You are probably right, but given the people I know in my area that are into pinball, about 50% are not on pinside. Of those that purchased NIB pins, about 80% are on pinside.

Metallica has such a strong PF art, I don't like the theme of Met so I'm not buying, but GoT had a great theme and it's let down by the art. Not a little miss either a great big swing and miss with bases loaded.

It's not like they put in a color DMD either to make us over look the art. It's all down to the play and the code. At these prices I demand the whole package play, code and art.

must have never heard or played a MET Prem . not so long ago they were released

I'm with the OP here. I agree with everyone that the art looks bad. I agree that it's hard to understand why the art isn't better (can it be that difficult? KISS art was great...why the letdown now?) I'm a little angry that Stern didn't make this game look better because I love GOT.

Despite all that, the upper playfield looks awesome and I can't wait to play this thing.

Art is in the eye of the beholder mabey stern thinks the art is perfect I would bet money their drinking champagne after this one because at the end of the day people are gonna buy buy buy buy buy buy buy and their pockets are getting fatter $$! If it makes dollars it makes sense

Not a chance I'd buy one, but I'll put some quarters in when I find it in the wild.

The primary disappointment for me is the monochrome DMD. Hard to believe Stern hasn't moved over at the very least to a color DMD by now. Even my LOTR now has a color DMD.

Stern will sell every one they will make but that's true with any game. Production is related to demand. They sold every Wrestlemania but how many was that? I don't pretend to understand the market but seems like many home owners don't have access to playing games on site. Theme and visual presentation are pretty important to those customers. GoT is a popular theme but how many customers turn away or wait for gameplay because pictures look bad? Operators will probably buy a bunch because of the popular theme so who knows.

I'm not a GoT fan but I was prepared to buy one if it had a color display, amazing visuals, and cool features. Right now I have zero interest in it because it's just another pin with a theme I don't like. Maybe someday I will find one to play but it will be an uphill battle to win over my $$$. That's just me, though.

I'm a huge GOT fan and if this pin looked amazing i'd have figured out what to sell to get it. They've made it so I'm not concerned about getting one. I hope it's a good game but i'm not going to rush out to buy it based on what they've put out. Maybe later if it proves me wrong.

I'd like to play it prior to tossing good money on it. Looks alone has me turned off unless it's under 4k.

look up and give us a photo of that sweet backglass...

I think GoT fans are passionate in a VERY detail oriented way....you have to be to follow the show. They're gonna look at this thing and go "wtf"? Also, there aren't any obvious "newb" toys or shots. Pirates had a big obvious ship toy, a treasure chest, and a spinning disc ramp shot. Very obvious for a newb. Also for buyers, $3500 got you POTC - a fully featured game. POTC is the epitome of mass appeal - it's Disney. GoT, while popular - has a very specific fanbase that's passionate in a different way than Pirates fans are, IMO.

Of course, we are a minor factor....but our opinions on game art are absolutely valid, and there's no way non-pinsiders are going to feel differently.

I second this!!

Considering that 29,976 users logged onto pinside in the last 24 hours I would be hard to say that not a lot of sales come from this place alone. I'm not going to say 80% but i'll say at least 15% if not more.

The problem is prices keep going up while features are being cut. That is why people cry foul. Prices didn't go up until Stern caught on to what people were willing to pay for JJP, Heighway, JPOP, etc. What used to be a $4500 machine is now a $6000 machine with no increase in quality; and some would argue a decrease in quality. What they're selling at the $8000+ pricepoint doesn't match in quality to what the competition is offering. But at this time people keep buying because they like the theme, gameplay, or just because "that's the way it is"; that's why they get away with it. If people actually voted with their wallets instead of just complaining online things might actually change.

Again, when LOTR came out Stern was the only game in town for new games. Gameplay/code saved this title. There are lots of Stern's from this era that are not considered classics. If people want a total package: art, build quality, and gameplay/code that reflects the pricepoint; then they need to put their money where that's being exhibited. What people who criticize JJP, Heighway, Spooky, etc for taking longer to produce higher quality/innovative/original machines need to realize is; if those companies took more business from Stern then production would go up. Stern can continue to produce the same quality games that they have been, but their prices should reflect that level of quality. Right now they're simply raising prices and pocketing the profits.

Almost everyone hated IM and Tron when revealed...complained that they were too cheap, had off the shelf toys, and had too much product marketing package Photoshop for art. Now - while that is all true, and they're not "high art"....Iron Man looks like Iron Man. Tron looks like Tron. GoT doesn't even remotely look like GoT. It looks like some other game that someone made one of those tacky alternate translites for.

People also used to complain a lot about "actors" or "Photoshop heads" on the playfield...now while I agree that can be done in a very cut 'n paste way...I think Stern has taken that complaint to heart, as ST, TWD, and now GoT don't feature any "actors" on the playfield. I think Star Trek should have had some characters on the playfield...that's what ST is all about - the crew. The game feels cold and lacks personality. TWD works, IMO - as it has rampaging zombies and blood spatter...it has personality. GOT has too many characters to put on the PF, so perhaps in theory this was the right choice - but the style is all wrong. Cabinet & Translite should have featured a more interesting collage of way more characters (smaller) doing interesting things, like some of the DE & Sega backglasses.

Agreed on all counts.

Your numbers are so far off. People have stated in other threads that they're getting quotes for GoT LE @ $7800 shipped....and who's buying LOTR LE for $7k!?

I did. I was going to buy an LE and saw photoshopped art on the playfield. I backed out. That was an extremely stupid move on my part, wasn't it ? I wanted to hate it the first time I played it, but I only hated myself for being so stupid. While art helps a make a pinball machine a better playing experience, the game itself is what really matters.

If you love GoT, I am pretty sure the Premium or LE version of this game will be nothing short of awesome when all is said and done. Don't make the dumb move I made and fail to secure a pin with a theme you love over petty art nonsense. You'll wind up like me ... trying to make a Tron LE out of a Pro (I'm too cheap to buy an LE outright ) ... only that's going to be tough with GoT.

Having said that, I do have an irrational hatred of "photographs" on playfields ... I'd almost prefer that "Jack the Monkey" on an otherwise excellent PotC playfield be sanded off and I simply can't stand the look of the Stern Indy PF .

Do they have any old machines sitting around, I think they have sold every machine they ever put up for sale.

Premium will have unlimited production (to meet demand) for 3 years, LE has 700 units. Tron LE was 400 units and no Premium. No need to buy out of fear that you won't be able to get one later.

image.jpg

No? You sure seem interested in trying to convince us that we're interested when we're not interested.

I think you're interested.

Buy a GoT.

Backed out of my LE last night after seeing the photos. Slept on it and I'm 100% sure I made the right decision for me.

For $12000 the fucking thing needs to at least look good!

Still really want to play it and if it's good I'll buy a premium when they are in stock and the code is good.

I don't understand people who are saying that I doesn't matter if pinheads don't like the art. Even if only 20 people don't buy the machine because of the art then that's a fuck load of cash to lose.

I was interested in GoT initially, but not so much after seeing Stern's pictures.

Game play will be the ultimate factor for me. But that means finding one to play somewhere at some point...

Then you should be able to get a bigger place without much financial trouble. Pins > cars. Priorities, brotendo

It's probably going to be a hit, which I have mixed feelings about...I'd rather they be rewarded for doing great work on all aspects of the game rather than phoning it in on a license that basically prints money.

I'm holding out hope that the code, audio, dots and light show are all A+.

What I'm really hoping is that the reaction inside Stern is "maybe we should take more care next time" and not "this art is fantastic, freaking whiny collectors are a PITA and if they don't like it oh well."

The blackglass is the easiest thing to change.

GOTPP.jpg

that's probably what they are saying right now.

huh? holy f_ck...

I dunno.. GOT fans are probably more picky about adherence to source material/theme than pinball people. Will they put some money in one at the local barcade, maybe. Will they buy one if it looks like crap, no.

Baller Alert

Amen to that, aren't you in marketing Kaneda? Seriously? Not finance for sure?

The GOTLE price is JOKE compared to the premium. TWDLE is great, but I would have bought a premium had they said they were going to build one up front, they said just the opposite, they "weren't inclined to", per the distributors.

They might sell all the LE's to distributors, but I don't see 700 being sold to the consumer, probably get some Automated specials down the road.

And you are assuming buyers/consumers outside of Pinside are stupid!

People aren't going to get used to PAYING MORE and GETTING LESS, as hard a they try, it's not gonna work, with any consumer shelling out these kind of bucks. You aren't buying one.

I'd like to have one for the line up.

I'll have to see. Maybe happen, maybe not.

LTG : )

What, no picture of your car?

I think you are underestimating how many pinball people avoid Pinside.

LTG : )™

I would have to play it before deciding if I wanted it or not. Just as I did with KISS.

Apparently. Been a long day at the tech support races. I need a break.

LTG : )™

LE looks great! Love the dragon on the side and game play looks awesome!

I harshed on the art but I believe this is going to be a really fun pin. It looks like it's going to have some cool different features with the sword lock, dragon kick back, and battering ram bash. Code will make it great.

So you're the one.

You can come over and play my GOTLE next month if it helps you decide. In fact, i might even sell it to you if you like it.