STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – FEBRUARY 2021
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02/02/21

STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – FEBRUARY 2021

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:

Whole Lotta Love from CES 2021:

CES is the most influential tech event in the world – the proving ground for breakthrough technologies and global innovators.  This is where the world’s biggest brands do business and meet new partners, and the sharpest innovators hit the stage.  While this year’s show wasn’t in person, it didn’t stop Stern Pinball from hitting the virtual stage, showcasing our latest hit game Led Zeppelin to press outlets all over the world.  To kick things off, Stern participated in the official ShowStoppers (replay here) digital press event alongside other innovators and industry leaders to demonstrate to over 1,000 journalists from 67 countries the latest and greatest in new tech for work, home and play.  The reception to Led Zeppelin has been off the charts and the hits kept coming all throughout CES week!  In addition to being named “Best of CES” by International Business Times, Led Zeppelin was featured in this exclusive CNET video coverage, WIRED feature, Venture Beat article, Shacknews Best of CES list, Make Use Of “Best of CES” list, Nikki Rich Show interview, Channel 12 News highlight, TidBITs, Big Jim’s House radio show and Serious Insights article with much more coverage to come!

Led Zeppelin Rulesheet:

Want a Whole Lotta RULES?!  There won’t be any Communication Breakdown with the official Led Zeppelin Rulesheet!  https://sternpinball.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Led-Zeppelin-Rulesheet.pdf

Led Zeppelin LE:

While we could Ramble On about the innovative ruleset in the game, the Song Remains the Same for Stern’s manufacturing capabilities and attention to detail and quality in hand assembling all of our pinball machines, included in this first look video of Led Zeppelin LE’s on the line!

Stranger Things “Make-A-Wish”:

A “gamer hideaway” was gifted to 12-year-old Jace recently, a Make-A-Wish recipient who had a cancerous tumor removed last year.  Courtesy of Moss Distributing and Stern Pinball, Jace was given a Stranger Things pinball machine, a big-screen TV and more!  Learn more about this incredibly touching story here – https://www.replaymag.com/moss-stern-team-up-with-make-a-wish/

Wizard Mode Challenge – Stranger Things Final Showdown:

Watch world class player and streamer Karl DeAngelo of IE Pinball tackle his latest Wizard Mode Challenge as he attempts to reach the Final Showdown on Stranger Things!

Stranger Things LE Unboxing:

With a massive audience of over 2 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, French YouTube sensation Jojol partnered with RB Flip France to unbox a rare Stranger Things LE!  To date the video has already racked up over 100K views in less than 48 hours and counting, showcasing pinball to an entirely new global audience!  Watch this fun unboxing experience here!

Guitar World:

Featured in Guitar World?  Very cool.  Featured in an iconic Stern pinball machine?  Priceless!

#LedZeppelin #BlackKnight #IronMaiden

PlayStrongTM:

Do you have a PlayStrongTM pinball story to share with the world?  Send your inspirational message and pictures to Insider@sternpinball.com for a chance to be featured across Stern’s social media channels in addition to winning exclusive Stern swag and merchandise!  Check out these incredible #PlayStrong stories featuring music icon Drake, pinball featured on MTV, Elvira’s official Instagram pinball takeover, and an incredible pinball machine made out of K’Nex!

Stranger Things in GQ and Men’s Journal Gift Guides:

Stranger things have appeared in exclusive gift guides but nothing more fun than pinball!  Check out Stranger Things pinball featured in the latest GQ and Men’s Journal gift guides!

 

Gameroom of the Month:

Congrats to Jeremy Smith on being named the recipient of Gameroom of the Month! Do you have a special home gameroom you want to share with the world? Leave a photo comment on this Facebook post and you may be our next winner! Not on social media? Not a problem!  You can submit your incredible gameroom directly to Insider@sternpinball.com for your chance to win an exclusive Stern Swag Pack!

Pinball Rental Program:

Stay entertained by staying inside with the latest Stern Pinball machines!  Even if your local bar or arcade is temporarily unavailable, there are plenty of opportunities to play the newest Stern games.  Contact your local authorized Stern dealer for more information on renting your very own Stern pinball machine where available!  https://sternpinball.com/find-a-dealer/

Stern Army Updates:

The Stern Army continues to grow with members spreading the gospel of pinball across the globe.

Congratulations to the following Stern Army members on their promotion from Corporal to Staff Sergeant:

  • Staff Sergeant Don Johnson of Ohio (Kidforce Collectibles, Full Blast Arcade, and Melt Bar and Grilled)
  • Staff Sergeant Jason Thomas of Colorado (J Bos Pizza and Ribs)
  • Staff Sergeant Tracy Lindbergh of Arizona (Tilt Studio and The Grid)
  • Staff Sergeant Marvin Ortscheid of Ohio (Stonehedge Family Fun Center)
  • Staff Sergeant Sean Spindler of Wisconsin (Schwoegler’s Entertainment Center, Pooley’s Sports Bar and Event Center, and I/O Arcade Bar)
  • Staff Sergeant Mark Schulz of California (Harbor Town Pub, Waterfront Bar & Grill, and Home & Away)
  • Staff Sergeant Parker Thomas of Michigan (Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum)
  • Staff Sergeant Dan Gutchess of Colorado (The 1up Lodo and Colfax)
  • Staff Sergeant Shane Nazari of California (On Tilt @ AYCE Gogi)
  • Staff Sergeant Jason Wilson of Tennessee (Game Galaxy)
  • Staff Sergeant Nick Greenup of Missouri (403 Club and Solid State Pinball Supply)

Congratulations to the following Stern Army members on their promotion from Specialist to Corporal:

  • Corporal Dick Curtis of Texas (Pinballz Arcade and Buffalo Billiards)

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

  • Specialist David Benke of South Carolina (The Break)
  • Specialist Nate Luke of Indiana (The Sinking Ship)
  • Specialist CC Castaneda of California (Captain’s Arcade Showroom)
  • Specialist James Todd of Australia (The Basement)

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

  • Private First Class Vaughan Jones of Australia (Sneaky Baron Bar)
  • Private First Class Ian Matheson of Canada (Propeller Brewing Company)
  • Private First Class Tony Murphy of Minnesota (Midtown Bar and Grill)
  • Private First Class Don Michalik of Florida (iPinball)
  • Private First Class Connor Stowe of Oregon (Next Level Pinball Shop & Museum)
  • Private First Class Dan Sexauer of Missouri (Up Down STL)
  • Private First Class Evert Brochez of Belgium (Comic Sans)

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

  

Stern Insider All-Access:

Congrats to Henry from Missouri, January’s Stern Insider All-Access winner!  Henry received a Black Knight: Sword of Rage playfield autographed by lead game designer Steve Ritchie and lead game developer Tim Sexton!  Do you have All-Access?  Register and become a Stern Insider today! https://sternpinball.com/stern-insider/

IFPA Challenge Rankings (ICR):

In order to provide a competitive alternative in the current climate, the International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA) announced the implementation of the IFPA Challenge Rankings (ICR) for all players leading to the inaugural IFPA Challenge Rankings Championship!  It’s down to the final 4 between Bill Mason, Escher Lefkoff, Ian Harrower and Zachary Frey.  Follow along the progress by checking out the playoff bracket 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

  • Led Zeppelin – For all Led Zeppelin owners, please make sure you are up to date with the most current code version (v0.93.0) released last month. Be on the lookout for a new code update this month.
  • Avengers: Infinity Quest – For all Avengers owners, please make sure you are up to date with the most current code version (v0.98.0) released last week. Be on the lookout for a new code update later this month.
  • Stranger Things – For all Stranger Things owners, please make sure you have updated your game to the most current code version (v1.02.0) released last month. This code contains numerous game enhancements including the brand new Demogorgon bomb feature available across all models and the exciting new swipe-a-ball feature available only on the Premium and LE models.  This code update also includes additional polish, game adjustments, and bug fixes.

Dead Flip Pinball Streaming:

Make sure you are subscribed to Jack Danger’s Dead Flip channel to watch some special streams including last month’s streams on Stranger Things quick tips, a huge game of Stranger Things on the latest code, and a fun way to play your pinball machines differently!

Accessories:

Check out our Stern Shop for all accessories, collectibles, clothing and more including this month’s featured items, Stern’s new Winter merchandise line!  Free domestic shipping on orders of $50 or more on all Stern merchandise and accessories.

All Stern Pinball accessories are also available to purchase from your local authorized dealer – https://sternpinball.com/find-a-dealer/

Stern Spotlight – Jerry Thompson:

Hello! My name is Jerry Thompson, Sound Designer at Stern Pinball. What does that mean? It means I’m responsible for every sound in the game. Each switch, target, button and display effect needs a sound and each mode needs a tune. Working with input from the game designer and software developer, it’s my job to decide how the game should sound and then make a sound package to help immerse you in the game. It’s a lot of work but a lot of fun!

My path to pinball sound design started when I turned 16 and got my first job as a radio disc jockey in my hometown of Marshall, TX. I eventually went on to be the morning drive DJ at KKRW in Houston. After a few years, I decided that I liked being in the production studio more than being on the air. I decided to work in my own studio, voicing and producing commercials, and radio and television imaging. It was during that time that I happened upon a Twilight Zone pinball in the customer service area of a Super Kmart. I loved the show and knew I HAD to have one. I jumped on this new thing called eBay on the Internet. Yes, with a dial-up modem! As you know, you can’t have just one. Soon, my game room was full and my pinball obsession had begun.

In 2004, I made my first trip to Pinball Expo in Chicago and enjoyed meeting all the people who made the games I loved. I would have never dreamed that I’d get to with with them! My passion and and job collided when I got to do voice work on Mustang in 2014 and Whoa Nellie in 2015. I thought it couldn’t get much better than that! But wait…there’s more!!! In 2016, George Gomez and Dwight Sullivan took a chance on me and let me do my first full sound design package on Ghostbusters. I’m proud to be a member of the Stern team and I hope you’ve enjoyed my sound design work on these Stern pinball games:

The Avengers Infinity Quest
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Elvira’s House of Horrors
Jurassic Park
Black Knight: Sword of Rage
The Munsters
The Beatles
Deadpool
Iron Maiden
Star Wars
Batman ‘66
Ghostbusters
Whoa Nellie
Pabst Can Crusher
Heavy Metal
Primus
Supreme

I’ve loved woking with all the talented people at Stern for the last few years and hope for many more. I can’t wait for you to see (and hear) the games I’m working on for 2021!

 

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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.
    6. You will not attempt to defeat or circumvent any anti-piracy, security, and/or technical measures to control access to the Stern Pinball Software, features, functions or content, prevent unauthorized use, or otherwise prevent anyone from exceeding the limited license rights granted under this Agreement, “Security Measures”. Attempting to defeat or circumvent any Security Measure may result in your Stern Pinball Machine ceasing to work permanently either immediately or after a later installed Authorized Update.
    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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