But occasionally, a wild release will come along that will stir even the biggest fans. It's good news for Fallout that there are tons of those around, given its decades-long pedigree at Interplay as well as Bethesda. Following an announcement from Stern, we have a wild release that will break the bank.
Stern Pinball has officially revealed the Fallout pinball line, which ranges from $7,299 to $13,99. This one comes with some pretty big bells and whistles to match the price. There's a fully interactive Pip-Boy at the table, and an LCD screen displays gameplay info. Then there's the shooting gallery, where you can use the Fat Man Launcher from the series to fight Radscorpions, Ghouls, and Raiders. Finally, you can go on a quest to collect bottle caps (Fallout's currency).
It's also important to note that this is mostly themed around the TV show, though there is some overlap with the game series. Here's a quick blurb that shows what Stern is going for, theme-wise: "Experience the show’s story from the perspective of Lucy MacLean, The Ghoul, or Maximus. Enter the Vault to discover the horrors of Vault-Tec’s past, present, and future. Find Wilzig’s head to discover the secrets of Cold Fusion held within."
There are three models in all:
-
Pro ($7,299 USD)
-
Premium ($10,699 USD)
-
Limited Edition ($13,999 USD)
Some differences are subtle, but the Limited Edition is the priciest for a reason. It features custom Vault-Tec Yellow coloring with powder-coated edges for effect, plus an interactive speaker and lighting system, and more colorful RGB LEDs. It also features a fully sculpted Deathclaw with kickback and a built-in "Magna-Flip" Vault playfield. The lower play area featuring the Vault is a nice touch, and captures the spirit of Fallout.
Stern has been really pushing a variety of big IP-based machines recently. Earlier this year, it unveiled the official Pokémon line, which I've seen at many locations and that seems relatively popular. Then there's the Transformers machine, which gloriously recreates the drama of G1, with a vibrant color scheme to boot.
Other additions include The Walking Dead, Star Wars, King Kong, and Dungeons & Dragons. If you haven't played pinball in a while, many of these machines are upgraded to the point where they offer completely different experiences than what you're used to. Stern also makes it easy to locate specific games, if you're looking for, say, the new Fallout machines.
Release Date
April 10, 2024
Network
Amazon Prime Video
Showrunner
Lisa Joy, Jonathan Nolan
Directors
Frederick E. O. Toye, Wayne Che Yip, Stephen Williams, Liz Friedlander, Jonathan Nolan, Daniel Gray Longino, Clare Kilner
Writers
Lisa Joy, Jonathan Nolan