That's pretty cool. My wife is a huge Thunderbirds fan. We even have a Thunderbirds themed slot machine.

Personally, as far as marionettes go, I'd rather see a Team America pin....F**K YEAH!!!

My wife shows our boys episodes of Thunderbirds and Stingray all the time. I don't get it, but they sure do. And these are kids who have been raised on Spongebob, so there must be something to it.

I wonder if the decision was based on the fact that it does have the cult status to many but yet might have been reasonable from the standpoint of acquiring the license.

Even though I'm not a huge fan of the show, the thought of hearing the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...countdown in a pin would make me want to check it out.

You seriously need to grow a set, dude.

The vast majority of this thread was positive, mixed with a vocal few who either aren't familiar with the theme or just throw themselves into an epileptic fit of rage at any theme that isn't 100% original or the "one" pin they're waiting on to get made, and you act like a 6 year old who got frustrated on the playground and takes, as you admit, your ball and goes home?!?

You realize this is the Interweb, right? And that people tend to speak in blacks and whites, without considering shades of gray, right?

You realize if JJP and Stern followed your lead Gary and Jack would be hiding under their desks, sniffling like babies, after having shuttered their facilities over a few "meanies" saying bad stuff, right?

But they're not. They're turning the lights on every day, realizing there are some who like what's coming off the line on any given day, and there are some who don't. Personally I'm glad there are those choices, rather than just one flavor of ice cream we all have to stomach no matter our tastes.

Good luck with the project, Homepin. Sad you've given up on us "meanies" in the USA who would have bought some of your machines.

I'm sure the people who hold the Thunderbirds license (and are producing new episodes) are really glad you're on their list of folks making an officially licensed product.

You make a huge point in your rebuttal to tell us how you're not concerned about the money you'll lose by not selling to the North American market, but then tell us it's all because you lost a few bucks on PP chargebacks.

Which is it? Do you care about the money or not?

I think the reality is that you got your panties in a wad over the comments in this thread (which really weren't brutal at all compared to what can happen in a forum thread) and are acting more immature than anyone in business has a right to be.

One more thing...

Thunderbirds are a NO-GO...for 2015!

I heard he was going to write one of those "...for Dummies" books, but the "dummies" thought he'd give them a bad name.

And you ask what our "beef" is with you? You're serious?

You announced your theme, some admitted they were unfamiliar with it, others genuinely expressed interest, a few trashed the idea, and you threw a hissy-fit of epic proportions.

Don't know about the rest of pinside, but that's pretty much my "beef" with you, which is a shame because I would have been one of those sheltered USA folks who would have bought one of your machines, for my wife. Because, admittedly, I still don't get Thunderbirds.

But I respect those folks who happen to enjoy it and don't expect every pin to have a theme personally approved by me.