Stern Pinball has debuted the trailer for their brand-new Pokémon machine, which was officially announced on Feb. 6. The much-anticipated game made its first public appearance at the NYC Toy Fair, which began Feb. 14 and runs through Feb. 17. It’s also expected at the upcoming Amusement Expo (March 18-19) and the Texas Pinball Festival (March 20-22). “Today we’re proud to finally deliver the long-awaited Pokémon by Stern Pinball machine,” said Seth Davis, president and CEO of Stern Pinball. “This game is a true celebration of nostalgia, craftsmanship, and the enduring adventure of Pokémon – brought to life in a whole new way through immersive pinball gameplay,…
Author: Matt Harding
There are two new, ticketed special events at this year’s Amusement Expo – a networking reception and a breakfast celebrating women in the industry. Following the first day of educational sessions, the Level-Up Lounge Networking Reception will be held March 16 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Resorts World’s Rose Terrace & Rooftop Foyer. “Join fellow operators, route professionals, manufacturers, and industry leaders for an evening of powerful conversation and new partnerships,” organizers said of the event. “Drinks and generous hors d’oeuvres are included – bring your appetite for business and ideas.” A $67 ticket is required. Second is the “Rise &…
Creative Works and Action Lab Leadership have opened registration for their upcoming Amusement 360 event, taking place April 28-29 in Indianapolis. The program has changed to a 2-day intensive format instead of the previous 2.5-day setup. “We refined the experience to be more focused than ever and help attendees solve the biggest problems they are facing today,” said Danny Gruening, founder of Action Lab Leadership and director of marketing at Creative Works. “We are packing every hour with strategies to help operators grow their businesses and avoid costly mistakes.” The event’s keynote speaker is Clint Pulver, who’s known as a…
Retro Social Freeplay Arcade has opened in Frankfort, Kentucky, with more than 60 vintage arcade games from the 1980s and ’90s, reported the Lexington Herald Leader. For $10 a visit, games like Galaga, BurgerTime and NBA Jam are set to free play. “Nostalgia is very hot these days,” said Kerry Azbill, who co-owns the retro arcade with his wife, Shelby Cardwell. “The whole point here is to entertain both the adults and the families and kids all at the same time.” In addition to the arcades, there are also a row of consoles connected to older CRT TVs that are…
Coinciding with Amusement Expo, from March 16-17, is Foundations Entertainment University. Now in its 25th year, organizers of the intensive two-day industry workshops have released the event’s agenda. Special guest operators include Eric Shirley and Frankie Williams, the owners of High Tides and Good Vibes, a new 40,000-sq.-ft. entertainment venue in North Carolina. They’ll join AEM’s Jerry Merola for an interview on March 17 from 11:10 a.m.-noon. Other speakers and guest companies include Safepark USA, Doug Wilkerson (Dynamic Designs), Thrill Builders, DFX Sound Vision, Venue Industries, QubicaAMF, Frank Price (FL Price), Patch Retention, Sherry Howell (CenterEdge Software), Proctor Companies, Creative…
Following the Super Bowl Halftime Show, TouchTunes reported a 114% jump in the performer Bad Bunny’s plays on their nationwide jukebox network. Immediately following the show, El Paso, Texas, emerged as the top city playing his music, the company reported, while the song “DTMF” was the most-played track. Leading up to the big NFL game, other top cities requesting Bad Bunny on the jukes were Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Tampa-St. Perseburg, Florida. Among other top songs were “Titi Me Pregunto,” “Dakiti” featuring Jhay Cortez, “Mia” featuring Drake, “Yonaguni,” and “Me Porto Bonito” featuring Chencho Corleone. Anytime you’d like…
The Idaho State Journal reported that Pocatello’s Barricade recently “leveled up,” adding live music and new event opportunities, and nearly doubling their space. Jacqueline and Justin Reader purchased the arcade bar last year and have been steadily making changes. They’ve purchased a liquor license and food permit, updated the seating and added new games. (A pair of 1960s-era pinballs are coming soon, too.) Now, live music is on deck and a host of original events like its monthly wine tasting have begun. A comedy show is scheduled for March 7. DJ-led trivia nights are starting up and will run every…
Larry Foster was recently appointed the director of sales and channel development for CandyMachines.com. He joins the company following a successful tenure with Vendtech/Naturals2Go, where he “developed deep expertise in in-location sourcing, route development and building strategic partnerships.” “This is a meaningful step forward for CandyMachines,” said company CEO Andy Denton. “Larry has lived on both sides of this business – working inside locations, building routes from the ground up and partnering at the corporate level. That perspective is incredibly valuable as we scale. We’re building real systems here, and Larry’s experience and mindset aligns perfectly with where CandyMachines is…
Sacoa Cashless System has deployed their technology at three new Game Town locations across Mexico, solidifying a “long-standing partnership” between Sacoa and Grupo Meriva that brings “seamless, cashless experiences to tourists and locals in some of the country’s most iconic destinations.” Those include the Barceló Maya Grand Resort in Playa del Carmen and venues in Comitán and Palenque. “We are very pleased with the Sacoa system,” said Marco Manera, CEO of Grupo Meriva. “From planning to installation, everything has been taken care of in a very professional and efficient manner. The support team is great and provides fast solutions when…
It’s a busy month for AAMA and their members heading into next month’s Amusement Expo. Voting for the 2026 AAMA Category Awards – recognizing outstanding Manufacturer, Distributor, Supplier and Allied member companies across the industry – is open through Feb. 13. (You must be an AAMA member to submit a ballot; one ballot per member company is allowed.) Click here to vote. In other AAMA news, the association is heading to Washington, D.C., for their next Fly-In event from March 3-4. This is also a members-only benefit. “Getting the opportunity to spend time with your elected officials and share the…