New Code for Stern Pinball's John Wick; Harry Potter Artist Releases Statement

As soon as I say that I don't typically write about new code releases for pinball machines, I have a third reference to one in two days lol. I think that this one warrants it too though. Just like there was a major revamping of the code team for Stern's Uncanny X-Men, there has been turnover on the code team for John Wick as well.

Tim Sexton was John Wick's original coder. He left Stern Pinball back in March to become a Senior Software Programmer at Play Mechanix, the maker of amusement games for arcades, such as NBA Superstars, Minecraft Dungeons and Super Bikes as well as the creator of Pulp Fiction pinball.

Anyhow, back to Wick. It has been a while since its last code update. This afternoon, Stern released code Version 0.95...and its a big update.

Like before with the new X-Men code, Stern simultaneously released a gameplay video for John Wick, showing off everything that is new in the game.

"NEW CODE! Stern Pinball has posted new John Wick code v0.95.0 for the Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition model. This code "Baba Yaga Returns" contains game enhancements, additional polish, game adjustments, and bug fixes including:

- Added Faction Perks for completing a job. They are:

1) "BALL SAVES EXTENDED" - Complete the "Night Watch" Job to add 5 Seconds to every ball

save event in the game, i.e. ball start, multiball start, etc...

2) "MARKER BALL SAVE DOUBLED" - Complete the "Heist" Job to light BOTH outlanes

when completing the Marker target(s).

3) "MULTIBALL EXTENDED" - Complete the "Security Detail" Job to Extend/Restart all multiballs

when the multiball has drained down to 1 ball.

4) "BONUS MULTIPLIER STARTS AT 2X" = Complete the "Escort the VIP" Job to always have

Bonus Multipliers start at 2X

5) "LIGHTS OUT MOTION SENSOR" - Complete the "Assassination" Job to enable Motion Sensors

during the "Lights Out" Double scoring mode.

6) "LIGHTS OUT EXTENDED" - Complete the "Gather Intel" Job to add 20 seconds to all

"Lights Out" sessions.

7) "ADD-A-BALL" (coming soon)

- Added Motion Sensor as a Faction Perk. Complete the Ruska Roma "Assassination"

Job to qualify a Motion Sensor during "Lights Out". When Qualified, press the

Lockdown Bar Action Button" when it is flashing PURPLE during the "Lights Out" mode

to start the Motion Sensor and temporarily reveal the hidden playfield lights.

- Added logic to the Lights Out Double Scoring Mode to "Lock Out" the availability

of the Motion Sensor while the Lights Out mode start lamp effect is running.

- Now Enemies don't block job/multiball/adversary award shots from being awarded.

- Now the number of Enemies in front of a shot arrow acts as a shot multiplier,

i.e. 2x, 3x, or 4x for 1, 2, or 3 lit enemies. This shot multiplier is available

whenever an enemy is lit at a shot for:

JOBS:

Assassination

Escort the VIP

Gather Intel

Heist

Night Watch

Security Detail

Task a Crew

MULTIBALLS:

Deconsecrated Multiball

Excommunicado Multiball

Helipad Showdown

Taxicab Chase

Motorcycle Pursuit

Bagarre a Letoile

Note: Enemy Shot Multipliers are not available during Adversary Battles.

- Changed the game logic for how enemies are spawned. Previously the Dance Floor

Slings/Pops/Targets contributed to how many enemies were spawned. Now the 3 ramp

targets contribute to the enemy spawning event(s).

- Changed the game logic for how enemies are spawned during Multiball Events.

- The Allies (and rules) are on a sabbatical and will be returning shortly to help

John Wick battle enemies.

- Now the Tick Tock Mr. Wick mode is not available when the game is set to

Competition Mode.

- Fixed a bug where the game would reset if the WINSTON letters/rule was set to Extra Hard.

- Added a Crate Hits rule adjustment, default = EASY. Now it takes fewer hits to the Crate

to qualify Mode/Job start at the right VUK.

- Now all locations start with 10 enemies.

- Now it takes fewer WINSTON letters to qualify the Center Ramp for Deconsecrated Multiball.

- Now it takes fewer car hits to qualify the Left Orbit for a Car Chase Multiball.

- Removed the Enemy Spawned TimeOut sound FX.

- Now the Center Ramp Arrow will indicate that the "lock" shots are available when advancing

towards Deconsecrated Multiball.

- Changed the color of the shot arrows in Deconsecrated Multiball.

- Sped up the "Ball X Locked" display effects.

- Now the Center Ramp flasher is active when Deconsecrated Multiball is Ready to Start.

- Changed the rules to Deconsecrated Multiball. Now 7 Jackpot Arrow shots are lit at the start

of Deconsecrated Multiball. Collect 7 Jackpots to light the Continental for a 15 second

Super Jackpot session. Once Super Jackpots are no longer available collect 7 more Jackpots

to relight the Continental for another Super Jackpot session, etc.. Subsequent paths to

lighting/relighting the Super Jackpot get progressively harder. The path to the 1st

Super Jackpot session requires 7 Jackpots. All of the arrow shots are relit (minus the made shot)

after a successful Jackpot shot is made. The path to the 2nd Super Jackpot session also requires 7

Jackpots. Each shot goes dark after a made Jackpot shot. Subsequent paths to a Super Jackpot

session require 14 Jackpot shots. Super Jackpot sessions start at the Winston/Continental

captive ball shot.

- Changed the color of the shot arrow(s) for advancing towards and playing

Deconsecrated Multiball.

- Changed the color of the shot arrow that indicates a "COIN" is available at

that shot.

- Now the Deconsecrated Multiball Background display effect shows the Super Jackpot

value along with the time remaining to score subsequent Super Jackpots. This timer

starts upon collecting the first Super Jackpot.

- Added Continental lights to sync with added Super JP timing down/expired sound FX during

Deconsecrated Multiball.

- Added logic to show the "WINSTON" lights as progress towards lighting Super Jackpots

during Deconsecrated Multiball.

- Fixed a problem where the Jackpot scored "0" points during Deconsecrated Multiball.

- Fixed a problem where Excommunicado Multiball was not starting when qualified. PRO only.

- Added Faction/Job Finished Sound FX.

- Added Multiball Extended Sound FX.

- Added logic for the Left Eject to Hold the ball until the Faction/Job display effect has finished playing.

- Changed the Adversary "Be Seeing You" Score Award.

- Changed the Adversary Score Awards.

- Changed the Deconsecrated Multiball Super Jackpot Score Awards.

- Changed the Job Award Base Scoring for "Escort the VIP" and "Task a Crew".

- Changed the Job Award Base Score.

- Fixed a problem where the Faction/Job Perk Qualified Award Display Effects

were being stopped prematurely by the Faction/Job Total Display Effect.

- Added a new "Multiball Extended" video.

- Changed the amount of time the lights are revealed by the "Lights Out"

Motion Sensor.

- Changed how many lights are revealed by the "Lights Out" Motion Sensor.

- Added 7 New Faction/Job Finished videos.

- The Default Grand Champion/High Score Award Thresholds have changed due to the

2X/3X/4X Enemy shot multipliers increasing game scores significantly.

- Changed the default starting "Auto" Replay Level.

- Changed the default starting "Dynamic" Replay Level.

- Changed the default "Fixed Replay Levels"

- Changed the default "Grand Champion" and "High Scores" Levels.

- Fixed a bug where the Main Play background scenes were stopping the John Wick Background

Action Scenes from being displayed.

- Fixed a problem where, upon shooting the "Dance Floor" Arrow shot, a Job, Adversary Battle,

or Multiball Award was not being given.

- Added logic for the Continental Captive Ball to grow the Super Jackpot Value during

Deconsecrated Multiball.

- Added a Deconsecrated Multiball "Super Jackpot Grows" display effect."

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Also this afternoon, the artist for the cabinet of Jersey Jack Pinball's new Harry Potter Wizard and Arcade Edition pinball machines and I believe the playfield for all variants, Jesper Abels, released a statement about the AI controversy on the message board where it all started, Tilt Forums. The message states that he made a "creative decision" to use AI was used in some aspects of the art's creation and stands by his decision to do so, but that the higher-ups at JJP did not know about his decision to do so. Below is his fill statement on the subject:

"Jesp

Hi everyone,

As one of the artists behind the new Harry Potter pinball machine from Jersey Jack Pinball, I’d like to take a moment to openly address the recent conversations surrounding the artwork particularly around the use of AI and to share some insight into the process, the intentions, and the creative decisions that were made along the way.

AI tools were never used to generate full illustrations or replace the hand-crafted work, but rather as part of a much larger creative process that also included hand-drawing, painting, digital composition, and licensed assets.

I made the creative decision to pursue complexity over simplicity in the visual design. That was my call, and I stand by it. The reason is simple we wanted to deliver something that hadn’t been done before. Something that brought unique, dynamic poses and compositions to life scenes that represent not only moments from the films, but the emotional and narrative core of the entire Harry Potter story.

Our goal wasn’t to replicate what’s already out there. We wanted to give fans something completely new, something immersive and visually rich, where the art serves the gameplay and storytelling at every level. We believed that taking this risk would result in a more rewarding experience for the player.

To be transparent, we did use AI tools sparingly and intentionally, as a way to support the visual blending of certain elements and create harmony between complex assets. Every instance of AI use was guided by my own artistic vision and layered onto hand-crafted designs. It was never about replacing the human element it was about enhancing it.

That said, not everyone involved in the project had direct knowledge or understanding of these technologies. The leadership team at Jersey Jack Pinball was not involved in the technical art pipeline, and understandably, they were not in a position to explain or defend those tools, as they were unfamiliar with the specifics of how they were applied. The creative team took on that responsibility, always with the intent of delivering the best product possible.

What the audience sees is the final product. But what you don’t see is the countless revisions, challenges, feedback loops, technical restrictions, and approvals that went into making it all come together. It’s honestly a wonder that we were able to create something this complex and detailed, and I’m incredibly proud of what we achieved as a team.

The people at Jersey Jack Pinball gave everything to this project. This wasn’t just a job it was a passion project fueled by a deep respect for both the Harry Potter universe and the game of pinball itself. We did everything we could to bring something magical and memorable into the world.

At the end of the day, this machine was made for you the players, the collectors, the fans. We know there will be feedback, and we welcome it, because it means you care. We’ll keep learning, keep pushing, and keep creating.

Thank you for your passion for pinball.

Jesper"

Speaking of Jersey Jack, earlier JJP released a cool video of people enjoying Harry Potter pinball at its first show appearance, last week's Southern Fried Gaming Expo:

"From first flips to nonstop plays, our time at SFGE 2025 was pure magic! ✨

Huge thanks to everyone who stopped by to experience the new Harry Potter pinball machine — and cast a few spells of their own 🪄"