RUSH Pinball Machine Officially Announced; Complete Details Revealed
Written by gunny on January 23, 2022
By Blabbermouth.net
Stern Pinball, Inc. has announced a new line of pinball machines celebrating the iconic Canadian progressive rock band RUSH. RUSH pinball machines are available in Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition (LE) models.
RUSH first burst on to the scene when its song, Working Man, crossed the pirate radio airwaves from Toronto, Canada to Cleveland, Ohio and then onto the rest of North America and the world. Their magnum opus “2112” represents one of progressive rock’s greatest works. RUSH‘s music remains in constant rotation to this day. Absolutely uncompromising in every conceivable way, the band featured bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson and the late drummer, percussionist and lyricist Neil Peart.
Stern‘s RUSH pinball machines, reflect the energy, excitement, and experience of a live RUSH concert. In this epic music pinball adventure, players will travel with RUSH through time.
Immersed in exclusive RUSH concert footage and guided by custom speech from Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee, and fellow Canadian Rock Hall Of Famer Ed Robertson of the BARENAKED LADIES, players will experience RUSH and their iconic music as never before. This RUSH pinball concert under glass features sixteen iconic songs, accentuated by sound and lighting effects. Songs include “Headlong Fight”, “Far Cry”, “One Little Victory”, “Working Man”, “2112”, “Tom Sawyer”, “The Spirit Of Radio”, “Freewill”, “Cygnus X-1” (“Book One: The Voyage” and “Book Two: Hemispheres”), “The Big Money”, “Subdivisions”, “Limelight”, “Fly By Night”, “La Villa Strangiato”, “Bastille Day” and “Red Barchetta”.
RUSH pinball machines include Stern‘s new Insider Connected system, which enables players to interact with the game and a global network of players in a variety of ways. Stern Insider Connected provides dynamic entertainment and player engagement features. Insider Connected also provides an operator focused toolset to drive location play and remotely manage every aspect of the machines. Registration for Insider Connected is available at insider.sternpinball.com/.
Travel back in time with RUSH by shooting pinballs through a custom sculpted, electromagnetic Time Machine. Players will explore Red Barchetta, Subdivisions, and Fly By Night Multiball action. The RUSH Premium and LE model pinball experience includes a motorized ramp with custom lighting effects and a custom sculpted Clockwork Angels Clock, inspired from Neil Peart‘s bass drum from their “Time Machine” tour. This motorized clock illuminates, and when it strikes midnight players will be transported to a Headlong Fight Multiball frenzy.
Additional features on the Premium and LE models include a custom subway system, locking pinballs to unleash a high energy Far Cry Multiball. The “Dead End” vertical upkicker propels pinballs up an additional wireform ramp return for non-stop pinball action. As an encore, a three-bank of musical drop targets guard a secret ball lock for players to discover an adrenalized Freewill Multiball to continue their musical pinball journey.
Limited to 1,000 LE machines globally, the highly collectible LE version includes the Expression Lighting System. With 96 intelligent RGB LEDs, the Expression Lighting System enables full-color spectrum control. Positioned in pockets cut into the cabinet sides to provide color themed full playfield illumination, this integrated playfield lighting system is synchronized to custom light shows specifically designed for every song and dynamically responsive to game events. The LE version also includes an exclusive full color mirrored backglass inspired by “Clockwork Angels” iconic custom cabinet artwork, custom high gloss and powder-coated guitar-shaped pinball armor, a custom designer-autographed bottom arch, exclusive inside art blades, upgraded audio system, anti-reflection pinball playfield glass, shaker motor, a sequentially numbered plaque, and a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Stern chairman and CEO Gary Stern.
“Partnering with RUSH, we created a musical pinball experience that every fan will want to explore. Incredible music, memorable toys, unique mechanical pinball action, and custom speech will make players feel like they are on tour with the band,” said Stern. “In memory of Neil Peart, we have also decided to support the Neil Peart Research Award sponsored by the Glioblastoma Foundation as it researches cures for this deadly brain cancer.”
RUSH pinball machines will be showcased virtually to the press and public for the first time at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas from January 5 to January 8.
RUSH pinball machines and accessories are available now through authorized Stern Pinball distributors and dealers around the world.