DUNE REVEAL: PART ONE

Pinball News Website·article·held·Apr 15, 2025

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.017

TL;DR

Barrels of Fun reveals Dune pinball with $11,600 price, sandworm toy, dual LCDs, deposits now open.

Summary

Barrels of Fun has begun a two-stage reveal of Dune, their second pinball machine based on Denis Villeneuve's Dune films. The first phase showcases the cabinet cosmetics, art package, and premium features including a motorized sandworm toy, dual LCD displays, and innovative Horizon Atmospheric Lighting system. The game is priced at $11,600 with a $2,000 non-refundable deposit now open through distributors.

Key Claims

Dune is Barrels of Fun's second game, following Labyrinth
high confidence · Article states 'Barrels of Fun today began the first phase of the reveal of their second game, Dune'
Dune features a motorized sandworm toy that can grab, rise, and swallow the ball
high confidence · Article describes: 'The Sand-worm has multiple capabilities in the game. It can grab the ball, rise up, and also swallow the ball, dropping it into a subway system.'
The game has a single premium model tier with multiple high-end upgrades included standard
high confidence · Article states 'There is just one model of the Dune game which, the company says, includes multiple high-end upgrades'
Dune is priced at $11,600 recommended retail with $2,000 non-refundable deposit required
high confidence · Article explicitly states 'full recommended retail price of $11,600. A $2,000 non-refundable deposit is needed now'
Jonathan Bergeron (John Craig) created the art package for Dune
high confidence · Article states 'The art package for Dune comes from Jonathan Bergeron (a.k.a. John Craig)'
Dune features the same 14.9-inch ultra-wide LCD from Labyrinth on the back panel
high confidence · Article notes 'Dune also includes the same 14.9″ ultra-wide LCD on the back panel first seen in Labyrinth'
The reveal is staged in two parts: cosmetics first, playfield mechanisms and gameplay details the following day
high confidence · Article describes 'The company is making a two-stage reveal, with the game's cosmetics being shown first... followed by details of the playfield mechanisms, gameplay and feature-set a day later'

Notable Quotes

“In an increasingly competitive market and at a time of year with several big-hitting games expected to be launched, pinball manufacturers are look at new ways to lock in buyers' money for their games as early as possible.”
Pinball News @ Opening paragraph — Establishes market context for non-refundable deposits as industry-wide trend
“While certain companies don't reveal their latest title until they have games ready to ship, other manufacturers routinely open up pre-orders through their distributors – complete with those non-refundable deposits – months (or even years) before they are in a position to ship their new game.”
Pinball News @ Early section — Describes divergent manufacturer strategies for product launches and deposits
“The Sand-worm has multiple capabilities in the game. It can grab the ball, rise up, and also swallow the ball, dropping it into a subway system. It's an impressive mechanism, both above and below the playfield.”
Pinball News @ Playfield description — Details the primary toy mechanism and its functionality
“Pinball News has already seen and played Dune, but we are constrained by what we can reveal until all the details are officially announced by Barrels of Fun.”
Pinball News @ Mid-article — Notes embargo constraints on coverage despite hands-on experience

Entities

Barrels of Funcompany Dunegame Jonathan BergeronpersonLegendary EntertainmentcompanyLabyrinthgameStern PinballcompanyTexas Pinball Festivalevent Pinball Newsorganization

Signals

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product_launch: Barrels of Fun executing two-phase reveal strategy for Dune: cosmetics and deposits first, playfield/gameplay details following day
high · Article structure and explicit statements about reveal timing
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market_signal: Industry-wide trend toward non-refundable deposits ($2,000 for Dune) to lock in buyer commitments and provide manufacturer revenue certainty
high · Opening article section discusses non-refundable deposits as mutual compromise between manufacturers and cautious buyers
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product_strategy: Dune features single premium model tier with all high-end features included standard (no Pro/Premium/LE tier differentiation)
high · Article states 'There is just one model of the Dune game'
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design_innovation: Sandworm toy mechanism with multiple capabilities: ball grabbing, rising motion, and ball swallowing with subway drop system
high · Detailed description of sandworm functionality and playfield integration
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design_innovation: New Horizon Atmospheric Lighting (HAL) system with all-RGBW LED playfield inserts and day/night lighting effects for Arrakis theme
high · Feature list includes detailed lighting specifications and theme integration
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technology_signal: Dual LCD display setup: 14.9-inch ultra-wide backboard display (shared with Labyrinth) plus 15.6-inch display between backbox speakers

Transcript

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In an increasingly competitive market and at a time of year with several big-hitting games expected to be launched, pinball manufacturers are look at new ways to lock in buyers’ money for their games as early as possible. Following a number of high-profile company failures, and with concern over medium-to-long-term resale values holding up, buyers are understandably reluctant to pay significant sums up-front. But with manufacturers needing reliable indicators of their likely sales and keen to get buyers locked-into buying their game, a middle-ground has opened up in the form of the ‘non-refundable deposit’. Getting buyers to commit to a deposit which is large enough to dissuade all but the most desperate buyers from dropping out seems to have become a mutually acceptable compromise. While certain companies don’t reveal their latest title until they have games ready to ship, other manufacturers routinely open up pre-orders through their distributors – complete with those non-refundable deposits – months (or even years) before they are in a position to ship their new game. Sometimes they have sample games to show, other times not even that much. While some manufacturers got to reveal their latest releases in time for the Texas Pinball Festival in March, other companies bided their time and looked for other ways to get buyers to commit. Barrels of Fun today began the first phase of the reveal of their second game, Dune, based on the 2021 and 2024 movies from Legendary Entertainment. ![The Dune backglass](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/dune/011-dune.jpg) The Dune backglass The company is making a two-stage reveal, with the game’s cosmetics being shown first along with distributors opening up those non-refundable deposits, followed by details of the playfield mechanisms, gameplay and feature-set a day later. Pinball News has already seen and played Dune, but we are constrained by what we can reveal until all the details are officially announced by Barrels of Fun. There is just one model of the Dune game which, the company says, includes multiple high-end upgrades, including a bespoke hammered finish to the cabinet metalwork, anti-reflective glass, high-gloss cabinet decals, internal art blades, a real backglass, a shaker motor, an illuminated topper, and the company’s new Horizon Atmospheric Lighting system inside the cabinet. There is also full RGBW general illumination which is used to change the playfield’s appearance as the game progresses, while the speakers come with RGB peripheral lighting. Dune also includes the same 14.9″ ultra-wide LCD on the back panel first seen in Labyrinth, and a 15.6″ LCD between the backbox speakers. Here’s how the game looks from the outside. ![The left side of the cabinet](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/dune/003-dune.jpg) The left side of the cabinet ![The front of the cabinet](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/dune/004-dune.jpg) The front of the cabinet !The right side of the cabinet The right side of the cabinet The art package for Dune comes from Jonathan Bergeron (a.k.a. Johnny Crap) who previously created the art for Stern Pinball’s Jurassic Park and has also made various pinball show posters and T-shirts. ![The special treatment on the metal cabinet parts](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/dune/009-dune.jpg) The special treatment on the metal cabinet parts ![The treatment extends to the speaker/display panel](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/dune/010-dune.jpg) The treatment extends to the speaker/display panel The playfield features three flippers – two in the usual place and one mid-way up on the centre-left. ![The Dune playfield](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/dune/007-dune.jpg) The Dune playfield Probably the main toy is the Sand-worm which is summoned with a Thumper device. The Sand-worm has multiple capabilities in the game. It can grab the ball, rise up, and also swallow the ball, dropping it into a subway system. It’s an impressive mechanism, both above and below the playfield. The Sand-worm is one way to lock balls for multiball, but the game also has a dedicated lock area on the mid-right where two pins rise to trap the ball which can then be shot to release it back into play. There is another lock area in the Harvester at the back left corner, more details of which will be revealed shortly. The game has opened up for distributor orders with a full recommended retail price of $11,600. A $2,000 non-refundable deposit is needed now to lock in your order. These are the game’s features being announced in this first phase of the launch: | | | --- | | • 3 Flippers, 6 Balls • Horizon Atmospheric Lighting (HAL): • An All-New RGB LED Low-Profile Inner Cabinet Lighting System for Arrakis Day / Night Lighting Effects • All-RGBW LED Playfield Insert Lamps & General Illumination Lamps, and Playfield Apron Flood Lights • EverGloss High-Gloss Decal Art with Metallic-Embedded Details • Infinity Glass (Anti-Reflective Glass) • Thunder From Down Under Shaker Motor • Factory-Installed Inner Blade Art • 15.6” HD LCD Display flanked by 5-1/4” Kenwood Full-Range Stereo Speakers with Interactive Full RGB Illumination • JBL STAGE 8” Cabinet Subwoofer • Polyester Metallic Powder Coated Cabinet Armor & Matching Speaker • Panel with Laser-Cut Sandworm Pattern Speaker Grills • 14.9” LCD Backboard Playfield Display for an Expanded Universe Under Glass! | | | Much more will be revealed about Barrels of Fun’s new Dune game later today when we will be able to bring you high-resolution photos, full details of the gameplay features and much more. In the meantime, Barrels of Fun has released this teaser video: VIDEO Join us here at Pinball News a little later for the second half of the Dune reveal.