Aurich I think I will disagree with you one most of your points. But mainly this one

How do you achieve that when you have no video, no pictures, no advertising tactic in hand and ready to deploy?

Stern as to face the fact that pinside contributes a large chunk of revenue for them. You just don't rely on people doing shit for you that's how people get taken over. Apple VS. Microsoft would be a good example. But I'm not taking about take over here because Stern is happy sitting on it's laurels because JJP and other small shops are nowhere near their manufacturing process. But that day will come....

Shooting a video, taking professional pictures and making web advertisement can all be done with a few weeks. If you are gonna get non-pinball folks interested might want to try the big bang approach...instead of the piecemeal approach.

What's good for pinsiders should be good for everyone else.

With that said. Jody... I don't know you.....but wake the hell up.....

No they didn't they showed stuff that didn't make it in the game and created false hopes. I'm not taking about a teaser video with a animated robot in it.

I get it. All I am saying to Stern needs to get their ducks aligned instead of giving the impression that Stern is a chicken with it's head cut off.

Get a plan, plan in advance, get the roll out smooth and steady! The've had months to plan this you would think that they would be better prepared.

@rarehero

french-sign.jpg

Sometimes I don't catch sarcasm or english jokes....

Or maybe it's because I work for an advertising agency....and Stern's advertising model is complete suicide! *or* death by 1000 cuts.

When every sale counts....you make sure people buy your product...or in the case of two posts above this one...they go and buy a woz instead.

They sell out to distributors not buyers....so your point means nothing. Some distributors might be stuck with them for a while like TF LEs...who knows.

Calling a few magazines so they can write a story about the new machine is part of a good strategy yes. Going to shows and promote, yes! But it can't be your only strategy. Specially when it comes to new releases.

For crying out loud folks I'm not saying Stern doesn't make good machines.....I'm saying they suck at advertising them to the real buyers.

Your point is good for now....but believe me when other companies like dutch pinball (TBL looks like its going to be awesome), JJP with 2 more games coming out and the new guys at silver castle pinball release time shock...... it's gonna take more than just 5 pictures and rely on the pinmaniacs to deliver the message for you.

No. That's called false advertising. LOL Well not quite but they got flamed for it.

I completely agree.... but eventually the day will come...it always does... all I am saying you just don't want to be caught with your pants down when it happens.

Let's see... what was I saying about Stern getting caught with their pants down! With the TBL prototypes shown last night at a reveal party at the "Lebowski" of all places. The pins on a nice "Lebowski Rug". The entire game up for review by Pinball News and Pinball Magazine with a "somewhat live commentary" on this thread https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/the-big-lebowski-pinball-prototype-presentation-reveal with highres shots from the get go and with some video to boot all in the same night.

Game with nice LCD display....beautiful art package (it almost feels vintage and modern)...awesome toys.

The game looks awesome and the amount of money it cost to organize that event is well worth it. Some people are looking at their TWDLE pre-orders and considering waiting (as mentioned in the linked thread).

When a machine cost $8.5K is doesnt' take too long before you lose $100K in sales.

TBL is ahead of schedule...early Q2 at the latest....yes you are right about having TWD pro in a few weeks....but the LE's won't ship anytime soon and at that price point....TBL and TWDLE are priced the same.

TBL
Bowling alley lower playfield
Car toy on upper playfied that gets out of garage when targets are hit
Rolling carpet mech in the middle

TWDLE
You got bicycle girl, extra spinners, and guts form well monster, the prison that opens it's doors.

Either way, We are talking about marketing tactic here....and clearly... Stern's just has no imagination what so ever.

agreed, im not saying to go and spend 50k on advertising. But at the very least look like you are organized. release materials together. have a plan. get keith to shoot a video with the game etc....

My point exactly. Stern should get their shit together when it comes to game releases & code releases. Because like you mentioned they can't afford a dud. And you can't afford to piss some of your clients off. Call me self-centred if you want to but every sale counts..even to this minority on pinside.

I've never purchased a NIB from Stern because of the code fiascos alone / their price increases / lack of coordination. Now multiply that by the amount of people that are like me and just calculate the amounts of sales they are missing on. When a game is 5K and you lose ... oh let's just say 45 people this way.... it's no big deal...it's just 225K :O

Now tack on these release setbacks (TWD shop flyer....one facebook post...no video).....it's not so important now because most people mentioned on here that they're is no real competition. Well with TBL getting released a few months after TWDLE...some people might swing the other way now. The TBL announcement the other day was coordinated, simple and effective.

People on here are the pinmaniacs, the collectors, the most vocal.....they are the ones giving the word out...and giving there opinions from the get go. For Stern you want to start with a bang with these people not leave them feeling like you are limping right out of the gate.

Sure DP is only releasing one pinball. But they are just beginning. And TBL looks like a gem (we wil have to wait to see game play) but they are not at release stage yet. But at least we feel well informed with a few sneak peaks. And JJP is releasing 2 games next year that are bound to cause some ripples.

All I wanted to get at with the post was when a machine is 5K and you lose even a fraction of potential sales...it hurts the bottom line. The number 45 was just a figure to show the amounts we are talking about. Just 5 sales lost is $25K! Not all in Stern's pockets but still a big chunk.

Now I have owned a Stern before and really loved it. I just waited until the code was complete and that prices were down. And I'm sure I am not the only doing so.

In all this thread what I am really trying to convey at is that Stern needs to do a better job at communicating instead of assuming. They don't need to invest a lot more cash in Marketing but they need to plan better and need to communicate better with there potential clients.

For new releases...they need to be more organized with releasing materials in a coordinated fashion.
As for code releases when they say it will be ready in 2 months.....then make it ready in two months.