We had a post earlier about a limited run game called Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons.

As Pinball Expo 2014 goes on in Chicago, we can expect pinball news to come our way.

One of the first announcements is that Stern will produce the machine

Whoa Nellie! Stern and Whizbang Pinball Bring Melon Season Early This Year!

World’s Leading Maker of Arcade-Quality Pinball Games Announces New Partnership to Bring Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy MelonsTM Pinball
Machine to The Market

MELROSE PARK, IL – October 16, 2014 – Stern Pinball, Inc., the world’s oldest and largest producer of arcade-quality pinball games, announced today its new partnership with Whizbang Pinball LLC to build and distribute Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy MelonsTM pinball in the spring of 2015.

Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy MelonsTM pinball takes players on a journey through the Mellon Family farm renowned for abundant produce. Players shoot for and score points on the farm operated by the lovely Melony Mellon and her twin sisters while avoiding the wrath of their over-protective shotgun-wielding father. The colorful easy-to-learn game features a fun classically-styled pinball playfield tuned for a balance of randomness and skilled shooting challenges that rewards players of all skill levels.

“We wanted to create a game that everyone can enjoy, so we started with a more accessible layout from a classic era of pinball,” said Dennis Nordman, co-founder of Whizbang Pinball and famed pinball industry design veteran. “This is the first new electro-mechanical style game in over 35 years.”

Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy MelonsTM pinball delivers the most tactile pinball experience since the advent of electronic pinball with real bells, mechanical score reels, a solid state control system, and a digital soundtrack. This unique blend of classic and modern technologies creates a new breed of pinball machine that presents pinball as an art form while maintaining the reliability and serviceability of modern commercial pinball machines. The playfield, backglass, and cabinet art and styling, central to the game’s unique visual quality, feature detailed original characters and fresh hand-drawn artwork that blend elements of mid-century pin-up art and classic pinball themes.

“Stylistically, this is a mash-up of fruit crate labels, classic pinball and retro pin-up art,” said Greg Freres, co-founder of Whizbang Pinball. “We’re very excited to be working with the professional team at Stern Pinball on this project.”

Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy MelonsTM offers many unique features including:

● Original throwback-style playfield designed by Dennis Nordman
● Original hand-drawn graphics by Greg Freres featuring fresh fruit, a cool truck
and the robust Mellon family
● A unique, durable, weathered fruit crate cabinet design
● Illuminated mechanical score reels
● Retro-style bumper caps and flipper bats
● Dual-action bullseye melon targets
● Two old-time pinball bells and a real cow bell
● The return of “The Knocker”
● Crushed beer cans included for the perfect playfield angle

“This game is an entertaining unique blend of vibrant art, classic pinball, and modern technology that’s sure to stand out in any collection” said Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball. “If you want something different in your line-up, this is it!”
Pricing and Availability:
Pricing will be announced later this year.
Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy MelonsTM pinball games will be produced by Stern Pinball in the spring of 2015. For more information and to reserve your game, please contact any authorized Stern distributor or dealer, or send an email to: info@sternpinball.com
Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy MelonsTM merchandise and accessories will be available at the Stern Shop in the spring of 2015.

Last night was the first league night playing on Taylor’s newly restored Dr. Who. Taylor’s attention to detail is evident in all of his machines and Dr. Who is no exception.

Taylor posted a pinside thread during the restoration process which you can find here.

I went to the York, PA pinball show this past weekend and came home with these two very cool machines – Zacarria Time Machine and Gottlieb Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

More to come on the York Show, I had a nice long post prepared, but I managed to delete it.

IFPA is the pinball governing body and is responsible for awarding WPPR points.  IFPA has announced today that it is changing the rules used to determine WPPR points starting in 2015.  The full announcement can be found here.

For a $50 donation to Project Pinball, you will be one of 200 entered to win a new Stern pinball machine.  Check it out here!.

Big thanks for Mike O. for setting up an amazing google spreadsheet for our league scoring.  Congrats to Jeff for taking the early lead for the new season.

Copy of RPL Scoring – September 2014 – Scoring

From Gary ….
Dear Ladies & Gentlemen
In my email two weeks ago I announced that our next pinball title is The Walking Dead. The Walking Dead TV series, about a Zombie apocalypse and based on the comic books of the same name, is soon to start its 5th season worldwide. This show continues to break ratings records for the over 120 countries in which it is televised.
I am more excited about this game than I have been about a pinball machine in years. This game captures the world of The Walking Dead with brilliant art and great playfield mechanical toys.
I love to shoot The Walking Dead playfield. The shots are great, and the ramps are smooth. Included among the mechanical devices and toys are a “Cell Block C” with cell doors that are bashed to open, then a Walker bash head inside, “Well Walker” bash toy, a playfield magnet, 3 bank drop target, a shot lane returning the ball to the shooter, custom molded Walker characters, decaled cabinet and speaker panel, and more. We have designed a new and reliable star rollover switch, always a favorite in past games. And of course all the playfield lighting is LED’s.
The Walking Dead Pro is loaded.
The Walking Dead Limited Edition is even more loaded with features, including a Crossbow ball firing mechanism, fire button in the lockdown bar, “Well Walker” guts, a 2nd playfield magnet at the “Well Walker”, a magnetic ramp ball diverter, “Governor’s Fish Tank” with illuminated head, a single bank drop target, spinning targets, traditional playfield supports and lock down bar, rust powder coated armor etc., unique decal art, and mirrored backglass. The LE has multicolor GI lighting, and certain inserts have tri-color control lamp LED’s.
We have designed a The Walking Dead Pro model with production starting next week and a 600 game The Walking Dead Limited Edition model for production in late October. The Pro distributor price will be the same as price established starting on August 15. We will tell you the LE price as we talk with you. As in the past, a deposit is required from our distributors with their LE orders, and there is an added charge to specify a particular LE number, should that number be available.
I have attached The Walking Dead Pro and LE photos, a Game Features matrix, and today’s Press release.
Did I say that I love this game? I do!