Tron: Legacy (pinball)

The 25 years on the flyer for the 2011 version of this machine refers to the formation of Data East's pinball division which was formed in 1986 and eventually became Stern Pinball.

Four versions of Tron: Legacy were produced. The primary colours from the film, yellow and blue, feature prominently through all the artwork. The first standard version features a black legs and trim, 3D{{Cite book |author=Shalhoub |first=Michael |title=The Pinball Compendium 1982 to present |date=2012 |publisher=Schiffer Publishing |isbn=978-0-7643-4107-6 |edition=2nd revised |location=Atglen, PA |pages=302}} translite, and screen cabinet art. At the same time a limited edition was produced with the same artwork but illuminated backglass. The artwork for this backglass is licensed rather than produced by Stern under license, and is also used on the blu-ray release of the film.{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Tron: Legacy |url=https://www.pinballnews.com/games/tron/index2.html |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=Pinball News}} For all versions the sides of the cabinet each have two light cycle racers, with yellow in the lead on the right side, and blue in the lead on the left side. Gem and Quorra are shown on either side of the backbox. The left slingshot in the game shows CLU as the yellow rider, and the right slingshot shows the Sam Flynn as the blue rider.

The 3rd version was released in 2012 with cabinet decals, and the "CLU" version of the translite showing five main characters. The 4th version was released in 2013 with cabinet decals, and a different version of the translite featuring Quorra and Gem; the CLU translite was also included, but not installed. All versions other than the standard 2011 version can have a shaker motor fitted, but none had it installed from the factory.

The limited edition was restricted to 400 units. These have bright chrome legs and trim, and addition of silver paint into the playfield. Optical fibre light tubes are used along the ramps and wireforms; these use LEDs which change colour as the different game modes are played.{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Tron: Legacy limited edition photograph |url=https://www.pinballnews.com/games/tron/index5.html |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=Pinball News}} They were also signed and came with a numbered plaque.{{Cite web |date=May 6, 2011 |title=Tron: Legacy (LE) |url=https://www.pinballnews.com/games/tron/index3.html |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=Pinball News}}

The game features audio clips from the film's main characters.{{Cite web |last=MacManus |first=MacManus |date=May 12, 2011 |title='Tron: Legacy' pinball looks like a quarter quencher |url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/tron-legacy-pinball-looks-like-a-quarter-quencher/ |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=CNET |language=en}} The voice of the Tron computer grid was recorded by Carol Thiel; with David Thiel providing the sentry voices.

Three Daft Punk music tracks from the film are used. "Tron Legacy (End Titles)" is used as the main music for the game. "C.L.U." is used in a mode, and "Derezzed" is used in Quorra multiball.{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Tron: Legacy review part two |url=https://www.pinballnews.com/games/tron/index6b.html |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=Pinball News}} The remainder of the music is written by David Thiel.

There was one of these machines at Starcade in Disneyland before the closure of that attraction in 2015.{{Cite book |last=Glass |first=John |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Things_To_Do_At_Disneyland_2013/fyzu4s8GpgcC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Tron:+Legacy+pinball&pg=PA90-IA3&printsec=frontcover |title=Things To Do At Disneyland 2013 |date=2013 |publisher=Alternative Travel Press |pages=90}}

The game uses a manual plunger. It is a 3 flipper game, with the upper flipper located on the left side of the playfield; these flippers are all yellow with black rubber. On the left of the playfield are T-R-O-N standup targets; 4 further stand-up targets (Z-U-S-E) are scattered across the game. There are two ramps, one accessible from the upper flipper is the "yellow ramp", and the left ramp is the "blue ramp"; each of these have a diecast light cycle (replaced with cars on the 4th edition) above them. The game has two spinners, the Quorra spinner in the left loop, and the Zuse spinner located in the right orbit. The central feature of the game is the recognizer bank of 3 targets which can drop down to reveal a Recognizer ship above a spinning disc. Three pop bumpers are halfway up the machine on the right; the path to the right orbit is between these bumpers. Lower down on the right is Flynn's arcade scoop that is open on three sides allowing access from multiple shots. On top of this is a model of Tron video game cabinet.{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Tron: Legacy review part one |url=https://www.pinballnews.com/games/tron/index6a.html |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=Pinball News}}

On the limited edition is a rotating "Recognizer"{{Cite web |last=Staley |first=Brandon |date=2017-03-14 |title=LOOK: Tron Pinball Machine Offers a Glimpse into the Grid |url=https://www.cbr.com/tron-pinball-machine-offers-a-glimpse-into-the-grid/ |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=CBR |language=en}} vehicle not on any other version of the game, This is located above the central bank of 3 stand-up targets. Instead of the stand-up targets on the left of standard editions there are 4 drop-targets.

{{See also|Tron (video game)}}

The Stern produced in-game Tron cabinet only bore a passing resemblance to the 1982 cabinet, but a third-party mod could be made or bought to replace it which not only uses the same cabinet design and art as the original but has a working screen displaying the attract mode from the video game.{{Cite web |last=Kotzer |first=Zack |date=2016-08-09 |title=Inside Frolic’s, Toronto’s secret arcade in a suburban basement |url=https://torontolife.com/culture/inside-frolics-torontos-superb-secret-arcade/ |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=Toronto Life |language=en}} Additionally it uses UV light which can make the controller glow. The software and design were made freely available.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHZnqffmiwA |title=Show and Tell: Tron Arcade Cabinet Miniature Model |date=2013-06-16 |last=Adam Savage’s Tested |access-date=2025-06-19 |via=YouTube}}

The game is played as Sam Flynn on the Grid against Clu and Rinsler. The objective is to escape the Grid through the Portal.{{Cite web |last=McFatter |first=James |date=August 1, 2024 |title=Combo-TRON: Explore the world of TRON in Stern’s 2011 cult-classic game |url=https://www.kineticist.com/post/tron-legacy-pinball-tutorial |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=Kineticist |language=en}}

A tournament button could be fitted, but was not factory installed on all games.{{Cite book |url=https://sternpinball.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Tron-Manual.pdf |title=Tron manual |date=2011 |publisher=Stern Pinball}} For games played using this "random awards" are made to be fixed instead of random.

Pinball News in a very extensive review gave the game a rating of 81%, with detailed scores for seven elements:

• Layout 8.5/10 The upper flipper was welcomed, as was the good variety of shots in the game.
• Art 8.5/10 The artwork was highly praised noting the "visually striking Tron environment" is well suited for various aspects of a pinball machine. The integration of new elements on the playfield using the Tron style guide was also praised with strong use of the colours blue and yellow.
• Sounds & Music 9.5/10 All of the music was praised, with the original tracks blending well with those from Daft Punk summing it up as "one of the best games musically of recent times". Despite the actor call-outs being taken solely from the film, Michael Sheen was praised.
• Lights 7/10 While most of the playfield was adequately lit, there were a few more dimly lit areas; the lamps in the Tron video game cabinet were criticized, and recommended home owners to use a replacement.
• Dots (DMD display) 6.5/10. This was the most criticized aspect, noting that while some modes included plenty of images, too often the display was just plain text messages.
• Rules 7/10. The game was praised for being more accessible to players by having two ways to reach the wizard mode, and enjoyed that features can be stacked (played at the same time). There was slight criticism that in the version of the game code being used there was no information on the display about choice of skill shot, or for light cycle multiball; but hoped this would be rectified in a future update.

{{reflist}}

• {{IPDB|5682}} (original 2011 version)
• {{IPDB|5707}} (limited edition)
• {{IPDB|6018}} (3rd edition produced in 2012)
• {{IPDB|6019}} (4th edition produced in 2013)

{{Tron}}

Category:Pinball machines based on films

Category:2011 pinball machines

Category:2012 pinball machines

Category:2013 pinball machines

Category:Stern pinball machines