Elvira and BM66 they kind of did that with LE and Super LE

Well it is possible that he meant something different. Since he talks about the premiums before he talks about the LEs it is totally possible he is only referring to the premiums, when he says the LEs are first.

They just did.

The first Pro run is going to be super small and meant for operators mostly.

I think someone posted that some distros were on order lists (whatever the process is I am not sure) for any Keith Elwin game coming up before any sort of info on it. Is this true? I kind of felt this way when Brian Eddy came back to pinball designing given his track record and my MMR at home. I wanted a Stern designed by Brian Eddy. Stranger Things was not it for me. This theme is exactly what I was hoping Eddy would be on. It will be an amazing pin, I am sure there's some input from Eddy with Dwight Sullivan's software design as well. That's why I pounced on a Mando LE...

Just curious what people’s thoughts are that all 7 “shots” are only 1/2 way up the playfield nothing deep ?

Can anyone confirm if Baby Yoda is static or does he move around? Looks like he is static/ lacking movement.

Nice, back to baby yoda discussion. Something fresh.

Frozen like a wooly mammoth in ice

We need some drone shots of the stern factory now.

There is no confirmation that it is static, but no proof or indication that it isn't (outside of some wild and hopeful speculation)

They were quickly selling for $10000+ for a while, too. I forget the msrp back then but that was a huge markup. It did not take long for prices to come back to reality. Pretty sure the same will happen here but buyers are not patient.

I'm curious who is on code, who did the playfield design, and if there has ever been a game with a plastic ramp before?

Like Solo in carbonite.

Can't imagine what would happen if were ever to get the Mandolorian Season 3 - Grogu's Teen Years

Grogu is currently static. Currently.

I don't see anything but the Herman Munster pseudo-mech when I look at Baby Grogu... that's just how cheap Stern is...

Hopefully it leads to short ball times. Stranger things has medium length shots, and it can be brutal.

Lonnie, Gomez and no.

According to Stern it is highly interactive and controls the ball. Why would you doubt them?

Plastic costs too much. It's only used on the pimpest of the pimpest.

What makes you buy an LE over premium I ask
- different art and with that the limited nrs
Now with Mandolorian LE being flipped for $15k
And premium version is around $7600

I wander how special can you make the premium
With $7400 to spend
- make new custom cabinet art work
- new Glass translite
- upgrade speakers
And what else

And boom , you have your own SLE

Aren't you wondering why there are lights on Mando's helmet playfield malarkey?

Shaker, hd glass, translite needs to be mirrored.

That’s about it for an LE

WHERE'S GINA?!?!

Inner art blades are exclusive to the LE too.

Good call

Better speakers also?

Look we've been through this before as people try to add up the $ on add ons in their heads to prove that the LE isn't "worth" the upgrade from premium. That's not really the point, it's not supposed to "add up" as the point is that Stern wants more money.

You are paying for that invisible "trophy value" on an LE, and it's clearly worth it to folks cause these keep selling.

She's AWOL off in search for a game with a plastic ramp.

Guys, they've released their hype videos that show plenty of gameplay and even the magnet being activated. Grogu is a static figure.

grogu (resized).png

Now, for the love of God, can someone please tell me who's on code?

Yeah it’s stupid to do that. Just buy which one you want. Ignore the price tag. I really wanted an LE so I got one for a previous game. I got it because it was the package I liked the best. Nothing to do with “value”

Where was the UV lighting in the stranger things promo? There is hope!!

No - the point of the distributor model is as it was for most commercial gear. The distributor is your purchasing vehicle, they are your parts supplier, they are your service provider. They are the company's representative in your territory and provide the inventory, sales and support for the product. The distributor expects to make money on the margin of product and selling value added services (support, parts, etc). The manufacturer wasn't in the direct business and did not have local presence. The manufacturer would instead focus on supporting the distributors with training, marketing, parts, and vendor support.

That's what 'the olden days' of Betson and others was... and still is for most operating in that model.

Problem is, Stern uses the model, but doesn't actually live by it. They don't do what is necessary to make it successful, by supporting the distributors and making it a viable space to offer real 2 tier sales and support. Instead Stern hides behind not doing direct sales, and lets people who do nothing more than take orders be distributors. It was really bad for awhile before they purged the ranks... where people were becoming 'distributors' just so they could buy games at a discount for them and their friends. They've gotten better, but really they are just doing two tier sales and not making the two tier model work for actual support and services.

Stern likes to reap the benefits... letting distributors be their local presence, stock inventory, handle all the direct sales, etc... but don't require or enable distributors to actually be real value added service providers/representatives.

Is Grogu's jacket made out of hard plastic, or flexible fabric?

That could be a clue as well.

Fabric, you can see the hem of it move in one of the promos.

Dwight

A batch that probably was a handful of games. Probably motivated more as a the gimmick to drive value to their insider program more than as a pivot in strategy away from distribution.

It's not far fetched to believe they will move to a model where they casually sell direct, but have no interest in actually competing with their distributors. Just do it as a way to convert sales from people that know no better, or to do it for promotional reasons (like the insider access).

Stern has it too good without offering direct sales... they won't want to give up distribution.

Something really fishy here guys... Watch this video from 49 seconds and slow down playback to 0.25:

It shows the magnet activation when Grogu uses the force - and his coat definitely moves!! It could have been hit by the ball but I don't think so.

This could be proof that he moves, or that he moved at some point!

A new hope.

If so he must move on all the editions or they'd have a lot of pissed off Pro buyers on their hands.

In the premium features only video it shows the magnets going and Grogu remaining static.

That’s just movement from ball ricochet. Look
At edge of coat, looks like plastic.

Grogu unfortunately doesn't move, Stern includes even the most minor of features in a games feature matrix.

https://sternpinball.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Mandalorian-Feature-Matrix-3adkjhf3.pdf

You are correct sir!

Could be, but there looks to be plenty of clearance above the ball. Unless they were arsing around with Grogu's position for the close-up.

mmmmm, I don't think so

Are you soooo hoping he doesn’t move? Lol Herman is mechanically actuated and moves and promo video didn’t reveal that. If you don’t hit Herman after initially activating him, he’ll do a darn, darn, darn routine and mechanically rock front to back 3 times, with no ball touching him. (Munsters feature matrix didn’t reveal Herman actually moved either.)

Would be class trolling by Stern if Grogu did move.

How about just a whole second premium machine?

If you play the video backwards you can hear Grogu moaning, Paul is Dead.

If Grogu is animated this would be incompetent marketing on a legendary level. Stern makes decisions that baffle me but I just can't believe they are capable of that big a blunder. If it moved what possible reason would you have to not show it off.