Stern Pinball Expression Lighting Explained

Expression Lighting is Stern’s dynamic lighting system, controlled by software, which extends beyond just the playfield. There are variants for Spike 2 vs. Spike 3 machines (click here for a brief explanation of SPIKE 2 and SPIKE 3).

 

Spike 3 Cabinet Expression Lighting (cabinet interior): Positioned in pockets cut into the cabinet sides (near top of sides running parallel to the glass) are 96 intelligent RGB LEDs, which are synchronized and controlled by the software.

Spike 3 Side Armor Lighting (cabinet exterior): Positioned into the accessory side armor are 48 intelligent RGB LEDs. (The side armor are the protective metal rails that the glass slides into).  Deploying this kit has two requirements:

  • Spike 3 Cabinet Expression Lighting kit (cabinet interior) must first be installed because it has a lighting controller board that also controls the Spike 3 Side Armor Lighting.
  • Side Armor lighting is not compatible with the pro/premium stock side armor and requires that the game specific accessory side armor be installed.

Spike 3 Pro/Premium Speaker Lighting System: Speakers light up and flash via intelligent RGB LED lighting. They are fully integrated and dynamically respond to game events.

Stern Expression Light Topper: consists of a topper base with integrated expression LEDs, and a topper plate specific to games such as Godzilla, Deadpool, Star Wars and more to come. There is also a generic Stern topper which will work with any LCD machine. The topper base will light up and interact with the gaming experience and with the other Expression Light kits compatible with the game.  

This topper family is simpler and less expensive than the accessory toppers that are released with the machines.

Spike 2 Expression Lighting: A small number of Spike 2 titles had factory installed cabinet expression lighting (cabinet interior): Led Zeppelin (LE), Rush (LE), Foo Fighters (LE), and Metallica Remastered (Premium & LE).