Godzilla (Limited Edition)
Stern, 2021
Godzilla (Premium)
Stern, 2021
Godzilla (Pro)
Stern, 2021
James Bond 007 (60th LE)
Stern, 2023
James Bond 007 (LE)
Stern, 2022
James Bond 007 (Premium)
Stern, 2022
James Bond 007 (Pro)
Stern, 2022
Rush (LE)
Stern, 2022Looks like the internet enabled technology Stern has been dancing around is finally coming out:
Seems like its heavy on the user profile/achievement/stats system that most modern video games utilize.
Edit - More information from George Gomez himself:
------------
Adding 
jurulz tutorial here for reference for those asking
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/stern-insider-connected/page/36#post-6626480
Quoted from BrianJ1337:All new runs of older games will have it installed. How do we get this to retrofit?
My guess is most spike systems will support this (with a new apron and a node board that chains in somehow).
Quoted from Rockytop:I wonder how much the aprons will cost
why would you need a new apron?
FWIW - I was a round one Xbox Live Beta Tester and am a HUGE lifetime gamer in general ...Gamertag YourMom and PSNID YourMom 
With that said - I can assure you the platform is much larger than just stat tracking and braggin rights (although that is certainly there!) - GG and team surprised the hell out of me on this.
Super excited for what's in store!
Quoted from anathematize:Looks like the internet enabled technology Stern has been dancing around is finally coming out:
Seems like its heavy on the user profile/achievement/stats system that most modern video games utilize.
Quoted from zombieyeti:FWIW - I was a round one Xbox Live Beta Tester and am a HUGE lifetime gamer in general ...Gamertag YourMom and PSNID YourMom
With that said - I can assure you the platform is much larger than just stat tracking and braggin rights (although that is certainly there!) - GG and team surprised the hell out of me on this.
Super excited for what's in store!
Nice! I was early on in the Xbox Live Beta to due to some good friends that work at our local Microsoft campus.
Gamertage: aeon
I'm glad to hear that it is just more than a glorified achievement system. I'm assuming you've been beta testing this one too? ;~)
Listened to the podcast.....the armed and dangerous game sounds really interesting. Would love to hear more about that.... Every pinball machine is setup differently. How can this work to compare from one machine to another?
Quoted from orangestorm87:Have they stated the 7 games that are included at launch?
don’t believe so but guessing: Mando, Turtles, Iron Maiden, jurrasic park, avengers, Deadpool and ……Godzilla!
Quoted from orangestorm87:Have they stated the 7 games that are included at launch?
Well they stated any game produced after the September launch. So anything that going to get a run yet. JPloof has some good guesses, but I would sub zepplin for Iron Maiden (since the video shows it on zepplin).
Its an "inexpensive" upgrade if you don't have it. Wonder what they consider inexpensive....
Quoted from BrewNinja:Well they stated any game produced after the September launch. So anything that gets run.
Its an "inexpensive" upgrade if you don't have it. Wonder what they consider inexpensive....
That is my same exact thought haha, I would love to put this on all my location games for players, but there is a reason my machines don't have toppers! Hopefully it is $200 or sub.
Quoted from DudeRegular:Podcast on their site is up with George Gomez as well.
Link? Can't find it.
**edit: Found it**
Quoted from Walk:Link? Can't find it.
You have to log into Stern Insider first.
Quoted from BrewNinja:You have to log into Stern Insider first.
Ah, Thanks! I see it now.
So I guess LE owners have to remove one of their special insets to add this QR reader if they want to add this feature to their machine? I wish they would have taken another route. Scorbit does the same thing but does not require a reader on the pinball machine.
Interesting that they went with the scanner/camera in the pin, rather than just showing the QR code on the display of the pin and then having you scan the QR code with your phone's camera.
Also, the "upgrade" module obviously has the scanner but must also include the wifi capability for the machine to connect to the Internet.
Quoted from Puffdanny:Deleted post
Yet you clicked the thread and took time to comment. Solid contribution.
This probably explains why the steep rumored price increases might be occurring across the board if all future games will come equipped .
Quoted from Gotfrogs:So I guess LE owners have to remove one of their special insets to add this QR reader if they want to add this feature to their machine? I wish they would have taken another route. Scorbit does the same thing but does not require a reader on the pinball machine.
Hoping I can just replace or cover this qr sign with some sort of artwork.
Quoted from Walk:Yet you clicked the thread and took time to comment. Solid contribution.
Can't read if you don't click,Einstein...
Ugh, should be a mod on new machines not included with every one.
Just another price increase that will not improve game experience for us "non competitive " players.
Prices are already too high on new Sterns...
The actual games feature game specific art (and in fact MORE as a result of the new apron vs the old) - I know as I've made some So don't worry!
Quoted from Hayfarmer:Hoping I can just replace or cover this ugly qr sign with some sort of artwork. I have zero interest in this or wifi update capability.
Pretty disappointing first crack at connectivity honestly. This feels like a knee jerk response to Scorbit and not stepping back and finding ways to make the game more engaging for the player with no constraints. For example, why QR codes and not some sort of wireless connectivity like bluetooth or NFC? Another example, why not have a rich app that lets you see how you drained and helps you learn how to not drain the same way. Doing an awkward QR code dance for leaderboards and a personal scoreboards is a bit of a let down. Hopefully, this is just a v1 and they're thinking of more but pretty me too offering to start.
Quoted from Zambonilli:Pretty disappointing first crack at connectivity honestly. This feels like a knee jerk response to Scorbit and not stepping back and finding ways to make the game more engaging for the player with no constraints. For example, why QR codes and not some sort of wireless connectivity like bluetooth or NFC? Another example, why not have a rich app that lets you see how you drained and helps you learn how to not drain the same way. Doing an awkward QR code dance for leaderboards and a personal scoreboards is a bit of a let down. Hopefully, this is just a v1 and they're thinking of more but pretty me too offering to start.
Did you listen to George discuss it on the podcast? It sounds like it does quite a bit more than Scorbit. I think Scorbit is awesome by the way.
There's way more than what's being discussed or shown - be patient
Quoted from Zambonilli:Pretty disappointing first crack at connectivity honestly. This feels like a knee jerk response to Scorbit and not stepping back and finding ways to make the game more engaging for the player with no constraints. For example, why QR codes and not some sort of wireless connectivity like bluetooth or NFC? Another example, why not have a rich app that lets you see how you drained and helps you learn how to not drain the same way. Doing an awkward QR code dance for leaderboards and a personal scoreboards is a bit of a let down. Hopefully, this is just a v1 and they're thinking of more but pretty me too offering to start.
Quoted from Zambonilli:For example, why QR codes and not some sort of wireless connectivity like bluetooth or NFC
QR codes are the path of least resistance and don't require new certification like a wireless connectivity would. I run the mobile development team at a golf simulator company and we use QR codes and 6-digit rotating codes because asking a user for another permission. Non tech savvy people know how to scan a QR code, it "just works".
Quoted from Zambonilli:why not have a rich app that lets you see how you drained and helps you learn how to not drain the same way.
"You drained down the middle. Next time, don't hit it there."
Quoted from zombieyeti:There's way more than what's being discussed or shown - be patient
The kit will include a new apron with a qr reader for Pros, and mostly just a qr reader for Prem/LE as well as a wifi dongle. George said he doesn't know price but said he emphasized that he doesn't want this to be focused on making profit because he wants widespread adoption.
Quoted from Richthofen:QR codes are the path of least resistance and don't require new certification like a wireless connectivity would. I run the mobile development team at a golf simulator company and we use QR codes and 6-digit rotating codes because asking a user for another permission. Non tech savvy people know how to scan a QR code, it "just works".
Would an off the shelf Bluetooth or NFC module really require certification? Wouldn't the off the shelf radio module already have FCC and UL certifications and therefore Stern could just pull it in?
You're probably right on the QR code interaction being better for the normal player. I probably have a prejudice against them because of all the marketing people using them in such silly ways.
Feels like it should've just been a wifi dongle and QR code on the apron (instruction card or sticker) itself instead of all of this complexity per game. Are they trying to save people needing a phone, like I'm going to print out my QR code at home since there's a reader in the game???
I heard George mention being able to have promotional QR codes that the game can read (free plays for good customers, etc.), but it feels like this is edge case-y and could've still been done via a stern phone app that just associates that with your account after you scan the promo QR code with your phone.
I can't imagine this will be less than $200 as an upgrade (probably higher)...Wifi dongle + QR code printout could've been like 30 bucks.
Wonder how this will work for modded software like Pinball Browser...I'm guessing they will be able to now track you personally (Stern Connected / Insider ID) and see whether or not you modified the code in any way and then link that to Warranty service denials based on serial number of the game history running such code
Quoted from cosmokramer:Hahaha
I hear ya, but I'm open to believing that they won't gouge people (on this single item). I think there is much more value for Stern in this being in every machine than selling the individual units.
But we'll certainly see what they actually sell them for.
Quoted from zombieyeti:There's way more than what's being discussed or shown - be patient
Great to hear. Would love nothing more than seeing you guys be creative here and not just check the "connected" checkbox.
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