Quoted from DCFAN:I hear certain podcasters criticizing pinsiders for making fun of some of the licenses deeproot has announced. The only problem with that is these podcasters pretty much admitted they would not buy these crap titles either. These podcasters go on to say that any pinball to play is better than doing something that is not pinball. I am sorry but this is dumb statement because if nobody is going to buy a shitty theme it will not be available to play because they will not exist in quantity, and a shitty theme is wasting resources and hurting the pinball company’s finances. Designing a licensed/themed game people would actually want to buy would be much more likely to make the pinball company viable and result in more games for us to play.
Pinball machines are expensive. Paying $7000 for a non-licensed pinball machine seems somewhat hollow. Before games were so expensive non-licensed games were more viable because the sounds and video were not as comprehensive and encompassing because of the lack of technology. Those days are pretty much over with massively coded games, lcd screens and stereo sound in combination with big price tags.
I wonder how little thought is put in statements like "license is everything" - but this goes both ways.
The license of course can stir up hype and and a lot of "blind" sales or sales based off of the license alone. This is because you know the game has something you like AND of course you'll have some expectations what you will get in the game. - But it doesn't automatically make a good game.
An unlicensed game is definately off to a slower start and from there on out it depends on how good the game, as a whole, actually is.
(Since there are still Medival Madness etc. produced, whatever counter argument is wrong. )
The additional problem here with announcing (!) unlicensed games, without showing anything, is that you don't know what to expect AT ALL!
You don't have no fond memories of the movie, the music, the characters... to fill the completely blank canvas in your head.
So of course there can't be any interrest if it's something absolutely fresh. - But it doesn't automatically make a game you don't want (when it's out).
So yes, I wonder why a lot of titles have been shown, that people can make absolutely nothing off.
But on the other Hand, an ongoing (spanning multiple games) CYOA pinball game - without any license restrictions - sounds like a dream come true.
Reality's always somewhere in the middle,... and even this only if DR manages to pump out games.