Official GAME OF THRONES Pinball Machine Unveiled
HBO and Stern Pinball Inc. teamed up to create an official Game of Thrones pinball machine, and it has now been revealed. There are three different versions of the machine which include the Pro Model ($6,000), the Premium Model ($7,600), and the Khaleesi Limited Edition ($8,800). The two expensive models both have a second playfield and flippers in the upper left corner, while the lower end model doesn't.
Thanks to IGN, we have some photos of the machine you can check out below. They also conducted an interview with Jody Dankberg, Director of Licensing and Marketing, who talked about the machine. Here are a few details that were revealed:
In HBO's Game of Thrones pinball, you begin a game by picking one of Westeros's seven families vying for the Iron Throne: Stark, Lannister, Greyjoy, Baratheon, Martell, Tyrell and Targaryen. According to Dankberg, "the goal is really to either conquer all the other families or, at some point you can team up with other families to fight other families and whatnot. The ultimate goal of the game is to get to the Iron Throne."
- There are video modes controlled by an extra button on the lock bar which Dankberg describes as "8-bit ... kind of a throwback thing ... almost early '80s retro-looking."
- Lannisters will love the is a gold-collecting mechanic which allows you spend what you've amassed to achieve your goals. In-game economies are uncommon in pinball.
- The animated dragon in the LE version has a kickback under it which blasts the ball back at the upper playfield flippers when hit. The animation differences for the dragon toy are described by Dankberg as follows: "The LE has a smoother motion and another motor that moves the dragon up and down. So, as you're battling the dragon, he's either going to flap his wings, raise up and down, [or] antagonize you."
- A "Sword of Multiball" locks balls on the right ramp return. To let the balls out of the lock, a sword-like gate opens and chops a ball off like a Night's Watch deserter's noggin.
- Game of Thrones pinball will not be available in digital form at launch, but Dankberg says they are working on digitizing Stern games from the past and present with FarSight Studios. The ultimate goal is to one day co-release a digital and physical version of a pinball machine.
- Pinball classic Medieval Madness was recently reissued and was being assembled in the Stern factory while Game of Thrones was in production. Both games feature similar themes, and, according to Dankberg "a lot of guys who worked on Medieval Madness [reissue] are working on this game, too."
I think they need to send me one of these bad boys so that I can review it for the site! I'm completely serious.
