Just in time for the 2018 holiday season… Stern Pinball announced in October what it describes as a “one-of-a-kind,” limited edition Beatles pinball machine. Only 1964 units will be produced in recognition of the year in which Beatlemania began “when Ed Sullivan introduced America to four young mop-topped musicians from Liverpool, England.”
The game was made available in three models named for the recording industry’s sales award levels. However, on Dec. 3, the Beatles announced that the highest-priced editions had already sold out: the Diamond Edition, the highest level and most difficult to attain, limited to a run of just 100; and the Platinum Edition, limited to only 250 units.
The Gold Edition, priced at $10,000, and limited to 1614 units, was still available as of Dec. 3. (The Chicago Business Journal originally reported the Gold Edition has a suggested retail price of $7,999.) And that, says Stern, will be it.
The machine will feature eight favorite Beatles songs: “A Hard Day’s Night,” “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Ticket to Ride,” “All My Loving,” “Help,” “Drive My Car,” “It Won’t Be Long” and “I Should Have Known Better.”
The game also features iconic introductions by Sullivan along with custom speech and callouts by legendary 77WABC New York disk jockey, Cousin Brucie.
Watch the machine in action
From the original announcement: The retro-themed playfield features four flippers, eleven drop targets, eight stand-up targets, multiple skill shots, two opto-spinners, a ball-catching magnet and a magnetic spinning record disc in the center of the playfield. Players will enjoy full screen animations as well as simulated reel scoring on the game’s high definition video screen. All models feature unique art packages and custom powder-coated armor. The 100 Diamond Editions are numbered, certified collectible and include a mirrored backglass. The 250 Platinum Editions are numbered and certified collectible.
The mirrored backglass on the Diamond Edition
The state-of-the-art electronic system also powers a high-fidelity 3-channel audio system that is said to be three times more powerful than audio systems of previous generations. To find an authorized Stern pinball distributor or dealer, click here.
Related: A Hard Day’s Night – An appreciation
2 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationCousin Brucie did not introduce The Beatles at Shea Stadium in 1964. Their first concert there was in 1965, and I introduced them.
We edited the reference in the story and fired the proofreader. In all seriousness, thanks for bringing that error to our attention.