Just some thoughts... not blanket statements. Of course, reserve the right to change my mind. But curious to see if others in the collecting community have been thinking this.

Recently (over the last year... to year-plus), I've found myself having a rather robust shutdown when it comes to NIB games and game releases. It's not that I'm not interested in the new games, because I am, but I've definitely felt the spark of excitement of new game announcements rapidly diminish. That desire to buy them has been flickering quite a bit. TNA bucked that trend for me, so I'm not 100% shutdown. But in general, it's held true.

There was a period.. back around Stern's Star Trek / Walking Dead announcement time frame where NIB games really carried a ton of intrigue for me. The hobby really hadn't exploded then. Pricing was right on target... and the arrival of NIB games wasn't quite as prolific as its become. Since that time, I think several factors have really tamed my interest in rushing out to buy NIB:

1) Price increases. There's something about the huge leaps in prices (coinciding with a drop in manufacturing quality... and added cheapness for Stern) aren't sitting well with me. Especially knowing what I paid NIB just a few short years ago. And then you hear tid-bits (like Borg saying he wanted four drops instead of one giant target on Munsters)... and I'm left scratching my head. Something's not adding up and feeling right in the price dept.

2) Location play. 4 years ago, if I wanted to experience a new game, it pretty much had to be bought. Now, there multiple local locations reasonably close to my home that have new games pretty much right away. I can scratch the itch and experience new with a car ride and a 5 spot in my pocket.

3)Collectability. This is a big one for me... I don't think most modern releases are collectable. LE or not. I'm not a fan of the "Franklin Mint coin" faked collectability model... or manufacturer controlled rarity. I really grapple with this... but in general, I like collectability/rarity that's crafted by time and/or other circumstances. And while I like to buy games for their fun factor, I'm not interested in paying a premium for suggested collectibility.

4) Used market. Super tempting to let someone else take the hit on NIB and work out issues with the game.

5) Modern board design. Makes me nervous. Looking at you Spike. There's a ton of unknowns with these designs... which makes me concerned, especially if the market (and parts market) has a downturn a few years down the road.

Kind of where my head is at. Could be subject to change. Anyone else in this boat?

Of course, that's fairly obvious. Not really what I was getting at.

I left that off my list because that’s not a factor for me

I really don’t get bored of the games. I play them in waves, but the game of pinball (for me) is really fun. Even simple games like BSD keep me coming back over and over again.

I get that. And agree, the BKSR definitely has some hook and intrigue to it.

So, what you're saying is what I'm getting at (price wise). $5500K for a NIB pro. Just a few years ago, I paid $6,200 for a NIB Premium and the distributor threw in some extras like mirror blades. I know this going down a totally different conversation thread, but I'm having a really hard time reconciling the massive shift in price. Especially when you look at the build quality of Stern today versus just 3 or 4 years ago.

Obviously, people pay it, so the companies keep searching for the edge where the consumer won't pay it. But, at some level you have to wonder if companies are introducing some level of distrust by this strategy. It definitely doesn't feel like balance is there.

I was told he said that at TPF. Also that he wanted the arms on big guy to move. Perhaps someone can clarify. But, yes, he said that the original design had 4 stand up targets, but it was a cost cut to make it one single target.

You pay, 9k for a game that has that kind of relatively inexpensive feature removed as a cost cut? I don’t get it. At that price level, you’d think they’d make it available.

Btw - your podcast is fantastic!!!

So, are you in on BK? Or are you out because of price?

Well said.

I’ve purchased 4 pins NIB... it’s definitely an experience. But I don’t pigeon hole it as a necessity. And it comes with a trap that bothers me, which is wanting to keep the game Mint to maintain value.

That trap is nearly polar opposite of what I value in routed games that I collect, which is get them clean and playing snappy, but enjoy all the warts and bumps and bruises that they’ve acquired throughout their unique lives. I like the patina factor.

+1 to all of this!

This is kind of a different topic, all together. But I'm not so convinced there's a bubble building. It sure seems like the home buying base is only a fraction of what it ultimately will become.

Never say never

Have to admit, I had a mild "fatigue pause" after hearing Kaneada's Wonka hype train podcast.

But, after watching some reveal video, I'm 100% fine waiting to play the game on location or at a friends house.

$12.5k plus tax/shipping for a pinball machine.

Wow

Interesting to read everyone’s takes.... just for clarification, I never meant to suggest pinball fatigue. Just talking about the NIB phenomena.

I keep hoping Deep Root will be the fly in the ointment that causes prices to reverse and fall. Not holding out too much hope tho

Focus purely on pricing is a tad off topic, but It’s really difficult to do a 1-to-1 comparison of manufacturing costs for modern sterns vs 90s pins... and where assembly processes and modern technologies are more or less expensive overall.

There was a Roger Sharpe interview at some point in the last year, where he indicated he thought pricing seemed out of line (high)... and Kaneda’s guest definitely spilled some beans on cost to make a game that made Premium and LE pricing look super out of line.

While I agree that inflation directly says a newly assembled monster bash lands around 6K (and from what I can tell, CGC really puts quality in their games), you can’t say the same for Stern games which have been stripped down in material... or these ridiculous prices on LEs and CEs and whatever else company’s are pumping as collectors games. Look at these Wonka prices... $12.5k for a “CE”... LE’s at 9.5k... add tax and shipping, and the dollar amount is high. You’re looking at an LE brought to your door for $10.5+. Look at a game like TZ or WH20... or any other mech-heavy title. Those are LE equivalent. Not Game of Thrones Pro.

All that said, these company’s are charging what - apparently - the market is paying. So, who am I to say they’re off. But I’m not so convinced their attack will ultimately play out to be a smart one.

Of course, prices keep going up. So the saturation / no go limit obviously hasn’t been met. Maybe... maybe... some day I’d fork over that sum of cash. But I’m not there at the moment. Hell, maybe some day these prices will look cheap!

Totally agree... and pricing of old was taking into consideration a buying base comprised nearly 100% of OPs using the machines to make cash in public locations. Apples to oranges.

Look no further than the price increases over the last 3-4 years, which clearly outpace inflation track.

That’s too bad. Sounds like playing turned out not to be your thing!

Balance, brother. It’s important

There's always one, right?