STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – SEPTEMBER 2025
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09/02/25

STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS – SEPTEMBER 2025

The Stern of the Union Address, your monthly resource for news, information and highlights on all things Stern Pinball. Without further ado my fellow pinheads:

Star Wars: Fall of the Empire:

May the Force be with you…

Super7 Stern Pinball Godzilla Championship:

The kaiju battle begins! 💥

Super7 and Toho Godzilla are teaming up with Stern Army to bring you the first ever Super7 x Stern Pinball Godzilla Championship! This three part event series is a true coast-to-coast throwdown, kicking things off in San Francisco, then heading to Chicago, and wrapping up in Brooklyn.

The winner from each of these three qualifying events will win a free weekend pass to Pinball Expo with travel and hotel costs covered, courtesy of Super7 and Stern! The hotel stay includes two nights: Thursday, October 16th, and Friday, October 17th. Once there, you’ll compete in a final showdown on Godzilla Pinball to determine the Top 3 who will win a set of one-of-a-kind Vac Metal Godzilla ReAction™ figures (1st gold, 2nd silver, 3rd bronze).

Participating in a qualifier also earns you a special Insider Connected badge and gets you in on a chance to win fun giveaways from Super7 and Stern.

Ready to test your skills? Mark your calendars!

Qualifying Events

West Coast: Free Gold Watch (San Francisco, CA)

Friday, September 5th

7:00 pm PT signups, 7:30 pm start

Central: Logan Arcade (Chicago, IL)

Friday, September 12th

7:30 pm CT signups, 8:00 pm start

East Coast: Jackbar (Brooklyn, NY)

Sunday, September 21st

Time: 1:00 pm ET signups, 2:00 pm start

Championship Finals

Location: Stern Pinball booth at Pinball Expo in Schaumburg, IL

Date: Friday, October 17th

Time: 4:00 pm CT

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: The Tyrant’s Eye Sweepstakes:

🚨 Win a Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye PRO Pinball Machine!🚨

Roll the dice and enter for a chance to win a new Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye Pro edition! Sign up for Stern Pinball’s email list between June 20 @ 12:01 a.m. CT and September 28 @ 11:59 p.m. CT for your chance to win!

Already on our list? You still need to fill out the form to confirm your email.

Want a bonus entry? Log in to the Stern Pinball Insider Connected App during the promo period!

U.S. residents 18+ only.

Enter here: https://stpb.co/dndsweep

King Kong: Myth of Terror Island Pinball:

Check out some recent streams of King Kong’s latest code update in action with Retro Ralph and Karl from IE Pinball!

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: The Tyrant’s Eye at GenCon:

Insider Connected:

Stay connected and play in ongoing community events! Featuring monthly quests and leaderboards, there’s no shortage of what you’ll be able to achieve!

Deadpool Vault Spotlight:

The “Merc with a Mouth” is running out of time and we’re here to go on one last adventure to celebrate its inclusion into the vault. Watch our team battle villains, complete quests, and chow down on some chimichangas one last time in this celebratory gameplay video! As part of the Stern Vault Program, Deadpool has been removed from active production and will remain in the vault for a minimum of two years without any guarantee of returning. These games are almost completely sold out, so contact for availability before it’s too late!

Gameroom of the Month:

Congrats to Daniel Peterson for winning Gameroom of the Month! Do you have a special home gameroom you want to share with the world? Submit your incredible gameroom directly to Insider@sternpinball.com for your chance to be featured as our next winner!

Stern Army Updates:

The Stern Army continues to grow with troops spreading the gospel of pinball across the globe. Stern Army locations receive first priority shipment of new Stern games for hosting official Launch Parties in addition to supporting events with prizes, giveaways, promotional materials, and tools for hosting recurring tournaments and leagues. Engage and expand your local pinball community and to join the Stern Army, please reach out to SternArmy@sternpinball.com

Location of the Month:

Congrats to Right Brain Brewery of Traverse City, Michigan for winning Location of the Month! Do you have a special location you want to share with the world?  Submit your pictures directly to Insider@sternpinball.com for your chance to be featured as our next winner!

Stern Pro Circuit:

Congrats to all competitors at this year’s D82 Summer Pinball Classic and NW Pinball Championships Stern Pro Circuit tournaments. In the end, Jack Slovacek dominated at D82 while the unstoppable force that is current #1 Jason Zahler, conquered all at the NW Pinball Championships! For full details on the Stern Pro Circuit and to keep up with the current standings and schedule, please visit – https://sternpinball.com/stern-pro-circuit/

2025 Stern Pro Circuit Rankings – Top 10

1st

  Jason Zahler NJ

2nd

  Raymond Davidson Elk Grove Village, IL

3rd

  Zach McCarthy Conifer, CO

4th

  Jack Slovacek CA

5th

  Preston Currie Fishers, IN

6th

  Steven Bowden Palatine, IL

7th

  Escher Lefkoff QLD

8th

  Derek Thomson Sherwood Park, AB

9th

  Jared Schmidt Pittsburgh, PA

10th

  Carlos Delaserda Columbus, OH


Upcoming Stern Pro Circuit Events:

Stern Pro Circuit Event

Date

Tournament Details
PAPA World Championship 9/4-7 https://lfs.papa.org/papa22/
Cleveland Pinball & Arcade Show 9/11-14 https://clevelandpinballshow.com/
UK Pinball Open 9/26-28 https://playpinball.uk/

 

Stern Pro Circuit 2025 Schedule:

Only a few events remain on the 2025 season of the Stern Pro Circuit!

Stern Rewards Program:

In partnership with the International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA), the Stern Rewards Program annually provides IFPA players who qualify the chance to purchase a new Stern Pinball machine at a special IFPA price plus the opportunity for additional Stern merchandise discounts. Detailed rules for the Stern Rewards Program, including an updated list of qualifiers and updated list of rewards available can be found 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. 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. Get Connected and play! https://insider.sternpinball.com/

Code updates and read me files are available at https://sternpinball.com/support/game-code/

Merch and Accessories:

Check out our Stern Shop for all accessories, collectibles, clothing and more!

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

Random Tutorials, Interviews and more:

Check out a slew of fun content, tutorials, interviews and more including a special shout-out to notable UIC alum, George Gomez!

Alumni Spotlight: George Gomez – BFA’78 Industrial Design

George Gomez, a distinguished alumnus of UIC CADA, has spent decades shaping the pinball and arcade field in Chicago. A graduate of UIC School of Design, he currently serves as Chief Creative Officer at Stern Pinball, where he has helped drive the company’s creative growth and global recognition.

Over the past 14 years, George has led the design of many of Stern’s most acclaimed machines, including Batman: The Dark Knight, The Avengers, James Bond 007, Deadpool, The Lord of the Rings, and The Sopranos. Earlier in his career, he also contributed to the development of iconic pinball titles under Williams and Bally. His leadership has set new standards for innovation in pinball, helping solidify Stern’s position as a leader in the industry.

Beyond pinball, George’s design portfolio includes classic video arcade games, consumer toys, and console titles. Highlights include Tron (1982), NBA Fastbreak (1997), and Monster Bash (1998), as well as games for PlayStation and Xbox platforms.

Reflecting on his time at UIC, George credits the university with laying the foundation for his success. His career demonstrates how creative talent can flourish in an environment supported by dedicated mentors and a dynamic academic community.

UIC CADA proudly honors George Gomez for his lasting impact on game design, his commitment to innovation, and his influence on generations of designers and players.

 

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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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