# Spongebob Squarepants **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2007-12-14 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/news/spongebob.html --- ## Analysis 21st Century Entertainment announced Soccer Shot Pinball, a digital pinball machine featuring SpongeBob SquarePants characters, released in December 2007. The machine is a virtual pinball cabinet (similar to Ultrapin) rather than traditional mechanical pinball, designed for family entertainment centers and home use, with playfield mechanics licensed from Gottlieb's 1975 Pin-Up game. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Soccer Shot Pinball is a digital/virtual pinball machine in the style of Ultrapin, not a traditional mechanical pinball — _Article explicitly contrasts with traditional mechanical machines and describes flat screen monitor with virtual playfield simulation by Wildsnake Software_ - [HIGH] Machine dimensions are 68 inches high by 26 inches wide by 46 inches deep, weighing 250 pounds — _Specific measurements provided in the article_ - [HIGH] Playfield design is licensed from Gottlieb's 1975 game Pin-Up — _Article states 'apparently licensed from D. Gottlieb, based on their 1975 game Pin-Up'_ - [HIGH] Machine features adjustable legs to accommodate younger players — _Article notes 'the machine's legs can be adjusted to make it lower than a regular pinball machine' and that it is 'clearly aimed at kids'_ - [HIGH] Retail price is $4,495 with availability expected at end of January 2008 — _Specific pricing and availability date provided in article_ ### Notable Quotes > "Pinball fans have long been asking about the possibility of a SpongeBob Squarepants game and now, one company has brought the undersea character into the pinball world" > — **Article author** > _Establishes community demand for SpongeBob IP in pinball_ > "This is not a traditional mechanical pinball machine at all but more in the style of the Ultrapin game, with a flat screen monitor displaying a virtual pinball playfield" > — **Article author** > _Key clarification that this is digital/virtual pinball, not mechanical_ > "Although this may make a good home machine, it is definitely aimed at family entertainment centres too as a fully functional coin-operated game" > — **Article author** > _Indicates dual market positioning: home and commercial FEC markets_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | 21st Century Entertainment | company | Manufacturer of Soccer Shot Pinball SpongeBob SquarePants digital pinball machine | | Wildsnake Software | company | Software developer of the virtual pinball simulation for Soccer Shot Pinball | | BMI Gaming | company | Exclusive online retailer for Soccer Shot Pinball | | Pinball Sales | company | Exclusive online retailer for Soccer Shot Pinball | | Gottlieb | company | Classic pinball manufacturer whose 1975 Pin-Up game playfield design is licensed for this machine | | Ultrapin | product | Prior digital pinball cabinet model that Soccer Shot Pinball is compared to stylistically | | Pin-Up | game | Gottlieb's 1975 pinball game whose playfield design is licensed for Soccer Shot Pinball | | SpongeBob SquarePants | product | Animated character IP featured in Soccer Shot Pinball | ### Topics - **Primary:** Digital/Virtual Pinball Technology, Licensed IP in Pinball, Family Entertainment Centers / FEC Market - **Secondary:** Coin-op / Redemption Games, Home Pinball Market, Classic Pinball Licensing (Gottlieb), Pricing and Distribution ### Sentiment **Neutral** (0.5) — Article is straightforward product announcement with factual descriptions. No strong positive or negative language, though phrasing such as 'may make a good home machine' is mildly positive. ### Signals - **[licensing_signal]** SpongeBob SquarePants IP licensed for pinball game, indicating animation/children's IP interest in pinball market (confidence: high) — Article describes 'Soccer Shot Pinball from 21st Century Entertainment' featuring SpongeBob character - **[market_signal]** Pricing at $4,495 positions digital pinball as accessible alternative to traditional mechanical machines (typically $7,000+) (confidence: high) — Retail price of $4,495 noted for digital cabinet targeting family entertainment centers and home market - **[announcement]** 21st Century Entertainment announces Soccer Shot Pinball with SpongeBob SquarePants IP for release in January 2008 (confidence: high) — Article dated December 14, 2007 announcing 'forthcoming Soccer Shot Pinball' with availability 'expected at the end of January 2008' - **[technology_signal]** Digital/virtual pinball cabinet (Ultrapin-style) rather than traditional mechanical pinball, representing alternative pinball technology approach (confidence: high) — Article explicitly states 'This is not a traditional mechanical pinball machine at all but more in the style of the Ultrapin game, with a flat screen monitor displaying a virtual pinball playfield' --- ## Transcript Date: 14th December 2007. Pinball fans have long been asking about the possibility of a SpongeBob Squarepants game and now, one company has brought the undersea character into the pinball world with the forthcoming Soccer Shot Pinball from 21st Century Entertainment. A closer look reveals this is not a traditional mechanical pinball machine at all but more in the style of the Ultrapin game, with a flat screen monitor displaying a virtual pinball playfield and computer simulation created by Wildsnake Software. The machine is smaller that a regular pinball, measuring 68 inches high by 26 inches wide by 46 inches deep, weighing in at 250 pounds. It is clearly aimed at kids, so the machine's legs can be adjusted to make it lower than a regular pinball machine. Unlike Ultrapin, there is only one display so all scoring is shown on the playfield. The playfield design is a fairly simple one with 2 kick-out saucers, 4 flippers and a bank of 10 drop targets, and it is apparently licensed from D. Gottlieb, based on their 1975 game Pin-Up. But although this may make a good home machine, it is definitely aimed at family entertainment centres too as a fully functional coin-operated game, and can be operated either in amusement mode or as a redemption game paying out tickets. Once the initial version has been released - which is expected fairly soon - the creators plan a second version with new characters to extend the product's interest and life span. The new machine will be available on-line exclusively from BMI Gaming and Pinball Sales at a retail price of $4495 with availability expected at the end of January 2008. Back to the News page Back to the front page _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: f6e2b9f1-d8c4-4d99-a0f1-adb4a4e39b03*