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Elton John Pinball Launch - Pinball Expo 2023 - Pinball News

Pinball News (Pinball Expo 2023)·video·21m 7s·analyzed·Oct 20, 2023
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claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.030

TL;DR

JJP launches Elton John pinball with 1,600 LEDs and custom Elton John voice work.

Summary

Steve Ritchie and Jersey Jack Pinball leadership announce the Elton John pinball machine at Pinball Expo 2023, a premium game featuring 1,600+ RGB LEDs, custom voice work from Elton John himself, and a 1,000-unit Collector's Edition run. Ritchie delivers an extended thank-you speech acknowledging the large team effort behind the game's development, highlighting mechanical innovation and cross-functional collaboration between engineers, artists, and software developers.

Key Claims

  • Elton John CE has over 1,600 RGB LEDs compared to Wizard of Oz's 139 RGB LEDs

    high confidence · Steve Ritchie directly states this specification comparison during product launch presentation

  • Jersey Jack produced 1,000 Collector's Edition units of Elton John

    high confidence · Jersey Jack leadership announces CE production run before indicating most sold at Expo

  • Steve Ritchie games historically make money on location

    medium confidence · Jersey Jack leadership claim based on Ritchie's track record as operator and designer, not specific sales data

  • Elton John personally approved all game elements and recorded custom speech

    high confidence · Jersey Jack leadership confirms Elton John's direct involvement in game approval and voice recording

  • Steve Ritchie joined Jersey Jack Pinball from Stern

    high confidence · Ritchie explicitly references how things came apart at Stern and came together at JJP

  • The game includes cartoon content exclusive to Elton John concert performances never before used elsewhere

    high confidence · Ritchie describes obtaining concert-exclusive cartoon assets from a 40-year associate

Notable Quotes

  • “Nobody makes a game like Jersey Jack pinball...what you have is probably one of his best games that he ever created.”

    Jersey Jack Pinball Leadership@ 2:26 — Sets tone for product positioning as premium offering from boutique manufacturer

  • “The CE version of this game has over 1,600 RGB LEDs. And when you see it, when you play it, you'll be in love.”

    Jersey Jack Pinball Leadership@ 3:56 — Key technical specification highlight differentiating CE from standard versions; dramatic increase from previous generation

  • “It's Elton John. It's the soundtrack of so many people's lives, whether they're in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, even older. Everybody loves Elton John.”

    Jersey Jack Pinball Leadership@ 4:09 — Articulates broad market appeal rationale for licensing IP

  • “Just the way things came apart at Stern and came together at Jersey Jack, it definitely worked out. And I have to say that this is one of the best teams I've ever worked with.”

    Steve Ritchie@ 4:53 — Confirms Ritchie's transition from Stern to JJP and expresses satisfaction with team dynamics

  • “The Steve Ritchie game isn't really a Steve Ritchie game. It's a whole lot of people doing great work.”

    Steve Ritchie@ 5:31 — Establishes collaborative design philosophy and sets up extended team recognition segment

  • “I spent more time working with Chris than anyone else on the team. He's a mechanical engineer and spectacular, professional, seasoned, awesome.”

    Steve Ritchie — Highlights Chris Talco as primary mechanical collaborator on Elton John design

Entities

Steve RitchiepersonJersey Jack PinballcompanyElton JohnpersonChris TalcopersonBill GrupppersonJoe KatzpersonDan Moulterperson

Signals

  • ?

    community_signal: Pinball Expo 2023 serves as major announcement venue; organized by Rob Burke with volunteer support; high-energy community engagement

    high · Extended public acknowledgment of Rob Burke and volunteers; large audience present for announcement; game playable at event

  • ?

    competitive_signal: Jersey Jack positioning Elton John as premium product differentiator ('nobody makes a game like Jersey Jack'); emphasis on technical innovation and designer reputation

    high · JJP leadership opening statement positions JJP above competitors; Ritchie's prominent hire and game quality emphasized as differentiator

  • ?

    design_philosophy: Collaborative, team-based design approach at Jersey Jack with emphasis on cross-functional harmony; Ritchie specifically notes pleasant team environment contrasted with industry strife

    high · Ritchie: 'I see so much strife going on between software guys that this was a pleasant relief'; extended team recognition segment highlights mechanical, software, art, and electronics integration

  • ?

    licensing_signal: Elton John personally involved in game production, approving all elements and recording custom voice work; exclusive concert cartoon content obtained for game

    high · Ritchie explicitly states Elton John 'approved everything' and 'even did custom speech'; describes obtaining concert-exclusive cartoon assets from 40-year associate

  • $

    market_signal: 1,000-unit CE production run announced; majority reported as sold at Expo launch event

    high · JJP leadership: 'we're making 1,000 CEs. A whole bunch of them got sold today. I don't know if it's sold out, but it's going to be sold out'

Transcript

youtube_groq_whisper · $0.063

0:00
Okay Jack, it's over to you. Thank you Gary. Well, we're a raucous crowd down here. Can you make some more noise? How about this Pinball Expo? How about Pinball Expo? Anybody think Rob Burke? Thank you, Rob Burke, Bridget Burke, all the Burkasses family, everybody. Thank you for doing this, all you volunteers. It's great.
0:37
Martin, what are you guys doing? You going into the video? Can you put this mic up, rather? Can you both see me? That's good.
0:55
Okay. You going to do the video? Sounds like it. I know. He's in the process of fixing it. Louder! Yo!
1:11
That's one, too. That was not on. I think you better keep talking. Why? Isn't he doing his thing? Is Martin going to put a video? Yes?
1:35
Yes. Martin, you got any video? Okay, well, Martin's getting his act together. I got to say that it's an exciting time to introduce a new pinball machine. And people, there's a lot of people making games and we respect all of them, but being Jersey Jack, I can tell all of you that nobody makes a game like Jersey Jack pinball.
@ 6:00

  • “I see so much strife going on between software guys that this was a pleasant relief. So everybody got along pretty good.”

    Steve Ritchie@ 5:06 — Comments on unusually positive team environment contrasted with industry interpersonal conflicts

  • “That upper right flipper, I never saw an upper right flipper that could make all those shots. I can make one shot on that ten times in a row. I love it.”

    Steve Ritchie@ 20:29 — Highlights specific mechanical innovation in flipper placement and shot accessibility

  • “Go out and buy this game. It's one of the greatest games I've ever played.”

    Steve Ritchie@ 20:25 — Designer endorsement of final product quality

  • “You're a pain in the ass to work with. Thanks a lot. You did a great job.”

    Steve Ritchie@ 20:39 — Humorous but revealing comment about Ritchie's collaborative relationships and work approach

    • JP DeWin
    person
    Chris Franchiperson
    Olaf Grimmieperson
    Mark Seidenperson
    Ken Cromwellperson
    Rob Burkeperson
    Pierce Colbertperson
    John Yowseyperson
    Michael J. Foxperson
    Pat Lawlorperson
    Wizard of Ozgame
    Stern Pinballcompany
    Pinball Expo 2023event
  • ?

    personnel_signal: Steve Ritchie transition from Stern Pinball to Jersey Jack Pinball; confirmed as major designer hire

    high · Ritchie states 'things came apart at Stern and came together at Jersey Jack'; JJP leadership highlights Ritchie recruitment as strategic priority

  • ?

    announcement: Official launch of Elton John pinball machine at Pinball Expo 2023 with full technical specifications (1,600+ RGB LEDs, custom voice work, 1,000-unit CE run)

    high · Jersey Jack leadership and Steve Ritchie present game to community at major industry event; game playable at expo; CEs reported as selling out or near sold-out

  • ?

    product_strategy: Elton John features upper-right flipper with shot accessibility innovation; described by designer as unique mechanical achievement

    medium · Ritchie: 'That upper right flipper, I never saw an upper right flipper that could make all those shots'; highlighted as design innovation point

  • ?

    product_strategy: Significant LED lighting system evolution: 1,600+ RGB LEDs in Elton John CE compared to 139 in Wizard of Oz; described as industry-leading specification

    high · Jersey Jack leadership provides direct LED count comparison; positions as major technical advancement for boutique manufacturer

  • ?

    licensing_signal: Elton John IP licensing includes exclusive concert performance content never previously released; artist actively participated in game production

    high · Ritchie describes obtaining 'cartoon stuff that's never been anywhere except in Elton John's concert performances'; Elton John recorded custom voice work

    • 2:12
    One of the things that was really important to us, we wanted to get Steve Ritchie into the company. He's been a friend for a long time, and I believe in him and a lot of what he did. And right there, ladies and gentlemen, what you have is probably one of his best games that he ever created. Him and his team, they went all out. They went all out. They made a pinball machine that plays like it should. It checks all the boxes. The game is fast. It's fun. It puts a smile on your face. I've been playing mine for a couple of months, bragging, bragging. and it's really, really a great game. I know on location Steve Ritchie games make money. I was an operator, so don't have any fear about putting this on location. We made a new model. We made the Platinum Edition. It has radcals that sparkle. It has a topper. It has inner rock blades, and we're making 1,000 CEs. A whole bunch of them got sold today. I don't know if it's sold out, but it's going to be sold out. Spectacular game, and the whole team that did it, they deserve a lot of credit for doing all the work they did.
    3:24
    You know, when Steve came to the company, the expectation was he was going to make a good game, and I can tell you that he failed miserably.
    3:36
    He made a great game, made a great game with the team, and, you know, he pushed the boundaries of what we could do at Jersey Jack Pinball. I just give you one little statistic. Wizard of Oz. Wizard of Oz was a really groundbreaking, award-winning game. It had 139 RGB LEDs in it. Okay? The CE version of this game has over 1,600 RGB LEDs.
    4:01
    Okay? And when you see it, when you play it, you'll be in love. I'm just, you know, it's Elton John. It's the soundtrack of so many people's lives, whether they're in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, even older. Everybody loves Elton John. He's a great humanitarian. It was wonderful to work with him, and he approved everything, and he even did custom speech for the game, which is kind of humbling, which is great.
    4:34
    Is this thing on? Test 1-2. Hello, Test 1-2. Can you hear that? All right, all right. First of all, it's great to be back at Pinball Expo. It's ten times better to be back with a game.
    4:50
    It's been a long time for me. We haven't had a game. Just the way things came apart at Stern and came together at Jersey Jack, it definitely worked out. And I have to say that this is one of the best teams I've ever worked with. Especially I mean I going to say everybody but I just got to say that I seen so much strife going on between software guys that this was a pleasant relief So everybody got along pretty good and I do like that How you doing?
    5:25
    Anyway, I'd like to tell you people that, what I always say, the Steve Ritchie game isn't really a Steve Ritchie game. It's a whole lot of people doing great work. And they're here tonight with me. And they all think they're going to get away with some hiding over here where I can't really, where they don't want to be called, really. They don't want to at all. But some are probably in the audience, I hope. Is Chris Talco here?
    5:54
    Oh, there he is. He stands up. This guy is a mighty. I spent more time working with Chris than anyone else on the team. He's a mechanical engineer and spectacular, professional, seasoned, awesome.
    6:13
    Next guy I'm going to talk about is Bill Grupp. Bill Grupp, get out here. No hiding. Bill did the lead software.
    6:26
    But I got to say, I mean, it was so peaceful. These three brothers who have two new ones. Three brothers meaning Bill, Duncan. How do you spell his name? I think it's D-U-N-K-I-N. I'm pretty sure. Duncan. Yeah, that's it. And, of course, Joe Katz. He's the guy over here who had the glasses on but doesn't. Joe Katz right there. He's not moving. How about that?
    6:54
    All right, that was something. Okay, after that, we've got a young guy who, I mean, I was so grateful to meet him because he has these great talents with making things and great ideas and good engineering. And his name is Dan Lachek. Where's that guy?
    7:20
    I'm grateful to know him. And also, he's taught me a lot of stuff about machinery and, well, just good information. We have exchanged heavy-duty stuff.
    7:31
    Okay, after that, I'm going to announce Dan Moulter, who probably isn't here. Are you here, Dan? Damn it!
    7:40
    He's probably going to be in trouble, maybe Monday or something like that. I don't know. All right, anyway, Dan is the lead mechanical engineer. I shouldn't say that. He is the boss of mechanical engineering. And he did a lot of good work. He's not here to receive the kudos, but whatever. I can't, I can't. He's probably mad at me. That's what I think. Okay, so then we got, we have this young guy. I mean, I was really happy to see him come through the door because he was working at Stern also. And he is Nick Jensen.
    8:21
    Nick is responsible for a lot of stuff, but how the crocodile rocks and also the entire topper, the whole scene, he's great with them. And I'm glad he was on the team to do some great work. After that, I would like to say hello to Tony.
    8:40
    It's a long one. Is he here? Tony, where are you? Okay, electronics. He's like crazy good. I know it sounds like a broken record, but Tony is someone who works insanely hard. I'm being polite. He's a great guy, and he gets a lot done. He's incredible, but he's also insane.
    9:07
    Okay, then we got a guy that came to the company recently. He's been a great asset. We have communicated extremely well because he knows pinball very well and walked in and started helping us build the games. And this is, he's hiding over there again, Drew Young. Step out, Jack.
    9:31
    Lots of good stuff. After that, mechanical engineer Ernesto Velasquez. Are you here, Ernie?
    9:42
    Hey, how about that? mechanical engineering and other things. After that, I would like to say thank you very much to, wow, Mark Molitor. Is he here? Oh, there he is. Get out here. Can't hide. No hiding.
    10:02
    He's our resident artist at Jersey Jack. He does many things. I'm grateful to know him, and he helped a hell of a lot on the game. next guy is a young man who's I mean we kind of grabbed him up you know and I had no idea that he was coming or even that we were looking for I guess I knew we were looking for someone but I had no idea all of a sudden comes this man and he a young guy I love working with him for audio he already hip he already like he 45 but he not pierce colbert step out please sir after that i gotta get uh handed out i hate this though because the guy has got a big head chris francy right there artwork he doesn't have a big head we got along well I also love the artwork I want to say that publicly all of it I love it I get a lot of bad artwork on my games I don't know if you guys have noticed ever seen a flash close up how about Star Wars back glass with no absolutely no perspective alright never mind that alright so we're going to go on to actually another artist. He's probably not here. I wish he was. John Yowsey, who did a lot of the CE model. Also, I've worked with him many times too. It's always a pleasure. He's just good.
    11:40
    After that, I have to give a hand to J.P. DeWin. I love the artwork. This is the guy that coordinated everything. OK, he's a spectacular artist and and we had some arguments, but they were small and he won them all. So. All right. So next, we're going to talk about Mark Seiden. Where are you, Mark? Hey. Oh, he's brave. He stood up. I'm so glad.
    12:15
    Mark Seiden started out as an apprentice. He had already made his own game. Um, Megatropolis. Was that, that's not the name. What was it? Oh, right, Metroid, yes.
    12:33
    Okay, I didn't get it right. I've only played it like once, and it was a long time ago. Anyway, Mark was a ton of help on this game. In the very beginning, he's the only guy I had, and he's got a lot of good ideas, too. and he is I think he's going to be a great game designer he has a game and that's all I'm going to say about that okay wow who's next I hate to say this but I have to call Olaf Grimmie this man if you look at the animations on this game I swear to God they blow away any game I've ever seen before, and I love them. He, John Paul, they do magic. That's it. All the way from the Netherlands.
    13:29
    Somebody else here from the Netherlands, eh? All right. Let's see. Next guy. It ain't a guy. It's Crystal Gemnick. Is she here? Crystal, stand up!
    13:47
    Probably many of you know her. She's a pinball person from way back and she has an interesting job and a much needed job at Jersey Jack and also she helped us build the games and I like that. I like guys who build games. I can't help it. Anyway, thank you. Also, Ted Estes, is he here? No, he said he couldn't make it. Also, software, he did some, yeah. He is here. All right. I'm blind. I'm sorry.
    14:23
    You did say you couldn't be here. All right. Here we go. The next guy is, wow, Jason Allen. Jason Allen, where are you? This is a rookie at Stern. I'm sorry. A rookie at Journey Jack. Oh, my God.
    14:44
    He's done some very nice work. You will see it as you play the game in lighting, probably other things that I don't know about. But I'm very impressed with him for him and his buddy Taylor to come here to our company. I'm really glad they caught on so quick, and they're flying through now. And I love their enthusiasm about pinball. It's just a special thing, and a lot of people never get that.
    15:08
    They both have it, and I'm thankful. Thank you all. After that, we're talking about Nate Lawinger. Is he here? Where's Nate?
    15:21
    No Nate. Nate is a Bill of Materials guy, but what I really like is when he comes by and says, can't put that nut on there because this nut is on the Bill of Materials. Okay. He tells me every part that we need to use. He knows all the part numbers. I don't know any part numbers. I'm not a part number guy. I never was and never will be.
    15:41
    Anyway, we thank you, Nate. And we have Eric Miller Eric Miller are you here Guess not Also electronic engineering very good and life testing He done a good job for us making sure all these things last a long time
    15:59
    After that, I have to, Ashley Peterson, are you here? Awesome! Also in the electronics department. The whole company comes out. I love it. Except Ted Estes. he didn't show up. No, he did. Never mind.
    16:18
    After that, I've got to give a huge thanks to Ken Cromwell. He has done so many things. He's bashful.
    16:34
    Anyway, he makes us look good. I love that. He's also a very creative guy. Why don't we try this? So let me try that. He just, yeah, okay. Interesting stuff.
    16:48
    Man. The other guy I'm going to thank, he doesn't want to be thanked, but he's going to be. For many, many things he's done at Jersey Jack, not specifically on Elton John, but on just about everything he touches. I think for a while sometimes the company wouldn't work without him. And his name is Michael J. Fox. Where are you, Mike? Where are you?
    17:12
    Show me. Show your face. There he is. He's right back there. He begged me not to tell you that. Okay. He didn't want to be mentioned. Okay. Last but not least. No, not last but not least.
    17:28
    Is Leslie Torres. And she's not here, I'm pretty sure. Maybe. No. Anyway, she's the HR lady. And I have to say thank you to her for pulling me, you know, pulling some of this trash, garbage that, I mean, just stuff I have to do every day. I don't want to do it. I want to make a game. And she's helped me an awful lot. I'm not saying that, what am I saying? I just say that she's a very nice lady who understood that, hey, I'm not getting any younger. I can't read as good without glasses, you know, and I'm just grateful that she's helped me through a number of circumstances.
    18:05
    There's another guy I want to thank, too. It's like, this guy, I've been friends with him for 40 years, and it's like he got us every damn thing you could possibly want for Elton John. It's just, and we didn't get what we want. He got it anyway. And there are several things. Like there's some cartoon stuff that's never been anywhere except in Elton John's concert performances, and we got all those cartoons that he runs behind himself when he's during the show, and it's awesome. And it's like, I just, it's incredible.
    18:46
    And then there's one more guy. Who was that guy? No, it's the same guy. Who was that guy? He kind of guessed it, I think. I might have given it away. I don't know. It's like.
    18:58
    Where's that guy? Who's the other guy? I was trying to figure out who the guy was. No, I'm just kidding. All right. It's Jack.
    19:12
    He goes the extra mile for lunches, and I very much appreciate it. And, folks, that's what I have to say tonight.
    19:21
    We're going to invite you all to come and play the games. We've got some toys and glasses and stuff to pass out. So before you do that, King. What's that? Before you do that, King, you know, what happens when you thank people individually? You leave some people out. You know? You did a good job. What? You did a good job. You did a good job! Thank you. I'm happy to be, I'm not happy to be an athlete. But you forgot Eric Mignot.
    19:47
    You forgot Eric. You forgot Olaf. Right? Olaf. Oh, you mentioned Olaf. Okay, well, I want to thank Pat Lawler. Where the hell is Pat Lawler? Is he here?
    20:12
    Pat came. I'm glad you came. I want to thank all of you, really, because without you, we don't have a company. And what I would say is go out and buy this game.
    20:22
    And that's Jersey Jack telling you that. Go buy this game. It's one of the greatest games I've ever played. That upper right flipper, I never saw an upper right flipper that could make all those shots. I can make one shot on that ten times in a row. I love it. The Orbit, Steve, you did a great job. You're a pain in the ass to work with.
    20:43
    Thanks a lot. You did a great job. Shall we let these people play the games? Yes! Let's go! And good night, and thank you.
    20:52
    Also, this is the only night I'm going to be here. If you want an autograph, bring up your stuff. I will not be here for the rest of the show. If anybody...