You're right, though Gomez has made statements that Lyman was going to do bi-weekly updates until BM66 is finished. We all know that he's certainly helping tweak Spike as necessary, and common sense dictates that he's probably doing some work on his next game as well (Elvira ?). Given the pitiful code progress, he might have done a stint in the Peace Corps as well.

I suspect Stern has been sitting on the next BM66 update waiting to release it just prior to expo, based upon rumors in other threads that GotG won't be announced then and that BM66 might be featured in some form or other. That makes me think the greedy b@$t@rds are more worried about undoing their BM66 public relations damage and setting up their next over priced boutique game, while we BM66 owner suckers have been forced to piddle around on Alpha code for a year.

Seriously, if anyone out there is considering over paying for their over priced boutique game (Elvira ?), I hope they hold off in solidarity with us BM66 suckers to send a message to Stern, or at a minimum not to take our place as the next suckers.

'..hold off in solidarity with us BM66'

Why single out Batman 66. If people would have "held off" on WOF and IJ4 we could've nipped this whole incomplete code debacle in the bud like a friggin' decade ago!

Comparing a 4k game to a,in some cases, 15k+ game is not exactly comparing apple and oranges. I definitely understand his point. #wheresthecode for the win!

People that bought a $15k BM66 are no more (or less) entitled to functional code than people that bought the standard version. Or people that bought a $4k Pro.

I was just saying that the price difference makes it so. If you buy a Nissan Mirca Vs. Lincoln MKX you would expect your perks, service and features to be different. If Gomez promised biweekly updates, then owners should expect bi-weekly updates and get put in front of the line. I'm not jealous if they do because they paid a premium for such service. Now all that is missing is that service. I'm not knocking down that everyone deserves functional code. All I'm stating his the order of priority that code should be released. And in the grand scheme of things, Lyman should not be working on anything else but BM66 at this point and at least 2 coders should work on the other games to release code in a timely fashion. Stern has essentially committed suicide with their Kapow brand. How many people that bought BM66 will buy the next Kapow title?

You mean the gold standups? that is, the standups that collect gold?
I would say its within reasoning to call them gold standups.

IDK, I think the $15k Batman guys got their perks in the form of the baseball cards or whatever. If Gomez promised biweekly code updates he should deliver, of course. Not because one version of BM66 was overpriced, but because that's what he promised.

bm66 (resized).png

The fact that the sales for BM66 seem to have been pitiful could mean that they abandon the code as not worth their time financially.

They have done that with other games so it would not surprise me at all. Avengers did not get a decent code update for years and required a huge outcry from us to get that.

If they don't finish...bye bye kapow brand line. And they can say goodbye to big spenders.

Good point, but some will still be stupid enough to pay $15000 on a Beatles Super LE.
80 super LEs at $7000 pure profit off the top is over $500k profit just for the supers.

People didn't buy WOF - that's why it went on clearance for $2400. And that being said - WOF's unfinished code is way more complex, creative, interesting & finished than what's been coming out lately.

Is IJ4 unfinished or just shitty and boring?

Stern needs to adopt the Agile framework and hire some younger folks along with a few Agile Coaches/Scrum Masters. This would clean up very quickly.

i think Stern is behind the times if they are paying more attention to the desires of randos dropping coins in bars versus the people who actually buy their games.

Much more of the latter. It's just a chop wood game on a very easy to shoot layout.

I know Gomez has a pretty good sense of humor.
Hopefully even he is laughing at that.

No... because that would mean they'd be forced to actually tow "management's" desire to only focus on games next on the production line.
Agile doesn't fix management problems... it would only highlight that nothing on the priority list gets bandwidth.

I do agree that they need to budget more developer resources ... but we've all been "told" that code was a priority when it clearly isn't. Fool me once....

'..only focus on games next on the production line.'

Even new games coming down the pike are far from finished. It's starting to be a log jam with churning out too many titles per year. Pre-Alpha code under 1.0 at launch might become the norm.

Example 8 months ago, 'I heard Dwight is busy working on SW the next title'. SW comes out. Still not done. What was he really doing for 8 full months!??

I honestly have not made it that far in the game, but definitely read about it in the wrestlemania thread, looks like the gates aren't coded to close during the final mode so the balls can't enter the ring where pin falls are needed.

If that's correct it's truely pathetic on Sterns part, honestly how difficult would that be to change/add to the code!?

It won't sell more machines, so they don't care.

However it speaks to their integrity. If true.

Bingo. If they can leave one game unfinished, they can leave any game unfinished. Even a shitty unfinished game like WWE will affect sales of cool games.

2017 has been a very good year for threads exactly the same as a million other threads but with clever clickbait titles.

Not impossible, but close to it. And that says a lot because it is already insanely difficult to do on the Pro. Issue is that both controlled gates stay up on the LE during Royal Rumble and one of the requirements to win the Intercontinental Championship is 4 pins during the MB and then a final one to complete the mode. You have to get lucky and not have the balls go all the way around and fall into the ring instead from a weaker shot or balls knocking into one another up top.

Pro has the same issue, but since there is only 1 controlled gate up top, any shots up the right ramp will drop into the ring. I've never beaten it before, I was the final pin shot away once but I couldn't get it. I don't know of anyone anywhere who has legitimately completed Royal Rumble on a Pro or LE. Then the real kicker is you have to go through everything again to light it and try to beat it again and there is no progression saved from the first attempt.

While we might not agree sometimes....you sure as hell crack me up with your posts. Yes threads like thee are a broken record but they seem to be more of them which should be a sign of something.

personally i think in this thread he is coming off like an apologist for sub-standard products.

Great post. I really can't believe the game does not save progression, it sux how you have to start back at the US title, Stern really have left this game on the shelf.

One wonders why they ever released it in the first place

To test Spike

Wouldn't want a blockbuster mega selling title using unproven boards (recalls/repairs would be too costly)

It saves progression in that it shows you beat the US and Tag Team Championships still, but once you play through everything to get back to Royal Rumble MB, there is no progression save, so if you were one shot away, you start all over. It is the Optimus Prime MB blocker on super steroids because getting back to Royal Rumble is no easy task either. It requires so many more Money in the Bank shots and you can only get those by winning matches or off the plunge. I think I have only ever gotten back to Royal Rumble a couple of time ever in the same game before.

Well, finally news about imminent code updates. Happy to see this

STERN OF THE UNION ADDRESS - OCTOBER 2017
Welcome to the inaugural Stern of the Union Address! This will be a monthly update on the status of all things Stern Pinball, touching on many different topics. Without further ado my fellow pinheads:
Status of Code:
We are continuously working to update and improve software for our machines. There are always code updates and bug fixes in various stages of development; as usual we will release them as soon as possible. Here’s a sneak peek at two games that will have updates coming very soon, as well as status on a few other titles:
- Star Wars with its newest asteroid video mode and intense lightsaber duel!
- Batman ’66 with the new major villain cliffhangers!
- Ghostbusters: As soon as Star Wars is complete, we will be focusing on a final update for Ghostbusters.
- Aerosmith: Aerosmith will also be getting a little more polish.
- KISS: We will be revisiting KISS code very soon to create a final update.

This post may illustrate exactly what the problem is: they're really not sure what to do at this point. American pinball seems focused on the home buyer. JJP is definitely focused on the home buyer - but Stern wants a piece of that too, and are unsure where the industry is going.

Yeah this is great to see and read, if it all comes to fruition and proves true, it will certainly be a course change for Stern in a good direction, if they continue this moving forward its certainly in their best interests and is great for all of us to see on regular updates/intervals.

Alternately... "Has Stern EVER had a good year for code support?"

Very cool if true. Then I wouldn't have a good reason not to get a Ghostbusters.

Yep, I don't know what this year has anything to do with past years? Same thing.

When you charge nosebleed prices, 1000% because of the HUO buyer, you better deliver nosebleed service, quality and overall experience.

They need to do both, complex and deep game with reasonable ball times and fast and furious games with simple rules and short ball times. It's not one or the other, they need a healthy mix of both types of games with how many new titles a year they roll out with.

Diversity is the spice of life, Stern needs to keep a diverse floor of product.

Can't argue there. Except it's "Variety"
(Just being pedantic). They really should do another fast, simple(r) car theme game. Fast & furious?

I was twisting the famous quote just a little to make it my own.