SPACE HUNT LAUNCHES

Pinball News Website·article·analyzed·Jun 5, 2023

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.017

TL;DR

Hexa Pinball officially launches Space Hunt with Standard/Elegance tiers, €8,900-€11,000 pricing, Q4 2023 shipping.

Summary

Hexa Pinball, a French boutique manufacturer, officially launches Space Hunt, their debut pinball machine featuring a space-themed narrative about a character named Spherus. The game offers Standard and Elegance editions with prices ranging from €8,900 to €11,000 (including VAT), with shipments estimated to begin in Q4 2023. The machine features traditional cabinet design, LCD backbox display, 120+ RGB LEDs, eight main modes, mini-playfield, and up to 4-ball multiball.

Key Claims

Space Hunt features more than 120 RGB LEDs throughout the game with eight main modes: Hunt, Bomb, Hide, Wake Up, Safe, Spy, Sniper, and Flight
high confidence · Official product specifications in Pinball News announcement
Elegance package includes mirrored backglass, RadCals-style cabinet art, Violet Bordeaux paint, upgraded PinSound speakers, and PinSound shaker motor
high confidence · Official feature differentiation between Standard and Elegance editions
Space Hunt supports up to 4-ball multiball
high confidence · Official playfield specifications
Hexa Pinball estimates shipping will begin in Q4 2023
high confidence · Official timeline stated in article
Standard Edition pre-order requires €2,000 deposit against €8,900 full price; Elegance requires €2,000 deposit against €11,000
high confidence · Official pricing and deposit information from Hexa Pinball

Notable Quotes

“The theme of the game involves you playing the role of ball-shaped Spherus who is battling to lead his people to freedom from under the cruel tyrannical rule of the Space Hunters.”
Pinball News (game description) — Establishes the core narrative and thematic identity of Space Hunt
“Elements of the game had been previewed through the company's social media feeds in the lead-up to the launch including a poll to choose the backglass artwork, but today sees the official reveal of whole Space Hunt machine.”
Pinball News — Documents Hexa's community engagement strategy and teaser campaign approach
“The game is available in two versions – Standard and Elegance.”
Pinball News — Key product differentiation strategy for market segmentation

Entities

Hexa Pinballcompany Space HuntgameSpherusproductFlipper Sud-OuesteventPinSoundproductRadCalsproductMedieval Madnessgame

Signals

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business_signal: Hexa Pinball distribution currently limited to three French distributors at launch; international expansion implied through EU/non-EU pricing structure
high · Article notes distributors 'all of whom are based in France' and references separate pricing for export orders outside EU
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event_signal: Hexa Pinball officially launches Space Hunt with announcement of playability at Flipper Sud-Ouest show (June 10-11)
high · Official Pinball News announcement with scheduled appearance at French pinball expo
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market_signal: Hexa Pinball enters market with €8,900-€11,000 pricing (Standard/Elegance), positioning in mid-to-premium tier of boutique manufacturers
high · Explicit pricing: €8,900 Standard, €11,000 Elegance (including 20% VAT); pre-tax €7,417 and €9,167
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announcement: Space Hunt features 120+ RGB LEDs, traditional cabinet design, Stern/Spooky-sized LCD backbox, 3-channel stereo with woofer, mini-playfield, and up to 4-ball multiball
high · Comprehensive technical specifications provided in official reveal with detailed playfield documentation
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product_strategy: Two-tier edition strategy (Standard vs. Elegance) differentiates on cosmetics, audio/haptics, and backglass quality rather than core playfield mechanics
high · Elegance adds mirrored backglass, cabinet art, paint finish, interior art, anti-reflective glass, and audio upgrades to identical playfield core

Topics

New Game LaunchprimaryProduct Pricing and EditionsprimaryPlayfield Design and MechanicsprimaryManufacturer Launch StrategysecondaryEuropean Market EntrysecondaryCommunity EngagementsecondaryAudio and Visual Technologymentioned

Sentiment

positive(0.85)— Article presents Space Hunt as a well-engineered, feature-rich debut with sophisticated playfield design, thoughtful edition differentiation, and professional presentation. Tone is celebratory of new manufacturer entry without critical commentary on gameplay or market positioning.

Transcript

raw_text · $0.000

New French pinball company HEXA Pinball have revealed their launch title, Space Hunt. ![The left side of the Space Hunt game](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/space-hunt/001-space-hunt.jpg) The left side of the Space Hunt game The theme of the game involves you playing the role of ball-shaped Spherus who is battling to lead his people to freedom from under the cruel tyrannical rule of the Space Hunters. Elements of the game had been previewed through the company’s social media feeds in the lead-up to the launch including a poll to choose the backglass artwork, but today sees the official reveal of whole Space Hunt machine. ![The front of the Space Hunt game](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/space-hunt/002-space-hunt.jpg) The front of the Space Hunt game The game uses a traditional cabinet design with the ball shooter, start button, flipper controls and coin door all in their familiar positions. The backbox features a Stern/Spooky-sized LCD panel with stereo speakers either side. The game includes a 3-channel stereo sound system, with a woofer mounted in the base of the cabinet. ![The right side of the Space Hunt game](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/space-hunt/003-space-hunt.jpg) The right side of the Space Hunt game The game is available in two versions – Standard and Elegance. The Standard model is shown above and it features stainless steel lockbar, siderails and legs with a translite in the backbox. ![One of the two laser-cut speaker grilles](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/space-hunt/014-space-hunt.jpg) One of the two laser-cut speaker grilles The Elegance package includes a mirrored backglass, RadCals-style cabinet art, Violet Bordeaux paint for metalwork, interior art blades, anti-reflective glass, upgraded PinSound speakers and a PinSound shaker motor. So, what’s on the playfield? ![The Space Hunt playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/space-hunt/004-space-hunt-scaled.jpg) The Space Hunt playfield There are more than 120 RGB LEDs throughout the game, with a spinner, three illuminated drop targets, a mini-playfield and up to 4-ball multiball. On the playfield we have a complex arrangement of stainless steel ramps with a twelve-shot fan arrangement and an elevated mini-playfield. ![The flipper area with one inlane and one outlane on either side](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/space-hunt/011-space-hunt.jpg) The side Avobe the main two flippers are inserts relating to the eight main modes in the game: Hunt, Bomb, Hide, Wake Up, Safe, Spy, Sniper and Flight. The left outlane and inlane spell the letters H-U, while the top rollovers spell N-T and the right inlane and outlane complete the set with E-D, to spell H-U-N-T-E-D. ![The final two letters of H-U-N-T-E-D on the right inlane/outlane](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/space-hunt/006-space-hunt.jpg) The inlane/outlane Working clockwise around the playfield, there is a red circular Spherus standup target above the left inlane/outlane pairing. This is one of three red Spherus targets. Next comes a scoop to start missions and collect mystery and extra ball awards. There is a flasher dome on top to warn when the ball is about to be ejected. Above that is the left orbit lane which includes the game’s sole spinner. ![The spinner in the left orbit lane](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/space-hunt/009-space-hunt.jpg) The spinner in the left orbit lane To the right is the first ramp shot, which is a long steel ramp protected by a controlled RGB illuminated drop target which travels around the top of the playfield, leading to the game’s raised mini-playfield. ![The mini-playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/space-hunt/012-space-hunt.jpg) The mini-playfield The mini-playfield features a mini-flipper which can shoot the ball around a gravity loop. Once enough loops have been made, there is a pendulum target hanging in the central circular cutout to shoot. This drops the ball down onto the main playfield level, as does the Gravity Exit if the ball isn’t flipper quickly enough. The next major shot is the inner-left ramp which is one half of a pair of ramps leading to the left wireform ball return. ![The inner-left ramp feeds the left wireform ball return](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/space-hunt/005-space-hunt.jpg) The inner-left ramp feeds the left wireform ball return The wireform takes the ball down to the left inlane and back to the left flipper. The game’s ball lock is the next shot on our tour of the playfield. This is in roughly the same place as the Castle Lock on Medieval Madness, but this has another RGB-lit controlled drop target in the lock lane which leads through a one-way gate into a saucer. ![The lock lane](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/space-hunt/017-space-hunt.jpg) The lock lane The game’s second red Spherus standup targets is next, followed by the exit from the game’s pop bumper area. ![The central Spherus target](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/space-hunt/016-space-hunt.jpg) The central Spherus target ![The exit from the pop bumpers is on the right of the second Spherus target](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/space-hunt/013-space-hunt.jpg) The target There are two pop bumpers with two rollover lanes above which add the letters N & T to the spellout of H-U-N-T-E-D. ![One of the two pop bumpers](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/space-hunt/008-space-hunt.jpg) One of the two pop bumpers Next, we have the inner-right ramp which is a 180º ramp feeding a wireform to send the ball back to the right inlane. ![The Space Hunt playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/space-hunt/007-space-hunt.jpg) The Space Hunt playfield The next shot is the outer-right ramp which is the companion to the inner-left ramp, sending the ball to the centre and down the wireform to the left inlane. Then comes the right orbit lane which matches its counterpart on the left side. This is followed by the third red Spherus standup target and, finally, by a third RGB-lit controlled drop target which allows for a shot back into the shooter lane. ![Combo shots and playfield artwork](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/space-hunt/015-space-hunt.jpg) Combo shots and playfield artwork The game is available to pre-order, but at the time only appears to be sold by three distributors all of whom are based in France. Putting in a pre-order appears to require a deposit of €2,000 against the full price of €8,900 for the Standard Edition or €11,000 for the Elegance Package. These prices include 20% Value Added Tax which is the standard purchase tax rate across the European Union. For export orders outside the EU, the pre-tax price would be €7,417 and €9,167 for the Standard and Elegance models respectively. HEXA Pinball estimate they will start shipping Space Hunt in the fourth quarter of 2023. More details of the game, the team behind it and the storyline can be found on the HEXA Pinball website. If you are in France, you will get the opportunity to try Space Hunt for yourself at the upcoming Flipper Sud-Ouest show at Salon de Pontacq on June 10th & 11th.