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Mortal Kombat

gameactive48 mentionsFirst seen Dec 7, 2012Last seen Mar 1, 2026

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Mortal Kombat is a fighting video game franchise that has intersected with the pinball industry through various creative professionals. The game series employed multiple artists and designers who later transitioned to pinball roles at companies like Stern Pinball and Williams/Midway, bringing their expertise in animation, pixel art, and game design to pinball machine development. Key affiliations include staff at Stern Pinball and historical connections to Williams/Midway's pinball division.

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Claims (1)

  • factualhigh

    Mortal Kombat 11 retconned Johnny Cage's relationship with Sonya Blade as an ex-romantic partner, differing from original MK1 canon

    Source: Jon HeyDaniel Pesina autograph giveaway - Contest Winners!

Recent Mentions (48)

  • Fighting game franchise; Retro Ralph's third choice for video game pinball adaptation; mentions character progression and mode potential

    Episode 18: "Evil Dead ruined my childhood, Listener Voicemails & Maybe Avatar just isn’t that fun”Nov 28, 2024
  • Video game franchise; Chuck Ernst worked on blood, guts, physics simulations, rigging, and technical art; last game he worked on was Mortal Kombat 10

    Episode 57 - Chuck Ernst (Stern Pinball)Jun 18, 2019
  • Midway fighting game featured in the Insert Coin documentary

    YOU must WATCH this NOW - Insert Coin - Midway Documentary!Dec 4, 2020
  • Hypothetical machine discussed; speculation about Scorpion-themed ball lock feature

    Stream 505: Tron Legacy (Stern) PRODec 5, 2021
  • Referenced as game Starr grew up with in the '90s; example of games found in small-town arcades

    Arcade Profile – StarrcadeMar 1, 2026
  • Arcade game from Jay Leone's childhood; sparked his initial interest in arcade game collecting; found first example on eBay after friend's story

    #40 Free Play Bar Arcade - The Classic Pinball Podcast

Contradictions

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Related Glossary Terms

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Oct 27, 2020
  • Williams Midway arcade game that benefited from digitization processes Jack Hager helped develop

    Ep 54: The Real VonTökkentäkker with Jack Haeger and David FixFeb 20, 2021
  • Videogame referenced for rule design similarity to Deadpool; designed by same designer (George Gomez) influencing pinball game

    Episode 3: Double O PinballSep 7, 2022
  • Game Steve Ritchie worked on long ago; he performed voice samples during presentation

    Steve RitchieJul 12, 2019
  • Arcade/video game that inspired MXV's career entry into Midway; he was obsessed with working on it

    🎙️ Chatting with MXV – Stern’s Wizard on Uncanny X-Men & John Wick code evolutionAug 4, 2025
  • Video game franchise central to contest trivia and Paul Dini's filmography; multiple sequels referenced (MK1, MK2, UMK3, MK11)

    Daniel Pesina autograph giveaway - Contest Winners!May 14, 2019
  • Classic fighting game franchise; three games featured on cabinet (MK1, MK2, MK3)

    The Arcade1up Mortal Kombat Cabinet Pops! - REVIEWMay 13, 2019
  • IP theme for Arcade1Up Wave 2 cabinet discussed in teardown

    Arcade1up Mortal Kombat Control Panel Teardown!May 13, 2019
  • 1992 arcade fighting game; recently inducted into Video Game Hall of Fame; created by John Tobias with motion capture from Daniel Pesina and others

    Daniel Pesina (Original Mortal Kombat Cast Member) - Interview - Round 2 - Ralph's RetrospectMay 19, 2019
  • Fighting game franchise; Daniel Pesina portrayed multiple characters in the original series

    Johnny Cage "Daniel Pesina" Interview Fatality!May 7, 2019
  • Arcade1Up cabinet model mentioned as upcoming/trickling out; competitor product

    Arcade1up Final Fight... Finally.May 3, 2019
  • Arcade cabinet leaked early; scheduled for September release; theorized as Arcade1Up fallback marketing move

    Arcade1up, Capcom & Mortal Kombat Conspiracy TheoryApr 17, 2019
  • Arcade classic that inspired Doc Mack's mission to preserve arcade machines after he couldn't find a working cabinet in Chicago

    World's LARGEST Arcade - Galloping Ghost - Doc Mack Interview!Nov 19, 2021
  • Arcade game example available in the CoinOPS vertical arcade selection

    RecRoomMasters - 32" Vertical Arcade w/ CoinOPS!!Jun 26, 2020
  • Fighting game cabinet shown at CES 2019 featuring Ultimate Mortal Kombat

    Live from CES 2019 - Arcade1up Booth - New Cabinets!!Jan 9, 2019
  • Multiple versions (MK2, MK3) available at 1UP; mentioned as Arcade1Up upcoming release

    Arcades are still ALIVE ... And they serve BEER - 1up Denver, COJan 10, 2019
  • Arcade cabinet that RetroRalph previously installed a similar light-up riser on

    Tulsa Arcades - Light up Burgertime Riser!!Jan 29, 2020
  • Multiple versions in Flynn's collection, including Mortal Kombat II and original Mortal Kombat marquees

    Arcade Pickers - Episode 1: Flynn's ArcadeFeb 20, 2021
  • Arcade game in Midway cabinet; referenced for typical wear patterns on Midway cabinets

    RARE First-Person Shooter Arcade Game Pickup!Mar 17, 2022
  • Arcade game mentioned

    Arcade Pickers - What's the Buzz about?Apr 24, 2021
  • Example Midway game mentioned as requiring correct condenser board mapping

    TMNT And The Simpsons - UNITE!!Jul 1, 2022
  • 1990s arcade fighting game that inspired Doc Mac to create his own fighting game

    How this Fighting Game Took 28 Years to make!Apr 6, 2023
  • Multiple Mortal Kombat arcade cabinets at Movieland Arcade

    Vancouver's last arcade. Movieland Arcade.Sep 21, 2017
  • Fighting game in Sega Genesis collection

    My MAME software revealed.Dec 7, 2012
  • Video game; Raiden character appears as Easter egg in World Cup Soccer 94 TV award animations

    World Cup Soccer 94 Pinball ReviewMar 6, 2021
  • Classic arcade fighting game; mentioned as playable title on converted MAME cabinet

    Arcade1up is AWFUL! So...I Bought One and Made it Better.Dec 27, 2022
  • Multiple machines at Galloping Ghost; subject of annual 'Shang Tsung's Fight Night' event with original movie actors

    Doc Mack - Pinball Expo 2018 - Pinball NewsOct 21, 2018
  • Video game franchise with proposed pinball concept by George Gomez; never realized as pinball; discussed as theme with stronger universal appeal than Johnny Mnemonic

    Holiday Special!! World Cup Soccer, Bull City SoleraJun 19, 2024
  • Classic arcade game cited as example of retro machines experiencing renewed popularity in modern arcades

    RETRO GAMING: A GROWING TRENDOct 3, 2016
  • Video game series Penacho helped create at Midway

    MARK PENACHO JOINS STERN PINBALLMar 7, 2021
  • Classic arcade game used for demonstration of Phoenix monitor in promotional video

    Unico Phoenix 26” CRT Replacement LCD Monitor Now Officially on SaleJun 23, 2023
  • Video game franchise partially inspired by Jean-Claude Van Damme and Bloodsport film

    Bloodsport! - The Pinball MachineMay 30, 2023
  • Iconic fighting game franchise created by Ed Boon; pinball adaptation has been proposed multiple times but never produced

    The Mortal Kombat Pinball Machine That Almost WasFeb 25, 2022
  • Flagship title on Arcade1Up's Midway Legends cab; example of licensed flagship with filler titles

    AtGames, hear us outFeb 24, 2021
  • Chuck Ertz worked on this video game for 17 years specializing in physics and blood/guts effects

    Triple Drain Pinball Podcast Episode 63 - UNFILTERED Conversations with Stern Pinball!Apr 19, 2025
  • Video game; Mike Whitaker worked as game tester on title for Bally/Midway.

    #011 Sincere Engineer is Here!Aug 29, 2025
  • Capcom arcade game associated with Python Angelo's work

    Bat Sh*t Crazy: The Python Anghelo StoryJun 26, 2020
  • Video game franchise that pioneered 2D digitized actors in arcade games; Jack Hager spearheaded this technology at Midway; Carrie Hoskins-Rivas performed as Sonya character.

    Episode 212 – Save The Ice Cream!!Aug 15, 2023
  • Fighting game at Pixel Palace; Zane described himself as 'a fighting game guy'

    How I Started My Arcade, Pixel Palace Arcade Round Rock Texas with Zane | Ep 183Feb 9, 2026
  • Video game series Mike Vinacore worked on at Williams/Midway; referenced in context of field test program and earnings reporting

    Episode 31 :: The Electric Bat CastNov 24, 2025
  • Warner Bros mobile title Joshua Clay worked on before layoffs

    Meet The Team... Joshua Clay - Winchester Mystery House - UI & 3D DesignOct 21, 2025
  • Video game series where Chuck Ernst previously worked; referenced as source of his animation and pixel art expertise

    Drinks with Jack - Chuck Ernst EP1Jan 28, 2022
  • Video game franchise where Jeremy Packer worked for 17 years before joining Stern

    Drinks With Jack Featuring Art Leads Jeremy Packer, Steven Martin & Chuck Ernst (Part 2)Dec 30, 2025