to achieve near-frictionless spinning similar to Stern Electronics games — _Detailed technical explanation of spinner mechanism and design choice_
- [HIGH] The game holds four balls in the trough and uses them all for Hard Days Night Multiball mode — _Technical specification noted during playfield tour_
- [HIGH] The Beatles Pinball is based on the original Seawitch design with significant modifications including a spinning magnetic disc, multiball gameplay, and updated target layouts — _Comparative analysis throughout the article; Mike Kubin (Seawitch designer) credited in artwork_
- [HIGH] Gold Edition games are not numbered despite having a limited run; Platinum and Diamond editions are numbered — _Explicit statement comparing edition numbering practices_
- [HIGH] The game features no pricing card installed by default due to licensing restrictions from Apple Corps. — _Article notes 'licensing issue' regarding pricing card absence_
- [HIGH] With current code, bonus is not a major factor in scoring, making bonus multiplier not worth specifically shooting for — _Assessment during code review at the November 2018 opening event_
- [HIGH] The spinning disc does not perform Twister-like effects with multiple ball handling as seen on Seawitch — _Technical limitation noted during playfield examination_
- [HIGH] The Brunswick Centre location has a strong Beatles connection; the fab four lived at The President Hotel one block away in summer 1963 — _Venue selection rationale provided in article opening_

### Notable Quotes

> "The aim with this unique setting is to encourage non-players to try pinball for the first time or to rekindle the pinball bug in former players, using the Beatles theme as a hook."
> — **Pinball News (article author summarizing store concept)**, Event opening description
> _Explains the marketing strategy and accessibility goal of the pop-up store concept_

> "The overall impression is more like an upscale art gallery than a shop or an arcade."
> — **Pinball News (article author)**, Store atmosphere description
> _Characterizes the premium, curated presentation strategy distinguishing the Beatles pop-up from typical arcade venues_

> "It's not the most elegant-looking and could benefit from some kind of cover to hide the opto boards, but it certainly produces a free-spinning spinner which is satisfying to shoot."
> — **Pinball News (technical reviewer)**, Optical spinner assessment
> _Balanced critique acknowledging functional success despite aesthetic limitations of new optical spinner technology_

> "The accompanying sound and lighting effects are a little lacklustre at the moment but that will probably improve in later software updates."
> — **Pinball News (technical reviewer)**, Upper-right flipper loop evaluation
> _Indicates code was still being refined at launch; suggests post-release improvement expected_

> "Visitors are free to play the machines for as long as they wish, but are requested to restrict themselves to three games during busier periods."
> — **Pinball News (event operations description)**, Store operational guidelines
> _Shows demand management strategy anticipating increased foot traffic during peak hours_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| The Beatles: Beatlemania Pinball | game | Stern Pinball and Ka-Pow Pinball collaborative licensed pinball machine featuring Beatles music and imagery; based on original Seawitch design; available in multiple editions (Gold/Platinum/Diamond) |
| Stern Pinball | company | Major pinball manufacturer; co-developer of Beatles Beatlemania Pinball with Ka-Pow Pinball; licensed Beatles IP from Apple Corps. |
| Ka-Pow Pinball | company | Stern Pinball subsidiary or partnership entity handling premium/high-cost IP licensing; co-developer of Beatles Beatlemania Pinball |
| Electrocoin | company | Stern Pinball UK importer and distributor; owned by John Stergides; organized the London pop-up store event and negotiated Beatles licensing with Stern, Ka-Pow, and Apple Corps. |
| John Stergides | person | Owner of Electrocoin; key figure in Beatles pinball licensing negotiations and pop-up store creation |
| Apple Corps. | company | Beatles IP rights-holder; provided licensing agreement and Beatles memorabilia for the London pop-up store |
| Brunswick Centre | event | Bloomsbury, London venue hosting the Beatles pinball pop-up store (November 29 – December 12, 2018); recently refurbished shopping center with Beatles historical significance |
| Mike Kubin | person | Designer of original Seawitch pinball machine; credited in Beatles pinball artwork for the Seawitch design foundation |
| Seawitch | game | Original classic pinball machine design by Mike Kubin; serves as the foundation design for The Beatles: Beatlemania Pinball with significant mechanical and playfield modifications |
| Hard Days Night Multiball | product | Multiball mode in Beatles pinball activated after completing five song modes; uses all four balls held in trough |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Game Design & Mechanics, Beatles Licensing & IP, Pop-up Store Event Marketing, Playfield Layout & Features
- **Secondary:** Optical Spinner Technology Innovation, Software/Code Assessment, Edition Tiers (Gold/Platinum/Diamond), Stern & Ka-Pow Collaboration

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.78) — The article is highly positive about the Beatles pinball's design, innovation (optical spinners), and the pop-up store concept. Constructive criticism is offered on specific elements (bonus scoring weight, spinning disc underutilization, aesthetic aspects of optical spinners, sound/lighting effects) but framed as areas for improvement rather than fundamental flaws. The tone is enthusiastic about the licensing achievement and market accessibility goals.

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** Electrocoin (UK Stern distributor) played central role in Beatles licensing and event production, indicating strong partnership and market confidence in Beatles IP potential for UK market. (confidence: high) — 'The pop-up store is the idea of John Stergides, owner of Stern Pinball importer and distributor, Electrocoin. John was closely involved in negotiating the Beatles licence with Stern, Ka-Pow and the rights-holder, Apple Corps., and has teamed up with Apple Corps. and the Brunswick Centre to create the store'
- **[community_signal]** Pop-up store designed explicitly to onboard new players and lapsed enthusiasts, using Beatles IP as cultural hook to drive non-traditional pinball audience into machines. (confidence: high) — 'The aim with this unique setting is to encourage non-players to try pinball for the first time or to rekindle the pinball bug in former players, using the Beatles theme as a hook.' Event observation: 'Visitors to the Brunswick Centre wandered in to admire the new attraction and play a few games.'
- **[design_philosophy]** The Beatles Beatlemania Pinball is deliberately designed as a Seawitch homage/remake with modernized features. Original designer Mike Kubin is credited in artwork, signaling intentional lineage and respect for classic design. (confidence: high) — Article states playfield is 'probably the biggest playfield difference between The Beatles and Seawitch' (spinning disc); explicitly notes 'Unlike Seawitch – The Beatles is a multiball game'; credits 'The designer of the original Seawitch game, Mike Kubin, gets a mention in the artwork'
- **[event_signal]** The Beatles pop-up store (November 29 – December 12, 2018) at Brunswick Centre represents a novel event format for pinball game launches—combining retail/experience/education in curated, non-arcade setting. (confidence: high) — 'In the first event of its kind, Stern Pinball and Ka-Pow Pinball's latest collaboration – The Beatles: Beatlemania Pinball – is the star of a brand new pop-up store in central London.' Operated midday to 8pm for 2-week run with Electrocoin/Brunswick staff providing sales and player support.
- **[licensing_signal]** Beatles licensing agreement with Apple Corps. imposed specific constraints: no pricing card (licensing restriction), limited use of video assets (news coverage and stills rather than performance footage), careful oversight of IP presentation (confidence: high) — Article explicitly notes 'licensing issue' regarding pricing card; describes limited video assets in LCD display content; mentions Apple Corps. provided all Beatles memorabilia with strict curation
- **[market_signal]** The pop-up store represents a premium market positioning strategy: gallery-like curation, free-to-play accessibility, location selection emphasizing Beatles historical connection, and Apple Corps. partnership for authentic memorabilia presentation. (confidence: high) — Article characterizes store as 'more like an upscale art gallery than a shop or an arcade'; venue chosen for Beatles' 1963 residence proximity; 'all the Beatles memorabilia coming from Apple Corps.'; no coin requirement, free play, but also strict game limits during busy periods
- **[product_strategy]** Beatles Beatlemania Pinball sold in multiple edition tiers (Gold/Platinum/Diamond) with different numbering and cosmetic treatments. Gold Edition machines feature gold-colored hardware, speaker decals, and backbox trim. (confidence: high) — Article notes: 'The Gold Edition games are not numbered despite having a limited run. The Platinum and Diamond ones are numbered though.' Pop-up store featured Gold Editions with 'gold-coloured speaker decals, gold backbox trim and gold speckled metalwork on the hinges, side rails, legs and lockbar.'
- **[product_strategy]** Software at launch showed room for improvement. Code review notes indicate bonus scoring is underdeveloped and sound/lighting effects on upper-right flipper loop shots are 'lacklustre,' with expectation of post-release updates. (confidence: high) — Direct observations: 'With the current code the bonus is not a major factor in your score, making the multiplier level not something worth shooting for specifically.' And: 'The accompanying sound and lighting effects are a little lacklustre at the moment but that will probably improve in later software updates.'
- **[technology_signal]** The Beatles pinball introduces optical spinners as an innovation to achieve near-frictionless spinning—a departure from standard microswitch spinners used in modern machines. This represents a design choice to recreate Stern Electronics-era functionality. (confidence: high) — Detailed technical explanation: 'The spinners used in The Beatles are optical ones, using optos mounted behind the spinner to create a beam which is broken by the spinner as it turns.' Comparison: microswitch spinners 'require a certain amount of pressure to activate, and that pressure takes the energy out of the spinner'

---

## Transcript

Date: 29th November, 2018 Location: The Brunswick Centre, 1 Byng Place, Bloomsbury, London, WC1N 1AF, UK In the first event of its kind, Stern Pinball and Ka-Pow Pinball’s latest collaboration – The Beatles: Beatlemania Pinball – is the star of a brand new pop-up store in central London. The store is part of the recently-refurbished Brunswick Centre in Bloomsbury, an area with a strong Beatles connection after the fab four spent the summer of ’63 living in The President Hotel which is just one block away from the Brunswick Centre. ![The Brunswick Centre in London's Bloomsbury](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/001-beatles-in-london.jpg) The Brunswick Centre in London’s Bloomsbury ![The Brunswick Centre is currently decorated for Christmas](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/002-beatles-in-london.jpg) The Brunswick Centre is currently decorated for Christmas ![The Beatles pop-up store](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/003-beatles-in-london.jpg) The Beatles pop-up store Inside are four brand new The Beatles pinballs – all Gold Edition models – surrounded by Beatles artwork featuring posters, album covers and advertising flyers. There is no charge to enter and all four games are set on free play. The aim with this unique setting is to encourage non-players to try pinball for the first time or to rekindle the pinball bug in former players, using the Beatles theme as a hook. It seemed to be working, as visitors to the Brunswick Centre wandered in to admire the new attraction and play a few games. ![Inside the Beatles store](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/004-beatles-in-london.jpg) Inside the Beatles store ![Three of the four The Beatles Gold Edition pinballs](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/006-beatles-in-london.jpg) Three of the four The Beatles Gold Edition pinballs The pop-up store is the idea of John Stergides, owner of Stern Pinball importer and distributor, Electrocoin. John was closely involved in negotiating the Beatles licence with Stern, Ka-Pow and the rights-holder, Apple Corps., and has teamed up with Apple Corps. and the Brunswick Centre to create the store, with all the Beatles memorabilia coming from Apple Corps. The overall impression is more like an upscale art gallery than a shop or an arcade. ![Some of the Beatles memorabilia adorning the walls](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/007-beatles-in-london.jpg) Some of the Beatles memorabilia adorning the walls ![There is a clean, spacious feel to the pop-up store](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/008-beatles-in-london.jpg) There store ![Along with Beatles memorabilia there are photo blow-ups of the game flyer](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/005-beatles-in-london.jpg) Along flyer ![One of the four Gold Edition games](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/009-beatles-in-london.jpg) One of the four Gold Edition games We arrived around 7pm on Thursday, the store’s first day of opening. With one hour left until closing time things were relatively quiet in the Centre and in the Beatles store, but with advertising posters in windows around the complex things are going to get busy as we head towards the weekend. Visitors are free to play the machines for as long as they wish, but are requested to restrict themselves to three games during busier periods. ![Posters in store windows around the Brunswick Centre](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/079-beatles-in-london.jpg) Posters in store windows around the Brunswick Centre The pop-up store is open from midday to 8pm each day, until 12th December, 2018. Electrocoin or Brunswick staff will be on hand throughout to answer any questions, help new players discover the game, and handle sales enquiries. ![The four Beatles games are available to play until 12th December](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/010-beatles-in-london.jpg) The December While we were there for the opening night, it would have been remiss of us if we had not taken the opportunity to have a better look at the game. So… ![Let's go in-depth](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/012-beatles-in-london.jpg) Let’s go in-depth There was much talk initially about the lack of any coin slots on the machines in the promotional pictures. However, the game can be purchased with either a multi- or single-slot door as usual, or with a plain door if that is preferred for home use. Inside, the mechanics and electrics are all very familiar. The game features traditional slide rails under the playfield but clips on the lock bar. ![The coin door interface board, flipper button, lock bar clip and start button](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/015-beatles-in-london.jpg) The button The game comes with a full printed manual, as well as a selection of spare plastics, two outlane post rubbers and assorted information sheets. ![The goodie bag is stapled to the cabinet next to the tilt bob](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/014-beatles-in-london.jpg) The bob On the opposite side, we have the manual ball shooter rod and the button for the right flippers. ![The game comes with interior cabinet art on both sides](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/022-beatles-in-london.jpg) The sides ![The combined automatic and manual ball shooter](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/024-beatles-in-london.jpg) The combined automatic and manual ball shooter As with all modern Stern games, there’s not a lot in the cabinet, with the power supplies and control boards tucked away in the backbox. ![The back of the cabinet](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/061-beatles-in-london.jpg) The back of the cabinet ![The cabinet artwork on the Gold Edition](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/071-beatles-in-london.jpg) The cabinet artwork on the Gold Edition ![The backbox artwork](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/070-beatles-in-london.jpg) The backbox artwork Turning to the playfield, let’s take a tour of the features and shots, starting at the bottom with the two main flippers. ![The two main flippers](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/052-beatles-in-london.jpg) The two main flippers While white flipper bats may have been more in keeping with the retro feel of the machine, the yellow ones do match the yellow accents used in the playfield and apron artwork. An orange Extra Ball insert recalls the ‘Same Player Shoots Again’ phrase in the first of many nostalgic throwbacks found in the game. It is lit solidly when an extra ball has been collected and flashes when the ball saver is active. There is no centre post option on the game, so once the ball passes the flippers it is destined for the drain. ![No way back from here](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/053-beatles-in-london.jpg) No way back from here The game features several instances of awards being prominently printed on the playfield, with the inlanes and outlanes being two more examples. ![The bottom-left of the playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/050-beatles-in-london.jpg) The bottom-left of the playfield ![The left inlane and outlane award Extra Ball and Special respectively (when lit)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/026-beatles-in-london.jpg) The lit) One of the two rubber post rings supplied in the goodie bag goes on the post in the picture above. The slingshots in The Beatles are very plain, single-level affairs using the turquoise colour posts used throughout the game, with a small flasher dome mounted on top. There’s really not much more to say about them, so we won’t. ![The two slingshots in the game](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/027-beatles-in-london.jpg) The two slingshots in the game Just up from the left inlane is the first stand-up target in the game which gives a mystery award when lit. ![The mystery target](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/046-beatles-in-london.jpg) The mystery target There is a lane behind the mystery target which exits into the left inlane. It terminates with a sharp-looking flat rail which looks as though it could chew up the ball somewhat. The lane is accessed by knocking down the first of three drop target banks in the game. ![The F-A-B drop targets](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/037-beatles-in-london.jpg) The F-A-B drop targets When the targets have been knocked down, the super jackpot standup target behind it can be accessed. Shots to that will normally roll down and exit through the lane we’ve just seen, although it can also bounce out over the drop targets. ![The Super Jackpot target](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/047-beatles-in-london.jpg) The Super Jackpot target Rather than trying to associate certain targets or lanes with Beatles-themed items, places or events, this target is just a Super Jackpot target. Moving on up, we come to the first of two upper flippers. ![The upper-left flipper](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/065-beatles-in-london.jpg) The upper-left flipper This has several shots, with the main ones being into the pop bumpers and into the second bank of drop targets. ![The F-O-U-R drop targets](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/038-beatles-in-london.jpg) The F-O-U-R drop targets Like all three banks, this one can be lit for either an advance towards completing the orbit lane, adding a bonus multiplier or increasing the bonus. The current award is shown on the inserts in front of the bank. To the left of the upper-left flipper is the left orbit entrance. ![The left orbit](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/044-beatles-in-london.jpg) The left orbit This takes the ball round to the top of the playfield from where it can either continue round the orbit lane, or it can be grabbed by a magnet. ![The magnet at the top of the orbit lane](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/066-beatles-in-london.jpg) The magnet at the top of the orbit lane ![The back panel features flat plastics of the Fab Four](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/058-beatles-in-london.jpg) The Four ![Artwork at the top left of the playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/033-beatles-in-london.jpg) Artwork at the top left of the playfield ![Artwork at the top right of the playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/034-beatles-in-london.jpg) Artwork at the top right of the playfield If the magnet grabs the ball, a display effect is played and then the ball enters the pop bumper area. ![The pop bumpers](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/042-beatles-in-london.jpg) The pop bumpers As with the original Seawitch design, the ball bounces around here and hits various targets. In Seawitch they were all stand-up targets, but in The Beatles it’s a mix of stand-ups and drops. There are four stand-ups for John, Paul, George and Ringo, plus four drops for 1-9-6-4. ![The John, Paul and George stand-ups](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/035-beatles-in-london.jpg) The John, Paul and George stand-ups As well as lighting up their respective inserts in front of their targets, the fab four are also shown on four inserts lower down the playfield, next to the upper-right flipper. ![The Ringo stand-up and the 1-9-6-4 drops](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/036-beatles-in-london.jpg) The Ringo stand-up and the 1-9-6-4 drops The ball can be shot into the pop bumper area from either of the lower flippers too in order to hit the John, Paul and George targets on the left, or the Ringo and 1-9-6-4 targets on the right. Those two shots are either side of the F-O-U-R target bank, and those are also the exits from the pops. ![The shots up the playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/031-beatles-in-london.jpg) The shots up the playfield Continuing on our tour, on the right side of the left orbit entrance is the first of two standup targets which light the mystery award. ![The left Light Mystery target](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/039-beatles-in-london.jpg) The left Light Mystery target The left entry into the pop bumpers also features the first of the game’s two spinners. There is a corresponding one on the right side, but this is over the right orbit lane rather than the pop bumper area entrance. ![The game's two spinners](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/041-beatles-in-london.jpg) The game’s two spinners Normally there’s not much to say about spinners, but these are interesting because they recreate the near-frictionless spinning found on Stern Electronics games. Most modern spinners use a microswitch to detect spins. These microswitches require a certain amount of pressure to activate, and that pressure takes the energy out of the spinner, resulting in it quickly slowing down. The spinners used in The Beatles are optical ones, using optos mounted behind the spinner to create a beam which is broken by the spinner as it turns. ![The new optical spinner](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/059-beatles-in-london.jpg) The new optical spinner It’s not the most elegant-looking and could benefit from some kind of cover to hide the opto boards, but it certainly produces a free-spinning spinner which is satisfying to shoot. On the left side of the right orbit entrance is the second Mystery stand-up target. Hitting both of these lights the Mystery stand-up just above the left outlane. ![The right Mystery target](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/040-beatles-in-london.jpg) The right Mystery target ![The right orbit lane](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/043-beatles-in-london.jpg) The right orbit lane Just below the right entry to the orbit lane is the upper-right flipper. ![The John, Paul, George and Ringo inserts, plus the upper-right flipper](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/064-beatles-in-london.jpg) The flipper This flipper can shoot the F-A-B drop targets and sweep the F-O-U-R targets too, but its most satisfying shot is into the left orbit entrance which loops back to the flipper for repeat shots. The accompanying sound and lighting effects are a little lacklustre at the moment but that will probably improve in later software updates. Behind the upper-right flipper is a short lane which feeds into the shooter lane. This is used for a start-of-ball skill shot, and can also be shot using the lower-left flipper during gameplay for a secret skill shot. There is a one-way gate in the shooter lane to prevent the ball rolling back to the plunger ![The skill shot at the start of each ball](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/048-beatles-in-london.jpg) The skill shot at the start of each ball ![The skill shot lane can be shot from the lower-left flipper too](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/049-beatles-in-london.jpg) The too To the right of the right slingshot are the in- and out-lanes which mirror those on the left side. ![The left inlane and outlane](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/051-beatles-in-london.jpg) The left inlane and outlane Which takes us back to the lower flippers. ![Back to the start](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/025-beatles-in-london.jpg) Back to the start Above these flippers are the inserts showing the current song mode, any completed ones and any songs remaining before all five are played and Hard Days Night Multiball can begin. There are also two groups of three inserts. The left ones show your progress completing the drop target banks towards lighting the extra ball on the inlanes, while the right ones show your bonus multiplier. This uses the binary 1x-2x-4x system, allowing a maximum of 7x when all three are lit. The bonus value itself is shown on an arc of insets in the centre of the playfield. With the current code the bonus is not a major factor in your score, making the multiplier level not something worth shooting for specifically. ![The bonus inserts](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/045-beatles-in-london.jpg) The bonus inserts Above this is probably the biggest playfield difference between The Beatles and Seawitch – the spinning disc. ![The spinning magnetic disc](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/060-beatles-in-london.jpg) The spinning magnetic disc Looking like a spinning 45 record, the disc features a magnetic core in the centre and slots which allow a flasher below to shine through. The current software does allow the ball to be grabbed, but doesn’t really do anything much with it once it has it. It doesn’t seem to do any Twister-like effects where multiple balls can be held and then spun-off in random directions. We say ‘multiple balls’ because – again, unlike Seawitch – The Beatles is a multiball game, holding four balls in the trough and using them all for the Hard Days Night Multiball mode. ![The Beatles: Beatlemania Pinball playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/063-beatles-in-london.jpg) The Beatles: Beatlemania Pinball playfield ![The designer of the original Seawitch game, Mike Kubin, gets a mention in the artwork](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/067-beatles-in-london.jpg) The artwork That’s our look at the playfield. Down on the apron there are some illuminated decals as well as the usual instruction card and the game edition plaque. There is no pricing card installed by default – another licensing issue – but that’s easily overcome. ![The instruction card](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/028-beatles-in-london.jpg) The instruction card ![The 'not the pricing card' card](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/029-beatles-in-london.jpg) The ‘not the pricing card’ card ![The Gold Edition plaque](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/030-beatles-in-london.jpg) The Gold Edition plaque The Gold Edition games are not numbered despite having a limited run. The Platinum and Diamond ones are numbered though. ![The left illuminated apron panel](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/055-beatles-in-london.jpg) The left illuminated apron panel ![The right illuminated apron panel](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/054-beatles-in-london.jpg) The right illuminated apron panel Up in the backbox, the game has the now-standard LCD panel with a pair of speakers. ![The display and speakers in the backbox](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/073-beatles-in-london.jpg) The display and speakers in the backbox This Gold Edition game has gold-coloured speaker decals, gold backbox trim and gold speckled metalwork on the hinges, side rails, legs and lockbar. ![Gold hinges and side rails](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/072-beatles-in-london.jpg) Gold hinges and side rails The video displays are very bright, dynamic and attractive, making the most of the limited assets Stern and Ka-Pow were allowed to use. There are some performance video clips but largely it is news coverage and camera-moved over single or montages of stills. It doesn’t feel lacking in content and the in-house animations are very nicely done. The scoring is shown on digital score reels. For one or two players a corresponding number of sets of score reels are shown. Go up to three players and you actually get four sets with the fourth set unused. The number of players and the ball-in-play indication is done, old-school, with ‘illuminated’ numbers on the LCD. ![Three players, but four sets of score reels](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/069-beatles-in-london.jpg) Three players, but four sets of score reels ![The number of players](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/075-beatles-in-london.jpg) The number of players ![The ball-in-play indicator](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/076-beatles-in-london.jpg) The ball-in-play indicator ![One of the in-house animations](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/068-beatles-in-london.jpg) One of the in-house animations That leaves only one part of the game we haven’t examined, so let’s lift the playfield and see how it’s built. ![Under the playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/013-beatles-in-london.jpg) Under the playfield ![The lower flippers and ball trough](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/016-beatles-in-london.jpg) The lower flippers, driver board and ball trough ![The central LED board](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/017-beatles-in-london.jpg) The central LED board ![The spinning disc and magnet](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/023-beatles-in-london.jpg) The spinning disc and magnet ![The left orbit LED board](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/020-beatles-in-london.jpg) The left orbit LED board ![The right orbit and 1-9-6-4 drop target bank](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/019-beatles-in-london.jpg) The right orbit and 1-9-6-4 drop target bank That look under the playfield brings us to the end of this report from the Beatles pop-up store at the Brunswick Centre in London. ![The end of the show](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/beatles/beatles-in-london/077-beatles-in-london.jpg) The end of the show Many thanks to John and the whole Electrocoin crew for their help. Don’t forget, you can visit the Beatles store up until 12th December and play The Beatles: Beatlemania Pinball for free.

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

---

*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: f0f4f85d-4dda-4b3a-8486-9f76d01c337b*