Alexandria, VA
If you could reverse just one cost-saving pinball trend, which would it be?
Leaving out support pegs as they have been vanquished. I believe poor cabinet corner brackets have been reversed as well?
(Topic ID: 240470)
Grimsby, ON
Snaps for lockdown bar
Screws for securing backbox
On/Off switch moved to the backbox
Microfine wire harnesses
Virtual Monkeys
Wood screws instead of bolts and tnuts
Zero innovation on hiding the wiring on playfields
Spotlights
Using plastic substrates instead of 3d sculpts(AC/DC cannon for example)
Tiny lcd screens
Topics limiting the response to a single item 
Quoted from fnosm:Topics limiting the response to a single item
Interesting response so far - I suppose it makes sense that the disappearing subway would be in the lead, as it has had the greatest impact on gameplay and playfield design/depth/variation.
Snaps for lockdown bar I can't stand them. Also don't like node boards, removal of subways, and physical ball locks. Also not a fan of the plastic aprons.
Quoted from Tuna_Delight:No one else HATES the on/off switch moved to the head?!
I definitely do, but I don't know that I hate it more than virtual locks lol
Quoted from KozMckPinball:Leaving out the inside cab corner brackets.
Correct me if I'm wrong but decent brackets are back in there, right?
Quoted from fnosm:Cheap ass playfield supports
This one does suck. Good thing they added it back in for all models and games since IMDN.
Quoted from Eskaybee:This one does suck. Good thing they added it back in for all models and games since IMDN.
People hated them and they changed back. Change is possible!
Quoted from westofrome:Correct me if I'm wrong but decent brackets are back in there, right?
On Sterns now, yes, although I cannot speak for all of the new machines..
Though completely aesthetic I also hate, H-A-T-E, these paper thin translites in place of printed backglasses, especially with crazy detailed art when ripples are present.
Thinking GB may be the worst offender. That BG is so darn busy, but a few waves in the paper can make it look like a poster hung loosely on a kids wall.
Quoted from Coolpinballdino:Snaps for lockdown bar I can't stand them. Also don't like nose boards removal of subways and physical ball locks.also not a fan of the plastic aprons.
I have to differ with you on this one. I actually like the snaps better than the Williams style lock bar with the lever - they can be a pita.
That horrid "fake knocker" sound is an abomination. Especially having come from owning a TAF where the knocker was integrated so awesomely in a mode. I seriously thought machines were breaking the first few times I heard that noise on location. Could they have come up with a worse noise if they tried?
Quoted from fnosm:Snaps for lockdown bar
Screws for securing backbox
On/Off switch moved to the backbox
Microfine wire harnesses
Virtual Monkeys
Wood screws instead of bolts and tnuts
Zero innovation on hiding the wiring on playfields
Spotlights
Using plastic substrates instead of 3d sculpts(AC/DC cannon for example)
Tiny lcd screens
Topics limiting the response to a single item
Lockdown bar latches are more secure and firm.
Screws for backbox also more secure and safer.
I agree the power button is a bit of a pain in the ass.
Stern thrives on their games being easy to maintain for pinball. So with that, there’s sacrifice. Before I had kids, I didn’t mind working on used older games that I had. Nowadays, I welcome their design innovations to keep me playing pinball longer rather than being under the hood tweaking. So by those standards, some things get sacrificed. But for a couple thousand more dollars we can buy a JJP game and be locked into doing maintenance + tweaking every other night. Good thing we have options. And yes, I was kidding a little, I love JJP games, I just like playing them more than tweaking them 
I voted for the removal of subways from games, but I also feel like that ones is the most understandable since there is the cost of the plastic, switches, VUK, chutes, etc.
The knocker seems like the lowest-hanging fruit in terms of issues/failure rate (low), cost (moderate) and opinion (everyone hates it, many hate it more than ANYTHING ELSE). At least, I hope they consider adding a knocker to the LE or Prem/LE options as a differentiator.
Quoted from iloveplywood:That horrid "fake knocker" sound is an abomination. Especially having come from owning a TAF where the knocker was integrated so awesomely in a mode. I seriously thought machines were breaking the first few times I heard that noise on location. Could they have come up with a worse noise if they tried?
I really don't understand why Stern does not use a better sound for the fake knocker. I mean you could produce a callout or play a recorded sound of a real knocker. You could even customize the sound depending on theme for each game. Instead you have a god awful screech sound that anyone that does not know what it is turns in horror wondering what just died.
It would be interesting to see the manufacturers true cost of each of the listed items. I imagine it would make you sick given what we are paying.
That being said, I'm going mono-targets for the "win" for me. So. Damned. Awful.
Quoted from fnosm:Virtual Monkeys
band name i call it.
Quoted from pinlawyer:The virtual elimination of drop targets
The "mono target" is complete garbage.
Stern's next cost saving measure: One Gigantic Pop Bumper! (instead of three) to go with the bull**** "mono target".
......And then one slingshot ......and then one flipper. Lol.
Quoted from kklank:The "mono target" is complete garbage.
Stern's next cost saving measure: One Gigantic Pop Bumper! (instead of three) to go with the bull**** "mono target".
......And then one slingshot ......and then one flipper. Lol.
......and then one flipper button relocated to the front of the coin door.
The name of Stern's new release will be called "Dickslapper". Lol.
How about a Magna Save where you have almost zero chance of using because the button is on the lockbar about 50 feet from your hand. You've got less than 1 second to decide to use it. I saw GOOD players missing it all night last night.
Quoted from Atari_Daze:Fiberboard cabinets
Seriously, Sterns new cabinets (I'm a Stern fanboy) scare the piss out of me when it comes to nudging and moving the pins around. Paranoid I'm going to see to a front corner split.
Cost cutting on cabinet materials (using cheaper wood), placing power button in head of cabinet, zero or minimal cabinet corner support brackets. There's no excuse for these items at today's prices and Stern does all 3.
For JJP it's no longer offering a high quality powder coat on their LE games. You now have to pay extra for a CE to get the same type of powder coat quality offered on WOZ ECLE and Hobbit LE. BS.
The only cost cutting measure I have liked is Sterns's new lockdown bar design. The traditional Bally William's lockdown bar mech is just a pain in the ass at times. Securing a lockdown bar should be easy and Sterns new mech does just that.
Quoted from PanzerFreak:For JJP it's no longer offering a high quality power coat on their LE games. You now have to pay extra for a CE to get the same type of power coat quality offered on WOZ ECLE and Hobbit LE. BS.
I think it's called "powdercoat."
I'm a little surprised JJP Doesn't use lollopop rails considering how fragile the cab decals are. Even Stern springs for those!!
Quoted from CrazyLevi:I think it's called "powdercoat."
I'm a little surprised JJP Doesn't use lollopop rails considering how fragile the cab decals are. Even Stern springs for those!!
Lol, damn auto correct. Power coat! New marketing term.
Yeah agree, that would be nice and should come standard.
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