There will never be a Black Pearl Edition, that I would say is pretty much of a lock. Will there ever be another run of Pirates? That I don’t know. I personally hope so, but my feelings on it don’t matter of course.

I agree they will get the code completed with super wizard mode. I hope you are right as well. More "assets" would be great (not gonna happen), but more lights/ sounds at the right times would be much appreciated. I would expect Keith to be directed to future projects if as you say Pirates is done. We will see.

Yeah. If JJP is planning to make 2 games a year then the entire programming team is going to be even busier at JJP. Hopefully the next Pirates update is a substantial update as it may be a while before Keith can return to it if has to start working on another game soon. Keith isn't on Willy Wonka code as Kaneda mentioned yesterday but rather Joe Katz. That may mean Keith gets to work on Pirates for a bit longer before starting a new game.

This controlled supply to create demand is working. I definitely want this game now
More than ever. Have my WOZ, love it, but Pirates is next level.

Are you going to jump ship then, so to speak? The time is now....

That was my original plan, but I'm actually going to wait it out. I don't want to do NIB again, and I'm not interested in Wonka or BK3. I am interested in Oktoberfest, but Pirates is still #1. I'm going to sell the WOZ and hang onto the proceeds for a while, until we finish our house renovation in September. Then hopefully there will be some used for sale!

If anyone is still looking for a CE, pinballs.com had 9 of them in stock when i called last week.

After looking at the pics and buying an SE and a CE, here is my best guess on how many have been made based on the serial numbers I have seen.

The serial numbers all have a five digit prefix for the model designation:

08731 = LE
08732 = SE
08733 = CE

The next set of digits in the serial number is the sequential order of production for within each model designation.

For instance, a few weeks ago I took delivery of an SE with serial number 08732097 with a manufacturing date of March 1, 2019.

This week I took delivery of CE #57 with serial number 08733115 with a manufacturing date of December 22, 2018.

Thus, the SE is the 97th SE built in the run. The CE is the 115th CE built in the run. The LE or CE number on the plaque has nothing to do with the sequence or actual total production run.

The highset serial numbers I have seen in person and on pinside pics are, as follows:

CE: 08733115 = 115th CE built
LE: 08731498 = 498th LE built
SE: 08732117 = 117th SE built

Perhaps others can chime in with higher serial numbers in each category to better ascertain how many were made.

I’m not a NIB guy but I went NIB for POTC. With JJP second releases normally being higher than the originals (WOZ YBR) and the chance they might not make more means this will hold its value well. Plus it’s an amazing game!

If this is it, that is extremely low overall production numbers.

That’s what I thought too. When I initially saw the SN for the CE, i assumed that it was manufactured later by the higher number. But when I got the CE, I was surprised to see the manufacturing date was nearly three months prior. In looking at the pics, seeing games in person, etc, this is the best explanation I have come up with for decoding the SN’s based on the SN and the manufacturing date.

What caught my attention was that, if correct, the SE is actually the rarest model built.

<blockquote cite="#4940837"
What caught my attention was that, if correct, the SE is actually the rarest model built.

That is true a lot of the time. Like many Stern premiums have fewer copies made than limited editions. And based on the production numbers above every potc is pretty rare...

Only JJP knows the real numbers. Lots of buyers don’t post on forums, and even those that do often don’t post serial numbers.

Good points! I just have use for that 10k right now that is taking priority over POTC, much as I’d like to get in on it!

Agreed. But its telling that only the 97th SE was just made on March 1. I never said these were exact numbers. Just speculating on my observances. Two of those high serial numbers are based on my own observances in the past week. Not posted here at all. Only the almighty creator knows how many planets there are, but that doesn’t stop NASA from speculating.

I am in that boat too; I have always thought "I'll wait and get it later" (I waited YEARs for LOTR, Spiderman, etc...). But IF they re-run POTC, it will almost certainly be at a larger cost (just compare Wonka LE to Pirates LE at the same $$$).

And if they don't re-run pirates, prices will likely stay in the same ballpark they are in now, if not drift up if the cookie cutter collectors all pile in on this game (Please please tell me what game should I buy next type collectors...).

AND I live in Canada so any used games I may buy and bring across the border I pay taxes on... so buying used doesn't save me much money.

Long story short I went mad and bought a NIB . Not regretting it a bit so far...

Unsurprising, if you ask me...the LE delivered a lot of value for only +$1000. Shaker, invisiglass, powder coat, spinning pop bumpers, star map.
It was a no-brainer to at least get the LE (and I do have regret for not getting the CE.)

To me that was the math as well. CE was a no go for me (it would have added something like $5000 Canadian or more to the cost, and I only really like the (apparently noisy) topper out of the upgrades. I honestly think the playfield with the Davy Jones squid face is a downgrade over the piratey Depp on the other playfields.

But the +1K price of the SE for the LE was a no brainer, to the point I can see why they sold so few SE's (the underpriced the LE's by at least a $500 to $1000 in comparison).

I didn't care for the art package and barnacles on the CE and didn't think it was worth 3k. Then I helped a friend unbox one and changed my view.

Most of the "wow" was in the radcals though, which I now have on my LE so it's all good.

I have one standard available if anyone is interested.

Right on

Except Wonka standard is 7500

You are on the right track. Easier with Stern, that's how we know they produced around 12k last year.

Note the sarcasm in that LOL

Jack said they were making a move for the route operators which presumably meant creating a lower priced version to make their ROI work.

So glad I was wrong!!

I have CE #158 serial nr ending on 154, built Jan 2nd 2019.

They really built 40 in 10 days over christmas? or you think is it just the date they sign and box it?

I doubt it is based on exact assembly order; my SN suggests is it close to game 550 (of the LE's) and was noted to have been assembled in Mid-Feb.

Whether there are 700, 800 or 1000 Pirates out there, the bottom line is Pirates is a fairly limited game at the moment.

Interesting theory! For added info mine is an LE last three of the serial #468 built on 1/21/19.

I keep hearing the number 1,000 over and over again, so this is somewhat close to that.

Even more interesting, is if this equation/guess would match up for the planned 5000 Wonka LE, 500 CE...............and then maybe another 500SE? But man, that would have to be way, way more for them to create that ultra low new user model. I wonder....

Not that my opinion matters but I think they will make more.

I sure hope so!

Eventually they'll make some more, may be a few years.

Jack would be foolish not to make more. They sold, you make pinball's to sell. Pretty sure there's money left on the table here.
Start an order and deposit list.
I just couldn't pull the trigger yet. Originally i was hoping to pick one up later in the year.

It would be great if they could put it on the smaller line (the one currently making WOZ) while Wonka is on the main line.

It’s still on the line. Waiting for parts. Grumble.

At what price? I doubt it will be $9500 for the LE. The ship has sailed (pun intended).

I attempted to order some spare parts and it has been very hit or miss. With regard to some parts common to all models, I was told “We do not have any in the building and there are no plans to order any.” They can’t even be backordered.

What parts?

Whatever parts aren’t in stock are back ordered pretty much

The price will have to rise. I don’t imagine pirates has been a very profitable game especially
Considering the lengthy growing pains. If it made sense at current prices and demand they’d still be making them.

Done? - No
Limited production going forward? - Yes

I think Jack's changing his business model to compete on a more price sensitive basis. Reduced SE pricing on Wonka is said to be targeted at operators, but will also strongly gain HUO purchasers and overall marketshare. Compound this with JJPs target of releasing 2 new titles per year and I feel past models (POTC, Dailed In, etc) production going forward will be limited. Demand on the new upcoming titles, particularly with offerings at lower pricing, will likely have Jack scrambling to balance production with demand and possibly in the not so distant future looking at a larger manufacturing facility. If Wonka, JJP#6, and JJP#7 are strong demand titles and profitable I can't see too strong of a focus spent on producing POTC or other existing titles.

Lots of game specific things, but the big one that stood out to me was the lanterns on the ship. I have seen these broken on location more than once.

Wow - great to know if I ever get a POTC. Wonder if there's a way to fortify the lantern before it breaks?

In this day of 3d printing and spendy pinball folks, I am sure a lot of stuff will be fixable... for a price

But yeah if they do another pirates run, it will be good to get a larger supply of possible backup items... I am more concerned re: things light light boards and some of the motor based mechs.

Most of the motors are off the shelf stuff. Interestingly, both the topper motor and the rocking ship motor are the same as used on WOZ’s spinning house. The sculptures are what are becoming unobtanium.

Agreed the motors are likely not irreplaceable. But not sure how common the other assembly bits are. Armatures , metal discs etc.

Agreed that stuff like sculptures are a challenge. But physical stuff is easier to jury rig than electrical stuff like surface mount chips and motherboards etc.

Surface mount isn’t as bad to replace as it would seem. What really kills boards, though, are the multilayer jobs that break traces internally. That stuff is nearly impossible to fix.

Black pearl?!? Any more news on the possibility of this getting re-made?

Given the difficulty of getting out the last two games just hope for one a year

SE here as well, with no gameplay differences outside the star map how could I say no to $1500 in savings? Game came with a NOS plastics set and extra boat motor too.

I went out an bought a Cliffy protector set along with the chest opening and star maps mods and now I am more than set. Best purchase I have made in a long time and this was a huge leap for me financially pinball wise. It cost almost twice as much as any other pin I had ever bought, but it's that good IMHO so I didn't want to miss out. I consider myself very lucky to have been able to pick one up, and locally at that. I wouldn't sell my SE as it sits for $10,000, it's a top 4 game for all time easily and isn't going anywhere for a long, long time.

Pirates is done...just look at the game. Its packed and too expensive to make. I just got a Wonka le and sitting next to potc it looks like a toy. Potc is a masterpiece!

I see JJP moving on to build more profitable new title games..