what a banger man... this pin looks super flow and fun.

Like even of the music isn't your jam, the ingenuity and magnitude of shots and creativity is beyond mind boggling!! Gold standard of pinball right here

It definitely has some innovative shots, but I just can't get over the theme. Not that I really dislike FF, but seeing it a whole pin covered with that art and faces is somehow cringe worthy to me. I really can't stand grunge, but the FF are mostly rock and roll so I have enjoyed some of their work. Even still there are only 3 or 4 of the songs in the game that I am willing to listen to from beginning to end even once. Cool looking playfield and congrats to people who are excited about it.

One thing for sure is the I am going to be really, really, really, really f@ckin pissed off if this game releases with expression lights before I am able to buy them for my Rush Premium. It has been a year now and waiting...

press release:

Foo Fighters and Stern Pinball Announce New Rock and Roll Pinball Machines!

CHICAGO, IL – February 28, 2023 – Stern Pinball, Inc. unleashes a new line of pinball machines celebrating and created in cooperation with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class of 2021 inductees Foo Fighters. The Foo Fighters pinball machines are available in Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition (LE) models.

Foo Fighters first stepped onto the world stage in 1995 with their classic self-titled debut album. Over the course of their career, the band has released 10 studio albums, amassed over 32 million records sold worldwide, won 15 Grammy Awards, were recipients of the first-ever MTV “Global Icon” award, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. One of the biggest headliners on the global stadium, arena and festival circuits, their music will soon begin filling gamerooms and entertainment locations in pinball form.

Stern’s Foo Fighters machines bring the Foo Fighters concert experience home as players are immersed in an epic pinball adventure featuring 15 iconic songs spanning the band’s expansive catalog, including All My Life, Best of You, Breakout, Everlong, Holding Poison, I’ll Stick Around, Learn to Fly, Monkey Wrench, My Hero, Run, Something from Nothing, The Pretender, This is a Call, Times Like These, and Walk.

More than two years in the making and with creative input from the band’s own Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett, Rami Jaffee, and the late, great Taylor Hawkins, Stern’s Foo Fighters is a top-shelf pinball machine—and so much more. An entire new universe has been developed with jaw-dropping hand-drawn artwork and custom animations including “Foo Fighters Saturday Morning Action Time!”—a fictional TV series chronicling the band’s quest to save rock and roll… AND THE WORLD! Join Foo Fighters on this rescue mission to thwart the evil, mysterious alien Overlord and his army of bots. Search the Area 51 upper playfield to break into and unleash pinball chaos. Jump in the van for a righteous tour of duty to save humanity from extinction and let rock rule!

Foo Fighters pinball machines include Stern’s award-winning Insider Connected™ system, which enables players to interact with the game and a global network of players in a variety of ways. Through Insider Connected, players can track progress, earn new game-specific achievements, engage with the player community, and participate in promotions and Challenge Quests. Insider Connected also provides an operator-focused toolset to drive location play through Location Leaderboards, build player loyalty, analyze performance, make adjustments remotely, and maintain the machines. Registration for Insider Connected is available at insider.sternpinball.com/.

Limited to 1,000 machines globally, the highly collectible Limited Edition includes the Expression Lighting System™. With 96 intelligent RGB LEDs, the Expression Lighting System enables full color spectrum control. Positioned in pockets cut into the cabinet sides to provide color themed full playfield illumination, this integrated playfield lighting system is synchronized to custom light shows specifically designed for every song and dynamically responsive to game events. The LE version also includes an exclusive Rock-Battle inspired full-color mirrored backglass, exclusive full color high definition reflective foil decal cabinet artwork, custom high gloss Overlord green powder-coated pinball armor, a custom designer-autographed bottom arch, exclusive inside art blades, upgraded audio system, anti-reflection pinball playfield glass, shaker motor, a sequentially numbered plaque, and a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Stern Chairman Gary Stern and President & CEO Seth Davis.

“Partnering with Foo Fighters, we created an entirely new pinball universe under the backdrop of incredible music. The energy from this unique, fast and flowing game design, choreographed with spectacular lightshows and stunning hand-drawn artwork has created the ultimate gaming experience,” said Seth Davis, President & CEO. “Get connected today and become a hero.”

The new Foo Fighters pinball machines will be on display and available to play at a special debut launch event at The House of Internet party during SXSW March 10th-12th at The Pershing in Austin, Texas.

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

Looks incredible. Several innovative features. The out-lane ball save is clever, for sure. Initial impression is outstanding. WOZ called, and want's it's Munchkin Playfield back...

anybody else here thinking the PRO is the way to go?
it looks super flow-y, much more than the premium

Not seeing the benefit of adding $2500+ for the premium on this one…. But definitely intrigued by the pro

I wasn't wild about the idea of another band pin...but this is soooo much more than that...Kudos to JD on what looks like a super fun design and theme integration! Looking forward to playing one and I've been won over that this was an excellent idea.

I had zero interest in this theme...I like FF, but thought nah...Damn Jack...Bravo man!!!! Pin looks fun as hell!!!

I would definitely go LE if I could justify price.

Best LE for ages.

Actual footage from Stern HQ

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Looks like a hell of a pin for your first cornerstone! Excited to flip one.

That layout looks killer. The art is sick. Did you see that there are even targets in the outlanes (correction - inlanes) to shatz? That lower van shot turn around ramp is going to be lightning quick. DeadFlip came out swinging on his first cornerstone.

Why did I just buy a new machine

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The SHATZ targets are genius, and I really like the captive ball loop mech.

Great looking machine, layout looks fantastic. I think Jack Nailed it!

Wow. Well done Jack! Looks really f'n cool!

Inlanes, but yeah… that is interesting. IMDN had one high standup on the left inlane for it… but having 2 shallow ones is interesting.

Game looks solid. Very unique. I'm always take a wait and see approach on new releases but I am pleasantly surprised and super happy for Jack Danger. Love his passion for the hobby. Unfortunately, I wear my hat backwards so I am not allowed to buy it or have nice things for that matter. Dang.

I am still firmly in the Foo Fighters are a bland band camp, but given the direction of the pin, loving it! Also that death save post is amazing as someone mentioned!!!

Pro looks great. Prem and LE have the same art and backglass, just different colors? Kinda odd IMO. Pin is probably a home run!

Looks like LE only

Upper playfield could slow the game down for sure

Does anybody else think that the ZY art package is just getting to be too much? I mean the playfield is so packed with color and stuff it needs room to breathe. Sometimes less is more.

It looks like the way the diverter for the loop works, it can move and then you hit a stand up and drain off the upper pf. So you can't just spam loops all day.

I'll go along with ya on that one. I mean, it's not ugly, its actually a great looking pin, and hes super talented obviously, but yeah. He's definitely a fan of the bright popping reds, oranges and yellows. I too have thought it's a bit much sometimes.

Not the point. It's still 1000 sets of Expression lights when I have been waiting a full year for a set for my Rush. Hopefully this is a signal that the Rush lights will be available soon but I'm not holding my breath.

So, what's NEXT!

Just buy Pinstadiums. The expression lights on LZ don't really add much to the game so my point is if you're going to spend that kind of money on lights spend it on some that will actually add something to the game.

the expression lights on Stern are lame. Add nothing to the game.

I think this one is a pro! I am not a fan of upper playfields and that upper PF gave me Halloween vibes or TSPP and ... I am not a fan.

I do wish the pro had that post at the out lane though.

funniest post i will see all week

There is no way for me to give each of these posts the thousand thumbs down they deserve, so I will just say that I couldn't disagree more. To each his own, but Expression lighting is AWESOME.

no it is not. IF you think it is awesome power to you. JJP is who nailed this with their light bars, Stern's attempt is half a$$ at best.
If you played a recent JJP game with their light bars you will understand (I have own, and sold TS4 recently) and I dislike JJP games in general just to be clear, this is not a JJP is better post, this is a JJP light bars are better post and Sterns are mediocre.

Thank you. He’s awesome but just in my eyes needs more black (:

I agree. I want my Rush ELs also.

Love stern’s expression lighting. It’s a must on stern Rock pins! GNR’s lighting is bad ass as well.

I had a strong feeling that Jack Danger would bring his A game on this title and deliver a sleeper hit! Stern has a deadly 1-2 punch with KME and JD designing games. The game looks incredible and has lots of innovations and design elements that we haven't really seen from Stern. I inlanes and sling shape on this game remind me of something we'd see in the classic Bally days, and I love the way he integrated Shatz targets into the design. The kicker target is also really cool and there are many different paths for the ball to flow on this game which makes for a fun shooting layout. I can't wait to play one and if I like it I may seriously consider picking up a Pro! After a dismal 2022 it appears that Stern is back with a vengeance!

Stern gives a master class in cock blocking with a game that looks like an incredible shooter ,and delivers a rock theme with the art feel of scooby doo AND retro sci fi. Way to spike the ball.

1979 Atari Roadrunner

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Literally had no idea this pin existed. Cool!

I think of Gottlieb Monte Carlo but Road Runner is more like Foo

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Game play and art looks good but I cannot imagine keep listening to music and see playfield art during play when I do not like FF! I wish they had this type of art and playfield for Rush! Then I would have bought Rush for sure!

Has anyone noticed Stern has stopped referring to themselves as a global lifestyle brand in their press releases?

Way to go pinside. You shamed them out of that label

I just looked up Atari Road Runner. Too bad they only made 2 prototypes before it was canceled.

Regardless of whether you like the title our not can we just celebrate the fact that they went back to using wireforms instead of plastic ramps?

Plastic ramps aren't inherently bad. They are way faster than metal ramps and habitrails.

I appreciate JD's designs with his use of the newton ball / captive ball. I like where it is tucked in next to a ramp (he did something similar with JDJP). A slightly off shot scores the captive ball, but sometimes caroms and still scores the ramp shot. The captive ball eats some of the energy of a dead on shot and removes some of the clunk element a stand up target would impart with a rocket shot back at the flippers. It feels like good thoughtful design and makes what could be dead space on the playfield into something fun and interactive.

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BTTF next?