What is this GOT everyone is talking about?

I'm definitely interested to see what comes of this, but can't imagine I'll be able to justify the cost. That coupled with some of the QC issues that pop-up now and then from NIB Stern games, such as cabinet decals falling off, I'm not sure I'd want to be in on the first ones off the line.

I would want some good cabinet and playfield art, and callouts from the show are a must. I don't care about LCD vs. DMD. I actually like pixel/dot art. I doubt they'd do it, but if they did higher resolution dot art on an LCD, that would be cool.

How long do titles tend to stay available NIB from distributors after release? Would it be safe to assume a Pro could be purchased NIB a year from now?

Why not give the show a try? There's a reason it's immensely popular.

GOT as a theme has been successfully branched out into other media, too, like video games and board games, that I don't know that Hobbit has been as successful at. From a theme and popularity perspective, GOT is the winner in my opinion, and it's still an ongoing series that has a potential to end up with an even greater fan-base.

As far as I'm concerned, I watched Hobbit in the theaters long ago. I may buy extended editions when they come out in a decently priced set, but I'm not excited about the theme anymore, and definitely not as happy with the film series as I am with LOTR. Stern is making a good move cashing in on the growing popularity and steam behind GOT and I don't think it has anything to do with Hobbit.

Though if the argument is that you can only own 1 new fantasy pin, then fine, why not put out a title that can directly compete with your rival? Sounds like great move to me.

Now one thing I do think is that GOT will limit Stern's ability to put out a LOTR VE, at least any time soon. That would be ridiculous because they'd be competing with themselves, again, from just the owning one fantasy themed pin perspective, but also the limited cash of pinball collectors.

I'd like there to be some mode, maybe a Red Wedding mode, that has "The Rains of Castamere" playing in the background.

Probably just a musical score, but maybe the lyrical version could work...

As long as we're on the topic of Hobbit theme vs. GOT, I think GOT wins in the music department. I don't remember anything from Hobbit at this point, and that's not the case with even LOTR where music from that comes into my head on a very regular basis (even had "Concerning Hobbits" in my wedding). GOT, of course, has the main theme that any fan remembers and a few other notable tracks, but mainly the opening theme (also in my wedding... ).

So far I'm not seeing anything that makes me think I want to spend money to own this game... If they can't win me over with this theme, I don't think they have a chance with any game.

Does it seem to you at least that within a certain region in the show that they kept the regional accent consistent? I wonder how much thought goes into that. Being that Americans are the show runners, I bet they just hear any British accent and shout, "Perfect!"

There is actually a northern British accent, though, right? I remember them mentioning it in Doctor Who when Christopher Eccleston was The Doctor ("Why do you have a northern accent?"). Did they at least get that one right in GOT? Seems like those in the north should be using it.

Of course, then you've got the foreigners doing British accents. Do those sound bad to you? Peter Dinklage (Tyrion) is American and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime) is Danish.

Oh, and just for some on topic posting: I continue to think the artwork sucks...

What is that voice!? "Ball 3 locked!"
Sounds like a generic American!

Do you still need grammar police?

The "i" in the beginning of your sentence should be capitalized.

From all other GOT licenced merchandise, I'm not seeing anything that looks bad like the pinball machine. There's even a lot of visual variety out there. A lot of what I'm seeing doesn't even utilize photographs of actors. That's why I'm inclined to think HBO isn't that strict with the license and the poor choices are all Stern.

Haha, I notice in that first pic that they took the picture at an angle so that the dragon covers up the red skittle thing with the incorrect shadow that some were complaining about. Hey, don't look at the mistake, here's a dragon!

Either way, I just thought up a mod to correct it! Glue on a correctly sized red cabochon. I want credit when Stern starts shipping them with these.

Flat-Back-cabochon-ruby-stones-#8-red-stones.jpg

I think the issue, at least for me, is that they're wanting me to pay $7k and they're selling something that looks like it was done by an amateur. I shouldn't have any complaints in a $7k game or it's probably not worth my money.

I'd honestly be hard pressed to spend that much even if it was perfect in every way, but really all they've done is make is so that I don't feel like I'm missing anything by skipping out on a NIB purchase.

Edit: Just to clarify, I'm not only complaining about the poor Photoshop effects, but the entire art package, and mainly the PF. As a huge fan of the show, nothing about overall visual incorporation of the theme on the PF makes me want this pin. They came up with gears and chains that have nothing to do with the show and put them all over the place. It looks like crap.

I wouldn't have said NEVER when the theme was officially announced. It might have been a bit of a struggle to justify, but it's well within the realm of possibility that I could save up enough for a NIB. I might have been able to justify it. It's a dream theme for me, after all.

But on visuals alone, I'm ok with saying that I absolutely would not/will not be buying this game. I guess for me to spend that kind of money I'd need all of the following:
-A theme I love - Check!
-Fun game - Who knows at this point? I'm easy to please in this area.
-Good art package - Nope!
-Good theme integration - In some respects that goes back to the art package, but would also include DMD visuals and audio. This aspect fails already for me because of a bad art package, so the rest won't matter to me at this point.

I'll stick to spending $20 on a perfect example of GOT theme integration in the video game by Telltale Games, and I'll sit and wonder why the pin couldn't have been as good.

My initial thought when I saw the video mode was the sword fighting in Secret of Monkey Island!

I'll admit that I have no knowledge of how HBO is restricting images for the pin, but I just find it so hard to believe they're being super restrictive with Stern and basically no one else who makes licensed products.

In quick google search for "Game of Thrones merchandise", I can't find much of anything that contains stock character photos.

Even their blu-ray sets packaging lack character photos. The exception is the first season with Ned Stark sitting on the throne, but that's an awesome image and they weren't trying to overpopulate the cover with every main character.

I just find it very hard to believe that HBO had much opinion about what images should be used and whose pictures should be mashed up with whose on the various versions of the pin.

They licensed freakin' bobble-heads! They're obviously ok with reinterpreting the character images.

Swing and a miss!

NO YGRITTE!!???

I can't think of any reason that dark-haired wildling woman needs to be present on this game at all. She was in what, 2 episodes?

They're really digging deep to try to put some sex appeal on this one...

Also that's some boring composition on the translite...

Whelp, I was already out due to the PF art, but this Premium cabinet art doesn't do anything to make up for it, so I'm still out.

Ah, didn't realize they did new PF artwork. I'm still not thrilled with it. They replaced a bad photoshop effect with a generic chain-mail texture?

Meh, still filled with dumb gears and chains.

I'm definitely still out.

I'll quit raining on the GOT pin love that others apparently have.

Not to anything good... I guess some people are easy to please.

I'll admit, it's better. But not good enough. That exact PF without the gears and chains, just replaced with blue, would have maybe been acceptable.

Are we seeing the same pictures!? Emilia Clarke is the clear winner in this aspect to me!

For real... Oh, they fixed one terribly amateur issue on the PF, now I'll drop the big bucks!

If people genuinely like the way it looks, far be it for me to try to dissuade them, but I think you high roller NIB buyers have too low of standards for items of this price. Stern's not going to have any motivation to do anything differently if all they have to have is a popular license that's poorly executed.

An amateur graphic artist who is a huge fan of GOT could have done a better job of visually integrating this theme using the assets provided by HBO and they'd probably have worked for peanuts or a NIB...

Stern could just release a whitewood for their next pin. Apparently people will still spend thousands on it.

There are 2 camps I completely don't understand, and maybe it's because I'm not at the same income level.

1. People who will buy a NIB without any personal connection to the theme.

2. People who will buy a NIB because of the theme, regardless of any other factors, including bad art.

Like I said, maybe it's income level. I'd be willing to pay maybe 1k for the GOT pin I'm seeing, and I'd ignore the art and other superficial issues I have with it.

It's conceivable that many in this hobby make 5x or more than I do, so maybe my 1k is your 5k? I guess that would make sense.

Why pay for something if it's not what you were expecting? I'm not trolling here. I'm genuinely curious why the mentality exists that you're still willing to pay for something that's not meeting your expectations. Why would Stern ever put effort into meeting expectations if people still buy?

I accept that this is the only official GOT pin that likely ever will exist, but that doesn't mean just because I love the theme and pinball that I HAVE to buy it simply because it exists. The fact that it's the only GOT pin makes it that much more disappointing that it doesn't meet my expectations. Based on the titles released over the past few years, there won't be another pinball theme that resonates with me like this one for a good long while. Simply put, Stern didn't earn my money with this one.

I own some classic Sterns. Maybe I get a seat at the kids table.

Still not trolling, just trying to understand. So the argument is that since it's on par with other NIB Sterns, then it's good enough to buy? Is it simply the fact that you want NIB and Stern is the only one in your price range?

Most games in my lineup are there because they were either cheap and local or a game I wanted that was semi local and fairly priced.

I probably have less than a current premium Stern invested in my entire collection.

Could I afford 8-8.5k? Maybe not. It would have to be something truly amazing and worth giving up my entire collection + cash for.

Buddy, that was a conversation with someone else asking him about his motivations for purchasing something he admitted wasn't what he expected.

My purchasing history has nothing to do with my ability to purchase a Stern NIB. It's not an inability to afford it that's keeping me from buying it. It's that it doesn't meet my expectations.

So only people who are existing Stern buyers can have an opinion on future releases? Stern doesn't need new buyers?

Better watch out. This thread is turning into a GOT fanclub and you're no longer allowed to post that you don't like the game.

Oh, but you own some modern Sterns. Maybe your opinion will matter to more people than mine.

Speaking personally as someone who probably meets your description: Premium was only just revealed and there are some ongoing conversations I've been a part of.

I can still enjoy participating in discussions and seeing what gets revealed.

Maybe a part of me still wants to be convinced it's something I'd be interested in...

I wonder if there would be any risk of showing approved concept images well before they run them so they have more time to listen to feedback.

It seems like sourcing opinions from the target market and making improvements based on that feedback would result in more sales. Obviously there are people who don't care about artwork, so Stern has them in the bag, but if they wanted to expand sales, seems like being more open during the development process might lead to that.

It wasn't meant as a jab. People have admitted they don't care about the art, or they're not in it for the art, and are only interested in how a game plays. If people still buy, in spite of not liking the artwork (or have a general indifference to it), I'd say that's the definition of not caring about it (or not caring enough about it that it affects the decision to buy).

Anyway, Stern's not changing anything for those people.

My point was that there are obviously people who will not buy games due to not liking the art, so it seems in Stern's best interest to cater to both groups.

I care...

I think the desire to purchase is one aspect of the overall opinion someone can have about a game. If the argument is that all these people are trashing a game they haven't played, here's a guy who played it and his impression was lackluster to the point where he doesn't think he'll buy.

How is that not a valid opinion to express here? Are people only supposed to post that they love the game after playing, but be silent if the opinion is lukewarm or negative?

I'm still interested in reading all opinions from people who have played, both bad and good.

Yeah, HBO cares about blood in officially licensed merchandise...

http://teesontap.com/t-shirts/tv-show-t-shirts/game-of-thrones-t-shirts/game-of-thrones-bloody-stark-direwolf-sigil-north-remembers-official-t-shirt-sheer/

There seems to be a lot of forgiveness for Stern for the way things turned out visually, with the assumption that HBO is the cause. I don't see what looks like a stifling license holder in any other GOT merchandise. If it is the case, I wonder why a pin needs more restrictions than other merchandise.