Quoted from jonny_eh

So far I have two dead transistors on a Stern power board. Why they don't use better transistors is beyond me.

Cost.

Quoted from MrMikeman

That's weird..  Stern uses the same DMDs we buy from Marco, Bayarea, etc as replacements.  Stern does make their own DMD!!!  So if there's a problem with DMDs it's not Stern's fault!!

Mike

I used to build LED Display systems before my current job, and the only reason they would burn out is if you drive them to hard. Most LED's take a certain amount of current, if you exceed it, they burn out. But in a display setup like a DMD, the LED is pulsed to a higher current rating because they are on for a moment of a second, they wider the pulse the brighter the LED. Williams Displays used to gas out over time. Sterns DMD are usually burned in over time. My opinion is they are driving them to hard (to much current) to get better brightness, but they are shortening the life of the display.

My two cents.  

I know for me Stern hate is mostly Schtick. Somewhere long ago I was accused of not seeing the light on Stern and got labelled a Stern hater so I ran with it. If you ask me if I hate Stern straight out you can anticipate the answer. If you reference Stern in any of my posts you will get the standard Stern hater answer as well. If you take offence, I will laugh.

I am with Enzo though in that these new games could have more to them, but price point and trying to stay in this tough market is really playing against Stern. Selection of themes has also been commented on. Hell there are some damn good ones they ran with as well. Software seemed to be the redeeming quality that was an affordable pinball advancement, but Stern has had problems lately in that department as well. I don't know what was different when LOTR and TSPP were developed, but I wish some of that would come back. I think that any game with decent shots and great rules can make a good game regardless of toys. Toys are a bonus. Look at NF for example. There is nothing to it but the play shines for what it is.

As for owning Sterns I think one member who owned a pretty pricey one and who I will not name summed it up well. He basically said it felt like a $4000 toy. Now almost all these pinballs old and new are "toys" at this juncture since they aren't out on route collecting coin, but I think part of the collectibility is having something that is commercial grade and that was remembered operated out on route now being in your home. It's also unique to able to afford pinballs thanks in part to depreciation in many cases, not all but many, and at least widespread enough that almost anyone can find something in their budget. I am just not convinced to me that Stern fills that unique coin op quality for me since it is somewhat targeted to the straight to home market. If you want to buy it to bang around and have fun on then it may be for good for others, but for me when I say quality I am not refering to the construction of the game, but in fact the quality of owning the coin op experience.

I enjoy what Stern puts out there from a players side. New games, new rules etc. Could they be better? Maybe, but I don't see Sterns bottom line to make that determination. The best case scenerio would be to see Stern hang in there and make a little more money to re-invest in their games.

By the way I was at the airport in Edmonton last night. Not too many vids but a lineup of brand new Sterns. LOTR, TDK, SM, IJ4, FG. Maybe the operators will be forced back to pinballs because of it being unique.

Quoted from necro_nemesis

By the way I was at the airport in Edmonton last night. Not too many vids but a lineup of brand new Sterns. LOTR, TDK, SM, IJ4, FG. Maybe the operators will be forced back to pinballs because of it being unique.

That's refreshing to hear. Tell their friends in Ottawa to set up at least one game here.