No, the have proven night shifts are never as productive as day. You only run night shifts if you need to keep equipment running 24/7 to maximize its output.

What JJP needs is to keep both lines busy everyday so they can keep a senior talented and trained workforce for years, that’s how they improve speed and build quality.

That only works if you have steady sales, and the ability (money) to hire more management (overhead) to oversee the second shift operation so quality doesn't suffer. I don't think JJP has the sales volume to justify that. If you do not have the sales, then you are just going to yo-yo your workers and have to lay them off every couple weeks. That is not how you keep decent semi-skilled workers around. If you read between the lines, it seems like some JJPOTC quality problems are a result of some unskilled labor pains. I don't think even Stern runs a second shift...do they?

I bet if they had the orders rolling in they would... they need more games more often.

Stern is just killing everyone as they produce games like every single time you blink your eyes. JJ also needs to stop doing themes that Stern already recently did as with Hobbit and Pirates. Lord of the Rings Hobbit no difference... Willy Wonka people are excited about because it hasn't been done yet.

I'm excited about Wonka that is for sure!

I disagree with this statement. In the 24 hour manufacturing facilities I have been involved with, the off shifts tend to produce more per man-hour due to not being micro-managed to death by the daytime salaried employees trying to justify their jobs. Productivity depends a lot on workplace culture, and what acronym of the month upper management is trying to shove their way to make it look like they did something this year. (LSS, KanBan, Lean, etc)

Back when I was a computer operator, I _always_ preferred the 2nd and 3rd shifts, when there were no up-and-coming junior programmers nosing around trying to make sure _their_ pet project ran before the Order Status report.

DI JJP best game with fewer primary modes than the first two games then having bob secondary modes. The Bob mode kill the game for me you feel selfy mode is innovation that and emoji mode just reminds me the game is about a phone.

TH was the first to have an LCD screen under glass but DMD games had DMD screens under glass innovation meh

POTC not the first ever moving playfield

Code out of box TH was not highly spoken of for quite some time till code was polished

The BOB modes are all just silly fun, with currently _very_ few points involved, comparatively speaking. They're nice if you can get a disaster mode or MB going at the same time, but should otherwise pretty much be treated as something for the other players to watch while you're playing.

I think that's a bigger cost than the screen. They have incredibly polished UI and animations on all their titles, and that ain't cheap to develop.

This is true.

Just musing.. I'm surprised at how many people think/feel that Stern have nailed the UI on their games since they have switched to an LCD screen. I don't think it's terrible, but I'm sitting there awaiting my turn watching the screen on a Stern game and I always think how much better it could be. It seems like they don't know what to do with it half the time. As a cohesive "art package" I find Stern has a long way to go. But, if you compare it to JJP, JJP's screen is just wonderful. Laid out well, consistent and makes sense for the most part. Maybe I just don't what Stern is going for..?

Stern is going for "just good enough." Always. And sometimes they don't even hit that. Remember, in the B/W days, they were the sad second choice company. They only became the leader because they were all that was left.

Very true.... I agree w/ this statement..

I think a lot of it has to do with a super aggressive release schedule. They don't have the time to bake them all the way.

Where is the Willy Wonka and JJP in all this Stern talk? Or did I misread the thread Title?

So true. I heard (i hope im wrong), the reveal will be June which is still Spring but barely.

Why wait for Announcement?

Texas show would be a perfect time !
Anything but Wonka Im in

Because past delays taught them to announce when the games are coming down the line.

LTG : )
Disclaimer : I'm still hoping it's a Bob The Squirrel pin. Or Sargent Fury and his Howling Commandos.

I’m already down on Wonka Lloyd.

This summer is fine. I need time to explore Potc!

I'd take a Wonka Lloyd over a Willy Wonka anyday!

I'm sure WLTG : ) already would have modes concocted involving tequila, drunk monkeys, and his ever lovin' pooch side kick too!

I'm totally down with them waiting until they have some built and can start delivering within a month of the reveal. Makes WAY more sense than letting hype die down over 6-12 months after the announcement.

See what happens when a game is not shown. All the excitement fades away.

Trust me. It will be MUCH more exciting when they announce Wonka and then start shipping it right away

JJP would benefit from some “accidental leaks” a few months out *wink*wink*

And then something happens like game specific parts that arrive don't meet spec and have to be reordered and then *wink*wink* we're a half year or more out again and same old cycle continues.

Better do like Stern does. Brief leak, picture or name. And then a couple days later pictures of it coming down the assembly line.

LTG : )

Info max 30 days before shipping, as a fan I would prefer that. Half the battle is expectations. The other half is delivering absolute magic. Get those two things right... profit.

Do you notice how nobody is questioning Pat Lawlor’s ability this time.I guess it’s because Quantum City is so f$&ckin awesome!Hate theme or not it is top ten of all time.I hope Wonka is just as great with a great theme.

Trailer for TS4:

Dear Jack,

Please don't be Toy Story as I will have to buy it

...and there's a pinball machine in it.

Here we go!

I didn't realize they were actually IN a pinball machine.... Jump to 1:39. (Hope its not a Stern)

...or even worse, a Spooky!

It's worth what it's worth, but someone posted the trailer on Instagram, implied that JJP would release Toy Story pinball and JJP replied twice on it with a wink and a like. I say it's an unofficial rumor official confirmation, but I may be a dreamer !

Trailer looks good but, man, do they really have to show the whole movie in the trailer nowadays?

Yup I feel like I've seen the whole movie already!

Same here just bought pirates would have a wait a while

Shit if YBR is the ULTIMATE WOZ then I’ll have to buy it and if WONKA hits it out the park WOZ style my budget for 2019 is going to go quick.

Supposedly it will be MORE expensive, so maybe they have some new mechs in it to make it even crazier? I can't imagine how...

Pixar's pretty good about giving a meaty trailer without giving away too much of the actual movie.

Yeah, but this does give away the movie. The kid makes a toy from a spoon, Woody and friends have to protect it, the spoon decides to leave, Woody goes to try to bring it back, on the way home they run into Bo, who now lives in a amusement park, Woody gets distracted and stays at the park, back home, Buzz and the gang are worried and decide to go find Woody, the kid visits the park and Woody remembers his original mission and decides to return home. That's what I got from the trailer, seems like pretty much the entire plot, I could be wrong though.

I'm going to ask my six year old son if he interpreted the trailer the same way you did...

I feel as though I have seen the movie and I don't particularly need to see it again

I think, first off, we have got to acknowledge the fact the main character is Sporky the Clown, a real “KFC in your face” moment that oddly makes me hope he ends up in the landfill. Pixar, although virtuosic masters of heart-stringed instruments, may have launched this foray into the PCU missing a “C” and may end up part of a small, but growing pile of P U that started with Cars 2&3, the good dinosaur, and Finding Dory. The trailers for those movies were a hard sell as well.

No $9500 to $9999 game will ever be a hit even if it is GOAT

God I hope it isn't Cars-anything-like. They all sucked.

The simple fact that you said "ever" makes that statement suspect. If pinball survives, inflation will eventually make your statement false.

Forgive me if there is an obvious answer to this question; I don't follow threads and specifics due to work and family life. But....

When and where would one expect that JJP would announce their next game? I'm stoked about the prospect of a Wonka machine. So much so that I've been playing clips from youtube on our TV to annoy the wife and *hopefully* wear her thin before the game is released. I've never bought a NIB pin, but Wonka may be the first. The possibilities for the machine seem awesome.....

They've announced their games at Expo before. It takes place in October.

When it's ready.

You are forgiven.

No forgiveness from me - whad’ya mean you don’t follow threads??? This is unacceptable

Ha, if only there were more time. I'm almost done refurbishing a Flying Carpet as a favor, next in line is a Space Mission - - - again, for someone else. And I tore down my STTNG for refurbishment and there it sits. Someday I'll get back to it. With a 50+ hour a week job, plus two young kids. Now if I win the Powerball this weekend.....I'll have more time. And I'll fund the manufacturing for TBL. Right.

So I hope you win Powerball, I'll be happy to buy a TBL from you !