Casper, WY
Quoted from vic_vp:currently lcd shows "5 of 182" collected
4 are the main poke and then you collect during gameplay
Is there any way to evolve pokemon or is it just catching them?
(Topic ID: 356080)
Linked Games
Pokémon (Limited Edition)
Stern, 2026
Pokémon (Premium)
Stern, 2026
Pokémon (Pro)
Stern, 2026
Quoted from gnjax:Idk I'm kinda disappointed I don't really get the hype after this reveal. HP might have ruined new releases for me, this looks tame in comparison.
It's tame compared to... everything. It's a Stern, so it'll shoot fast & smooth, but that's a pretty low bar.
This layout seems to be designed specifically to prove to any remaining doubters just how important theme is to the industry.
Quoted from gnjax:Idk I'm kinda disappointed I don't really get the hype after this reveal. HP might have ruined new releases for me, this looks tame in comparison.
Agree. But this needs to be simple for kids with lots of stop and go to watch video assets.
Quoted from insight75:Whoever lands me an LE at MSRP will get an invite to my house for the unboxing with hookers and coke.
Like high dollar hookers or cheap ones?
Quoted from Happy81724:Pro might be the only option for us. Those swirl ramps slow things down so much I don’t enjoy them. Glad it’s not on all three models. Mustang and even cftl after while was tiresome with how it stopped flow. Mustang I seemed to hit that ramp all the time to watch it spin
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I'm feeling this way as well, I'd like to see a vid of the pro gameplay but it feels like it'll have better flow with fewer redirects/slowdowns.
Quoted from wisefwumyogwave:Can't be true you're in here
Im not the one Mehing on everybody's parade. This kind of attitude is what ruined the suck up To AP guy thread!
Come on man! Let's be positive!!
Looks like a noob friendly junkemon. Pokeyard? I think the designers understood the assignment for this one.
Quoted from Wiggles:Is there any way to evolve pokemon or is it just catching them?
combos = evolves
Jack you killed this design with some tweaking from George!
I can’t wait to see the topper and accessories! Hopefully not far behind!
Quoted from dfsays:Ooh, I missed that detail. Totally agree on the swirl ramps. They can be fun strategically during multiball, but otherwise slow the game down unnecessarily.
But only on the LE/Prem models, so yay. Glad I'll mostly see Pros on location!
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I watched Vic’s video, and the ball doesn’t go into the swirl every time. Seems like there’s a diverter that does it on certain occasions.
Quoted from Rarehero:I watched Vic’s video, and the ball doesn’t go into the swirl every time. Seems like there’s a diverter that does it on certain occasions.
Yup. Jack mentioned this a few posts above..
Game actually looks fun, and I see several moving elements to the game that bring it to life. Colors look great too. Not a Pokémon guy myself, but this looks entertaining. Good job designers.
Quoted from Rarehero:I watched Vic’s video, and the ball doesn’t go into the swirl every time. Seems like there’s a diverter that does it on certain occasions.
correct i put a time stamp when it does (far later into the video haha)
shoot squirtal 3 times and itll start squirtle squad. once started thats when ball goes to the pool/ bowl
Oh, there are training targets on the left so you can expand a training mechanism for captured Pokemon?
Here is a brief recap of my time and thoughts on the new Pokémon machines I played at Stern’s media day this week.
Also included some gameplay videos where a few of us played both the pro and premium models for the first time.
Pro model
Premium model
DeadFlipQuoted from DeadFlip:Oh and the Squirtle whirlpool bowl has several speed bumps and cutouts in production to prevent the ball from living in there, and you only go in there when we decide.
Cool, I’ll have to wait to play it to decide. I like a lot of the stuff on prem/le so if it’s not a significant impact to flow that will be great
Damn so that mech in the middile that pops out is also on the Pro? It's going to be VERY easy to make an animatronic Pikachu mod for this like Mando.... so basically it's an extra 3-6k (Prem/LE) for the whirlpool ramp, an under the PF magnet and an animated Pickachu. Pro might be the winner
Quoted from splattii:Damn so that mech in the middile that pops out is also on the Pro? It's going to be VERY easy to make an animatronic Pikachu mod for this like Mando.... so basically it's an extra 3-6k (Prem/LE) for the whirlpool ramp and a magnet?
and the sneak in
Quoted from tgarrett09:DeadFlip Will this game have depth and challenge for an experienced player? I’m liking what I see but want to make sure it’s not being specifically targeted to new players code wise.
Tanio and team are on it. Starting modes will be easier, completing them offers the challenge, plus a TON of other things to do.
We spent a lot of time to make sure this is approachable for everyone, but competitive for pros.
POKIE MAN!!!!
It’s kinda weird that I never got into Pokemon, as I’m a hardcore Nintendo fan & I loved 90’s anime….but, I also hated turn based RPG’s & didn’t have a Gameboy anymore when Pokemon got huge. With each game having 2 versions, the whole thing seemed too complex and overwhelming to get into late.
So - I can’t judge this game thru the lens of a hardcore Pokefan who knows all the lore and whatnot…but it looks colorful & fun with some neat playfield tricks. Even though it’s a basic mech, I think Pikachu’s moving head and “pika pika’s” are cute. I like the captive ball sitch & the ramp flap for catching Pokemon in the ball. The ball eats the balls!!! Junkyard Meowth is cool, I’m a fan of bash toys revealing a shot/path. The music is upbeat & fun.
My first impression is: I’d play it! 
Quoted from splattii:Damn so that mech in the middile that pops out is also on the Pro? It's going to be VERY easy to make an animatronic Pikachu mod for this like Mando.... so basically it's an extra 3-6k (Prem/LE) for the whirlpool ramp, an under the PF magnet and an animated Pickachu that someone might best. Pro might be the winner
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Pop up scoop under wiggley pokeball and a sneak in scoop instead of target. But yeah, it's a nice bang for the buck Pro. The features are largely cosmetic and not affecting gameplay.
Quoted from yancy:It's tame compared to... everything. It's a Stern, so it'll shoot fast & smooth, but that's a pretty low bar.
This layout seems to be designed specifically to prove to any remaining doubters just how important theme is to the industry.
More
With such a huge theme I expected more. Can't tell what exactly, I was really looking forward to this release but I don't feel the spark here. It shooting properly is the bare minimum considering what the competition has been doing lately
Quoted from Goronic:Agree. But this needs to be simple for kids with lots of stop and go to watch video assets.
I can understand the layout choice, but I believe they should have went all in with the theme integration and toys to carry the lacking layout.
Nintendo is notorious for being a pain to work with though, so maybe they weren't as free as they would have liked
Quoted from frogopus:Pop up scoop under wiggley pokeball and a sneak in scoop instead of target. But yeah, it's a nice bang for the buck Pro. The features are largely cosmetic and not affecting gameplay.
Which is the way it should be. Nice work by the design team. The LE/Prem has a bigger presentation, but the gameplay is basically the same.
Quoted from Rarehero:POKIE MAN!!!!
It’s kinda weird that I never got into Pokemon, as I’m a hardcore Nintendo fan & I loved 90’s anime….but, I also hated turn based RPG’s & didn’t have a Gameboy anymore when Pokemon got huge. With each game having 2 versions, the whole thing seemed too complex and overwhelming to get into late.
So - I can’t judge this game thru the lens of a hardcore Pokefan who knows all the lore and whatnot…but it looks colorful & fun with some neat playfield tricks. Even though it’s a basic mech, I think Pikachu’s moving head and “pika pika’s” are cute. I like the captive ball sitch & the ramp flap for catching Pokemon in the ball. The ball eats the balls!!! Junkyard Meowth is cool, I’m a fan of bash toys revealing a shot/path. The music is upbeat & fun.
My first impression is: I’d play it!
More
I think it depends on how old you were when Pokemon first came out. I was sort at the tail end in terms of age when it comes to the appeal of Pokemon. I was 11 when Pokemon came out and a group of friends and I were the first kids into it at my middle school before it completely blew up. i was obsessed with Pokemon until I was about 14, lost interest, and got back into it back in the early 2010s around the time Platinum came out.
Quoted from gnjax:With such a huge theme I expected more. Can't tell what exactly, I was really looking forward to this release but I don't feel the spark here. It shooting properly is the bare minimum considering what the competition has been doing lately
I can understand the layout choice, but I believe they should have went all in with the theme integration and toys to carry the lacking layout.
Nintendo is notorious for being a pain to work with though, so maybe they weren't as free as they would have liked
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It has three large moving mechs/sculpts, not sure what else they need
Quoted from DeadFlip:Currently 180+ in the game with a TON more to come obviously.
Can it be disabled? Anything past Gen 3 has been lame and disappointing. Gen 1 & 2 are the best and iconic.
Especially the mega evolutions and variations that they implement then remove because they break in-game meta horribly
Quoted from gnjax:With such a huge theme I expected more.
Booooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!
Quoted from DeadFlip:Oh and the Squirtle whirlpool bowl has several speed bumps and cutouts in production to prevent the ball from living in there, and you only go in there when we decide.
So the toilet has some skid marks - lol. Looks awesome Jack!
Quoted from Wiggles:I think it depends on how old you were when Pokemon first came out.
It feels like there's a hard line somewhere around... 45 years old in 2026? I'm certainly on the wrong side of it.
Quoted from frogopus:Pop up scoop under wiggley pokeball and a sneak in scoop instead of target. But yeah, it's a nice bang for the buck Pro. The features are largely cosmetic and not affecting gameplay.
Also missing is the magnet in the center arena area .
Quoted from yancy:George really likes that left orbit to back ramp thing. Avengers, Deadpool, Bond, Pokemon, did I catch 'em all?
Its on AIQ too so maybe it was a collab feature?
Its a fun shot!
Quoted from Svenop:Looks like 182 pokemon to catch?
I have a feeling with code updates they can add more Pokemon.
Jack do you think that will happen
Quoted from gnjax:With such a huge theme I expected more. Can't tell what exactly, I was really looking forward to this release but I don't feel the spark here. It shooting properly is the bare minimum considering what the competition has been doing lately
I can understand the layout choice, but I believe they should have went all in with the theme integration and toys to carry the lacking layout.
Nintendo is notorious for being a pain to work with though, so maybe they weren't as free as they would have liked
More
The only thing I'm not a fan of so far is the cab and playfield art. It just looks very stock. I would have loved if Zombie Yeti or someone would have got a hold of this. I'm sure Nintendo had a major hand in why custom art was not allowed. Still, everything else about this machine looks awesome. Like always, I'll need to get some hands on time with a machine before I can decide whether or not this thing is the real deal, at least for me.
Quoted from Wiggles:I think it depends on how old you were when Pokemon first came out. I was sort at the tail end in terms of age when it comes to the appeal of Pokemon. I was 11 when Pokemon came out and a group of friends and I were the first kids into at my middle school before it completely blew up. i was obsessed with Pokemon until I was about 14, lost interest, and got back into it back in the early 2010s around the time Platinum came out.
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Yeah, I was in college & we were playing PlayStation & Saturn. Anyone with an N64 was playing Mario Kart & Goldeneye. We only had heard of Pokemon as “that seizure cartoon.” If I was younger. I probably would have liked the show…but my dislike of RPGs would have still kept me from playing the games.
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