The spider sense of pinball enthusiasts worldwide had been tingling for the past few months with speculation that Spider-Man would be Stern’s follow-up game to this fall’s Game of Thrones pinball. Stern president and CEO Gary Stern was even tight-lipped about the next title release when we interviewed him just before IAAPA 2015. Now, however, Stern has confirmed the rumors with the unveiling of a newly re-themed “Vault Edition” of Marvel’s web-slinger. If you’re reading this and thinking to yourself “isn’t there already a Spider-Man pinball machine?” you’re right. In 2007, Stern released a Spider-Man game based on Tobey Maguire movie trilogy. (Now defunct Gottlieb also released an Amazing Spider-Man game back in 1980.) You know the phrase “something so good bears repeating?” Yeah, that.
Stern’s 2007 release has proved to be a popular title among self-professed “pin heads” and demand has only grown over the years for the title with prices on the secondary market climbing higher and higher. Though Stern’s business model for new games includes a pro, premium, and limited edition offerings with tiered features and pricing, their recent foray into the “Vault Edition” has allowed the world’s oldest and largest pinball manufacturer to capitalize on their back catalog.
Unlike 2014’s Iron Man Pro Vault Edition, which was almost an exact replica of the original 2010 title, Marvel’s Spider-Man pinball has been drastically modified. Gone are all references to Tobey Maguire, Thomas Hayden Church and the like; instead Stern has re-themed the game in the style of Marvel’s successful Ultimate Spider-Man. With the distinct comic artwork, new animation, new audio package, and new toys, the game looks to be a heroic effort from Stern. Check out the full list of features below:
Spider-Man Vault Edition features:
• The same amazing gameplay of the original, with an all-new look and feel.
• All new art package, including: cabinet, back glass, decals, and playfield plastics, designed based on images from the actual Marvel Ultimate Spider-Man comics library.
• All new custom-molded toys specifically designed and decorated to capture the Ultimate Spider-Man art style (Doc Ock, Sandman, Venom and Green Goblin).
• All new animation and dot matrix video art designed around the Ultimate Spider-Man comic art.
• All new custom speech and sound effects for all characters.
• New mode event themes based on the Ultimate Spider-Man Universe.
• Webslinger themed laser-cut side armor in black powder coat with contrasting color inserts.
• Two new music tracks plus the original score.
• Numerous improvements to durability based on research of the original game’s field experience, including all LED playfield lighting
The Ultimate Spider-Man series is a modernized re-imagining of Marvel’s long-running Spider-Man comic book and it is only appropriate this theme is applied to re-imagine the pinball machine as well. The MSRP on this bad boy is $7595, but discounts can be found by shopping around for authorized distributors. If you’re geeking out right now, Stern has your number. Combined with Spider-Man, recent releases of Game of Thrones, AMC’s The Walking Dead, and rumors of a future Ghostbusters pinball, it appears geeks will have a tough time deciding with which game to take the plunge on first.
