Quoted from kaneda: For example: I LOVE STREET FIGHTER! But the pin version? Same with Mario. People are used to controlling the characters they love...not sure pinball is the right medium for video game properties.
Let's be real though - Gottlieb made these games to sell to operators. From operator reports back in the day, and sales numbers (excluding SMBMW which was more of an experiment), Gottlieb accomplished what they set out to do.
Yes, twenty years later this doesn't translate as well.
Quoted from kaneda:And how many did they sell at TTPF? The last 10 or so? Ask Charlie or Ben if they would do another run of AMH and the answer would be no. They've both gone on record many times talking about how much of a b#$ch it was to sell that theme.
First, you're wrong. They sold the last like three or four at the MGC, and they had something like 10 people signed up for that spot.
The first game took longer to sell because Charlie did this magical thing where they came up with a theme, coded the game, and had a bill of materials ready when they started selling it to ensure they could operate and produce the machines, originally to whatever quantity people wanted.
At the same time they were doing this, other more flashy pinball "companies" were developing titles either based on well known properties or limited quantities from well known designers. They didn't do the fireworks, just showed the games.
It wasn't until the game was actually finished and in people's hands and they talked about how great it was that it started selling.
Now, we have a company that people can trust to deliver saying there is a limited number of their next game.
It's apples to oranges. I wouldn't be surprised if they sell more than 150 Domino's pins after that game is revealed due to their reputation.