JJP Pirates vs a Stern Premium

Im a LE kind of guy so standards are not my thing. But, i still would think a pirates se would be a great game to own. Go for it! A friend has a CE and loves it over most games he owns. That includes Stern, Bally, Williams and American Pinball.

JJP POTC is one of the best games made hand down. If you don’t have fun? You’re crazy. Value wise, it should hold its price pretty well, especially if they don’t make more. If you can afford the extra $ for an LE, do that because the differences are worth it. The Standard is still the complete game though. GOT and Metallica are good pins... but Pirates puts is way better.

I wouldn't pay above retail for any game so that would rule out the LE if it we're me. I think the Standard edition would be just fine. You really aren't missing anything from a gameplay standpoint.

If it’s true they aren’t going to run more pirates then it is going to continue to appreciate in value...great game. A pirates standard is good enough.

Honestly when I've played the LE I haven't really even noticed it among all the other features. It's cool but it's just a lighting mod.

I had the opportunity to buy a nib POTC Standard nib for $8200. It’s basically the same game as LE. You’d enjoy the standard and save a little cash

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/potc-who-has-playfield-dimples-cracking-wear-around-star-posts-

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/jjpirates-of-the-caribbean-troubleshooting-tips-issues/page/22#post-4994695

No matter how it feels there is more at play I would go IMLB but that's just me

I would be scared to buy Pirates Nib right now. It seems to be plagued with issues. They will make more.....they always do.

Search for the JJP issues on here. They're plagued with QC issues. Stern is way better quality and less headaches.

never had one issue with my JJP Pirates - 5 months and counting

No issues with my potc LE, perfect out of the box.

No issue with my LE as well. Perfect out of box.

It’s not. Everyone having little or no issues isn’t posting every day how their POTC continues to be trouble free. And for those that do, we get chastised for it.

Only issue I had with my POTC was a screw loose and a bulb popped out. I have a small chip by a post that has not changed in 1000 plays.

As someone who buys sterns, there is no stern even close to pirates for me. Buy a standard, add a shaker, and enjoy one of the best pins ever made.

I realize it is one data point, but on location we have a POTC CE with more issues than I can count (Ball Kicker had to be replaced, chest forks getting bent not working, flipper coil under ship lost hold power, almost all rubbers needed to be replaced in short order, ramps tightened down on pops that should spin so they wouldn't, slingshot hammers continuously coming out or balls getting stuck under slings, Playfield cracking around scoops, . . . Unless you really know what you are doing or happy making numerous fixes out of the box, I would stay away. People have also gotten bored of the game quick (i.e. not earning). We had a WOZ and parts similarly took forever . . . Also if JJP holds true to form they will just come out with a new more expensive pirates with functions stripped down.

We have had good success with Stern and Chicago Gaming out of the box.

If you are really looking for something to hold its value, just buy a used game of recent vintage and let someone else take the depreciation. If you hunt long enough, you can still buy and sell used games at about the same value.

I love hearing from operators. It does seem like a good home use game though. I spent last weekend playing the LE a ton and it is a great game, but I decided to pass. There were 5000 plays on the one I spent time on, with some of the post chipping issues detailed here but overall pretty good with protectors. Mine was the last LE on the line, I’m told. To say Stern machines are cheap when operators describe them holding up like tanks seems to fly in the face of many comments on Pinside. I’m an old WMS/Bally geek, and I’ve loved my BM66 Pre, STLE, and IMDNLE. Epic, fun games. I may still pick up a Pirates later though, and agree that another run is highly likely. In a year, perhaps, but the buzz and demand are excellent, so why wouldn’t JJP go for it?

This isnt a knock on JJP. I was the same way with Stern's Ghostbusters. QC seems to be an issue with pirates. I loved Pirates when I played it Des Moines.....and would consider purchasing on the next rum...run.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/jjpirates-of-the-caribbean-troubleshooting-tips-issues

Read thru this huge thread just on this single JJP game.

This is what I hear from fellow operators and have experienced myself with JJP games. The hood is always up.

People on pinside judge quality on if the cab appears to be splitting and the weight of the wood. My Sterns on route have had very few issues. I judge quality based on how often the machine is working not by the appearance of quality. Measured like this, Stern is king.

My advice is to read up around here not listen to the 10 fanboys that post in every single thread to defend JJP.

I have not formed an opinion on JJP POTC so will vote ST premium. I will say there is a lot of stuff going on in PotC just not sure how much I like it yet. It's a shame if JJP doesn't get them out in public because they cost too much.

I'd go with the POTC.

Everyone knows that Stern will NEVER make a game that is this complex and this loaded w/ "toys".

If you like ridiculously deep code and complexity, JJPOTC may be your thing. If you like lightning fast flow and crazy target shooting, ST Pre is amazing. I’d compare them to TZ and MM, respectively, in terms of the player experience. Both are great. Some complain ST is too similar across the modes and can be a little like chopping wood. But I think that can be true of any game. I love STLE and prefer it, but JJPOTC may sustain your interest longer.

Sterns don’t break because there’s practically nothing in them to break.

That said my sterns break just as much as any other pin I’ve owned. Though I’ve had more problems NIB on my sterns than JJP. But anecdotes are anecdotal.

Come on, Honda dude, knock it off.

It’s a joke, to illustrate how ridiculous the anti JJP crowd is. :p

I get it but you are sounding super anti Stern in your posts! If you changed your name to bmw4me, you’d like Stern better, to continue the car analogy! I love JJP and will add one eventually.

It’s a super old forum name I use. I owned an F3 as a young lad. I’m not anti stern at all. I own and buy them all the time.

With the games you have mentioned I would take the Pirates for sure.
I owned LE versions of ST and GOT.
Love my POTC LE, only issue I have had is chipping by one sling, and bubbling by another.
Easy to cover with different posts.
Mine isn't going anywhere, and I move games a lot.

Not true Matt

No offense but you have two Stern pins

It’s not a “joke”. You have been around here less than a year

JJP problems are well documented, and I have a POTCCE on the way

It’s a “joke” as well how bad the anti Stern crowd is

You have an AS pro and IMDN premium

What else have you owned?

Stern pins have been awesome, like em or not

There are many reasons they sell 12k per yr and JJP doesn’t even come close

Every new game in my collection required adjustments and tweaks out of the box. My PotCLE probably requires more small adjustments than my Sterns simply because of there are ALOT of switches on that game. My BM66 required the largest adjustment: a complete lower half cabinet swap. What I’m trying to say is, “it’s a crap shoot” but all of that talk about Stern or JJP being plagued with QC issues is overblown, particularly in a home environment. Plus, it looks like you’re probably buying on the secondary market so most gremlins would probably have been addressed by the previous owner.

All of the games on your list are fun, buy the one you like best.

I thought you were gonna say Bmws break down all the time or something...

Why do you always have to make it personal? You do realize that joining pinside does not mean that life before doing so is irrelevant. It matters absolutely zero how long I’ve “been on pinside”. I spent my teenage years in the 90s pinball frenzy playing endless pins at an arcade we owned and have been playing pins ever since. I’ve owned many throughout the years. My pinside “history” collection only contains pins that I’ve been tracking since I joined pinside, because the forum feature looked cool so I thought I’d use it.

In the past 6 months I’ve bought Star Wars, Star Trek, GotG, IMDN, and now Aerosmith. How many sterns have you bought the past 6 months? I’m practically buying one stern per month, so it’s safe to say I like sterns. I mean doesn’t every stern hater spend $5k a month on sterns?

That’s a lot of Sterns in a short time...you’re burning some midnight oil for sure! Maybe I made a mistake on POTC. It is a great game, although the last movies sucked. Toy Story, I’m in.

Because of my parents operating pins at an arcade I’m used to changing pins often. After that, starting in 2004, I had been buying pins off and on over the years. But now that we live in a home that could fit potentially 10 or more pins, that old habit came back quickly, so I’ve been buying and selling pins with greater frequency like we used to at the arcade. Old habits die hard I guess. :p

I heard JJP games dimple like crazy... LoL

I heard that Stern never finishes code.

Jesus THANK YOU

JJP Pirates SE for the win. 99 percent of the JJP Pirates LE for 89 percent of the cost. JJP Pirates is a game with a little more code work could be the GOAT!
I am a Stern fan but Pirates is excellent!

What about the chipping clear coat? I heard that they are using a softer clear.

Several hundred plays and my game looks the same as the day it was new.

Depends what you are looking for. I have mostly newer Sterns. Six months ago I bought a used WOZ and never appreciated it until it was in my home. Such deep games. I’m enjoying it so much my next pin will be a JJP.

That's one problem with the Pinside statistics--how long you have been here on Pinside often doesn't match years in the hobby. I started in 2002, in and out over the years, now more in than out.

I’ve been around long enough to have a opinion: Stern sells allot more pins for sure.... mainly because they are cheap and they can crank out the volume. I’ve owned 10+ sterns and every JJP pin (and about every Williams / Bally A game). My advise is don’t fall for the hype and pumping of any pin here on pinside - go play the heck out of what your considering first. My preference - you get much more from JJP in terms of quality, code, toys, immersion, value, lastability, and your supporting a family run organization of great people who’s focus is building the best games in the world - unlike stern whose run by an investor group and their bean counters.

JJP has a 25 and counting page troubleshooting thread...

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/jjpirates-of-the-caribbean-troubleshooting-tips-issues/page/25#post-5012873

And Munsters is the "worse code ever".

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/munsters-worse-code-ever

Like it or not, Sterns sell because home owners enjoy the gameplay while operators can rely on them to make money.
JJP is moving toward this model with Wonka as it’s been successful and sustainable long term.

Shoot, I bailed on the LE but may get back in on a Standard! When I was playing at Next Level in Hillsboro (amazing location), I didn't even notice the starfield and spinning pirate, and the topper is nothing special, lots of mod options there. The glass you can add later if you need it. Frankly, the stainless would powdercoat nicely into the green CE color or some other variation in the LE/Standard color scheme. RGB GI is a loss, not sure how to mod that one without seeing the underside. And now watch the rush on the remaining Standards...

I agree

Here’s the answer from the club forum. Forgot about the shaker... Sounds like a minor issue, since the inserts are rgb. He later posted that it can most likely be added.