Date: 4th January, 2016
A widely-expected announcement today saw Stern Pinball introduce a Vault Edition re-release of the company's popular Spider-Man game. What nobody was expecting though was just how different this edition would be from the original.
Rather than simply updating the hardware and using LEDs, the game has been re-branded away from the 2002 Sam Raimi-directed Spider-Man movie and into the Ultimate Spider-Man comic series universe.
Without the movie's assets, the sound calls needed to be remade, the dot matrix animations could no longer use clips from the movie, and a whole new art package was needed.
The 'Ultimate' Spider-Man backglass
New cabinet and backbox art is complemented by black powder-coated laser-cut side rails, giving the Vault Edition more of a Limited Edition feel.
Spider-Man Vault Edition
(click to enlarge)
The right cabinet side
(click to enlarge)
The game uses Stern's new style backbox and speaker panel design, complete with a decal around the red LED display.
The new speaker panel
(click to enlarge)
Without the storylines from the movie, the names of many of the game modes have changed. For example:
| Green Goblin Modes |
Original
|
Ultimate |
Godspeed Spider-Man
Suffer The Children
Unity Day Festival |
Spidey Falls For MJ
Fire Fighting
Green With Envy |
|
| Doc Ock Modes |
Original
|
Ultimate |
Fusion Malfunction
Bank Bust
Armed At The Dock |
Lend Me A Hand
Ock's Oscorp Outing
Battle On The Bridge |
|
| Venom Modes |
Original
|
Ultimate |
You Ooze, You Loose (sic)
Brock's New Suit
Goo On You |
Venom Strikes Twice
Symbiote Stalker
Goo On You |
|
| Sandman Modes |
Original
|
Ultimate |
Doon of Doom
Sunway Storm
Slammer Time! |
Concrete Ending
Time Is Money
Out Of The Slammer |
|
Apart from the names of the modes changing, there are multiple other changes on the playfield.
The Spider-Man Vault Edition playfield
(click to enlarge)
All the character models have been repainted to match the Ultimate Spider-Man universe, while there are multiple tweaks to the playfield artwork to remove the movie actor likenesses and the three-dimensional web pattern on Spider-Man himself.
The web-slingers which guide the ball out of the up-kickers have a modified stainless steel design, while those up-kickers now include playfield protectors as standard. There's more protection with a steel plastic protector fitted over the Sandman entrance which is notorious for breaking on the original Spider-Man game. The Doc Ock magnet is also redesigned to reduce wear. Like the Iron Man Vault Edition, the new Spider-Man uses LED lighting throughout.
The Vault Edition playfield
(click to enlarge)
However, these premium features come with a Premium price tag. The Spider-Man Vault Edition has a recommended selling price of $7,595 - the same as the Premium model of Game of Thrones.
Here's Stern's official announcement
Stern Pinball Debuts Spider-Man Vault Edition Machine
ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL – January 04, 2016 – Stern Pinball, Inc., the world's oldest and largest producer of arcade-quality pinball machines, announced today the release of its Spider-Man Vault Edition pinball machine.
Inspired by the Marvel Universe Comic series, Spider-Man Vault Edition is an update of the pinball classic. The game features all-new art, animation and sound packages based on the legendary Ultimate Spider-Man comic series.
“Spider-Man is one of Marvel’s most popular characters worldwide. Our goal was to take one of our most popular games and make it even better,” said Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc. “Stern Pinball and Marvel Studios share a love for the characters in the Spider-Man universe and have a long, successful history of collaboration. This is a great pinball interpretation of the adventures of Spider-Man”.
Spider-Man Vault Edition features:
- The same amazing gameplay of the original, with an all new look and feel.
- All new art package, including: cabinet, backglass, decals, and playfield plastics are designed based on images from the actual Marvel Ultimate Spider-Man comics library.
- All new custom-molded toys specifically designed and decorated to capture the Ultimate Spider-Man art style (Doc Ock, Sandman, Venom and Green Goblin).
- All new animation and dot matrix video art designed around the Ultimate Spider-Man comic art.
- All new custom speech and sound effects for all characters.
- New mode event themes based on the Ultimate Spider-Man Universe.
- Webslinger themed laser-cut side armor in black powdercoat with contrasting color inserts
- Two new music tracks plus the original score.
- Numerous improvements to durability based on research of the original game’s field experience, including:
- Steel plastic protectors at the Sandman and in the pop bumper area.
- VUK opening playfield protectors at Dock Ock and the Sandman.
- Stainless steel playfield protector beneath the webslinger in the pops.
- All stainless steel webslinger ball guides.
- Improved ramp guards.
- Optimizations to the design of anti-ball trap plastics and ramp covers.
- Improved wire form ramp mounting details.
- Anti-wear Dock Ock playfield magnet assembly.
- All LED playfield lighting.
The Ultimate Spider-Man is a superhero comic book series published by Marvel Comics from 2000 to 2009. The series is a modernized re-imagining of Marvel's long-running Spider-Man comic book franchise as part of its Ultimate Marvel imprint.
Pricing and Availability: Vault Edition: $7,595 USA MSRP; sales tax not included Spider-Man Vault Edition is available through authorized Stern Pinball distributors and dealers around the world and additional details are available upon request.
About Stern Pinball, Inc. Stern Pinball, Inc., headquartered just outside Chicago, Illinois, is the oldest and largest producer of arcade-quality pinball games in the world. Stern’s highly talented creative and technical teams design, engineer and manufacture a full line of popular pinball games, merchandise and accessories. Recent Stern titles include Game of Thrones, KISS, WWE WrestleMania, The Walking Dead, Mustang, Star Trek, Metallica, The Avengers, X-Men, AC/DC, Tron, Transformers, Avatar, Iron Man, Batman, and many
more! All of Stern’s pinball games are crafted by hand and assembled by Stern’s expert
team. A broad range of players enjoy Stern’s games from professional pinball players that compete in high-stakes international competitions around the globe to novice players who are discovering the allure of the silver ball for the first time. To join the fun and learn more, please visit www.sternpinball.com.
About Marvel Entertainment, LLC Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy-five years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information, visit marvel.com. © 2015 MARVEL
All trademarks and product names are the property of their respective companies. |
We'll be back with more about Stern's new Spider-Man Vault Edition right here at Pinball News.
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