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Guns N' Roses (pinball)

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Guns N' Roses is a 1994 pinball machine made by Data East featuring the hard rock group Guns N' Roses.[1] 3,000 machines were produced and in 2020 a second Guns N' Roses pinball machine was released by Jersey Jack Pinball.

Content

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Guns N' Roses
ManufacturerData East
Release dateJuly 1994 (1994-07)
SystemData East Ver. 3B (BSMT2000 & 128 X 32 display)
DesignJoe Kaminkow, John Borg, Lyman F. Sheats Jr., Slash
ProgrammingLonnie D. Ropp, Orin Day, Lyman F. Sheats Jr.[2]
ArtworkMarkus Rothkranz
MusicAxl Rose, Slash, Gilby Clarke, Brian L. Schmidt
SoundAxl Rose, Slash, Gilby Clarke, Brian L. Schmidt
PhotographyRobert John
Production run3,000 (appx.)[3]
Guns N' Roses Pinball

The artwork features photos by Robert John from his book Guns N' Roses: The Photographic History. This game is a widebody pinball game with several unique twists. Among them, is an old fashioned revolver, which players use to start the game as opposed to the typical plunger.[4] When a quarter is inserted, Welcome to the Jungle (recorded from a concert) plays. Also included on the soundtrack is the Use Your Illusion outtake "Ain't Going Down", which is the only official release of the song.[5] The backdrop is illuminated with lights in the shape of the Guns N' Roses seal, and Axl Rose's tattoos, featured in the Appetite for Destruction album artwork. The multi-ball can be activated when the yellow light is lit on the G ramp, this will open a trap door and send the ball into the snake pit (if the ball is shot up the ramp which is a hard shot), pulling the rose plunger will then activate the multi-ball.[6] An "R" ramp is also featured completing the "GN'R" logo. The machine also uses magnets to fling balls around unpredictably, a feature that was used previously on The Addams Family,[7] and a video mode for extra points.[8]

Development and release

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Slash, a noted pinball fan, was heavily involved in the game's design.[5] He approached DataEast about developing a machine after being impressed with their Jurassic Park pinball machine. Slash stated in a 202 interview, "I totally was going after my own idea and didn’t use any of those [other band themed] machines as inspiration."[9] Other band members, including Duff McKagan recorded dedicated sound bites to accompany the gameplay.[10] A run of 3,000 machines were produced.[5]

Reception and legacy

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Each member of the band received a free pinball machine.[10] Former Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke sued the band over the use of his likeness in the game, as he had been a member of the band when the machine was under production but was out by the time it was released.[11] The machine has continued to be popular with Guns N' Roses fans, in part because it was one of the only releases of "Ain't Going Down."[5] In 2020, Jersey Jack Pinball produced a new pinball machine: Guns N' Roses: Not in This Lifetime.[5][9]

References

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  1. ^ Zaleski, Annie (2018-08-18). "Alice Cooper Dedicates Rock Hall Pinball Exhibit". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
  2. ^ "Information Sheats". Pinball News. 2003-01-31. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  3. ^ "Internet Pinball Machine Database: Data East 'Guns N' Roses'".
  4. ^ McPadden, Mike (2015-02-28). "Satan's Arcade: Top 15 Hard Rock + Heavy Metal Pinball Machines + Video Games". VH1. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
  5. ^ a b c d e Rosenberg, Axl (2020-10-05). "Guns N' Roses Announce New Pinball Table Co-Designed by Slash". MetalSucks. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
  6. ^ DataEast. "This pinball's got attitude! Guns N' Roses". The Arcade Flyer Archive. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
  7. ^ Rossignoli, Marco (2000). The Complete Pinball Book: Collecting the Game and its History. Schiffer Publishing. p. 209. ISBN 978-0-7643-3785-7.
  8. ^ Rossignoli, Marco (2000). The Complete Pinball Book: Collecting the Game and its History. Schiffer Publishing. p. 312. ISBN 978-0-7643-3785-7.
  9. ^ a b "Slash: New Guns N' Roses pinball machines are "way beyond my expectations"". Consequence. 2020-12-09. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
  10. ^ a b McKagan, Duff; Kornelis, Chris (2015-05-12). How to Be a Man: (and other illusions). Grand Central Publishing. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-306-82388-6.
  11. ^ L.A. Weekly staff (May 11, 2015). "Book Excerpt: Duff McKagan Recalls the Bitter Dispute Over the Guns N' Roses Pinball Machine". LAweekly.com. Beth Sestanovich; Voice Media Group. Retrieved May 16, 2015. ... it was a foregone conclusion that Gilby would be in the band ... his picture was included on the big mural on the game ... suddenly (he) wasn't in the band anymore. Gilby sued us for using his likeness on the machine{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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