Why not make a pledge...get everyone on board a thread and if they break the oath....they should give $100 to pinside.

You do realize we are all addicted to pinball and most of us here are distracted by each and every new shiny object we see. Like a 5 year old who sees commercials for a new toy and says I want that.
It will not stop. People will continue to pre order games.
The best we can hope for is that other game makers will follow spooky pinball and do it with class and professionalism.

Sounds like AA for pinballers. I know you'll never get a call from me. But thanks.

Can someone please politely explain to me why it bothers people so much? I really couldn't care less how other people buy their machines! It almost seems like politics!

sounds great
I hope you will be offering a program to help us
I will pay you $1000 to help you develop your program

Leechman, because we hate to see others in so much pain.

I still think I want to pre-order the pinball 3000 , even though it's expected delivery date is long after I'll be dead . Not sure this is a good idea or not but come on it's got something that goes to space , That is awesome !

I can't argue with that! No more new preorders for me!!

I think this project does not apply here. That's a gift straight from the gods.

i believe what being pointed out is. Buyers are laying down cash and not being taken care of. deposits should have a percentage discount or some other type of compensation for the use of the buyers money, and when all is said and done there are still code issues and so on that are not resolved in a timely manner. So by not placing a deposit and demanding issues be addressed before laying down cash deposit and or insisting a sample game be available so the buyer has an idea of what to expect from his/her new purchase. In other words manufacturers be prepared! at least i think thats what he is getting at!

I get where you're coming from on some of that, but it just seems like to me that without the preorders on TH that we would be getting an expo version or similar. And now thanks to the good people on pinside we will hopefully have a much better game!

no doubt agree a completely functional proto needs to be complete beforehand, inclusive to CAD geometries for special parts so the proposed is really READY for a production run, not 2-4 years waiting on someones vague pipe-dreams that may or not ever happen (gee look I filed bankruptcy!).

I've known many GREAT artists, and yes when it gets down to real world business many are very flaky.
it isnt that I dont appreciate what they CAN do, but sometimes the dreams or timelines are very unrealistic. I knew a guy that there wasnt anything that couldnt be done in 20 minutes.. 3 days later..
it wasnt for lack of skills, his mouth just wrote checks that couldnt be banked on! a good guy and he'd complete the task no matter what.. but WHEN? (and gawd all the DRAMA that went along with it)

I have also allowed myself to get caught up in the pre-order hype so I hear you loud and clear Aurich.
It is not just with new pins either, it could be any pin. I seem to want something new to play every 3-4 months and find myself going into search mode even though I have no more space. I started bouncing prospective purchases off a friend and fellow Pinsider and found that it definitely helps. A voice of reason to keep me in check.

Does this include Sterns? Pre ordering before playing and just based on photos or leaked video?
At least we know we'll see our game from Stern within 2 months of ordering...

It's the Pinside version of "The Contest." Women must put up double, BTW.

image-761.jpg

I'm out.

I think we should write a book called "Preordering Pins for Dummies".

1. Take the initial down payment.
2. Put it in a savings account or short-term corporate bond fund.
3. When new deadlines come up, deposit money into account.
4. If/when the stars align and pin ships, use pin map to find one and play in person.
5. If you like the game, withdraw funds, add 10% more from your pocket and buy it.
6. If it never ships or you don't like it, salivate over next pin announcement instead.

The 10% extra you pay is more than made up for by retaining use/control of your money and avoiding bearing someone else's business, development and financial risk in the interim. The number of pins that skyrocket after release are relatively few and if something is insanely popular, they'll make more. Handing out free loans to guys you don't know based on vague promises and napkin drawings is idiotic. It's the pinball equivalent of buying lottery tickets.

Yes, I don't understand all the people thanking the preorder for exsisting and "saving" them money. Just save up the damn money yourself. Its not that hard.

The only rationale is you might find it hard to hand over the price of a car for a pin you have not played all at once, in which case you should not be buying it in pieces.

My philosophy with a game is if it is worth $7K or 8K, an extra $500 won't wreck me IF it is worth that kind of coin in the first place. The rub is when the dust settles, most of these games are not going to be all time greats worth that kind of coin. So the $500 or whatever is not saving you money. At best its just a little less that you lose by jumping in first on an unkown product.

Ok, you're MY sponsor!!

There might be some folks on here who I'd like to strangle sometimes but we are all part of this community. Although I think folks make "different" and in my opinion sometimes even "poor" decisions with their money, I know they've worked hard for it. I don't want any of my fellow pinball folks to be taken advantage of or be at risk to lose money. You folks have worked to hard for it!

If I was strong enough to not preorder TWD, my most desired theme (zombies) I'm pretty sure that I won't be tempted to preorder anything else, especially from a company who has never produced a pin.

Does your support cover people who order games with un-finished code, in the hopes that they will get it later?

If not, I need a group for that.

Thanks Aurich

I with you on this - pre-orders zero at this point. I'm also not letting myself buy a new stern until the software has been fully developed. If I have to pay an extra couple hundred bucks - so be it. The software sometimes takes as long as delivery for a pre-order.

Scott

Because with pre orders there are years of bitching on Pinside with the Stern model bitching only last for month's

You gotta love Aurich for his dedication, service and love of the Pinside community.

Hi, My name is concretehardt and I'm addicted to preordering.

You are the poster child for this thread.

You will need a minimum of two sponsors!

Speaking of which, Rob, you gonna get a preemie?

Rob I am afraid that I am beyond help (file me in the lost pinball souls department)

HI CONCRETEHARDT!

Take this picture (the horse is me) and exchange the carrot for a pinball machine (that doesn't exist yet) and that pretty much sums me up... Im not sure if it's a syndrome or a disease.
image-723.jpg

I waited on WOZ until I played it and bought #5 in June 2014. I didn't buy CC until CCC installed . But I bit at the last minute on TBL on the 19th. I think PHIL, may have saved me.

Ive never pre-ordered before, but thinking of pre-ordering the MMR... PLEASE HELP!!!!!

As I said elsewhere...

RIP Pinball preorders.jpg

I have never pre-ordered and I have no plans to start. Not saying it could never happen, but it just isn't likely.

See and with the title I thought you were ready to be a sponsor and fund the cash for the preorder.

I am taking the oath as well. i will wait and see how my existing orders pan out but then I'm done with this nonsense. Any violation of the oath should be followed by a large Pinside donation as well.

Disclosure: already in on MG, RAZA and WNBJM.

But the code won't be done for a year or more or ever...so - same fucking difference. I guess it's cool if you want to play a proto. So, yes - this includes Sterns...they must prove themselves to me now before I purchase. I'm OUT.

Speaking of being "out", haven't heard from you regarding TBL? I assume you are still in on that one?

Before even reading the hot mess I left Friday thinking no way in hell will programming be ready for TBLs release. So much work there to be done. Both games also did not make it to the end of night before being pulled from service.

I will give you a $1,000 as well if the cover of the program is chromed.

Better yet, if you agree to only make 17 program packets available I'll give you $5k. I know that means many pinsiders will never in their lifetimes have a chance to see the program, but it certainly will prove to be a more valuable cure to those who can afford it!

^^^^this^^^^

I didn't get the surprise refund.
I've spoken to Phil, I've spoken to Scott...there are two sides to every story...I'm going to wait for Barry's official response before making a decision.

I am in recovery right now. if I can avoid ordering Iron Maiden LE I will feel cured of this addiction.

I love this idea, where do I send my money?