Munsters is a pinball machine designed by John Borg and Dwight Sullivan for Stern Pinball, released in 2019. The game features a 1960s TV show theme with artwork by Christopher Franchi, employing a simplified ruleset and two-ramp layout with bash toy mechanics. It gained significant collector interest and was used as a flagship title in Stern's 2019 lineup, though it experienced some quality control issues and generated community debate over its casualness versus depth.
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Community speculation on forums like Pinside influenced the development of Munsters pinball
Munsters jumped to #8 on Pinside Top 100 this week from previous 30s-40s ranking
Munsters has a shallow rule set that limits appeal for home collectors despite strong location/casual appeal
Older demographic (50s-60s) with more disposable income is the target market for games like Munsters
Referenced in discussion of game modes
Stern machines with multiple variants discussed: LE at $15.5k, Premium Black & White asking $19.5k
Stern game; confirmed as next release after current lineup; will NOT be announced at Expo
Pinball title reportedly designed by John Borg; used as example of community speculation influencing game development
Stern pinball machine; winter release; actually performed well commercially; nostalgic appeal; still requested by players
Upcoming Stern pinball machine based on 1960s TV show; expected CES announcement; Pro likely reveal, Premium/LE at Texas Pinball Festival; speculation about lower playfield and multiple cabinet versions.
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Munsters code has been simplified to prioritize accessibility over competitive depth
Community reception of Munsters' easy code has been mixed, with some players criticizing completion ease
Pro version of Munsters uses stand-up targets instead of drop targets, making the game play faster and more aggressive
Munsters will have lower playfield only on Premium and LE versions, not Pro
Stern pinball machine; demo unit played at Stern; Ken ordered Pro model, expecting mid-to-late February delivery
The TV show that inspired the pinball game; ran for two seasons in the 1960s; provided extensive source material for voice clips, character interactions, and comedic tone.
Rumored upcoming Stern pinball machine; Pro version leaked; artwork by Christopher Franchi; Premium/LE may include lower playfield
Recently revealed Stern pinball game; 1960s TV theme; three versions: Pro (color, no lower playfield), Premium (B&W with color inserts, lower playfield), LE (full color, lower playfield); originally 500 LEs announced, now +100 additional
Upcoming pinball machine; both hosts express strong interest; Bill planning Premium acquisition in January for studio streaming
New Stern Pinball licensed title revealed at CES with three playfield variants; features dual playfields with independent flipper control
Stern pinball with black and white grayscale art package with selective color touches; Christopher Franchi converted color artwork to B&W; featured Munsters logo in green
Recent Stern release with Dwight Sullivan rule set; Ken waiting for Pro version; currently in hype cycle discussion; described as sneaky deep with mode-driven gameplay
Stern pinball game; now available in color Premium option in addition to black and white original
Stern pinball title announced mid-January, Ken canceled pre-order after 90-day delay waiting for second run of Pro models
Stern Pinball title; discussed regarding Pro model lacking lower playfield
Game by John Borg; hosts cite its 180 ramp as one of the only well-executed examples
Stern pinball referenced for lower playfield design comparison
Stern game; ranked #8 on Pinside Top 100 this week (jumped from 30s-40s); discussed as shallow rule set but appealing to older demographic; strong casual/family appeal but weak home collector appeal
Stern pinball designed for simpler market and ruleset; positioned as lower-complexity alternative, ~80k lines of code
Stern pinball game that Elliot Eisman worked on
Spooky pinball with killer artwork by Christopher Franchi; hosts consider mirrored art blades for brightness
Premium Edition pinball machine; Josh's favorite and pride of his collection; cost $9,000; themed after the Munsters TV series
Pinball machine owned by Tim Lee; cited as example of simple, accessible game easily explained to non-players; positioned opposite AIQ in Tim's collection strategy
Stern Pinball machine featuring artwork by Christopher Franchi, layout by John Borg, code by Dwight Sullivan; available in Pro, Premium (black-and-white), and Limited Edition (color) variants
Stern Pinball machine being modded with cosmetic upgrades from The Mod Couple
Referenced as comparable game with magnet ball mechanics
Referenced as example of 180-degree flip ramp design mechanic similar to those on Led Zeppelin
Referenced as another Stern game that disappointed some players; creator notes community still feels 'burned' by it
Stern pinball game used as price comparison point; host argues AIQ deserves higher MSRP given superior design quality
Stern Pinball game used as comparison point for lukewarm theme reception
Upcoming Stern Pinball game; previously expected to release end of year; rumored to be delayed after Beatles; subject of release order speculation
Recent Stern fan-layout game; cited as subject of secondary market depreciation (selling for $1k less due to newer game availability)
Stern game designed by Dwight Sullivan; layout mentioned as similar in design philosophy to Willy Wonka; note about rules integration
Recently revealed Stern Pinball game with three art packages (Premium black-and-white, LE colorized, Pro color) and lower playfield feature
Stern Pinball release; Pro models shipping to locations; 403 Club operator has Premium on order
Upcoming Stern Pinball machine with lower playfield on Premium/LE variants; photos leaked from European distributor presentation; reveal expected early January 2019.
Comparison game; significantly faster play than Hobbit; hosts note they'd play 5 Munsters games in time for 1-2 Hobbit games
Stern Pinball game designed by John Borg and Dwight Sullivan with Christopher Franchi artwork. Limited Edition features full-color playfield. Serial #2 featured on stream. Two-flipper design with separate controls for upper/lower playfields. No ball save. Intentionally difficult setup.
Stern Pinball 2024 release; mentioned as released early in year
2019 Stern pinball machine (Pro model) at Hyndman's Arcade
Stern pinball machine available at Button Mash
Pinball machine; Ed and hosts discuss custom toppers for this title
Stern Pinball game; referenced for similar magnet mechanism with Herman character interaction compared to TCM's magnet system
Classic pinball game; black and white premium version experiencing scarcity and high secondary market prices; Don predicts Stern could successfully rerun with accessories.
Pre-COVID Stern game experiencing high secondary market prices ($15,000-$16,000); Don predicts anniversary re-release in August/Halloween window
Pinball machine; centerpiece of aesthetic debate between Zach and Delt31; Delt31 praises art package (Franchi) but acknowledges code/gameplay issues; Zach dismisses overall design as soulless.
Stern Pinball machine; received code update V1.10 on January 2022 after 22 months without updates; first substantial update addressing community feedback
Stern Pinball release; getting Color Premium variant; described as not performing as well as Stern hoped
Recent release; compared to Rick and Morty as thematic competition; appeals to older demographic
Stern pinball; code at 1.26 for comparison
Stern pinball being teased through leaks; appears in production photo with Primus; expected reveal before CES (January 8-11) or at EAG London show
Pinball game; featured in Heads Up Championship where Nick won; involves four characters and Raven multiball
Stern pinball game Thompson worked on simultaneously with Beatles; required distinct sound approach to avoid similarity.
Recent Stern Pinball release; praised for art/audio/video integration but criticized by Dennis for theme appeal to younger collectors
Game acquired by Rock Fantasy in 2019; from Spooky Pinball (Alice Cooper also mentioned as 2019 acquisition from Spooky)
Stern LE referenced as maintaining value; secondary market showing $10,000-$14,000 range with limited inventory
Dwight Sullivan design; only Spike 2 cornerstone outside top 100 (ranked #103); shallow rules, non-A-list theme, shipped without ball save; black and white premium now collects premium secondary pricing.
Stern Pinball release (2019); original theme by Steve Ritchie; praised for shootability despite simpler design
Stern pinball referenced for strong black-and-white art package; artwork by Christopher Franchi credited with driving sales despite mixed player reception of gameplay.
Stern Pinball; John Borg design; 180-degree ramp praised as executed well; comparison point for Venom's ramp design criticism
Stern game discussed as underperformer; attributed by Roger Sharp to location play issues, disputed by hosts on code depth grounds
Stern game receiving multiple code updates (v1.21); participating in Insider Connected Arena
Stern Spike 2 title awaiting code updates; owners frustrated with simple rule set and bug fixes
Stern game with intentionally accessible ruleset designed by Dwight; community criticized it as shallow despite design intent, illustrating the challenge of balancing difficulty.
Upcoming Stern Pinball machine with artwork by Christopher Franchi; leaked cabinet images show Pro (colorized) and LE (black/white) variants; expected October/Pinball Expo release; Butch Patrick (Eddie Munster actor) scheduled for Texas Pinball Festival promotion.
Stern game referenced for difficulty balance criticism; priced similarly to current releases
Stern pinball game; John Borg's passionate project; features character-based progression with two levels, Monster Madness mode; receiving new code update
Modern pinball game with action button; Roger cites it as example of better integration of action button mechanics
Recent Stern Pinball release; LE version boxed at Stern factory with Australia labels; expected end-of-March Australian delivery; seminar at TPF Saturday 3 PM
Stern pinball machine currently in development; completion marks end of Dwight's committed work timeline; allows subsequent revisits to Game of Thrones and Ghostbusters.
John Borg design; fan layout; initially perceived as difficult by Alex, later appreciated
Stern game with controversial design choice (long stand-up target vs. segmented); design team faced criticism at Texas Pinball Festival
Recent Stern Pinball release designed by John Borg; positions as throwback to 1990s campy era; features accessible Monster Multiball mode for beginners while maintaining expert depth; released with extensive media coverage
Stern Pinball reveal at CES Las Vegas; features artwork by Chris Franchi with black and white aesthetic and splashes of color; described as passion project by Dwight Sullivan and John Borg; well-received by attendees
Recent Stern release; featured at Texas Pinball Festival with original cast members for promotional push
Recent John Borg-designed pinball machine; hosts discuss impressive ramp design, shot placement, and gameplay flow; compared favorably to Monster Bash
Upcoming Stern title; discussed as example of lesser theme becoming viable through good game design
Stern game by Dwight Sullivan; example of 'juice timer' playfield multiplier with standup target extensions
Stern Premium game Don brought on road previously; noted as easier to set up than other games
Game played during late-night gathering; Don achieved Munster Madness mode at 2-3 a.m.
Stern narrow-body game; simple two-ramp layout with bash toy; used as mechanical comparison for expected Star Wars design
Stern 2019 release; Ryan lost significant money on resale; poor 2019 release quality
Stern game, controversy over default ball save OFF setting, multiball designed to be 2-3 shots, community divided on difficulty/casualness, designed by Dwight Sullivan
Stern title at .91 code; received updates including secret mode; designed with simplified ruleset per Dwight Sullivan's philosophy; community debate on ease vs depth
Primary focus of episode discussion regarding recent code updates, Monster Madness restructuring, and community reception/disappointment
Stern Pinball release designed by John Borg; controversial rules regarding multiplier carry-over; praised for simplicity and operator appeal; features artwork by Christopher Franchi.
New release attracting collector interest; cited as factor in secondary market activity
Next Stern title confirmed by John Borg; expected release in coming weeks