Metallica Remastered Pinball Prints
Stern Pinball kindly invited me to their headquarters in Elk Grove Village to try out Metallica Remastered Pinball. This classic has been reborn with modern technology, including an LCD screen, new game modes, music and graphics.
a new world
Walking through Stern's doors was like Lucy walking into Narnia for me. I am a thirty-one year old man and until this experience I was unaware of the popularity of pinball. What you once thought were vain games from a bygone era are actually alive, thriving, and loved by a global community.
Here I am, a simple video game enthusiast, surrounded by pinball influencers crowded around machines from old to new in Stern's “Pinball Alley.” Modern games like The Uncanny X-Men, John Wick and Jaws are present, with the recently revealed Metallica Remastered being the star attraction.
Dozens of attendees crowd into the premium and limited edition machines, keeping up with the band's tunes for hours. While waiting for a window to get my hands on the game, I spoke with the game's designer, John Borg, chief software engineer, Raymond Davidson, and Stern's marketing director, Zach Sharpe.
The three of them told me everything new about Metallica Remastered. On the surface, there are frequent updates on display. The machine is covered in gorgeous new art by Rhys Cooper. The new LCD screen features live concert footage and new animations supporting the new modes.
Eight new songs accompany the original setlist, bringing the total to twenty-two on Remastered. New sculptures, including Sparky the Skeleton, the Hammer and illuminated skulls, accompany the art.
under the hood
Raymond described some of the deeper software elements that are difficult for a layman like me to understand, but are impressive when the machine is in action. One of several new features of the software is the transition from old lamp arrays to node boards. Two new modes inspired by the band's two most recent albums are included.
Many more new features and design philosophies distinguish Remastered from its predecessor. Stern's website explains them in depth.
I may be a newbie to pinball, but I know when I'm having a good time. I grew up listening to Metallica with my dad and we've seen them perform together twice. The inclusion of live concert footage is an incredible touch.
I love how well the speed and ferocity of their music combines with the energy of Pinball. Reacting to everything the game throws at you while destroying Master of Puppets makes for an adrenaline-filled experience.
It takes a village
Zach took several attendees and me on a guided tour of Stern's factory, where they build, repair, and ship their games around the world. Stern employs hundreds of people who bring the machines to life by hand.
I am captivated by the human ingenuity and artistry involved with pinball machines. I found that each machine has an average of 3500 parts. From the basic level of engineering to the final artistic touches, these are beautiful and fun works of art.
After the tour and my time with the game, I stopped by Pinball Expo 2024. Once again, my eyes were opened to the relevance of pinball. Inside the exhibition, hundreds of people flooded the exhibition floor, crowding around countless pinball machines.
A pinball palace
Several pinball companies were present, and Stern easily had the most impressive booth. It reminded me a lot of the attractive stands at E3. RIP E3. General gaming culture accompanied the machines, including countless retro games, from the Super Nintendo to the original PlayStation and Xbox, gaming weapon accessories, souvenirs, and more.
The cherry on top of my Illinois adventure was my lunch at Portillo's. I had never been but I had heard fantastic stories. The legend of his hot dog prowess is true. My whole day was full of new and wonderful experiences. I entered Stern Inc. without realizing it. I came away with a great appreciation for pinball and its outstanding community.
What I once did at Barcades I will now approach with more reverence and intrigue. Stay tuned to COGconnected for news, reviews, features, and now pinball.