Gary Stern: 40 Years of Stern Pinball

Summary

Gary Stern recounts 40 years building Stern Pinball from basement startup to modern manufacturer.

Gary Stern, founder and chairman of Stern Pinball, reflects on 40 years of company history spanning Data East Pinball (1986), Sega Pinball (1994), and the modern Stern Pinball era (1999-present). He discusses the company's survival through industry consolidation, key partnerships (Dave Peterson as 50/50 partner, Seth Davis as CEO, George Gomez as chief creative officer), evolution of pinball design to incorporate video and deeper rule sets, and strategic innovations like Insider Connected technology. Stern emphasizes the company's role in keeping commercial pinball manufacturing alive when competitors like Williams, Gottlieb, and Bally exited.

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