Date: 7th August, 2018

As predicted in the Pinball News and Pinball Magazine podcast last week, Stern Pinball today announced their next title, Deadpool.

The Premium model's translite image
The Premium model’s translite image

Based on the Marvel comic book character and not the popular movie franchise, Deadpool is a George Gomez design with art by Jeremy Packer (Zombie Yeti) and sounds & music by Jerry Thompson. As is customary, the game comes in three versions – Pro, Premium and a 500-machine Limited Edition. However, as we will see, the extras included with the Premium and LE models are less to do with gameplay and more about added bling and collectables.

So, let’s start with the base Pro model where the external hardware is standard for a Stern Spike 2 game, with a colour LCD display, two backbox speakers, a cabinet speaker and a smaller backbox artwork which is a translite on the Pro and Premium, but a real backglass on the Limited Editions.

Deadpool Pro model
Deadpool Pro model

Like his earlier Ghostbusters design, Zombie Yeti’s cabinet and backbox art is a riot of colour, and this carries over onto the playfield.  The Pro model is themed on Deadpool himself battling a variety of enemies.

The Pro model's translite image
The Pro model’s translite image
The backbox side art
The backbox side art
The cabinet side art with different designs on each side
The cabinet side art with different designs on each side
The right cabinet side
The right cabinet side
The pro badge on the speaker panel
The pro badge on the speaker panel
The cabinet front
The cabinet front

And so onto the playfield.

The Pro model's playfield
The Pro model’s playfield

The playfield art is somewhat over powering in these publicity pictures, but may be somewhat toned-down once the game’s general illumination takes over.

This is a two-flippered game with two ramps, although the stainless-steel right ramp is rather unusual being fed from an inner-right lane rather than direct from a flipper.

The right ramp shot
The right ramp shot

The right ramp continues across the playfield above the top four rollover lanes, turning into a sword-shaped ramp similar to The Lord of the Rings, before depositing the ball into the right inlane.

The top rollover lanes and pop bumper area with the right ramp passing overhead
The top rollover lanes and pop bumper area with the right ramp passing overhead
The sword ramp return
The sword ramp return
The right ramp returns the ball to the right inlane
The right ramp returns the ball to the right inlane

The stainless-steel left ramp is more conventional, returning the ball back to the left flipper.  It’s good to see steel ramps and wireforms used throughout this game.  In fact, the Deadpool Pro model is one of the least feature-reduced of Stern’s recent titles.

The left ramp
The left ramp

The base Pro model features standup targets on the left and right lower-playfield sides to spell out D-E-A-D and P-O-O-L.  On the Premium and LE these are drop targets instead.

Standup targets on the Pro model
Standup targets on the Pro model

In general, where the Premium & LE models featured 3D models on the playfield, the Pro has flat plastics instead.

A flat Dazzler plastic on the Pro, a 3D model on the higher variants
A flat Dazzler plastic on the Pro, a 3D model on the higher variants
The Chimi-Changa truck is made of flat pieces on the Pro
The Chimi-Changa truck is made of flat pieces on the Pro
The Pro model features a Deadpool hammock model not seen on the other versions
The Pro model features a Deadpool hammock model not seen on the other versions
Another flat plastic character on the Pro
Another flat plastic character on the Pro

The main toy is a sprung bobble-head Lil’ Deadpool model.

The Deadpool toy
The Lil’ Deadpool toy

The Lil’ Deadpool toy is mounted on a standup target which is at the top of a small ball-lock area guarded by three drop targets.  Knocking down the drop targets opens the entrance to the lock area, while hitting the Deadpool standup can reset the drop targets, trapping the ball.

Lil' Deadpool on the LE model
Lil’ Deadpool on the LE model

The game wouldn’t be Deadpool without some smart and funny comments, and these are included on the playfield too.

No, not a movie-themed pin, but it probably wouldn't exist without the success of the Deadpool movies
No, not a movie-themed pin, but it probably wouldn’t exist without the success of the Deadpool movies
Perhaps a 'homage' to Pat Lawlor's description of pinball as 'a world under glass'?
Perhaps a ‘homage’ to Pat Lawlor’s description of pinball as ‘a world under glass’?
Yes, they are doing this, finally!
Yes, they are doing this, finally!
The BOOM button on the lock bar of the Pro model
The BOOM button on the lock bar of the Pro model
The instruction card and bottom apron decals
The instruction card and bottom apron decals
More bottom apron decals and the pricing card area
More bottom apron decals and the pricing card area

So that’s the Pro model.  Moving up a step gets you the full-featured playfield without all the extra bling of the Limited Edition.  The cabinet art of the Premium is based on the extinct shark species, the Megalodon.

The left Premium Edition cabinet artwork
The left Premium Edition Megalodon cabinet artwork
Right Premium cabinet artwork
Right Premium cabinet artwork
The front of the Premium game
The front of the Premium game

At first glance the Premium playfield doesn’t look that different from the Pro, with the main visible change being the addition of a mirror ball next to the ramp.

The Premium playfield
The Premium playfield
The Pro (left) and Premium (right) playfields
The Pro (left) and Premium (right) playfields

While we might expect the top right area of the playfield to add an upper platform or maybe a clever ball lock device, the main difference here is the 3D van model.

The top right corner of the playfield
The top right corner of the playfield

To see more of the differences, let’s kick it up another notch and take a look at the Limited Edition model.

The Limited Edition cabinet artwork featuring T-Rex
The Limited Edition cabinet artwork featuring T-Rex

T-Rex is the star of the Limited Edition model, while the metalwork is powder-coated with metallic-flecked red.

 

The red powdercoating and inner cabinet decals on the Limited Editions
The red powder-coating and inner cabinet decals on the Limited Editions
The Limited Edition numbered plaque
The Limited Edition numbered plaque and JBL speakers
The Limited Edition has the same playfield as the Premium
The Limited Edition has the same playfield design as the Premium
Inner cabinet decals and the disco mirroball
Inner cabinet decals and the disco mirror-ball
The right side with inner cabinet art
The right side of the LE with inner cabinet art
3D models on the LE and Premium playfields
3D models on the LE and Premium playfields
Drop targets on the left side...
Drop targets on the left side…
...and on the right
…and on the right
The top half of the LE playfield
The top half of the LE playfield
The LE instructions, lock bar and apron decals
The LE instructions, lock bar and apron decals
The LE Boom button
The LE Boom button

To get a full list of the variations between the three models, here’s the feature matrix.

The features of the three models
The features of the three models

As usual, Stern Pinball put out a press release to announce their latest model.  Here it is.

Stern Pinball Announces New Deadpool Pinball Machines

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL – August 7, 2018 – Stern Pinball, Inc., a global lifestyle brand based on the iconic and outrageously fun modern American game of pinball, proudly announced today the availability of a new line of pinball machines celebrating Deadpool the popular American comic book series published by Marvel Comics. Deadpool pinball machines will be available in Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition models. “Deadpool” is known as the “Merc with a Mouth” because of his talkative nature & is notorious for his outrageously funny offbeat humor which is featured throughout the game.

Players will be immersed in the Deadpool universe, teaming up with iconic X-Men characters Wolverine, Dazzler, Domino, and Colossus as they battle against infamous villains Juggernaut, Sabretooth, Mystique, Sauron, and Mr. Sinister. Players will also tag along with Deadpool on his time machine quests as he battles against the T-Rex and the Megalodon.

“Deadpool is one of Marvel’s most entertaining and unique characters ever created. We feel his humor fits perfectly with pinball and creates a high energy and fun pinball experience,” said Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc. “Stern Pinball and Marvel share a love for these iconic characters and have a long, successful history of partnership and collaboration.”

Stern’s Deadpool Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition models feature stunning and distinctive hand-drawn art by renowned illustrator Zombie Yeti. Well known actor Nolan North stars as the eccentric voice of Deadpool. Each game features a 3-bank drop target with a ball lock that’s guarding a custom molded Lil’ Deadpool bash toy target. In addition, all models include two stainless steel and wireform ramps with a Katana Sword ramp return. Deadpool pinball entertains with an amazing array of ninjas, vampires, and chimichangas, making it suitable for all skill levels.

The Premium and Limited Edition models feature an additional 8 drop targets, motorized disco ball with disco illumination effects, custom molded Wolverine and Dazzler action figures, and with a custom molded chimichanga truck time machine. In addition, these models include an actuated up/down ramp that feeds the right flipper from the left orbit, keeping the action continuous and fast. All Premium models will include a custom “Deadpool’s Mix Tape” cassette featuring 11 original music tracks with sleeve art by Zombie Yeti.

The Limited Edition, limited to 500 units globally, includes additional unique features such as an exclusive mirrored backglass, anti-reflection pinball glass, shaker motor, exclusive art blades, and powder-coated metal flake Deadpool Red side armor, hinges, and front lockdown molding. All LE models will include a 12” Vinyl LP featuring 11 original music tracks with cover art by Zombie Yeti.

Complementing the immersive theme and exciting gameplay experience, Stern Pinball’s powerful SPIKETM electronics hardware system enables high-definition graphics and innovative animations on the high-definition video display. SPIKETM reduces system complexity and energy usage resulting in enhanced reliability and simplified servicing. The state-of-the-art electronic system also powers a high-fidelity 3-channel audio system that is three times more powerful than audio systems of previous generations.

Pricing and Availability:

Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price:
MSRP for sales to USA end-users, before any VAT, GST, Sales Tax, Duties, or other taxes.

  • Pro Model: $US 5,999
  • Premium Model: $US 7,599
  • Limited Edition Model: $US 8,999

Deadpool pinball is available through authorized Stern Pinball distributors and dealers around the world.

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 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 international 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.

About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy-five years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit marvel.com. ©2018 MARVEL

###

All trademarks and product names are the property of their respective companies.

We’ll have more about Stern Pinball’s new Deadpool game soon right here at Pinball News.

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3 Comments

  1. Ben Logan

    8th August, 2018 at 12:13am

    Thanks for the reveal. Wish it were an original non-license theme, but this does look fun.

    Reply

  2. Josh Lehan

    12th August, 2018 at 7:26am

    There looks to be another key difference between the Pro and the Premium/LE that was listed on the feature checklist (featuregram?) from Stern. The Premium/LE has an additional mechanism to the right of the katana ramp, along the far right side of the game. A hard shot all the way around the left orbit will be allowed to go beyond the bumpers, instead of being stopped by the one-way gate as on the Pro. It looks like the ball will climb the ramp as it rolls back down the right orbit, and enter the katana, to feed the right flipper. It looks somewhat like the Hawkeye shot from Avengers, although fortunately the game now has control gates at the top, to make this shot less repetitive. That seems to be the only difference, other than getting drop targets instead of standup targets, and full 3D molded decorations instead of flat plastics. Looks to be an interesting game, hope it comes out fun.

    Reply

  3. Ken Arango

    9th March, 2020 at 11:28pm

    Looking to make my first investment. Favoring any Marvel related machines.

    Reply

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