I was on RGP today and saw this post:

http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.pinball/browse_thread/thread/5a4c43f1cb43dd07?hl=en#

Did Stern downsize or layoff a bunch of people? Anyone heard anything?

http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.pinball/browse_thread/thread/6a39dc6f47706a82?hl=en#

Quoted Text

       
Keith P. Johnson        
View profile
      More options Oct 30, 12:14 am
Newsgroups: rec.games.pinball
From: Keith P. Johnson
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 23:14:46 -0500
Local: Thurs, Oct 30 2008 12:14 am
Subject: It's Official! I read it on teh interwebz so it must be true!
Reply | Reply to author | Forward | Print | Individual message | Show original | Report this message | Find messages by this author
First of all, while it is true that both Pat and myself have worked on
CSI, to call it either of ours' game is not quite accurate.  Pat laid
out the original playfield, and it underwent some modifications.  I
was one of 5 programmers who worked on the game.  To say I was "lead"
or even did the most on the project is not accurate.

And to say I will do anything further on the project will not be
accurate either.  I, along with many many other people, got laid off
today, 9 years and 4 days after the last time it happened!

I wish everyone that remains behind nothing but the best of luck; I
think it'll be severely needed.  And, please, don't worry about me;
I'll be fine.  If anything maybe it just means I'll be a little more
vocal about some things now than before.    No trashing or drama on
my part, I just hope pinball survives.  But I'm not entirely sure that
that will be the case, honestly.  I'm definitely a lot less sure than
I was when I made this post:

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.pinball/msg/16a6571ed04d963d

keith
--
At one time I had random Your Mother jokes down here.
Maybe someday they'll return...

I guess this is phase one before they close the doors. They won't last without the talent and they laid off the best. Combine that with a crappy product and they are doomed. The last two games were incredibly disappointing. They really blew an opportunity. Two strong licenses, wasted. What a shame!


They produced some great games while they were around. Truely a sad day. Glad I got my TSPP recently.

Duane

Quoted from TwilightZone

The last two games were incredibly disappointing. They really blew an opportunity. Two strong licenses, wasted. What a shame!

What are you talking about?! TDK is a fantastic game.

Quoted Text

46.   Keith P. Johnson          

Just to clear up a few things real quick here:

Nothing particular is happening with Stern Pinball as an entity.
Games will continue to be designed and manufactured.  Hopefully they
can dig themselves out of this current situation.

My goal in posting was simply to clear up some things (especially the
extent of my involvement with CSI) since rumors were starting to fly
and many people were asking me if such and such was true, etc.

I appreciate everyone's kind words.  Thank you very much.

keith
--

Quoted from 839

What are you talking about?! TDK is a fantastic game.

You forgot to add the  

This is a real shame and I am not joking.

What are they going to do? Farm their software developement out overseas?

Quoted from necro_nemesis

What are they going to do? Farm their software developement out overseas?

Why not?   Seriously, if we cannot make chocolate (Hersey's Smith Falls moving to Mexico) in Canada why do we think we can make software in North America.  

Quoted from necro_nemesis

This is a real shame and I am not joking.

What are they going to do? Farm their software developement out overseas?

Actually I thought that was something they could have done, BUT they would have to keep a key visionary like Keith around. I work alot with overseas developers. In order to get a quality product, you need a captain steering the ship. Someone that understands the needs exceptionally well and can put it in simple language. Then you need outstanding quality assurance.

Stern, as shown with recent titles, is dumbing down the product. This is a recipe for failure. They aren't going to win new players with simple games. Kids are used to complex video games with detailed story lines. They are going to expect the same with pinball (if we can get them to play pinball).

By laying off Keith, they are clearly showing the direction of future games. They are going to be simple and incomplete like IJ4 and TBK.

I don't think they will last with this strategy. They are killing off the home market. The one market they could count on. And operators are going to be reluctant to purchase new games now that they have done the "fire sale" thing with WoF. This was one of the things that hurt Williams, they would reduce the price of older games when new ones came out. Ops then started waiting to buy the "new" at a reduce rate.

Duane

I give them 1 year, then pinball's dead. Looks like I got into the hobby just in time to see the end. Very sad.
Laying off immense talent like that is a recipe for disaster. I'm wondering who else was laid off.

This happens just the day after I get my LOTR running perfectly, where I now see the genius of the game. I'll miss Keith.

Quoted from TwilightZone

And operators are going to be reluctant to purchase new games now that they have done the "fire sale" thing with WoF. This was one of the things that hurt Williams, they would reduce the price of older games when new ones came out. Ops then started waiting to buy the "new" at a reduce rate.

I was at Starburst this week and they are selling NIB WoF and WPT for either $3590 or $3690(sorry can't remember which one it was). I am sure SB is not losing money, so Stern must be taking the hit.

Just a quick note, SB will be increasing prices soon on NIB games due to the drop in the Canadian Dollar if anyone is considering buying a new game.

Quoted from HP5P

Just a quick note, SB will be increaing prices soon on NIB games due to the drop in the Canadian Dollar if anyone is considering buying a new game.

You mean just like the dropped them when the dollar was strong ? ** NOT ***

BTW CA$ is worth 0.824$ us right now, changing every damn day..