I fear we're moving into a "Computer chips, potato chips, it doesn't matter, it's a business" era. I hope George and the creative team are able to keep the passion for the games burning bright for the company, because I suspect the passion elsewhere will be for game business models, not games. Without a strong creative core in the studio (which George and team definitely have), it will become a very different company.

If I were JJP or Spooky, there is a huge opportunity here to lead with passion for the games (and crazy quality and polish). They will never win against economies of scale and manufacturing prowess, but they will win by being premium products and brands that all of us would line up to pay a premium for.

I agree 1000%!

I would never consider buying a Spooky game, and as a huge Lawlor and Toy Story fan, my disappointment in TS4 after the jewel that was GnR is beyond words.

That being said, there is a window for them to get their focus together and claim the space Stern doesn’t have and doesn’t need to take. If they try to go head to head on manufacturing, distribution, volume, or IP leverage, they will lose.

If they are able to pivot and claim the high ground for passion and quality? There is a real niche there, esp at these prices. Let Stern take the operator market with their Pros, go for the premium home market with things that blow the Stern premiums and LEs away

Stern is going to continue to chase volume, and drive margin with high priced premium offers that aren’t high value. Someone needs to step up and compete with premium offers that are high value, or Stern will keep pushing margin over value, and hopefully JJP or Spooky (or long shot CGC) is up to it.