Code is software, and there's a model used by most good software companies.

Bug fixes should be free, and improvements follow a release schedule and often there is a fee associated with them.

Should a pinball company follow this well-established method? Stern gets a 'carrot' dangled in front of them... they get paid if they continue to improve and update the code. No annual update.... no more money!

Out of curiosity, how many people would pay for updates that make the game better?
For those that object, what if the game was initially a couple hundred dollars less expensive to begin with? Instead of the game costing $5,000 new, what if it cost $4800 and you paid $50/year for code updates for up to 4 years?

On one hand, I don't feel as if I have a horse in this race. All my pins, with the exception of two are 90's B/W, so I could care less about Stern updates, however, I'd gladly pay a fee for updated code to a B/W game (and since Rick @ PPS has the old B/W code, it's my understanding that this actually is a possibility).

Comparing to a new automobile, recalls are bug fixes and they should be free. On the other hand, if I were offered new 'code' for my 2011 model year car's computer which would enable A2DP bluetooth media streaming (it currently has bluetooth phone audio, but not media) and/or an update to the air/fuel/timing map which would increase fuel economy by a mile per gallon and/or horsepower while keeping fuel economy the same, I'd gladly hurry right down to the dealership and and pay an update fee!

-Brian