San Diego Comic Con, Marriott Marquis (The Hollywood Times) 07/26/2026
There are so many different things to cover at Comic Con and the one I was really looking forward to checking out was Stern pinball machines. I had one from 2007 until 2014 and it sure was fun playing pinball everyday and sure miss it, so I had to go check out what Stern pinball had to offer. I actually played the Pokémon machine and loved it so much. I highly recommend checking out Stern Pinball to find a pinball that the whole family can play and make memories to last a lifetime. Here are a few pictures Emmett took of me:
Stern Pinball’s iconic Pop-Up Arcade, was located right next door to the convention center at the Marriott Marquis Hotel.
This year, Stern Pinball had their new releases available to play: Pokémonand Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye!
Check out the trailers for both games here (1,2).
Here is our coverage of both machines and what fun we had and Emmett was a great host and player for sure! You can tell he loves his job at Stern Pinball. Enjoy:
Back in February, Stern Pinball, the largest manufacturer of pinball games in the world, in collaboration with The Pokémon Company International, revealed and released a new pinball machine – Pokémonby Stern Pinball. Since Pokémondebuted in Japan in 1996, Trainers around the world have embarked on countless journeys across the iconic entertainment franchise – all in pursuit of becoming a top Pokémon Trainer. Powered by Stern’s SPIKE 3 technology, this dynamic machine brings the thrill of catching, battling rivals and training Pokémon in the silverball arena for the very first time. Stern invites players to step up to the playfield and test their skills as Pokémon Trainers, battling rivals and facing off against the menacing Team Rocket in intense encounters. Pokémon by Stern Pinball is available now in Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition (LE) models.
In Pokémonby Stern Pinball, Trainers embark on an unforgettable journey across four distinct habitats, discovering, catching, and bonding with many of their favorite Pokémon.Players will shoot the illuminated, mechanically animated Poké Ball to catch Pokémon, build their ultimate team, and complete their Pokémon Collection. The playfield also features beautifully crafted Pokémon-themed ramps, spinners, and targets. Watch as the animatronic Pikachu reacts to your gameplay, cheering you on every step of the way! Trainers can battle their way through rival trainers and compete in the arena through dynamic, custom battle sequences. Danger lurks as Team Rocket and their infamous boss, Giovanni, plot trouble. The interactive Meowth Balloon toy swoops down onto the battle arena to challenge the Trainer. Premium and Limited Edition games include an interactive electromagnet that adds chaos to the battle arena.
Every element of Pokémon by Stern Pinball has been meticulously crafted with attention to detail, honoring the rich legacy of the beloved franchise. The machine integrates video clips from the original Pokémon animated series, immersing players in the world that started it all. Bringing the experience to life even further, custom voiceovers for Pikachu and the notorious Team Rocket leader, Giovanni, captures the spirit and humor that fans know and love. To complete the nostalgic journey, the game proudly includes the iconic “Pokémon Theme” song, a true celebration of the timeless Pokémon adventure.
Pokémonby Stern Pinball is available through authorized Stern Pinball distributors and dealers around the world. Find out more and contact us for availability in your location on the game information page here. Stay up to date by following Stern Pinball on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
The TRANSFORMERS franchise has captivated generations of people worldwide across toys, comics, television, film and merchandise. Now, fans can experience the legendary battle between Autobots and Decepticons like never before through immersive, action-packed pinball. TRANSFORMERS: More Than Meets the Eye by Stern Pinball is available now in Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition (LE) models.
In Stern Pinball’s TRANSFORMERS: More Than Meets the Eye, players join Optimus Prime and the Autobots in their mission to stop Megatron and the Decepticons from stealing Earth’s energy, conquering Cybertron, and dominating the universe. TRANSFORMERS: More Than Meets the Eye pushes mechanical innovation to new heights with a fully animatronic Megatron robot toy with an articulated fusion cannon that rotates and fires pinballs back at players. Soundwave’s cassette deck locks pinballs before launching them into high-intensity action while a custom sculpted Optimus Prime robot bash toy stands ready for battle, adding depth and spectacle to this world under glass that’s …MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE.
Players will experience the ultimate battle between Autobots and Deceptions, and can store Energon Cubes to power up, team up with the Dinobots, collect Transformers Tech Spec cards, and prepare for a climactic battle against Megatron. Players embark on missions inspired by major story arcs from the original 1984 TRANSFORMERS animated television series, and the machine integrates authentic video clips and story-driven missions that bring the brand’s legacy to life.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of THE TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE, the game includes a special mode featuring the iconic song “The Touch” by Stan Bush, custom call-outs from legendary voice actors including Peter Cullen (Optimus Prime) and Frank Welker (Megatron and Soundwave), and original music from Knights of Unicron.
Loaded with Stern Pinball’s cutting-edge technology, TRANSFORMERS: More Than Meets the Eye seamlessly blends physical and digital gameplay. Utilizing Stern’s award-winning Insider Connected platform, the machine introduces a brand-new Cyber Coin wallet system, where players can earn Cyber Coins to unlock exclusive challenge modes. The machine also features a special challenge mode, “Prime Training,” where Autobots guide players through the art of pinball mastery, and for the first time, includes a head-to-head experience that allows two players to compete simultaneously in real time.
“The TRANSFORMERS franchise has inspired generations with its timeless battle between good and evil,” said Seth Davis, President & CEO of Stern Pinball.
“With TRANSFORMERS: More Than Meets the Eye pinball, we’ve created a machine that dynamically changes before your eyes, delivers groundbreaking gameplay, legendary music, and the ultimate showdown fans have been waiting for.”
TRANSFORMERS: More Than Meets the Eye pinball is available through authorized Stern Pinball distributors and dealers around the world. Find out more and contact us for availability in your location on the game information page here. Stay up to date by following Stern Pinball on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
About Stern Pinball, Inc.
Stern Pinball, Inc. creates compelling entertainment that inspires a lifetime love of games, sparks passion, forges friendships, and connects people everywhere through fun, innovative, technologically advanced pinball games and experiences. Headquartered minutes from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport in the heart of North America, the company creates, designs, engineers, manufactures, markets, and distributes a full line of technologically advanced terrestrial and digital pinball games, parts, accessories, and merchandise. Stern Pinball serves digital, consumer, commercial, and corporate markets worldwide.
Recent Stern Pinball titles include The Walking Dead Remastered, Star Wars, King Kong, Dungeons & Dragons, Metallica Remastered, The Uncanny X-Men, John Wick, JAWS, Venom, Foo Fighters, James Bond, Rush, Godzilla, The Mandalorian, Led Zeppelin, Avengers: Infinity Quest, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Stranger Things, Elvira’s House of Horrors, Jurassic Park, Black Knight: Sword of Rage, The Munsters, The Beatles, Deadpool, Iron Maiden, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars, Aerosmith, Ghostbusters, KISS, Metallica, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Star Trek, AC/DC, Batman, and Spider-Man. A broad range of players enjoy Stern Pinball’s games, from professional pinball players competing in high-stakes global competitions to novice players discovering the allure of the silver ball for the first time. To join the fun and learn more, please visit www.sternpinball.com.
