Zach Sharpe is a highly skilled pinball player. As the director of marketing at Stern Pinball, Sharpe was observed playing at the company’s exclusive Pinball Alley, which is located within their headquarters in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, a suburb situated 20 miles northwest of Chicago, known as the pinball capital of the world. The game being showcased was Stern’s latest release, “King Kong: Myth of Terror Island,” available in Pro, Premium, and 932 Limited Edition models, with starting prices at $6,999.
The title was speculated by enthusiasts and bloggers on platforms such as Reddit, who monitor trademark filings, and was teased by Stern on social media. After gaining exclusive early access, it was concluded that this machine has become a favored Stern release since 2021.
The journey into pinball began at the CES event in 2020 with the newly launched “Stranger Things” game. During an interaction there, the founder of Stern Pinball, Gary Stern, encouraged patience. This interest grew, eventually leading to participation in pinball leagues and tournaments, resulting in a high score achievement on the “Star Wars” machine.
During a visit to the Stern Pinball factory, Sharpe shared his preferences for two favorite pinball games: “Cyclopes,” a rare machine designed by his father, Roger Sharpe, a pinball historian, and “Godzilla.” These games are also favorites of Keith Elwin, the lead game designer, and Jeremy Packer, also known as Zombie Yeti, the lead art director of “King Kong: Myth of Terror Island.” However, Rick Naegele, the lead software engineer, mentioned “Iron Maiden” as his top choice.
Players familiar with Stern Pinball machines immediately recognize their craftsmanship. “King Kong” offers a similar enjoyment to games such as “Godzilla,” “Iron Maiden,” “Jurassic Park,” and “Avengers: Infinity Quest.” The machine boasts a vibrant playfield, particularly on the Premium edition, featuring flippers, secret paths, a diverter, and a magnet coined the “Jeff” spider. Additionally, there is a network of rails and a gong bash target, where strategic hitting is advised to avoid losing balls.
