MARK PENACHO JOINS STERN PINBALL

Pinball News Website·article·analyzed·Mar 7, 2021

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.018

TL;DR

Stern hires veteran software engineer Mark Penacho for systems role

Summary

Stern Pinball announces the hiring of Mark Penacho as Senior Systems Engineer. Penacho brings extensive software engineering experience from his career writing code for classic Bally/Williams pinballs (Earthshaker, Elvira and the Party Monsters, Rollergames, Hurricane, Fish Tales), video games including the Mortal Kombat series and NBA Jam, and most recently high-speed trading systems. His expertise in network programming and low-latency connectivity is positioned to support Stern's planned internet connectivity features including online updates, remote diagnostics, and networked gameplay.

Key Claims

Mark Penacho wrote software for five Bally/Williams pinballs: Earthshaker, Elvira and the Party Monsters, Rollergames, Hurricane, and Fish Tales
high confidence · Official Stern Pinball press release and article text
Penacho helped create the Mortal Kombat series of five titles and NBA Jam at Midway's video games section
high confidence · Official Stern Pinball press release
Penacho was co-founder and lead programmer at Studio Gigante, which created Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus and WWE Wrestlemania 21 before closing in 2005
high confidence · Article text and press release
Penacho's network and low-latency connectivity skills will support Stern's internet connectivity offer for online software updates, remote diagnostics, and networked gameplay
high confidence · Article analysis and George Gomez quote in press release
Penacho has worked on high-speed trading systems software for the last 11 years prior to joining Stern
high confidence · Official press release

Notable Quotes

“Mark is an incredibly talented software engineer with strong leadership skills. His expertise with network programming, low latency design, and connectivity will fit in very well with our current development endeavors. We are very excited to add his talents to our studio as we grow and continue to produce the most fun and revolutionary pinball machines in the world.”
George Gomez, EVP and Chief Creative Officer, Stern Pinball @ March 5, 2021 press release — Official statement of hiring rationale and Stern's strategic direction toward networked connectivity features

Entities

Mark PenachopersonStern PinballcompanyGeorge GomezpersonEarthshaker!gameElvira and the Party Monstersgame Rollergamesgame Hurricanegame Fish Talesgame

Signals

?
personnel_signal: Mark Penacho hired by Stern Pinball as Senior Systems Engineer, bringing expertise from classic pinball era and modern software systems
high · Official announcement and press release from Stern Pinball dated March 5, 2021
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product_strategy: Stern Pinball developing internet connectivity infrastructure for pinball machines supporting online software updates, remote diagnostics, and networked gameplay functionality
medium · Article states 'His network and low-latency connectivity skills would appear to be a good fit at Stern as the company looks to launch its internet connectivity offer for features such as online software updates, remote diagnostics and networked gameplay'
?
technology_signal: Stern Pinball strategically hiring engineer with network programming and low-latency expertise to support planned internet connectivity features including online updates, remote diagnostics, and networked gameplay
high · George Gomez statement: 'His expertise with network programming, low latency design, and connectivity will fit in very well with our current development endeavors' and article analysis of his role

Topics

Personnel moves / hiringprimaryStern Pinball technology and systems developmentprimaryInternet connectivity and networked featuresprimaryPinball history and classic Williams/Bally erasecondaryStern's strategic product directionsecondary

Sentiment

positive(0.85)— Announcement is straightforward and celebratory; George Gomez's statement is enthusiastic about Penacho's skills and fit. Article presents his credentials positively with emphasis on diverse high-profile experience.

Transcript

raw_text · $0.000

Stern Pinball has announced the hiring of Mark Penacho as their new Senior Systems Engineer. ![](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/mark-penacho-joins-stern-pinball/01-mark-penacho-joins-stern-pinball.jpg) Mark Penacho, Stern Pinball’s new Senior Systems Engineer Mark has a long career in developing software for coin-op and home gaming system. He wrote the software for five Bally/Williams pinballs from five different game designers, starting with Earthshaker! and continuing with Elvira and the Party Monsters, Rollergames, Hurricane and finally Fish Tales. ![Mark's credit on the playfield of Fish Tales](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/mark-penacho-joins-stern-pinball/02-mark-penacho-joins-stern-pinball.jpg) Mark’s credit on the playfield of Fish Tales From the pinball division, Mark moved to Midway’s video games section where he helped create the hit Mortal Kombat series of five titles and the NBA Jam title in which his avatar appears as a secret character. ![Mark's hidden NBA Jam character avatar](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/mark-penacho-joins-stern-pinball/03-mark-penacho-joins-stern-pinball.jpg) Mark’s hidden NBA Jam character avatar Mark was part of the Mortal Kombat team which went on to form the games development company Studio Gigante which created the titles Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus and WWE Wrestlemania 21 before closing in 2005. Since then, Mark has developed software for high speed trading system before his appointment at Stern Pinball. His network and low-latency connectivity skills would appear to be a good fit at Stern as the company looks to launch its internet connectivity offer for features such as online software updates, remote diagnostics and networked gameplay. Here’s the press release from Stern Pinball announcing Mark’s appointment: | | | --- | | CHICAGO, IL – March 5, 2021– Stern Pinball, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Penacho as Senior Systems Engineer. Mark brings diverse and expert level software engineering experience in systems, video, and pinball games to Stern Pinball. Mark’s early portfolio of games includes hit pinball titles such as Earthshaker, Elvira and the Party Monsters, Hurricane, and Fish Tales. He went on to program the video game NHL Open Ice and throughout his tenure at Williams Electronics he made significant contributions to system software, tools and display technology. He was co-founder and lead programmer at Studio Gigante, where he gained valuable experience in Xbox console game development. Over the course of the last 11 years, Mark has worked on the design of software and technology for high speed trading systems. “Mark is an incredibly talented software engineer with strong leadership skills. His expertise with network programming, low latency design, and connectivity will fit in very well with our current development endeavors. We are very excited to add his talents to our studio as we grow and continue to produce the most fun and revolutionary pinball machines in the world,” said George Gomez, EVP and Chief Creative Officer. About Stern Pinball, Inc. Stern Pinball, Inc. is a global lifestyle brand based on the iconic and outrageously fun modern American game of pinball. Headquartered minutes from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport in the heart of North America, the company creates, designs, engineers, manufactures, markets, and distributes a full line of technologically advanced terrestrial and digital pinball games, parts, accessories, and merchandise. Stern Pinball serves digital, consumer, commercial, and corporate markets around the globe. Recent Stern Pinball titles include Led Zeppelin, Avengers: Infinity Quest, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Stranger Things, Elvira’s House of Horrors, Jurassic Park, Black Knight: Sword of Rage, The Munsters, The Beatles, Deadpool, Iron Maiden, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars, Aerosmith, Ghostbusters, KISS, Metallica, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Star Trek, AC/DC, Batman, and Spider-Man. A broad range of players enjoy Stern Pinball’s games from professional pinball players who compete in high-stakes competitions around the globe to novice players who are discovering the allure of the silver ball for the first time. To join the fun and learn more, please visit www.sternpinball.com. |