Quoted from rai:I’m going to lay some opinion down.
While we can love the BOM and assets on GnR, TH, Potc. The fact is that doesn’t guarantee a big seller and you can end up with a Potc or TH or Wonka or DI that doesn’t sell fantastical. Sure you’ll hit a GnR nerve and perhaps people will be clamoring for the CE and LE. But you’re not guaranteed of a sell out on every big BOM pin.
Stern imo hedges their bets by spending modestly in time and BOM and so if a pin happens to sell weaker like Mustang or The Avengers, WWE and XM etc they’re on to Cincinnati. They can brush it off. But a better seller might be made off and on for a number of years. The cream rises to the top. JJP can be crippled by a combination of high quality high BOM and low selling pin like Potc.
It’s like throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks.
All valid points, but I'd simplify it by saying it's all about the license and margins. I don't think the average customer thinks much about the BOM. They focus on the license, cost, and availability. Since I just heard Gary say they build 65 games a day, Stern games are the most available. I'm fairly certain they have higher margins than JJP, but since they are private companies, they don't report such things. Lastly, they've done pretty well with licensing. It's just too bad Stern isn't more selective with licensees...if the licensee doesn't engage and cough up assets, it would be better to sometimes walk away (rather than produce a substandard game). I think JJP's GNR will do well because the licensee was so involved and GNR is still a touring, relevant band. OTOH, LZ wasn't as involved (understatement
and they aren't touring/relevant in today's music scene. I love the band, but disappointed in what they produced. Will wait to play it...maybe it will shine, who knows? JJP's decision to redo Pirates was odd...it's too bad that wasn't Toy Story. Toy Story is a timeless license...hopefully it's next up.
Jupiter, FL
