Quoted from swampwiz:Is there any reason why Wade has to do this, and not CPR? Wade responded to my E-mail and said that someone else has already done the artwork (which I shall presume means the bitmap file has already been set up). Is it a Gottlieb licensing thing?
I know this is an old post but I'll respond as best as I can.
There is no reason someone else, such as CPR, couldn't do this playfield. Ultimately, it comes down to the Gottlieb licensing.
What I have encountered personally, as I was behind the scenes on the Wizard playfield that was run last year, is you have to convince Robert Fesjian(who manages the Gottlieb licensing) and Steve Young(who Fesjian relies on for quality verification). Wizard was able to get that approval because it was Wade that did the playfields and glasses. That really made it easier due to his track record. It wasn't Ken convincing them of the ability to do this. And Ken and I have both known Steve for over 20 years now, so that was an easy conversation.
As for CPR doing this, it would come down to the same Gottlieb licensing. But I'm sure the cost analysis/financial aspect is even more important with them. And it has to be a title that interests them. I can only speculate, but they are going to want to do a title they are convinced will sell a minimum quantity. I don't know what that minimum threshold is but I bet it is more than 40. Who knows if Count Down is even on their radar.
The benefit of Wade doing them is that it appears he will do smaller runs. From my last conversation with him from a couple of weeks ago, summarized above, it is a financial decision for Wade as well. He would rather see a larger minimum run than has been batted around previously.
As for the art that you referred to, I believe Wade has been in contact with him and seen it. I believe it is in a format that does not translate well for what Wade needs, and may not have the level of definition that meets Wade's standards. I believe it is just the keyline art that is being discussed here, which ultimately defines the whole package. In the end, I suspect Wade will develop the artwork from scratch from a decent condition original playfield that someone will need to send him. I'm happy to strip the playfield from my game and send it to him.
In my opinion, the best we can do is find more interest in this title and then put our faith in Wade once we get to that interest threshold.
As I've noted before, tell your friends. Reach out to anyone you know that has a Count Down that might be interested in a repro playfield and get them to show that interest here if they haven't already.