Pinball Heaven: Capcom’s Big Bang Bar in Pre-Production, to be Released This Summer

Knapp Arcade·article·analyzed·Jun 21, 2023

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.023

TL;DR

Rumor: Big Bang Bar remake coming summer 2023 from unknown manufacturer

Summary

A rumor circulating from UK retailer Pinball Heaven claims Capcom's Big Bang Bar is in pre-production for summer release. The author analyzes which manufacturers might be responsible, dismissing Chicago Gaming Company and Stern as unlikely candidates and speculating that Planetary Pinball (holder of Bally/Williams licenses) or an unknown new company may be producing a remake, citing prior trademark filings and a tipoff about an 'unexpected company' remaking the game.

Key Claims

Big Bang Bar remake is in pre-production and set to be released summer 2023
low confidence · Pinball Heaven blog article cited; author is skeptical of the claim
Chicago Gaming Company's production schedule is full with Cactus Canyon and Pulp Fiction
medium confidence · Author's assessment based on CGC's known projects and production rate
Stern has Venom, a Keith Elwin Jaws, and Indiana Jones (Raiders of the Lost Ark) in the pipeline for 2024
medium confidence · Author's informed speculation about Stern's unreleased titles
Planetary Pinball registered trademarks for 'Big Bang Bar' and 'Big Bang' in late 2022
high confidence · Author confirms trademark filing with supporting link; factual public record
An 'unexpected company' was reported to be remaking Big Bang Bar in spring 2023, but that did not materialize
medium confidence · Author received tipoff earlier in year that was subject to delay; acknowledged as rumor with production delay caveat

Notable Quotes

“Big Bang Bar Pinball Machine: Rumours are starting to circulate that a remake of the legendary 1990's pinball machine, Capcom's Big Bang Bar, is in pre-production and set be released this summer.”
Pinball Heaven blog (cited by author) — Primary rumor claim being analyzed and debunked
“Why would Stern bother? They have their pick of almost any new intellectual property they want (apparently other than Harry Potter...too soon?). Stern almost certainly has Venom all ready to go and likely an Elwin Jaws and an Indiana Jones (Raiders of the Lost Ark only?) pin in the pipeline for 2024.”
Author (Knapp Arcade) — Reveals expected Stern pipeline and explains why Stern unlikely to remake BBB
“I just don't see either CGC or Stern doing one this summer. If not either of those Companies, then who?”
Author (Knapp Arcade) — Articulates the core mystery of the rumor — who else could produce BBB?
“That's a LOT of smoke surrounding the rumor.”
Author (Knapp Arcade) — Author acknowledges credible rumor signals (trademarks, tipoff, prior rumblings) despite skepticism

Entities

Big Bang BargamePinball HeavencompanyChicago Gaming CompanycompanyStern PinballcompanyPlanetary Pinballcompany American Pinballcompany Pinball BrotherscompanySpooky Pinballcompany

Signals

?
business_signal: Chicago Gaming Company's production capacity severely constrained by Cactus Canyon delays and upcoming Pulp Fiction production
medium · Author's assessment: 'CGC is still making long-overdue Cactus Canyons for customers and it is scheduled to begin producing the super hot Pulp Fiction game...At the rate CGC produces games, their plate is almost certainly full.'
$
market_signal: Mystery surrounding which 'unexpected company' might be producing Big Bang Bar remake gaining traction in community discourse
medium · Author references prior rumor post about 'unexpected company,' trademark filings, and ongoing speculation about new manufacturer entry
?
licensing_signal: Planetary Pinball (Bally/Williams license holder) filed trademarks for Big Bang Bar and Big Bang in late 2022, suggesting potential remake activity
high · Author confirms trademark filing with supporting documentation link
$
market_signal: Pinball Heaven blog and Knapp Arcade community actively tracking and speculating about unreleased games and manufacturer activity
high · Multiple blog posts, trademark monitoring, reader tipoffs creating ecosystem of rumor tracking
?
product_strategy: Cactus Canyon upgrade kit significantly overdue and still in production
high · Author states CGC is 'still making long-overdue Cactus Canyons for customers'
?

Topics

Big Bang Bar remake rumorsprimaryManufacturer pipeline and production schedulesprimaryPlanetary Pinball licensing strategysecondaryStern Pinball upcoming releases (Venom, Jaws, Indiana Jones)secondaryChicago Gaming Company production delayssecondaryRarity and collector value of original Big Bang BarmentionedCapcom pinball history and industry collapsementioned

Sentiment

mixed(0.45)— Author is enthusiastic about the possibility of a BBB remake but deeply skeptical of the summer 2023 timeline and the named manufacturers. Expresses frustration with production delays while acknowledging 'a LOT of smoke' supporting the rumor. Overall tone is investigative and analytical rather than optimistic.

Transcript

raw_text · $0.000

We've been on a massive rumor roll this week. This pinball rumor isn't mine though (at least not the latest version of it). It comes from the cool blog of the UK pinball retailer Pinball Heaven. According to an article published on the site this week: Big Bang Bar Pinball Machine: Rumours are starting to circulate that a remake of the legendary 1990’s pinball machine, Capcom’s Big Bang Bar, is in pre-production and set be released this summer. I personally have been hearing rumblings about a Capcom Big Bang Bar remake for years, though nothing has ever materialized. The Pinball Heaven article theorizes that either Chicago Gaming Company or Stern Pinball may be producing a new version of the game. I personally am very skeptical of both. It can't be Chicago Gaming Company. CGC is still making long-overdue Cactus Canyons for customers and it is scheduled to begin producing the super hot Pulp Fiction game that it developed in conjunction with Play Mechanix later this year. At the rate CGC produces games, their plate is almost certainly full. I highly doubt that Stern would remake BBB either. Why would Stern bother? They have their pick of almost any new intellectual property they want (apparently other than Harry Potter...too soon?). Stern almost certainly has Venom all ready to go and likely an Elwin Jaws and an Indiana Hilton Jones (Raiders of the Lost Ark only?) pin in the pipeline for 2024. Stern does have that mysterious hole in its production schedule in late 2023 and some have speculated that it might be used for a Vault game, but if you're Stern and can vault existing games in your catalog like TRON, Lord of the Rings, Spider-Man or Ghostbusters, why on Earth would you screw around trying to remake Big Bang Bar? I just don't see it. It's possible, but very unlikely. I'd love to see a remake of Big Bang Bar come out. Why not? I hope that all rare pinball machines get remakes. I just don't see either CGC or Stern doing one this summer. If not either of those Companies, then who? Given what I know about their upcoming titles, it's not coming from American Pinball, Pinball Brothers, Spooky Pinball or Jersey Jack. Dutch Pinball is working on another game, but it probably won't come out in 2023 AND it's not this. If not the existing players, perhaps Big Bang Bar is being remade by a brand new one. As I wrote here earlier this year, Planetary Pinball, the current license holder for Bally / Williams intellectual property did register a trademark for the terms "Big Bang Bar" and "Big Bang" in late 2022 (see link below). Also, I received a tip in the Knapp Arcade Inbox earlier this year that the game is indeed being remade by an unexpected company this Spring...obviously that didn't happen (link below), but as we know pinball and production delays often go hand in hand Planetary Pinball Filed Trademarks for Big Bang Bar at the End of 2022 https://www.knapparcade.org/post/planetary-pinball-filed-trademarks-for-big-bang-bar-at-the-end-of-2022 RUMOR: Unexpected Company to Remake One of the World's Rarest Pinball Machines This Spring https://www.knapparcade.org/post/rumor-unexpected-company-to-remake-one-of-the-world-s-rarest-pinball-machines-this-spring That's a LOT of smoke surrounding the rumor. So is a new Big Bang Bar coming from a mysterious new company? Time will tell. Either way, it's a cool thing to talk about and the history of the original Big Bang Bar and its subsequent Illinois Pinball remake is fascinating. Below are links to the recent Pinball Heaven article and an article that I did on the history of Big Bang Bar here a while ago for anyone who's interested: Big Bang Bar Pinball Machine – Pinball Rumour Mill https://www.pinball.co.uk/blog/big-bang-bar-pinball-machine-pinball-rumour-mill/?fbclid=IwAR09jzNxdTtZnhwzjvI2IC0m_iugOlluqMLiRd1eG6fCKcF1dLC47lwFfTY Porn and Punching Bags...The Collapse of Capcom Pinball https://www.knapparcade.org/post/porn-and-punching-bags-the-collapse-of-capcom-pinball