Sounds like you need to reserve a jackoff booth!

That's cool! How do you participate in the survey?

Those are all places that you would find a pinball machine... I'm sure they're feeling out what's more popular where to market their stuff to etc.

(The following is pure speculation. I know nothing and you should probably best skip it)

I've always thought they are missing huge revenue from digital pinball. Have the games be out for 3-4 years before they can be digitized to give operators value on their investment, while incentivizing them to upgrade and keep buying current games. As interest in the hobby grows, machines are holding much better value over time now than in years past.

I do believe people won't be as likely to go out and play if the digital version is available at home. However, people are making recreating them faithfully for free on VPX so why wouldn't they try and corner that market. The large majority of people don't know about VPX, then the ones that are interested are defeated by its difficulty of use. Zen pinball, while some of their marketing decisions have been questionable as of late, does a phenomenal job as far as faithfully recreating the Bally/William's games they offer. It would be an absolute cash-cow to start some Stern Pinball Service and have people pay $10/month for. Far less than what they'd spend at the bowling alley playing un-maintained examples of Stern Pros in a month, and the money for their games goes directly to Stern and Zen. I think there's a lot of people, myself included who would love to have the games digitally at home to learn the rules so I have an advantage in pinball league.

I could see operators revolting and boycotting Stern, but the proceeds from digital pinball, once popular enough, could out earn the losses on operator boycotts. I think they know this hence the Stern Insider Connected. It's all moving that way. Stern's biggest problem is they know that digitizing their games could slow sales of real games, at least at first, but they know the potential revenue for online digital pinball could be absolutely insane as a digital service. Digitizing current pinball games too soon could kill Stern too, then they get bought out. But if pinball is doing so poorly that Stern would sell, who would buy?

Stern's issue is, while growing faster than it has in a long time, pinball isn't big enough to ensure the digital service would offset the large potential for loss of physical sales. So their main job right now is " Grow the brand, grow the hobby". Hence Stern is a " Lifestyle brand". You'll notice not long after Stern changed their main goal, Gary Stern (who hates video games) stepped down. Sure it was mostly because of old age, but also pinball, his physical game hobby that he's become the savior and king of, that almost died to video games, is now going the way of video games and he probably didn't want to be a part of it anymore. Why not let someone who knows how to navigate that future and who truly understands the concept take over. Unfortunately we got the Disney guy who's used to getting away with being as greedy as possible, but that's ideally good for Stern ensuring their survival and thus being around to give us more pinball in the future. I don't like it, but if it's to save pinball and to grow it to the point where it's all in my home and on my xbox/pc/cellphone while I'm taking a break at work/ then at least there will still be pinball!

Zen Pinball, I would imagine, has been knocking down Stern's door saying, " Hey, look at all the money we're making from digitizing William's and Bally Pinball games. We'd like to add your games to our collection. This is how much you could earn if you go with us." Stern probably wants more which means they've got more work to do first. If I were Stern, I'd want everyone playing Pinball everywhere. In the car on the tablet on the way to soccer practice, on the toilet at work, in between meetings, on the bus, E V E R Y W H E R E. It'll happen, I just don't know when.

That was a fun little thought journey at 12:30AM. Hadn't really considered or been able to talk to anyone about digitizing Stern games until now!

I'm bracing for the masses to tell me I'm an idiot.

https://giphy.com/gifs/starz-reaction-3o7WIPku0tmvhunqwg

No, thanks though.

100% dream theme. If it's the original 151, my hopes are so high. If it includes all 800+ Pokemon, I'm out. Zero interest. I'd give it a try in the wild but I'd honestly be disgusted. Similar to what happened with the absolute tragedy that is Toy Story 4. Why did it have to be 4? It could have been so great as 1. I'd even settle for 2. But 4 was way wrong. The ipad was wrong. But we all know this. It's still a fun game. It could have been so much better, though. I hope that doesn't happen to Pokemon. I hope Jack Danger is really on it. I like the Foo Fighters game and how he dual themed the machine. It was smart because FF isn't that strong of a theme. Almost got me, because that layout is so unique and fun it absolutely would stand out in a collection. I just can't get over the FF music and that they're plastered all over the machine. I love the Foo Bot concept. I even think Dave Grohl is an all around awesome guy! I just don't want him on my pinball machine in my house. Maybe on a Nirvana pin, but even that probably not. Also, Jack Danger's Jurassic Park layout is awesome too. Really looking forward to seeing what he has next. More eager for Jack's next release than the next Elwin for sure!

See Stern just chop up both ends of your business to make it easier on tournament players.

My buddy has 10 pins in one if these spots. Its very profitable for him.

A pin focused on their 2001 Discovery album with clips from Interstella 5555 would have some amazing potential. Although with them splitting a year ago those hopes seem to be quite unlikely (atleast from Stern or other manufacturers).

Wasn't there a thread for a homebrew a while ago? Never saw what the final thing came out to be.

I really don’t see the complaints in choosing TS4. Arguably best movie in the series, nostalgia aside, killer theme with carnival, what is not to like? Choosing an older movie or older movies would have actually been the real mistake. Different eras of animation mixed up in a mess. Ultimately TS4 is a great theme and a great game.

no on everything I just read. I have own almost 30 machines and the only machine I wanted sell was TS4 because it was the pits.

could you send me one of your machines? i bet you wont even know it's gone

I've been working on it on and off over the years. I'm currently in an "on" time with some additional help from the builder of Mindcrime. A new whitewood is underway.

Historically (in my experience) licensing their albums for synchronized play has been super tough because of the sheer number of samples used, all which need to be cleared, IIRC.

Of the 4-5 band pins I'd buy, this would be one of them. oh my the lightshow.

Would the pyramid be on the playfield or better as a topper?

Respectfully disagree. TS3 was a PERFECT send off and closes the loop on where it all began. TS4 is good, but not necessarily needed.

It's the lowest rated Toy Story on Metacritic (don't use Rottentomatoes because they are owned in many ways). Original was 95, TS3 was 92, TS2 was 88, and TS4 is 84. TS4 is also the only Toy Story I've fallen asleep during part of. It's just kind of a by-the-numbers, fake heart effort. Just pedestrian in almost every way.

BUT, the JJP pin did a disservice by not doing more with the antique shop for modes. That was a pretty significant part of the movie. There was (and is, if they want to polish the game) a lot there to work with that they mostly ignored with the exception of the pop-ups on the playfield. But I doubt JJP is going to give owners the game they were promised, so what's there is there, and the reason it is hard to move used and goes for a lower price.

Well get ready for Toy Story 5, announced for 2026!

That may be true, but it was still a fun movie that I enjoyed.

I'm not saying YOU can't enjoy it (I often cite Xanadu as a movie I enjoy, despite knowing it's critically panned for reason), just pointing out the reasons why the general consensus is that the movie and the pin are less-than.

Never realized Michael Beck was in that..
Cleaned himself up for Olivia. Kept the vest look. Lol
At first glance I thought that was Andy Gibb which would be epic. Then reading about it Andy was actually first cast for the role of Sonny. Double lol.
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That's why it's the last time you saw him

Wow! This shit seems dead as fu@k! Guess pinball is dying at this time….
Posts used to be nonstop night and day! Not bad for the pocket book though

I prefer the quiet to adults belming on about fucking pokemon

I've never been a Pokemon person, but my kids love it and I admit it would make a great pinball theme. If Pokemon was released and it was as much fun as Deadpool, Iron Maiden, Godzilla, Jurassic Park, Elvira, or Bond I'd buy one.

Monthly reminder, next Stern Cornerstone pin is due out on or about 18 May. Math and logic above. Top rumors include John Wick, Pokemon, X-Men97, He-Man, and Indiana Jones.

I'd have to buy He Man/MOTU. I'd have interest in all of those themes with the least being Pokémon since at 46 I kind of missed that somehow and never dove in much

These rumors are lame. None of these titles are interesting.

SantaEatsCheese, our top data guy!!

Further the conversation then - What titles would interest you?

Just got back from Japan and Pokemon was EVERYWHERE. It's still a huge license.

It's not something that I ever got into, but it is still mega popular and the many Pokemon Centers are always packed with tourists buying Pokemon merch. I think it would be a huge pinball title for Stern if they secured it and I'm very interested to see if Pokemon pinball machines start popping up in places that never had a pinball machine before. I'm also keen to see what new things they do with Insider Connected.

In Tokyo and Osaka, you were always guaranteed of finding Pokemon, Super Mario or Godzilla merch. Stern has had huge success with Godzilla, I'm hoping Pokemon and Super Mario are future Stern Pinball titles.

Curious did you see any Godzilla pinballmachines in Japan? That should tell you if Pokemon pinball would be accepted in Japan.

I know they sent some and all GZ's have the dual language from the start. They could have sent zero GZ's over there and I will tell you if you have a distro set up they would order no less than 1k pokemon to start. It would sell well there.

"0" Godzilla Pinballs, I went to Tokyo the past September, stayed at the "Gracery Shinjuku"(Godzilla Hotel) and no GZ Pinballs around… I was expecting at least to see some in Akihabara(District) and there was just a place that has "1" JJP Pirates OTC, and "1" The Simpsons PP that’s it!

I remember PinMonk mentioned that in Japan they’re not fan of pinballs and that’s true.

Yeah the whole pokemon in japan point is MOOT because Pinball is NOT popular in the country.

Japan is big on Pachinko, when was the last time you saw massive halls of import pachinko games in 'Murica.

…and Mazinger Z everywhere.

It's close enough, and not like they did not have their own manufacturers of pins- people just have never seen them heard of those sega pins and some others. Don't be so quick to assume that this could not take off there- we know how their demographics are doing and many are "stay at home" types that don't have spouses and have just enough room for 1 machine.

American Pinball logic. Japan likes Pokemon so Japan will like Pokemon pinball machines. Anyone buying a BOBBQC for their restaurant? Just asking :/

There’s at least some pinball around in Tokyo, but no Godzillas. I did find one Godzilla in pretty big place in Osaka (122 pins)

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I don't know if the mention of Sega in pinball was just to try and flex knowledge but you must also know how fast Sega pinball dissolved, right?

Hell why not just pull out all the stops and include Capcom pinball division too- how about Data East? Data East would have been better for the argument I think- they had staying power for a little bit.

You're trying to speculate on how the unicycle market is at the wheelchair expo.

Reality check: We’re talking about the marketability of pinball in a country that buys soiled underwear out of gumball machines.

Lol- yeah, and you know what? we might foster an interest in pinball over there if we start slamming some bloomers underneath the playfield.

I think its just pointing out that Pokemon is an absolutely massive license with worldwide appeal. Do I think a Pokemon game would suddenly make pinball huge in Japan? No. Its huge in other countries where pinball is popular though. Like Huge huge. I don't understand these guys who think just because its a theme they don't like, it isn't a massive phenomenon that tons of other people do. Yes, even to people in the pinball buying demographic. The younger end of that demographic but probably also the fastest growing demographic.

Man, thats way more convenient than on fb marketplace and onlyfans and reddit and other online areas like people do over here! Japan really has it all figured out! I wonder if they have dirty sock ones too or if thats just a USA thing.

I can pop over there, make it a japan thing.

Fulfilling your order now.

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There's one in my basement!

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lmfao!

The upside is that if you get a Japan reimport, it's PRISTENE. It will have barely got played, ever.

If you were in Shinjuku, if you wandered over to Kabuki-cho, you probably saw a bunch of pachinko, though. If pinball was actually a gambling device that dispensed prizes like pachinko, it'd be more popular - they are a nation of gamblers.

We often stay at the Shinjuku Prince right next to the JR line. There are a TON of great little mom and pop hole-in-the wall restaurants in those Kabuki-cho back alleys next to it.

Is that still a thing? I only ran across this once in a lonely vending machine (not a gumball machine) when walking late at night on the other side of the JR tracks opposite the Shinjuku Prince in late 90s, early 2000s. I think it was a fad of a very specific time. I never saw it again. It's so weird and random, the legend kind of lives in the internet now.

I think its somewhere between urban legend and a highly overblown story that westerners tell each other about crazy Japan. I swear every time I hear this story its almost made out to seem like you find these things on every street corner, but it was probably just like a random machine or two one time. They love vending machines in Japan almost as much as gambling! I've seen some interesting vending machines at shadier spots around the US too, I wonder if a Japanese vacationer ever saw one and spread the legendary tale of the dildo claw machine's they have all over the USA

You're telling me I looked for days!