So as a buyer/owner of Illinois Pinball Co.'s Big Bang Bar, I was recently mailed an invitation to purchase a copy of Kingpin, the latest machine they are making under the Capcom license. The price is listed at $7,000 US, with $3,500 needed to reserve a machine. The letter stated that IPB needed to reserve 150 units to guarantee production, and no timetable was given.
Now, let me say that I love my BBB, and appreciate the fine production that went into it. But it took 2.5 years to receive from the day I sent in my down payment, and the whole manufacturing effort was frought with difficulty. On top of that, the BBB art and concept had always been very appealing to me, and the game plays great. But Kingpin just doesn't do it for me. The art, layout, the power-draining flipper novelty- just doesn't make me want to buy it.
But it got me to thinking, could anyone else be interested in buying a Kingpin ? The only new machines are being produced by Stern, and are all licensed themes. Perhaps someone else with money to buy would jump at the chance to buy a "new" 1997 fresh game...