Stern Roller Coaster Tycoon, Williams Earthshaker, Williams Cyclone Williams White Water, Data East Back To The Future, Stern Ripley's Believe It Or Not
VIDS :
Cruis'n USA x 2 (linked), California Speed x 2 (linked) Mame machine in converted Smash TV Cabinet 4 Slot Neo Geo
Hey guys, just found this press release on the internet:
Quoted Text
July 16, 2009 CHICAGO Stern Pinball, the world leader in Pinball Machines, today announced a new machine called "Ponzi". "Ponzi" is based on the life of Bernie Madoff, who famously stole over $50 billion from his investors in the largest case of fraud in US history. It'll be the first game where the player can generate a lot of points very quickly, but as soon as you miss a shot, the money disappears and you get kicked in the nuts.
Gary Stern, president of Stern Pinball, says: "The story of Bernie Madoff has been one of the most talked about stories of the year. We expect that since the name is so well known, that the pinball machine will be a huge hit. It worked for Wheel of Fortune!"
Fans are already excited at the prospects of pumping quarters into Ponzi: "I lost my job and just got an eviction notice, but how could I resist putting a dollar into a machine that is guarunteed to kick me in the nuts before the end?"
Operators can expect to order "Ponzi" on August 2, 2009 for MSRP $5021.00 USD from their local authorized Stern Pinball distributor.
Stern Pinball is the last manufacturer of arcade grade pinball machines. They have been making pinball machines of varying quality for over 10 years.
Have
Want
-The Getaway: High Speed II!! -Spider-Man -F-14 Tomcat -Guns N' Roses -Lord of the Rings -Twilight Zone
-Medieval Madness! -Indiana Jones (Williams) -Star Trek: The Next Generation -Champion Pub -Terminator 3 -Congo -Johnny Mnemonic -Tales of the Arabian Nights
If this is true, considering the extremely short time lapse, it is most probably a rehash. I think it is a hoax... there would be pics released for distributors to see.
Don't get all excited... that was a cheap pin designed in 2004 by a rival company. But the cab to it's left... now THAT would have been cool to get a close-up of what may be written in it...
I never said WOF was a great idea... it's just that Gary probably got the license cheap.
I am still hoping for a more edgy theme. It just seems that most pins are designed to a certain extent with kids in mind. Pinball is TAME compared to what we see in videogames today.
On one side, we have House of the Dead, Carnevil and Silent Scope. On the other, Family Guy, Shrek, Wheel of Fortune. Man, even 24 and CSI are not even PG13... it's time they escalate it a bit... let's have some blood and guts... let's have some profanity...
On one side, we have House of the Dead, Carnevil and Silent Scope. On the other, Family Guy, Shrek, Wheel of Fortune. Man, even 24 and CSI are not even PG13... it's time they escalate it a bit... let's have some blood and guts... let's have some profanity...
While not blood and guts, they have tried adult themes such as Sopranos and Playboy. Neither did well. Sopranos, in particular, has the profanity you want. Family Guy can hardly be called kid friendly. Fun game, but really not aimed at young kids. Alot of very adult humour.
Seriously...if you had Gary Stern call you, and ask you to suggest a theme, what would you ask for? Be specific. Would it be some theme that could be "licensed", or would it be something more along Williams thinking where you design a unique theme from the ground up?
I'm tired of the racecar/gameshow/tvshow/movies themes. I'd like to see something new and inventive, with lots of playfield toys...and maybe something like a raised bridge that the pinball has to jump across, or a lower playfield with a clear window like BH/HH.
Maybe we should draft a few ideas up, and try and market them to Stern.
"My power comes from my boundless rage"
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I am with you Bish. All week long I was thinking the same, considering that we should set up a quick poll with a few ideas and then why not make a formal submission to Stern on behalf of the MAACA community. There are enough people in this community to listen to at least for an opinion. I am not admin and can't presume to speak on behalf of MAACA but I will post these thoughts;
The Question: What should be the next Stern pinball machine?
Some possibilities; 1- Develop a new franchise science fiction idea with the possibility to grow into 3 pins over the next few years. Not Star Wars, Harry Potter but something generic that Stern makes up. Saves licensing fees. 2- Start a family friendly themed game such as "Mom's taxi" and drive the kids everywhere after a hard days work. This could be followed up by "my teenager's first apartment (probably more like Animal House) 3- Bring back the card themed games! 4- Develop a new franchise fantasy idea with the possibility to grow into 3 pins over the next few years. 5- A stock market themed game, which could dock points or the points are variable like any day on the market. 6- MMA game where you need to take down the targets and eventually make the game submit!
I think the key is to find a theme and run with it. Think of the Highspeed I and II, Gottlieb card themed pins, Elvira machines, etc... These are my 2 cents!
Ricker's current lineup;
El Dorado Flash. Royal Flush Joker Poker Volley Pioneer Barracora Black Knight Meteor Xenon
It's funny that guys think that Stern would actually CARE what you think, .
There are so many factors that we can't even comprehend that are involved in the picking of a theme over at Stern that it's not even worth speculating on. You want a machine with a specific theme, at this point in the game the only way its EVER going to happen is if you do it yourself! Take a page out of Tommy's book if you want something done, do it yourself. No matter how many people you get involved or how many people say they will comit to buying a machine, Stern will do what Stern wants because that is what it does.
You know what I would like to see, Stern finish the software on the games they produced and future games. Theme means nothing if the game plays like a POS. TDK was a great theme, tons of great toys and a really good layout, but the software is so crappy it makes the game terrible.
Stern could pick any theme you could think of and if the design is bad or the software isn't finished you end up with another crappy game.
Yes I realize that Stern will probably not listen to one person or a small group but at the same time this particular audience represents individuals who are knowledgeable and passionate about the product that he sells. A good business man knows that he has to give his customers what they want or else they will not buy the product. We are pinball ambassadors (how is that for hubris!).
As we all know, basic marketing begins with surveys and finding out the target markets needs. Here at MAACA we are one of those special groups and it does not mean that he will build the exact machine that we envision, but it will be good marketing information for him that he should consider. All the other business stuff like licensing, advertising, production, etc... are his challenges to work out.
If more of us want zombie pins, then he should not do a sound of music pin. That's my other 2 cents.
Ricker's current lineup;
El Dorado Flash. Royal Flush Joker Poker Volley Pioneer Barracora Black Knight Meteor Xenon
Stern doesn't care, there might have been a time back in the day when Bally/Williams existed when what the market wanted mattered. But Gary Stern doesn't care what we think, he said it publicy he doesn't care, even the people who have worked for Stern have said he doesn't care.
Stern is going to build for the operators, especially in times where he doesn't want to invest money in development. Put a package together with a theme that Stern thinks ops will want and that is the extent of development. You just have to look at NBA for example.
Building to satisfy the home owner takes a hell of a lot more effort. IMHO Stern will take the path of least resistance and build for ops. Less new innovations and less software development. Photoshop together some new art and put in a few new sound tracks and in Stern's view you have a new pin. Let's face it they were lately counting new titles out of rehashes of old stuff to make their three to four new games / year forecasts. For Gary to say he didn't care about home buyers is insightfull into the direction he was going as he said this at time when home buyers were fifty percent of his sales.
Personally my top pick would be licensed to coincide with the release of the new Tron. It would be done with a lot of neon, black light and flourescent paint.
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Wow, you guys should quit your day jobs and become comedians, haven't heard those ones before......
It's funny that guys think that Stern would actually CARE what you think, 
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