Haven't checked this thread in 18 days...
No new pictures ??

Gotcha.

Everyday that passes is another day you don't have to pay 20 something K ,for a game that only costs Stern 4 or 5 K in Bom.
Rejoice... no news is good news.

Que ??
Is this supposed to be the Kings English?
Ha ha ha... Me thinks Beltking had a few New Years Belts...

Glug glug glug.. me hate Price on blinkey box of lights !
Me Demand simple price structure !

Hell... I polished off a bottle of champagne by myself.
Happy New Year's everyone.

Ok here's my bulls#%t theory... but I think it fits the facts..

For the last two plus years Stern has been Swamped with orders...
Orders that Stern cannot fulfill...
Stern raises prices.. understandable with crazy world inflation and supply chain restraints.
But the price rises do not slow the orders for new games.
Stern raises prices again... same result.

Sometime in this timeline Stern believes the Pinball renaissance is real.. and signs the contract to move to a new Factory, basically doubling its floor space.

Stern does the only thing it can in 2022 and reduces it's new builds to two Cornerstone games, and works on the backlog.

Bond is announced with another large price increase, with the new Bond prices retroactive to older titles as of January 1st 2023.

Stern announces 500 Bond SLE at a stupid price for " collectors "

Theory.. Stern is simply treading Water until it can open the new factory, and hopefully increase production by mid 2024.... and POSSIBLY lower prices eventually, on Cornerstone titles.
and yeah yeah.. I know companys don't ever lower prices... until they are forced to.
Bond 60th is just a cash infusion to build less games at a higher price to bridge the gap until the new Factory can get up and running.

Simply.... Stern is trying to tamp down the new orders.
If I'm wrong then Iceman44 is correct.. see above.
This year could be tough for Stern.. We will see if the demand for backordered games hold up at the new Prices.

I was interested in Bond Premium until the price Increases.
Looks like Rick and Morty is my last NIB...
I just won't consider buying from any company at a 9 K + level.

Keith's single level design looks awesome... Would love to drop a few Quarters in and play it...
wish it was a home pin, or home pin Pluss++ for $8000.

Cheers.

There ya go..good idea.... I went in halfs on my Paradise.

Real news... thank you.

Ok here's a little news..
My friends got to the the Stern Booth at 2 PM today in Vegas...
No Bond 60th...
They had the Other current Cornerstones.
From what Jaytech10 said above it was shipped back to Chicago...?

So... what went wrong ?
Breakdowns ?
Bad Sales ?
Or Stern is playing it cheap and doesn't want to pay its representatives to hang out all weekend ?

Questions Questions....

Was there any explanation why it had to be packed up back to Chicago before the Public got to see it ?

Anyway. So no more news from Vegas.
Ace Gogi or Captains Showroom will probably get one.
Hope it's cool, I think the layout looks awesome, inline drops are my favorite shot in pinball ala Paragon Flash Gordon and TNA.
I've got loads of Quarters to play it.

Hope everyone who buys one digs it.

Cheers.

They definitely got the looks right...its gorgeous ... but be careful... 1st year car adopters are often in for teething problems.

Inline Drop targets are always awesome...
There's a positive post for you.
Enjoy your game.