And Zen Pinball’s next licensing boondoggle is…not even a licensing boondoggle!

The last pinball table from Zen Studios was yet another superhero table called Venom. I don’t know why it was called that because it was about a black Spider-Man. It was fine, I guess. Certainly better than the original red Spider-Man table. This latest table even had a red Spider-Man in a little table under the main table. Who can keep track of the different colors of Spider-Men? And who cares about them anyway? I’d have almost preferred another Star Wars table. Okay, maybe not. I can’t imagine there’s anything Star Wars themed left. I suppose you could have an Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru table about moisture farming on Tatooine. Don’t think I wouldn’t play the hell out of that.

But I’m delighted to hear that Zen’s next tables, as part of a two-pack called Iron & Steel, aren’t superheroes or Star Wars themes. They are entirely unlicesed! One is a Western table called Wild West Rampage and the other is a Medieval table called Castlestorm. Granted, Castlestorm is based on Zen’s Castlestorm games, but does it count as a license if pretty much no one knows the source material?*

From the developer’s blog:

The Wild West Rampage table stars Cindy, a bold bounty hunter who arrives in the western town of Rackton Point with a bone to pick with the town’s crooked Sheriff Evans. Cindy has her sights aimed on defeating his men and ruining their crooked plans to control the town, but it definitely won’t be easy to loosen Evans’ stranglehold. Hit the trail and experience an exciting Western-inspired playfield complete with a rolling 3D steam engine, swinging saloon doors, a six-shooter ball locker, and duels with members of Sheriff Evans’ posse!

You might think Iron & Steel is an odd name for a Western and Medieval theme. The steel makes sense because swords, but iron? Shouldn’t it be lead because of bullets? Lead & Steel? Zen points out that six-shooters are made of iron. I’ll have to take their word on that. Either way, don’t think I won’t play the hell out of these.

The Iron & Steel Pack will be out February 25 and 26 for every single Zen Pinball platform except the Wii U. Zen promises news of a Wii U release later.

* By the way, Castlestorm is actually pretty good as same-couch multiplayer tower defense slash Angry Birds game.