The contents of phones has changed drastically. Earlier mobile phones didn't have browsers, accelerometers, wi-fi tranceivers, app stores, premium cameras, etc. Then Apple introduced the iPhone, and thus, the more ubiquitous "smartphone" came into existence. The smartphone quickly became a vanity item; people who could get by with the regular version opted instead for the super premium model in the rose gold finish that featured bendable liquid glass, super 8k high-nit resolution, five Hasselblad cameras built in, and more.

Today, we can buy the perfectly capable Galaxy A01 smartphone for $39.99. Technologically, it does everything the iPhone does. But instead, we opt for the fully bling-loaded iPhone 13 for $1,599.99. And as I'm writing this, it strikes me that that's what we do in pinball when we skip the pro version and opt for the LE.

This thread is very helpful when it discusses what's on the line at Stern.

It is. But it isn't.

I just really hope my Mando premium really pops out of the factory this time!

Good luck, I was supposedly next on the list from the distributor I ordered from in May after the end of January build. I cancelled with them and found one at a different distributor 3 weeks ago since I wasn't confident they would stick to their planned February run.

I learned an important lesson that your place in line with the distributor you ordered with is much more important than when you ordered.

It’s safe to say Stern is making as many as they can right now. Trust me, people aren’t banging on the door demanding jobs on the assembly line. It’s an industry wide US MFG issue right now.

Back on track. This is what's supposed to be on the line. No updates. But hoping Rush LE finished last week as planned so Premiums could start this week:

Feb 2022 - Rush LE & Premium
Feb 2022 - Mando Pro & Premium
Mar 2022 - Godzilla Pro & Premium
Mar 2022 - AIQ Pro & Premium
Apr 2022 - Rush Pro & Premium
Apr 2022 - JP Pro & Premium
May 2022 - Godzilla Pro & Premium
July 2022 - Deadpool Pro & Premium
July 2022 - Godzilla Pro & Premium
Aug 2022 - Star Wars Pro & Premium (original art package)
Sep 2022 - Star Wars the pin (original & comic art)
Oct 2022 - JP the pin
Nov 2022 - Elvira Premium
Dec 2022 - TMNT Pro & Premium

Speculation is that new pins would be coming out in May or June (Venom), possibly August (Bond), and Sept or Oct (Jaws). If any of that's true, it might change any of the above dates, as per usual. But it's just speculation and hasn't been confirmed.

But even if the title is speculation, Stern will indeed be running the new release Pro and LE as usual ? So could be placed on this schedule ?

Once a distributor confirms that a new pin would be on the line at that time. All of these dates have been brought to us by TPN podcast by Flip N Out and by Mad Pinball. Anything else is just speculation.

Not specifically about pinball but I’ve read the auto makers have found it’s better to have a little lower inventory and be able to sell very close to MSRP than having the dealers lots full and we being able to cross shop at dealers and get better deals.

We have been through this before. It just takes one auto maker to flood the market in an effort to gain market share, and they all will be doing the same. Chrysler was the first to blink last time.

Thanks for doing this. It is helpful.

Hearing on The Next Stern Pin thread that there won't be any new Stern pins scheduled until August, so this schedule might change.

Good news. Been waiting on machines since July.

Now would be a good time to announce last call on some older pins, knock em out, and move forward with a smaller, more manageable number of games to produce.

Hope they make more Jurassic Parks, because I'd love to get a premium.

Stern announced that they are focusing on Rush, Godzilla, Mandalorian, and Deadpool. That's great news for all those people waiting. I'm waiting on two of them.

I was bummed to see that didn’t include Elvira on that list, but maybe this will at least bump the schedule on Elvira up a bit.

Heard the same today as well.. One less cornerstone this year than usual..

That's actually good news. Catch up on the backlog before announcing ANOTHER game you can't make on time. Give time for parts for the next game to fully arrive so there are no line delays once production starts.

This is pretty much what people who have been waiting on orders have been begging for. So it sounds like good news for all of us!

Yeah, as a member of the “awaiting Elvira” crowd, it sucks not to hear it included.

Really hoping that backlog is cleared out before August. Would be amazing if when Venom or whichever pin comes out, they just made that pin all fall, satisfied all the orders then moved onto the next game. And only had to do maybe one extra run in 2023. But hoping they move Elvira up on the list to be wrapped out before August also. Was pretty bummed when they moved the Premium a year and made Elvira's 40th instead.

Seems entirely feasible to have a gap in the rotation, especially with Ritchie out. (plus, they clearly need to catch up on their backlog)

Where did you hear this?

look further up the thread for a screencap of the Stern announcment.

9E6EEF6C-7593-4D4D-853E-7D07B10B67E5 (resized).jpeg
From the Kaneda Patreon club!

That's not an announcement from stern that is info from a distributor

I was told it’s an announcement from stern to the distributors. Stern doesn’t need to post a public announcement to the consumers

oops sorry. it's in another thread that I saw it.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/what-will-be-the-next-stern-pinball-machine/page/516#post-6794757

I was referring to the 4 games listed where did that come from
Edit I'm an idiot I see it now bummer no jp

Where Gary states what they are especially concentrating on within that message? I assume that’s the 4 your asking about.

So to paraphrase: Star Wars, GotG, Iron Maiden, Elvira, Beatles, Jurassic Park, Stranger Things, TMNT, AIQ and LZ are all retired (for 2022 at least).

No i think this just explains why an unexpected run of GZ premiums popped up for May in addition to march and august. Aiq should still be march, JP should still be April…elvira and tmnt end of year. Stranger things is done, period and i don’t believe there was a planned IM run for 2022.

Uh now hold on there pal, the email just said “especially concentrating on” rush, gz, mando, dp. It doesn’t say others are shelved.

I think it just means another date push for AIQ and JP and Deadpool moves up. In "the coming months" Rush, GZ, and Mando were all flagged to be on the line already..

As someone who's been waiting almost a year for a JP... not great news...

Yea - I saw the “especially concentrating on” wiggle factor. That could certainly mean small 2 week runs of the other titles as factors allow. But certainly not enough to meet the backlog of orders for JP, Elvira, etc.

What’s odd is that they moved BM66 to the retired list but not Stranger Things.

I question another run of Elvira - it’s simply harder to make than a GZ or DP. Couple that with the surprise end of year EHoH40 release and it raises questions. Don’t get me wrong - I hope they make one more run of prems. It’s absolutely a fantastic game - one of their best ever IMO.

It would be a Damn Shame If they don't run more Elvira.
It's pretty amazing.

Has anyone heard if any of the titles that aren’t the 4 in the announcement that they are concentrating on, have been pushed to later in the year or if they are keeping their spots?

Deadpool is mentioned as one of the titles they want to concentrate on but wasn’t scheduled till July. JP and AIQ were meant to have runs before DP but they aren’t mentioned in the announcement from Stern so does it seem likely JP and AIQ are going to be pushed back now?

I asked 2 distributors about that... both of them assured me that the AIQ run in March will happen as scheduled.

Agree, I think listing out specific titles to focus on was just Gary’s way of saying “we are especially backlogged on these titles” as opposed to “we are re-prioritizing our schedule for these specific titles.”

With values of Stranger Things Premium so high why isn't another run planned? This title has the demand!!

Thats an easy one to answer: Cause they would need to renew the license.

…and source more projectors.

They also don’t like building them as the prems are much harder to build than a GZ or DP.

Anyone think they could do a Vault SW Comic Art or something like it for May since they said no more cornerstone games 'till August? Premiums are selling for a pretty penny right now and you would think there would have to be some more playfields laying around somewhere with the art on them as short as the runs were. That and it is May after all.

My bet is they crank out as many premiums as they can - probably better return on their money for line time.

From what I can tell they just have a hard time moving the movie versions but demand for the comic version appears to be pretty strong. To me it would just make more sense.

I’ve been wondering the same thing— both art packages had to be approved by Disney, so why is the comic art version retired rather than the (almost universally less liked) photorealistic art version?

If it’s a matter of the artist approval, you’d have to think Randy Martinez would be pretty easy to work with (especially compared to Disney).