Quoted from PinlordMarc:The extreme popularity of eSports and streaming has shown that gaming can have enormous popularity and appeal. I believe that it's time for pinball to go mainstream as well. There are a number of things that need to be changed about the hobby for that to happen, though.
Do you have ideas? Share them in this thread. I'll get the ball rolling.
Celebrity involvement
Quick quiz: can anyone even name a celebrity who endorses pinball?
I didn’t think so.
If pinball is really to take hold, the public needs to be shown the way! This is where celebrities come in. We need big ones, though. Especially ones that will appeal to younger audiences. I hate to say it, but someone like Jake Paul from Youtube or Pete Davidson from SNL could be exactly what we need.
Games need to get cheaper
There’s no excuse for the prices that Stern is charging, and the smaller companies are charging even more! It’s time for these prices to come down for the good of the sport.
Machines need to appeal to a younger audience
For example: lets talk about the “rock” games that have been put out lately. Hopefully we can agree that Led Zepplin and the Beatles are all-time great bands, but it doesn’t appeal to a younger crowd. And don’t even get me started on Rush!
Let’s get some contemporary music represented.
I’ll give Stern credit on the Marvel pins—we need more of that kind of thinking! Who was in charge of approving things like The Munsters or Godzilla? How many people who watched the Munsters are buying machines? Let’s get more machines that are taken from shows and movies of the day. The most popular show of 2021 was YellowStone. That would make a GREAT game. You could make a game for the academy award winner of every year too.
Does anyone else have any ideas? Let’s get the conversation started now.
Sadly, your 10 years away from this kind of post. Too many 50+ folks still involved and funding pinball. You are actually 50% wrong and 50% right.
Where you are wrong, there are plenty of "modern" pins, AIQ, Deadpool, Mandalorian, Stranger Things, TMNT.
Where you are right, there are still FAR too many older themes being made by Stern and completely ignoring mainstream popularity unless it's Disney.
If Stern was serious about Modern IP (non Disney!) there would be more modern pins like Battlestar Galactica(the new one), John Wick, Equalizer, Maroon 5, Linkin Park, Eminem, DMX, Harry Potter, Anime series(Dragon Ball, Naruto, etc), Big Bang Theory, Fast and the Furious, Men in Black, Halo (video game universe), King Kong skull island, Lego Batman Movie, Tomb Raider, The Witcher, God of War, Warhammer Universe, Wonder Woman, Resident Evil...I could go on. Stern really lacks "video game" themes, which is where the 35 year old generation further relates (e.g. Halo, Final Fantasy, Tomb Raider, The Witcher)...amazing pinball themes. Regardless, What does everything I said have in common? All that stuff speaks to older millennials (new money). Stern isn't after that yet. That generation doesn't have a big voice yet with companies like Stern. If they did, there would 100% already be a Harry Potter or Fast & Furious pin at least.
However, man you are on Pinside lol. You aren't going to convince folks Stern's "1960 Godzilla" and "Rush" theme(s) are outdated. So just wait it out until Stern releases something decent again.