Mr. Stern no longer controls Stern and has not done so for nearly 10 years.
His vote is not exclusive nor determines outcomes of directional development including features, construction, or materials of games. This includes licensing as well. Pinball designers are not often a complete voter when it comes to construction, engineering, materials, or the operating system. This is subject to final review, sometimes well above the senior factory manager. Hence, many times the removal of features that were originally designed for games, but removed for cost reasons. There are dozens of beloved titles of the past that could be cited regarding many of these facets that occurred versus what could have been included when the games were developed. If a person's goes back less than 18 years to the beginning of "new" Stern, only a handful of people remember here in these forums. Even Stern themselves who actually do keep documented changes of where things stood, not all remember where the company's direction stated in terms of game development. Many simply moved on, or even retired.
Blaming Gary Stern for Stern's or other pinball problems is like accusing Larry Flynt for the popularity today of online pornography.
Mr. Stern does not often write "the bottom line" now.
Exclusive blame against manufacturers for "cost cutting" attempts to remove the aspect of the lack of knowledge by consumers, results in a faulty conclusion. People need to read this information below and have an opportunity to discover some more pinball history even reflective to Stern directly.
Unknowing and ready acceptance of the reduction of game quality without question along with increases of MSRP for no valid economic reason (just do not try to tell that to the non-believer "pinflation" theorists). This is not the fault of Stern. It will not stop until the market fully peaks, or people stop buying their games for over inflated prices.
This HAS happened before. Both in 1996 and 2006, in the last two decades for a recent comparative analysis. Operators REJECTED manufacturer attempts in 1996 (MSRP rises, beginning of the loss of pinball interest again), hence games became standard to be bought on closeouts, which further hurt the industry overall. Consumers particularly REJECTED this manufacturer attempt starting in 2006 (some MSRP rises especially comparative to the quality of previous games from lack of features and coding, and loss of interest in pinball AGAIN), hence the beginning of attempts to start reconfiguration of production at Stern to begin to prevent overruns, but closeouts did happen, changes occurred in several titles, and some licensed decisions and failed games sales nearly caused Stern to CLOSE in 2009/2010. Yes, they almost did not survive!
Look to the past for evidence, evaluate the present, and predict the future.
Presently, the first change in the entire market has initiated for downshifting, as the latest interest period in pinball is starting to slow down and all those speculation buyers hoarding NIB games in boxes recognize it is time to sell. It is not accelerating. This has nothing to do with pinball enthusiasm, but what consumers can truly afford to pay (comparative to income levels), how much freed income they have to spend on electronic toys, and pinball choices available, which there are MANY.
The cycle will happen again, and the additional signs show based on the nervousness of buyers based on the boondoggle raping of "boutique" manufacturers against buyers (past and present), which has HURT the market. Two manufacturers already failed openly (and truth revealed to those that scoffed) this year, and continue to attempt to state "everything is ok" but propped up by a melting candlestick. Three others are completely unknown. Two of the same three have not sold a single game at all. The rest continue to duke it out for the less than 10% market share scraps that Stern holds over their head with over the entire industry in terms of sales to the general market. Just like what happened starting 1993/1994 more manufacturers will fade out before the end of 2017/2018. By the end of 2018, there will most likely be no more than 4 manufacturers remaining based on market interest and income to buy machines.
Yet, some people literally STILL need to be slapped across the face to see the differences of quality from Stern games made less than 5 years ago, not 10-15 years ago. A person does not need to go that far back, as those games had their own issues. Stern peaked in quality around 2011-2012, at least for the time being. It is extremely disappointing, because it seems obvious, at least to me. Many "old" collectors have decided to take our money elsewhere, at least for the time being, and certainly not because we cannot afford the games (even today), but what is being received for our money. I and others are having a hard time supporting the "new" Stern, especially after 2012, since we helped prop it up in the 2000s and allow them to be successful and "survive" when operators stopped buying pinball, and Stern was never considered equitable to BLY/WMS/GTB. Even Stern knew this, that is why they developed a series of redemption games such as Simpson's Kooky Carnival from old TSPP parts!
It is also very beneficial to understand the differences between quality assurance and quality control, as they are not the same definition in industry production, but incredibly important when determining issues in development and products.
Reference my previous postings in this thread, if required.
Technical laboratory testing results of materials and construction is beyond the scope of this forum, which have been compared in some cases already.
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