The Pinball Expo in Schaumberg near Chicago is in full swing and will continue through October 19th. In the midst of these events, Stern Pinball has seen fit to announce a remastered revival of their popular 2013 Metallica table. The new LCD display makes the most of eleven years of technological advancements. Geometrical and mechanical improvements have been made to the table’s layout, including new versions of gameplay toys as well as UV lighting effects. The reveal trailer can be seen here.
New animations and live concert footage mark the new edition of the table as an improvement over the old- as does the fact that the new table now features 22 Metallica songs. The 2013 edition only had 14 for comparison’s sake. Metallica artist Rhys Cooper has also provided two new art packages for the table. Since its founding in 1981, Metallica has become one of the most legendary names of the music industry, and the energy behind that passion had effectively been transitioned to the pinball celebration of their music by John Borg and Lyman F. Sheats Jr., with John Borg returning alongside software engineer Raymond Davison to create the remastered version of the board.
Three new sculptures are of immediate interest to those familiar with the existing table- Sparky, the Hammer, and Skulls now illuminated by RGB. There are also two new game modes based on new Metallica albums that postdate the 2013 version of the table, one based on 2016’s Hardwired…to Self-Destruct and the other on 2023’s 72 Seasons. There’s also a new Wizard mode based on their song Blackened.
In an accompanying statement Seth Davis, the President and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc., said that Metallica is one of the quintessential pinball games that has been treasured and respected for over a decade now. He also said that he’s incredibly proud of the entire Stern team in collaboration with Metallica for their thoughtful yet modern recreation of this beloved game, staying true to the design philosophies that have shaped pinball today and for years to come. Full information about the table can be found here.
