Just out of curiosity, but why are you comparing them to Stern's bottom line games? Why not compare them to their Premium or LE games? Spooky does not take things out that effect gameplay so they can sell a budget model. With that thinking, all Spooky game playfields are "fully loaded", so then you should be comparing it to Stern's fully loaded playfield models, not their stripped down models.

Get the starting point correct and then you can start comparing.

And I agree with you on the cosmetic add-ons. I just don't understand the idea of changing gameplay between models by cutting things out of the actual game itself, which Stern does and Spooky doesn't. I just think that if you are going to compare price points, it is hard to do that with one that is a stripped down gameplay experience to one that has everything. If you are doing that within the same company for gameplay comparisons, great. But to take a game that is missing part of it and saying it is "better because it is cheaper" when comparing it to a game that has everything in it, I just disagree with the previous poster going that route.

I am with you in the "one is not necessarily better than the other because of price" aspect. I am just pointing out the flaw in what he is trying to compare.

I don't agree that this is a valid argument either. Every game is different, regardless of company. Some Stern games have more features than other Stern games regardless of pro, premium, or LE level. And some JJP more than other JJP, and so on... That is a game title to title argument. Otherwise you could cherry pick all day long. Many of Stern games are loaded with features, then there are games that are barren. Same could be said for any company that has put out more than 2 games.

All of Spooky's games have way more features than a Beatles Gold. So what does that mean?

And I like both companies too.