Quoted from Lethal_Inc:Stern machines are not as robust as older Bally/Williams and a lot of people think they feel cheap. But where Stern has the edge is game code, depth, and fun. Stern pins grab you, take you for a ride , and leave you wanting more. There is just no comparison in my opinion and the reliability is great. Sure every pinball needs maintenance as things break, but Sterns just work and keep working.
This is my first post 
--- After really comparing Stern games to Williams at Pinball Hall of Fame in Vegas, Stern games just always seem inferior, especially the newer games. Sure the game code is more complex, but the flow is never quite there. Especially with games like POTC, LOTR and TWD, it always seems like you can tell when you are playing a Stern because they play slower, and are usually a bit boring. Just my opinion of course, but I am not sure how people really like most Stern games...
