Comments Section

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, today you are not being asked to approve or disapprove of J.K. Rowling’s personal beliefs—you’re being asked to weigh whether those beliefs should control our ability to enjoy a game built not by her, but by artists, engineers, and dreamers who grew up with the magic of Harry Potter.

The pinball machine in question does not come with a political platform—it comes with flashing lights, intricate gameplay, and a chance to relive childhood wonder.

We must not confuse the creator of a story with the experience that story gave millions of people, including members of the trans community who found belonging at Hogwarts.

This machine wasn’t made by Rowling. It was made by Jersey Jack Pinball—a company with no affiliation to her, no endorsement from her, and no political message embedded in its bumpers or flippers.

To punish the game is to punish the passion and livelihood of dozens of unrelated creators.

If we start drawing lines between art and artist so tightly, we’ll have to cancel every museum, every book, every classic film, and even ourselves.

There’s no hate in this pinball machine—only ramps, spells, and the joy of play.

Are we really prepared to throw away joy because someone, somewhere, said something we disagree with?

Ladies and gentlemen, canceling a game won’t undo hurtful words—it only divides us further.

Let the protest be where it belongs—in speech, in writing, in choice—not in punishing harmless entertainment.

This machine isn’t about hate—it’s about play.

I ask you to see it for what it is—and let the multiball roll.

Pinball is pinball, sexuality is sexuality. Everyone is invited to play pinball without regard to race, sex (or sexuality), or national origin. So don’t get so hung up on an issue that’s unrelated. Not everything is about you, sometimes it’s just about enjoying life.

What next, stop playing Bad Cats?

Absolutely. I can’t get excited about giving money to a person, albeit in an indirect way, who thinks members of the trans community are sub-human and should be treated as such.

Absolutely, as a queer woman and also someone always striving to be a generally decent hooman bean. While I’m admittedly not sure whether my refusal to play or promote the game will make any useful difference in the amount of money going into JKR’s pockets, doing anything else goes against my sense of morality. It’s unfortunate, because Harry Potter still means a lot to me and I really wish I could enjoy and experience the game. If we can set any tournaments with it where buy-in goes to supporting LGBTQ+ orgs, sign me the eff up! (Maybe time for baby’s first tourney-hosting gig? 👀👀👀)

Not even a little. People need to be better about learning how to separate the art from the artist and understand that the ONLY thing in this life we actually control is OUR OWN response to external stimuli. Outrage Culture is no way to live. And also no such thing as a “guilty pleasure.” Like what you like, (dislike what you don’t, don’t have an opinion of you don’t want one on), and fucking own it and don’t let others control your preferences.

(I do very much appreciate you asking questions like these. How else do we understand and grow if we don’t talk about these hot-button things and see what people outside the echo chambers think. Thank you.)

I am capable of separating the art from the artist in this case (not all). I enjoyed a trip to Harry Potter land at Universal Studios. I enjoyed the books, back in the day. I may not agree with Ms. Rowling's POV, but she is entitled to her opinion. I look forward to checking out the game.

I have a trans son and can see no relevance to JKs personal views on our enjoyment of a pinball game. We all still enjoy the movies too!

I will play this game some, but definitely will be less due to JKR's views. I'm not trans myself, but am a supporter of theirs and other marginalized groups rights, especially given the current climate.

it would be easy to misread my 'no' here. The HP franchise really annoyed me even before JKR outed herself as a manipulative, intolerant and oversensitive ghoul. Even if she were to retract her opinion, I think I'd still be put off by the idea of playing a HP table if I had other options to play.

It’s a shame when someone’s view becomes the main narrative to a topic, in this case what we hope to be an amazing pinball experience. The issue here is that we condemn someone for having an opinion which others deem offensive. It’s just an opinion and when we try and tell people what society thinks are the right things to say, that’s impacting on freedom of speech and becomes the true danger in all of this.

As much as I am a fan of HP, Rowling's unwavering stance is upsetting and damning. When Hogwarts Legacy came out I still purchased the game because the developers had completed the majority of the game prior to her making her position known. Jersey Jack is choosing to license the IP fully aware of her transphobic beliefs, which really says something about the manufacturer as well. I might play a game or two on location, but it certainly won't be my first choice.

Hating a small, marginalized group of people has become her brand. It’s hard not to associate that with the thing she created.

I support (and donate) to the trans community. I also enjoy Harry Potter. Notice how I say I "enjoy Harry Potter" and not I "enjoy J.K Rowling." Tbh this is an instance where cancel culture goes too far.

A crusade against JK Rowling can be done through other ways. I enjoy the pinball hobby and the HP world which is not dependent on any one person. I don't hate America because of any historical bad presidents, the ideals and goodness can transcend beyond one person and still appreciate something good and positive for many people.

Everybody is free to have there own opinions and feelings in life. The HP franchise is something I have enjoyed for over 20 years and I have been waiting over 20 years for an HP pinball machine. My excitement is at 100%.

JKR's joyous bigotry has affected my enthusiasm for HP pinball, as well as my kids (9 & 13) love of anything Harry Potter. Not asking anyone to feel the same way, thats just where I land on the topic.

JK Rowling's views have no influence on my excitement for the upcoming Harry Potter pinball. I feel that she has the right to express her views about women's rights just as well as her critics do. As much as I would like to see politics to stay out of pinball, instead of civil debate and respect for opinions, the different sides of the political spectrum like to perform character ass*sin*tions on people they don't like. A lot of people, including my kids, love the Harry Potter stories and she is tremendously successful as an author. I'm very excited to see JJP's Harry Potter when it's unveiled. I'm sure the game will be a great play, and have confidence that it will be very successful for them.

I'm not into cancel culture. Period.

F jk rowling

Everyone is entitled to their point of view. It didn’t seem to hurt book sales or ticket sales at the box office considering it is one of the largest and most successful IP’s in the industry. It’s not my place to judge who’s right or wrong when it comes to their point of view on specific topics. As long as we have a voice to express our likes or dislikes and aren’t shunned from the community for being who we are as individuals.

This is ridiculous.

Your question incorrectly presupposes that the issue is with Rowling. It is, in fact, the other way around.

I find it interesting that Rowling publishes her adult non Harry Potter books under a male pseudonym “Richard Galbraith” but engages in transphobia without any reflection.

If someone wants to be the opposite sex they can dress etc all they want , whatever makes them happy. Biologically there birth sex is what they are , period.

In general, politics feels like it crept into everything. I just want to get lost enjoying pinball without having to declare anything other than that I love pinball.

I agree with Rowling's position. I will play the machine, and enjoy it.
Hank714

Impossible to "separate art from artist" when the artist very publicly uses her fortune from that art to bully trans people. JKR has made herself into a symbol of transphobia. The new HP has no place in any spaces that claim to be inclusive and welcoming.

Same as my views

It’s pinball, the pin doesn’t care or can identify who’s flipping. Pinball for all!!

Just like all the other nonsense out there in media, you have to separate the artist from the art. Duh.

I already don't have any excitement for Harry Potter due to it being a JJP release. They make great light shows but their gameplay is generally not very good. I'll try it like I do every new release, but I'm not expecting much. The theme doesn't appeal to me, and neither does the author, but I wouldn't boycott it just for that.

Come on guys, read what she actually say and not the news propaganda that twists peoples words. This vote should be 100% no.

I won't support a license whose billionaire beneficiary -- who has such a rare opportunity to do good for humanity -- instead donates portions of her fortune to support trans hate groups. And in her free time, takes to social media publicly demean, bully, and dehumanize an already vulnerable population.

If I'm assigned a Harry Potter-licensed machine in league or tournament play, I will forfeit the round. I'm disappointed in Jersey Jack's tone deafness in going after this license. There are lots of great themes out there, and lots of great games to play.

Has absolutely zero effect on my opinion of the franchise let alone the game.

It is stupid to let trans issues impact pinball. It is a non issue for 99.9% of the population.

No. But voted yes for care.

No impact whatsoever. If a person feels compelled to not engage with an IP over a creator’s personal views, thats their prerogative. Harry Potter is a great fiction that everyone can enjoy, so I will be excited to play this upon release!

People need to separate the creator from what they produce. Everyone loves Mission Impossible films or Top Gun 2 but it wasn’t too long ago Tom Cruise was shunned for his involvement with Scientology.

personal opinions make no difference to their art or creation

Personally I think JKR's views are closed minded and exclusionary. But she is already a billionaire so what does she care? She can do what she wants to either the benefit or detriment to her HP franchise.

I am more likely to stay away from a HP machine due to the cost of the machine. NIB prices have seriously gotten out of hand. It was ok when inflationary pressures kept the value of used games high, but now that "normalcy" has returned to the market there is no way I am going to buy a NIB game for a long time, if ever.

was never a fan of the franchise, so it's not a hard decision to pass especially given her very weird obsession with antagonizing Trans folks.

She didn’t say anything hurtful or untrue.

She has a right to her opinion. Should I not play it and her opinion was otherwise?

She's never said anything bad on Trans people. If you voted yes you probably also suffer from TDS.

The "trans" community hateful fixation on J K Rowling is just the next issue to lend a sense of purpose/angst in their lives. Next week, month, year other events and people will continue to pile up on their list of what/who to hate because they don't affirm their lifestyle choices. Sad, but predictable.

There’s nothing to say. She states biological fact.

Trans men are women. Trans women are men. Stop the nonsense!

Trans Smans! Man and Woman is the reality. Not sure why anyone cares about trans people.

… My excitement is lost more easily by "The Toxic Community" of those who are on Stern knees knowing that they’re loosing customers very easy after that fiasco of "Uncanny X-MEN" and "Pink Kong".

…Stern: be serious please!