Quoted from xTheBlackKnightx:No issues with advancements in technology.
However, the difference between the past (>15 years ago at the dawn of "modern age of pinball") and today is five primary areas and quite profound:
One, the logic and design was made available by the manufacturers upfront with the release of the game titles (this included Stern!)
Two, the parts were still available in quantity for more than 10 years, not five years (or less in some cases), if a manufacturer remained in business.
Three, larger pools of qualified technicians were available to repair games based on an operator involvement.
Four, boards in many cases were interchangeable even between different systems or logic design was not radically different, but improved.
Five, dedicated test kits were issued to diagnose problems.
There can no comparison from the leap of electromechanical to solid state electronics (1976) because the systems are uncomparable based on a complete concept of design.
Present Stern (and other manufacturers using similar SMD technology) games have become only two steps away from a home model machine similar to what has been attempted repeatedly in the past at the earliest days of solid state design, notably cheap and disposable. The SPIKE system specifically is a modification of the board designs Stern used for their "The Pin" homemodel games.
This controller design went BACKWARDS from SAM and WhiteStar board designs in attempts to further reduce costs with no added benefit to consumers or operators. There was no noticeable advancement and improvements or any robust nature of RSD (Reliability-Serviceability-Durability) of games, and everything that was provided as a "benefit" in reality was smoke and mirror marketing.
I agree with you, and you have vastly more knowledge on the specifics than me, but the reality for me is that Stern, for now, is what the advancement of pinball tech is (although I have hope in the many upcoming companies that there are to change this). I hope that tech becomes less disposable and more user fixable, but that is not reality...as is with almost all technology today. In 20 years...I hope it is different, but then again...in 20 years, I won’t care, I won’t be here. I will enjoy what there is now.
Alton, IA
Rockland, ON
