Believe me the code of Monster Bash r, Medieval Madness r and Attack from Mars r is simple. It was done over 20+ years ago and MM, MB, AFM are simple games, I realized after playing them here in Tokyo last night. Not that MB is not fun, it is, but there is almost zero depth to it. Munsters will be far and away more dynamic and deep. How do I know? History of owning a very similar table known as Batman 66 tells me. Munsters will relate to the many show clips and funny story lines it had. It will definitely be deep, just like Batman 66 is deep. I play Batman and it’s grest fun and deep with code .98 and soon 1.0. Yes I know Stern blew it making us wait so long after releasing the table to get code right. Don’t think they’ll make the same mistake on Munsters. But Batman is now worth the wait.

Monster Bash is a beginners primer in pinball. I lit up everything the second 100 yen input into the game on MB. Got frank up, exposed Mummy, got drac out and rocked the band. I could not ever do that with a modern game of the 21st century. Way too much depth that will last for years. MB gets boring fast. Hit left ramp, hit right ramp. Hear some funny lines. After you’ve heard them once, no longer that funny.

Munsters will have many with all its depth and several years fun programming. Around 100 episodes to choose code from. MB has no such depth or history catelog to choose depth. No LCD fun. That’s why they’re pricing it so relatively low $6k. Actually should be no more than $4k, on a simple old game like that. Now if Stern will put some quality into Munsters and not overcharge us. Here’s hoping.

Why do people so get into nastalgia and not use their head on spending money on pinball? It’s like saying you like driving your 20+ year old car more than a modern 2018 that has all the bells and whistles of modern technology. It doesn’t make sense. These old games like AFMr, MBr, MMr all get old quick in a home environment. They weren’t meant for the home like modern JJPs and Sterns, with all their depth and going back for one more game feeling.

The old games were meant for arcades where people play them for 10 - 20 minutes and then try another one. Very short bursts of play. Why would anyone want to spend $6 to 8k to have that kind of game sitting in their house, over 21st century tech???

Have to give that to you as a rare exception! GTOs are cool, but they drive like tanks! So analogy works!!

Couldn’t agree more! It’s unbelievable what they give us for the high dollars we give them. JJP on the other hand gives us a great deal more in light shows, sounds, motorized toys that interact with the ball, quality, code and depth. Although I wish their prices we’re lower as well.

My main issue with all Stern tables, is the lack of interactive toys. If I’m going to pay Sterns high asking prices, it better be more than artwork underglass. They better have worlds under glass, loaded with interactive toys like JJP. Im not trying to turn this into JJP vs Stern. JJP has upped the game for sure. An empty play field is not very pinball like and especially in the 21st century. I know the pics are low Rez and maybe the high Rez will change minds, but the PF looks rather empty and more in the vain of the Beatles table. I love the Munsters show. It’s a classic, so I really want to like this table. Will hold full judgement till complete reveal and play is shown. Stern is smart to piece meal the reveal to us.

I own Batman 66 and love the table theme integration. But it has some motorized active toys. Penguin crane is one of the all time best and the bat cave turntable another quality motorized toy. Munsters beside it would look nice. So here’s hoping full reveal looks better and full demo shows more motorized toys.

You’re right there is no threat because Stern’s copy and paste system, can’t be threatened. No other maker makes such simple no frills pinball tables than Stern. The great thing about Stern is their motto is: how good is good enough, cause we don’t care. I was at a pinball arcade and realized after playing a dozen Stern’s that they all began to blur and seemed to play and be near the same table. Just a couple ramps, with some plastics thrown here and there for a theme and relatively no motorized toys. DP with a slinky bash toy and IM with a lifting ramp. Not much at all in interactive toys. If the asking price were what they were just 7-8 years ago, then such a sparse amount of goodies is fine, but when the asking price is double that of 7-8 years ago, shouldn’t we expect a great deal more?

Even Stern’s boutique tables like Beatles and Primus cost an incredible $8,000.00 for not much at all. Cannot believe anyone would be sucked into paying that kind of money for so little in return. Those tables should only be no more than $3k to $4k tops.

We all need to vote with our money and just say no to Stern’s policy of giving very little in game toys, quality and code depth versus what other makers give us for our money spent. That would return pricing away from gouging us to being fairly priced again like it was just 7 years ago. When Tron could be purchased NIB for $3,800. Hoping Munsters will reflect a change in offering and fair pricing, but it probably won’t. Maybe if Beatles Boutique table does poorly Stern will rethink their strategy and return us to the good ol’ days of pinball. They would flourish if they did and make even more money than they do now.

Addendum: played a lineup of Sterns last night and don’t think they play the same. Maybe the day wrote the above, felt like the lineup I was playing seems similar. Stern makes good tables that are fun to play. I own some as well.

If Stern keeps raising prices, location pinball tables, here we all come!

Cutting out all the middle men would be good, but distros wouldn’t like that. They say after sales service is important, but I end up fixing most any and all issues myself and I think most people do too.

Maybe Stern needs to consider a direct ordering system along with direct download system and lower or keep prices down. With modern online shopping, do we really need to pay for all the old infrastructure???

Wish that would work. To some degree it could, but with the chip on the board that prevents booting up...
The distro here is a good bunch, they’re not a problem. Just wish high pricing was really considered an issue by Stern. The Beatlewitch table pricing demonstrates that they don’t care. Honestly, $13,500.00 for Beatlewitch here is outrageous! Of course we want everyone to be paid for their efforts, but there is a breaking point. Can it keep going up and have people stay in the hobby?

What time will be the stream and what is the link?

Yes change name to Munsters Club. Don’t want 4 or more threads.

Thanks for that!

Actually Batman 66 is Stern’s best selling table of all time, we’ve been told.

The person that said it was Stern’s best selling machine of all time is Joe Kaminkow, if he can be trusted. You’d think he’d know sales figures?

Any guesses how many Munsters will sell?

Agreed, here in Oz the price difference between the pro and the LE is a whopping $5,150.00!!! Pro sells for $8,850 and LE $14,000.00. A premium is, $11,500.00. Incredibly high prices here in Australia. (I know some are going to cry exchange rate, but a dollar to us is still a dollar. It wasn’t that long ago when an Auzzie $ was worth more.) You can buy a brand new car here for the LE price. In fact I did not long ago.

A lower playfield, with artwork not as good as a pro IMHO, is not worth an extra $5,150.00. Getting 95% of gameplay, for nearly 40% less cost, is a no brainer. Go Pro!

Would have to agree with this. JJP’s hat being thrown into the arena, has been good for pinball all around. Competition always makes for a better product from other companies. It’s marketing 101 and is the real reason for people like me entering the fun. Without JJP, it would be a different world.

As much as I like Stern, they have had a habit of only doing good enough, rather than great, till JJP. Stern has hit a triple with Munsters and will be a home run if the code continues to flow and get better for more depth. At these high prices without deep code, why buy for the home, when location play for a shallow game works just fine? Paying only a few dollars for the fun of a shallow game makes sense, rather than upto $9k for a game at home you’ll get bored with.

I see the attraction to Munsters for sure (it’s a nice looking game), but price is a major factor. A pinball game at these high prices, better have deep code and be packed out as far as mechs and toys or it’s not worthy of a home purchase.

At current day high prices, I’ll have fun with it on location. If I’m paying $6 to 10k, it better have visible value and deep long lasting code, so no one gets bored in my home. I’m paying for a world under glass, not just mainly art and lights under glass.

Not sure why anyone would call the well done BM66 turntable anything but one of Sterns best Mechs. The crane works well with the TV series for sure. Layout is great fun and shoots well, if you adjust the left orbit bumper. Where else do you get such innovative game play and code from Stern, except BM66? If one can’t understand that, they’ve probably not had much time on the table. I’ve owned one for more than half a year and have lots of time on the table, so I get what Stern was trying to achieve. It’s great fun for the family!

MBr was good in its day. But it’s old shallow code and game play by today’s standards, doesn’t hold a candle to what Munsters will end up becoming. Like windows 95 versus today’s windows code. World of difference. The LCD original Munsters show IP assests alone, blast it past MBr simple dot matrix screen. This adds to the over all experience of fun and excitement.

Munsters will be heads and shoulders over MBr, it’s just a matter of time and updates. Stern won’t be outdone by MBr, since they have a vested interest for at least the next 3 to 4 years of sales.

What is Squizz?

Must say the price in Oz is ridiculous for sure. It would have to be real special table to spend that much. Way over priced.

I suppose I’m expecting too much after Batman 66 coded by Lyman. I’ve just been watching Munsters and there are a ton of things that could be added to make a great story line like Batman has, with places that make sense for a pause. Example: transition to lower playfield so screen can be watched, as video pauses for transitions to the bat pole etc. Kawabunga Batman!

You are making Gary feel proud...

Like hearing all the feedback positive and negative, all good. Please would some of you stick to better, even classier language. Let’s try and keep the swearing out of this forum. Sounds like a bar room at times. Lol

Well stated Squizz! Don’t let them beat you down. Carguments are simple similarities to pinball that everyone understands. Shallow code is for lazy or rushed programmers in 2019. With the 70 plus episodes available to Stern there is no reason not to have similar depth as done by Lyman in Batman. Can you imagine what Batman would be like if it was a spell this character name and area for each of the villains, with video not really associated with the game play?

I love the Munsters and watched everyone as a kid when it came out in the 60s. Could have been so much better if Lyman had done his code/depth magic with such a great theme. If people can’t understand that, they’re living in denial.

If we were paying last century prices for games, then shallow code is fine like they did then. But since we are paying outrageous prices in this century, shallow gameplay is inexcusable! Valued added is of major importance. If not, charge me $3,500 and I won’t complain, but $9,000.00??? Come on!

What your saying is dumber than dumb and makes little to no sense. Re-read what I said. You’re misquoting it Gary. Lol

Fair enough.

Are you sure you’re not on Stern’s payroll? Lol

You’re trying to explain away a currently shallow coded game as okay. Again it’s only okay if they charge a great deal less.

Appears Munsters is a great location table. Throw in some dollars, have fun. Danger of shallow code in a home environment is boredom setting in, unless deep code is there like Batman keeping you coming back. Batman is a good example of all types of players being satisfied. No one has to make up explanations for shallow code on Batman, because Lyman doesn’t do shallow code. Price is somewhat justified with Batman for home.

Thanks for this information. Very good point you’ve made. This info alone makes me rethink buying a Munsters. They’ve cheapened the table. It maybe fun, but if Stern is going to charge me such high prices for almost half of a TAF table, I’ll be buying a TAF remake in the future.

Do you happen to know how many coils Batman 66 has?

Right on the money with no pun intended. Lol! Accurately stated, “knee pad wearing fanboys” are a plenty in Pinside Sterndom!

Time to get real Stern slurpers: if coil count doesn’t equate to fun factor, then why do the most fun games usually have the highest coil count? The reason we play the game is because of things that interact with the ball. Coils are the main things that do that. Reduce that number and it reduces the overall fun experience significantly. Ending with just ramps and a bash toy or two. Boredom sets in with the same worn out fan layout, with everything placed at the back of the table as we’ve seen over and over from Sterns copy and paste program.

Stern tables are getting emptier by the release. Code can only make up so much in the fun factor area. Stern needs to be more responsibile in the cost accounting versus what they charge for the tables. Look at their recent history. They come in with great titles and skimp on everything and way overcharge for the final product. Beatles, comes to mind? Pretty soon we are going to be discussing how fun the table will be to mod, because it has great artwork and a few lights, but not much else. But because it has extreme nostalgia for the Stern fanboys, they’ll bow to the stripped down table that has great artwork and a beloved title and pay $9,000.00.

Meanwhile, Pappa Stern continues to see how much milk he can get from ol’ Bessie, while he keeps cutting her hay rations. Admittedly, Stern acquires the best IPs and has kept pinball alive, but how are they going to increase the home buyers is the big question, with machines more suited to arcades? Where people play for 10 minutes and don’t care what coil count is and ball interaction in relation to the price. After all, they’re only paying a buck and not nearly $10k, after shipping and tax etc, like us home buyers.

I do like the overall Munsters package at a much lower price, if they’re going to give me a much lower product value in terms of mechanical interaction. Otherwise, I’ll Just enjoy it with a few dollars on location.

Nice and a good game for sure! How many does Batman 66 have for comparison?

Sounding more and more like a great location game. For the home? Meh, not even close for $6-$9k.

Maybe a year or two down the track if Stern rethinks code like they did with Batman, then maybe home might be nice. We’ll wait and see. They’ll be making this for the next 3-4 years.

Marketing is the key issue here between the two companies. Stern is hands down better at marketing.

If it were based on table layouts alone JJP wins hands down every time. Remove the beloved IP from any table and look at what is left?

JJP is packed to the max with toys and layout galore. Best example is DI. No one can beat Pat’s layout, done by one of the best designers of all time. Look at all the superb toys in that game. Never hear anyone bashing any aspect of DI, only the theme. Which is beyond understanding as the theme is a third in the trilology of disaster themes done by lawlor. A brilliant theme by most thinking. If Stern would have done DI, it would be number one and loved by everyone. Why? Because Stern marketing is so much better and the company already has a huge fan base by comparison.

Borg is a good designer, but remove the beloved Munsters theme/art and what is left? A bare bones empty playfield, with nothing new and exciting. It’s basically empty!

Welcome to the pinball public forum, where we discuss everything but the subject at hand. Lol

Are you talking about Al Lewis?

Good fun! Can’t wait to hear your detailed review.

Will ship April, that’s why it’s taken so long to show, so delivery and reveal are close together. Show at TPF and it’s Pat’s new table. A regular body. Looking forward to it!

Nope, TS is Eric’s. They see saw each other. DI Pat’s, POTC Eric, then Pat again with WW, then close year out with Eric TS. If all goes well on production line. Think they’ve finally got it figured out after 8-9 years at it.

This confirms what I’ve thought from seeing it at release. Haven’t been able to play it yet, but this review demonstrates my issues with Stern. They charge big time money and give us very little to almost nothing in return. The same old worn out fan layout time and time again. IMDN was a breath of fresh air because a different style layout, but with a couple of toys that break down a lot if buying the premium or LE. My guess Sterns reason for bailing out on any motorized toys is because of not wanting to spend money for service and warranty issues. Stern has very high margins from my understanding and that’s good for them, but bad for us if it’s not balanced with value packed tables. Easy solution is make them of quality parts like Williams did.

Those with positive reviews appear to not be wanting to see that the emperor has no clothes or not willing to admit it, because of the beloved nostalgic IP of the Munsters. Make that same table with a no name IP and I bet almost no one would buy it. I’ve wanted to like it because I love Munsters, song and artwork, but no toys and stripped down, no big money going to be spent by value shoppers. What has happened to the pinball market? Is JJP the only ones that know how or willing to make tables with plenty of toys that interact with the ball any longer?

I’ve played/owned enough Stern tables to be quite familiar with this table layout. Haven’t written my own review because I’ve not played it yet, but can’t see it being too different from other Stern offerings of similar nature. A Borg table with a low budget plays near the same.

I’ve never said this Borg table is bad. It just appears low budget from a goodies standpoint. Borg probably had more toys and such on it. Stern bean counters and service people said no take them off. Their margin is way higher than you think. I’ve got no problem as I said with them making plenty of profit. Just give us value packed tables like Williams did or JJP does now. JJPs lack of profit comes from other issues, certainly not because of value. I know I’ve spent/spending a great deal with them, but satisfied with getting lots of value in return. Their tables are packed. POTC lack of sales is not from having a lack of toys. It’s packed and a great playing table. The IP is the problem there. The exact opposite of Munsters.

I’m wondering WHO-Dey? Are you on Sterns payroll?

Would agree Dialed In is by far the best game to come out in this century. Maybe top of all time. History will prove this out like it did for great Williams tables. 20 years down the road and Dialed In will be highly sought after.

Iron Maiden is good too, just not fan of the theme. Tron is a blast to play and Borgs best, even though the artwork is lacking on that table. As soon as a vault addition comes out, I’m in.

Lack of layout innovation is the area of concern. Come on, typical back at the table fan layout, with two mono targets are not innovation, etc.

It is apples to apples. Dialed In LE is $9k and Munsters LE is also $9k too! One table is packed with goodies, the other, not even close.

Pat Priest the actress whose face is on Stern’s pinball table, was the real Marilyn Munster. She starred in 57 episodes and will be at the Texas Pinball Festival with Butch Patrick. Beverly was not much in the way of being Marilyn. She was only in 13 episodes of the Munsters. Pat’s 57 episodes definitely makes her the defacto Marilyn and is the reason Stern only put her likeness on the table.

Fully agree. Stern is a first class pinball manufacturer. I had a play field issue and they replaced with no trouble at all. I trust Stern to do the right thing. QC is a tough issue because humans can miss seeing things. But Stern stands behind their product and will make it right. I went through my stellar Distributor AMD which is also tops in the business and can be trusted.

Played only a few games today on the first Munsters Pro in Australia, first impressions:

Was really trying to find all the negative aspects written about on this forum, but couldn’t really find them. The table is a Stern gem.

Artwork: Beautiful and a joy to see one of my favorite themes from a show represented so well. Other companies tables don’t look this good. Meaning, most use clip art, instead of paying for full blown artwork like Stern does.

LCD: Lots of integrated video that puts you right into Mocking Bird Lane. The feel of the show is well represented and the Munsters theme shines. Hope Stern puts lots of different video on additional levels that I’ve not experienced yet. There is so much more video I’m hoping Dewight adds from the show, like Lyman did for Batman.

Game layout: Flow is spot on (no pun intended - lol) and really works well, with all shots exposed for trapped balls to hit off flippers. Like the kitty shot next to Herman. The ramps are innovative and work so well. Even without hitting the ball hard, right ramp 180 is makable at slower speed. Best of all, targets at the end of the ramps, so goodbye nasty bricks. This is a fan layout of course, but has its own unique feel. Borg nailed this one better than the video streams reveal. It has the all important kinetic feel to the shots.

Mono targets are fine, even if drop targets would have been nice, but might look odd to have Lilly drop and Dragula otherwise. They work well with the flow of the game. Dragula is a nice touch and makes for interesting flow. Could use more video variety although for dragula sequences.

Toys: Missing an important toy in the middle, meaning grandpas basement. However, if you didn’t know about the basement, then the play is still good without it. Herman bash toy moves well and fun to hit. Wish for another mechanical toy, but spot under the stairs is fun too. Grandpa’s lab has an additional bash toy that might help satisfy. Could have had raven as an interactive toy. Maybe they’ll do that with a topper.

Lights: Love the light show and was worried about green flashing, hoping Dwight will program a way to tone them down by menu adjustments. Heard even brighter flashing on B&W, which I’d be buying.

Music and call outs: Can it get any better than Munsters theme and associated show series music? Paul Lynn call out sounding voice is quite nice. Other callouts from Munsters family is so good too.

Munsters is a four player party game, if there ever was one. Stern needs to amp up game depth a bit for the one player experience to last in a home environment. I’ve always liked MB, but think Munsters edges it out and seems like a lot more to it with LCD theme integration.

Overall this table is not boring as a few suggest and would fit nicely in any home, as long as Dwight continues to improve the code depth. Needs some wizard type modes to go along with the fab table and theme. The flow is so nice that it feels good to shoot. It has that one more play feel to it, with plenty to shoot and hit. For a pro it feels packed. Looked at other pros near it and they don’t seem as good a deal. Stern makes the best tables as the table quality shows. Upped their game making better now than the competition. Didn’t see dimpling per say, but then again it was dark in the place I played it. Pro table is a good buy!

I’ve now had well over 50 plays on Munster Pro and stand by my review. In fact feel it’s even better than I felt before. Got to Munster Madness, but want to keep playing. Still think codes needs lots of additional work for depth and better last-ability in a home environment.

Checked out build quality and can now say Munsters build quality exceeds other pinball manufacturers in the business.

Table feels solid.
Using plywood on base
No tinny sound any longer.
Has a nice heavier feel to the table.
Lock down bar far superior to the old Williams style.
Light shows equal to or exceeds others.
Table coating nice and could not see dimpling even with lots of light on table with tons of plays. Hope it stays that way.
Back glass lights well.
Heavy duty armor so no chipping.
Heavy sturdy wire forms.
Parts getting the feel of old Williams quality.
Speakers and sound quality even on Pro is quite good. My Batman 66 speakers were terrible and had to be replaced with flipper fidelity’s to sound good.

Think shooter lane metal should be recessed.

Closely looked over other tables sitting next to Munsters and they don’t seem to be this level of fit and finish. Hopefully new era for Stern. For the first time, thinking Stern is doing some of the best builds in the business.

As customers, we don’t want to do all kinds of adjustments and work on a $6k to $9k purchase, fixing blunders that come off the line. Keep up the good work Stern!

Your care shows and this is what we expect for that kind of money. The bar has been raised. It appears Stern has taken the next big step and has adopted “no expense spared” philosophy. Keep it up and we will support you with our dollars.