Following a teaser video last week, Stern Pinball today officially revealed their new cornerstone title: Godzilla. The game is designed by Keith Elwin and his team, with art by Jeremy ‘Zombie Yeti’ Packer. Pictures of the game look very promising. Below is Stern’s official announcement of the game on Facebook.
Godzilla LE playfield
While the Facebook post above contains the generic press release info from Stern Pinball, Gary Stern also sent out a email to distributors, which can be read below.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen
Today, right now, we are announcing our next cornerstone game, Godzilla. It is our first game manufactured already equipped for Insider Connected™ with QR reader and dongle. (It can be played and operated without connectivity; QR reader cover up art is provided.) In the future, all Stern commercial LCD games, new titles and older titles, will be manufactured equipped for Insider Connected. Machines previously manufactured can be retrofitted with a connectivity kit. A new title with all games fully equipped for connectivity is the best way to introduce this new system, achieving the greatest early adoption and fastest success.
By now you should have seen videos and read articles describing the current and some future features and advantages of Insider Connected. I am going to concentrate on description of Godzilla.
We are maintaining our desired cadence and schedule — new cornerstone titles with Pro, Premium and Limited Edition versions in the beginning of the year, in the spring, and in the fall. In spite of severe supply chain difficulties facing manufacturers in all industries, we have significantly increased our production and are continuing to increase the rate even more.
Designer Keith Elwin has captured the essence of Toho Japan’s Godzilla, pulling from 10 of the earliest, campiest and most iconic of the 32 movies. Appearing first in 1954 and continuing today (3 movies in the last 5 years), Godzilla has been recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It is licensed not only for toys and games but also apparel, housewares, car gear and more, and now pinball.
The player is Godzilla, ridding the earth of Xiliens, trashing a few cities along the way. The game of course has a skyscraper, with virtual lock for one of the 6 multiballs, which range from 2 to 6 balls. It has an industry first “Magna Grab” magnetic Newton ball directing the ball from 5 different directions, often setting the ball up for the 3rd flipper; words can’t describe how this feature works and how cool it is, so you have to play it. Godzilla has a scoop to change cities, 3 spinning targets, great wire ramps, 13 RGB lights, and new return lane chase lights strobing as balls return to the flippers. It utilizes movie scenes and audio from 10 movies, the movie Godzilla music, Blue Oyster Cult’s “Godzilla”, custom speech in English and Japanese, and subtitles. The Zombie Yeti art is fantastic.
Additions and changes for the Godzilla Premium/LE are substantial. The skyscraper is motorized to collapse down multiple levels, and 3 balls are locked on its roof by a vertical upkicking skyway ramp. A breakaway bridge ramp collapses to drop pinballs on the playfield. The Premium/LE models have another motorized device – a rotating 3 bank of targets that reveal a spinning target and jump ramp. There is a 2nd magnet in a sculpted Mechagodzilla to catch the ball. Godzilla itself is added as another sculpted toy. And more.
Godzilla is a great game by a great designer, and it introduces Insider Connected. In light thereof, and because of demand for the last few LE’s, we have decided to make 1,000 Limited Edition Godzilla, each with:
- High gloss metallic silver Mechagodzilla armor and legs
- Mirrored backglass
- Reflective foil cabinet decals
- Upgraded audio system
- Shaker motor
- Non-glare playfield glass
- Certificate of authenticity signed by me
- Designer autographed
- Sequentially numbered (1 to 1,000) plate
We plan to reduce model changeovers in order to increase our production rate of Godzilla. Pro production starts in about a week. Of the USA Pros, we will first supply games through our distribution to commercial locations; we ask for information about these locations so that we can help market and attract players to see and try Godzilla. LE’s come during the last week of September and early October. The Premium production will start in October. We also will continue manufacturing many other games – all the commercial LCD games will contain the components needed for Insider Connected.
News reports confirm manufacturers in all industries are struggling with supply chain shortages resulting in higher parts costs (supply and demand elasticity). Our parts costs continue to increase, daily. Freight costs are way up, and often we must use high cost air freight. Because of worker shortages, to add needed factory staffing and increase our production rate, we have had to increase wage rates to the tune of nearly $100 a game.
We also have the added costs for the components of Insider Connected.
We have been saying for months that we could not hold prices indefinitely. We must raise Godzilla wholesale price $600 for Pro’s and $500 for Premium/LE. Because all the other LCD commercial games manufactured after we start Godzilla will contain the Insider Connected components, we must raise the wholesale price $200 for these games; that’s about the wholesale price of Insider Connected retrofit kits. (We will soon announce a 6 months discount price for the kits.) All commercial LCD games shipped after January 1, 2022 will increase to the Godzilla wholesale price. USA MDF and export discount will be $200 for all games; we are discontinuing the extra $75 export pro game discount. Similarly, after we start Godzilla, all The Pin games shipped will have a $300 wholesale price increase.
A new UMRP, MAP and MSRP list will be sent to USA customers shortly. On the list Godzilla will be increased more than the wholesale increase, as will the MSRP for other games.
We have had to raise wholesale prices on existing game orders in the past. We will accept you cancelling orders, should you so desire.
A full line of accessories will be available. We will provide you separately with dates for art blades, side armor, shooter rods and toppers.
…
Jack Danger will stream Godzilla Premium/LE with the game team live on Friday, September 17 at 6pm Chicago time at https://www.twitch.tv/deadflip.
Today is the beginning of a new era for pinball, as we introduce Insider Connected with a great Keith Elwin game and its very cool historic title, Godzilla.
Best regards,
Gary
Gary Stern
President
Stern Pinball, Inc.
Godzilla LE playfield, top view
As always, the Premium playfield is identical to the Limited Edition playfield, minus the inner sideblade art. For that reason the Premium playfield isn’t pictured here. The Pro playfield is somewhat stripped down, as can be seen below.
Godzilla Pro playfield
Godzilla Pro playfield, top view
An overview of all features, and applicable to which model, can be found below.
