Pinball Heroes: John Borg

The Pinball Blog·article·analyzed·Apr 11, 2009

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.023

TL;DR

John Borg interview: career highlights, design philosophy, upcoming Stern games after 24

Summary

The Pinball Blog interviews legendary designer John Borg about his career at Stern Pinball, covering his design philosophy, notable creations (Indiana Jones, Star Wars), licensing challenges, and upcoming projects. Borg discusses his multifaceted role as designer/mechanical engineer, his passion for ramp design, and hints at future titles including NBA and an unspecified "very cool theme," while expressing interest in designing The Munsters.

Key Claims

John Borg is currently designing and prototyping a game two releases ahead of game 24
high confidence · John Borg in direct interview: 'I am just about to prototype a game that is two games ahead of 24'
NBA will follow game 24, with a very cool theme following NBA
high confidence · John Borg: 'NBA will follow 24 and a very cool theme follows NBA'
Stern is looking at several titles for the year following NBA
medium confidence · John Borg: 'We are looking at several titles for next year. I'm really pushing for Munsters'
A rock and roll game themed on a major rock band was cancelled after 6 weeks of work, causing John Borg to lose two months due to rescheduling
high confidence · John Borg: 'I was working on a rock and roll game themed on the best rock and roll band of all time. Unfortunately the license didn't go through. I was devastated and lost two months of work'
Steve Ritchie was designing a game to follow game 24, but the license status is uncertain
high confidence · John Borg: 'Steve started a layout for a game. I'm not sure if the license is secured yet or if it will be produced or not'
Stern's staff is smaller than previously and John Borg wears many hats across design, engineering, rules, manuals, and prototype building
high confidence · John Borg: 'I am wearing a lot of hats these days as are many of the small staff at Stern'

Notable Quotes

“I am just about to prototype a game that is two games ahead of 24. I am gaining ground and trying to get ahead in order to give software as much time as possible on future product.”
John Borg — Reveals upcoming Stern pipeline and Borg's strategy to provide software teams adequate development time
“NBA will follow 24 and a very cool theme follows NBA. We are looking at several titles for next year. I'm really pushing for Munsters.”
John Borg — Explicitly names NBA as next release and hints at future titles; expresses personal interest in Munsters theme
“I was working on a rock and roll game themed on the best rock and roll band of all time. Unfortunately the license didn't go through. I was devastated and lost two months of work.”
John Borg — Clarifies the cancelled project was a rock band theme, not Transformers as rumored; indicates licensing failure as a significant disruption
“Ramps and BMX - they are both gratifying. I like smooth long shots with smooth curves and a soft landing.”
John Borg — Reveals personal design philosophy connecting BMX passion to iconic ramp-focused pinball design aesthetic
“Yes Slash had design input on the GnR game. Joe Kamikow asked Slash to dig up an unreleased GnR song to put in the game. That was really cool and a nice touch.”
John Borg — Confirms artist involvement in Guns N' Roses design and custom content creation

Entities

John BorgpersonStern PinballcompanyIndiana JonesgameGame 24productNBAgame The Munstersgame Star Warsgame Guns N' Rosesgame

Signals

?
business_signal: Stern's staff is notably smaller than in past; John Borg and team members wear multiple hats across design, engineering, production, and service roles
high · JB: 'I am wearing a lot of hats these days as are many of the small staff at Stern.'
?
design_philosophy: John Borg's design approach emphasizes ramp innovation with smooth long shots, smooth curves, and soft landings; connected to his BMX riding passion (restarted 2006) for gratifying mechanical experiences
high · JB: 'I like smooth long shots with smooth curves and a soft landing... they are both gratifying.'
?
licensing_signal: Rock and roll game based on major band was cancelled after licensing failed; forced John Borg to restart work and contributed two months of delay to the schedule
high · JB: 'I was working on a rock and roll game themed on the best rock and roll band of all time. Unfortunately the license didn't go through. I was devastated and lost two months of work.'
?
personnel_signal: Multiple legendary designers and engineers have left Stern (Ray Tanzer, Steve Ritchie, others); John Borg expresses missing Ray, Steve, George, Pat, Keith, and Dwight, hoping they might return when economy improves
high · JB: 'I miss Ray, Steve, George, Pat, Keith and Dwight. Maybe when the economy comes back some of the guys might come back.'
?
product_strategy: John Borg explicitly confirms NBA as next Stern title after Game 24, with an unspecified 'very cool theme' following NBA, and multiple titles under consideration for the following year

Topics

John Borg career retrospective and design philosophyprimaryStern Pinball upcoming game pipeline and roadmapprimaryLicensing challenges and failed acquisition attemptsprimaryRamp design and mechanical innovationsecondaryStern organizational structure and staffingsecondaryArtist collaboration and licensing partnershipssecondaryComparing Stern remakes to classic Williams gamesmentioned

Sentiment

positive(0.82)— Interview tone is celebratory and nostalgic; Borg expresses enthusiasm about current work ('really nice game', 'awesome'), personal pride in accomplishments, and fondness for past colleagues. Frustration about failed rock band license is evident but quickly overcome by Indiana Jones opportunity. Overall reflects contentment with career and current role.

Transcript

web_scrape · $0.000

There aren't many guys who still design pinball machines in the 21st century, but The Pinball Blog tracked down John Borg who can make that claim. The Pinball Blog. So you're John Borg, one of the only people on the planet who can still claim to be a pinball designer! What are your current responsibilities at Stern and who else does what? John Borg. I am wearing a lot of hats these days as are many of the small staff at Stern. I am designing and a mechanical engineer, working with artists on concepts and content, Designing game rules with software, Creating the game manual with service and parts sale departments. I work with purchasing and production and building prototypes (whitewood game). I also put out fires. Gary Stern and Marc Schoenberg are handling our licensing contacts. Kevin O'Connor and John Youssi are creating art packages. Mark Galvez is producing Dot Matrix art. Lonnie D. Ropp and Lyman Sheets are the software engineers. John Rothermel and Robert Blakeman are the mechanical engineers. Patrick Powers and Dorothy Brown are Service and Part Sales. Sheridan Oursler is producing our Bill of Materials, Cable design and handles all of our Engineering prototype orders and change notices. He is a Jack of all trades. Ed Spears runs purchasing and Don Thorn runs Production. We are certainly a smaller group than we were last. I am just about to prototype a game that is two games ahead of 24. I am gaining ground and trying to get ahead in order to give software as much time as possible on future product. 24 turned out to be a very nice game and is being well received. The two games that will follow 24 will be awesome as well. TPB. From all the machines you've been involved with, which are you most proud of? Commercial success, or personal favourite or innovation. JB. This is a tough question Nick. I would have to say Data East Star Wars which was my first game. Indiana Jones which was my first game since I returned to Stern in 2007. My Frankenstein monster on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein game, the Moon and Rocket assemblies I designed for Apollo 13. Also have to add the Electro magnetic spinning Disc I designed for the Twister game and the door handle shooter on Tales from the Crypt. TPB. You like your ramp shots on pinball machines, is this anything to do with your passion for BMX bikes? Do you still ride? JB. Ramps and BMX - Bmx was a part of my life that ended in the early 80's. I started again in 2006. It was a mid life crisis thing. When I started again I never thought I would be getting 5-6 feet in the air again at my age but I have. What a rush !!!! As far as pinball ramps go, I like smooth long shots with smooth curves and a soft landing. Bmx ramps are sharp and abrupt and the landing is not very soft. The similarity between the two is they are both gratifying. TPB. How difficult is it to work on a license like Indiana Jones when the theme has already been produced with much success as a pinball machine and the two will always be compared. JB. I had a great time working on Indy Jones. I didn't have the budget or the timeframe that they had at Williams back in the day. However we did make a really nice playing game with a great multiball introduction and some of the best Dot Matrix work I have ever seen on a pinball game. The Arc of the Covenant is a really cool pinball toy. TPB. A little birdie tells me you were working on Transformers as a pinball license for around 6 weeks before this was put on hold to concentrate on Indiana Jones. Is that the nature of the industry or is it a major frustration? How far had you got and is it likely to ever be finished? JB. I wasn't working on Transformers. I was working on a rock and roll game themed on the best rock and roll band of all time. Unfortunately the license didn't go through. I was devastated and lost two months of work. I was really glad to get the Indiana Jones theme but still had to have a game ready for the same time slot. TPB. When Ray Tanzer left Stern, you came in to run engineering and were given the schedule of the next 6 titles. I understand those 6 machines have since changed. Are you able to give us an exclusive on what's coming up from Stern Pinball? JB. We didn't have a schedule of 6 titles at the time. NBA will follow 24 and a very cool theme follows NBA. We are looking at several titles for next year. I'm really pushing for Munsters. I miss Ray, Steve, George, Pat, Keith and Dwight. Maybe when the economy comes back some of the guys might come back. Hopefully before I'm in a rubber room in a straight jacket. TPB. You designed Guns n' Roses and Slash also has a design credit. How much involvement did he really have with the design, did you get to meet him and did you party/jam with him? JB. Yes Slash had design input on the GnR game. Joe Kamikow asked Slash to dig up an unreleased GnR song to put in the game. That was really cool and a nice touch. I visited Slash in LA and he came out to visit us a couple times. I still have the Jack Daniels bottle. We had a great time with him. When I visited him in California his 6 month old cougar Curtis pinned me and had his mouth around my neck. Never pet a cougar on his belly !!!!! I just layed there calmly until he was finished playing with me. I figured if he bit down hard it would have been over quickly. TPB. Steve Ritchie may have moved on from pinball but I hear he was designing a game to follow 24, is it something that is likely to be finished and if not, (or even if so) can you tell us what it was? JB. Steve started a layout for a game. I'm not sure if the license is secured yet or if it will be produced or not. Can't say what it is at this time. TPB. How much time/money is spent on a machine like Richie Rich as a one-off movie prop and do you know where the machine is today (I believe it was given to someone at Stern, but subsequently sold)? JB. Well the playfield was a Lethal Weapon III. The artwork had to be produced and screens needed to be made. A few weeks of Dot Martix work, sound and programming. A custom game would not come cheap. I remember we made a few games for Aaron Spelling. We had a special artist come in and decorate the cabinets. He painted them to look like marble that matched the marble in Mr. Spelling's home. These games were a present from his wife. TPB. Finally, I always ask our Pinball Heroes to sum up their involvement in pinball in one word or sentence. JB. JACKPOT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Many thanks to John Borg for taking the time to answer our questions and for his great answers. If you would like to see YOUR Pinball Hero interviewed drop us a line and we'll try and make it happen! More Pinball Heroes coming soon. Cheers Nick The Pinball Blog John Borg Photo Courtesy The PinGame Journal