In today's market, to me it seems like a Harry Potter themed pin would be a no brainer. There is so much material to draw from to make a very deep game with a theme that would appeal to players young and old. I'm sure the #1 barrier to this is the cost of the license. J.K. Rowling has complete creative control over anything related to Harry Potter, so I'm sure that is another area of concern. Although it must be said that her creative control over the movies has played a large part in their success.

If JJP or Stern were to make their next pin a Harry Potter machine I would buy it in a heartbeat sight unseen.

I'd love to see a modern (Greek) Mythology game. Maybe add a multilevel table with a clear section a la Haunted House. Using multi-color LEDs the bottom section could be either Hades or Poseiden. A Trojan Horse multiball would be fun. Medusa, Zuse, Petasus, there are just so many options.

I'd also like to see another game like Earthshaker or Whirlwind, maybe just a complete Armageddon game.

Zombie pin. Seriously. I was just thinking about this, great topic. And I will second the gods of greek mythology pin, that would be sweeeeet.

License wise: Warriors (come out and PLAYYYYYY)

Some great ideas. Harry Potter is a great answer. I'm also amazed that doesn't exist. Would have been a no brainer for movie theater. I'm not sure it would be my thing, but it seems like it would have sold a lot of units.

A Zombie theme, would be great. Any specific toys or missions you have in mind? I would think a multiball might actually give a feeling of fighting off a zombie hoard (like in Left 4 Dead).

surprised they aren't any war pins
Civil War North vs South, WW1 or WW2

I know it is more of a cult following than widely popular but if they made a Big Lebowski pin I would need to have it without a doubt.

Not a bad idea that would be pretty sweet.

Apparently the Harry Potter lady thinks pinball is base and evil or something and won't allow a license.

Spaced invaders was supposed to be Aliens but couldn't get the license for some reason. Edit: Sorry, got this confused with BSD. They did get sued for using the alien's image though.
Same for GB. Edit: This was just a cheap ripoff of the movie just like most of Gottleib's games of the era.

Surprised there never was a Matrix pin. With 3 movies, cool music and visuals, that could have been one great looking pin with many modes.

This is a great idea. You could have an upper playfield that would represent Mount Olympus. Heck you could call the machine "Olympus" or something to that effect. I would definitely have a strong interest in a pin with this theme were it ever made. Lots of material to draw from.

When you consider the market on PS3 and XBox for war games, it is surprising - might get kids back into pinball.

Saw-it could have some good toys like a errr a...wait for it Saw.

News of the World-you could search for stories, hack phones, pay off police etc.

Snakes on a plane-you could have a plane and rubber snake

World Cup Bid-you could bribe judges in different countries around the world

Saw 2-could have 2 saws

Saw 3....

hmm maybe I'm not in the most positive frame of mind for this post-wait I have it...

PINBALL, you could have a pinball themed pin based around some of the larger than life characters and players from around the world.

More band themes...
Depeche Mode
Megadeth (Metallica would be more likely to have been made)
AC/DC
Nine Inch Nails
Alice In Chains
IRON MAIDEN!

They could re-skin that as a World Cup game when they're done. Two for the R&D costs of 1 a'la FG and Shrek!

Monte Python's Quest for the Holy Grail. (it's only a model)

Harry Potter is the easy answer but I'm sure it has to do with licensing issues.

Another one that I think would sell quite well is a Disney themed machine, like the video game Kingdom Hearts. It would encompass battling various evil villains from Disney movies. It would have a very large fan base and would appeal to women, which is very important when trying to convince a wife or G/F that dropping thousands of dollars is a good idea. Of course a straight up Nightmare Before Christmas machine would be beyond awesome as well.

Pixar

I knew about the Bally Space Invaders, but never knew about the Ghostbusters? Was it Bally again going after the license?

Here is some of mine:

Mad Max/Road Warrior
Planet of the Apes
Batman Returns - never understood why this didn't happened?
One of the Tim Burton ones - Beetlejuice, Nightmare...

I think Stern need to run a contest to conceptualize the next Pinball game. If they use your idea you get a free machine. I would think it would draw tons of interest and help sell machines. I know I'd enter. Probably, have to be non-licensed theme though.

I agree releasing one movie theme pin after another gets a little boring IMO.

Maybe a AFM style drop down bumper to get into the Hades area, themed after "Cerberus" . Cerberus is the three headed dog that guards the gates of the underworld.

Cool.......

I second the Ghostbusters and wanted to add the Goonies.

I second the Monty Python Holy Grail and Beetlejuice but raise you one more, Fifth Element. I can't believe this wasn't made when the movie came out. What an awesome game that would have been!

I second this as long as Chris Tucker is completely omitted from the game.

BUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA I couldn't agree more!

"Corbin..Corbin...Corbin muh man!"

It would be as catchy as "bah bah bah bah bah! tron!"

What about a Bruce Lee themed pinball machine? The man is a legend throughout the world and beloved by young and old here. It could be just like one of his movies. You battle your way through lower level bosses until you fight Chuck Norris at the end. That would be beyond epic!!

I would love to see a Battlestar Galactica pin made. Pushing the start button would play "By Your Command". The topper could have the roaming red-eyed Cylon head. The main playfield should have the beautiful Number 6 with her blonde hair and sexy red dress. All the makings for a great pin!

I would love to see a Battlestar Galactica pin made. Pushing the start button would play "By Your Command". The topper could have the roaming red-eyed Cylon head. The main playfield should have the beautiful Number 6 with her blonde hair and sexy red dress. All the makings for a great pin!

Also the ball launch would work perfectly to mimic the act of the raptors launching out of the battlestar. Add in Original 6 multiball for the hell of it while you're at it.

I've taken the liberty of finding the backglass for you.

lastsupper.jpg

It would need to be trumped up a little but it's a start.

Found this one that I like a bit better. Adding the name to it would be the icing on the cake.

battlestar_large.jpg

How about a Die Hard theme, you could "blow shit up!"

Excellent work jarjar. I usually have to wait until Nimble posts to get a "visual"
Now Im all worked up over a pin that doesnt exist. Calm down SB. Anyone have a towel?
Wait a minute...I am a towel.

Army of Darkness
Repo Man (Harry Dean Stanton would be a worthy exception to my NO CELEBS ON THE TRANSLITE rule)
Zombie anything
Monty Python
Metalocalypse
Squidbillies
Futurama
The Big Lebowski

Would be cool with some laser lights!

BStar would be a great theme for us nerds. That Last Supper pose is genius.

The problem with having a Chuck Norris Wizard mode is you could never beat it.

That Maiden pin looks beautiful. Tell me why I have to be a pinballslave.

I think Chuck would win the rematch!LOL

I forgot to add something for my favorite director (John Carpenter).

Sooooo....

The Thing
Halloween
Escape from "*"

Wow that's better then Chuck Norris causing the dust storm in Phoenix by lighting a cigar!

I'm filling in for NP when he's not online.

BSG would make a great theme for a pin. Too bad they didn't crank one out back when the show was still on. Oh, and of course when the last ball drains Colonel Tigh would have to say "She'll never jump again!"

Look in the mirror and you'll find a towel!

3rd that. and bring them both back. 80's culture resurrection

Le tour de France....... anyone?

tour-de-france.jpg

I do think a theme-less game could work, maybe. Something that just shows off all the mechanical action that goes on in a pinball machine. Everything would have to really be planned out though.

Goonies seems like it would be similar to Hook. Have to look out for "One Eyed Willie" though.

Would it be possible to have a touch screen as a pinball surface? Don't get me wrong, I know it would be expensive as hell, but it would be cool to have the background interact with the motion of the ball. Have guys diving out of the way of the ball or whatever.

Give me some kind of Vampire versus wolves pin with a TRUE BLOOD twist on it....

I second this as long as Chris Tucker is completely omitted from the game.

Says the person with the (avatar) character who single-handedly ruined "Star Wars" besides Ewoks...
Oh, and include George Lucas' tweaking updates on that one too!!!

I will stick to my original LaserDisc Trilogy..!

TH-AN-K you VERY MUCH...

CBG.jpeg

I was talking with some friends recently and one of them suggested a "Weird Al" Yankovic pin.

This seemed like a great idea until I started thinking about it. Pinball mirrors pop culture and so does Weird Al, so how do you mirror a mirror?