Problem: Kids don't understand or like pinball because all they do is play xbox.
Solution: Introduce them to pinball on the xbox! Stern should license out their tables to guys like ZEN Studios for the hugely succesfull Pinball FX game. Great video pinball, awful tables and rules. Playing the latest Stern on the 360, PS3, or Wii can only increase interest in pinball.

Wow lots to read, I really just want to comment on what Wayne said about dumming down Pinball.

Wayne your nuts   

But in all seriousness, I think you ware way off base, not because I'm a player but because your logic doesn't make sense.  Making things easier and making things random will yes keep thep casual player interested for the short term.  But what then?  Once you've seen and done it all there is no reason to come back.

I think the best example is that of my Fiancée, she used to play Pinball when she was a kid but in the 6 years I've owned pinballs, up until about 4 months ago, I can say she played about 2 games.  She took an interest in LOTR, not being a pin player, she was happy bating the ball around, shooting the flashing shots, hitting the balrog and just having some fun.  After I'd say about 15 games of just baning around, she asks me "So what am I supposed to do" and that was the hook, once I started to explain to her how she was satring multiballs and what she was supposed to be doing I found her in the basment playing even when I wasn't.  She has gotten so into the rules that Destroying the Ring has now become something she really wants to achive and is striving toward that goal.  

So to me LOTR is a great game because it has enough Toys to get you started but it has the rules to drag you in.  Dumbing the game down and removing the skill will keep you interest for a bit, but once you want more are realize there isn't anything you are going to walk away.  

What's going on at Stern is unsettling, but I think they have made an excelent product, but they seem to be forgetting what made their games great.  There is a reason that games like TSPP, LOTR, POTC, FG, SM were great sellers, it's because they had enough to pull in the casual player enough to get them started and then ask "What am I supposed to do next".  That's the problem with WOF, WPT, HRC, SX, TDK, IJ4, and possibly CSI.  They have stuff get you started on enjoying the game, but once you get past that and ask "What am I supposed to do next" and find out, nothing, that's the game, you walk away.

That's my take on it anyway

I agree with Adam. As an operator, you need the repeat customers, what business doesn't? To a pin n00b, it's all the same, the complex rules are just ignored. All I can say is that I haven't been back to Uncle Buck's since Geoff removed the TSPP and replaced it with a South Park. I played the South Park twice, and saw everything there was to see, no interest in playing that again, and I'm not even that good a player (except when compared to Hippochrome). I have a feeling Geoff saw a spike in earnings when he put in the South Park, but I also bet the earnings will drop off rather quickly as there's nothing there to keep people coming back.

Gotta agree, the "what am I to do" is a key.  A brother-in-law has been to the house many times, and finally got hooked with TZ a few days ago.   Once he knew a few of the shots, and could relax enough to look at the DMD you couldn't get him off the machine.  

Its also more fun to compete - but you gotta have a friend to compete against.   My friends suck at pinball so its no fun playing against them.   It was great player The Loafer at BOPP / Sinbad - brought back memories!

I would love to support Stern by buying a NIB Black Spiderman!

Yeah Adam...great point. That's exactly how I got hooked on LOTR....and I bet if my average joe friends tried it would feel the same.
However, TZ I just don't get the rules....I still just knock the ball around a few times and wonder what I'm supposed to be doing.

Quoted from jonny_eh

and I'm not even that good a player (except when compared to Hippochrome).

Oh its on!!!!!
Wait until Pin*Bot shows up....never will a "JMA" be seen on one of my pins again

I'm sensing the beginning of an Ottawa Pinball League.   I'm trying furiously to get medvet's initials off "my game"     And I think Loafer wants a rubber-match.

Ooops - hijack - PM sent to Sparky.

+1  

Ya darn tootin' I do!

Stern:  I think the emphasis on "casual gamers" is a dangerous one, especially if they ever have dreams of selling to the home casual gamer. Casual gamers are typically cheap people, and last time I checked: new pinball machines ain't cheap.

Quoted from Tuborg

I'm sensing the beginning of an Ottawa Pinball League.   I'm trying furiously to get medvet's initials off "my game"     And I think Loafer wants a rubber-match.

Ooops - hijack - PM sent to Sparky.

+1  

I think this is a great idea, all kidding aside. How hard is it to organize monthly get togethers for an evening at various members in Ottawa area with the understanding that the games don't have to be 100% perfectly shopped etc. just playable. I had a blast at your house Doug with the games. It was really fun to play different games from what I have.

You know what - I'll start a new thread for interested parties and see if this can fly.

ME

ME

Quoted from Vengeance

Wayne your nuts   

And you point is?  

No point just felt liek pointing it out  

Quoted from websherpa

And you point is?  

Quoted from websherpa

And you point is?  

What does Wayne's questionable sanity have to do with good pinball anyway? At least he has self awareness which is the first step in his long road to recovery.

I wonder what the good licenses were that Stern weenies turned down that Steve mentioned?