Quoted from manadams:I think people will accept it being in the 8-8.5k range. Doubt they made a bunch of parts on original run and just shelved them like your insinuating, costs of materials have gone way up since then. With JJP trying to pan off "fun" at 12k, this is a bargain compared to TS4 with a more challenging game, better lightshow and the best soundtrack in pinball.
As I understand it from interviews/podcasts, all of the mechanicals are parts that anyone can buy from parts vendors such as Pinball Life. That’s what I mean by ‘off-the-shelf’…nothing specifically designed or manufactured for this game in particular. So they should be lower cost (relatively speaking) The scoop is a standard scoop that everyone uses, pop bumpers, spinners, et cetera. At least that’s the way I remember Mr. Danesi describing it in one podcast or another…I’ve had many beers since then.
This game is a cash cow for Spooky. Unlicensed theme, original music, original artwork and so on. I would guess they still pay a fee for these things (as well they should, and I hope they are paying well) BUT it’s not like paying for a license to the scale of a Led Zeppelin or Beatles. Depending on when the re-run happens (hopefully sooner rather than later) pricing is going to become a selling point as recession lurks in the corner. The manufacturers and distributors who are ignorant will reap what they’ve sown. No one needs a pinball machine.
Don’t get me wrong, costs on everything are through the roof, but the days of making more profit margin just because there is no pushback from the customer are drawing to an end. I sell mid to high-end office furniture (MillerKnoll) and I’m already seeing RFQ’s from entrenched MK customers asking for lower-priced import stuff in lieu of what they usually buy. The days of belt-tightening are nigh.