ELK GROVE VILLAGE, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 22, 2024 As twilight descends upon Elk Grove Village, an ominous presence stirs beneath the tranquil surface of the local pinball parlors. Stern Pinball has released the highly anticipated JAWS code v0.97.0, plunging enthusiasts into a new abyss of excitement and peril. This latest update, shrouded in mystery and menace, introduces the formidable Great White Multiball mini-wizard mode, promising a game experience as thrilling and unpredictable as the legendary great white itself.
The Awakening of the Great White
In the shadowy depths of the Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition models, the Great White Multiball mode emerges as the apex predator. To summon this beast, players must embark on a perilous quest:
- Capture the Predators: Track down and secure the elusive Mako, Thresher, Hammerhead, and Tiger sharks lurking in the game’s dark waters.
- Sell Quint Your Gear: Channel your inner Quint, the relentless bounty hunter, and trade your hard-earned gear to unlock the Great White’s dominion.
Once the Great White is awakened, it prowls the Bounty Hunt selection screen, a relentless force that demands respect. Beware: selecting the Great White while other sharks remain uncaptured will leave them "Lost," forever vanished into the abyss, beyond your grasp.
Objectives in the Deep
Facing the Great White is no simple feat. Players must navigate through treacherous objectives:
- 200 Spinners: Spin the wheel of fate to keep the beast at bay.
- 12 Drop Target / 3-Bank Targets: Aim true to strike the targets before the shark strikes back.
- 12 Boat Hits & 12 Chum Hits: Navigate the perilous waters, hitting boats and dispensing chum to lure the Great White closer.
Each shark you’ve captured before confronting the Great White reduces the perilous objective count, easing your path through the stormy seas. Capture them all, and the Fishing Reel shot lights directly, nullifying the need for further objectives—a true test of mastery over the game’s dark forces.
Rules of Engagement
Once the Great White is unleashed, the game transforms into a high-stakes battle:
- 6 Ball Multiball: Engage in a frenzied 6 ball multiball with a 30-second ballsaver, a brief respite in the chaos.
- Green Arrows and Jackpot: All arrows light green, signaling a Jackpot that summons the fearsome Shark.
- Bounty Collection: Bash the shark three times to trigger the Bounty Collect at the Harpoon Lane shot, intensifying the hunt.
- Multipliers and Point Frenzy: Each captured shark enhances the Bounty Value with a +1X multiplier, while each ball in play adds +5M points to the shark’s bounty.
- Endless Pursuit: The sequence repeats until only one ball remains, with an Add-A-Ball available by completing Boat Targets when the Bounty is lit, keeping the terror alive.
- Inevitable Escape: True to its nature, the Great White always escapes, leaving players yearning for another encounter.
The Final Showdown: Quint and His Orca
As if the Great White wasn’t enough, the v0.97.0 update introduces Quint and his Orca as the final bounty hunters in the JAWS: The Revenge challenge mode. Reach a $10,000 bounty value, and face these titanic adversaries in an ultimate test of skill and courage. Alongside this, numerous game enhancements, additional polish, and critical bug fixes ensure the experience is as seamless as it is savage.
Surviving the Update
To navigate these treacherous new waters, players can effortlessly download and install the update through Stern’s award-winning Insider Connected platform. Follow these steps to ensure your game is primed for the hunt:
- Open the coin door and press the black/enter button to enter Test Mode.
- Using the four buttons on the coin door, navigate to the Stern Insider Connected Setup menu.
- Proceed to the Software Update menu using the same buttons.
- If an update is available, choose to download and install it manually or select automatic installation for seamless integration.
For those seeking more details, code updates and readme files are accessible at sternpinball.com/support/game-code/.
As the sun sets over Elk Grove Village, the hunt begins. Are you ready to face the jaws that bite, the claws that catch, and the fury that flows through Stern Pinball’s latest JAWS update? Dive into the darkness, if you dare.
