So I guess no $10k by Xmas since it's coming out sooner?

So speculation. What if the game turns out to be - mostly BDK - rethemed (like mostly dead from Princess Bride). New artwork, same crane, Joker can goes away and replaced with a Bat TV, and path of the dead becomes just a ramp with diverter.

The new LCD is JJP like, and all the sounds and movie scene sequences are taken from the slot machine Joe K. worked on (remember dude who helps JJP worked on casino slots too). Game cabinet design taken from Raw Thrills design. Special "video modes" from slot machine.

It could be a cool frankenstein built pinball machine with bells and whistles. But the pinball game layout could still be similar.

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Check the 4:00 minute mark. Sort of cool sequence if they incorporate in game.

Man you can lose a shit load of money in 3 minutes on a video slot.

I sincerely hope you're both right.

My speculation (no inside info at all) is if all new design - why the crane toy? Taking a step back, it's not an all new design if you're announcing the same crane toy will be in it. Why even mention the crane if it's new?

Regardless, I'm very intrigued to see the pics of this game. Hoping it's unbatlievable

There's a Superfriends LE announced? I love me Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and the Legion of Doom! Sign me up!

Good memory. I made it 700 posts ago. But I think he delivered it better.

I'm just bummed the teeter tawter ramp was not mentioned in the flier as being included.

I would hope instead of six nobodies at the drop targets they would have included the Egghead (Vincent Price). Whether real or not, Vincent Price should be on any BM66 game before King Tut.

Cesar and Burgess.

Vincent Price still should be in the game over Tut.

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Ok, raise your hands. How many of you wanked off to that episode with Batgirl chained up? Or Batgirl from the show in general. So pointy Batman.

And the other side of that coin was Badbilly who bought AVLE, XMENLE and then said I'm done NIB!!

Love my HOU AC/DC premium & HOU TWDLE though with Met Premium on the way. I've opted to wait based on past stumbles.

But love this theme!

I'm glad you posted this. Not sure if everyone has been tracking this at home, Stern implemented MAP pricing which also made buyers prices go up.

As I understand it, some disti's were taking a smaller margin on games and selling on volume to make their money. Some other disti's (who were losing business) complained, and Stern responded by setting a firm floor pricing for all disti's with penalties for anyone who sells below. Also known as Minimum Advertised Price (MAP).

MAP exists in other businesses to (i.e. Bose speakers). It's meant to:
- Promote fair competition across all distribution channels
- Maintain brand identity and value
- Allow smaller sellers to compete with larger retailers
- Prevent underpricing
- Protect seller margins

If you're going to institute MAP pricing then why does a call have to be made to find out pricing?? You've already set a floor on pricing! If disti's are trying to charge more than the floor, let them compete with each other and tell us why their warranty, service, etc deserves a premium over the MAP pricing.

Feels like an FU to buyers every step of the way. Net-net our prices went up by this move and we still have to "call around" in order to see who's closest to the floor pricing (feels like car buying). Really starting to turn me off how these pricing changes (and not sharing pricing info on Batman 66) don't reflect costs or improved products, but rather a money grab at the detriment of buyers. The crazy thing is, I don't see an end in sight because the community keeps buying at the higher prices.

Thank you mam may I have another? Anyone want to build a TrueCar service for the pinball hobby?

MAP stands for Minimum Advertised Price. Advertised. So then why can't disti's advertise their prices? Why can't we get an email or PM with pricing from a disti but instead have to call around? It's the age of the internet and Stern is forcing customers to call disti's to find the best prices when MAP is already in place. With other products where MAP exists, you can find disti's advertising (yes online) and competing on service, warranty, and other things to earn your business. Why the secret squirrel here if MAP is being enforced?

No argument here if that's your preference. Makes sense. Why is pricing such a secret then? If a disti is that good with service & warranty, let them advertise that with their price. $5K base game + $2K for service. Instead of car buying?

I think all of the above. Hard to buy a game when you have no clue if you'll get it this year, next year, or two years from now.

I will also add that I think Balcer missed on his design x2. If the play field shots were better this game would sell for all reasons listed. No offense to Balcer, but not a fan of his recent game designs. It always puzzles me why Jack went Balcer as his main designer when the free agent market talent was out there.

Now flip the coin over to see the other side.

I was at league night a week ago and host was having his game updated to latest code. Person who updated game started pointing out all the new strategy elements and new modes. Played it. Three people who thought game was crap now are impressed and in market for one. I'm one of the three.

Opinions are like a holes, we all have one. I'm just glad I'm open minded enough to have given the game another chance. Intrigued, we'll see.

Maybe like SC or slugfest, Batman 66 will spit out collector cards.

I still think a Pokemon pin with that could be fun. Pikachu!!

Thread is intended to fuel hype machine & drive up disti pricing. It's taken some cool turns in discussion though.

Real info being shared is scarce. Sort of like Stern Facebook dropping useless teasers that frustrate rather than excite.

Here's a free marketing tip Stern. There's a way to do a teaser campaign that continues to build excitement until final reveal without making your customers feel like idiots. What your marketing team is doing is creating some angst and frustration. Yup, your social media impact appears to be growing, but is it positive brand impressions?

If you want "seasoned" marketing advice to help guide your young marketing team, drop me a line. I'll be happy to be on your "Marketing Advisory Board" free of charge. Need to add some consultatory advisory boards to my resume anyway.

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Michelle-Pfeiffer-Anne-Hathaway-Who-Better-Catwoman-32092.html

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The Dark Knight Rises isn't a bad movie by any means. Just when I started to like Christian Bale they turn to Afflack! (in a goose voice). Hathaway had her moments in the movie. I actually like her as an actress and was so so on her in Batman. But, she fits the costume really well, especially when driving the bat motorcycle. She did ok.

Pfeiffer was just plain hot and nuts in Batman Returns. Loved her! I was very disappointed when they announced Hale Berry was playing Catwoman in her own movie because Pfeiffer said she loved the part so much she was hoping for it's own movie right after Returns came out. Halle Berry is hot in her own right, but that movie was a train wreck. She makes a better Storm.

So not trying to be negative but based on limited info, we should also acknowledge what if it was:

1. Center ramp shot like Costco edition (1st ramp)
2. To right of center ramp it feeds new ramp that crosses over (2nd ramp).
3. Where Joker is standing, he's replaced with a bat computer (LED screen)

If this is the new layout, would Batman 66 owners be excited? Fair question, because right now no one knows.

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What could be very cool is if they added a ramp like in BF that goes by flippers.

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That's actually not bad artwork for backless or cabinet.

Back to what I posted awhile back in this thread. They have a lot of young marketing people on staff that are pushing social media impressions. What their failing on is are they positive impressions. They don't realize in execution they're upsetting customers - seemingly treating them like idiots.

They need to balance the young marketing creative ideas with seasoned marketing know how. Balance Daniel-son.

Stern will also be offering extra chances to get a SLE in the form of raffle tickets. You can buy them for $300 each (30 years x 10), limited to 30 (30 years), available to the top 30 people (30 years) they select who come to the Expo party dressed as their favorite Batman 66 character. You will still have to pay for your SLE if selected.

I can see the halls of the Westin now.....

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At 3:00am in Westin hallway.....

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hmm...

Or Princess Bride. Is it "inconceivable"?

And now NIB MET Premiums are $6500-$6700. These are quoted prices from this month!

Agree on SW love fest and "take my money" chants. Unreal people are already lining up for that one based on title alone.

They may do a SLE for Star Wars. Honestly, I think they may be nuts not to (I don't like this model btw). There are SOO many crazy Star Wars fans that still to this day pay more for collectible figures with a painting variance. A pinball machine signed by Mark Hamill and the original cast with special Rebel Alliance plaques. $$$$$$ print it up if only 30 made.

Now I do expect a Pro, Premium, and regular LE. But a SLE with something super special for only 30 pins for die hard "friends", sadly I see as a possibility.

I took it as Neo being clever as well.

This and also what Neo stated earlier in this thread. The action figure market had a similar reaction. People collected action figures because they were cool, unique and some became rare because of it's lack of popularity or low production numbers. When toy companies noticed, they started mass re-producing the original figures (i.e. Planetary) and inserting themselves into the collectible market to "create" collectibles. It worked for a time. After original remakes, then came variants, different packaging, numbered with collector cards - people just started buying because of hype on "possible rarity". Then the bottom fell out. Why? Everyone realized they weren't rare, it was artificial. Plus, too many rare variants, people started running out of disposable money to spend on figures and "everything" was "a rare collectible". Comic books hit the same rise and fall - too many variants.

Money grab by manufacturers. Good small ball, bad for the long game. Stern is headed down the same path. Gomez has a toy background, history repeats. CFO has a collectible card background, history repeats. Learn don't repeat. Cash today won't be there tomorrow.

I'll give Gary a lot of credit where others won't. He kept the lights on. He kept producing. He stayed with DMD design while everyone complained but kept things going. Enter new outside investors - now cost cutting. That's ok if tech innovation, less parts. But no playfield rails, apparently switching vendors and in turn creating quality control issues, shakers removed from premium/LEs, etc.. You're letting the new investor direct you too far from your vision, your name, your legacy just for the bottom line. You don't need to apologize for trying to create more revenue/profitability. But there's a right way - the way Stern was built - and the wrong way, trying to create dollars instead of pinball machines to amuse.

We are our own worst enemies. Just like in action figure and comic industry - keep buying. It' not if, it's going to burst. I don't want to see Stern crash when it does.

They would be smart to use Batman66 and all this market feedback on pricing, quality, and misguided marketing messaging to correct their course for the next title. They have enough feedback on price ceiling - we've hit it. I don't care if Batman66 sells out, the so called-whiners, are the ones also buying your games (premium and pro) and now being priced out. Learn from other industries before it's too late.

Agreed! But NIB prices for MET PRO went from $4600 to $5K street price, from Feb to July. $400 hike. Ouch! Still, great game.

Respectfully, I get tired of reading/hearing this statement. Even Stern employees will say this if you get them off to the side and talk. Everyone needs to stop minimizing feedback.

Go to ESPN or any other website with social message boards and you'll have debates - pro and con on everything! Like to remind you, even back in the day of America's founding fathers - they didn't have social media but they had assembly halls where there were always public debates on everything. Ancient Greece, the same! That's life people. You don't like to hear complaining then stay in your game room and don't come online. Debate has been part of history since the beginning.

I've seen MANY threads on pinside where the community has rejoiced over completed code (MET, TWD, and even that they released some AVG not too long ago), new releases (GB has been very well received until issues), new companies and products. Hell, even charity movements have graced these pages. Many of those threads, I saw a "pleasing Pinside".

I've stepped away from some threads that get irrational and too negative with no constructive suggestions - to me. I suggest some of you do the same. But for those that care to continue to assemble, debate on. You're not whining, you're voicing your opinion.

Respectfully, you're also missing the part where it coincided with the recession impacting all american businesses. No romanticizing, the investor was necessary to help Stern get through tough times like many other businesses required.

Since neither of us had a seat in Stern's conference room to review financials and which decisions led to what outcomes, let's neither of us pretend we know more than anyone else in this thread. Investor seemed to help Stern. But Gary has years of industry experience manufacturing games. That counts for more than you're willing to give him credit for.

Kudos for the early release of pics. My first impressions:

- If they kept pricing at pro/premium/LE levels I'd be more interested in possibly jumping in on theme alone. I'm out at this pricing.
- I like the art package - captures the theme well
- Very happy to see LCD in Stern game
- The play field is roughly what I guessed at about 300 posts ago. Disappointed, as it seems minimal change - although flow looks greatly improved. Will hold judgement until after playing and seeing if code has been altered as well.
- Topper is cool and bat symbol projection is nice touch. However, am I the only one with low ceilings where that effect will be lost? Still, love the innovation attempt.

The biggest disappointment is the SLE, LE and premium designation with higher pricing. From first glance, premium would be the only way to go on this game as the upgrades look meh. Unless, something not yet revealed we are missing.

For SLE and LE buyers, ignore our comments. Enjoy the game!

I think you just pointed out one main difference in LE and premium.

LE no spinner. TV mounts above and targets with magnet below.

Premium no playfield LCD TV, spinner with magnet.

Guessing they had to hide the camal toe in the original picture.

Just back from Vegas Tuesday. Batman slot never pays out. A real shame that between three of us - 2.00 was highest payout.

I was at Expo, here's my quick take:

- SLE cabinet looks very cool in person. In fact, best cabinet I've ever seen - sorry Jpop Artwork, pin striping just excellent job.
- SLE speaker grill, backglass and topper thumbs up (really need after market of this for LE and premium)
- Playfield layout - ouch. It's BDK. Yes, there should be some flow because tumbler gone and path of the dead - should speed game up. So those are both pluses. I was disappointed at the new spinning can replacement. In this one case, pics look better than it does in person.
- LCD looks like the perfect size going forward for all Stern games.
- Only in attract mode.

I'm a Batman 66 fan, but play field reinforces - FOR ME - have to wait. That play field looks so sparse in person. Code and LCD are gonna have to rock to justify an even aftermarket purchase for me. I really hope it becomes something special.

Talking to people who are not pinheads, showed them play fields on Batman66 then WOZ, Hobbit and Dialed In and they said Batman66 was the lower priced of the four.