# Lonnie D. Ropp

Lonnie D. Ropp emerged as a pivotal figure in pinball programming during the 1980s arcade boom. Initially honing his skills at Rock-Ola, he later joined Data East’s fledgling pinball division to develop its first game, *Laser War*, helping usher in advanced stereo sound for pinball machines. Over the subsequent decades—through Data East, Sega, and finally Stern Pinball—Ropp programmed dozens of titles, notably contributing to *Apollo 13*’s record-setting 13-ball multiball, plus licensed favorites like *Star Wars*, *The Sopranos*, and *Guardians of the Galaxy*.

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His coding style often emphasizes vibrant sound integration, clear objectives, and a balanced appeal for both casual players and dedicated collectors. From collaborating on machine concepts (*The Who’s Tommy Pinball Wizard*, *Space Jam*) to perfecting digital rule sets (*Star Trek*, *Metallica*), Ropp’s fingerprints lie in many cherished pinball experiences. His legacy continues at Stern, where he mentors younger programmers, updates classic code, and helps shape the cutting-edge of contemporary pinball design.

## Snapshot
- Roles: code, design, concept, mechanics
- Years active: 1987-Present

## Games credited
- Software: [Metallica Remastered](/games/pinball/metallica-remastered-2024) (2024)
- Software: [James Bond 007](/games/pinball/james-bond-007-2022) (2022)
- Software: [Stranger Things](/games/pinball/stranger-things-2019) (2019)
- Software: [Guardians of the Galaxy](/games/pinball/guardians-of-the-galaxy) (2017)
- Software: [Aerosmith](/games/pinball/aerosmith) (2017)
- Software: [Ghostbusters](/games/pinball/ghostbusters) (2016)
- Software: [WrestleMania](/games/pinball/wrestlemania) (2015)
- Software: [KISS](/games/pinball/kiss-2015) (2015)
- Software: [Game of Thrones](/games/pinball/game-of-thrones) (2015)
- Software: [Mustang](/games/pinball/mustang) (2014)

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