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Ray Tanzer

personactive27 mentionsFirst seen Feb 11, 2007Last seen Jan 29, 2026

Profile

Ray Tanzer is a respected pinball designer and engineer who worked across multiple manufacturers including Premier Technology, Gottlieb, and Stern Pinball. He is known for designing games such as Bone Busters, Arena, Operation Thunder, and Class of 1812, and played a significant role in product development and engineering leadership at Stern during their Playboy era. Tanzer was influential in recruiting talent to Stern and mentoring other designers in the industry.

Aliases

No aliases

Relationships

No relationships

Facts

No facts recorded

Claims (8)

  • factualhigh

    Ray Tanzer will coordinate the Stern facility relocation after being inducted into the Pinball Hall of Fame

    Source: Martin EvansPinball Magazine & Pinball News PINcast October 2022 recap
  • factualhigh

    Ray Tanzer rejoined Stern Pinball from Namco America in April 2014

    Source: Stern Pinball official press releaseLatest News From Stern Pinball
  • factualhigh

    Ray Tanzer was appointed Vice President of Manufacturing effective March 1, 2015

    Source: Stern Pinball official press releaseLatest News From Stern Pinball
  • factualhigh

    Ray Tanzer spent five years at Namco America before returning to Stern

Recent Mentions (27)

  • Co-designer of Waterworld alongside Jon Norris

    Every Pinball Machine of 1995, RankedOct 14, 2025
  • Gottlieb designer and mechanical engineer currently at Stern; designed/co-designed Hoops, Class of 1812, Stargate, and Freddy; oversaw Stern's first factory move

    The Pinball Show Ep 181 BONUS: Top 5 Greatest Gottlieb Premier Pinball Machines Of All TimeSep 11, 2025
  • Designer of Stargate pinball; consulted on Avengers ramp design; referenced as influence on steep ramp engineering

    Ep 49: AIQ with Keith ElwinNov 30, 2020
  • Former Stern engineering lead; departed; John Borg expresses missing him and others from earlier era

    Pinball Heroes: John BorgApr 11, 2009
  • Premier Technology designer who designed Arena, designed multiple games in the 1980s, ran engineering, mapped out new building; mentored Borg

    The Early Years & More - Pinball Expo 2024 - John BorgOct 18, 2024
  • Designer of Gottlieb Hoops pinball machine

    Episode 35 - NieRly Time for P3May 22, 2017

Contradictions

  • Existing: Operation Thunder is attributed to Ray Tanzer as designer (mention 6)vsConflicting: Operation Thunder is listed as co-designed by Ray Tanzer with another party unspecified (mention 3)
    Resolved
    accepted_new · Mar 2, 2026
  • Existing: Ray Tanzer worked at Premier Technology as an early mentor to John BorgvsConflicting: Ray Tanzer is also credited as working at Stern Pinball and Gottlieb, with multiple mentions spanning 2007-2026
    Resolved
    accepted_new · Mar 2, 2026

Related Glossary Terms

No linked glossary terms

Source: Stern Pinball official statement and article
Ray Tanzer Returns to Stern
  • factualhigh

    Ray Tanzer previously spent eleven years at Stern/Sega Pinball from February 1996 to end of 2008

    Source: Article and Stern official statementRay Tanzer Returns to Stern
  • factualhigh

    Ray Tanzer designed Street Fighter 2 and Stargate pinball machines

    Source: Article career summaryRay Tanzer Returns to Stern
  • factualhigh

    Ray Tanzer was Vice President of Engineering and Manufacturing at Namco

    Source: Stern official press releaseRay Tanzer Returns to Stern
  • factualhigh

    Operation Thunder is the last alphanumeric game produced by Gottlieb and was designed by Ray Tanzer

    Source: Corn's Conundrum trivia cluesTOPCast 7: Tech show
  • Director of operations at Stern Pinball; previously director of mechanical engineering; oversaw Stern's factory move

    Episode 201 - ScatmanSep 3, 2023
  • Legendary pinball mechanical engineer and game designer; former Stern VP, returned to company in 2014

    Ray Tanzer Returns to SternApr 29, 2014
  • Vice President of Manufacturing at Stern Pinball; mechanical engineer; previously at Namco America, Premier Technologies, and Sega Pinball

    Latest News From Stern PinballMar 11, 2015
  • Designer of Hoops pinball machine

    Maximum Hang Time: Hoops Pinball TutorialJul 24, 2025
  • Pinball designer; designed Title Fight and Hoops.

    Street Cred: Reviewing Every Gottlieb "Street-Level" Pinball TableJul 25, 2025
  • Gottlieb/Premier design team member under whom Borg learned the ropes as a junior draftsman.

    Borgie – Living The 90s License DreamNov 18, 2020
  • Co-designer on 2009 NBA pinball machine with Gary Stern and John Borg.

    The Bro Of Flow: John Borg Part 2Aug 31, 2023
  • Stern Pinball overseer; credited with factory efficiency enabling transition between old and new facilities while maintaining production

    The Pinball Show Ep 136: Hate To Burst Your Bubble, But The Bubble Hasn’t BurstedAug 29, 2023
  • Stern Pinball operations lead; managing facility relocation; successfully managed 2015 move.

    Episode 196 – Violent And NoisyNov 29, 2022
  • Gottlieb fame. Coordinating Stern's relocation to new facility (has coordinated previous moves).

    Episode 195 – Distract The AssetsNov 15, 2022
  • Stern operations coordinator inducted into Pinball Hall of Fame at Expo; will coordinate upcoming two-location factory move

    Pinball Magazine & Pinball News PINcast October 2022 recapNov 4, 2022
  • Stern mechanic who worked on Lord of the Rings; formerly worked at Gottlieb

    The Architect – George Gomez Part 2Oct 15, 2022
  • Engineer/mechanic on Terminator 3; hired from Gottlieb Premiere era; still at Stern during episode recording

    Steve Ritchie Part III: The Return… to SternSep 4, 2021
  • Co-designer of Nightmare on Elm Street, Gottlieb designer (late 80s-96), later worked at Sega and Stern Pinball as VP of Special Projects

    Episode 33 - Die on this Hill: A Nightmare on Elm StreetJun 3, 2024
  • Designer of Operation Thunder; described as 'masterpiece' designer

    TOPCast 7: Tech showFeb 24, 2007
  • Stern Pinball team member involved in pinball production; Jack mentions his work in meetings

    TOPCast 3: Jack from PinballsalesFeb 11, 2007
  • Gottlieb associate respected by Ritchie as 'sweetheart of a guy' and talented; discussed potential work collaboration

    TOPCast 32: Steve RitchieMay 9, 2007
  • Co-designer of Class of 1812 and Operation Thunder

    Gottlieb System 3 - The Future is the PastJan 29, 2026
  • Early Premier Technology mentor; designed Arena, Bone Busters; ran engineering; designer influence on Borg

    Episode 104 - John Borg: The Man Who Doesn't F*&k AroundNov 3, 2025
  • Stern employee designer; created Bone Busters; mentioned as influence on Jack's design perspective

    Ask Jack Anything: Episode 3Dec 9, 2025
  • Recruited Gomez to Stern Pinball initially; led product development at Stern during Playboy era

    Drinks with Jack Featuring George Gomez (Part 1)Jan 7, 2026