Jersey Jack Pinball Explained

Jersey Jack Pinball
Foundation:January 2011
Location:Elk Grove Village, Illinois, U.S.
Industry:Interactive entertainment
Products:Pinball
Founder:Jack Guarnieri
Owner:Jack Guarnieri

Jersey Jack Pinball, Inc. is an American pinball machine manufacturing company that was established in 2011. The first table released by the company, The Wizard of Oz, appeared in 2013.[1]

History

Jersey Jack Pinball was founded in January 2011 by industry veteran Jack Guarnieri. Starting in 1975, he serviced electromechanical pinball tables for a living, and he created the website PinballSales.com in 1999. Guarnieri hired designer Joe Balcer and programmer Keith Johnson to work on the first machines.[2]

In 2013, the company released its first pinball machine, The Wizard of Oz. They spend $2 million in startup and development and sold the machines for $7,000 each.[3] Guarnieri's goal was to produce a high-quality pinball machine regardless of cost, and attract a larger female pinball audience than other manufacturers.[2] [3] The Wizard of Ozs release caught the attention of Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash, who reached out to the company about collaborating on a pinball machine.

Jersey Jack's machines have been used in donations by Project Pinball Charity in 2015, 2016, and 2019.[4]

In 2020, Jersey Jack relocated their manufacturing operations from their original location in Lakewood, New Jersey to Elk Grove Village, Illinois where their design team was already based.[5] The first machine produced at its new location was Guns N' Roses.[6] As of 2023 the company had over 100 employees.[7]

Game development

Jersey Jack games have introduced several notable features over the years, including LCD screens, LED lighting, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, and camera integration.[8] The Wizard of Oz featured a 26-inch LCD monitor in the backglass.[9] Dialed In! featured a camera integrated into the game's backbox to facilitate selfie photography and Bluetooth capability.[10] [11]

Games

YearTitleDesignerCommentsCitation
2013The Wizard of OzJoe Balcer
2016The HobbitJoe Balcer
2017Dialed In!Pat Lawlor
2018Pirates of the CaribbeanEric Meunier
2019Willy Wonka & The Chocolate FactoryPat Lawlor[12]
2020Guns N' RosesEric Meunier
Saul Hudson
2022Toy Story 4Pat LawlorPat’s last game[13] [14]
2023The Godfather 50 yearsEric Meunier
2023Elton JohnSteve Ritchie[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jersey Jack Pinball CEO Explains How He's Making The Beloved Arcade Game Cool Again (VIDEO). Harry. Bradford. 27 June 2013. 25 February 2019. Huff Post.
  2. Web site: Levin . Josh . 2013-01-09 . Pinball Is Dying. Can This Man Bring It Back to Life? . 2024-02-15 . Slate Magazine.
  3. Web site: Fry . Erika . 2013-02-22 . It's not game over for pinball . 2024-02-15 . Fortune . en.
  4. Web site: Impact – The Project Pinball Charity . 2024-02-15 . en-US.
  5. . Jersey Jack Pinball Relocates Manufacturing Operations . Chicago, IL . Jersey Jack Pinball, Inc. . PRNewswire . 12 August 2020 . 2024-07-31.
  6. Web site: Elejalde-Ruiz . Alexia . 2020-10-07 . Why Guns N' Roses' Slash is in Elk Grove Village, playing pinball . 2024-02-15 . Chicago Tribune . en-US.
  7. Web site: Winick . Erin . 2023-10-16 . The Arcade Classic That Tilted Digital . 2024-02-15 . Engineering.com.
  8. Web site: Barnas . Tom . 2022-08-30 . A behind-the-scenes look at a Chicago pinball factory . 2024-02-15 . WGN-TV . en-US.
  9. . New Pinball Machine is a Game Changer for the Industry: We're Not in Kansas Anymore . Lakewood, NJ . Jersey Jack Pinball, Inc. . PRNewswire . 2013-05-21 . 2024-07-31.
  10. Web site: Jersey Jack Drops A Bomb About Their Next Pinball Game [Video]]. Justin. Louis. Wobm.com. 12 April 2016 . 25 February 2019.
  11. Web site: Jersey Jack Pinball Unveils The Pat Lawlor Game: Dialed In!. 14 October 2016. Arcadeheroes.com. 25 February 2019.
  12. Web site: Pinball News: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory reveal'. www.pinballnews.com. 13 April 2019 .
  13. News: Pat Lawlor: Pinball designer . 31 July 2024 . Pinball Mag . 1 July 2022.
  14. Web site: Seigh . Steve . 14 June 2022 . Toy Story 4 pinball announced by Jersey Jack Pinball company . 2024-07-31 . www.joblo.com.
  15. Web site: Pelletier . Ashley . 2023-10-25 . Elton John Is Being Immortalized in Pinball Form . 2024-04-16 . The Pop Insider . en-US.