That is a strange quote consider WOZ has apparently sold nearly or more than 5000 copies. Yeah I really believe that like I have a hole in my head because The Pinball Company recently did a seminar where they said their number 1 selling game of all time is WOZ. Adams Family is #2. Yes what you're saying has to be so accurate explain why a game that has been out for YEARS now is getting yet another version "Yellow Brick Road'. In the modern era of pinball you might never see another game as big as Wizard of Oz EVER!
WOZ is a game that has probably generated around 40 million in sales and you're making comments like that? Seriously! That is really hard to believe.
With all that being said and I stand behind what I said... Pirates was a theme that was already covered recently by Stern. The two licensed games by JJ where heavy on video assets, this is something they were KNOWN FOR! So why agree to make a game that was at the end of its popularity, with no agreement to use video assets plus it was already covered a few years prior. This is why I'm saying its a theme I wouldn't have made. I think I'm right about that.
At the end of the day there are so many other themes to tackle and spend 2 years developing. Now for some reason the game after only being produced for a few months is now ending. If it was one of the best selling games as you described it wouldn't be going anywhere.
There are many things working against the game... PRICE, NO VIDEO ASSETS, TIRED THEME, ALREADY COVERED.
NONE of that changes the fact its the best version of the two POTC... fact. Doesn't change the fact the game is awesome and probably the best pinball game ever made. I'm not in any way shape form or fashion ripping on the game, because the game is AWESOME!
If you're going to spend over a million dollars and multiple years developing a game make sure its the right theme.
The last two POTC movies tanked domestically ... the high point was 2006 On Dead Mans Chest with 423 million with ticket price inflation its actually 583 million domestically. Oddly enough Sterns version came out that same year in other words at the PEAK of popularity.
JJ version came out in 2018 ... no movies release that year but the prior year was Dead Men Tell no Tales gross the worst 172 million and with inflation now its at 174 million. To put that into perspective that is only about 40% of the peak. The previous Pirate movie came out in 2011 another downturn at 241 million with inflation its 270 million. To put that into perspective you double that movies inflation number its still less than HALF of the popularity of the peak when Stern released their version. You can take the last two movies and combine them and they don't gross domestically what Dead Mans Chest made.
The point is the series was dying off that's why i say it was a mistake to make that theme, when you don't get the video assets.
Again with ALL THAT BEING SAID POTC Pinball is AMAZING - AWESOME - GOAT. I'm NOT happy they're taking the game off the line, because I think they created the best pinball game ever. I'm merely saying some of the challenges are the points I'm making.
If licenses for movies aren't important to sales then why is every single game Stern produces a licensed game?
There are many pinball games that have been covered before which should get a REBOOT not a REMAKE... Adams Family, Indiana Jones, James Bond and themes yet to be done like Planet of the Apes, Mission Impossible, Fast and Furious, Harry Potter, Three Stooges, Universal Monster Theme, Jaws and many more. Not to mention many rock bands haven't been done such as LZ, Queen, Doors, Prince, MJ, Ozzy, M Crew, Beastie Boys, VH and more.
I think going forward any pinball company that makes a pinball game based on a movie should get video assets or move on but as I said doesn't apply to JJ Pirates because their graphics make up for it big league.
Anyway I will BUY ANY JJ game because in my view they're the BEST OF THE BEST! PERIOD!
But JJ needs to make money, they need to make more games and faster. They also need to figure out a way to get some more affordable games. I'm sure they get it all figured it out but please lets not compare WOZ to POTC.