Either of those titles would sell nicely in today's market. Ninja Turtles is hot again at the moment (basing this on the amount of new toys and another new movie out) and an updated South Park should have no problem selling with the continued popularity of the show and various games still being made. Couple this with nostalgia being a big driving factor in pinball sales and a thirst for new games.

The translites basically paint themselves with that artwork....maybe classic 80s movies will be the next theme done to death by Stern, like rock band pins. Ghostbusters being the beginning. I WISH!

Current list of great titles that would make great Stern pinball machines from this current thread:

Guardians of the Galaxy. This has been hinted at, given the thumbs up by George Gomez on Facebook many months ago from memory and someone said that Stern had acquired the license.

Deadpool. Lots of action and humour. A more edgy title, but could see this one selling well.

Suicide Squad. The movie isn't out yet, but theme and artwork alone would make this an interesting pinball machine. Looking forward to seeing this one in the cinema.

Now, my outside pick....I've been wanting to see this as a pinball title since the first movie was released. Wreck It Ralph. Would look great with a new colour display, great look to the movie and the addition of classic video game characters to tap into that nostalgia factor that Stern loves so much. A sequel is also in the works for 2018. Only stumping block here is licensing to include other video game characters.

Sheesh! Down voted for posting evidence of possible next title. Tough crowd!

Someone recently posted:
Whoah Nellie re-theme (turned out to be true)
Aerosmith (we'll see. Could be Slayer?)
Batman TDK re-themed to 66 Batman.
Elvira 3.

So, Slayer was a smoke screen? Digital table or Stern have the Slayer license and will release a pinball in the future? On track for Aerosmith still?

And then...Star Wars more likely for later than March 2017?

Most likely:
Aerosmith
Batman '66

New rumor:
Elvira 3

Future:
Star Wars
Iron Maiden

Possible future that Stern mentioned a lot on Facebook and then people forgot:
Guardians of the Galaxy

Pins that people really want that will probably happen if it keeps getting mentioned: Jaws

Rumors that fizzled out:
The Fast and the Furious
Superman
Resident Evil
Mad Max

Pins that really should happen after all the posters, banners, marketing that I've seen lately that are begging for Stern Pinball: Suicide Squad.

Yeah, I remember before KISS people were throwing Jurassic World around....or was it Game of Thrones? Either way, it seemed like a solid rumour and then dropped off.

So....first it was Aerosmith with new display for Pinball Expo...and now it's Batman '66....or is it both? or has Aerosmith dropped off the radar? All these questions need answering. lol.

I forgot the 2 days that the pinball community thought there was a full-sized Slayer pinball up next...

When they run out of themes that people want now, maybe in a few years we'll see stuff like Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill. The Big Lebowski and Rob Zombie could lead the way.

The next pin as in Aerosmith next, or right now next like Batman 66 or is it the next after that?

Aerosmith???? Lol

Yeah, Tron seems like a future VE certainty. It's cheap to make, change the artwork, add a bit more bling and upgrade to LCD and then load the price. $$$

So...speculation of future Stern titles after Aerosmith?

Elvira 3
Pulp Fiction
Star Wars
Iron Maiden
Guardians of the Galaxy
Jaws
The Fast & the Furious
Jurassic World
Edit: forgot Slayer

Wow, I thought the Elvira thing was just pinside wishful thinking.

How can this not be the makings of an amazing pinball machine?

Ghostbusters would be out the door ASAP if they announced it....then after an amazing game, the ball drains and you hear "go home, jerk off. And that's all you're gonna do!"

I hope that Stern Star Wars isn't a wasted opportunity. I own DE Star Wars and now looking at purchasing the Stern version, but I don't want the DE version to be the better pinball.

I was keen for a Stern Pulp Fiction...even over Star Wars and Iron Maiden, but someone said to me that they thought another company had the license. Can anyone else chime in on the current state of the Pulp Fiction rumour?

Yeah, that was what I was told also....and Lebowski hasn't even shipped to everyone yet? Groan....

Yeah, I'm just imagining it now. Alone in my games room late at night and Dancing Queen multiball comes on. Tears streaming down my face...having the time of my life....

Would Stern put out two music titles in one year? I suppose there is a game or two in between and Aerosmith should have come out last year.

Pulp Fiction mentioned on podcast today as possible end of year Stern release.

So...

Star Wars
Elvira 3
Iron Maiden/Pulp Fiction.

And then they go on to question if Star Wars will actually make a May 4 announcement (edit: meaning it will be pushed back).

Kaneda podcast.

I have Stern faith! New color display and experience with past adult content in The Sopranos, The Walking Dead, etc.

Agree with you that it doesn't seem like a Stern fit, but it was a favourite movie of mine, so I'm keen to see an established company ship a game like this on time....or just ship it at all.

Based on historical data, there's usually a May announcement. No May 4th Star Wars announcement due to current production backlogs. Can anyone else add to this?

Yeah, George Gomez mentioned it a lot on facebook a few years back and then the rumour seemed to go cold.

I've ALWAYS been a Stern Pro guy....but succumbed to Wizard of Oz this year. Bought a secondhand game for a little bit more than the cost of a Stern Pro. Worth every penny. One of the best games I've ever owned. Everyone is different though.

Back to the Future - TAKE MY MONEY!!!!

It's been a while since we've had a new Tron VE thread. Must be one soon? How 'bout Iron Man?
:-p

Lol. I saw a sited Tron today and briefly felt the sickness. "Why did I ever sell my favourite game? To buy Walking Dead. Move along...."

So, do we have a new Back to the Future or Rick & Morry pin from Stern yet?

What about Mustang? It had songs from multiple artists. Sony label, but I'm sure it's still achievable. Especially for a company like Stern and not a boutique?

Resident Evil was mentioned for years....Fast and the Furious also.....

More Iron Man after that?

Sold my Tron to experience new games, but that would definitely be a reason for me to buy it again! AC/DC VE this year, what's coming next year?

Would be terrible if it wasn't. Iron Maiden needs to see the light of day.

Going by the current rate of similar layouts, they probably had to go from a variation on Mustang to a variation on KISS for Iron Maiden now. You'll feel like you're playing Aerosmith, but only better!
:-p

Jurassic World hasn't been mentioned for a while, but new movie is coming out in 2018. This would fit well with the 2 year period when people start mentioning rumoured titles.

In John Borg's Pearl Jam, we see the Walking Dead's layout return where the excitement builds with Jeremy Multiball and the crossbow mechanism shoots balls on to the playfield. Operators are expecting big earnings on location.

John Borg is still my favourite game designer regardless of time constraints. He's the king in my eyes.

You already fuelled that rubbish before.

Geez mate, calm down! Fact checking you and you get all snarky. If you keep wheeling out false facts, I'm going to call you on it.

I take a dump once a day. Doesn't make me an expert on toilets either.

Fun fact. Your last visit to the Stern factory. May 2017. You told people in the Deadpool thread that you were at the factory yesterday. Posting pictures of the production line showing Aerosmith getting built from your photos in May. Not a very credible source when you keep spreading false information.

Exactly. Think of the exposure this machine is going to get on various music and entertainment web sites when it's released.

Stern will be doing Iron Maiden, Deadpool and Munsters. Throw a Vault Edition in the mix and that's 2018. Elvira 3 is off the radar now.

Wasn't there a speculative playfield photo as well? Appreciate the inbox if you don't want to post publically.

What's Houdini got to do with the price of Sterns?

This is my dream non-licensed theme pin. Haha

Legit....would want one.

I don't care about the theme, but looking forward to seeing what Stern do with this title in comparison to the Sega version and Data East Jurassic Park.

If they brought out an upgraded Tron Pro with LCD, new translite and everything else the same, I'd be more excited than The Black Knight, Munsters and even Willy Wonka. Tron - the only game I ever regret selling.

I love Game of Thrones, but when I encounter the pinball machine out in the wild, I have no ambition to put money in it. I know that people rate it fairly highly as a good player, it just doesn't drag me in. The art doesn't grab me and the DMD video clip animations hurt my eyes.

With all the new games that Stern are releasing, I can't picture them putting too much effort into Vault releases from this point on. As much as I'd love to see a game like Lord of the Rings or Tron elevated to something truly special with an LCD and total art re-dedign, I think they will just be releasing previous games that can be quickly added to keep the production line running.

Resident Evil was talked about for years (around the time of Tron?). I wonder if Stern had the license and for whatever reason they never followed through with it?

Exactly! New translite and some foil cabinet decals and they'd still sell.

+1 for regretful Tron sale.

We've seen simple re-runs of AC/DC, Metallica and Star Trek lately that have been touted as "Vault" editions. What are easy games to do this in their arsenal that will still sell well?

Tron
The Walking Dead
Iron Man
KISS (code is now complete, could they squeeze some more sales with a new gimmick for the current tour?)

So....the dealer livestream is happening now. How long til someone from that stream spills the beans on the title and it appears on Pinside?

My vote goes for Stranger Things, but we'll probably see Jurassic Park.

Nobody has started a Tron Vault thread again. I'm shocked.

What's the Stern juggernaut theme that is coming? Back to the Future? Harry Potter? Jaws? Bill and Ted?

I don't think Dirty Donny works for Stern anymore.

...and I don't think Stranger Things is a juggernaut theme for the pinball collector crowd.

Whatever happened to the Princess Bride rumours?

The next pin is supposed to hit it out of the park for nostalgia buffs.....I can't see Stranger Things doing that for the whole pinball crowd. I also don't think Dirty Donny's art tease of Stranger Things has anything to do with a pinball machine.

Prove me wrong.

My money is safe then. Totally agree.

The real winner sounds like TMNT with new net connectivity....and can't wait to see what Zombie Yeti does with that art package.

Thanks for posting!

No Stranger Things on that list....I'm keen to see a Stranger Things pinball machine, but is it really a theme for the average pinball collector?

I seriously think Stern have moved away from Dirty Donny's artwork and would produce something more vibrant like the current crop of games. After various leaks and artists speaking their minds on social media, I no longer see pinball artists hinting at future games.

Now that everyone has gone home from Expo, the rumour should be flying now?

2020 for Tron Vault!!!!!

And don't forget Back to the Future! Gary Stern can curse the heavens, but there will be another Back to the Future pinball machine within the next five years.

He said the same thing about KISS. For many years. Guess what Stern made? An updated KISS machine.

My thoughts: people will buy an ironic Tiger King t-shirt, but NOBODY would buy a whole pinball machine.

Then.....new Stern Tiger King pinball machine designed by Keith Elwin and rules by Lyman Sheets.

Insert take my money meme here.

'79 here and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were one of my major loves as a kid. Masters of the Universe, Star Wars, TMNT and the Simpsons were my great obsessions in the years before I hit high school. It's not a theme that I need to own now, but I'm definitely excited about the reveal.

There's still that nostalgia inside and if it's an amazing game with amazing art, cool new features and that iconic theme song from the cartoon, it might just knock Jurassic Park down a step in my wanted pin list. Currently I'm still planning on getting Iron Maiden in the number 1 spot.

Thor 3 and Wonder Woman 84 with Franchi art would look incredible (and will probably never happen now)....If there is another Marvel pinball, it would be refreshing to see titles that are outside Stern's norm of the obvious big names.

Shut up, idiot....OH HEY RYZA!

Is it Tron? Is it Tron? Say it's Tron. It's definitely Tron isn't it!? Is it Tron?

Tron will happen again, it's a when, not an if....and also what form we'll see it in. Stock Vault or something extra.

So will Stern recognise this and go the extra mile and make everyone want the new improved Tron or just re-hash the red DMD Pro with a new translite?

After seeing JJP GnR, I'm now hoping for a Stern Motley Crue. What happened to that rumour?

What about updated AC/DC with new cabinet and playfield artwork with LCD treatment like JJP Guns n Roses?

Personal opinion. I owned AC/DC and would own it again. 8 years is a long time and it's also red dots. Stern are big enough to vault old games and update them to LCD. Spiderman got vaulted as a whole new game and now Stern are in the LCD era, so it's inevitable that this very thing will happen to an old game at some stage.

Or the LE he's always had?

I watched the Goonies when I was around five years old and love it to this day. We moved from the country to the coast at the time and it sent my imagination wild as a kid. Exploring the bays and inlets in my dad's little boat reminded me of the adventure in the movie and I was always imagining finding pirate's treasure on a secluded beach or sandbar. I also loved the movie for the edgy jokes. It wasn't just a soppy 80s kids movie and the actors were all engaging and memorable. "oh wow, a police chase! Awwww shiiii......"

Bring on the pinball with mechanical toys and One Eyed Willy's pirate ship.

They can reskin all the Zepellin machines that nobody wants? Too harsh?

I think that would be an amazing theme for pinball. The video assets are usable because they're not big name actors as well. It's got the familiarity of the Star Wars universe and it's current. It's a theme I'd want to own before even seeing the game.

So, from looking at the current thread, the horses in the race are:

The Mandalorian
Godzilla
James Bond
The Fast & The Furious
Back to the Future
JAWS
Top Gun
Pulp Fiction
The Matrix
Mortal Kombat
Harry Potter

I put the Fast & the Furious in there as it has been mentioned a lot over the years and I think it could be a surprise title.....not one that I'd buy. Mortal Kombat has also been mentioned several times. Interesting, but again, not something I'd want to own.

Motley Crue also seems like a contender, but not sure if they'd give us another music title so close to Led Zeppelin?

Random post...I was just going through old emails and I found one from February 2019 where I'd made a list of rumoured Stern games (from Pinside chatter) before Black Knight was released in March. Interesting to see what has been released since:

Black Knight 3000
Jurassic World
Jaws
Stranger Things
Bill & Ted
Pulp Fiction
Superman '78
Rush
Led Zeppelin
Motley Crue

So we've gone from Godzilla being a sure thing to Back to the Future once again?

I had a chuckle today when I thought of the story about how nobody at Stern was passionate enough to make a Beetlejuice pinball machine, but here we are and they're about to release a Rush pinball machine....Beetlejuice oozes art, music, originality, vibrancy, international appeal....Rush is an amazing band, but hardly anyone I know could name a single song. I'd just be playing Tom Sawyer the first time I put coin through it.

Foo Fighters - you can easily pack (at the very least) 12 songs in there that have international appeal (see previous poster's list) and have a rocking game....and the complainers that don't like the Foo Fighters can't tell me that all those popular tracks wouldn't get the adrenaline pumping for a game of pinball... Couple this with original artwork that pops (Zombie Yeti) and some type of retro ray gun comic alien/UFO theme, with a killer layout and you're onto a winner. Metallica proved people wrong with this approach. I was expecting some dark Photoshop band imagery and Dirty Donny came along and knocked it out of the park. The triple threat of DD art, Lyman code and Borg layout.

Let's see if Foo Fighters becomes a reality and they create an original alien character like Metallica's Sparky....

Ghostbusters?

Apparently they're re-running the toppers next year, so it could be possible.

Rumour. Kaneda podcast.

The rumour is that there will be a VE next year.

My hot take: to make up for poor sales of Rush.
:p

Yeah, this is what I heard also. After hearing Bond has been doing the rounds behind the scenes, I don't hold hope for BTTF in 2022 for Stern.

Lately it's been talk of Rush (now confirmed), Venom, a Vault and then Bond from Kapow. I also can't see Kapow releasing two games in the one year based on previous releases from them.

Edit: not forgetting the rumour of Foo Fighters with Jack Danger on design.

I still think Ghostbusters makes sense, if the rumour is true that they're getting the license to make more toppers.

Is Motley Crue still a strong rumour or has Foo Fighters taken that spot?

I'm no longer holding my breath for Back to the Future in 2022 with the focus being on Bond now. Need someone in the know to chime in other than the hopefuls talking about crumbs from podcasts.

Kaneda podcast said actual mechs were doing the rounds for Bond. So there's talk of physical evidence for Bond vs BTTF....a recent episode of The Pinball Show's rumours segment mentioned Back to the Future no longer being tipped for release.

At the end of the day, it's all speculation until a game actually gets released, but from various forum posts and podcasts, Back to the Future seems to be put on the backburner until something is said otherwise.

You assume too much!

I don't pay to listen to any podcast, but I'm glad you cracked yourself up.

The information is out there on other podcasts, but you can choose to ignore it if you want.

And Franchi on a Stern pin again would be fantastic.

Stern Pinball will do what they want. Just because there's a backlog of current production games, doesn't mean that they won't throw a Vault in there. This would be like saying Stern won't release a new title because they have a backlog of orders.

Until it happens, nobody knows. You or him.

I'm guessing it's not happening this year, but like everything, it's going to happen eventually.