Episode 30: King Kong Pinball Is Finally Here… But Does It Deliver?
The wait is over—the full trailer for Stern’s King Kong is finally here, and in this episode of The FlipSide, we’re breaking it all down together. From the layout glimpses to the art and animations...
Highlights
- King Kong: Myth of Terror Island is Keith Elwin's first design since Jaws
- Kong features four flippers total (two at bottom, one upper left, one in upper playfield area)
- Kong uses Spike 2 architecture, not Spike 3, despite anticipation for platform upgrade
- Kong artwork was collaborative effort between Kevin O'Connor, Jeremy Packer (Zombie Yeti), and Greg Ferris
- Jeremy Packer was promoted to head of art division at Stern Pinball
- Brian 'Q' Quinn from Impractical Jokers provides custom voice acting for Kong
- Kong features progress tracking similar to Dungeons & Dragons (save progress feature)
- Pro and Premium/LE versions share identical Kong sculpture but animatronic differs
- Spider toy mechanism is exclusive to Premium/Limited Edition models
- Kong playfield features ball lock via NYC subway car mechanic with Kong multiball and spider multiball
Notable quotes
“There's a lot of anticipation because Keith Elwin is a lot of people's favorite designer. So there's a lot of pressure on this launch day for him to deliver the goods.”
“I'm actually kind of shocked that this wasn't Spike 3 yet and not because I think they need to change a bunch of stuff. I just think they're going to be running out of horsepower.”
“The spider is not into. I don't know why. Maybe... I don't know what it is. I hope someone comes up with a mod for that spider.”
“I don't like when playfields are too crowded with stuff, like too many mechanisms or toys to play with. I think this is a good balance.”
“I gotta admit they're they have to be pushing the limits of what the Spike 2 system is capable of though... they have to be both in memory... running out of horsepower”
“When you have a cool mechanism you interact with that's fun, that's not overdone or just there for the sake of being there... I think this is a good balance.”
“I think Jeremy Packer is a great artist, but he does a lot of the games... I personally really like his style, but I also think this is cool because it looks like a variation.”
“The true test, though, you can look at the trailer... But the true test is playing it.”
Entities
- Flip N Out Pinball· company
- Stern Pinball· company
- Pinball at the Zoo· event
- Stern Pinball Media Day· event
- Avengers: Infinity Quest· game
- Dungeons & Dragons· game
- Evil Dead· game
- Godzilla· game
- Jaws· game
- Jurassic Park· game
- King Kong: Myth of Terror Island· game
- X-Men· game
- The Flipside Pinball Podcast· organization
- Brian Quinn· person
- Dwight Sullivan· person
- Elizabeth· person
- George Gomez· person
- Greg Ferris· person
- Jeremy Packer· person
- Kaneda· person
- Keith Elwin· person
- Kevin O'Connor· person
- Retro Ralph· person
- Zach Sharpe· person
- Spike 2· product
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