Quoted from jawjaw:

So if I don't drive around town every weekend, playing all the location games, it will die? Pinball is supposed to be fun and not a job. If Stern cannot sell machines, that is their problem not mine. I am not going to buy a $6000-$8000 pin just to keep the hobby alive. Once in a while, I will play a pin on location but more often than not I have better things to do like life. If pinball cannot survive than so be it. Life will go on.

Quoted from Rarehero:

Disagree...there are all different kinds of enthusiasts...but us super hardcore hardcores? We alone cannot make a dent in location pinball as a business. When I go to a barcade like 82 - there are a TON of people there...and as far as I can tell, 99% of them are "normal" people who'd never have one of these things in their home...they just want to go out and have a good time. The location itself that uses pinball as part of its experience is what is needed for pinball to thrive on location. Cultivating that is up to businesses & Stern. They do their jobs right, people will flock to it. A few of us hardcore pin maniacs making a point to spend a few bucks a week won't make a dent. It's the "normal" people who will save pinball on location!

Quoted from Rarehero:

Well, that's fantastic and I wish you luck if that's how you chose to spend your time. However, don't put the burden of this task on every one of us. It's not my job. We're all allowed to enjoy pinball however we choose without getting guilt tripped about it.

Quoted from pinworthy:

The INDUSTRY needs how to figure out how to be profitable, that includes the pin makers and the operators ... it is their issue not ours. We will support the industry, each in our own way, and as the builders/operators find ways to engage the customer base at a level that makes it appealing then new players will join or old players will be retained. If you can find value in purchasing NIB or spending time at a barcade/arcade good for you but it is NOT our responsibility or duty to buy new machines or play on location. The INDUSTRY grows or dies by its own hands.
Half way between industry and hobby is the group collecting/selling/swapping the newest pinball machines as a business/hobby (profit over play). It certainly appears to have a strong following and would suffer if manufacturing ceases/weakens but I have no interest in that aspect. (see* below)
A real HOBBY is different and the lack of new manufacturers or locations might hurt a group within the hobby (see above) but would not kill the hobby itself. The loss of manufacturing will have the indirect consequence of increased prices for older pins but if new machines are built and continue to climb in price the same thing will happen to the older machines anyway. (see * below)
There are many ways to define the way we choose to participate in the hobby. I have a collection of pinball machines but I’m not a “collector”, I’m a player/owner and playing is the best part. There are collectors who gather a large collection and play a little but the collection is the best part. There are some who can manage both but not me. (see * below)
The tournament aspect is a unique segment that DOES require nurturing and growth to sustain and I fully support those who go above and beyond to assure they, and others, will be able to participate but I don’t compete so it truly isn’t my issue (see * below)
I support conventions and gatherings of owners and players as a great way to keep the hobby mainstream, if the industry wants a part of the action then they should sponsor these events at higher financial levels so it is more affordable for the general public which in turn would encourage newcomers.
* If Stern (and/or all pin makers) locked the doors tomorrow and all the locations closed down I would still have a hobby and I would still find machines to own, maintain and play for years to come because there are tens of thousands out there. I realize that it doesn't work for everybody but for me a hobby doesn't require widespread or mainstream acceptance or growth. I guess it is selfish of me but I got into owning pins for me, not for “the greater good” of pinball. I do enjoy sharing my interest with others and would never discourage ownership or location play (quite the opposite). That said should there come a day when I can’t play pinball … life will go on (or it has already stopped going on ).

Quoted from pinworthy:

Not much on reading comprehension? Where did I say I was content to play alone?? I said I got into ownership so I had my own machines to play (yes mostly due to limited locations near me) not because of some notion that I'm saving the hobby. I play on location whenever I am back home in CO but I do it because I like to play not because I'm trying to "save pinball". The location owners better treat me well ... good maintenance and fair prices ... or I will stop going. I will choose to spend my money wisely not piss it away because "pinball deserves to survive".
Again I said that if no new machines were built I would be able to find machines to own and maintain for years because there are TENS of THOUSANDS out there in the world as we speak ... so the notion that the hobby dies without new machines is silly. It may not meet YOUR version of the hobby but it can meet mine. I have two late model Stern but I could just as easily have bought 10 EMs or 3-4 SS etc.
I spoke about the manufacturers of new machines and arcade owners not the suppliers of replacement parts. They would likely flourish in a world without new machines because of a dependance on maintaining older machines.
"Where the passion and an ability to make a difference exists, there is an obligation to the self to be involved."
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PINBALL MACHINES not plugging the ozone layer or saving the rain forests, jump down off that pillar of self-righteousness and put that passion into something REAL not arcade games.

Quoted from jfesler:

You know, I really like this idea. I'd like to take it a step further.
Imagine (as a maker of pinball machines), sponsoring the digital game; making it effectively free to get exposure. Do this while the game is in production; while people can buy NIB. For the market segment of NIB buyers, this gives them exposure to a new game (particularly if nobody has it on route nearby). For those who aren't going to buy a game... perhaps this will help them voice interest with what few route operators are left.
I can totally see that games post-production no longer being vendor-sponsored - and having to pay for the table instead.