A few observations:
-As I've stated many times I just don't think the "home model" concept works in this industry. You either get a zizzle for $500 or this for $4500, either way you miss the mark, both in price and in product. They can keep trying. In product at least, this is far better than anything they've come up with before (the game looks fun, just as Spider Man home is, and it looks and likely feels like a real machine), but you can't ignore the "why not just pay $900 more and get a real one" factor. Sharper Image and Skymall ain't around anymore. And you guys who think they could sell something like this at $2000 or $3000 and still make money are dreaming. This is very close to a pro machine.
-This is another base game we'll see recycled as a Specialty custom game, giving them three to offer now (Whoa Nellie, Spider Man Home being the other two)
-the reaction here is and will be, as usual, completely bonkers. This has no effect on you or your life, and it's shocking how personally people continue to take this stuff. Stern will continue putting out 2-3 all new, full size, commercial pinball machines a year as they always have, and when they try new things like this and you all hate it, it's as bizarre as it's completely expected. There was no "hype" here to disappoint you guys, we just found out about this two days ago, and any let down is completely manufactured by yourselves. You'll get your new game in October just like you all expected 3 days ago.
When you are the #1 company in your industry, you have the luxury of trying out new stuff that would put the other companies out of business. They try stuff like this because they can.
Stern may constantly let everybody down, but Pinside never does.