NBA

With NBA on the production line, Stern have sent out their press release about the game and included these pictures.

There are a few differences to the mockup version we saw earlier but they are largely cosmetic such as the new speaker panel artwork and a new coin door sticker. The mockup also showed an apron which covered the shooter lane and this has been corrected in this version. The tournament button is also present here.

On to the playfield picture and it looks like the wood pattern on the internal sides has returned to black which is a shame.

On the playfield, a new purple sticker has appeared on the ramp diverter but elsewhere the purples we saw previously on the predominantly orange playfield have been replaced by, well, more orange.

There's definitely a colour theme going on here although the photography may be misrepresenting some of the reds - such as the arrow inserts - and making them orange too.

Stern's press release meanwhile brings us a few new facts about the game such as the use of the Tim Kitzrow - the voice of many Midway video sports games - to do the announcing duties. Interestingly enough, Tim also did voice work on about 15 Williams pinball games starting with Gilligan's Island, though he remains largely uncredited.

It also re-iterates the three ways to shoot the hoop - the small left ramp, the big right ramp and the free throw kicker saucer - and manages to squeeze in the name NBA an amazing eighteen times.

THE NBA AND STERN PINBALL, INC.: SHOOT AND SCORE


CHICAGO, May, 2009 -  Stern Pinball, Inc. announced an exciting new pinball machine for basketball and pinball enthusiasts.  The new NBA pinball machine launched during this year’s NBA playoffs, featuring 20 players from 20 different NBA teams.

NBA pinball offers several popular pinball mechanical features, including a spinning disk in the playfield center, a captive ball, drop targets, ramps, a diverter, and much more. 

NBA pinball has a basketball backboard with a magnet in its center.  When the player shoots a basket, the magnet holds the ball momentarily and then drops it toward the basket, assisting the player.  NBA has three spectacular basketball shots.  There is a ramp shot off the flippers aimed at the basket.  There is also a jump shot, made when the ball goes up a plastic ramp and circles just below the basket.  And there is a free throw shot, where the ball is thrown 12 inches through the air to the basket.

There are 20 teams and players featured in the NBA pinball artwork.  Some of the players featured in the new NBA Pinball machine game include:  Boston Celtics’ Kevin Garnett, Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade, and Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard.

Gary Stern, owner of Stern Pinball, Inc. says, “The NBA has tremendous fans who are dedicated and passionate about the game of basketball.  The new NBA pinball machine allows players to shoot and score, keeping track of a player’s basketball points earned for shooting baskets and normal pinball points.” 

Pinball Hall of Fame artist Kevin O’Connor created the artwork, David Thiel produced the sound, and NBA video game veteran Tim Kitzrow announces the game.

Visit www.sternpinball.com to locate your nearest Stern Pinball distributor or retailer.

*The NBA and individual NBA member team identifications reproduced on this product are trademarks and copyrighted designs, and/or other forms of intellectual property, that are the exclusive property of NBA Properties, Inc. and the respective NBA member teams and may not be used, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of NBA Properties, Inc. ©2009 NBA Properties, Inc.  All rights reserved.  All photos courtesy of NBA Photos.


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