Gary Stern is the Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, a major pinball machine manufacturer founded by his family. He co-founded Data East Pinball with Joe Kaminkow in the mid-1980s, led the company through periods of Konami and Sega ownership, and acquired Sega's pinball division in 1999 to establish the modern Stern Pinball entity. Now in his 80s with nearly 78 years in the pinball industry (since age 2), Stern oversees approximately 400 employees and 225,000 sq ft of manufacturing operations, and is known for major licensed IP strategy, design philosophy influenced by his father Sam Stern, and industry leadership through multiple market cycles.
No aliases
Gary Stern donated a Dungeons and Dragons Pro machine to GaryCon charity auction
Europe is underserved in the pinball business, particularly at the Pro market operator cost point
Pokémon and Star Wars titles will draw new groups of people to pinball
Executive at Stern Pinball; referenced for design philosophy change regarding subway elimination
CEO of Stern Pinball; credited by Roger Sharpe as the figure who 'kept pinball alive' during the market void before Jersey Jack's emergence
Stern Pinball leadership, appeared at GaryCon
Founder/leader of Stern Pinball (formerly Data East); described as 'the man who kept pinball going' through industry crisis; has lunch meetings with LJ Greene; resilient business leader
Stern Pinball executive; attended GaryCon; donated Dungeons and Dragons Pro machine to charity auction
Associated with Stern Pinball; according to Joel's joke, denied Pokemon pinball access to Flip N Out
No linked glossary terms
Pokémon Pro and Premium editions will be the first of those tiers displayed in Europe through the museum partnership
Stern Pinball's head of sales is being relocated to Amsterdam as head of Europe sales
Dave Peterson joining Stern Pinball during the 2008 recession was the best thing that happened in my business career
Stern Pinball is using games like Costco game and Pokémon to increase first-time buyers and grow the community
Dave Peterson was introduced to Gary Stern by Gary's lawyer who had done legal work for both parties
Dutch Pinball Museum partnership agreement was previously confidential but is now public
Gary Stern directly confirmed Pokemon pinball project to Joel
Stern Pinball has invested millions of dollars in Insider Connected development
Insider Connected has driven a 30-40% increase in play volume year-over-year
Any product without connectivity will fail within 5-10 years
Stern Pinball is the only manufacturer capable of connecting 100,000+ games annually due to scale
Leaderboard feature was added to Insider Connected based on direct operator and homeowner feedback at trade shows
Pinball has experienced significant growth over the past 4 years
A theme preference survey will be conducted soon to guide future game selection
Stern Pinball aims to balance product development across three distinct market segments with different priorities
Gary Stern is more excited about pinball's future than at any point in his 78-year industry career
No other pinball manufacturer can produce the quantity and variety of models that Stern can
The Stern Pinball factory would need to be relocated to accommodate all people wanting to tour
Stern started as Data East Pinball, was sold to Sega, then to Stern Pinball (current incarnation)
Stern Pinball's new facility is the only pinball manufacturing factory that meets GE/Ford-level industrial standards
The original The Walking Dead pinball was designed by John Borg and Lyman Sheets on the SAM system 11 years ago
40% of first-time pinball machine buyers in the US subsequently purchase additional machines
A Star Wars version of the Costco entry-level pinball game is in development
Stern Pinball's modern facility spans 225,000 square feet across two buildings with 50,000 sq ft dedicated to woodworking
Insider Connected has over 400,000 active players approximately 2.5 years after launch
Stern Pinball has made hundreds of thousands of pinball machines since 1986, with most still in existence
Gamatron was created by Gary Stern between the death of Stern Electronics and birth of Data East
Dungeons & Dragons seminar had a good crowd attendance
Gary Stern maintained a 30-year relationship with Hugh Hefner after producing the Playboy pinball game
Stern Pinball is the longest contiguously running pinball company in the world
Data East operated under Japanese corporate ownership (Sega/Data East Japan) from 1986 through 1999
Data East was founded in 1986 with three co-founders (Kaminkow, Stern, Sachs) and was sold to Sega in 1994
Data East developed the first solid-state flipper coil that prevented flipper burnout, solving a major industry problem that had generated spare parts revenue for other manufacturers
Williams Electronics prohibited its distributors from carrying Data East games to maintain market dominance
Today, 70% of Stern's games (and possibly more for competitors) are sold to home collectors rather than location operators
Williams sued Data East over auto-percentaging patent, but the feature didn't work in Data East's actual code
Gary Stern is more skilled at pinball than his public persona suggests
Expo 2025 will feature a Stern Pinball exclusive gift for factory tour attendees not available anywhere else
Stock is limited and once sold out the sale is over
Gary Stern created Pinstar as a venture between the collapse of original Stern Electronics and the formation of Data East
Gary Stern stated 'Sorry, I do not remember' when asked about Gamatron production numbers
Gary Stern's favorite machine is always whichever one is currently in production
Stern releases three new cornerstone games per year in Pro/Premium/Limited Edition tiers
George Gomez is the only degree-educated industrial designer in the pinball industry
Data East Pinball was founded in 1986 with Joe Kamenko and Shelly Sachs as a 'bare wall start with nothing'
Stern Pinball was sold to Sega in 1993 and repurchased from Sega in 1999
Without Insider Connected, pinball is just 'a box on four legs' with no future
Stern Pinball has over 300,000 Insider Connected players
70% of Stern's games are in homes; 30% in street locations generate 70% of revenue
Stern Electronics closed in 1984/1985
Sam Stern purchased half of Williams Manufacturing from Harry Williams in 1947
Gary Stern has been in the pinball industry for 78 years, since age 2
Gary Stern prioritizes distributor profits over collector/consumer value
Gary Stern has publicly expressed desire for more diverse voices in game design
Gary Stern achieved a 647 million point personal best on D&D Pro Edition v0.92
Stern Pinball sells 70% of their games to the home market
Gary Stern stated that 'pinball cannot survive with more than one manufacturer'
Gary Stern should retire due to sustained poor business decisions.
Gary Stern said he would notify RetroRalph when visiting Phoenix in April
Dragon multiball feature allows approximately 10 balls on playfield simultaneously
Six new D&D pinball machines were displayed at Gary Con 2025
D&D pinball has character leveling that persists across sessions via Stern Insider Connected account
Gary Stern advocated for the pinball community to be 'Pinball Sherpas' and help newcomers get into the hobby
Dealers report 40-50% of first-time pinball buyers purchase a second machine
Dungeons & Dragons IP is a billion-dollar-per-year business owned by Hasbro since acquisition from TSR
D&D game will feature weekly randomized dungeon area changes providing ongoing gameplay variations
Approximately 25% of D&D Limited Edition units sold to D&D IP enthusiasts (non-traditional pinball collectors)
Pinball machines are still in production and popular, contrary to public perception that they are retro/defunct
Stranger Things was the first Stern game to use projector technology on ramps and drop targets
Stern releases three cornerstone games per year
Stern Pinball has 85% market share for terrestrial (mechanical) pinball machines
70% of Stern games are sold to home buyers, 30% to location operators
Sam Stern acquired 50% of Harry Williams manufacturing company in 1947 during single airplane ride conversation
Stern Pinball produces three main games annually in Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition tiers
Stern Army membership exceeded 1,000 members at time of presentation
Insider Connected was introduced on Godzilla pinball machine three-plus years before this presentation
Approximately 600 breweries in United States operate pinball machines with commercial operators
40% of first-time home pinball buyers purchase a second machine within timeframe
New Stern manufacturing facility represents only truly modern integrated game factory in entire game industry
Connectivity is essential to product viability in modern consumer market
Seth Davis came from Disney where he was involved with streaming and games
Seven million people walk by Stern pinball games at Costco daily
Gary Stern personally committed to changing X-Men's music
Gary Stern acknowledged X-Men music feedback and confirmed fixes are in development
Gary Stern said operators can remove the center post if game times are too long
Gary Stern deserves the title 'the man who kept pinball going' rather than Roger Sharpe who 'saved' it
A pinball machine contains approximately half a mile of wire
Gary Stern stepped down to spend time with grandkids and relax
Gary Stern was instrumental in introducing Roger Sharp to industry figures and facilitating his entry into the pinball community
Gary Stern justified the action button as an alternate start mechanism for casual players who can't find the front start button
Jaws received coverage from 41 influential consumer tech and game magazines
Stern Pinball moved to a new 165,000 square foot factory in Chicago area from previous 105,000 sq ft facility
Jaws will perform like Deadpool - a sleeper game that eventually becomes a major earner
Venom suffered commercially because players knew Jaws was coming next
Games with Insider Connected attached show 50% more gameplay than non-connected versions
Stern released 94 code updates in the past year across all games
70% of Stern games are sold to home consumers; 70% of actual gameplay occurs in operator/commercial locations
Capcom decided to enter the pinball business in 1994-1995 by observing Data East's success and copying their business model
Stern has Bluetooth technology capability for pinball audio connections
Gary Stern personally called to resolve Jurassic Park motor issues before theatrical release, demanding timely fixes
Stern Pinball will have surprises at Chicago Pinball Expo
Gary Stern is one of the coolest bosses the creator has worked for
Gary Stern traveled to a Wisconsin pinball event featuring Foo Fighters
Gary Stern was at a licensors conference and was photographed near Barbie and Pokémon exhibits
Gary Stern will likely produce a Barbie pinball machine based on his presence at the exhibit
Gary Stern intentionally trolls the pinball community by appearing at licensed IP exhibits to generate hype speculation
Gary Stern was photographed at the King Kong booth at the 2023 Licensing Expo (June 13-15) in Las Vegas
Gary Stern attended a licensing expo last week and posted photos with various intellectual properties
Gary Stern was photographed at a licensing expo with 15+ intellectual property brands
Gary Stern founded Data East Pinball, Sega Pinball, and Stern Pinball
IP rights to classic Stern Electronics pinball titles are likely jointly owned by Gary Stern and his ex-wife
Gary Stern stepped down as CEO of Stern Pinball but remains chairman and controlling shareholder
Gary Stern is stepping down as CEO of Stern Pinball but remaining as chairman of the board
Gary Stern is 77 years old and moving from CEO to Chairman
Seth Davis worked at Disney for a decade-plus in games and streaming
Gary Stern hopes almost everybody will be signed up for Insider Connected by next Pinball Expo
James Bond is as timeless as pinball
Typical Stern production run: 800-1,000 Pros, 1,000 LEs, then Premium/Pro runs
Gary Stern has worked with major celebrities on pinball machine themes
Chicago is the pinball capital of the world
Gary Stern declined production due to concerns about European market viability
Gary Stern did not feel the Universal Studios Park IP was strong enough to proceed with the project
Gary Stern and his ex-wife own the intellectual property to Stern Electronics.
Conversion kit approach (like Gammatron) for repurposing widebody games to narrow-body format doesn't work commercially
Stern Pinball is positioning itself to expand into digital business as major strategic pillar
Digital business expansion will drive geometric growth in pinball interest
Sam Stern (Gary's father) did not design pinball games but was a conceptual critic and trend-spotter
Godzilla's Skyscraper is among the best playfield mechanisms Gary Stern has seen
Harry Williams was a historical pinball designer who collaborated with Sam Stern on design concepts
Gary Stern announced Stern Pinball will release only two cornerstone games in 2022, eliminating the April release slot.
Gary Stern's playfield recycling business model mirrors Gottlieb's approach from the EM era
Stern Pinball makes three new cornerstone titles per year, each available in Pro, Premium Edition, and Limited Edition versions
Stern Pinball moved to a new 110,000-square-foot factory approximately 1.5 years prior to interview
Each pinball machine requires 25-40 hours of labor
Another 300-400 people in the supply chain depend on Stern Pinball for part or all of their livelihood
Stern Pinball employs approximately 250 people in their facility
If Stern misses on one of three annual games, it causes financial tightness; if they miss on two, layoffs occur
Stern will support the Neil Peart Research Award for glioblastoma cancer research
Stern will support Neil Peart Research Award through Glioblastoma Foundation
Gary Stern was dismissive or uninterested when Drew introduced himself as part of Poor Man's Pinball Podcast
The 40th Anniversary Edition Elvira's House of Horrors is the most collectible pinball model Stern has ever produced.
Gary Stern's age is in his 70s
Gary Stern (CEO) considers Jurassic Park 'a wonderful show' that 'plays so good'
Gary Stern stated the appointment will help secure Stern's future and support aggressive growth plans
Gary Stern stated there is a 'world changing' development coming to pinball
Gary Stern stated Stern was 5,000 games behind on backlog in late 2020
The subway ball lock feature was inspired by Gary Stern's favorite game Flight 2000 from the 1980s
Gary Stern saved pinball by being the last company left standing during the arcade industry collapse
Gary Stern built Stern's business by reverse-engineering Bally and Williams systems in the 1980s-1990s
Led Zeppelin license took years to obtain and was very difficult to secure
Led Zeppelin's fourth album is the seventh best-selling album of all time
Stern spends $1 million to $2 million to develop each new pinball title
IP infringement and copyright violations by mod makers constitute felony-level crimes with potential fines up to $1 million and imprisonment up to 10 years
Stern's contracts with IP holders require notification of any known infringement, which affects future licensing relationships
Stern 'lost their ass' on Star Wars toppers due to production delays and licensing issues
Stern has 5,000 pinball machine orders they're trying to catch up on
Stern Pinball has approximately 5,000 back orders as of late 2020, extending into Q1 2021
Gary Stern has been involved in pinball manufacturing for 73 years
The right ramp on Avengers Infinity Quest is accessible from all three flippers for the first time in pinball
Gary Stern's 75th birthday interview was the only podcast interview he granted in June 2020
Gary Stern's brother is 79 years old, born in 1941, now retired as a surgeon
Gary Stern practiced law for approximately two years before transitioning full-time to the pinball business
Gary Stern has been riding a motorcycle to work at age 75
Gary Stern graduated high school in 1963, college in 1967, and law school in January 1971 (after six months active duty military service as USAR clerk typist)
Gary Stern personally owns TMNT Pro at his home but prefers LE/Premium features
TMNT is based on IP spanning 1984 comic, 4 animated TV series, 1 live action series, 6 theatrical films (7th in development), and multiple video game/merchandise products
Gary Stern said in early 2000: 'We are never going back to the level where there are two of us making pinball machines again'
Gary Stern's leadership direction has negatively impacted game quality
Gary Stern mandates three pop bumpers on all Stern pinball games
Gary Stern believes Black Knight doesn't need to have an upper playfield
The game features nine Beatles songs (originally eight, with Tax Man added late)
Joe Kaminkow was the designer collaborating on The Beatles pinball
Deadpool pinball humor fits perfectly with the pinball medium and creates high energy experience
Gary Stern and Doug Skor have known each other for decades through family friendship and business activities
Gary Stern is not retiring and will continue as CEO of Stern Pinball
Gary Stern created Pinstar company after Stern Electronics went out of business in 1984
Gary Stern attended the Heads Up Championship in Las Vegas
Stern Pinball and Marvel Studios have a long, successful history of collaboration
Gary Stern demonstrated the new Spike 2 board, LCD panel design, and backbox lighting
Gary Stern has stated multiple times since 2001 that the industry cannot support more than one manufacturer
Gary Stern has stated the pinball industry will eventually die unless machines are accessible for public play
The pinball industry will eventually die unless machines are out where people can play them
Spider-Man is one of Marvel's most popular characters worldwide
Gary Stern is a skilled pinball player who plays frequently and drinks heavily
Gary Stern offered to ship DeadFlip's streaming rig to San Francisco for TwitchCon broadcasting
Gary Stern visited Dead Flip and spent time socializing with Jack Danger and community members
Digital pinball serves as a valuable gateway to introducing the next generation of players to physical pinball
Gary Stern previously said Stern Pinball wouldn't help create digital versions of titles because it would reduce physical game sales or operator income
Gary Stern plays pinball at a casual/low-skill level as part of his role at the company
Radical was successful overseas but is hard to find in the United States
Radical was highly anticipated in pre-release polls as one of the highest-rated upcoming games, but failed to gain traction domestically when released
Gary Stern received the AAMA lifetime achievement award
The two VP appointments are critically important to Stern Pinball's continued growth and future success
Gary Stern repeatedly declines Jack Danger's challenges to play pinball, using excuses like 'he's too short'
Operators consider Iron Man a 'great earning' pinball game and enthusiasts consider it a 'great playing' game
Buscaglia's experience with consumer sales and collectibles will help create a new generation of pinball players
Gary Stern believes Freres' talents will help Stern create the future of pinball
Stern produces 3-4 new pinball models per year
Best Buy partnership brings pinball to the mainstream mass market
Pinball is back and booming
Gary Stern expressed that Stern team is looking forward to Gomez's executive leadership and creative vision to guide and evolve game development
Gary Stern believes either new competitor will fail quickly or take Stern Pinball down
Jolly Backer has been Director of Domestic Sales for over 15 years (since Sega Pinball era)
Gary Stern directly cuts design elements from games to reduce costs
Gary Stern remains primary owner and President/CEO of Stern Pinball
Overseas markets comprise 50% of Stern Pinball's sales
CSI was in production sample stage as of October 2008
Gary Stern planned to attend ATEI trade show in London in January 2009 to promote CSI
Stern's future games would be designed by a mix of in-house, freelance, and contract designers
US Dollar strength led to price increases for Stern's products in overseas markets
Stern intends to produce four new pinball machines per year
Gary Stern questioned the extent and duration of Mr Gillard's Williams rights
Pinball remains a viable and exciting product in today's world
The global pinball business market is approximately 10 percent of its size from 10 years ago (circa 1993)
Gary Stern positions ToPS earnings plus pinball resale value as making pinball a great investment for operators
Game design should prioritize fun and game play over hi-tech presentation
Casual players prefer mechanical action feedback (drop targets falling) to light feedback because it creates self-education and Pavlovian repeat play
Playboy has the deepest rules Stern has ever put in a game
Monopoly will be Stern's biggest game yet
Stern will continue with outsourced designers
Gary Stern's strategy is to stick with long-term, classic licences rather than ones that come and go
Leadership at Stern Pinball; described as 'a salesman at heart' by Seth Davis; historically sold company games rather than keeping them
Executive at Stern Pinball; attended Pinball at the Beach
Mentioned as present at Pinball at the Beach representing Stern Pinball
Stern Pinball executive, participated in Triple Drain interview about King Kong
President of Stern Pinball; former Data East executive; cited as source on Capcom's market motivation and hiring of Williams employees; knowledgeable about industry consolidation
Stern Pinball founder/leadership, appeared at Expo seminar
Founder/CEO of Stern Pinball; attended backyard parties at Little Shop of Games in Florida; remembered Martin at Expo
CEO of Sega Pinball. When Sega folded, took the company private and continued pinball manufacturing. Credited with saving pinball during arcade industry collapse.
Owner/leader of Stern Pinball; historically reverse-engineered Bally and Williams systems in the 1980s-1990s
Stern leadership; historically wanted to create King Kong pinball; posted sneaky King Kong photo on social media, fueling speculation about future titles
Stern Pinball executive; hosting 'Up Close with Gary Stern' seminar at Expo
Executive at Stern Pinball; referenced humorously as a listener of the podcast
CEO of Stern Pinball; personally hosted and spent extended time with tour group
Stern Pinball leadership; implicated in pricing and LE strategy decisions Kaneda criticizes
Owner/CEO of Stern Pinball; joked about as only caring about what's 'on the line' for sale.
CEO of Stern Pinball; reportedly believes Black Knight doesn't need upper playfield
CEO of Stern Pinball; gave brief, dismissive response to Drew's introduction at Expo
Stern Pinball CEO, conducted annual state-of-company seminar, publicly acknowledged ghosting issues for first time, made competitive digs at JJP
Stern company leadership, mentioned as someone deeply committed to pinball design/business
Stern Pinball executive; previously provided conflicting information about Batman LE production numbers
Leader at Stern Pinball; quoted on favorite pinball games in production
President of Stern Pinball; issued official statement about manufacturing defects (ghosting, crazing, dimpling); published mobile number 847-278-1398
Referenced humorously as the decision-maker behind $2,000 Mandalorian topper pricing
Industry figure Ritchie met at the Round Robin restaurant near Chicago
Stern Pinball founder/executive; appeared at Vegas hockey game in Grandpa Monster costume during Munsters reveal
Founder/owner of Stern Pinball; credited by Todd Tuckey as having 'done a wonderful job keeping pinball in the limelight' despite polarizing personality
Owner/operator of Stern Pinball; mentioned regarding business decisions and profit requirements
CEO of Stern Pinball, mentioned as someone Ken would like to have an informal conversation with
Leadership figure at Stern Pinball; encountered at Spears bar during Expo 2019
Leadership at Stern Pinball, stated wide-body games are not feasible for the company
Stern Pinball executive; Shalhoub mentions attempting to arrange TV appearance on *Denton Live* when Stern visits Sydney to promote Stern products.
Casual reference during Safecracker playfield inspection; Mike and Dutch joked about whether a guard character illustration might be a caricature of Gary Stern; determined timeline (1996, Sega era) made this unlikely.
CEO/President of Stern Pinball; visited Ace Goggi last week per Carl D'Angelo
Leadership at Stern Pinball; acknowledged by host ('one doesn't like me')
CEO of Stern Pinball; attended Pinfest Australia; has visited twice before
Contemporary pinball designer/manufacturer quoted by Michael regarding difficulty of building pinball machines
CEO of Stern Pinball; greeted factory tour attendees with photo opportunity
Referenced as autograph on Foo Fighters LE cards; Don dismisses autograph value ('what's another Gary Stern autograph to throw in the stack')
CEO/leadership at Stern Pinball; featured in CoinReturn factory tour video
Greeted factory tour groups at Stern Pinball headquarters
Executive at Stern Pinball, described as articulating 'three legs of the stool' partnership model
Stern Pinball executive who appears dressed as Grandpa Munster character at reveal event
Referenced in discussion of Lord of the Rings and philosophy of featuring prominent toys (dragons) regularly in gameplay, not just as end-goals.
Chairman/CEO of Stern Pinball; appeared in social media photos with Sonic the Hedgehog character at Comic-Con
Stern Pinball owner/executive who participated in the factory tour
Leader at Stern Pinball; hosts mentioned having personal positive interactions with him
Leader of Stern Pinball; appeared at licensing expo with multiple IP partners
CEO of Stern Pinball; issued memo to distributors reducing Cornerstone production schedule from three to two per year in 2024
Likely CEO/executive at Stern Pinball; named as decision-maker on pricing and licensing strategy by Kaneda
Founder/iconic figure in pinball, stepping down as CEO of Stern Pinball but remaining as chairman
Leadership figure at Stern Pinball; described as good friend of Joe Kamakau; mentioned in context of Stern's licensing strategy
CEO of Stern Pinball; cited as stating all game models are underpriced
Stern Pinball CEO cited as stating company is 5,300 games behind on production
Founder/owner of Stern Pinball; formerly owned Data East; known for recycling playfields across themes
Stern Pinball executive; allegedly reacted negatively to Christopher Franchi selling unauthorized artwork
Stern Pinball leader, reportedly committed to fixing X-Men music after Albert's interaction
Leadership at Stern Pinball, benefited from Keanu Reeves Comic-Con appearance playing John Wick pinball
CEO of Stern Pinball; frequently referenced regarding company pricing and business decisions.
CEO of Stern Pinball, stated industry cannot support more than one manufacturer
CEO of Stern Pinball; joked as potential mystery guest before being revealed as 'no'
CEO of Stern Pinball; recipient of AAMA lifetime achievement award
Executive at Stern Pinball; referenced in context of rumors about potential dissatisfaction at company
Co-founder of Data East; remained close friend with Kaminkow; stewarded company through financial transitions and licensing strategy
CEO of Stern Pinball; referenced in context of failed Back to the Future licensing negotiations
Head of Stern Pinball; associated with corporate profit-focused strategy
Head of Stern Pinball manufacturing, joked about in unboxing context regarding reduced package contents
CEO of Stern Pinball; attended Pinfest in Newcastle, Australia for Deadpool soft reveal
Historical figure who created Pinstar company after Stern Electronics closed in 1984, later founded Data East
Stern Pinball executive; located at Stern booth at IAAPA where Don made connections
Stern Pinball ownership; Kaneda speculates Gary made the delay decision out of societal sensitivity concerns
Stern Pinball leadership; blamed alongside Seth Davis and George Gomez for approving greedy pricing and management decisions
President/leader of Stern Pinball; author of export policy letter regarding brand integrity and territorial exclusivity
Stern Pinball executive/owner; referenced in context of eventual retirement and company succession
CEO of Stern Pinball; referenced as culpable in pricing strategy; implicitly accused of collusion with other industry figures
Leadership at Stern Pinball; criticized by Kaneda for benefiting from price escalation while collectors lose money on LE purchases.
Executive at Stern Pinball mentioned as decision-maker on major creative and business decisions (e.g., rejecting The Matrix, approving Lord of the Rings)
Stern Pinball CEO; mentioned having 350 employees total at Stern manufacturing facility
Stern Pinball leadership; quoted as saying mechanical toys cost ~$40-50 each; referenced in pricing/design philosophy discussion
CEO of Stern Pinball, hosted seminar discussing company direction, Stern Army, code updates, and upcoming initiatives
Stern Pinball company leadership; office toured in virtual factory tour
Implied leader of Stern Pinball (referenced as 'Gary'); Kaneda suggests he should retire due to current market crisis
CEO of Stern Pinball; referenced jokingly as potential listener who might ban podcast hosts from factory tours due to critical commentary
CEO of Stern Pinball, posted Instagram references to Brazil manufacturing facility
Stern Pinball CEO/founder; attended Heads Up Pinball Championship in Las Vegas; visible playing Star Wars during tournament
Executive at Stern Pinball; appeared at an event where vodka was served; pictured with Black Knight and Star Wars machines for Toy Hall of Fame induction
Founder of Pinstar; created Gametron cabinet using Wico and Data East-Stern parts; licensed designs to Segusa Sonic
Leader of Stern Pinball; quoted regarding philosophy on favorite Stern games ('the one that's on the line')
Stern Pinball company leadership; present at play session; discussed center post with Don
CEO/leadership of Stern Pinball; referenced as 'Captain Gary' by Macho regarding company direction
Historical Stern Pinball executive; quoted on manufacturing philosophy
Owner of Stern Pinball; characterized as aggressive competitor pursuing licenses to block boutiques
Co-founder of Stern Pinball Company with Joe Kaminkow. Remained as company leader after Kaminkow's departure to IGT. Made non-licensed games and licensed titles including Ted Nugent, Harley Davidson, Austin Powers. Currently leads modern Stern Pinball with color TFT displays.
Executive at Stern Pinball Inc.; teased internet connectivity feature in interviews
Owner of Stern Pinball; described as having steered company through 2000s struggles to save pinball from extinction
Stern Pinball ownership; initially opposed illustrated artwork in Metallica; convinced by John Borg's vision
Executive at Stern Pinball; spotted by Kaneda's source at licensing trade show
Current leader of Stern Pinball (implicit in Joe Cam's Facebook comment criticism)
Stern Pinball CEO; inspired Pin Brew concept with speech about beer and pinball at 30th Expo
Leader of Stern Pinball, took Stern public after separating from Sega during 1999 industry contraction
Leader of Stern Pinball; hosts Expo factory tours; available for meet-and-greets with attendees
Owner/founder of Stern Pinball; credited by Sharpe for pioneering short production runs and vault editions; represents private ownership model
Founder of Stern Pinball; Kaneda notes he already has 'tens of millions of dollars' and suggests further profit-seeking is excessive
CEO of Stern Pinball; hypothetically referenced as potential initiator of custom shop program ('Sam Stern' appears to be a nickname or alias)
CEO of Stern Pinball; referenced indirectly in discussion of Stern's pricing strategy
Referenced indirectly; CEO of Stern Pinball (manufacturer of TMNT)
CEO of Stern Pinball; makes appearance during stream as 'Captain Stern' character reference; appears to have purchased two Heavy Metal machines (one for home, one for Cabo per Jody)
CEO of Stern Pinball; mentioned in opening segment discussing company quality
CEO of Stern Pinball; directly addressed by host regarding poor customer support response to Jaws airball issues
Stern Pinball CEO, mentioned indirectly in context of company structure
Referenced as potential name confusion with Sam Stern in context of Avatar pricing strategy
CEO of Stern Pinball; implied as beneficiary of positive market sentiment shift vs. JJP
CEO of Stern Pinball; referenced as having directed Steve Ritchie to create AC/DC (Premium) as fully-featured competitor to Jersey Jack's Wizard of Oz
CEO of Stern Pinball; Kaneda references Stern's distributor-inclusive approach as superior model compared to Spooky's direct-to-consumer strategy
CEO of Stern Pinball, referenced in Batman 66 application questions
CEO/Chairman of Stern Pinball; referenced implicitly as architect of Stern's pricing and brand strength strategy
Referenced in discussion of previous episode cleanup regarding topics that were not finished (appears as error artifact 'Gary Stern Shandling').
CEO/Chairman Stern Pinball; mentioned among executives Kaneda references as dancing when new podcast episodes release
Stern Pinball leader cited for manufacturing discipline philosophy and professional operations
CEO of Stern Pinball; quoted by Kaneda on value measurement philosophy ('What's the ROI of your mother')
CEO of Stern Pinball Inc.; mentioned as host of media tour
CEO of Stern Pinball; mentioned in comparison regarding X-Men development seeming abandoned
CEO of Stern Pinball; referenced as 'Sam Stern' (likely transcription error for Gary Stern) in discussions of pricing strategy and James Bond release
CEO and Chairman of Stern Pinball, appeared on factory tour at Pinball Expo 2023
CEO/owner of Stern Pinball; referenced in context of Easter egg featuring 'Gary' alien with 'ship it' label in Foo Fighters
Referenced as 'Sam Stern' by hosts; CEO of Stern Pinball making pricing strategy decisions to combat secondary-market scalping, compared to Taylor Swift's ticket pricing model
CEO of Stern Pinball; cited as model for transparency through weekly Factory Friday tours
CEO of Stern Pinball; cited as manufacturing philosophy authority
CEO/Chairman of Stern Pinball; Joe Abadie mentioned in transcript as decision-maker; directly addressed by Kaneda regarding Mandalorian strategy
CEO of Stern Pinball; criticized by Kaneda for distributor-focused business model and indifference to collector base
Owner/operator of a pinball location featuring all clean, working machines
CEO of Stern Pinball; subject of Papadiuk's holiday wish for remaking accessory products
Referenced as 'Sam Stern' in podcast (likely transcription error); head of Stern Pinball facing pressures and crossroads decisions
CEO of Stern Pinball, referenced as potentially announcing a new game soon
CEO of Stern Pinball; hypothetically would vote for Stern machines in quality comparison
CEO of Stern Pinball; announced only two cornerstone releases for 2022 instead of three, eliminating April release
CEO/Chairman of Stern Pinball; identified as part of leadership group controlling theme selection; criticized for narrow musical diversity in IP strategy
Referenced in context of Stern pinball machines (Pirates of the Caribbean designer mentioned as 'Dennis')
Referenced as 'Sam Stern' throughout (likely ASR error or nickname), Stern Pinball leadership
CEO/leadership at Stern Pinball; Chris praises his leadership team alongside George Gomez
CEO of Stern Pinball; referenced in context of company's strategic pause on new announcements
Mentioned as panelist for Data East/Sega seminar at Expo 2025
Referenced as decision-maker regarding Stern's topper pricing and licensing strategy
CEO of Stern Pinball; asked Steve Ritchie if the Dutch could be 'number two' in pinball manufacturing
CEO/Chairman of Stern Pinball; praised by Lloyd for keeping pinball viable during industry decline in 2000s
CEO/Chairman of Stern Pinball who stepped down in 2022; Kaneda suggests he's been uninvolved in day-to-day operations and simply profiting from company success
CEO of Stern Pinball; responsible for major manufacturer experiencing current supply chain challenges
CEO of Stern Pinball, appeared at tournament
Owner and outgoing CEO of Stern Pinball, age 77, transitioning to Chairman role
CEO of Stern Pinball; co-founder of Data East Pinball; referenced as major industry figure attending Pinball Expo 2025
CEO of Stern Pinball; previously owned an Ice Fever machine that the host purchased for tournament use
CEO of Stern Pinball; mentioned in context of Stern's next releases expected before Expo
Stern Pinball leadership; gave talks and attended Freeplay Florida event
Likely reference in 'Josh Sharp' mention related to Cactus Canyon continued code discussion (possible name confusion or shorthand)
CEO of Stern Pinball; indirectly discussed as beneficiary of JJP's price-setting innovation without equivalent investment or risk
CEO of Stern Pinball; mentioned as regular attendee at Freeplay Florida venue
CEO of Stern Pinball; approached George Gomez to design pinball machines while Gomez was working on NBA Ballers at Midway
Stern Pinball leadership; approved Franchi's initial Batman artwork
Stern Pinball CEO, referenced in context of venue operations and sponsorship
CEO/leadership at Stern Pinball; referenced as 'Sam Stern' in transcript (transcription error); subject of community criticism about marketing exclusivity and customer support
CEO of Stern Pinball; implied target of Don's criticism about company direction and licensing decisions
Owner/founder of Stern Pinball; business strategy discussed regarding remake advantage and valuation
CEO of Stern Pinball; cited as model for information control practices; titles still leak despite efforts
CEO of Stern Pinball; referenced as 'Sam Stern' throughout; comparison point for production capacity and pricing strategy
CEO of Stern Pinball; referenced for Photoshopping artwork in the 2000s era; implied responsibility for company's art direction decisions
CEO of Stern Pinball; holds high score on the Indiana Jones machine being played during this stream
CEO of Stern Pinball, referenced humorously as listening to podcast discussion of pricing strategy
Stern Pinball ownership/leadership; referenced by Drew as someone who could justify the Facebook enforcement
CEO of Stern Pinball; thanked in opening for show organization efforts
CEO of Stern Pinball, referenced in commentary about Stern's business model of 'printing money'
Co-creator of Midwest Gaming Classic with Dan Lusin, manages vendors, logistics, and finances for the event, currently CEO of Stern Pinball (though not clarified in this episode)
CEO of Stern Pinball; referenced as 'Sam Stern' (apparent transcription error); credited with shipping support during industry downturns and competitive response improvements
CEO of Stern Pinball, photographed at licensors conference near Barbie and Pokémon exhibits in apparent marketing stunt; characterized as marketing strategist and still actively involved in company despite age
Subject of archived interview conducted around 2016 discussing Ghostbusters
Interviewed recently by Pinball News for monthly industry roundup
CEO of Stern Pinball; characterized as reluctant to include two spinners on Pro editions due to cost
Associated with Sam Stern Army events at Cameron Silver Ball Saloon; referred to as 'Uncle Gary Stern'
Subject of parody/impersonation in the skit (CEO of Stern Pinball)
Founder/owner of Stern Pinball, recently stepped down from leadership to spend time with grandchildren
Tournament player; provided critical feedback to Tim about excessive machine shaking during play causing tilts
Owner of Stern Pinball; referenced as profiting significantly and paying designers well
Officer/representative at Stern Pinball; traveled to China with Sam Stern for market expansion efforts
CEO of Stern Pinball; briefly encountered at JJ's suite party; host received high-five greeting
Executive at Stern Pinball; addressed in 'Sam Stern Are You Listening' segment
CEO/founder of Stern Pinball; interviewed at Freeplay Florida; interacted with hosts multiple times at events; discussed business model, manufacturing operations, and game design philosophy
CEO of Stern Pinball who promised an August cornerstone game announcement that did not materialize
Stern Pinball executive who interacted with Mr. 68 at Pinball Expo, unaware of name tag prank
Stern Pinball leadership; handles licensing contacts at the company
Founder/leader of Stern Pinball who ultimately kept pinball alive after Williams shutdown
President/owner of Stern Pinball; decision-maker on whether to bring Big Juicy Melons to production; Greg Ferris created caricature of him holding melons
At Data East during Joe Balcer's tenure; decision-maker on Striker Extreme re-theming; leader in pinball industry
Founder/owner of Stern Pinball; son of Sam Stern; initiated partnership with Data East to create System 11 board and modern Stern Pinball operating system
CEO of Stern Pinball during Guarnieri's early distributor years
Executive at Stern Pinball; asked Grant about start date at Pinball Expo; demonstrated direct involvement in hiring
Stern Pinball owner/leader; prefers games to have lanes; has longstanding relationship with Ritchie
Stern Pinball company leader; appears in King Kong code messages encouraging topper purchases
Reference to Stern Pinball founder; used as playful nickname for 'Gary' mode in Congo (per Danni's mother's naming convention)
Stern Pinball owner/decision-maker who approved Spider-Man Black and suggested mirrored backglass feature
Stern Pinball leadership who supervises backglass print quality control; oversees art output at company
Owner of Stern Pinball; LTG :) uncertain about future personal involvement in running the company
CEO of Stern Pinball; promotes Insider Connect app as differentiator; shared personal anecdote about Rogaine at Pinball Showdown
Executive at Stern Pinball; visited Electric Bat Arcade for ska show; reportedly a huge ska fan
Former Stern Pinball leadership; portrayed as passionate, fan-focused, and willing to interact with community; contrasted favorably with current management
Referenced as developer/designer working on D&D Pro code; host suggests he may be frustrated with issues
Co-host of Wild Dog Arcade; assists with unboxing and shares experience from Stern Media day
Owner/executive of Stern Pinball; purchased the historic dimpling press from Gottlieb in 1985; office located at factory.
Co-host of Wild Dog Arcade, achieved 647 million point score on D&D Pro Edition v0.92
Co-host of Wild Dog Arcade stream; appears to be a guest or regular collaborator
Appears to be community member/chat participant who achieved exceptional 200+ million point scores during gameplay session
CEO of Stern Pinball; referenced in context of new factory and pricing decisions
CEO of Stern Pinball (referenced indirectly in context of Jurassic Park pinball machine discussion)
Leadership at Stern Pinball, referenced alongside Sam Stern in representation discussion
Executive at Stern Pinball with authority over theme selection and game approval
CEO of Stern Pinball; known for rule that games must be beatable without upper flipper
Referenced as likely interested in acquiring Top Gun pinball license if new movie is successful
Referenced humorously regarding potential restricted access to secret factory areas during tours
Referenced sarcastically regarding Stern Pinball's budget decisions on kickback features
President of Stern Pinball; interviewed at CES 2019/2020; described by Ralph as nice guy and good sport despite interviewer's lack of knowledge
Stern Pinball leadership; known professional contact of Joe Kamikau
Martha's Vineyard resident (described as 'number one land developer on the island'); owner of KISS home-use only pinball machine; not related to Stern Pinball company
Chairman and founder of Stern Pinball; signature on Jaws Limited Edition certificate of authenticity
CEO of Stern Pinball; criticized for Venom pricing decision versus Godzilla value
CEO of Stern Pinball; referenced indirectly in context of company strategic decisions
CEO of Stern Pinball; implied decision-maker on pricing strategy (James Bond 60th at $20k attributed to leadership decision)
CEO of Stern Pinball; criticized for James Bond 60th cabinet design described as 'one of the ugliest cabinets Sam Stern has ever assembled'
CEO of Stern Pinball. Referenced in context of manufacturing efficiency and business model pressures that force constant game releases unlike Jersey Jack Pinball.
CEO of Stern Pinball; Kaneda speculates he prevented Christopher Franchi from working on James Bond due to prior 'Beatles artwork' incident
CEO of Stern Pinball; referenced as 'Sam Stern' (transcription error); strategy architect for 2023 pricing
CEO of Stern Pinball (referenced indirectly); Kaneda criticizes company leadership for not reading market signals and pricing strategy decisions
CEO of Stern Pinball; implicitly praised for market agility and ability to pivot quickly on market misses
CEO of Stern Pinball; referenced as 'Sam Stern' (apparent nickname/error); central to Kaneda's pricing critique
Stern Pinball leadership; implied criticism of company direction via 'Sam Stern' references
CEO of Stern Pinball, referenced as beneficiary of price-increase strategy and investor gains
CEO of Stern Pinball; thank you message appears on the instruction cards included with new machines
CEO of Stern Pinball, implied decision-maker on Pokémon production quantities and pricing strategy; perceived to have left money on table with 750 LE limit.
CEO of Stern Pinball; referenced implicitly in licensing and strategic decisions
Founder of Stern Pinball; greeted tour group and provided anecdote about wire content in machines
Stern Pinball executive; mentioned as attending Pinball Expo and engaging with community
Stern Pinball leadership; recently conducted promotional stream with Sam Stern that generated community speculation about unreleased machines.
Co-designer/collaborator on Beatles Pinball; mentioned as having pursued the Beatles license for 10+ years with Joe Kaminkow.
Stern Pinball leadership; shown Monsters to European distributors, leading to leaked photos
Stern Pinball leadership, mentioned as notable figure at Chicago Pinball Expo
Founder/owner of Stern Pinball; repurchased pinball division from Sega to establish current Stern company
CEO/leadership of Stern Pinball present at the press event; played The Beatles Pinball during the stream
Stern Pinball executive; participates in gameplay during reveal stream as player one
Owner of Stern Pinball; attended recent bar tournament; repeatedly declines Jack Danger's pinball challenges
Stern Pinball executive; was scheduled to appear on stream but did not show; host expresses desire to discuss motorcycles with him
CEO of Stern Pinball; invoked humorously by Dead Flip in request for equipment assistance
Stern Pinball executive; made brief cameo appearance during gameplay portion of stream
Head of Stern Pinball; visited Jack's location on Thursday; interested in seeing Stargazer machines
Owner of Stern Pinball; jokingly referenced regarding a ball returning mysteriously to play during stream
Stern Pinball leadership; may visit factory during Jack's Ghostbusters stream
Referenced jokingly during gameplay ('Thanks, Gary Stern'); Stern Pinball ownership/leadership
Stern Pinball company head; appears briefly on stream, takes sample Godzilla machine
CEO and Chairman of Stern Pinball; appeared on Deadflip stream to play KISS pinball machine; discussed design philosophy and playtesting methodology
Stern Pinball CEO making guest appearance on stream; participates in gameplay
CEO/owner of Stern Pinball; appeared on stream to play and endorse Jurassic Park; praised the game's design and playability
Referenced humorously in Deadflip's comment about music volume; implied connection to Stern Pinball
Leader of Stern Pinball; mentioned in chat with question of whether he knew about stream ending; Jack indicates he may not have been officially invited
CEO of Stern Pinball; scheduled to visit Dead Flip arcade on September 17, 2015; owner/founder of company still manufacturing new pinball machines
Stern Pinball CEO, visited DeadFlip studio for drinks and dinner, discussed potential animation work and TwitchCon logistics
Stern Pinball executive who met with Jack Danger and took him to a steakhouse, described as Jack's 'spirit animal'
Referenced jokingly by Jack Danger regarding 'death saving' on game time
Leadership at Stern Pinball; referenced as approving one-shot multiball design for Donatello
Stern Pinball executive who recently visited Dead Flip; Jack had positive interaction including discussions about motorcycles and dining
Featured in Whoa Nellie! playfield artwork (flowerpot inlay says 'Gary Stern'); tournament leader score shows 'Gary Stern Stern' with 3 million points as default.
Stern Pinball leadership; motorcyclist; discussed Radical's commercial history with Jack Danger at children's hospital event
Mentioned as having played Starcatcher pinball machine at some point
Historical figure mentioned; was with Data East
Associated with Stern Pinball; mentioned as having industry experience spanning decades
Executive/owner at Stern Pinball, signs Limited Edition Certificate of Authenticity
Stern Pinball Chairman; signatory on Kong LE Certificate of Authenticity
Stern Pinball leadership who conducted operators webinar on Insider Connected
Owner of Stern Pinball; confirmed celebrity guest at Pinball at the Beach. Will attend for beach-resort attraction during February (Chicago winter escape appeal).
Leadership at Stern Pinball; acknowledged X-Men music feedback and confirmed fix in development; addressed cost-efficiency measures in seminar
Founder/executive at Stern Pinball; Walshert worked for him for approximately 13 years
Owner of Stern Pinball; Jack worked at Stern factory picking screws off floor late into evenings
CEO of Stern Pinball; confirmed Bluetooth audio technology capability to accessibility advocate; mentioned at Stern parties regarding accessibility initiatives
CEO of Stern Pinball; called the motor supplier in the 1990s to fix Jurassic Park T-Rex motor issues before theatrical release
Stern Pinball founder; personal friend and colleague of David Hankin; discussed Star Wars licensing possibilities with Hankin
CEO of Stern Pinball; approached by Nic Parks in 2006 seeking distributorship; adamantly opposed to remaking games; did not pursue Funhouse Reimagined project
Stern Pinball leadership; visited Dutch Pinball Museum last month before this presentation; discussed Total Recall prototype with museum staff
Pinball industry hero featured in museum educational displays
Chairman and formerly CEO of Stern Pinball; presenting company history and strategy; son of Sam Stern who acquired Harry Williams in 1947
Stern Pinball leadership; quoted by Grauvogl with phrase 'play more pinball' as motivational philosophy.
Co-founder of Data East Pinball, CEO of Stern Pinball, primary speaker discussing company history and legal battles
CEO/Chairman of Stern Pinball mentioned as decision-maker on design choices (e.g., overruling Gomez on Matrix vs Lord of the Rings); has preferences against certain mechanical designs
Owner/operator of Stern Pinball, greeted factory tour groups
Stern Pinball owner/operator; greeted factory tour participants
Mentioned as being present at Galloping Ghost during the visit; seen playing Afterburner and finishing a game with the host
Stern Pinball representative/CEO; interviewed by Ralph at CES 2019 Stranger Things demo; reacted dismissively to virtual pinball question
Stern Pinball executive who appeared throughout the event, humorously noted as seeking catered sandwiches
Stern Pinball CEO; present at factory event; described as appearing 'around any corner'
Leadership at Stern Pinball; issued clarification to distributor network about warranty policy and ghosting clauses
Stern Pinball executive; quoted by Dennis on Star Wars licensing power
Referenced as owner who will store Rush machine in his vault after the celebration stream
Stern Pinball executive; discussed potential Toho Godzilla licensing with Nate Shivers; ultimately acquired Godzilla license
CEO/leader of Stern Pinball; photographed with Slayer band member at Comic-Con; daughter accidentally leaked Hendrix pin
Owner/founder of Stern Pinball; age 77; transitioning to Chairman role; planning succession and company sustainability
Son of Sam Stern; founder/leader of Stern Pinball (modern era)
Stern Pinball founder; first major client of Incredible Technologies through Data East connection
CEO of Stern Pinball; celebrated 75th birthday during episode recording
Reportedly mandates three pop bumpers on all Stern pinball games; mentioned as possible source of pop bumper design philosophy
Stern Pinball executive interviewed for the documentary
CEO/owner of Stern Pinball, age 80, second-generation pinball manufacturer continuing family business from father Sam Stern; presented company history and vision
Owner of Stern Pinball; met Ritchie at Round Robin restaurant in Chicago; recruited him back to Stern in 2002 and again post-2008 financial crisis
Stern Pinball leadership; purportedly enforced three pop bumper requirement on all machines, with exceptions for select designers
CEO/leadership; mentioned as source of September announcement via This Week in Pinball
Stern Pinball executive; gave interview on Super Awesome Pinball Show regarding crackdown on unauthorized modifications
Executive at Stern Pinball; appeared on Super Awesome Pinball Show discussing IP violations as felonies; context for DMCA discussion
CEO of Stern Pinball; cited in recent interview regarding 5,000-unit production backlog
Stern Pinball leadership; quoted in interview about F-150 chip shortage impacting production.
Chairman of the board and CEO of Stern Pinball; in his 70s; expected to transition CEO duties to Seth Davis in future succession planning
Owner/founder of Stern Pinball; greeted tour groups at factory; had commemorative cutout merchandise at Expo
Stern Pinball owner; standees of him were sold at factory tour for $100
Owner/leader of Stern Pinball; Orby jokingly offered to sleep under his desk to attend media day
CEO of Stern Pinball; interviewed on pinball news podcast advocating for 'Pinball Sherpa' philosophy of welcoming newcomers
CEO of Stern Pinball; cited as source for 5,000-game backlog report
Referenced as recently giving interview to Replay Magazine about Stern Pinball; described as guarded but intelligent
CEO/founder of Stern Pinball; announcing price increases at Pinball Degenerate Awards due to economic factors
Owner/CEO of Stern Pinball; subject of hosts' observation that he has never been seen playing pinball
Stern Pinball CEO/leader; appeared at Media Day; featured as Easter egg in King Kong target sequence
Stern Pinball leadership; face featured on stand-up target in King Kong's mini flipper area as Easter egg
Stern Pinball leadership; reference point for how major manufacturers handle announcements with proper communication
Stern Pinball executive; pictured with various celebrities in company history book
Stern Pinball executive; documented playing Black Knight Sword of Rage in Jack Danger livestream
Stern Pinball founder; subject of cardboard cutout standee acquired by Pinball Junk Drawer; appears in past photo with host at Florida party
CEO of Stern Pinball; publicly endorsed the WhizBang collaboration
Stern Pinball Chairman; signature on LE Certificate of Authenticity
Leadership at Stern Pinball, confirmed Pokemon pinball project to Joel via phone call
Owner/executive of Stern Pinball, mentioned humorously in stream banter
Owner/leader of Stern Pinball; mentioned by Jared as having conversations at Expo about Magic the Gathering pinball
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball; authorized commercial manufacturing of Whoa Nellie!
Leader of Stern Pinball Inc, quoted endorsing ToPS as strategic advancement
CEO of Stern Pinball; announced the WhizBang collaboration and expressed enthusiasm for the partnership
Stern Pinball executive organizing Stern Pinball Virtual Experience for Saturday
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc.; quoted in press release
Owner/leader of Stern Pinball; characterized as industry survivor after Williams closure
Leadership at Stern Pinball; cited regarding development team resource constraints
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, quoted in official announcement
President of Stern Pinball; wrote promotional email for TMNT launch
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball; endorsing Whoa Nellie! partnership
President of Stern Pinball; approved and announced manufacturing arrangement
President/leadership of Stern Pinball Inc.; author of Intergame article; represents company vision on game design philosophy
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball; quoted on partnership importance
Executive at Stern Pinball commenting on partnership
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball; quoted on market demand for Iron Man re-release
Founder, CEO and Chairman of Stern Pinball Inc.; quoted in press release regarding Transformers Pin
Founder, CEO and Chairman of Stern Pinball; son of Sam Stern
CEO of Stern Pinball; made public statements defending layoffs and reaffirming company commitment to pinball
CEO of Stern Pinball; historically opposed to digital versions of Stern titles; now leading partnership expansion
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc.; provided official announcement quote
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, quoted endorsing the Comic Art edition
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball; quoted in official press release on game vision
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball; quoted in press release
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball; quoted on game vision and licensing partnerships
Founder of Stern Pinball, stepping down as CEO to become Chairman
Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Stern Pinball; remains in leadership role overseeing Davis
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball; announced game and provided production/licensing details
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, quoted in official announcement endorsing Star Wars Pin product
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc.; quoted in press release
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball making official announcement
Leader of Stern Pinball; credited with keeping pinball industry alive during worst period (1999-2000s)
Stern Pinball leader; celebrated 60th birthday in 2005; subject of speculation about possible company sale
Leadership at Stern Pinball; established design criteria for 'simpler, more fun mechanical-action pinball'
Stern Pinball leadership; announced licensed theme strategy and outsourced design model; oversaw cost-cutting in July 2001
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball; made official announcements and signed LE certificates
Leader of Stern Pinball present at industry events including EAG 2015 and Festi'Flip in October
President of Stern Pinball Inc.; collected award and made statement about pinball industry viability
President of Stern Pinball; second-generation pinball devotee; purchased company back from Sega in 1999; articulates 10% market scale strategy
Stern Pinball leadership; interviewed about hiring Doug Skor and company direction
Chairman of Stern Pinball; welcomed factory tour guests; appeared at autograph session
Stern Pinball executive; panelist on Data East & Sega Pinball history
Stern Pinball Chairman; inducted John Buscaglia to Hall of Fame
Chairman of the Board of Stern Pinball; welcomed guests to new factory
Stern CEO and Chairman; inducted into International Video Game Hall of Fame at Expo 2021; office features historical artifacts and significant games.
Stern Pinball leadership; referenced for industry commentary on machine accessibility
Primary owner of Stern Pinball; continues as President and CEO after Peterson investment
CEO of Stern Pinball; skeptical about viability of competing manufacturers; informed of Jersey Jack plans at IAAPA trade show in November 2010
President of Stern Pinball; presented 'Pinball Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow' seminar at MGC 2016
Owner/leader of Stern Pinball; credited by Lawlor with keeping pinball alive in competitive marketplace
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball
Founder of Stern Pinball who hired Sheats in 2003
Stern Pinball leadership; quotes on game rules depth and ball flow quality
Stern Pinball executive featured in book photographs including at Playboy Mansion
Founder of Stern Pinball; co-founder of Data East Pinball (1986); provided official statement on Backer's departure
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc.
Chairman of Stern Pinball; made official announcement about the 60th Anniversary edition
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, provided official quote on announcement
Founder, CEO, and Chairman of Stern Pinball; son of Sam Stern; made public statement welcoming Ritchie to the company
Founder, CEO and Chairman of Stern Pinball, Inc.; made statement endorsing Greg Freres hire
Founder, CEO and chairman of Stern Pinball; made statement on Gomez's appointment
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc.
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc.
Signature appears on certificate of authenticity included in Black Knight LE packaging
Stern Pinball company leadership; thank you message printed in machines and Stern Insider Rewards Program promotion
Co-founder of Data East Pinball in 1985 with Ed Cebula and Joe Kaminkow
President/leadership of Stern Pinball; praised success of Monopoly collaboration with Pat Lawlor
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball; quoted on game announcement
Stern Pinball Chairman & CEO making the official announcement; also signing Certificate of Authenticity on each 40th Anniversary Edition.
Stern Pinball representative at EAG 2023
Stern Pinball leadership present at EAG 2022 event
Member of Stern Pinball team at EAG 2020
Stern Pinball company leadership; interviewed by Pinball News and Pinball Magazine at EAG for PINcast podcast
Stern Pinball representative at EAG 2019; interviewed by Pinball News
Stern Pinball founder/executive, attended EAG 2018 (seen briefly)
Stern Pinball representative at EAG International 2017; demonstrated new Spike 2 backbox internals
Chairman of Stern Pinball; attended EAG Expo and participated in interviews about current market state
CEO/founder of Stern Pinball; quoted expressing confidence in Monopoly as biggest game yet
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Stern Pinball; maintaining CEO role while delegating export sales to Skor
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc.; executive quoted on game positioning
Founder of Data East Pinball, Sega Pinball, and Stern Pinball; 2010 hall of fame inductee
Signed the Star Trek translite used as grand prize; likely executive at Stern Pinball
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, made official announcement
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, quoted on Beatles pinball announcement
Stern Pinball leadership; former partner with Joe Kaminkow at Data East and Sega Pinball
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball; made official announcement
Founder, CEO and Chairman of Stern Pinball; provided statement on Avatar LE release
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc.
Head of Stern Pinball, second-generation arcade legend, interviewed for documentary
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball; public face of company announcements
Leader of Stern Pinball in 2000; made prophetic but incorrect prediction about two-manufacturer market limit
Founder of Stern Pinball; made public statement teasing Expo surprises
Attended Pinfest; part of Australia's 'big 5' of pinball manufacturing
Patriarch of Stern Pinball; photographed at 2023 Licensing Expo King Kong booth
Stern Pinball leadership; referenced as hidden Easter egg (Overlord character) in Foo Fighters
Father of modern Stern Pinball company; son of Stern Electronics founder; potential co-owner of classic Stern Electronics IP rights
Chairman of Stern Pinball; signature appears on LE Certificate of Authenticity
Founder and current Chairman of Stern Pinball; stepping down as CEO after leading the company
Stern Pinball Chairman and CEO; released official statement about Bond 60th Anniversary design philosophy and licensing partnerships
Founder of Stern Pinball, presented strategic direction at Pinball Expo seminar
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, quoted in official press release
Owner/founder of Stern Pinball; credited by MXV as the singular savior of the pinball industry through multiple near-extinction events; known for extreme energy, motorcycles, snowboarding, boating; attended Expo 2023
CEO and industry leader at Stern Pinball; subject of Barstool Sports interview
Decision-maker at Stern Pinball who shelved Mad Magazine title over European market concerns
Decision-maker at Data East who rejected the Universal Studios Park project due to IP strength concerns
Head of Stern Pinball; drove convertible alongside media bus on way to arcade venue; distributed rolls of quarters to all attendees; provided promotional items (tote bags, satin jackets, fanny packs).
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, quoted in official announcement
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball; authorized to sign Certificate of Authenticity
Stern Pinball executive; visited Electric Bat Arcade and questioned why Stranger Things wasn't in their lineup
CEO/owner of Stern Pinball; signature on Foo Fighters LE certificate of authenticity
Owner of Stern Pinball, portrayed as 'Scrooge' character, participates as good sport
Stern Pinball owner; invited Franchi to signing table; gifted Batman 66 signed print
CEO of Stern Pinball; interviewed for anniversary special episode
Stern Pinball leadership; recently had reconciliation interview with The Super Awesome Pinball Show hosts; mentioned positively by community
Stern Pinball leadership; recent interview guest on show; discussed licensing pressures
Stern Pinball executive; featured in sketch segment playing comedic 'Scrooge' character; described as good sport
Referenced (implied) as setting design standards for Stern machines (minimum three pop bumpers)
Stern Pinball leadership; aging; publicly expressed desire for more diverse voices in game design; succession planning consideration
Current owner of Stern Pinball; has stepped back from day-to-day operations
Founder of Stern Pinball; purchased Sega Pinball division during Harley-Davidson production run
Company founder/leader at Stern Pinball; met RetroRalph at AEI 2025; described as approachable and supportive of media creators
CEO of Stern Pinball; traveled with creator to Wisconsin pinball event
Referenced in context of promotional messaging style that modern audiences would mock
Founder of Stern Pinball; continues as Chairman and CEO; Seth Davis reports to him
Stern Pinball leadership; participated in factory tour and media event
Founder/former CEO stepping down; remains as Chairman of Board; controllers shares with Dave Peterson as Vice Chairman
Executive at Stern Pinball; known for partying in the pinball community
Stern Pinball executive who emphasized Insider Connected platform commitment in prior podcast appearance
Stern Pinball leadership; stated 5,000 unit backlog in late 2020
Stern Pinball leadership. In YouTube seminar acknowledged: 'We kind of dropped the ball on the stream' regarding X-Men reveal.
Stern Pinball leadership present during facility tour
Former Stern Pinball leadership; community speculates his presence would have mandated ball-eating mechanic on Jaws; represents previous management philosophy.
Stern Pinball leadership; gave presentation at Texas Pinball Festival 2011 with dismissive responses to feature requests before Jack Ranieri's pitch
Stern Pinball leadership; sent letter to distributors about production strategy and April release cancellation; appeared on stream during Rush launch party
Stern Pinball leadership; costumed in grandpa Munster makeup for CES 2019 launch event
Owner/operator of Stern Pinball; appeared at Pintastic New England show seminar; joined podcast in-person.
Stern Pinball leadership; provided details about factory relocation to Martin Eyre
Co-founder of Stern Pinball (1986); referenced as frequently away at shows/distributor visits during company history
Stern Pinball leadership; attended CES 2023 preview and EAG International Expo in London
CEO of Stern Pinball; mentioned WGN interview revealing 5,000+ order backlog
Stern Pinball owner. Co-designer (with Ray Tanzer and John Borg) on 2009 NBA pinball machine during skeleton crew era.
Stern ownership; Kaneda claims to have told him Stern needs to reset marketing focus
Stern Pinball president whose signature appears on Limited Edition certificates of authenticity
Stern Pinball founder/owner; called Pat Lawlor to work on pinball after securing Monopoly license; signed Monopoly Platinum Edition copies
CEO and founder of Stern Pinball; 79 years old; son of Sam Stern (deceased 1983-84); bought company from Sega in 1999; controls 50% ownership with partner Dave Peterson controlling other 50%
Stern Pinball leadership; co-presented Insider Connected webinar with George Gomez to dealers/insiders
Stern Pinball executive; conducted seminar detailing Rush design philosophy, music integration, and Insider Connected metrics
Owner of Stern Pinball; photographed with Sonic the Hedgehog at licensing event
Co-owner of Stern Pinball; gave recent interview to Barstool Chicago's Dog Walk discussing market share, workforce, and business strategy
Founding owner and retiring CEO of Stern Pinball; remains on board of directors
Stern Pinball leadership; possibly responsible for arranging Keanu Reeves Comic-Con pinball appearance.
CEO/leadership at Stern Pinball; rejected George Gomez's Matrix proposal in favor of Lord of the Rings; expressed concerns about Jack Danger's X-Men lower playfield design
Long-time Stern Pinball owner and president; stepping down from president role to become chairman and CEO.
Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball Inc.; quoted on Insider Connected transforming player interaction
Stern Pinball executive; cited as source for profitability margin discussions regarding Pro vs Premium models
CEO and founder of Stern Pinball; recently interviewed on Super Awesome Pinball Show; discussed $1-2M game development costs and copyright enforcement
Stern Pinball leadership; historically required three pop bumpers as design mandate for machines, with Stranger Things as exception.
Stern Pinball founder celebrating 75th birthday; recognized as industry pioneer credited with saving the industry in late 1990s/early 2000s
Stern Pinball chairman and founder; worked 40+ years with Shelley Sachs Eldridge
Leader/representative of Stern Pinball; attended licensing expo and posted photos with multiple IPs
Stepping down as CEO of Stern Pinball but remaining Chairman of Board and controlling shareholder
CEO/leadership of Stern Pinball; cited in recent interview discussing production volumes (800-1,000 Pros, 1,000 LEs per reveal cycle).
CEO of Stern Pinball; issued memo to distributors announcing Cornerstone reduction and production schedule shift to address supply chain backlog
Leadership at Stern Pinball; announced pricing increases for 2022
[Triage: Gary Stern's age naturally progressed over time: he was 76 in March 2022, 77 by November 2022, and 80 by December 2025, which is consistent with normal aging.]
[Triage: The timeline shows a progression where Stern Electronics existed first (with 81-85 suggesting operations through mid-1980s), followed by Pinstar creation around 1980-1985 as a venture during or after Stern Electronics operations, representing a company transition rather than a factual conflict.]
Expert: merged definition Expert: Gary Stern born 1945. Varying year counts reflect different interview dates. Expert: merged definition