Episode 35: JAWS 50th Anniversary Edition Revealed… But the Real Surprise? Stern’s Code Updates!
Stern Pinball just revealed the long-rumored JAWS 50th Anniversary Edition! In this episode, we react to the reveal and dive into the art, features, and whether it lives up to the hype. But that’s not all...Stern also dropped major code updates for several games that really needed it. We break it all down! 🦈 JAWS 50th Anniversary Edition – First impressions & reaction 🎮 Code updates on underperforming titles 💬 Community reactions and what it means for current owners Looking to Buy a New or Used Pinball Machine? LEAVE ME A VOICEMAIL, and I might play it on the show! Looking for more Pinball Content? Check out my pinball podcast, “The Flipside Podcast.” Video Version of the Podcast can be found here: / @theflipsideretroralph Want to listen to the podcast instead? Here are links to Spotify and Apple Podcasts! [RETRO RALPH MERCHANDISE AND CONTACT INFO] If you would like to get in contact with me directly, send me an email: retroralph1980@gmail.com
Kineticist’s take
Jaws 50th revealed with bold 50th anniversary styling; v1.0 code update benefits all owners.
Synopsis
Retro Ralph reviews Stern's newly announced Jaws 50th Anniversary Edition, a premium-tier reimagining of the successful 2024 Jaws machine featuring updated artwork (blood red armor, movie poster styling, glittered playfield), brass-plated ramps, and holographic stickers. Concurrent with this release, Stern has pushed Jaws code to version 1.0, adding co-op multiplayer, new wizard modes, and expanded achievements: a benefit to all existing Jaws owners. Ralph's reaction is measured; while he praises the game's design and thematic fidelity, the aesthetic changes don't compel him to trade his existing machine. He pivots to broader commentary on Stern's code update strategy, praising recent improvements to Uncanny X-Men and John Wick while critiquing Stern's tendency to release games with incomplete code compared to Jersey Jack's more polished launch state.
Highlights
- Stern is producing Jaws 50th Anniversary Edition only through the end of 2022 (roughly six months from announcement), likely under 1,000 units total
- Jaws Premium and Pro variants remain available for purchase; only the original LE version sold out quickly
- Jaws code has now reached version 1.0, adding co-op play (2v2, 3v1), new wizard modes including a final wizard mode, and expanded achievements
- Godzilla 70th Anniversary Edition featured foiled artwork that generated significant community excitement, making it more visually distinctive than Jaws 50th
- Jersey Jack Harry Potter (CE) includes glittered artwork that appears more visually prominent than Jaws 50th's glitter enhancement
- Uncanny X-Men and John Wick have received recent code updates that are meaningfully improving gameplay
- Mike Vinicore is now handling code development for John Wick and expected to improve the game significantly
- Jaws sales surged around the 50th anniversary due to Universal Studios' Jaws 50th marketing and merchandise distribution (Jaws ride nostalgia campaign)
Entities
- Jersey Jack Pinball· company
- Stern Pinball· company
- Universal Studios· company
- Southern Fried Gaming Expo· event
- Jaws· game
- John Wick· game
- King Kong· game
- The Hobbit· game
- Uncanny X-Men· game
- Elizabeth· person
- George Gomez· person
- Jack Danger· person
- Keith Elwin· person
- Kim· person
- Michael Bernard· person
- Mike Vinicore· person
- Retro Ralph· person
- Zach Minney· person
- Godzilla 70th Anniversary Edition· product
- Harry Potter (Jersey Jack)· product
- Jaws 50th Anniversary Edition· product