Action Pinball & Amusement - Lord of the Rings

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NEW - From Stern Pinball

Price: See price list
Manufacturer: Stern
Date Produced: 2003 - 2010
Units Produced: 6300 (approximate)
Design: George Gomez
Software: Keith Johnson
Sounds & Music: Chris Granner
Art: Jerry Vandstelt, Kevin O'Connor

NOTE: Images and description below are for the standard production release of Lord of the Rings. Limited Edition version not pictured. Limited edition model features a mirrored silkscreen-printed backglass with gold tint, gold hardware including lockdown bar, legs, side-rails, and backbox hinges. Comes wired for optional shaker motor, or with shaker motor installed (additional cost), and two extra coats of protective clearcoat on the playfield surface. Limited edition does not include character figures on the playfield like original versions did (characters no longer available).

Page Contents:

About This Game:

Lord of the Rings features detailed colorful artwork that Stern Pinball artists and designers worked on closely with the New Line Cinema studio, emphasizing accuracy and quality in the reproduction of characters, designs, colors, etc., used in the artwork on this game- not only on the playfield, but on the cabinet sides as well. Stern has "stepped up" the quality of the cabinet artwork on this game- using a 4-color process, and adding a 5th color- adding a painted gold frame- to increase the overall look of the printed artwork and help it justify the magnitude of the film, and it's theme.

The translite, or "back glass" artwork on this game is a montage of the characters in the the story, and was actually hand-drawn and hand-painted just for this game by L.A.-based artist Jerry Vandstelt, who was expressly recommended by New Line Cinema. Mr. Vandstelt, in preparing the artwork, visited the actual movie sets and the Stern Pinball factory in his research. The cabinet artwork features still shots from the movie, while the back box sides offer images of each of the two Twin Towers, one blue and the other red.

"Lord of the Rings" also features original custom speech from actor Elijah Wood, who plays the main character Frodo, and from John Rhyes Davies, who plays Gimli. Lord of the Rings also features speech clips from the first two films: The Fellowship of the Ring, and The Two Towers. Sounds from the movie score are rendered crisply through the built-in sound system.

The playfield design emulates the quest of Frodo in the movies- to destroy the One Ring of Power in order to keep Sauron the Dark Lord from ruling Middle Earth. During play, the pinball player attempts to gather the other Rings of Power, the Human rings, the Elven rings, and the Dwarf rings. The playfield exhibits features and artwork from each of the three movies.

At the back of the playfield is a magnetic ring which catches the ball, and a ball lock ramp in the shape of a sword. Also the upper level "Path of the Dead" that lets players win "souls" (or points), and a cast of figures representing characters from the films. Also two mechanized "towers", designed and built entirely by Stern Pinball- one of which will fall over when "destroyed" by the player during the course of play. Playfield also features the Balrog character who protects the jump ramp where the ball jumps up to the ring- players must hit the motorized Balrog figure to have it turn away from the ramp so the ball can pass- reminiscent of the "Vault" shot on the popular "The Addams Family" pinball from the previous decade.

This new game also features mode-based play- six modes total- two modes corresponding to each of the three movies. There are also three multiball modes (one for each movie), and a "wizard" multiball mode which is awarded after completing all regular modes and collecting the "Gifts of Elves" awards. Beyond that is a final jackpot mode when all features are lit and available. This game proves to offer plenty of "fun" for the novice or casual player, but plenty of challenge to entice experienced players- a signe of a truly well-designed game.

A ring of LEDs is used- under the playfield surface- to indicate the player's "ring status", and lets the player know how far he/she has progressed towards destroying the One Ring of Power.

Game play should come naturally to players who are familliar with the Lord of the Rings books/movies, and should recognize the characters and the overall "goals" of the game. To the casual/novice player, a host of fun pinball playing action is always still available, and allows the player to "learn as you go"- basically no knowledge of the movies or story is required.

Upgraded Software: This game is sold to our customers with the latest factory ROM chip upgrades that are available from the manufacturer at time of sale. Click here for more details on ROM chip software upgrades for this, and most all other pinball machines.

Sample Game Images:

Playfield:

Thumbnail (Click image to see larger view)	Description
	Playfield- overall view
	Detail- flippers/slingshot bumpers area. Note intricately-detailed character figures positioned on tops of the bumpers and plastics- these adorn the playfield in several locations and add a lot of character to the game!
	"Ball's eye" view up the playfield, from plunger lane area. Note more of the figures on the playfield, gold wireform ramps, etc.
	Playfield detail- flipper & slingshot bumper area. Note left vertical up-kicker "hook" shot on to left wireform ramp. Very similar shot to Williams' Medieval Madness from the previous decade.
	Playfield detail- upper left corner. Note elevated "mini" playfield (Paths of the Dead). And magnetic "ring" shot at top of playfield that the ball has to make from a "jump" ramp in front of it. Tremendous amount of detail in both parts and artwork on the playfield of this game.
	Playfield detail- upper right corner. Tower in the upper right corner of the playfield actually "falls" during the course of the game! Lots of great animated gadgets and toys on this game!
	Another shot of upper playfield area- pop bumpers, right wireform ramp, ball lock entrance areas.

Cabinet/Backbox:

Thumbnail (Click image to see larger view)	Description
	Overall view. This new game has a different color scheme on each side (left vs. right). The right side has a red appearance.
	Overall view- left (blue) side.
	Closeup of cabinet artwork- right side.
	Backbox artwork. The art on the translite (backglass) on this game was done by one of the movie production company's own artists- absolutely outstanding quality never before seen on a pinball machine! For the first time on any pinball machine, the backbox trim on this game is a gold/chrome finish with a classy black rubber strip in the center- really adds a lot of class and character to the game- overall gorgeous.
	Backbox- left side and front view. Artwork on both sides of the backbox is the same- a shot of one of the "towers" with a full moon behind. And matches the main cabinet in that left side is blue, right side is red.

Standard price, full service sale on this game includes all of the following:

Instruction/operation manual and schematics
Fully functional coin door with all parts present and working
Pre-inspection of the game at our shop to ensure quality and 100% proper assembly and operation, before shipping to our customers.
Our own Custom Warranty that beats factory and distributor warranties.
New Leg Protector Pads to protect the game's finish from wear and tear marks.
New Chrome Steel Pin Balls
Spare assortment of light bulbs
Spare assortment of fuses
Spare assortment of rubber rings and bumpers
Free phone and e-mail support for as long as you own the game.
Discounted service rates for your game, as long as you own it.

And for our Out-of-Town Customers:

Extra game packaging (exceeds factory packaging standards)
Shipping on custom-made pallet (helps avoid damage during shipping/handling)

Curbside drop-off or indoor delivery with unpacking is also available to most out-of-town customers requiring shipping (at additional cost).

And for our local customers:

Available future on-site service (as required, at additional cost). We service what we sell!

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