It is interesting to speculate where TBL prices are and heading.
TBL’s have primarily been resold for $15k - $22k. Prices peaked this summer with a $25k sale. Now that an endless supply is promised by DP at $12.5k, one would have to be pretty desperate to pay $21k for one. There may not be any more games made, but the possibility of this has paralyzed the market for them imo. People will likely stand by.
People that want them for $12.5k will buy them once available. If DP builds it, consider it sold. Guaranteed demand for your product. The only reason that this is true, is the mistaken belief by most that the game may be worth $21k to someone else because of past sales. That is the rub, unless there is a large group of unknowing saps willing to buy the game for $21k, the games cannot be easily sold and flippers will be stuck with their game unsold.
When hype passes and those wanting to resell will lower asking price to what the market will bear. I think $12.5k - $15k range is tolerable and that is where actual sales will take place. Because as good as the game is - it is subject to breaking unique parts that are limited to not available. You can play a broken TBL, but if the rug doesn’t work and the bowling alley has issues and you’ve paid $12.5k, you’ll feel ripped off, even at that purchase price.
Barry might be able to build 50 more games with existing inventory before being shut down, but eventually the factory will close (it has to open first), and 140 EA’s will still be without their games. All this effort to build games and no realistic way to get a single EA their games. Ok let’s say 5 of the 50 games built go to an EA, because DP makes it happen to keep the natives contained. So a few folks receive a game, but you’d have to agree that would only be slightly better than none.
I’ve grabbed popcorn and will be watching TBL ads and following actual sales closely. I would buy one for $12.5k if offered, but if unique parts were not available in the market, the Seller could fugget about it.