Pass. $ still safe! Can't wait to see what lawlor will come up with.

I thought this was rumored to be an LCD game? Looks like any upgrades to the stern display system continues to be vapor ware.

The problem is that at the prices stern is now asking for their pins, pinheads are expecting to be able to at least point to something to justify it. Nothing on this pin jumps out as justifying what will most likely be yet another price increase over star trek. I look at this pin and see the same old rehashed technology and would pay $4200-$4500. Unfortunately, stern's pricing trend predicts that the pro version will probably be pushing way beyond that. Mustang toy appears to be an off the shelf Walmart piece 1:18 scale. Nothing in the pics excites me for what I assume Stern will be pricing it at. Hope I'm wrong...but with all the new platform and LCD talk I was expecting to be blown away. Simply not the case, at least for me.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0028RXD16/ref=asc_df_B0028RXD162937418

I agree with you. I think all the code issues and ever increasing prices have made people look for reasons not to spend their money and convince themselves they don't want the newest shiny pin. As you pointed out, same thing happened with star trek and now it is selling quit well.

You know, stern has the ability to at least stem some of this negativity by organizing and implementing an actuwl marketing department to communicate. Why wouldn't they build up this pin and have a reveal to pinheads at a pinball show instead of to gearheads at a car show? Share some details before the reveal so negative speculation about features is prevented. I realize this is a car themed pin, but no one going to a carshow would be looking for or even expecting to see a pin. I thought details of this pin were to be revealed at CES, and sterns main market of pinheads were anxiously awaiting the same...but then.... Nothing. Sterns marketing, or lack thereof, is its own worst enemy.

I trust that you have sources that have shared this info with you, but when has stern ever communicated this themselves to their market of buyers?

Edit: I don't buy pins as investments, but seeing the dwindling prices of xmen, avengers and Metallica desn't instill much confidence to jump in on the next pin sans being blown away by its reveal.

I really do appreciate the info you share and hope you keep doing so. Stern should put you on their payroll for marketing as you do a much better job than the dude with the smartphone and a Facebook account they currently have

Reread my statement. It was merley an observation of where the parts were sourced from to esti ate BOM. Any negative connotation in such resides with your interpretation of my statement.

Not sure why it is thought that ford would pay stern to make this machine. Ford has a licensing program for its assets just like the other pins stern makes.

https://fordbrandlicensing.com/Default.asp

http://www.freep.com/article/20120601/BUSINESS01/206010353/Licensing-produces-revenue-for-automakers

http://www.beanstalk.com/brands/brand-extension-examples/ford/

I doubt ford paid a perfume maker to manufacture mustang cologne, or ford pays power wheels to make a kids ride on ford truck. Why would it be any different for a pinball?

Also not sure why it is believed these will be in all the dealerships. Hope I'm wrong, but I have never seen that golf cart, pool table, or anything else on that ford lifestyle website in a ford dealership (excepting the vehicle accessories like mudflaps and floor mats in the parts department)

The press release is interesting insomuch as it states the mustang pin is "exclusive" to ford.

http://www.freep.com/article/20120601/BUSINESS01/206010353/Licensing-produces-revenue-for-automakers

Does this mean it can only be ordered through the ford website or through ford channels? (i.e. not through traditional pin distributors)