Quoted from Rarehero:No ones forcing me to buy anything...but clearly I'm a potential customer who used to buy these games and now won't. I'm not the only one.
Rare I respect you and your post and with no intended offense I think you need to lower your expectations a little. Quality has gone down on occasion and price has gone up, but how many times do we need to hear that you have not bought or supported Stern since Metallica. It is starting to sound like a broken record, and makes you look like a Stern hater(which I know you are not).
I guess my point is I think you need to relax a little and be thankful pinball is back in the spotlight and you have choices to buy from multiple companies. I got frustrated at Stern's money grabbing Batman 66 game release and it put a bad taste in my mouth, but I got over it quickly. I got a bad taste in my mouth when Rick with PPS started flapping his mouth at fellow pinsider's about coin mechs, etc., but I got over it and bought a MMR.
Stern has been behind the eight ball since their move and they may have rushed out machines or cut and pasted design elements to make a production schedule deadline, but they are still turning out decent, fun games imo. The only games Stern has made that I do not care for are WWF, and Batman 66 (Mainly because I am not into theme). All of Sterns other games made since Metallica are fun games.
You can argue all day long until you are blue in the face trying to convince other people not to buy "Stern Crap" because lack of code or imperfections, or bad design, etc. I think you are wasting your breath, because Pinsiders make up maybe 5-10% of the overall potential pinball buyers. This ideology of 'If we all take a stance and don't buy-Stern will learn a lesson and make improvements' is a pipe dream. Sorry but Stern is up 40% in last two years and doing very well, they take suggestions into consideration, but they will maintain their 3 title a year release regardless of production delays.
I have been very happy with all of my recent NIB Stern pinball machine purchases and I am thankful that I am in the position to be able to afford them and I am thankful that Stern is still in business making great machines.
I am not a Stern Fanboy, just a dedicated pinhead who loves pinball and wants it to thrive.
Yes it's important to have this conversation, but it does get old after the 100 time of reiteration(Again Broken Record)
Time to dive back in Rare and buy some new Sterns-they are a blast!
Lower your expectations and be thankful....
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