Stern Reintroduces Home Models

Pinball News Website·article·held·Oct 1, 2012

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.017

TL;DR

Stern launches Transformers The Pin home model for $2,999, smaller/simpler than arcade version.

Summary

Stern Pinball announced the Transformers The Pin, a home-market scaled-down pinball machine released October 1, 2012, under the new Stern Home Arcade brand. The machine features a smaller cabinet (20% reduction per dimension), LED displays instead of dot matrix, and a redesigned playfield with a spinning All-Spark cube at center. Priced at $3,999.99 list ($2,999.99 on Amazon with exclusive US distribution through 2012), the machine represents Stern's second attempt at affordable home models following unsuccessful Classic versions of Batman and Iron Man.

Key Claims

Stern previously attempted home models (Classic Batman and Iron Man) without much commercial success
high confidence · Pinball News article opening, historical context provided by publisher
Transformers The Pin is 20% smaller in each dimension and occupies about half the overall volume of the full-size commercial machine
high confidence · Detailed specifications comparing dimensions: 21.5" wide vs 27", 43" long vs 55", 64" high vs 75.5"
The All-Spark Cube is repositioned to the center of the playfield as a spinning toy similar to the genie lamp on Tales of the Arabian Nights
high confidence · Playfield redesign description in article and photo captions
Amazon has exclusive rights to sell Transformers The Pin in the US through the remainder of 2012
high confidence · Official Stern press release quoted in article and ordering instructions
The home model removes the dot matrix display entirely, replacing it with two 8-digit LED displays and limiting play to two players
high confidence · Technical specifications in article describing backbox changes

Notable Quotes

“The Pin is specifically designed to provide quality family entertainment and bring pinball to more homes everywhere. TRANSFORMERS is a great title for the entire family and we're very pleased to add The Pin model to our TRANSFORMERS offering.”
Gary Stern, Founder, CEO and Chairman of Stern Pinball, Inc. @ 1st October, 2012 (press release date) — Official product positioning: home market entry point for families, not hardcore players
“They tried it before with Classic versions of Batman and Iron Man without much success, but now Stern Pinball Inc have brought out a new home version of their Transformers model in time for the holiday season.”
[name withheld pending review] @ 1st October, 2012 — Acknowledges previous failed home market initiatives and frames Transformers Pin as a renewed attempt

Entities

Stern Pinball Inc.companyTransformers The PinproductHasbrocompany Gary SternpersonAmazoncompanyTransformersgameStern Home ArcadeproductThe Playdium Storecompany

Signals

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product_strategy: Stern introduces scaled-down, affordable home pinball line (Stern Home Arcade brand) targeting families and entry-level buyers after previous failures with Classic Batman and Iron Man models
high · Transformers Pin priced at $3,999 list ($2,999 on Amazon), 20% smaller cabinet, simplified features (LED vs dot matrix), positioned as 'quality family entertainment' and 'entry into rapidly growing community of pinball play'
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product_launch: Official release of Transformers Pin (home version) on October 1, 2012, under new Stern Home Arcade brand umbrella
high · Press release date, official announcement via Stern website, coverage by Pinball News, exclusive retail partnerships announced
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licensing_signal: Hasbro-Stern licensing agreement expands beyond commercial machines to home market; Transformers brand leveraged across both arcade and home product tiers
high · Official press release states 'Under license from Hasbro, Stern is now proud to be adding an additional pinball game model to its lineup' (Transformers Pin as distinct from commercial Transformers)
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market_signal: Stern employs aggressive discount strategy for home market entry; Amazon exclusive pricing ($2,999) discounted $1,000 from list price ($3,999.99), suggesting volume/market-share focus over margin
high · List price $3,999.99, Amazon exclusive price $2,999.99 with shipping included (25% discount), exclusive distribution rights granted to drive early adoption
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design_innovation: Transformers Pin features significant mechanical redesign: All-Spark Cube repositioned to center with spinning mechanism (inspired by Tales of the Arabian Nights genie lamp); playfield reduced but retains core commercial components (flippers, slingshots, bumpers, tempered glass)

Transcript

raw_text · $0.000

Date: 1st October, 2012 They tried it before with Classic versions of Batman and Iron Man without much success, but now Stern Pinball Inc have brought out a new home version of their Transformers model in time for the holiday season. Stern's Transformers Pin backbox image The new model is dubbed the Transformers Pin and this time they have gone further in cutting features, taking out the dot matrix display completely and replacing it with two 8-digit LED displays, thus limiting play to just two players at a time. Stern's new Transformers Pin home model A single speaker and cut-down backbox complete the upper part of the machine, while at the bottom four height-adjustable legs are bolted into the inside of the cabinet. The backbox image, displays and speaker The playfield has also redesigned but retains a few features of the commercial models including the same flippers, slingshots, pop bumpers and plunger, plus tempered glass covering the playfield. The Transformers Pin game The playfield The All-Spark Cube has moved to the centre of the playfield and become a spinning toy like the genie lamp on Tales of the Arabian Nights. Playfield detail There is a spinner and what appears to be a drop target in front of the entrance to the right ramp. The left ramp entrance is now a vertical 180° curve while the whole playfield is lit with LEDs. The game weighs in at 120 pounds and is somewhat smaller than one of the commercial models at 21.5" wide (vs 27"), 43" long (vs 55") and 64" high (vs 75.5"). That makes it around 20% smaller in each dimension occupying about half the overall volume of the full-scale machine. The Transformers Pin's price is not cut by the same amount though. Its list price is $3,999.99, although it is available through Amazon (who have the exclusive rights to sell in the US for the remainder of the year) for a $1,000 discount at $2999.99 including shipping. In Canada, the Transformers Pin will be available exclusively through Starburst Coin/The Playdium Store, although prices there haven't been announced yet. Stern put out a press release about the new Transformers Pin model, which they say is part of the Stern Home Arcade brand, suggesting Transformers Pin may be the start of a new series aimed at home game buyers. Stern Pinball Introduces the TRANSFORMERS™ Pin™ - Stylish, Affordable Pinball Entertainment for the Home Innovative TRANSFORMERS™ Pin™ To Be Released under the Stern Home Arcade™ Brand MELROSE PARK, IL – October 1, 2012 – Today, Stern Pinball, Inc., the world’s only maker of real pinball games, introduced the TRANSFORMERS™ Pin™, a stylish, affordable and entertaining pinball game designed and engineered exclusively for the home. For customers new to pinball ownership, the TRANSFORMERS Pin offers fun and timeless family entertainment at an affordable price. The Pin™ also provides an entry into the rapidly growing community of pinball play and ownership driven by impassioned enthusiasts and collectors around the globe. The Pin is the latest model to be developed by Stern and joins the company’s existing line-up of Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition models. The licensed TRANSFORMERS Pin features art, music, speech, and sound effects from the blockbuster TRANSFORMERS franchise. Since the birth of the franchise in 1984, the TRANSFORMERS brand has been celebrated with toys, comic books, animation, summer blockbuster movies and more. Under license from Hasbro, Stern is now proud to be adding an additional pinball game model to its lineup. Players can expect the classic battle between the heroic OPTIMUS PRIME and the villainous MEGATRON as well as other beloved AUTOBOT and DECEPTICON characters. The easily assembled TRANSFORMERS Pin is built to last and engineered with genuine Stern commercial-quality parts including flippers, slingshots, pop bumpers, tempered playfield glass, and the traditional pinball plunger. The playfield is housed in a stylish cabinet with modern, high definition artwork. The all-LED playfield lighting provides optimal color and performance. “The Pin is specifically designed to provide quality family entertainment and bring pinball to more homes everywhere. TRANSFORMERS is a great title for the entire family and we’re very pleased to add The Pin model to our TRANSFORMERS offering,” said Gary Stern, Founder, CEO and Chairman of Stern Pinball, Inc. Through December 31, 2012, the TRANSFORMERS Pin will be available in the United States exclusively at Amazon.com. To order in the US, please visit: www.amazon.com The TRANSFORMERS Pin will also be available in Canada exclusively through The Playdium Store and Cineplex Starburst, Inc. To order in Canada, please visit: either www.theplaydiumstore.com or www.starburstcoin.com. About Stern Pinball, Inc. Stern Pinball, Inc., located just outside Chicago, Illinois, designs and manufactures arcade-quality pinball games. Stern is the only maker of full-sized, arcade quality pinball games on the planet and has released many popular titles including X-Men, AC/DC, TRANSFORMERS, Avatar, The Rolling Stones, Iron Man, Tron and many more. Stern’s games continue to be enjoyed by both pinball enthusiasts and casual players around the globe. For more information, please visit www.sternpinball.com. © 2012 Stern Pinball, Inc. All Rights Reserved. About Hasbro, Inc. Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company providing children and families around the world with a wide-range of immersive entertainment offerings based on the Company’s world-class brand portfolio. From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, video games and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its customers through the strategic leveraging of well-known and beloved brands such as TRANSFORMERS, LITTLEST PET SHOP, NERF, PLAYSKOOL, MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and MONOPOLY. The Hub, Hasbro’s multi-platform joint venture with Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), launched on October 10, 2010. The online home of The Hub is www.hubworld.com. The Hub logo and name are trademarks of Hub Television Networks, LLC. All rights reserved. Come see how we inspire play through our brands at http://www.hasbro.com. © 2012 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Back to the News page Like this page? Share it with your Facebook friends: Back to the front page