Stern Pinball has announced the launch of Insider Connected, a comprehensive technology initiative to connect the universe of Stern pinball machines. The platform is designed to enhance and extend player engagement with the games across both home and commercial environments. It also presents professional operators of the pinball machines with a robust set of tools to drive location play, build player loyalty, analyse performance, make adjustments remotely and maintain the machines.
Registration for Insider Connected is free – players can either scan a QR code at the games or go to the Stern Pinball website where they will need to enter an email address and create a password. Once players register for Insider Connected, they are issued a unique QR Code that can be used to identify that player at any connected Stern pinball machine, anywhere in the world. When a player logs into the machine, they can track their progress, earn new game specific achievements, engage with the player community and participate in promotions and Challenge Quests.
Challenge Quests can be issued by operators to drive play at their locations and build player loyalty or by Stern Pinball to highlight a game title or engage the community. When players complete quests, they receive loyalty rewards.
All Stern Spike 2 LCD games produced after the September launch will ship with the Insider Connected system installed; this includes new runs of previously released titles. Any existing Stern LCD game can be added to Insider Connected by installing a simple, inexpensive retrofit kit available from Stern distributors, dealers and the Stern Store.
By the end of the year, all 17 Stern Spike 2 LCD system titles will be added to Insider Connected. At launch seven titles will be supported. Over the next year the full system with added features will be rolled out.
“Insider Connected will transform how players interact with pinball machines, and operators will benefit greatly from new tools,” said Gary Stern, chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc.