Date: 27th December, 2013
They stirred up a lot of interest at Pinball Expo by distributing teaser flyers and set up a website with a countdown clock which ended today, now the big secret has been at least partially revealed.
Python with the girls from Twin Peaks distributing flyers
The flyer hinted at a pinball based on the movie The Big Lebowski starring Jeff Bridges as Jeffrey Lebowski (a.k.a. The Dude) and John Goodman as Walter.
The teaser flyer
The dudepinball.com website featured a countdown clock which reached zero today and right on cue, a press release from Dutch Pinball arrived in the Pinball News inbox revealing, if not all, then at least something.
Dutch Pinball - makers of the Bride of Pinbot DMD conversion kit - will be obtaining a licence from Universal Partnerships and Licensing (part of NBCUniversal) to make a Big Lebowski pinball.
Now TheBigLebowskiPinball.com has launched to take the familiar pre-orders with this equally teasing video...
...and this press release:
UNIVERSAL PARTNERSHIPS & LICENSING SIGNS DUTCH PINBALL BV
AS GLOBAL LICENSEE FOR THE BIG LEBOWSKI
PINBALL MACHINE
REUVER, THE NETHERLANDS, December 27, 2013 — Dutch Pinball BV
announced today that they will partner with Universal Partnerships & Licensing
(UP&L) as the exclusive licensee for the global production of The Big Lebowski
Pinball Machine. The announcement was made by Dutch Pinball President Jaap
Nauta.
The Big Lebowski, which was initially released in 1998, has become a cult classic,
elevating The Dude to cultural icon status. With stunning visuals, in-depth rules, full
stereo sound and classic film clips, Dutch Pinball’s The Big Lebowski
Pinball
Machine brings players directly in The Dude’s world.
“The Big Lebowski
Pinball gives Pinheads and Achievers an unprecedented
opportunity to experience the film first-hand by immersing them in the storyline and
allowing them to interact with the classic characters we all love,” said Barry Driessen,
Creative Director and Chief Designer of Dutch Pinball. “As tremendous fans of the
movie, we are all thrilled to have received this license from Universal so we can
finally bring The Dude where he belongs, to the playfield.”
Preorders for The Big Lebowski
Pinball Machine are now available on
www.thebiglebowskipinball.com.
About Dutch Pinball
Dutch Pinball’s global headquarters is in Reuver, The Netherlands. By bringing
together a team of creative, expert and fun-loving pinheads, it has quickly established
itself as an innovator in developing and delivering players ground-breaking, and fully
immersive pinball experiences through state-of-the-art interactivity, exciting and indepth rules, and most importantly, engaging storytelling.
About Universal Partnerships & Licensing
Universal Partnerships & Licensing (UP&L) oversees Universal’s consumer product
licensing, film and home entertainment promotions, and all corporate alliances for
Universal’s theatrical, home entertainment, theme parks and stage productions. This
dedicated division is also responsible for monetizing the Studio’s vast library of films
and characters through licensing, branding and marketing opportunities. UP&L is
part of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and
entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of
entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and
operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a
premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a
leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading
Internet-based businesses.
NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
Contact
Philip Weinberg (Director of Marketing and Communications)
Dutch Pinball BV
[email protected] |
Machines will be made in the Netherlands at a new Dutch Pinball facility, with the first units due to ship in the second quarter of 2015, approximately 15-18 months away.
The cost of the game will be €7,550 including European VAT at 21%, or $8,500 in the US plus tax. In both cases shipping is extra, although US and Canadian orders will ship from Park Ridge, Illinois. Buyers outside the EU and US can buy the game for €6,240 but must pay all applicable taxes and shipping themselves.
Pre-order payments are staggered with an initial €800/$1,000 deposit followed by five more payments of €1,350/$1,500 starting on 1st April, 2014. Until then, the deposit is fully refundable.
As more is revealed, we'll bring you all the latest news about Dutch Pinball's The Big Lebowski pinball right here at Pinball News.
© Pinball News 2013 |