When I first heard that there may be an Ghostbusters pinball machine I was intrigued, but I do –not at all- like the Stern games because of their mostly poor Artwork (cliparts dragged in Photoshop over a variety of colortransitions) playfield.

The leaked images, first the translite and now the cab and the little snippet of the playfield give me hope. This might be my first Stern machine at all and a NIB right away.

As for the rest I didn’t care. I’ve no doubt the game will play well,… although that may take some time & updates. And since I don’t like the ‘style’ in wich the WoOZ uses the LCD Screen I was totally fine that the game will still use DMD. That was until I read all your complaints and checked the last Stern games (I played most of them some times but never really looked at the display)...

What I see there is the same lack of love like most of the times with the rest of the art. Yeah, just some scenes from the movies in shitty pixilated graphics won’t cut it I agree. But since the rest of the art seems to be completely custom art I have faith that there’ll be some hand pixelated animations as well, wich would be so much nicer referring to an old license.

Yet people are buying KISS...

Yeah... I think that's different.
Kiss has put out tons of new content over many many years and kept touring and touring and touring... And really staying much more top of mind and expanding their own brand universe.

I wonder how many units kiss has sold, Metallica & Star Trek have sold? Probably tons? Aren't they still making kiss & maybe Metallica?

Over the years I've read a lot of complaints about unfinished code on NIB stern games. I've never commented on the stern code update issues since I've never owned a stern game...yet
But here's what I personally think.
I love that they put out games that aren't 100% complete. You get to play your new game for a while and get used to it. And when the new code is released you get to re-experience the game again. New code updates give you something to look forward to. Almost like how you looked forward to unboxed it and plugged it in the first time.

Am I alone feeling this way about unfinished codes on NIB games?

I think most people agree it's better to have a pin with some code than no pin at all. What's frustrating for many is the long wait times for code to come, and sometimes it never comes at all. GOT is definitely the way to go. It needs some polish, but all of the game's features are working and it's fun out of the gate.

You're not alone. I'm with you on this one...it's like getting a "new game" experience every few months.

However, we may be wired a bit more positively than some others.

Pete

All the features are working on GOT LE and Premium? That's a joke

Have you read all of the issues people are having with their games not functioning properly?

I have listened to some of your podcast and you have a good voice for podcast but it seems like you just regurgitate comments made here on pinside.

Patience. There are literally a million other things I could do that will bring me joy while I wait for a code. Why focus on something that brings you down AND that you have absolutely zero control over.

If I ever do get to the point where I feel the wait is no longer worth it, I shrug and move on...perhaps sell the machine and pick up one that makes me happier.

Racing to the inter-webs to complain solves nothing, doesn't make me any happier, and doesn't make anyone reading my negativity happier. I have no desire to spread misery to the masses.

Pete

you're not 'wired more positively', you're just willing to 'settle'.

Waiting for code is totally reasonable. Not having any discipline or even roughly defined timelines for when code will be released (if ever) is where 'reasonable' falls apart.

Sure, if you say so.

definitely issues for sure, but what i meant is all what's in the game is recognized by the code right now, no? If I'm wrong, just tell me.

Did you know what the known issues were before you played it? If anyone out there has received a Premium with no issues like left orbit problem-please let me know. As far as I can tell the first run of Premiums all had the same issues. Please correct me if I am mistaken.

Oh would you quit being sooooo logical.

Saw this guy driving in this morning.
What were the odds

Wonder if he knows about the pin?

Keep Austin Weird bro

image_(resized).jpg

Or you did not know what to look for.

Did you zoom in and notice the slimer on the gas cap door?

Ha
That's hillarious. I totally didn't see it

Probably in the minority? It's one thing if it's "unfinished" like Spider-Man was in '07-'08. The bones were there, the gameplay logic was solid...the big updates brought new animation, shaker fx, light shows, maybe some subtle scoring tweaks. Contrast that to the NiB code fiascos of Transformers or X-Men. Transformers had a game killing roadblock that took massive begging for the programmer to change, as he liked it the way it was. After a massive begging campaign he finally added a change as an option. For many it was too frustrating and too late. As for X-Men - the game shipped fundamentally and conceptually broken. Updates took forever and some made the game worse and more buggy. It was just an absolutely horrible experience. Metallica is awesome now, but some people couldn't take it that game was missing many modes for 8 months. Star Trek's code was pretty terrible and had unused flashers for a year! I lost faith and sold it before the update.

So yeah - incomplete code is not fun and I haven't taken that gamble since Star Trek. I'll probably take that leap with GB tho.....wish me luck lol

This is ONLY true if Stern has ZERO interest in feedback from its customers.

Except, I still had fun playing it. Still do...and very much enjoyed the evolution of that pin.

That may be a subjective opinion. Not sure, though.

I think ultimately it boils down to this: We know how Stern code is handled at this point. For some people, it doesn't bother them. For others, it bothers them so much that I firmly believe they shouldn't even consider buying anything until it has been out for a couple years.

Pete

So, you believe that being miserable about it, and complaining dozens of times about it on Pinside will speed up the process. Also, it makes everyone around you happier.

Just making sure I'm understanding your point.

Pete

It seem to work with GOT artwork for premium. People complained, something got done.

I think maybe the reason you arent understanding is because you are confusing providing feedback with people being miserable?

I have over a dozen pins and just as many arcade games. A great family, job etc etc. I assure you, I am about as far from miserable as possible. Discussing pins, and the things we love about them, things that irk us and everything in between is part of being a collector/player. I know some people are really worried about Sterns feelings but when done in a reasonable tone, feedback is about as reasonable and non-misery inducing as it comes.

We can agree to disagree I suppose...Back to Ghostbusters?

That's actually the Ecto-1 from the reboot.

Did you have it from day one, when you couldn't do ANYTHING before starting Magneto Multiball, and scoring didn't work? Did you have it when one of the updates made it a maniac stackfest and the wrong voices were coming from the wrong characters? The experience wasn't an "evolution"...it was a terribly designed/coded game from day one, and it then became a scramble to cobble something out of it. There's a huge difference between a game like that (and WWE...same programmer...RED FLAG!!!), and a game where the design and code are actually good, yet need a bit more time to plug in the rest of the pieces.

X-men was the worst ever. I didn't own it, but I was excited to play it. After the first update that completely changed the game, and then the next one that "wolverined" it up, I lost interest and never went to play it again.

So that's one person's story. Of course this games are made for a basement not businesses so there's that.

Oh yeah, I had it from day one.

Heck, I think my very first game on it is still on YouTube.

The manic stack fest was hilarious....I was amused for a few plays, realized it was a mess, and moved on to other things while things were being worked out.

Even in those early days...I enjoyed playing that game. Spinning magnet was a neat trick, and there was enough to keep me occupied. Nightcrawler was ultra-rare, so when you did luck out and get him...it felt like capturing the Loch Ness Monster, or something.

Sure, if it was the only game I had, I'd probably have been tired of it...but that wasn't the case.

Pete

I'm torn on this. It keeps the factory going, but it's incomplete.. but is it really THAT incomplete? Compare an early code Stern to a late 80's williams pin, Stern is still deeper. At the same time, updating over usb has become an enabler for Stern because it's flashable. Imagine if a Williams High speed got released with half finished code, and they told the ops "oh just burn a new chip for complete code", they'd be like "yea right, how about you ship me one".

I definitely fall into the latter group. I think the biggest problem is that Stern has been getting away with releasing incomplete games, for so long, that it has now become the norm. And, a lot of the times people feel obligated to make a huge financial decision based on the theme or short supply of LE/Premium models. Stern banks on this, and you are stuck with a paper weight until enough people complain and they feel obligated to update. I myself won't put myself of that position and beg for code. The root of the problem is not how people bitch about code on the pinside; that is just an unfortunate side effect. The root of the problem is that pinball owners accept Stern's practice of releasing incomplete code. Hopefully Stern plans on making some of those changes.

You forgot the group that knows exactly how it works but buys a game anyway expecting different results then pitches a fit when they do not get different results

OK, you have 65 games and can laugh it off and tuck it away in the corner while you play others...I could do the same thing with my collection - but it fundamentally troubles me on principal that a $6500 game shipped with the actual *GAME* portion completely defective and remained as such for quite some time. Top that off with the horribly designed Wolverine toy, the moon-cratered playfield after 80 games, the terrible voices...X-Men is one of the worst NIB experiences I've ever gone through - so, to get back to the point: No, getting unfinished or problematic games is NOT fun.

That being said, I don't think Ghostbusters is going to be anything like that experience...Dwight has shown that he listens to feedback and is swift with updates on GoT.

Yeah he knows.....

car_(resized).jpg

Oh, and 25 video arcade games, too.

My own stupid comment aside, I'd still say that if I wasn't in that position, then a NIB purchase wouldn't be a wise one for me. Like, if my entire hopes and enjoyment of my collection rested on that ONE brand new game knocking it out of the park...then I probably shouldn't be even considering it. I should take my $6500 and buy a bunch of other "proven" games instead, that I know I will enjoy.

It's not like the choice is "Buy a Stern NIB, or never play pinball again."

Yeah, I get that. For me, I just like it better than the alternative (put money down, wait years to see anything, and then when/if it arrives, the code will still be incomplete). I appreciate Stern. God bless 'em...they crank out games, and even in the WORST case scenario, I still have the game in front of me, and I can still have fun.

In any case, I'd love to argue the merits of X-Men with you later...but I'm probably derailing this enough as it is. I still think that people need to realize how THEY are "wired"...and if they can handle a NIB purchase, and all of the baggage that comes along with it.

For me, I'm just over here, patiently waiting for WWE LE code.

Pete

X-Men has merits? OOOoooooh! Yeah, you don't wanna argue about X-Men with me....neither do I...lol...it's better for me to pretend it no longer exists.

Ouch. "Fool me once..."

That's the old address of Stern, not the current one ...

Just read the last bunch of days posts.
And this thread is so derailed, all I got out of it was this......

Well tell that google maps

On a positive note, 98% of people playing pinball have no clue about codes. Great players do. Collectors like
buying LEs , having fun playing original codes while haters and non buyers bitch. Than every time stern or JJP
Releases a new code , their pin becomes more fun. Life is good!

I have GBLE reserved , by the way. It will be fun.

Is there any way to ignore any posts over 200 characters? Holy crap if you have nothing to say can you at least say it in less characters? I keep hoping for something here and it never comes..

What about the group of people that buys premiums but would prefer that stern be more communicative with their customers...Are those more 'heavy dislikers' or are they 'haterz' too?

Go to Twitter, Mr. ADD

I call BS on your 98%, on general principle and the fact you pulled that number out of thin air. Maybe the PUBLIC that play pins have no clue about code, but not "people playing pinball."

The so-called "haters" that buy before playing or before the game is released very well know what they are potentially getting into; there is no secret there. Buyer beware... And just to be completely transparent, I have been a buyer before playing (twice), and hope I have learned my lesson.

The "non-buyers" that bitch really don't have a foot to stand on, but in their defense, they are the smartest of us all because they have learned to play before buying (assuming they are buying at some point; if they are not buyers, they just have no life).

However, I digress and apologize for not saying one word about GB. This thread has really gone downhill and I can only hope Stern releases GB officially very soon so we can lock this thread.

*disclaimer* Oh, and I'm drinking; somewhat heavily.

Chris

I heard a rumor there was going to be a Ghostbusters pin. Anyone know anything about it?

Yep you can just google it and see all the images and everything else. Pinside doesn't allow late breaking news the rest of the internet has

but it's the #1 source of official corporate press releases