Quoted from CactusJack:First off, I wish you the best in your endeavor. We need more manufacturers!
And, I write this since you chose to use the word "operators" and not owners.
As to conversions, there has always been a big problem with the concept. In order to get Operators to purchase a new product, or at least a dedicated cabinet for future conversion, you have to have a "hit" i.e. Great or proven earner. Operators will not invest in a new product just because of the idea that they can do easy, or possibly less costly conversions down the line. It must justify itself right off the bat.
If you do have a "hit", operators are reluctant to ever convert it because it is still earning well and a conversion is not justified. So, if the second title ends up being a hit, more cabinets are purchase since the first run cabinets are still in use. So the conversions, never actually are conversions.
The only conversion products that have ever done well are ones that targeted OLD tired machines that could be refreshed with a new Playfield, programming, and perhaps, side art.
This is one reason why so many SWE1 kits still remained in the crate and in distributors back rooms. No operator wanted to lose their RFM to SWE1. Those that could afford it, merely purchased a whole new P2K.
However, when it comes to the HOME collector market, the conversion concept may actually work as they will only need to purchase the initial host cabinet, and then "collect" the follow up titles which can be easily stored and swapped out when they tire of the current game.
You may well be right and it is calculated risk.
WMS was the only company to try it in the modern era and they pulled the plug before the concept really had a chance to prove itself, so nobody really knows if operators will buy into the concept. But we have gone all out to try and give them what we think, and many of them tell us, they need and want. After all, pinball as coin-op is dead in many places, so nothing ventured, nothing gained.
We have spent 2 years developing hardware and software that should allow operators to make money and keep their games in service.
But this doesn't mean we are forgetting collectors, as we have also been developing innovative ways that should benefit collectors too.
It has been a long road to get to where we are now - but we hope that our products, and the games we are developing, will excite people and have been worth the wait
