This is a worst case scenario in my personal opinion. Making a pin based on a movie series with dwindling popularity and a theme that has been done before. JJP needs a theme that is new to pinball like Toy Story or Harry Potter. Something fresh to get people excited about.

Flash forward to Pinball Expo 2017 and Pirates of the Caribbean is announced. My thoughts would be "it's been done before....by Stern....ho hum....the game might be exciting....they need to one up the sinking ship toy and hope that clips from the movie dazzle people".

My guess...anything Disney owned would go through Stern (see Tron, Etc)

Harry Potter would get full support from my non-pinhead family members. Tons of potential for a deep rule set too.

I heard 4 is a widebody, I bet Pat is doing Toy Story or the Muppets for number 5

I'm not a fan of the POTC movies at all but I think it makes for an excellent pinball theme. Lots of action, pirate ships, sea battles, great villains and sea monsters, pirate dialog, etc. I think it would make for a much more exciting theme than something like Toy Story for instance. I think the new movie will renew excitement for the film. It's been 6 years since the 4th POTC movie so it will likely be a whole new generation of kids that are excited to see it. I know the trailer is supposed to air at the Superbowl on Sunday. The last movie got bad reviews but still brought in more than a billion dollars. I think this is one of those themes that is evergreen, much like Star Wars. Kids will always like pirates and I'm excited to see what JJP could do with it. The potential for video effects and cool toys is pretty limitless on this one.

Since JJP is a New Jersey company it would probably be Springsteen or Bon Jovi.

Am I missing something? Isn't the title of this thread "JJP #4 Announcement (Speculation)"? But then this link is posted?

Did Jack start working for Spooky or chiming in on their podcasts? Didn't have time to watch the whole thing, but just seems confusing that the title involves JJP with a link to a Spooky podcast.

I'm sure Harry Potter would be a huge success, but might not be one that I'd want personally if the PF layout is like Hobbit. I would much rather it be full and complicated with tons of ramps and shots like WOZ. It it's Superman, I'd definitely be in. This damn Atari one I have is such a pain in the ass, but I just like staring at it.

Nooooooooo! Shot through the heart, and you're to blame (if it gets made) hahaha

I believe the Podcast has the announcement of the next JJP game designer. The Podcast is pretty much independent of the pinball company Spooky from what I understood.

And when Jack announced the creation of JJP years ago it was on Spooky.

I didn't say I wanted either, just stating what I think may be realistic if one of those licenses is obtainable.
If I was forced to choose one of Bon Jovi and Springsteen it certainly would be Springsteen. I never could relate to the Bon Jovi hair band pretty boy concept.

Ahhh...that's what happens when you don't watch the whole video, and never knew that. Thanks for the info gents.

So who was the better pinballer and would deserve the game? I'd say Bruce, but so much more could be done with an MJ theme, and I can already here Thriller in the background music, or Thriller multiball.

Bruce Pinball 2 (resized).jpg

MJ Pinball (resized).jpg

I just don't see JJP doing a music themed game. It would surprise me more than Dialed-In did.

One of Jack's big goals is to bring new people into the pinball market. He told me two big target demographics for him are women and children. I can't really think of any bands that would do a good job of bringing lots of women or children into pinball. Critically acclaimed films on the other hand are enjoyed by just about everyone.

Found the Stern employee

If I were running a company and I couldn't get a licensing deal with Disney because of a competitor getting those themes, while also acknowledging children are a target demo, yet HP is unobtainable, I'd focus all my efforts on getting the Lego license.

2 movies, universal appeal, major theme parks, Discovery Centers, TV shows, a bazillion products, and probably the ONLY theme which occupies more real estate than Disney at every toy store in the country.

Endless possibilities for mechanism ideas and gameplay... plus if you use actual Lego's on the PF, it will be a thousand times more authentic than (yet equally cost-friendly as) your competitor gluing a bunch of Hot Wheels on a PF

LEGO Pinball would definitely be fun. And it's in an interesting "between" zone of original, but still licensed. They could create their own theme utilizing LEGO if they wanted. It wouldn't have to be strictly the LEGO Movie.

As far as Disney licenses - I'm fairly certain Stern does not have exclusivity. And from Disney's standpoint exclusivity doesn't make sense. Why go exclusive with Stern, who will put out probably 1 movie license in a given year when you could spread the pot and get 2+ movie licenses out in a year. Think about how prolific Disney is. They have their hands in EVERY cookie jar. There are Disney cups, oven mitts, Christmas stockings, shoes, candles, phone cases, salt and pepper shakers, band aids, erasers, and every other type of trinket.

Disney is everywhere, I don't see why they would draw the line with a single pinball company.

Aaaaaw!

mylittlepony_show (resized).jpg

I hear Stern has that license

I shutter as I type this, but Bieber would get the women and children excited for the game. It would also completely turn away typical pinball fans though. Man that would be a terrible theme.

Yeah, I think the other goal is to not also drive away 100% of the existing market

OOOOOO I LIKEY! Every time you hit the start button without enough credits "WHOS BAD"

James Bond

West World

2 for west world

That would not make it a guarantee that Stern will get the license just because they had business in the past.

Prior to last reveal in Oct of DI, which I am looking forward to seeing in 5 weeks for the machine's Ca tour.
I had permission to buy Harry Potter, yes permission from my wife and child because of the theme. I guessed at a "Super Premium LE Dulux " version at $14K. Well it wasn't Harry Potter so I didn't buy one, but the promise from my wife to drop a cars worth of cash on pinball stands. For one reason....
It's frikin Harry Potter, family is Hooked on it.
I just spent all day standing in line last Friday at Universal Hollywood and Hogwarts, butter beer, chocolate frog, etc... Dropped a bundle, because it's Harry Potter!!!
I can only hope JJack gets on a plane soon, goes and meets with JK and make this happen. Please, I don't want to stand in line at Universal again!

If JJP creates Harry Potter, Toy Story, or Muppets I am interested for sure.

You have to get permission from your child to buy pins? That's rough man.

We'll if that was the case, I'm sure a kid would green light buying a new pin easier than a spouse!

Any confirmation of stops on the CA tour?

I think if we get a Scooby Doo and Jetsons, that will fill the need for kid themed games for the near future. I had a thought about JJP and a potential Netflix partnership. Netflix has a substantial budget for marketing and development of their current series and also for future projects. What if Jack got a hold of the exec's at Netflix and pitched a partnership. Netflix is blowing up right now with some fantastic unique series and they have very deep pockets.

One series that would be an awesome JJP game would be Stranger Things. The music, the sci-fi plot, and the art would make for a great pinball theme. If Netflix were to invest with JJP for marketing purposes to help with R & D, etc. it would be a win-win. Mabye we can change the tune of 'contract pinball' by choosing partners that have something to bring to the table and also have a fantastic franchised theme they want to invest in marketing for. Make it happen.

I found this poster for Stranger Things with an awesome artistic rendition. It caught my eye and I really like it. It would make for a perfect back glass for the machine...

Stranger Things Poster.png

I'd be all in for a LEGO pin. Grew up with them and my kids love them. Legos are timeless!

Def going to see Lego Batman!

Less than zero interest in Harry Potter or Toy Story, but I can see why the former could be a boon for the industry.

I feel like it's too early in JJP's life to go for it yet though. I'd have thought that projected sales figures would be so high that they'd want more capacity before they did it.

Of the rumoured themes, I'd much prefer Bond Anthology, or Muppets depending on how it was done.

If there's any chance of a more adult theme, then a JJP Mad Max would be awesome if the rights are available.

+1 on a JJP Mad Max!

I find it funny 6 yr ago people were cheering for JJP to do non theme pins

People still are. There's no need to do ALL unlicensed pins. I'd like to see future unlicensed pins, but I also want Harry Potter. The ideas aren't at odds.

Maybe so but people are not using there imagination and posting non license themes

I would love original themes. The problem is Dialed In just didn't do it for me. I have not played Dialed In and I wont judge it until I play it. They only put out one game a year if we are lucky. So if it is a miss you don't see anything for a whole year.

I would rather them do licensed themes because I know they will do a good job with it. Something like Harry Potter would be amazing.

On the other hand, licensed themes can miss hard too. Aerosmith is a complete pass for me on theme alone, even though the shot map seems fine and the toybox is a cool trick.

BOO BOO

Aerosmith is a miss for me too. But in general Stern doesn't do as good of a job as JJP. If you get the right theme JJP will deliver. This is coming from a guy with almost all Stern pins. If JJP could get their price point down and continue to deliver the same quality while getting out more than one game a year they would destroy Stern.

But that is a really big IF.

Delivering one pin a year is also really scary because if it is a miss you could be sunk.

Does that mean they thought Dialed In was the best of the three?

The graph looks like a fin... duh dun... duh dun....

IMG_1552 (resized).PNG

I remember Jack saying at a show a while back that when he first met with Pat to discuss making a game for JJP that Pat told him he had 3 ideas. Jack said he heard the first, which is now Dialed In, and didn't ask about the other two as he was so excited about the first.

I heard the same. I have no doubt Pat is half way through the design of the 2nd by now.

I figure/hope we will get to see JJP Pat design #2 2018. Still looking forward to seeing/playing Dialed In, but the theme does not excite me all that much. From everything I've heard though it's a great playing game so I'll see if hands on I like it a lot more. Otherwise I'm hoping the next one will be something that speaks to me more and be just as fun.

As far as the JJP#4 which will be a licensed pin goes, lots of great ideas here. Of the ideas out there my personal wish list would be (in order of preference):
- Star Wars... common, it's star wars... I'm probably buying it no matter who builds it but would really prefer a JJP star wars.
- Guardians of the Galaxy... great music, fun and action packed, lots great space SciFi
- Stranger Things... it's got a cool mystery vibe... probably the closest JJP would get to a Horror/SciFi theme... it's scary but still approachable and liked by just about everyone.
- LEGO... I could see this happening... potential for interesting mix of original and themed.
- Toy Story... Lots of cool potential here, but I feel like the franchise is starting to show it's age and it's not yet to nostalgia... but if Disney reboots it, that's a strong contender.

WestWorld could make for a spectacular pin... but no way JJP will ever go anywhere near that one.

Here is an idea I don't think I've seen that could be pretty awesome if done right:

- Little Shop of Horrors

Those are all good ideas. If they annouced a theme before i paid for dialed in i might cancel lol. No way we get and announcemwnt anytime soon.