Hmm. I wish I could say I was excited about that, but if they're really doing 3 more games in 6 months it's hard to see how they're going to get the attention the need.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

I'd rather have choices as opposed to waiting and waiting for someone else to make something.

And the interesting part that they have a title coming out that no one has guessed yet.
Pretty crazy with all the wild speculation going on about new titles.

I'd rather pick from 3 fully baked games than 6 half baked ones is I guess what I'm saying. Hey, I'm not going to judge a single product before I see it. I'm happy to be surprised. But Stern hasn't exactly been killing it lately with being on top of the code of games at release, increasing their output doesn't really fill me with a lot of hope there.

If I'm wrong and I love the games then I'll be pondering what to sell to get one, don't get me wrong. But I'm personally not wavering from my commitment to never buy another half finished game again. Code, nicely done, or no sale, period. No dream theme will change my mind.

I am hopeful that Ritchie's next game is going to be an interesting one to watch, it's had a lot of time to be given the attention it needs. Maybe that will represent a turning point for Stern. I hope so!

Based on the interview, I'm guessing the new title is "Um".

I heard "um" so many times from the two of them in that interview, I thought I was going to go crazy if I heard it one more time.

I guess...um...they...um...had to be careful to...um...not go off...um...Gary's script and...um...not say something that would...um...get them canned.

At the peak of Bally/Williams, how many different tables would they release a year? Anyone know?

In 1955 Williams released 14 titles.

I'm guessing its a Vault game over the summer and Ritchie's game around Expo.

That'd be my guess as well.

ding ding ding!!

Target date for next new game (non VE) is Sept 2nd.

I'd still rather have more output (more choices) vs. some type of hopeful thinking that having fewer pins released per year means fully complete code on release.

Here's a shocker: it ain't going to happen. Ever.

JJP didn't have anywhere close to complete code when WoZ was released (despite declarations to the contrary well before the pin was released). Hobbit won't be "complete" on release either.

DP has already stated that the code for TBL will also not be complete on release.

It's a matter of degree, obviously, and I think Stern *has* done better on code updates lately. We know for a fact that they have hired more programmers, including Dwight Sullivan, so they should be able to keep up with one additional game released this year.

I admit that I am surprised by this announcement though. We've had WWE, WNBJM, and KISS announced so far this year, so I expected one more title to be announced before the end of the year. Then again, KISS seems to have been announced early and it would be unusual to only announce one pin in a six month period.

And they said it was stuff that no one has guessed yet
So keep guessing boys

Yes, but they already seem to have the problem of incomplete releases with slow updates on a 2 game per year schedule... Throw two more releases in there without increasing the programming staff by an order of magnitude, and one of two things happens.

1... all games get updated even slower than now
2... any game that isn't strong out of the gate gets pushed to the back and possibly never done.

I'm not buying half baked stuff. I bought Metallica in January and just bought Star Trek. I don't want to be sick of looking at a game by the time its right.

Also judging by what he said about pre-order and crowdfunding he's definitely on Pinside.

Guess #1 Guardians of the Galaxy

Guess #2 Iron Maiden

PS: Since he's reading this, I like to say he sucks at marketing, he's lucky to get Jared.

Jody helped secure Tron & Metallica licensing which have done great to market and promote pinball. There is a lot more to marketing than updating a facebook page and he said in his interview he was short staffed.

Actually I think you're wrong. Stern isn't stupid, they get the outcry, and they're working on it. But it's not the kind of thing you can just switch overnight.

Everyone at Stern is reading Pinside, don't think they aren't. They just don't post. Ritchie, Lyman, Jody, Lonnie, etc etc.

That's honestly why I sold Star Trek. I still have issues with the current code, but it's much better than the launch code. It's just that by the time it was out it was too late, I was over the game. I could rekindle the magic. Buying early sucks, at least for me. Never again.

You are a smart guy! I do the same thing now: wait! No need to buy on release. I waited until MET was out for a good while before buying it, and the result was that I only waited a few weeks for the major code update. Same with Mustang LE (bought HUO). Also did the same with TWD and the major update was released a week after I got the pin.

I've been very happy doing it this way, as I have very little to complain about when it comes to code on any of these pins. Made the mistake of buying STLE on release. Never again.

And like I said, Stern *is* getting better and faster with the code updates! With new programmers hired, I say bring on the extra game this year..

The longer wait you wait to buy a NIB the more money it will cost you from a distributor. Lets say you buy Kiss for $4800 today and a year from now when the code is final and more people want to buy it, it will be $5300. So there is an incentive to buy early if you wanted NIB.

Huh? Nonsense. Unless you're buying from some shady guy there's zero truth to that. Maybe it's time to get a new distributor.

How am I wrong?

How long ago was Star Trek released? That's old news by now. Look at how fast they got Mustang completed code wise! Look how good the code is on TWD already compared to the Star Trek Fiasco.

I don't know how anyone could say that those two releases haven't been a big improvement code wise.

We will see what happens with WWE and KISS.

Also, if what you say is true and Stern isn't stupid and they get the outcry, that is even more reason to believe that they are not going to release an extra pin a year if it is going to have a noticeable negative impact on their ability to deliver a solid code update in a more timely manner than in the past.

There's some truth there for me. I didn't sell, but buying in early does have its drawbacks. The funny thing is, you almost always can save money and code frustration by waiting. Not many games from the last 5 years are more on the resale market today than they were delivered NIB.

Let's say I don't... How much money will I have if I elect to pass?

Ive been quoted the same game from multiple distributors with about 6 months of time difference. Each one of them was more money for the same ST Pro then 6 months previous. If you think there is zero truth to costs increasing aka , inflation doesn't exist, im not sure what to tell you. MSRP of Kiss is $5995 and you can get from a distributor for $4800 today. Mark this post but in 12 months it will be $5200-$5300.

I finished listening to this earlier today.

Honestly, it felt like a huge PR speech about how amazing Stern is and how they continue to outshine and outsell the competition 99-to-1. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy it, but nothing I heard really blew me away.

As for the topic in question, more choices is better. Im a pass on WNBJM & WWE, Kiss is doubtful but if they have 3 more titles thats 3 more chances Stern has to make me another NIB customer.

What if the next three titles are Camaro, WNBA, and Styx?

Stern seems to rotate the type of machines they sell in a pretty good pattern in my opinion:
Music - Metallica
SciFi - Star Trek
Auto - Mustang
Gore - The Walking Dead
Entertainment - WWE
Boobs - Whoa Nellie
Music - Kiss

Not stacking up the same genre back to back. Gives the music person time to reload his bank account before the next music pin comes out.

I'm hoping for a good sports theme myself.

I don't think they ever will have a game fully baked at release. They said in the interview that one of the reasons that incomplete code is positive is that it gives time for them to receive feedback and allow programmers to receive that feedback and make for an ultumately better game. I think that's just fine. just know going in you're game will not have complete code and it will get approximately an update a quarter, and you won't be disappointed.

Forget what I said a minute ago. If they make a Guardians of the Galaxy with an Awesome Mix sound track (Steve Ritchie preferred designer) I'll probably break my pre-order vow.

However they did say that everything in the playfield will be coded at release. That's pretty good in my book. That just means updates to add depth and polishing rulesets to come after. I would say that's a great start. But we will see.

Best marketing motto ever: Code is unfinished because we are in the manufacturing business.

How does that happen on a theme that is 40+ years old?

Aurich they kinda gave you a shoutout in the interview.

There were a couple things in the show that rang false to me. Like how they played off the fact that the impetus here for Jareds hiring isn't the sustained attack that is #wheresthecode, but something Stern has had planned. If it is a full time position it's only due to that mess.

And the whole BS about interviewing lots of other companies for the job.... C'mon, they may have 'interviewed' other candidates to gauge the offerings, but are they gonna put out real cash or go with the guy that will do it for the BOM of a few machines each year.

I'm not knocking Jared's hustle here, I think he's a perfect fit and he should do a great job. It just feels like they're being a little dishonest about the situation.

Just finished listening. Did Jody really say that Stern is like a punk rock band.

"I've got a bitchen Camaro!"

Jesus, people need to cut Stern a break. All they have done is be the keeper of the flame for a decade and a half of terrible times for the hobby, and produce a buttload of games, on time and with consistent reliability. How many times do the old ops have to remind us that even the gold standard of Bally/Williams released machines with unfinished code regularly?

Enjoyed the podcast but what a difference from the prior show with Ed Robertson who was so articulate, relaxed and humble.

I'll cut them a break when they make me want to mortgage the farm to buy a new pinball machine. But $8000 for kiss?

Come on man!!!

I don't think anyone is saying Stern hasn't done amazing things for this hobby. This interview was just 2 guys repeating what Gary has already said in the past. I don't feel like anything of real substance came out of this.

Pinside is Stern's biggest critic, so consider that as well.

Trudeau and Borg just released theirs, so I'm guessing the next will be Ritchie (and then Trudeau and Borg -- in that order)

$8000 for anything is absurd. We all deserve dick kicks for what we pay - whether it be $7K for a CV or $5K for a TZ or $6300 for ACDC. $9000 for Wizard of Oz? $9000 for TBL? Burning $16K on Magic Girl? It's all relative. But Stern does not deserve the shit they get. In all honesty. Is releasing a game with unfinished code that takes a year to complete worse than taking money for a game and being 3 years late? Or being forever late? Or stealing money on lies? Or having your company leadership fall apart and refunds randomly fired out? Or folding up shop and locking the doors? Because that has happened, literally, with every other producer of games, in some form or another. But the pitchforks aren't nearly as sharp and numerous for anyone else. Something about low hanging fruit, I guess

Yeah, all these other fly by night companies are making Stern look real good right now. And they were truly the keepers of the flame while others petered out 15 years ago. And still are the ones you can count on to release and deliver new machines several times a year. But with the prices they are now charging, and some of the recent themes, I seriously wonder how long it will last.

Until the next recession.

The "mystery" pin scheduled for release later this year will have a family-friendly theme based on a book by well-known British author and illustrator of children's books, Emily Gravett.

You guys just missed the obvious clues.

again-by-emily-gravett-500.jpg

That in itself might make a good theme.

Recession pinball: Foreclosure multiball. Pink slip lane combo, Bull and Bear drop targets. Available only by pre-order through Goldman Sachs.