Moments ago, Stern pinball uploaded a video to its YouTube and social media channels officially revealing its long-rumored next cornerstone game, The Uncanny X-Men. Well, the uncanny part wasn't rumored but the X-Men part was lol. The new game is based upon the popular "Uncanny" X-Men comic series that was published by Marvel Comics from 1981 through 2011.
This machine looks wild. I love how its designer, Jack Danger, has come up with a layout that looks like no modern game. The rest of the design team includes Waison Cheng on Code, Kevin Koledziej as Mechanical Engineer, Zombie Yeti on art and music from Charlie Benante of Antthrax and Pantera fame. The game's soundtrack features different musical styles that change based upon what era in time the player is playing in.
To me, one of the coolest aspects of the game's design is the "Danger Room" bottom left portion of the playfield that has its own smaller flipper and enables players to get big points in exchange for added risk.
Pricing for all three models of the game, Pro, Premium and LE remains unchanged from releases over the prior two years. The Premium and Limited Edition have the following features that are not included on the Pro model:
The Sentinel moves up and down on the Premium LE and is a static bash toy on the Pro
The elevated Beast Lab captive ball is an Elvira Leaper-like like target in the Pro
The sculpted, interactive Sentinel hands on the Prem LE are flat plastics on the Pro
The custom sculpted Wolverine is a flat plastic on the Pro
As I mentioned previously, Stern is producing 811 Limited Edition X-Men machines and it is now producing the LEs first. Production of Limited Edition models will begin next week. Pro production will take place in late September into early October. Premium production will happen in mid-October. These are the only planned builds for X-Men in 2024.
Stern has told distributors that the game will make its official public debut at the upcoming Portland Retro Gaming Expo, which takes place at the Oregon Convention Center from September 27th through the 29th.
Also of note from Stern, the Company is launching an official one-year warranty on all of its pinball machines starting today.
Also new from Stern are new Pro, Premium and LE-specific Insider Connected "Unboxing" badges.
More information, pictures and video to come, so make sure to check back!
Below is the game's official press release:
"Today, Stern Pinball, Inc. announced its all-new line of pinball games, The Uncanny X-Men. The game features iconic Marvel characters including Wolverine, Professor X, and many more. Created in collaboration with Marvel Comics, players will step into the lives of their favorite X-Men. To save the world from a future ruled by Sentinels, they must first change the past! The Uncanny X-Men pinball games are available today in Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition (LE) models.
The X-Men is one of the highest-grossing superhero franchises of all time, with hundreds of millions of comics sold, over $6B in Box Office earnings from films to date, and the critically acclaimed X-Men '97 series which extended the original X-Men animated series from the 1990s. Multiple X-Men characters were featured in the new Deadpool & Wolverine movie which has grossed over $1BN making it the highest earning R-rated film of all time.
Stern's new The Uncanny X-Men pinball games feature Wolverine, Professor X, Cyclops, Storm, Colossus, Beast, Rogue, Gambit, Nightcrawler, Jean Grey, Bishop, Kitty Pryde, and Magneto, along with a supporting cast of allies and foes. The adventure takes players to familiar X-Men locations including the Danger Room, Beast’s Lab, the X-Mansion, and Genosha. Along the way players will interact with fabled X-Men devices like Cerebro and the X-Jet.
The Uncanny X-Men playfield is a unique pinball layout that features an array of new crossing shots and ramp designs with surprising ball trajectories to deliver kinetic satisfaction. The all-new Danger Room design, located to the left of the main flippers, offers a high-risk, high-reward experience that includes a mini-flipper and a novel outlane spinner. Premium and Limited Edition models also include an all-new elevated captive ball vari-target themed as Beast’s Lab.
The Uncanny X-Men pinball game features a mechanically articulated Sentinel for the player to battle. The Sentinel's large robotic head changes its state based on the player’s actions. In the Premium and Limited Edition models, the Sentinel rises from underneath the playfield and fights back by destroying the player’s ramps or attacking the ball with its extended hands.
"X-Men is a time-honored franchise that Marvel and Stern fans love. It’s the superhero franchise that I grew up with. We're excited for fans to experience the fun of The Uncanny X-Men pinball," said Seth Davis, President & CEO of Stern Pinball.
The Uncanny X-Men’s game experience is masterfully illustrated in comic book style art by renowned artist Jeremy Packer, aka Zombie Yeti. Each game also features a custom X-Men soundtrack with diverse musical styles designed to immerse the player into the game’s various time periods. The soundtrack was composed by Charlie Benante of Anthrax and Pantera fame. The game’s video presentation makes the classic Days of Future Past story come to life in animated motion graphics style.
The Days of Future Past story takes place in Marvel’s Earth-811 timeline and as an homage, our numbered Limited Edition games will be limited to 811 games globally for The Uncanny X-Men. The highly collectible Limited Edition model includes the new Speaker Expression Lighting System with X-Men-themed game effects, a “Danger Room” inspired mirrored backglass, reflective foil “Future vs. Past” high-definition cabinet decals with artwork by Zombie Yeti, exclusive “Sentinel Armor” powder-coated pinball armor, a custom designer-autographed bottom arch, upgraded audio system, anti-reflection pinball playfield glass, shaker motor, a sequentially numbered plaque, a signed Certificate of Authenticity, and a digital Insider Connected LE owner’s badge on registration.
The Uncanny X-Men pinball games include Stern’s ever-expanding Insider Connected™ platform, which enables players to interact with the game and a global network of players in multiple ways. Through Insider Connected, players can track progress, earn game-specific Achievements, and discover new mutants with Cerebro. Every player who logs in with Insider Connected will discover their own mutant power to aid them with online Quests. Original buyers of The Uncanny X-Men pinball will also receive new Uncanny X-Men themed Pro, Premium, and LE owner’s badges after initial registration of their game. Ongoing code updates from Stern Pinball will enhance and extend the player experience.
Pricing and Availability:
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (“MSRP”)*:
*MSRP for sales to USA end-users before any VAT, GST, Sales Tax, Duties, or other taxes.
Pro Edition: $US 6,999
Premium Edition: $US 9,699
Limited Edition: $US 12,999"
The Uncanny X-Men Limited Edition:
The Uncanny X-Men Premium Edition:
The Uncanny X-Men Pro Edition:
Holy crap, the game looks amazing. He really did do it again. There’s like a million ramps. And the ball pathways on the playfield are super weird and cool. We’ll put a premium on location.
Looks like Jack did it again!