I think the real winners may be the original MM owners, actually.

But yeah, this was sort of inevitable, I suppose. I don't mean to bust up the Love Fest, but did the people who pre-ordered MMR's all those months ago have "Built by Stern" in mind when they put down their money?

Anyway, more pinball machines built is good for everyone, so hopefully this all goes well and everyone is happy!

LOL @ the thumbs-downers! Sorry, I should've just showered unconditional praise and glory and called this "Epic" then I could be one of the Good Guys and get all the Thumbs Ups! How dare anyone actually say what they're thinking!

Been too busy for Pinside in the past few months, but good to see the gang mentality hasn't changed!

It's because I've had (and continue to find) assembly and manufacturing problems with Sterns, and I've been unboxing them for many years. My point was simply that I doubted many of the people pre-ordering MMR's all those months ago envisioned Stern building them. It's actually just more of a statement. I think pre-orderers liked the idea of a new company, new machines, new manufacturing process... maybe even slower with a little more care involved.

But yes, I do understand completely. I can see through Pinside opinions like Invisiglass. I'm getting Thumbs Down from people who have MMR's on order. That's Pinside. Owners protect their investments with their opinions and Thumb-Ups and Thumb-Downs, desperately hoping reality won't factor in.

The reality is that owners of original MM's are having a GREAT day and are walking around with a little more of a hop in their step!

Ugh! Really? I should go through and list every assembly and QC problem I've ever had with Stern machines? This is the place for that, you think?

Obviously they tried to avoid using Stern, but had no other feasible choice at the moment. That's fine, but like I said, I don't think most people who pre-ordered their MMR's hoped they'd be built by Stern, regardless of what they're saying now.

Originally, everyone sort of thought MMR's would be assembled slowly by a small group in a new large warehouse, a new way of manufacturing, maybe a little more care involved, since it was a new pinball company after all. Premium manufacturing on a small scale. I found that idea exciting, actually. Something about Stern building Medieval Madness just seems wrong, but like I said in my first post: more pinball machines being built is always good, and I hope everyone who pays for one gets exactly what they want and are overjoyed!

Original pre-orderers are not necessarily the pre-orderers now. That was sort of the whole point of the statement, actually. LOL

What are you even talking about? LOL It was an observation!!

So basically, since you're saying it was so "dumb and FUDish" an opinion, that all the original pre-orders from Expo not only hoped that Stern would be building MMR but that they fully expected Stern to build them? Funny, because I don't remember anyone hoping for that or even thinking it was a viable option back then!!

Ok, so you obviously assumed that Stern would be building them when you pre-ordered?

Not upset at all, actually, and nowhere did I say I was. I just didn't jump for joy and call it EPIC!!! EPIC!!! So that essentially equates to pure and unadulterated hatred of Stern, right? LOL

I never said it was a horrible idea. Never. I don't see the point of going through and listing all the problems I've had with Stern's QC over the years, especially to someone who has a baited agenda and cannot read and comprehend all that well.

I only said something about it just seems 'wrong.' But even that I say tongue-in-cheek. Ironic would also apply. Epic would not, and that's just my opinion.

Actually, I think more people believed JJP would be building them than Stern. But again, most did not think this.

Slower does not equal stupid. The build of WOZ is all I have to go by, but it's a rock solid aircraft-quality build compared to some Stern stuff I've received. Just as a fast build does not equal great, my XM LE could attest to that (wherever it is!).

LOL I wanted my playfield cured and aged in oak barrels in the mountains of Tennessee!

But yes, actually. Stern is all about getting the product out as quick as possible, ready or not, problems or not, software or not, QC or not, get them out and sell them! That's just their reputation. I do understand not all of those will apply because the parts, design and software are done. But instead of "EPIC!!!" my reaction is more like a shoulder shrug "Guess that's really the only option." And obviously it is, right now.

Pinball machines are never perfect, sure. I can only speak from experience. My WOZ has been perfect, no issues at all, and simply feels more solidly built out of the box than any of the Sterns. Again, not talking board design or things like that, simply build/assembly quality. The stuff I saw on my XM LE left a bitter taste, seeing the way it was butchered in assembly and sent out non-functional after they basically drilled so many holes in Wolverine they had to leave it askew and inoperable. Yes, partly a crap design, but also shoddy assembly and a "throw up my hands cause I give up" before they boxed it up the way it was. Back to my original post, I was sort of hoping MMR would not be built by the workers who made my Wolverine look like he got shot with an Uzi. That is all. I know, I know..."Epic" was the only appropriate response to this thread.

I acknowledged the design problem, but hey, I fixed it and made it work. And I'm buying it, not making a career of assembling them. It was crap assembly and QC in addition to crap design. And yes, I fully acknowledge all pinball manufacturers will always box up problematic machines.

This still feels very "Wndows on a Mac" though, and like I said, I guess I'm just disappointed the world doesn't have one more pinball manufacturer than it did yesterday. But hey, good for Stern and good for anxious buyers who will get their machines soon.

That's not what I said.

Since everyone is pointing out that Stern is merely the "assembler," what items would Stern actually manufacture in their factory on their own machines, apart from wiring harnesses? I'm assuming most everything else is made by separate vendors and delivered for assembly, much in the way that MMR's parts will be.

Really? They design their games?

And you mean to tell me that Stern didn't design MM or MMR? *Mind blown* Are you sure??

Sorry, just messing with you, but your post answers absolutely nothing about what I asked.

Again, I'm simply asking for clarification as to what exactly does Stern manufacture in their factory for their pinball machines, since it appears most everything besides their harnesses are made off-site by vendors and delivered for assembly.

Will Stern make MMR's wiring harnesses, as it appears they have skilled harness makers and are setup to make those as cost effectively as anywhere else?

This thread actually morphed into something interesting when we attempt to define and differentiate 'assemble' and 'manufacture,' as they relate to modern pinball machines.

Thanks! Then you can't answer my question.

They design them? Really? LOL And you're also going to inform us that they make their own harnesses when I stated that within in the question.

"Makes" the assemblies. They actually manufacture the assemblies themselves? They aren't done by an outside vendor?

I'm honestly just curious. So many have corrected others in this thread "No, no. Stern is not manufacturing MMR, only assembling it." Once a game is designed and the parts are all sent off for manufacture off-site, it appears that Stern simply assembles their own machines. So just wondering why everyone drew such a fine line between "manufacture" and "assemble" with regard to MMR.

And PLEASE for the love of Harry Williams, no more "Ummmm you do know that Stern did not design MM, right?" Or "Stern actually designs their machines" "Stern designs their parts" and all these other nuggets of wisdom which are already obviously known and have nothing to do with the question. I can see a few people are taking offense to the question. LOL It's just a question, and I'm just curious if anything for their machines other than the harnesses are actually manufactured in Stern's factory.

The other question was whether or not Stern would be making the MMR harnesses? Seems like a good idea if they're doing the assembly, it won't be much different than running one of their own games, if at all.