ELTON JOHN PINBALL REVEALED

Jersey Jack Pinball today released details of their newest title, Elton John Pinball. As you would expect, the game is based on the global superstar, Sir Elton John, and his numerous musical hits over the past six decades. It is the first game for Jersey Jack Pinball from game designer, Steve Ritchie, who joined the company two years ago.

Elton John Pinball comes in two versions – a Platinum Edition and a Collectors Edition. The Platinum Edition is priced at $12,000 while the Collector’s Edition is $15,000. A maximum of 1,000 Collector’s Edition machines will be produced, but the Platinum Edition’s production is not limited in number.

The game will be officially unveiled in the Jersey Jack Pinball seminar at Pinball Expo at 8pm on Thursday 19th October, 2023. It incorporates 16 full-length studio tracks as well as custom call out by Elton himself.

The songs included are:

Rocket Man Bennie And The Jets The Bitch Is Back I’m Still Standing Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting) Take Me To The Pilot Levon Your Sister Can’t Twist (But She Can Rock’n Roll)	Tiny Dancer Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Crocodile Rock Pinball Wizard Your Song Philadelphia Freedom Honky Cat Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding

Both models come with a shaker motor, Invisiglass anti-reflective glass, an interactive player camera as well as the usual 27-inch backbox display, a 2.1 stereo audio system and a real solenoid knocker.

Let’s begin with the Platinum Edition before seeing what the extra $3,000 for the Collector’s Edition gets you.

Platinum Edition

The cabinet artwork on the Platinum Edition is by Christopher Franchi and is printed on sparkle-effect glossy ‘RadCals’. The metalwork is powder-coated in a platinum finish with an action button on the lock bar, while the game is topped-off by a two-layer illuminated acrylic topper.

Here’s the playfield:

Elton John Pinball is a three-flippered single-level standard-width game with left, right and side ramps, a 180-degree u-turn ramp, two spinners, inner cabinet art, RGB LED ‘hotrail’ strips along the left and right sides as well as the shooter lane, and much more.

Probably the biggest toy in the game is the piano, which features a model of Elton with an LED display wrapped around the front of the instrument, while inside is a 3-ball lock with a clear window on the piano’s lid.

When multiball begins, balls are released from the piano lock, through a tube and back onto the playfield.

There’s an additional Crocodile Rock ball lock complete with custom sculpt.

To the right of the Crocodile Rock lock is the illuminated Rocket Man rocket ship which ties-in with the Rocket Man drop target and multiball mode.

There is also a rotating Tiny Dancer model feature.

Down the playfield there are 14 star inserts, each illuminated by several LEDs for animation effects. The Elton John words are also studded with RGB LEDs.

There is also a ‘Rocka-Box’ jukebox feature consisting of a three-bank set of drop targets with an insert matrix in front.

Here’s the flyer for the Platinum Edition:

Collector’s Edition

The Collector’s Edition cabinet has its own artwork package by John Youssi and Jean-Paul De Win. As with the Premium Edition, the Collector’s cabinet art is printed on sparkle-effect glossy RadCals, but unlike the Premium, the Collector’s has laser-cut gold sparkle finish side rails, with the same finish on the other metalwork. The inner cabinet art design is unique to the Collector’s Edition too.

There is also a custom shooter rod for the Collector’s Edition as well as a surround for the lock bar’s action button.

In addition, there is also under/behind cabinet lighting, while the backglass is mirrored in the Collector’s Edition.

Another unique feature for the Collector’s Edition is the addition of two 10-inch LCD screens. However, these aren’t found on the playfield, but instead as part of the topper, which also includes laser effects and a S-U-P-E-R-S-T-A-R-! light-up feature .

You can see all this in the flyer for the Collector’s Edition:

There’s also a third flyer available, comparing the two models.

Here is a summary of the new game’s rules:

Elton John Pinball Rules:   • Songs: Choose your favorite Elton John song at the start of the game.  Each song has its own 3-stage rules for collecting ‘Notes’.   • Wardrobe: Collecting ‘Notes’ qualifies wardrobe items: Glasses, Shoes and Outfits. Collect all three to complete the song and start victory laps.   • Rocka-Box: Complete the drop targets to collect Albums. Collecting Albums gives awards and starts feature modes.   • Encore Modes: Unlock the Encore Modes at the Rocka-Box. Play all five Encore Modes (Tiny Targets, Bennie and the Super Jets, Super Spinners, Piano-Matic and Backstage Frenzy) to qualify Champ Multiball.   • Crocodile Rock Multiball- Lock balls in the crocodile to start.   • Rocket Man Multiball – Collect Fuel via individual shots and additional completed tasks to qualify Rocket Man. Shoot the rocket to start.   • Signature Stage: Collect all the stars to light the Piano Lock. Shoot the Piano Ramp to lock balls in the Piano. Lock three balls to start Signature Stage Multiball. There are four different Signature Stage Multiballs to play which can be selected from the action button prior to a lock.   • Superstar! Jackpot: Earn super jackpots (multiple letters can be earned by looping the super jackpot) in Signature Stage Multiball to add Superstar! letters.   • Milestones: Complete iconic game features to collect Milestones. Collecting four milestones qualifies the Final Tour wizard mode. Collecting more milestones increases the Final Tour points.   • Misc: Collect as many 3-shot combos as you can make. Complete Honky Cat Hurry Ups to light kickback. Shoot side ramps to light extra ball.

Here’s how Jersey Jack Pinball announced their new Elton John Pinball game:

JERSEY JACK PINBALL ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH MUSICIAL ICON ELTON JOHN   ELTON JOHN PINBALL AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE NOW JerseyJackPinball.com   Chicago (October 19, 2023) – Jersey Jack Pinball (JJP) has partnered with musical icon Elton John on its latest masterpiece, Elton John Pinball, now available for purchase! This remarkable pinball machine – designed and manufactured in the United States by JJP in close collaboration with Elton John – ushers in a new era of kinetic entertainment, featuring state-of-the-art technology, innovative design, and a dynamic music experience, including songs such as Rocket Man, Tiny Dancer, Bennie And The Jets, and many more of Elton’s greatest hits. Hall of Fame game designer Steve Ritchie and his team have created a pinball experience that will delight casual players, collectors, and enthusiasts alike, showcasing Elton John’s legendary career through the inventiveness and quality that are synonymous with Jersey Jack Pinball. Arcades and collectors can now own a cherished piece of musical history and pinball artistry, melded into one exceptional collectible. “Having Elton John actively involved in the creative process sets a new standard for pinball machines and showcases the passion and artistry that go into every aspect of JJP games,” says Steve Ritchie. Featuring Elton John’s iconic songs, legendary performances, and dazzling stage presence, Elton John Pinball machine takes players on a pinball journey inspired by his illustrious career. The game is a playable masterpiece, merging cutting-edge sound, video, and game design with groundbreaking technology. Players are transported to the front row of his live performances as they groove to 16 full-length studio master tracks delivered through a 120-Watt, 2.1 stereo sound system. The game further comes to life with over 1,000 interactive LED lights and multiple LCD displays. Animations and exclusive footage from Elton’s remarkable career complete the overall package. Elton John Pinball can be purchased directly through an authorized Jersey Jack Pinball distributor.  A complete list of distributors can be found at JerseyJackPinball.com. Award-Winning Designs Get ready for a fast-paced pinball experience from Jersey Jack Pinball designer Steve Ritchie, widely known as the King of Pinball and the Master of Flow. Ritchie’s celebrated and award-winning pinball designs include such titles as Star Wars, Elvis, AC/DC, and more. The machine features hand-drawn artwork packages from artists Christopher Franchi, John Youssi, and Jean-Paul De Win. Rules and software design were led by industry veteran Bill Grupp. This game is truly music to your ears, with 16 Elton John studio master tracks with custom voice callouts by Elton himself.  Platinum and Collector’s Edition playfields are packed with features, including an interactive Elton John toy, a rocket sculpture with LED flames, a Tiny Dancer motorized toy, a Crocodile Rock physical lock toy, a grand piano three-ball lock with diverter, a micro LED piano marquee, 14 multi-LED star inserts, Rocka-Box three-bank drop targets, three multi-LED Bennie and the Jets bumpers, two rapid spinner targets, and more! Platinum and Collector’s Editions The Platinum and Collector’s Edition models are now available for purchase.  The Platinum Edition includes platinum metallic armor, Sparkle RadCals with an exclusive cabinet art package by artist Christopher Franchi, inner-art blades, a dual layer acrylic LED topper, 1,294+ individually controllable RGB LEDs, company founder Jack Guarnieri signature card, and an individually numbered Platinum Edition plaque. The Platinum Edition is available for purchase at $12,000 USD. The highly anticipated Collector’s Edition includes an interactive dual-monitor “SUPERSTAR” topper with laser light show, golden metallic laser-cut armor, gold sparkle RadCals with an exclusive CE art package by John Youssi and Jean-Paul De win, inner-art blades, a sparkle playfield, a mirrored backglass, 1,570 individually controlled RGB LEDs, interactive cabinet light show with 260+ individually controlled RGB LEDs, a holographic bottom arch, a laser-cut action button plate, designer Steve Ritchie’s signature card, and an individually numbered Collector’s Edition plaque. The Collector’s Edition is limited to only 1,000 units and is available for purchase at $15,000 USD. About Elton John Elton’s career achievements to date are unsurpassed in their breadth and longevity. Elton is one of the top-selling solo artists of all time. In the UK and US charts alone he has 1 diamond, 33 platinum or multi-platinum, and 22 gold albums as well as over 85 Top 40 hits. He has sold more than 300 million records worldwide. He holds the record for the biggest-selling physical single of all time, “Candle in the Wind 1997”, which sold over 33 million copies. Released in 2017 ‘Diamonds’ the Ultimate Greatest Hits album, became Elton’s 43rd UK Top 40 album and has spent over 300 consecutive weeks in the top 75 of the UK album charts, over 190 of these in the top 20. This release celebrated 50 years of his songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin. It reached a UK peak position of No. 2 in July 2023, achieving 4 times platinum status in the process and is the longest charting album of Elton’s career 62-deep catalogue. August 2018 saw Elton named as the most successful male solo artist in the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart history, having logged 67 entries, including nine No. 1s and 29 Top 10s. ‘The Lockdown Sessions’, an album of collaborations recorded during the COVID-19 Pandemic, was released in October 2021 and went straight to No. 1 in the UK album Charts, becoming Elton’s 8th UK No. 1 album in the process. Its lead single “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) with Dua Lipa” became a bona fide global hit, reaching No. 1 in over 20 charts world-wide, including the UK and Australia. Its success meant that Elton became the first ever solo artist to score a UK Top 10 hit single in six consecutive decades. In America, he holds the record for longest span between Billboard top 40 hits at 50 years. He currently has logged 71 entries, including nine No. 1s and 29 Top 10s. Elton also holds the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart record with 18 No. 1s and 76 total songs. Summer of 2022 saw another global smash single, as Elton and Britney Spears released ‘Hold Me Closer’, a Top 5 hit in the UK and a No. 1 hit in the Australian single charts. Elton announced the ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour at New York’s Gotham Hall in January 2018. The tour kicked off on 10th September 2018 in North America and subsequently saw Elton play 330 shows to over 6.25 million fans across the UK, Europe, North America, and Australia. The shows marked his retirement from touring after more than 50 years on the road. In 2019 it was named Billboard’s Top Rock Tour and Pollstar’s Major Tour Of The Year. The U.S. leg of the tour concluded with 3 sell out shows at Dodger Stadium. The concert was live streamed on Disney+ in every single territory the channel broadcasts in, a global first. Elton headlined Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage in June 2023, the final UK show before the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour concluded. The Sunday night closer was widely heralded as one of the greatest performances in the festival’s rich history, attracting one of the largest crowds ever witnessed at the festival. It also received the biggest ever televised audience for a Glastonbury set, reaching 7.6m overnight on BBC1. Elton has delivered more than 4,600 performances in more than 80 countries since launching his first tour in 1970.  2019 also saw the release of ‘Rocketman’ and global bestselling autobiography, ‘ME’. An epic fantasy musical motion picture of Elton’s life, ‘Rocketman’ has been a commercial and critical hit, taking close to $200m at the box office. It has won an Oscar, two Golden Globe Awards and a Critics’ Choice Award and garnered four BAFTA nominations .The soundtrack was also nominated for a GRAMMY Award. Among the many awards and honours bestowed upon him are six GRAMMYs, including a GRAMMY Legend award, a Tony and two Oscars, a Best British Male Artist BRIT Award, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Kennedy Center Honor, Legend of Live Award, 13 Ivor Novello Awards and a knighthood from HM Queen Elizabeth II for “services to music and charitable services”. In 1992, Elton established the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which today is a leader in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. So far the Foundation has raised more than $565 million for HIV/AIDS grants, funding more than 3,000 projects in over 90 countries. In June 2019 President Emmanuel Macron presented Elton the Légion d’honneur, France’s highest award, for his lifetime contribution to the arts and the fight against HIV/AIDS. Elton was awarded the Companion of Honour in the 2021 New Year Honours list in the UK. The highest acknowledgement in the list, Elton became one of only 64 people to hold the Honour. September 2022 saw President Biden awarding him the National Humanities Medal in recognition of his storied career and advocacy work to end AIDS. Always a tireless champion of new artists, Elton has been a leading industry voice in lobbying the government for young artists visa-free touring rights in Europe post-Brexit. About Jersey Jack Pinball From its founding in 2011, Jersey Jack Pinball (JJP) has earned its reputation as the industry leader in collectable pinball machines, creating the most desirable titles in the modern pinball era. Designed and manufactured in the USA at its Chicago headquarters, JJP is led by an award-winning design team. Easy to play, difficult to master—JJP’s games both honor the rich history of pinball and lead it into the future, with uncompromising standards of design and engineering that are certain to entertain players both old and new. Industry-Leading Innovation JJP introduced several industry firsts, including the use of LCD screens, RGB LED lighting, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, camera integration, and other innovative technology. From its first offering, The Wizard of Oz, JJP has continued to revolutionize the pinball experience with groundbreaking releases, including: The Hobbit, Dialed In!, Pirates of the Caribbean, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Guns N’ Roses: Not In This Lifetime, Toy Story 4, The Godfather 50th Anniversary, and now, Elton John. Learn more about Jersey Jack Pinball at jerseyjackpinball.com. SOCIAL MEDIA Twitter / X: @JJPinball Facebook: @JerseyJackPinball Instagram: @jerseyjackpinball YouTube: @JerseyJackPinbal Contact(s): Media: Ken Cromwell, Jersey Jack Pinball, [email protected] 630-423-6556 Sales: [email protected] Elton John: Jessica Sciacchitano, R&CPMK, [email protected]

When the game was officially announced and revealed at Pinball Expo, there was a promotional video released. You can watch it here:

We were, of course, live at Pinball Expo for the official unveiling on Thursday evening. You all see all the details of that as well as video of the event and all the other 46 seminars in our exclusive Pinball Expo reporting, right here at Pinball News.

You can also watch the Jersey Jack Pinball seminar in which the Elton John game was unveiled below: