Quoted from mbaumle:

I don't think anyone is disputing this--at least not me. However, when you look at a AAA title console release, be it on the Playstation, Xbox, or Nintendo, you have legions of programmers that only work on physics engines, another group just for foliage, and a group just for facial expressions, etc, etc. Plus debugging and refining for each console's unique specs.
The market for pinball is several orders of magnitude smaller, and you might have a couple guys looking at code on, comparatively speaking, a shoestring budget, all working congruently on different pinball machines for code updates and such. It's impossible to compare the two industries--other than the fact that they're both designed for entertainment.
Not to mention, these games are all meant to be vended, and I doubt that the average player in the arcade is really looking at the breadth and depth of the machine's code.

Quoted from Eddie:

The entire point of the thread has actually been missed. Pinball did explode at one time when there were no programers! It was during the non flipper machines of yore all the way to the EMs These machines arw what drew people to the machine and made it grow and live for how many years? If im not mistaken werent some of these models made in larger numbers then The Addams Family? Pinball can explode if it is in the public eye period. Once again why no advertising in NON Pinball Markets? Advertise in magazines such the Hobbs Report or Car and Driver etc and or used on more game shows as prizes? Just about all Pinball advertising is directed at Pinheads and only found if you are actively searching information on Pinball machines.
Programming wont make pinball grow, being seen is what will make it grow. Simpler rule sets for the every person to play and have fun on location would help it grow. One way programing might help is to have settings where once you achieve certain goals features are unlocked as they are in video games. The Video game public of today has grown up understanding that ladder this way a game can be both simple for 1st timers and more difficult for active players. Programmings strength is in keeping return customers/players more than it is to draw them and make pinball explode. Pinball must be seen as with anything out of sight out of mind.