# He's Back - Again! **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2011-03-02 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/news/ritchiereturns.html --- ## Analysis On March 2-3, 2011, Stern Pinball announced that legendary designer Steve Ritchie had joined the company as a full-time staff game designer, ending speculation about his future. Ritchie, who had previously worked with Stern on contract for games like Terminator 3, Elvis, and Spider-Man, was relocating to Chicago. Both Ritchie and Gary Stern expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, with Gary suggesting the hire signals Stern's intent to move toward more complex game designs. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Steve Ritchie has been designing pinball games since the 1970s, producing titles like Superman, Stellar Wars, Black Knight, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. — _Press release details Ritchie's design history and accomplishments_ - [HIGH] Ritchie was the first designer to incorporate multiball gameplay, ball lane change, transparent playing fields, and multi-level pinball machines. — _Official Stern Pinball press release claims_ - [HIGH] Steve Ritchie's company Steve Ritchie Productions had previously been contracted by Stern to create designs for Terminator 3, Elvis, and Spider-Man. — _Article and press release confirm prior contract relationship_ - [HIGH] Ritchie's game 24 was released over two years ago (before March 2011), representing a gap in his design activity. — _Article states 'Steve himself, who has been out of pinball design since his game 24 was released over two years ago'_ - [MEDIUM] There was animosity when Steve's previous time designing games for Stern came to an end, but this has been resolved. — _Article references 'quite some animosity' but provides no specific details_ ### Notable Quotes > "I am elated to bring my 30 years of design and game experience to Stern Pinball and work as part of the new Stern team... I am honored to work with Gary Stern and Dave Peterson, along with the talented Stern staff on an exciting new chapter in pinball history. Long Live Pinball!" > — **Steve Ritchie**, March 2011 > _Ritchie's official statement upon joining Stern expressing enthusiasm and commitment to the company's vision_ > "We are all very excited about Steve's arrival at Stern. Steve's expertise in the art of pinball design and imaginative work will take our machines and game design to a whole new level. Our goal at Stern is to continually push the envelope of what is possible and has never been done. Steve's work is on par with that vision." > — **Gary Stern**, March 2011 > _CEO's endorsement of Ritchie's hiring and indication that Stern intends to increase design ambition_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Steve Ritchie | person | Legendary pinball game designer with 30+ years of experience; known as 'The King of Pinball' and 'The King of Flow'; joined Stern Pinball as full-time staff designer in March 2011 | | Stern Pinball | company | Major pinball manufacturer based near Chicago, Illinois; only full-size arcade-quality pinball maker mentioned; announced Ritchie's hiring | | Gary Stern | person | Founder, CEO, and Chairman of Stern Pinball; son of Sam Stern; made public statement welcoming Ritchie to the company | | Jersey Jack Pinball | company | Startup pinball company mentioned as competitive threat with plans for fully-featured games that may have prompted Stern to upgrade design ambitions | | Dave Peterson | person | Stern Pinball leadership figure mentioned alongside Gary Stern as someone Ritchie would work with | | Steve Ritchie Productions | company | Ritchie's previous company that held contract with Stern Pinball for design work on Terminator 3, Elvis, and Spider-Man | | Terminator 3 | game | Pinball game designed by Ritchie under contract with Stern | | Elvis | game | Pinball game designed by Ritchie under contract with Stern | | Spider-Man | game | Pinball game designed by Ritchie under contract with Stern | | Superman | game | Classic pinball game designed by Ritchie in his career | | Black Knight | game | Classic pinball game designed by Ritchie | | Terminator 2: Judgment Day | game | Pinball game designed by Ritchie | | 24 | game | Ritchie's most recent game before his March 2011 Stern hiring, released over two years prior | ### Topics - **Primary:** Personnel moves and industry talent acquisition, Stern Pinball's strategic direction and competitive positioning - **Secondary:** Game design philosophy and evolution, Competition with Jersey Jack Pinball, Steve Ritchie's career history and legacy ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Both Ritchie and Stern leadership express enthusiasm about the partnership. Past animosity is acknowledged but framed as resolved. Gary Stern's comments suggest confidence in the strategic value of the hire. No critical or negative viewpoints presented. ### Signals - **[design_philosophy]** Gary Stern indicates a shift toward pushing design boundaries and innovation, moving beyond recent simplistic designs (confidence: medium) — Gary Stern quote: 'Our goal at Stern is to continually push the envelope of what is possible and has never been done' - **[personnel_signal]** Steve Ritchie transitions from independent contractor status to full-time Stern Pinball staff designer, relocating to Chicago area (confidence: high) — Official Stern Pinball announcement and press release - **[business_signal]** Gary Stern's comments suggest Stern is responding to Jersey Jack Pinball's competitive threat by hiring Ritchie to develop more complex, fully-featured games (confidence: medium) — Article states: 'Gary comments suggest Stern may be looking to move away from the more simplistic game designs seen of late, possibly in response to the plans for fully-featured games from startup pinball company Jersey Jack Pinball' --- ## Transcript Date: 2nd March 2011 The prolonged speculation about Steve Ritchie's future plans was resolved today when Stern Pinball announced he had joined the company as a staff game designer. Steve Ritchie Steve's company Steve Ritchie Productions was previously contracted to Stern Pinball to create pinball designs for game such as Terminator 3, Elvis and Spider-Man but this time he's joining the company as an employee and moving to live in the Chicago area. There was  quite some animosity when Steve's previous time designing games for Stern Pinball came to an end, but all that has been put in the past and Steve is looking forward to his future with Stern.  He said,"I am elated to bring my 30 years of design and game experience to Stern Pinball and work as part of the new Stern team... I am honored to work with Gary Stern and Dave Ashley Peterson, along with the talented Stern staff on an exciting new chapter in pinball history. Long Live Pinball!" Gary Stern was equally positive about Steve joining the company.  He said, "We are all very excited about Steve’s arrival at Stern.  Steve’s expertise in the art of pinball design and imaginative work will take our machines and game design to a whole new level. Our goal at Stern is to continually push the envelope of what is possible and has never been done. Steve’s work is on par with that vision." Gary comments suggest Stern may be looking to move away from the more simplistic game designs seen of late, possibly in response to the plans for fully-featured games from startup pinball company Jersey Jack Pinball. Steve's arrival at Stern is certainly a boost for the company and for Steve himself, who has been out of pinball design since his game 24 was released over two years ago. You can read Stern Pinball's press release below: World Famous Game Designer Joins Stern Pinball World’s Only Maker of Arcade Pinball Games Welcomes Steve Ritchie, Game Innovator and Designer MELROSE PARK, IL – March 3, 2011– Stern Pinball, Inc., the world’s only maker of real pinball games, announced today game designer Steve Ritchie will be joining the Stern Pinball team. Ritchie is often referred to in the gaming world as the “The King of Pinball” and “The King of Flow” for his quick paced pinball games utilizing shot-based flow patterns mixed with target-based geometry. Ritchie has been designing pinball games since the 1970s, producing such notable titles as Superman, Stellar Wars, Black Knight and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Ritchie was the first designer to incorporate multiball game play, ball lane change, transparent playing fields, as well as the first multi-level pinball machine. Ritchie had previously been contracted by Stern Pinball in 2001 to design eight machines including Elvis, Spider-Man and Terminator 3. “I am elated to bring my 30 years of design and game experience to Stern Pinball and work as part of the new Stern team,” said game designer Steve Ritchie. “I am honored to work with Gary Stern and Dave Ashley Peterson, along with the talented Stern staff on an exciting new chapter in pinball history. Long Live Pinball!” “We are all very excited about Steve’s arrival at Stern,” said Gary Stern, founder, CEO and chairman of Stern Pinball. “Steve’s expertise in the art of pinball design and imaginative work will take our machines and game design to a whole new level. Our goal at Stern is to continually push the envelope of what is possible and has never been done. Steve’s work is on par with that vision.” Steve Ritchie joins the Stern Pinball and the Stern family tradition of producing quality pinball machines for young and old. The company traces its lineage to Philadelphia in the 1930s when Sam Stern entered the business of operating pinball games. Stern passed his lifelong enthusiasm for the game and the business of pinball to his son Gary Stern who founded Stern Pinball. Today pinball remains one of America’s favorite pastimes. About Stern Pinball Stern Pinball, Inc., located just outside Chicago, Illinois, designs and manufactures arcade-quality pinball games. Stern is the only maker of full-sized, arcade quality pinball games on the planet and has released many popular games, including Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Hilton Jones, Shrek, Batman, Spiderman, the Simpsons Pinball Party and many more. Stern’s games continue to be enjoyed by both pinball enthusiasts and casual players around the globe. For more information visit www.sternpinball.com. 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