Sterns website still shows 500 LE's. Has anyone seen this in writing?
Magicchiz

Their website is the LAST place to see changes like this. Seems like it will be official this week once they settle on 666 units.

1313 units makes more sense.
It's also the weekend, look for update once IT guy gets to work on Monday.

666 is the closest theme-sensible number, and the plates would be more boss with xxx of 666 on every one. There's no way they're doing 1313 LEs.

MockingBird edition Kapow!

It’s the half dozen Stern distributors that people are saying have confirmed to them that LEs are now 600 in total that’s got people scratching their heads.

Also Jeff @TWIP is usually on point, once mnpinball confirms or denies it you know it’s happening or not.

Exactly. Gary/Stern is all business (period).

The whole vault offering is to sell more pins. They won't be running a WWE vault, would anyone be surprised? Vault = sales and sales keep a company in business, not sure why people aren't getting this.

Consider the story behind the new Godzilla license, which is Spooky's dream license. It's heartbreaking that they lost out on that as they would have put their heart and soul into that title. Stern on the other hand... a box with lights, a theme/license which has the potential to sell.

You want to talk integrity, even after losing the license bidding against Stern, Spooky offered to help out as they have a wealth of knowledge on the subject etc... just crickets from Stern. Stern could have easily thrown Spooky a bone here, instead... gave the bone. Stern is all business all the time.

The list of actual buyers who are going to boycott Stern are extremely low and it will have zero impact on Stern's bottom line. The truth is that almost no one will take their marbles (money) and leave the playground. Just look at some of the avatar pics, lots of ego and money here. Even is some get their nose out of joint, they will be back with the next title. I

I appreciate those who dream of or demand integrity, this is not personal, it's just business. The reality is that many here would do the exact same thing.

Maybe they can call it Luxury Edition (LE) and just produce to fill demand and move on to the next title. Until then, when they realize that they have a winner, they will milk it.

When you run a factory as big as Stern and make a product that only appeals to a minute percentage of the population, you better be all business or you wont last very long. Make no mistake about it though, Gary Stern is passionate about pinball.

Why on earth do you think that Stern should have thrown a competitor a bone? That would be the dumbest thing in the world to do.

Except that 666 is associated with the devil. There is nothing inherently evil about the Munster family. The show was basically Leave It to Beaver crossed with Universal's classic monsters of the '30s and '40s. 13 is considered to be an unlucky number. It wasn't/isn't considered to be evil, it's just that people really, really liked 12 back in the day. As for making 1,313 LEs, to pay homage to the Munsters' address, yeah, I agree, that was never going to happen.

I’m buying an LE and 100 more isn’t going to make much of a difference to me. There really is no “value” with any of these games. They loose 20% right when you open the box.

It will be interesting to see who is around in the next five years. Stern was the only shop in town for years. That says something. Ironically the latest game that has surprised me in terms of build quality is Houdini. The fit and finish is great. All games have some issues. I’ve noticed with mine that JJP has the most with Stern having the least. I’m not basing JJP. Once a JJP game is “dialed in”, it is by far the best experience in pinball in my opinion.

Also - support with Stern, API, JJP and Chicago Gaming has been great. I’ve never had a bad experience with any of them. I like to see innovative features and layouts that aren’t the typical “fan”. The market has to be saturated this year and I’ll be the first to admit that if/when the economy tanks - NIB pins are going to be the first thing that I stop buying. The company that makes the best business decisions will be able to get thought this. No annomosity towards Stern for making their balance sheet stronger.

Thanks for beating me to it!

LOL this isn't the boy scouts. This is a business. Spooky offering to help Stern and not understanding why Stern wouldn't laugh in their face makes me question the business aptitude of the folks over at Spooky.

Stern being all business is my point, hence the increase of LE counts etc... You might have missed that overall message that in my post.

The Spooky reference was simply an example of integrity for those who want to work with a company who still has it. Limited Edition is still limited, at this point. Not sure what business aptitude has to do with the example. To your point, I suppose, I would agree that not everyone in business should be or has the aptitude for business. Again, not sure of the relevancy for Spooky.

While we're on Spooky;
Spooky is small town, family owned, and has a true passion for pinball. They are far and away from Stern and cannot compete with them, yet here they are still churning out pins in very low numbers. I hope that they are able to stick around because this type of business integrity does matter.

I’m actually surprised anyone gives a crap about how many LEs are in a run.

I’ve brought a lot of LEs and the number they are limited to is the last reason I’m buying, in fact I don’t think I’ve ever looked or paid any attention to how many are being produced.

I go in on an LE to get the full gameplay experience with all the extra mechs/rules etc, if it has the best art package as well as overall package powdercoated armour, backglass etc and that’s my decision made, don’t care if there is 100 or 1000 aslong as I can get one

It's pretty simple for Stern, if you plan on making as many LE's as the market demands then don't tell people it will be a certain number from the start. No misleading will go on and you can pump out as many editions as your company desires.

We're all saying the same thing here. It was an example showing that they are all business. So those that are surprised by a change in 'limited' count shouldn't be... because it's all business. If you want integrity, maybe look elsewhere.

Since I was a little and spent my first dollar I learned anything made to be Limited never is....

Stern should copy what Sideshow Collectibles does with their Limited Edition releases. They announce a statue, and start taking pre-orders, but they do not publish the Edition Size until later on. Once they've got a feel for how many orders they're getting, they publish the Edition Size. There are some buyers who wait to see what the Edition Size ends up being, but most jump right in, because they know they can cancel their order before the statue ships. There are some releases that do require a non-refundable deposit, so if Edition Size is something that affects decision, you can hold off until you see how many are going to be made, and you're usually still able to get on the list.

So you are saying this is an example of lacking integrity? Stern has to answer to their investors, not you or Spooky. Helping your competition out would be detrimental to Stern in every sense. That is actual integrity in the business world. Your use of that word here is quite misplaced. Spooky needs to stop being so naive and keep their mouths shut on their plans in the future if they don't want to get sniped out of the next license.

Funny. It seems the older I get my "dollars" now seem limited! lol

Links to the new raffle should always be sent by email if you had entered before. Also you can get the link from their Facebook page.

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pro raffle from Project Pinball
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What if it was an African Swallow?

maxresdefault (resized).jpg

The 100 LE are 220 volts for Europe and Australia market

Dude, forget about Spooky already. I made the reference and not Spooky, and that was in the previous post. The last post that you are quoting me on has no reference to Spooky and actually supports your argument about Stern having to answer to their investors. THEY ARE IN BUSINESS TO SELL PINS!

The use of 'integrity' is in relation to Stern changing a published LE count and a bunch of people being up in arms about it. Pinside members were calling into question Stern's 'integrity'.

Now, when you say 'helping out your competition would be detrimental'. I only have to reference Microsoft's $150M and Apple, but that would be for another day, another discussion.

Microsoft had self-serving reasons for doing that.....it was not out of the "good of their heart".

Stern are a business and want to make as much profit as possible.

Whilst it makes no real difference to add another 100 LE, can't help thinking that it is a little disingenuous.

LoL, They still are an increase of the edition size after the fact. IF Stern announced the extra 100 prior to taking preorders/deposits/prepays this wouldn't be an issue. We all would have the necessary information to make a decision. Stern even showed the LE with a LE plaque # of 500... Doing this after the fact is deceptive.

If this was done to meet demand and get 100 extra machines in customers hands. Stern should reduce my cost on the LE's by the 20% they will be making on those extra 100 machines... IF this was done in good faith that is.... /rolleyes

Exactly. Justifying this by saying it's just business does NOT excuse it. Businesses can be run ethically and still make a profit.

It is deceptive indeed. Honestly I was just expecting the extra 100 LE’s in B&W with the mentioned badges 1-100 to leave the LE guys with their 1-500 alone please.

Unethical? I don't recall Stern ever making any hard "promises" to anyone. Their website might say 500 but where in writing are you "promised" 500? It's called the limited edition and it is still limited whether 500, 600, or 1000. If you are buying it solely on the reason there will be only 500 and not 501, then maybe you should rethink your purchase.

LOL - you think future LE sales are going to drop!? You do realize that Stern has played plenty of games in the past with customers (remember having to apply for the honor to buy a massively overpriced BM66?), raised prices dramatically, and suffered numerous qc issues and still sells games out in short order. Munsters LE sold out in what - 5 minutes? Past LE's have sold out sight unseen simply based on theme. Customers are demanding more, not less.

Stern made a mistake in the pinball's animation !!
Normally, the fire comes out of Spot's nose. But when you look at the pinball's animations, sometimes the fire comes out of his mouth.
When they use the show's footage it's right, but there selfmade animations are wrong!!

take a look at the stream (13:23) and see the mistake

spot (resized).jpg

Tomorrow, Tuesday, at 13:00 UK time 8am Eastern, DOMINO pinball is streaming Munsters Pro live from EAG in glorious London sponsored by Pinball Heaven www.pinball.co.uk join us at http://www.twitch.tv/NeilMcRae/

You can apply that logic to any added features they put in writing. Are they not obligated to include upgraded speakers/side art blades or are those just promises they can break also?

I'm out!

lol

They can indeed. The bottom of the flyer says **Subject to Adjustment**

And... I just put my deposit down on an LE!

Chris Franchi talked me into it by saying he was going with an LE. It's all his fault!

That would be some bullshit and there really would be no reason to own an LE if that was a common practice.

How about the game features matrix stating 500?! How about the plaque on the featured LE game stating 500?!

AND how about Zach Sharpe clearly telling prospective customers at CES, in the DeadFlip videos, that there will only be 500 LE's made?!!!

Never mind that a limit of 500 was also conveyed to all distributors and passed on to prospective customers contemplating dealer availabilities and cost options.

I personally didn't buy an LE based on the stated 500 limit and the exact number is irrelevant to my point which is ANY increase in production beyond the amount told to prospective buyers before the game was sold out (or nearly so) is unethical. It's the principle of the matter - you don't promise your customers one thing and then just choose to ignore it in order to make more $$$.

Isn't Stern's computer animated clip the one where Spot looks more like Barney and his head is just bobbing left to right? The clip where the fire is coming out of his mouth looks too good to have been done by the same person. Are you sure it wasn't a clip from the show?

Now I need to go back and watch the Munsters to see if they were ever consistent as to where Spot's flames were coming from.

Mouth vs nose, I'd rather see them lose the Barney bobblehead! LOL!

I glad you agree that Stern may not have integrity....lets see what that exactly means..

Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles, or moral uprightness. It is a personal choice to hold one's self to consistent standards. In ethics, integrity is regarded as the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one's actions.

I like doing business with a company that has "integrity"

Limited editoon isn’t really true if the number is >100

500 or 600, not an iota of difference, i can’t believe the noise this is causing!

And you guys saying you’ll never buy another stern or call the lawyers, ahahaha, sorry but you are weak, part of your mind is already excited about the next stern release (James Bond btw) and you know if its a great game you’ll buy it, even if they come round your house and dump in your bed and change the LE number again.

Merry New Pinball you filthy animals

I agree with Tim on this.

Does Stern have the right to change anything on the machine, yes. Is it unfortunate that the vibe has changed in the last twenty four hours from what a great theme, design and overall look. To now, a negative attitude towards ethics and honesty.

I for one, was giving them praise for how they presented the Munsters. This was their best kick off I’ve seen. Finally they gave us video of all three models. Along with the opportunity to play, before purchase. The package looks very complete, even code looks good at this stage.

I along with many others were told 500 LE. I don’t Buy an LE for that reason. But, if you’re charging these extra dollars, it should have a limitation to it, that you know up front.

True, Stern have done all this kind of stuff before and over the years, so many times have we heard 'I will never buy a Stern again....'

And then, oh, a new shiny.

150119.shinynewobject1 (resized).jpg

Maybe you can't because you're apparently missing the point that its an UNETHICAL business practice and as such, shouldn't be dismissed as inconsequential. NIB pinball addiction reality or not.

Regardless of whatever its impact is on the game's final value, the 500 game limit stated by Stern, up until the LE's all but sold out, has IMPACTED the purchase decision and price paid by prospective buyers evaluating the model's remaining availability. Accordingly, any reneging by Stern on this previously stated limit is not only wrong, but a bad precedent that will factor into customers' future game purchase considerations as well.

Give it a rest already!

If it was well into production & people had plaques that said 500, that would be shitty. The game hasn’t gone into production yet, and the info from Stern always says “subject to change”. So, it’s changed. Very slightly. It’s still the same game with the trim and bonuses that buyers are theoretically buying it for. A few more of them won’t change any buyer’s experience with it. If resale is a worry, I don’t think 500 vs. 600 will make a bit of difference.

Didn’t a lot of distributors implement a no refund for LE orders this time?

I guess Stern underestimated how many fans of a black and white TV show wouldn't accept black and white art?

I thought you liked the B&W

Notice the pinsiders outside of the U.S are not complaining
AMD sold all their LE's in 2 hours. 50+

Pinball is not an investment.... Stern have made 100 more Munster LE's, now my LE is not worth as much.