Stern Pinball Unveils WWE Wrestlemania Flipper Game In Pro And Limited Editions

MELROSE PARK, IL -- New from Stern Pinball Inc. is WWE Wrestlemania, a state-of-the-art flipper game that invites players into the ring as WWE superstar professional wrestlers striving for the heavyweight championship. It is available in two models, the Pro, designed for operators, and the Limited Edition.

WWE Wrestlemania is making its debut at this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where Stern also introduced its latest electronics system, SPIKE. WWE Wrestlemania is the first model to feature SPIKE.

The new game features a novel upper pinball playfield "wrestling ring." Players use the flipper buttons to control two "slammer" slingshot-style kickers mounted in the ropes encircling the ring.

Completing the three drop-target bank starts a wrestling match, in which players rack up points and "pin" opponents in the ring by shooting into a kickout hole. Keeping the ball in the ring and hitting as many targets as possible advances players through the match.

Multiple ramps guide the ball throughout gameplay, and brilliant lightshows illuminate the all-LED playfield. Ten licensed songs include "intro" music for the wrestlers that the players choose. A sportscast soundtrack by WWE announcers Jerry "the King" Lawlor and Michael Cole adds play-by-play excitement.

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan will individually autograph each of the numbered WWE Legends of Wrestlemania LE machines on a gold plaque, mounted on the bottom arch. With only 400 autographs available, this collectible must be limited to that number of games.

The LE game art features classic WWE stars, of course including Hulk Hogan. Actual WWE wrestling action is projected on the LE's replica "Titantron," a playfield-level 5.7" LCD affixed directly above the ring. The ball is always wild when it comes into contact with the LE's exclusive "Chaos" spinning disc, and a third "Wham! Arm" flipper enables players to knock the ball off a wire ramp.

"The WWE franchise features unique characters and fantastic action sequences that are captured in these pinball machines," said company chairman and chief executive Gary Stern. "WWE Wrestlemania pinball games will appeal to a very large and diverse group of both WWE and pinball fans."

Stern added that players will appreciate the higher-quality sound, enhanced illumination effects and more engaging game experience made possible by the new SPIKE architecture.

The Pro model has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $5,495; pricing for the Limited Edition version has not yet been announced.

WWE, a publicly traded company, is an integrated media organization that has become recognized leader in global entertainment. The company is comprised of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience.

Stern Pinball has announced that a Premium Edition of its Walking Dead flipper game is now available.

It offers the same gameplay as the sold-out Limited Edition with such extras as additional targets, a special-effect fish tank with illuminated sculpted zombie heads and a player-controlled motorized crossbow ball launcher. A new high-definition art package completes the ensemble.

The new Premium Edition rounds out the three-model lineup of Walking Dead, which also includes Pro and Limited Edition models. | SEE STORY

AMC's "The Walking Dead," which premiered in 2010, concluded the first half of its fifth season on Sunday, Nov. 30, with the highest-rated midseason finale in the history of the series.