Pinball is cool again—and these stunning machines are why

Take a look inside the tech and creativity fueling the current golden age of pinball, with Stern Pinball game designer Keith Elwin and chief creative officer George Gomez.

It’s deceptively simple. Pull the plunger by its flying-saucer-shaped handle, and hear that satisfying clack. Watch the silver marble roll around the playfield, and wing it with your flippers. Come up for air when the ball is lost, and watch an animated interlude on the LCD scoreboard. This is pinball, and people play a lot of it.