New Jersey Jack Pinball Rumor: Sonic the Hedgehog is Next, but the Music Pin After Might Not Be What We Think...; Big Update for John Wick; Rare Prototype Game

TL;DR

JJP's post-Sonic roadmap unclear: Van Halen or Michael Jackson?; John Wick gets major code update.

Summary

Key Claims

• Jersey Jack's next pinball machine is Sonic the Hedgehog

  high confidence · Knapp Arcade editor states this is 'pretty much accepted as fact' in the community

• Jersey Jack has the license to make a Van Halen pinball game

  high confidence · Knapp Arcade author claims personal knowledge: 'I also personally know for a fact that the game after Sonic is a music pin and that Jersey Jack does have the license to make a game based upon the band Van Halen'

• A new rumor claims the game after Sonic will be a Mark Seiden-designed Michael Jackson pinball machine

  medium confidence · Knapp Arcade reports 'The new rumor says that the game after Sonic, will be a Mark Seiden-designed pin based on the music of...the legendary music star Michael Jackson'

• Whispers have circulated for years that JJP is considering making a Michael Jackson game, but nothing has come of it

  medium confidence · Knapp Arcade notes 'There's been whispers on and off for years that JJP is considering making a Michael Jackson game, but nothing has ever come of it'

• Stern's John Wick received a code update to Version 1.01.0 with new wizard modes

  high confidence · Knapp Arcade reports the update includes 'Red Circle Reckoning, The Duel (Part II), and Special Assignment Wizard Modes'

• Zombie Yeti created artwork for a prototype KISS pinball machine at John Popadiuk's Zidware company nearly a decade ago

  high confidence · Knapp Arcade reports Zombie Yeti shared the artwork on Facebook and confirmed this history

Notable Quotes

• “It's pretty much accepted as fact that Jersey Jack's next pinball machine is going to be based on SEGA's Sonic the Hedgehog, the game not the movies.”

  Knapp Arcade editor (Jason Knapp implied) @ opening paragraph — Establishes community consensus on JJP's immediate roadmap

• “I also personally know for a fact that the game after Sonic is a music pin and that Jersey Jack does have the license to make a game based upon the band Van Halen...BUT there's a new rumor out there.”

  Knapp Arcade editor @ early section — Claims insider knowledge of Van Halen license but acknowledges competing rumors about Michael Jackson

• “The new rumor says that the game after Sonic, will be a Mark Seiden-designed pin based on the music of...the legendary music star Michael Jackson.”

  Knapp Arcade editor @ early section — Introduces speculative intel about potential post-Sonic title

• “I still strongly believe that JJP Van Halen is coming at some point. If not next then down the line.”

  Knapp Arcade editor @ early section — Author expresses confidence in Van Halen despite Michael Jackson rumor

• “This new update - Version 1.01.0 seems much more like the real 1.0 to me.”

  Knapp Arcade editor @ John Wick section — Suggests initial release v1.0 was incomplete; this update represents the true launch state

Entities

Signals

• ?

  machine_intel: Jersey Jack Pinball holds confirmed licenses for both Van Halen and has long-standing interest in Michael Jackson, with competing roadmap rumors suggesting uncertainty about which music license will be executed next after Sonic

  high · Author claims personal knowledge of Van Halen license, but new Michael Jackson rumor creates roadmap ambiguity

• ?

  product_launch: JJP's post-Sonic roadmap is contested: author confirms a music game is next but conflicts exist between Van Halen (author's belief) and Michael Jackson (emerging rumor)

  medium · Two competing claims about the second music-themed title post-Sonic with no official confirmation

• ?

  code_update: Stern's John Wick v1.01.0 released with major gameplay additions (three new wizard modes), suggesting initial v1.0 was incomplete or rushed; author characterizes this as the 'real' 1.0

  high · Update includes Red Circle Reckoning, The Duel (Part II), Special Assignment wizard modes; editor states update seems more complete than original release

• ?

  design_innovation: Prototype KISS pinball machine designed at Zidware nearly a decade ago with artwork by Zombie Yeti; footage may exist of the design process filmed on camera

  high · Zombie Yeti shared photos on Facebook; author notes footage may be available and expresses interest in its release

• ?

  rumor_hype: Long-running community whispers about JJP Michael Jackson pinball game have persisted for years with no materialization; new rumor suggests it may finally be in development with Mark Seiden