In about 2 months that weekend song is going to be a distant memory, much like “hey ya” Or “get lucky” and countless other ear worm pop hits before it, destined to be forgotten until it pops up in a Toyota commercial in 6 years.

Weve been over this a million times; the people buying pinball machines want Tried and true classic rock in their homes, proven by the fact that they are all big sellers.

Risking an entire production cycle on a modern pop theme makes sense only if you are trying to put your pinball company out of business, which is why people who insist we need a Rihanna Pinball machine are never those who depend on new pinball machine sales to put food on their table.

Give it up; a modern pop theme isn’t gonna “bring kids into pinball” and it’s not worth the risk when the classic rock pins continue to print Money for pinball companies.

If pinside ran Stern they’d be out of business in a month.

So you think a weekend pin - In 2021 - is gonna sell better than a Rush pin?

If he’s really “the new prince” then his game can get made in 2045. Until then it seems kind of pointless when classic rock themes always do well.

You sound like a dynamic young executive with a mastery of buzzwords and I encourage you to start your own pinball company and move the needle with Cardi B pinball machines that nobody will buy.

You gotta take risks! Why just keep taking in piles of cash with can’t miss classic rock themes?

Also rick and morty for some reason.

The most obnoxious fucking thing about every pinball tournament over the last 3 years has been a TNA in the bank at top volume pumping that never ending thumping sound track for three days.

Like, enough already. Can we please start keeping that game to normal fucking volumes?

Blasting TNA at obnoxious volume does not make you young nor hip. I don’t think most TNA owners understand that.

Exactly. To repeat a tired point “I’d buy a Motörhead, sabbath or priest pin, LE, sight unseen.”

Who the fuck is gonna say that about a weekend or Bunny pin?

Nobody. On earth. The consumer base simply doesn’t mix and never will.

No because The Weekend is the new prince.

Can’t wait!

My guess is it will be the beastie boys, snoop, or someone else who has been around for decades. Thus - more or less - proving our point. It’s just dad rock you can bob your head to that is or will soon be in the rock n roll hall of fame with the rest of the pinball themes.

Fuck yeah!

Honestly that dumb explicit lyrics tag would look awesome on a translite.

As ancient and even quaint as NWA may seem today, it's would still be tough for a mainstream pinball company to push an act whose signature song is "Fuck tha Police."

So it's one of these threads again? We are dangerously close to price bubble stuff!

Anyway, I agree. Young people aren't buying games. However in 10-20 years when they are old people they very may will. Just like the "young people" invoked in that exact argument 20 years ago are now old and buying games.

Go check the RGP archives. Pinball collectors are all supposed to be 70 years old now, and their collections are supposed to be worthless. This was how it was predicted, "just like the Jukebox hobby."

Exactly. This is what the "The industry needs to appeal to the kids!" crowd will never get.

In the 21st century, pinball is no longer for kids. Kids don't leave the house. And when they do they aren't interested in something as dull as pinball. It simply doesn't have any appeal to them.

When those over 40 here were kids, there was literally NOTHING ELSE TO DO on some days besides go out and hit the arcade. That's where the fun was.

That's ancient, irrelevant history. Pinball does not need to appeal to kids, nor will that work. They need to appeal to people in their 20s and 30s who go to bars, and might discover pinball there. That's exactly what's been happening - at least in NYC - for the past 10 years or so. And Plenty of those folks, as they get older, are buying pinball machines, now that they have their own apartments and can afford them. I know plenty of these cases, first hand. In some cases, I've been the one to sell them their first games.

Pinball isn't for kids any more, it's for grownups, and that's why Stern is slaughtering it in the licensing department.

I did not call them one hit wonders.

Their hits - pop hits, that age quickly and disappear - do not possess the same timeless quality as classic rock, and wouldn't help sell pinball machines.

When was the last time you voluntarily cued up "Hey Ya?"

I guarantee you half this board spun Back in Black at least once in the past year. And every year.

Exact same thing they were saying 20 years ago.

Ok, it's no secret I'm old and unhip but is that guy with the bandages on his face The Weekend, or is he the singer for the band called The Weekend?

Also is it a band or just a mac playing pre-recorded tracks?

I'll admit that one song in super catchy but as I've said several times, I expect it to have the shelf life of "All About the Bass"

the fact that you think Eminem and CHris Brown "appeals to women" makes me wonder about your supposed finger on the pulse on the youth and female consumers of the day. Plenty of women in pinball find him vile for any number of reasons (check out Greg Poverelli's recent facebook thread!)

I mean..CHRIS BROWN? The guy who beat your beloved Rhianna into a pulp?

Maybe leave the theme choices to the pros, the ones who actually rely on pinball to put dinner on their tables. It's been stated a million times - the old band themes sell. Always. This is "a fact and not an opinion." Period. So why fuck with the formula?

I've yet to hear a good reason. Rock themes sell like hotcakes yet you want to change the recipe. Some nebulous, vague claim that you could "capture the youth market" or "broaden the appeal" of pinball rings super hollow. WHy the fuck do they need to broaden the appeal of pinball? Have you been paying attention? These manufacturers are backlogged a year yet you think now's time to bet the farm on a Lil' Wayne pinball machine? FOR GOD'S SAKE WHY?!?! Pinball's appeal is fuckin broad enough, they could start limiting the appeal a little bit and that would be ok by me at this point.

I'm with ya on the hip hop - it's time. THere's enough quality oldies hip-hop acts that they could do and actually sell some games. To old people. Snoop, Beasties, RUNDMC, I'm looking in your direction...We all know SNoop will do basically ANYTHING for a buck so getting him to do voice calls would probably be both easy and hilarious.

Still laughing at the idea that the reaction from the pinball community would be anything but horrific over a CHris Brown pin.

Can you fucking imagine the shit they would catch?

Maybe you forgot what he did to Rhianna's face. I'd refresh your memory but I don't want to look at any of those pics again.

Spinner's theory - posted 9,891 times in various facebook threads - is that suddenly all these twentysomething clubgoers would become pinball fanatics if only there were a Drake pinball machine.

It's an interesting idea but I just don't think we are gonna be able to find out anytime soon, unless Silver Spinner Pinball Manufacturing Inc. becomes a reality. Nobody's gonna want to take the chance and stop printing money with the rock themes.

Believe me, I'd love to see it. And I sincerely do believe it's time for that oldies hip hop theme, let's see how that does first and we can go from there!

Dolly Parton

Rolling Stones 1979 (Stones were in the middle of a string of #1 albums and hit singles at the time and were still "relevant.")

Wizard kinda counts, as the WHo were still a big deal in the late 1970s and this game is Who-related.

THe Entertainer - Roy clark when Hee Haw was still a big deal

Beat Time - kinda counts as it's a bootleg Beatles game in the late 60s.

Somebody needs to tell The Weekend that there’s no crying in rock n roll

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-56370876
The Weeknd 'will no longer submit music to Grammy Awards' after snub

And once again, who is gonna buy it?

CLub kids don't buy pinball machines. Gamers don't buy pinball machines. I would consider it but only because he likes picking fights with Madonna.

That’s what the “how about music for kids?!” Brigade doesn’t understand.

Thanks to YouTube, memes, movies, advertisements, the internet in general, a new audience discovers the classic stuff all the time, year round. Check out any classic rock performance or video on YouTube and half the comments are from kids saying “I’m 14 and today’s music sucks and nobody will ever equal Freddie Mercury” or “I was born in the wrong decade” etc etc.

A classic rock song - or even a classic deep cut - shows up in a commercial or memorable movie scene and thousands of people Flock to YouTube to find out more about the song and the act.

This stuff has an eternal life now, it’s evergreen. Nostalgia no longer runs In cycles, it’s both instantaneous and forever. And there’s no denying the cream will always continue to rise to the top. The stones, Floyd, acdc, sabbath, queen, Beatles etc etc etc this shit is not going anywhere. These acts are slowly dying off but their legacy and their ability to generate $ isn’t going anywhere.

Ever. It’s just too fuckin good to go away or not be rediscovered by generation after generation.

Those poor games are always broken wrecks. I really think those establishments are better off without pinball.

After all this bullshit the next game will be rush or sabbath or what have you and it’ll sell for years.

These “debates” are pointless. The guys who make Pinball machines for a living know where their bread is buttered.

Can’t wait for the sabbath or Floyd pin. It’s gotta happen soon!!

Only problem - the old timers claim “purple machines don’t sell!”

Ok I was about to say after enduring an hour of the Grammys I think silver spinner is nuttier than ever thinking a modern pop game would do anything but put a pinball company out of business.

But then, holy shit!!

Sign me up for a silksonics pinball machine ASAP!!!!

Fuck yeah!! Polyester Trim LE please!

It is pretty ridiculous that Weekend song (you know the one that's been inescapable for a year) wasn't nominated for any Grammys. Whatever you think of modern pop that was easily one of the songs of the year; the fact that old people like me who would plunk down a Deep Purple LE deposit sight unseen know the song proves it should have been in the mix.

But it's also pretty funny Mr. End didn't have any trouble with the lack of transparency at the Grammies until he didn't get nommed for anything. Way to make a stand!