Carthage, MO
Quoted from Chambahz:It's really too bad that Stern wouldn't sell a mod/upgrade kit in the future. For example, 3 plastic "$" to replace the Thunderstruck Lightning Bolts, and you could remove Thunderstruck from the playlist, and replace it with "Money Talks".
(I'm not sure I like Money Talks more than Thunderstruck, but you get the idea)
Optional song upgrades and a few goofy plastics/toys to change on the PF for $300, for example.
The moving band in the top right side... that could be swapped out and upgraded in a number of ways. Replace it with the truck from Maximum Overdrive (goblin faced Mac truck I think), and have "Who Made Who" on the soundtrack. Drive up the ramp and you get a truck horn blaring, just like the train on the other side.
Again, if there's money in it for Stern, why not? How many collectors wouldn't pay another chunk of change for an upgrade like this?
Yet another example: the lower playfield. TONS of room for improvement there and I would expect it wouldn't be a terribly difficult swap-out for a new one (though the shape is already committed). Who wouldn't pay another $300-400 to change that?
A new cannon mod. Nuff said.
A new after-market division designed and sold by Stern is in order! Let's give them more money!!!
Chambahz,
That's actually a very interesting concept. I would be interested. I think at the end of the day there are probably some hardware issues with the capacity of the chips and such. From everything I have read through the forum they are maxed out on the ram. So unless there is some leap forward in that I think we are where we are.
Also licensing is a big part of it. At the end of the day I'm sure the band only approved so many songs for a certain amount of money. Add more songs; add more royalties. This may be cost prohibited from Sterns side of things. The royalty cost may outweigh the profit margin.
And I don't think we should even discuss how you keep everyone happy out there. 200 people want Who made Who, 100 people want Big Balls, 100 want money talks and so on.
I do think with the sales numbers of Pre and LE pins on the AC/DC runs this is the machine that stands the best chance for trying something new like this.
I think Ben Heck is headed that way with the Zombie pin. Some custom items that you pick and add to the machine. If Stern did a non licensed theme this would probably be more of a reality but the licensing and royalty issues with the themed pins I believe kills the idea.
I still think its a great idea.
Just my 2 cents in a sea of loose change.
chris
