I can't believe the outrage about this announcement. I own a TWDLE, and I couldn't care less how many versions Stern releases of this or ANY pinball machine. If the hobby continues to grow, I hope they make Vault Editions of EVERYTHING.
It has always struck me as EXTREMELY strange that there is an expectation that these machines should hold their value, or increase, and that Stern has the responsibility to carefully maintain this illusion of scarcity... In what other sector does this occur?! (I know, you can give me a few insane examples... I don't care).
Why begrudge a company for trying to sell more of the things they make??!! They have no responsibility to maintain the "value" of your collection through scarcity of their product. The only reason these things retain their value is that we're all selling them to each other!!!
I think Stern should make announcements like, "Hey Pinball fans, we're considering releasing a Vault Edition of Avatar. We're gauging interest at this point. It's a lot of work to spool up the production line to rerun a game. How many people would like a chance to buy a new Avatar VE?"
I really love pinball. I love buying machines new and old. I love fixing my machines. I love modding my machines. I love playing other peoples machines. I love going to pinball conventions. I love talking to pinball people. I LOVE the tech help I've received here on Pinside.
I hate Stern Bashing. I hate JJP Bashing. There are a LOT of really petty things said here on Pinside. I keep coming back though, because this place is overwhelmingly filled with positive people who just live and breathe pinball.
I think everybody should take a few deep breaths, and remember what's important here. We are lucky to be in this hobby, and for most of us, that's what it is. I can understand that there are some people on here for whom pinball is their livelihood, and values, pricing and the like have a different impact on them. For MOST of us though, these are just really expensive toys, that make us REALLY happy.
For the most part, I try to steer clear of all the mudslinging, and fisticuffs here on Pinside.
Merry Christmas everybody.
I hope you all get a pinball machine under your tree this year. I know I will, cause I bought it myself!
For some of you, it will be a BSD in need of a lot of attention, that will soon be blowing people's minds once you get the Mist magnet working again. For some, it will be an Iron Man VE, fast and Brutal. For some it will be a NIB ACDC Premium that your local Distributor has been holding for you. For some it will be Dutch Pinball's BoP 2.0 For some it will be a Sea Witch, beautifully restored and ready to be played again for another 30 years.
If you're reading ANY of this, it's because you LOVE Pinball. You wouldn't be here on Pinside if you didn't. Best of the Season to you all.