IKEA Live Oak opens with giveaways, door prizes, and more.
Courtesy photo
Two years after announcing it was building its fifth store in Texas, IKEA Live Oak is officially opening its doors. On February 13, the purveyor of all things Swedish is celebrating its first-ever San Antonio outpost with free gifts, sneak peeks, and the chance to win thousands of dollars in gift cards.
Fanfare for the IKEA Live Oak grand opening begins at 5 am on Wednesday, when customers will first be allowed to line up. Live entertainment then kicks off beginning at 6 am.
Those shaking their heads at the thought of lining up before dawn may want to adjust their "IKEA-tude." Among the door prizes up for grabs are free plush FAMNIG heart-shaped toys for the first 200 children ages 12 and below and a free welcome "gift" for the first 1,000 adults ages 18 and up. (Sorry, teenagers. Nothing for you.)
Customers who join the line before 8 am will also be entered to win either a $500, $1,500, or $2,000 gift card, which can purchase literally thousands of meatballs or a nice couch.
Members of the brand's loyalty card, IKEA Family, will also be entered to win one of 20 IKEA gift cards valued at $250. Members also get early access via an invitation-only sneak peek and other in-store perks through February 24.
Following February 13, IKEA Live Oak, located on Interstate 35 at Loop 1604, will be open Monday-Saturday from 10 am-10 pm and Sunday from 11 am-8 pm. The restaurant opens Monday-Saturday from 9:30 am-9:30 pm and Sunday from 10:30 am-7:30 pm.
This Round Rock-made game does a lot more than slap themed artwork on its sides.
Anyone can have fun storming the castle with Multimorphic, Inc.'s new pinball game. A leading innovator in the pinball industry, Multimorphic has partnered with The Princess Bride Ltd. to bring the beloved classic film to life through pinball.
Multimorphic, Inc., based in Round Rock, TX, makes a unique machine: a modular pinball game that can swap out art and obstacles to fit a variety of collectible themes. The company now boasts 21 available games, with multiple licensed titles in development, offering a diverse range of experiences for pinball enthusiasts of all skill levels.
The classic '80s satirical film The Princess Bride lends inspiration to Multimorphic's latest release, which came out in February. Much more than a few key art features, the references are all over the game.
It features more than 200 video clips and quotes from the film, guiding players through iconic scenes while rewarding them for executing the right combination of shots. The playfield boasts interactive elements modeled after key locations from the movie, such as Humperdinck's Castle, Miracle Max's Hut, and the Cliffs of Insanity, where the pinball physically climbs the cliffs.
"The core of the pinball community grew up in the '80s and '90s, enjoy this classic, physical form of gaming, and have a lot of nostalgia for films and music from their childhoods," wrote Multimorphic founder Gerry Stellenberg in an email to CultureMap. "The Princess Bride ... has scenes that translate perfectly to pinball modes, has fantastic music from Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, and is loved by just about everybody. It's truly a perfect fit for pinball."
This playfield rests atop a video screen, enabling a versatile display of media right in the gameplay. Rather than just admiring an ideological theme, Stellenberg explains users can experience "playing within the story of the film." Some moving targets will take the shape of Rodents of Unusual Size (R.O.U.S.), and instructions will pop up underneath the ball.
Photo courtesy of Multimorphic, Inc.
"As Grandpa says in the film, 'Are you kidding? Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles...', all of which translate perfectly into playable pinball modes," says Stellenberg.
One of those modes, a favorite of the creators, is the Battle of Steel Mode, which allows players to step into the boots of Dread Pirate Roberts and Inigo Montoya in their legendary left-handed battle.
"Because we have multiple buttons on each side of the pinball machine, we actually force you to use only your left hand at the start of the mode by disabling the right-side buttons and mapping the left side buttons to both lower flippers," says Stellenberg. "Then if you hit the correct shots to progress to phase two, you see the clip where both characters switch hands. [The game plays the clip saying,] 'There is something I ought to tell you. I'm not left-handed either,' and then we disable the left side buttons and force you to switch to the buttons on the right side. It's a great moment in the film that we translated directly into gameplay."
Photo courtesy of Multimorphic, Inc.
The Princess Bride pinball game is available in a range of configurations and price points to suit both existing P3 owners and new buyers, with prices ranging from $3,750 for the Standard Game Kit to $13,750 for the ultimate Collector's Edition.
The Collector's Edition, designed for the most dedicated fans of the film, boasts an array of exclusive features, including replica Inigo Montoya swords mounted on the cabinet, bronze powder-coated hardware, a custom backbox display glass, a numbered plaque, and a signed certificate of authenticity.
Pre-orders for The Princess Bride pinball game are now open at multimorphic.com, with production set to begin this summer.
Photo courtesy of Multimorphic, Inc.
This Round Rock-made game does a lot more than slap themed artwork on its sides.