pinball brothers interview hi my name is jonathan houston i'm the editor of pinball magazine and i'm joined by hi i'm martin ab and i'm the editor of pinball news and welcome to this special bonus interview pincast where we are joined by members of the well the top team really from pinball brothers who are here to bring us a very special announcement. A very special announcement. And we'll have Daniel Jensen, CEO of the company, and Rudiger Beckman, Rudy for Intimi, who is in charge of marketing for Pinball Brothers. Yes, so they're joining us from different parts of the world. I think Rudy is in Mallorca and I think Daniel is in Sweden. Yes. Yes. Okay, so we'll bring them into the conversation. Martin is in Robert Englunds and I'm in the Netherlands, so it is a very international recording. It is. We've already got four different countries covered, and we're talking about what you're going to be seeing in a fifth one. But more about that when we find out the details. So let's now join Daniel and Rudy. Hi, Martin. Hello. Hello, guys. So, I guess the first thing then is, for those who haven't seen the announcement just yet, what is it you're actually announcing today? We are actually announcing the new version of Alien called the Ellen Ripley version. Is it a limited run or is it a run that will go on for quite some time? I don't know. Is it limited in numbers or limited in a certain period that you can manufacture this edition of the game? Yeah, it's not the limited edition of the game. But it is, in fact, limited by production capacity, I would say. So it will be available for a limited amount of time. Okay, and will it be made alongside the existing version of Alien, or is it a replacement on your production line? Yeah, it's actually replacing the Alien SV is discontinued. Right. The Alien Limited version is actually almost sold out. So there are a few units left. So it's going to be out. It's sold out very soon. Yeah. Okay. So you've got the Alan Ripley version. Why did you decide to bring out this particular theme of the license in a new game? We have had so much feedback from the community that, of course, first of all, the game was planned as Ellen Ripley being the first person, the player, so to speak. And that's why she didn't really appear in the first version of the game. and but over the years we've had so much feedback from the community that of course they would very much like in an alien pinball they would like her to be in it and so that's why we with this new contract that we're having with disney now we have tried to extend this and and we sought for it and we got it okay let's talk about this license then because obviously your first the first time you came to do the the alien title you're working with fox and fox has uh like movies has uh been taken over by disney so you've you're dealing with a whole new company how was that process we uh disney actually acquired um fox back in 2019 so we have actually been working with disney for for quite some time but there's been a there's been a transition of your since then you can say but obviously when we did the first remake of of alien as pimple brothers we uh we didn't change any artwork or any uh big parts of the of the game yeah so so this time around it's been it's been a more a bigger sort of process you can say to make this extension of the contract this time with Disney. Right, okay. So you've extended the contract with them to make, well, I guess the limited version, which, as you said, is newly sold out. So now you've licensed, you've got a new license, which encompasses the Ripley version. What additional assets do you include? First of all, tell us about the difference in this new game then that's probably easiest way of doing it how is the ellen ripley version different from what we've seen before it's actually different in a lot of different aspects first of all there is a completely new uh artwork for the game the cabinet art and trans light and and also the interior of the game the backboard and and inside panels Then you have a set of handmade sculpts in the game made by the art of pinball Yes indeed So which really stands out and really enhances the game And on top of all that you have new movie clips in the game in different modes of the game, including Ripley, of course. Right. Okay, so there's new scenes from the movie, which probably means that there's a new software version coming out, I suppose? Yes, that's correct. Okay, well, and if you don't mind me asking, is that new version also backwards compatible to the SV and LV models? Yes, in fact, it is. So that's very happy news for everybody, I guess. Great. So does that mean there are new rules for the game then? There are new modes and things like that? Not entirely new modes. There are, you could say, updates to modes, but mainly there are the movie clips with Ripley in the game now. Right. And how easy was it to get agreement to use her in the game in this new way? We can't really go into sort of details about the contract negotiations and stuff like that. But we are very happy to be here, at least, because I think everybody who are Alien fans and who are into pinball have really sort of waited for this moment, I guess, to have her in. Well, congratulations, I would say, especially also to everybody already owning an Alien pinball machine, as this update is something that might come as a surprise. when will it be the software update can you already indicate when it will be available the new Ellen Ripley version will start shipping very very soon we hope not long after Expo and the we are sort of sorting the details for making the update available for everybody it's hard to say exactly but it's not far. So if people who already own the game look at the Ellen Ripley version and say, wow, I love that trans light on that, or the interior cabinet art, I'd love to have that in my game, is that a potential upgrade path for them? Or is this going to be exclusive to this Ripley version? There are upgrade paths, for sure. So you can add most of the things, actually, if you like. It's not an exclusive game in that regard. It's not a limited game or anything like that. It's just a new version, celebrating or tributing Ellen Ripley. Right. And when will people get a first chance to see this game in the flesh, as it were, and actually play it? At Expo, Pimble Expo, next week, I believe. Yeah, are you there? Do you have your own stand? Are you on the Cointaker stand? Or what's your... Yes, we are. You have your own? Yeah, we are going to be there. So happy to meet everybody at our stand. Okay. so um now you mentioned that uh there's also new new sculpts in the game from the art of pinball what can you tell about that yeah well there's a there's a um a few details like for example there's a designed apron that will be in the game and there's a you you know if you've played the game you know the xeno head the retractable head with the catches the ball that is going to be hand painted version of it an upgraded xeno head so to speak and then there's there's we we have quite a few um details coming up that and they're not quite ready yet so we're not going to talk about them but uh another thing there is is a um a beautifully hand sculpted and also hand painted um it's a it's a top for the mini screen there's an lcd mini screen that plays certain certain um features from the game and so that has a an upgrade as well right um i also understand the new version of the game will have mini beacons and a flasher kit which will be incorporated in the software later on as well. Is there anything you can elaborate on that? Yeah, that mini beacon and the flasher kit will actually be you have to get that as an add-on for the game but it will most certainly be interactive with the gameplay, so that's for sure. That's a great thing. It adds a lot to the game. Okay, so. And I understand, of course, with these scopes, we mentioned the Art of Pinball. This is a new collaboration and is that just for this Alien title or are you planning on working with the Art of Pinball on other existing or future titles as well Yeah, sure. This partnership with the Art of Pinball is a long-term thing, so we are really, really happy to announce that. and you will most certainly see Lior's work for future games from us. So that's a great thing. Excellent. Now, getting back to the Ripley version, because that's the big news. Now, one of the, well, I suppose two of the key things about the existing Alien game, which everybody loved about it, was the artwork and the graphical animations as well, which really set the mood. Now, I'm wondering, those were done, the artwork was done by Orich, of course, and Kelly did an awful lot of the software and the graphics for that. Were they involved in the new Ripley version? Yes, of course. They did just all of the upgrades and updates they did together. So we haven't changed that team. Fantastic. And so they must have been very enthused to be working on a whole new version of the, well, a whole new edition, I should say, of the Alien game. They definitely are, because they are, I mean, everybody who are involved in this are big Alien fans, and we are all quite sort of delighted to have this version brought out now. And are there new voice calls in the game as well? Yes. Okay. I mean, apart from the Ripley ones, are there new sort of computer voice calls too? Because I know that was another part, the reset the atmosphere of it. There are sort of, I would say there are general updates and a lot of added in the entire game, I would say. Okay. And you were saying it will ship very soon after Expo. Does that mean you're actually making the game now? Yes, exactly. It is. So we are very happy about that. We have extended our production capacity at Europimble Corp in Italy all the time. and we are very pleased with where we are right now. So we are looking forward to shipping games as soon as everything is sorted after Expo. Okay, so still shipping after Expo, not that people might already be able to... Well, if they order it now, then they might get it before Expo. No, no, no, that won't definitely happen because I think we have sort of internally scheduled like mid-November for shipping to start. But you have to be aware that some of the models and some of the new components, they are still being added and they are still being fit to the process. So it may actually be possible that some of these components may be a little later. It depends on production capacities on those as well. Right, is it fair to say that what people will be seeing at Pinball Expo could be deemed almost like a prototype or sample game rather than definitely the actual final production version? Yes, you can say that. Yeah, it's going to be pending approval, you can say. Sure, sure. And are you showing anything else at Expo? As if this isn't enough. Are you bringing anything new? Completely new? What do you say, Rudy? Or should we just say that people will be surprised? We are actually hoping to bring a new translate for Queen. Ah. An alternate translate for Queen. So that's going to be good, I think, for people to have a choice. Okay, well that's interesting and assuming this new translator will get approved and everything, will it be for people if they order the game that they can choose which translate they want to come in their game or is it going to be a different model then they have to buy a different model basically? We have to get back to the details about that but we are happy to bring it We hope to bring it to Expo for everybody to look at it, at least. But it's not going to be, for sure, it's not going to be a new game or new version of the game. It's not about that at all. It's just an alternate translate. And you're still making Queen as well, of course. Yes. Right, okay. Now you mentioned that you strengthened your ties with Disney Can we expect more from that you can hopefully but we don we don know yet i guess it's early days um but uh it's um it's fair to say that there there could be uh other uh themes or titles. Projects, if you will. Yeah, that could happen later on. Okay. We are looking into that for sure. After all, they are one of the one really big company with a huge amount of interesting franchises. So it's it's definitely a very good thing for us to be able to discuss about these franchises with them. So we will see what turns out of this. But we are very excited, you can say. Good. Now, one of the changes, I think, that's occurred since, well, one of the many changes that occurred since we last spoke is that you launched the whole Pimple Brothers USA operation. How's that working out for you? And what does that mean in practice for Pinball Brothers owners and buyers who are based in the US. I can maybe tell something about that because I do all the social media and I get a lot of feedback from everyone. And I think one of the most pressing questions was always like, how do we get hold of Pinball Brothers? If they are far away in Europe, does it take a long time to ship? and how are we even getting our parts and the support. And so that's why we have decided to have our excellent support. I mean, you know Sean, who did the support for USA. And then he just sort of organized it to have parts there ready and to ship from US. So everything's easier and everything's quicker and everyone's delighted about it. yeah is that really up at full speed yet or is it still a ramping up process the thing was still uh still things more more you want to do with the company it is still a ramping up process i would say but it's it's coming along quite quite nicely and we do have the uh since august we opened uh the online web shop for spare parts and add-ons And this is also a really good thing. And we will keep adding parts continuously to pbusales.com as we go. So that it will get easier and easier for people in the US to get parts for our games, basically. and this kind of support is necessary of course as we're talking for example more and more operators are having our games in public venues in arcades and so on and so of course we want to support them in any way possible that's what we're doing by by that shop a lot of people were hoping that you you guys would be coming to expo and maybe even reveal a new game the way i understand that's not the case but for those wondering are you working on something new and can we expect something new? We are certainly working on multiple projects to be honest and we are I think we said it already at TPF this year that we aim for an announcement of the new game before next TPF. So that is still in the plans. Okay. Okay, so we'll be looking at the beginning of next year then, I guess. Or the first quarter of next year, shall we put it that way? Yeah, true. Okay. Well, exciting news from Pimble Brothers, I would say. Yes. We're obviously very, very excited about bringing out this new version of Alien. what presumably you you believe it's going to um sort of renew interest in the game not that it was necessarily waning but uh it sort of breathes breathe uh it's a it's another stream shall we say of alien for uh for fans of both the game and the movie yes and it's it's really uh an aspect that we've been longing to do for such a long time so it's it's really a a great new project for us as world. Yeah, and for existing owners of the game, which is even better. So I think we'll probably wrap it up there. We'll certainly look forward to seeing and playing the new version of the game at Pinball Expo, and there will be plenty of coverage of that on all kinds of social media, including yours, on Facebook and elsewhere. So if that's all, I think we'll thank Rudy and Daniel for joining us today to talk all about the Ellen Ripley version of Alien. And congratulations on your new version. Thank you very much.