First Details of Next Stern Keith Elwin Game; New Special Modes are Coming to Stern Pinball Godzilla

Knapp Arcade·article·analyzed·Feb 6, 2023

Analysis

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TL;DR

Keith Elwin confirms Godzilla updates and teases 2024 Stern cornerstone with unique four-flipper layout.

Summary

Keith Elwin revealed in a LoserKid A Pinball Podcast interview that Godzilla will receive two special hold-button modes, with the first coming soon (Terror of Mecha Godzilla multiball). He also confirmed his next Stern cornerstone game is coming in 2024 with four flippers (two full-size, three on one side), featuring redesigned shots and more complete code at launch than Godzilla had.

Key Claims

Godzilla will receive two special hold-button modes similar to Jurassic Park and Avengers Infinity Quest
high confidence · Keith Elwin stated directly in LoserKid Pinball Podcast interview; first mode imminent, second planned for later in year
Keith Elwin's next game will be a 2024 Stern cornerstone featuring four total flippers with three on the same side
high confidence · Keith Elwin direct statement; unique mechanical configuration distinguishes it from standard pinball design
Stern will release only two cornerstone games in 2023 (one from Brian Eddy, one from Jack Danger)
high confidence · Article cites prior reporting about 2023 release schedule; Keith Elwin's absence from 2023 roster confirmed
Keith Elwin volunteered for James Bond pinball after license holder requested throwback machine encompassing all Bond actors
high confidence · Keith Elwin revealed timing was about a year prior to interview; positioned as interim project while waiting for next cornerstone
Elwin's 2024 game will have more complete code at launch than Godzilla and Avengers had
high confidence · Keith Elwin cited extra development time as reason for code maturity improvement

Notable Quotes

“His next game will have two full-size flippers and two other flippers, four total. Three of the flippers are on the same side of the game.”
Keith Elwin @ Interview segment (article does not provide specific timestamp) — Reveals unusual mechanical design for 2024 cornerstone; four-flipper configuration is distinctive and noteworthy in modern pinball design
“Around a year ago when the James Bond license holder informed Stern that they wanted a special throwback pinball machine that encompassed all of the Bond actors, Keith volunteered for the game because he knew that it would be a while before his next game came out.”
Keith Elwin (paraphrased by article) @ Interview segment — Explains Elwin's involvement in James Bond project as strategic career move to fill development gap between cornerstone releases

Entities

Keith Elwinperson GodzillagameLoserKid Pinball PodcastorganizationStern PinballcompanyBrian Eddyperson Jack Dangerperson James Bondgame Jurassic Parkgame

Signals

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design_philosophy: Unusual mechanical flipper configuration (four flippers total, three on same side) represents distinctive design choice for 2024 cornerstone game
high · Keith Elwin directly stated next game will have 'two full-size flippers and two other flippers, four total. Three of the flippers are on the same side'
?
licensing_signal: James Bond license holder requested special throwback machine featuring all Bond actors; indicates specific IP direction/requirements from rights holder
high · James Bond license holder 'informed Stern that they wanted a special throwback pinball machine that encompassed all of the Bond actors'
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personnel_signal: Keith Elwin assigned to James Bond pinball project as interim work while awaiting development slot for next cornerstone game
high · Elwin volunteered for Bond project 'because he knew that it would be a while before his next game came out'; timeline aligns with two-cornerstone 2023 schedule
?
product_strategy: Godzilla receiving post-launch special modes (Terror of Mecha Godzilla flip-counting multiball and second mode TBD) similar to Jurassic Park and Avengers Infinity Quest
high · Keith Elwin confirmed two hold-button modes coming to Godzilla; first 'likely to be implemented soon', second planned for later in year
?
product_concern: Godzilla and Avengers Infinity Quest launched with incomplete code; Stern implementing earlier code maturity strategy for future releases
medium · Elwin states next game's code will be 'much more complete at launch than the code was for Godzilla and Avengers', implying prior launches were suboptimal in this regard

Transcript

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The always awesome LoserKid Pinball Podcast's latest episode contained an interview with frequent guest, the pinball G.O.A.T Keith Elwin. Early on during the interview Keith stated that his Godzilla pinball machine is going to receive two of those special hold-in-the-flipper-buttons-to-start modes that everyone loves on Stern's Jurassic Park and Avengers Infinity Quest. The first special mode, which will likely be implemented soon, will be the ability to go straight to the game's Terror of Mecha Godzilla flip-counting multiball. A second special mode for Godzilla has been planned since the beginning of the game's design, but it likely won't be implemented in the game's code until later in the year. Another interesting tidbit from the interview was that around a year ago when the James Bond license holder informed Stern that they wanted a special throwback pinball machine that encompassed all of the Bond actors, Keith volunteered for the game because he knew that it would be a while before his next game came out. That jibes with what we have heard about Stern's 2023 releases previously, that it will only release two cornerstones games, one from Brian Eddy and one from Jack Danger. Look for Keith Elwin's next Stern Pinball cornerstone to be in 2024. Since there's no cornerstone game from Elwin in 2023, he has been using the time to refine his next game. He's already redesigned two or three shots on it because he has had the time to do so. Plus the code for the next Elwin game will be much more complete at launch than the code was for Godzilla and Avengers. Speaking of Elwin's 2024 Stern cornerstone game, according to the man himself it will have two full-size flippers and two other flippers, four total. Three of the flippers are on the same side of the game. Make sure to check out the great LoserKid interview with Keith Elwin in its entirety by clicking on the link below. It's a great listen! (I updated the link to the most recent interview) https://soundcloud.com/loserkidpinballpodcast/ep-101-elwin-keith-elwin?fbclid=IwAR3r_skKzHE5xF1m-8Zin2FdhqsFaWWExkpPkdcqg3kgUdoVGXhbwIdUlKE