STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – OCTOBER 2019
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09/30/19

STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – OCTOBER 2019

The Stern of the Union Address will be presented on the first Tuesday of every month (holiday and vacation excepted).  Without further ado my fellow pinheads:

Elvira’s House of Horrors:

Stern Pinball unveiled its latest game, Elvira’s House of Horrors!  This release was covered by numerous media outlets including IGN, MovieWeb, Bloody Disgusting, Horror News Network, Destructoid, That Hashtag Show, and UPI.  Read the full press release and see official pictures on our website – https://sternpinball.com/game/elviras-house-of-horrors/

Missed the live gameplay premiere?  Check out a replay of the event with Jack Danger and the game team here!

 

Chicago Pinball Expo:

Join Stern Pinball and Marco Specialties at the 35th Annual Pinball Expo (10/17-19) in the Pin Lounge!  Special guest Cassandra Peterson (aka Elvira, Mistress of the Dark) will be on hand to help officially launch the new Elvira’s House of Horrors Pinball Machine!  In addition, the Pin Lounge will be hosting the Stern Pro Circuit Flip-Out Tournament and the Chicago Belles & Chimes Women’s and Kid’s tournaments with live stream coverage by IE Pinball (https://www.twitch.tv/iepinball).

The Elvira Launch Party event on Friday will be emceed by Jack Danger with an additional Stern party scheduled for Saturday night!  To find more information on these events as well as other show details, please visit http://www.pinballexpo.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/events/2145701905734767/


 

Stern Army Updates:

The Stern Army continues to grow with members spreading the gospel of pinball across the globe.  Here are our newest members and the pinball locations they support:

  • Private Mika Marttinen of Finland (Pinball 21 Gameroom)
  • Private Timothy Lawrence of New York (Jackbar)
  • Private Seth Steele of Tennessee (No Quarter)

Congratulations to the following Stern Army members on their promotion from Private First Class to Specialist:

  • Specialist Neil Shelton of Colorado (Wonderland Brewing Company)
  • Specialist Josh Noble of Missouri (Silverball)
  • Specialist Brian Dye of West Virginia (Starport Arcade and Pub)

For more information and to join the Stern Army, please reach out to SternArmy@sternpinball.com

 

Stern Army Circuit:

Stern Pinball and the International Flipper Pinball Association are excited to announce the launch of the Stern Army Circuit!  The IFPA will be tracking the WPPR points earned at all IFPA sanctioned events held at Stern Army locations throughout the calendar year. At the end of the year, the top 10 finalists will receive prizes from Stern Pinball for their achievement.  For more information and live standings of this circuit, visit – https://www.ifpapinball.com/sternarmycircuit/

 

Stern Insider All-Access:

Congrats to Ed from South Carolina on being September’s Stern Insider All-Access winner!  Ed received a Star Trek playfield autographed by lead game designer Steve Ritchie and lead programmer Lonnie Ropp!  Do you have All-Access?  To register and become a Stern Insider, please visit https://sternpinball.com/stern-insider/

 

Stern Insider Pinball Podcast:

Available to all Stern Insiders, listen to the third episode of the Stern Insider Pinball Podcast! This episode features Greg Freres, lead artist and original developer behind all three Elvira games, discussing his latest work on Elvira’s House of Horrors! This podcast series is only available to Stern Insiders so don’t miss out! Episodes can be found here after logging in to your Insider account –https://sternpinball.com/account/

 

Between Two Sterns:

In case you missed it, watch the second episode of the exclusive Stern Insider All-Access live event series Between Two Sterns featuring George Gomez!  This live event series is only available to Stern Insiders with All-Access.  To register and become a Stern Insider, please visit https://sternpinball.com/stern-insider/

 

Stern Pro Circuit:

Congrats to all competitors at the NW Pinball Championships and Cleveland Pinball & Arcade Show Stern Pro Circuit tournaments.  In the end, Robert Gagno emerged victorious at the NW Pinball Championships and Luke Nahorniak won the Cleveland Pinball & Arcade Show tournament.  For full details on the Stern Pro Circuit presented by eBay, and to keep up with the current standings and schedule, please visit – https://sternpinball.com/stern-pro-circuit/

2019 Stern Pro Circuit Rankings – Top 10
1st  Steven Bowden San Antonio, TX
2nd  Raymond Davidson Everett, WA
3rd  Escher Lefkoff CO
4th  Keith Elwin Carlsbad, CA
5th  Karl DeAngelo Fontana, CA
6th  Colin MacAlpine Austin, TX
7th  Jim Belsito Murrieta, CA
8th  Lewis Bevans Pittsburgh, PA
9th  Bowen Kerins Salem, MA
10th  Andrew Rosa II Flint, MI

 

Upcoming Stern Pro Circuit Events:

Stern Pro Circuit Event Date Website
Pittsburgh Pinball Open 10/3/6 https://www.facebook.com/events/2340586309526533/
Pinball Expo Flip Out Tournament 10/17-20 http://pinballexpo.net/pinballtournament.html
24 Hour Final Battle at the Sanctum 11/2-3 http://tothesanctum.org/
Free Play Florida 11/22-24 http://wp.freeplayflorida.com/?page_id=5398
OBX Flippers Fall Tournament 11/22-24 https://flippersarcade.com/tournaments/

 

Portland Retro Gaming Expo and #FindMike:

#FindMike – Mike Vinikour, Associate Game Developer at Stern Pinball will be at the Portland Retro Gaming Expo all weekend hanging around in the Marco Specialties booth answering questions, teaching the rules to games and giving away Stern swag to fans who challenge him to games!

 

Jurassic Park Launch Parties:

The official Jurassic Park Pinball Launch Parties continue to stampede all over the world!  With Limited Edition and Premium models making their way out of the factory, there are still some launch parties left.  Check out the final list and location nearest you for your chance to win an official Jurassic Park Pinball Launch Party trophy and other prizes.  Launch parties are hosted in conjunction with the IFPA (International Flipper Pinball Association) and the Stern Army.  Official launch parties can only be held at official Stern Army locations!  For more information on joining the Stern Army please e-mail SternArmy@sternpinball.com

In the meantime, check out a recap video from Stern’s launch party at Logan Arcade here!

 

Status of Code:

We are continuously working to update and improve software for our machines.  There are always code updates and bug fixes in various stages of development; we will release them upon update completion.  Here are some of the latest updates and the status of things in the works.  If you would like to join our mailing list for code updates, please send an e-mail to Code.Updates@sternpinball.com.  If you do encounter any bugs please feel free to provide information to bug.report@sternpinball.com

  • Ghostbusters – In case you missed it, watch a replay of the code update for Ghostbusters with lead programmer Dwight Sullivan, Jack Danger, and special guests highlighting this comprehensive update. There are many new exciting features including a brand new wizard mode, redesigned wizard modes, and major game feature updates.  This code also adds additional polish, score balancing, adjustments, system updates and contains bug fixes.
  • Jurassic Park – For all Jurassic Park owners, with Limited Edition and Premium models now leaving the factory be on the lookout for a new code update across all models later this month.
  • Batman ’66 – There is a new Batman update in the works.

 

Accessories:

Check out our Stern Shop for all accessories, collectibles, clothing and more.  For Stern Insider All-Access members, check out a sneak peek of our upcoming new merch line coming this fall!

The Star Wars topper has received final approval and we’ll make a formal announcement once it’s available for purchase after production is completed.  All Stern Pinball accessories are also available to purchase from your local authorized dealer – https://sternpinball.com/find-a-dealer/

 

Stern Spotlight – Greg Freres:

“Greetings fellow pinballers!  My name is Greg Freres, but Gary Stern refers to me as Gregory. I’ve been with Stern Pinball for seven years and my title is Art Director. Before working here, I also spent a few years at other pinball and video game companies, starting in 1978. I graduated from Bally High and was voted “Most Likely to Show up on Time.”

When I’m not at work I enjoy spending time with my family, especially outside of Illinois. I met my wife Andrea while working at Bally and we just celebrated our 35th anniversary together.  Pinball brings people together!

When I grow up I want to be a rock star or a stunt car driver. I just sold my boat and bought a used Captain Fantastic.  I prefer fresh-cut French Fries, but I really shouldn’t be eating that stuff anymore, and I drive an American made car for the first time in 25 years. When it comes to pinball, I think I could win a tournament if all the other contestants were Pinball Artists. One time I came in second to Josh Sharpe… wait… Josh or Zach?

I’m fortunate to be in a business that has allowed me to make cool stuff and create games that the world gets to play. Back in 2000, I never thought I’d see the resurgence of pinball but here we are – enjoying a new era of the sport.

Hope to see you soon… playing pinball!”

 

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END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT (EULA)

STERN PINBALL

END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT

This limited software license Agreement (“Agreement”) applies to your use of Stern Pinball Software pre-installed on a Stern Pinball Machine and any Authorized Updates made available to you. BY USING YOUR STERN PINBALL MACHINE, YOU AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT. If you do not agree to the terms of this Agreement, do not use your Stern Pinball Machine or any Authorized Updates. Please read this entire Agreement, which governs your use of the Stern Pinball Machine, Stern Pinball Software and all Authorized Updates. ADULT CONSENT TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT, YOU MUST BE AN ADULT OF THE LEGAL AGE OF MAJORITY IN YOUR COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE. YOU ARE LEGALLY AND FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL ACTIONS USING YOUR STERN PINBALL MACHINE AND SOFTWARE AND ACCESSING OR USING ANY ONLINE GAMING PLATFORM, INCLUDING THE ACTIONS OF ANYONE YOU ALLOW TO USE AND ACCESS TO YOUR MACHINE AND ANY ASSOCIATED ACCOUNT. YOU AFFIRM THAT YOU HAVE REACHED THE LEGAL AGE OF MAJORITY, UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THIS AGREEMENT. IF YOU ARE UNDER THE LEGAL AGE OF MAJORITY, YOUR PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN MUST CONSENT TO THIS AGREEMENT. DEFINITIONS.
  1. “Stern Pinball Machine” means a Stern Pinball arcade game machine.
  2. “Stern Pinball Software” means software (including but not limited to firmware) pre-installed in the Stern Pinball Machine, including all Authorized Content and any Authorized Updates that Stern Pinball may make available to You from time to time.
  3. “Authorized Content” means all Stern Pinball and third-party owned software and content incorporated into or used with the Stern Pinball Software or otherwise embedded in or utilized by a Stern Pinball Machine, including but not limited to graphics, images, music, vocals and voices.
  4. “Authorized Update” means an update to the Stern Pinball Software distributed by Stern Pinball or otherwise made available by Stern Pinball, including for download on its web site.
  5. “Unauthorized Content” means all content, including but not limited to limited to graphics, images, music, vocals and voices, that does not comprise Authorized Content or an Authorized Update.
  6. “Unauthorized Software” means any software (including but not limited to firmware) not pre-installed by Stern Pinball on a Stern Pinball Machine or that does not comprise Authorized Content or Authorized Update.
  7. “You” means the purchaser or current owner of a Stern Pinball Machine.
LICENSE. Stern Pinball hereby grants You a nonexclusive, non-transferable, limited, and revocable right and license to use one copy of the Stern Pinball Software and Authorized Content and any Authorized Update solely for your personal use, or that of your patrons and customers if you are a commercial entity, for playing a single Stern Pinball Machine. The Stern Pinball Software, Authorized Content and Authorized Updates are licensed, not sold, to You, and no ownership rights are transferred by this Agreement. The Stern Pinball Software Authorized Content and Authorized Updates are protected by U.S. and international copyright. All rights not explicitly granted to you in this Agreement are reserved by Stern Pinball.
  1. As a condition to this Stern Pinball Software license, You agree that:
    1. You will not copy, reproduce, alter, replace, distribute, reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, display, perform, create derivative works based on, or otherwise modify the Stern Pinball hardware or Stern Pinball Software or any Authorized Update, in whole or in part; and will not commercially exploit any of the foregoing.
    2. You will not use or install any Unauthorized Content or Unauthorized Software. Use of Unauthorized Content or Unauthorized Software may result in your Stern Pinball Machine ceasing to work permanently and/or losing access to Stern Pinball’s online game network, either immediately or after a later installed Authorized Update.
    3. You will not create, develop, distribute or assist anyone else in creating, developing or distributing any Unauthorized Content or Unauthorized Software intended for use with a Stern Pinball Machine, whether to add to or modify the gameplay, any audio content (whether music, sound or voice), or any video content of any Stern Pinball Machine, or to gain advantage in any online or other game modes, or otherwise.
    4. You will not share any Stern Pinball Software, Authorized Content or Authorized Update with any other person or company and will not permit anyone else to access or copy any Stern Pinball Software or Authorized Content or Authorized Update installed on your Machine for any purpose.
    5. In view of the rights held by third-party owners of Authorized Content (e.g., music and video clips), Stern does not have the legal authority to give permission to stream the gameplay of Stern Pinball Machines.
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    7. Stern Pinball may update the Stern Pinball Software from time to time without further notice to You, for example, to update any anti-piracy, security, and technical measure.
PRIVACY POLICY Your use of the Stern Pinball Machine, Stern Pinball Software and any Authorized Updates are subject to Stern Pinball’s Privacy Policy which can be found at https://sternpinball.com/privacy-policy/   WARRANTY EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN, THE STERN PINBALL SOFTWARE, AUTHORIZED CONTENT AND AUTHORIZED UPDATES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT ALLOWABLE UNDER LAW, STERN PINBALL DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NONINFRINGEMENT. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, STERN PINBALL DOES NOT WARRANT THAT OPERATION OF THE STERN PINBALL MACHINE OR ANY ONLINE OR CONNECTED GAME NETWORK WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE. EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN DAMAGES STERN PINBALL IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES; ANY LOSS OF DATA, PRIVACY, CONFIDENTIALITY, OR PROFITS; OR ANY INABILITY TO USE THE STERN PINBALL MACHINE, STERN PINBALL SOFTWARE OR ANY AUTHORIZED UPDATE. THESE EXCLUSIONS APPLY EVEN IF STERN PINBALL HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THESE DAMAGES, AND EVEN IF ANY REMEDY FAILS OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE. Some countries do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so this limitation or exclusion may not apply to You. These terms apply to the maximum extent permitted by law and unless prohibited by law. These terms do not change your rights under the laws of your country if those laws do not permit that change. TERRITORY AND CHOICE OF LAW This License is valid only in the country in which you purchased your Stern Pinball Machine. This License will be subject to and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, U.S.A., regardless of conflict of laws principles. You agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in Cook County, Illinois, U.S.A. for the resolution of any dispute regarding this Agreement or the subject matter of this Agreement and to waive any jurisdictional, venue, or inconvenient forum objections to such courts. This Agreement may be updated by Stern Pinball from time to time with the current version posted at www.sternpinball.com/EULA. Your continued use of the Stern Pinball Software an Authorized Update after an updated Agreement has been posted constitutes your acceptance of all of its terms.
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