This Week in Pinball, we’re putting on our tinfoil hats.
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Song of the Week
Keep an eye out for Melbourne-based Ecca Vandal, because she's on track to be a star. I've spent the last week going down an Ecca Vandal rabbit hole after being captivated by this week's Song of the Week pick, SORRY! CRASH! off her just-released sophomore album, Looking for People to Unfollow. Turns out, she's already been playing opening gigs for the likes of Deftones and Interpol, hitting the festival circuit, making appearances on late-night shows, and having tea with Flea.
Pinball News of the Week
Stern Launches Transformers: More than Meets the Eye
The big news this week… Stern's official reveal of Transformers: More than Meets the Eye. We've got all the details in our launch article, including key features, rules, storylines, and more. Full coverage on Kineticist.
A few follow-ups we're tracking since publishing:
According to lead programmer Elizabeth Gieske, the game is tracking to launch with 0.85 code. Without the various challenge modes, she says she’d be launching at .97.
Speaking of Gieske, pinball historians can correct me if I'm wrong, but she might be the first woman in pinball to be a lead programmer for a commercial machine.
Is this the version of The Touch that will be in the game?
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Jersey Jack Teases Sonic the Hedgehog; Coming June
So technically, Jersey Jack has not confirmed the theme of their next game yet, due in just a few weeks, but they've been hinting heavily at it. Sonic the Hedgehog has long been rumored as JJP and Steve Ritchie's next game. The biggest open question at the moment is which Sonic IP will they use?
The first teaser image borrows heavily from the 2020 Sonic the Hedgehog movie teaser poster, suggesting it's the film IP JJP has rights to. Which would make sense. How else are you going to supply all the content needed for callouts and screen assets? But scan any enthusiast conversation about the game, and you'll see that all anyone actually wants is the 1990s SEGA game IP. A supposedly leaked image from the game that made the rounds last week suggested a game-based adaptation, but it turned out to be a clever AI ruse (remember when I said this was going to keep being an issue?).
Another AI “leak”
So who knows at this point (other than the few people who've seen the game, of course). I wouldn't put it past JJP to secure assets from as many sources as possible — games, movies, cartoons, whatever.
The Transformers Conspiracy Everyone’s Talking About
This is probably my favorite story that I've been tracking this week — the growing conspiracy behind the non-transforming Optimus Prime toy in Stern's Transformers. Last week, we talked about the rumors that Optimus wouldn't transform, and to Stern's credit, they haven't been shy about confirming that they did try to get Optimus to transform, but eventually had to pull it when it didn't meet quality standards.
But how recently did they decide to pull the mech?
Hints of an Optimus in truck form turn up across various promo materials. One shot from George Gomez's overview video in particular looks like additional playfield blurring on the LE was added in post-production.
If I put my tinfoil hat on, transforming Optimus was a part of the mix until very recently (recent enough to shoot a bunch of promo material with it in place), and possibly as an LE-only feature.
New High Speed Tutorial
With a new Steve Ritchie game imminent, we figured we'd take a look at one of his all-time classics, High Speed, as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. solar_espeon walks us through the rules and why the game is historically interesting for modern pinball. Full tutorial on Kineticist.
On Location: Meet the Team Behind Capital Pinball in New Hampshire
Excited to welcome Gerard and Nick of The Arcade Hunters to the contributing team. Their first piece is an interview with Courtney and Jeremy, founders of Capital Pinball in New Hampshire — plus an overview of their own backgrounds and long-time work on The Arcade Hunters project.
This article kicks off a new series called On Location, where they'll highlight arcades that offer a positive pinball experience and the people behind them.
Links of the Week
Also, this official Transformers gameplay stream from Stern
"Star Wars is the best new Stern" — Ian Jacoby at Nudge makes the case for Fall of the Empire as the best new Stern. (I've enjoyed it from day one!)
Chinese arcade makers are taking a swing at redemption pinball — From AAA 2026: HY Technology's Pinball Blast (comes in both ticket and prize redemption versions).
Wonderland Amusements opens TMNT pre-orders — Battle in the Sewer, the sub-$1k home follow-up to Alice Goes to Wonderland. Mateus Santolouco art, projected Nov 2026 ship.
Spinner is Lit interviews Spooky's Bug Emery on Beetlejuice — Long-form Q&A recorded at the Golden State Pinball Festival.
Rumor: LEGO ICONS Pinball Machine — Per Brick Tap: 2,274 pieces, $200, projected July 1 release, Classic Space theme — and reportedly "fully playable."
Poll of the Week
Last Week’s Poll Results
“Stern cuts important stuff all the time instead bring us innovation … Also, we all know that it will be lack of code as usual 👎🙂↔️👎.. (Check that Uncanny X-MEN and tell me if I’m lying).”
“I'll play it but it's just not a theme I really care about.”
“At least one of the toys should transform. Otherwise, what are they doing?”
“Absolutely it’s a dealbreaker. What do you think?”
“They should both transform.. the two main robots.. geesh!!”
“Peter Cullen has such an awesome and recongnizable voice, he's the front man for the franchise. How could they not include him? Let alone leave Optimus off there.”
“Don't care. I have no plans to buy this game or any NIB game ever again. The price of pinball has gotten out of hand and the 400 page rule sheets means average players will never have the opportunity to finish the game unless they take the glass off.”
“A stern is gonna be a stern. snooze”
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