IAAPA 2023 offered a useful look at how major pinball manufacturers are balancing collector appeal with the needs of commercial operators. Stern, Jersey Jack Pinball, American Pinball and Chicago Gaming all presented machines, while Retro Arcade Remakes showed its pinball-adjacent projects.
Smaller boutique manufacturers such as Spooky were not represented, which is understandable given their stronger focus on collectors rather than arcade operators. A collector-focused pinball event would offer a better opportunity to explore those machines.
Here is a manufacturer-by-manufacturer overview of the pinball and related games shown at the event.
Stern Pinball
Stern’s booth stood beside Betson and Raw Thrills, with several of the company’s current machines available to see. The display included Venom, Jurassic Park, Deadpool, Foo Fighters, James Bond 007, Avengers Infinity Quest and Guardians of the Galaxy.
The recently announced Stranger Things reprint was not on display, while Godzilla continued to receive promotional attention.
Venom received additional attention, including gameplay with Josh Sharpe.
Jersey Jack Pinball
Jersey Jack Pinball occupied space near the LAI Games booth, approximately one show block north of Stern’s location. Its line-up combined recent releases with established titles: Elton John, The Godfather, Toy Story 4 and Guns N’ Roses.
The Godfather had launched earlier in 2023, but this was the first time the machine had been encountered in person.
American Pinball
American Pinball used a smaller booth along the south-east wall, opposite Apple Industries’ photo-booth display. The company was promoting Galactic Tank Force and Legends of Valhalla.
A representative indicated that Legends of Valhalla might not remain available for much longer. The company was also exploring ways to reduce prices, a potentially welcome direction in a market where high-cost pinball machines can be difficult propositions for operators.
Regardless of their features or presentation, the expense of many modern machines remains a significant barrier for location-based businesses. For home buyers comparing alternatives, RETROCADE’s virtual pinball machines provide another category to consider.
Chicago Gaming
Chicago Gaming brought the highly anticipated Pulp Fiction to the show. Its design draws on the look of an 1980s pinball machine, while the game itself feels more contemporary, with high-quality voice work and several sculpted toys.
The machine’s earning potential remains an open question, although its presentation is likely to attract collector interest. Shipping was expected to begin soon, but no firm date was provided at the event.
Retro Arcade Remakes
Retro Arcade Remakes returned to IAAPA after missing Amusement Expo, presenting production units of Ice Cold Beer. The cabinets made a strong impression in person, and playfields were ready for the company’s Zeke’s Peak remake.
The company also displayed near-production examples of its Atari cocktail cabinet. Warlords is planned as the first featured game, while the team again discussed a four-player remake of Food Fight. No release date had been announced for Food Fight, although the appearance of the cabinets suggested a possible launch the following year.
For readers comparing dedicated cabinets with other formats, RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide covers the key considerations before choosing a machine. More coverage is available through the RETROCADE arcade blog.
What IAAPA 2023 Showed About Pinball
The event’s pinball line-up ranged from established Stern and Jersey Jack titles to American Pinball’s pricing ambitions and Chicago Gaming’s eagerly awaited Pulp Fiction. Retro Arcade Remakes added a link between classic arcade ideas and modern pinball-style hardware.
That made IAAPA 2023 a useful snapshot of a market serving both collectors and operators, even as the cost of new machines remains an important consideration. Browse RETROCADE’s arcade machines for more dedicated gaming options.
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