A "home version" of their TDK pin is being test marketed at select US Costco locations.  So far it's confirmed that it's missing the teeter-totter and Joker "can", and it can only be set to free play.  Others are speculating that it's missing coin mechs as well (which would make sense, of course)

Retailing for $3200 USD

follow along here:

http://groups.google.com/group.....07e/b7dd5750d327d378

I say good on them.. it's worth a shot.  Nothing to lose, really.  I wouldn't mind giving one a shot.

Must be more missing, for them to reduce he selling cost by roughly a third.

This is going to get confusing for resale.

How many people are going to advertise they have a BDK or even worse HUO BDK when buyers are thinking it's the commercial machine with all the bells and whistles.

Quoted from necro_nemesis

This is going to get confusing for resale.

I agree 100%. This is going to be really, really confusing in a couple of years. Like MonkeyBug said, I suspect there is alot more missing than a Joker mech and a bridge ramp. The price is a grand less than normal. Those two parts don't add to a grand.

Personally I hate this idea and I think they have totally gone in the wrong direction. Collectors are willing to pay more for better quality. Offer a game with shaker motor installed, real backglass, chrome kit, and more coats of clear. Add appropriate dollars. I bet it would sell just like Black Spidy did.

Duane

Pics are up.  
http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.pinball/browse_thread/thread/4ee2846619e14019#

I don't like it.  They should call it Batman, the Lame Knight.

Wow, lots missing.

Joker Can, teeter toter, the POTD, entire ramp assembly and diverter, joker drop target is gone that's what I see right now, I know the rails are missing with the pegs instead and no cabinet protectors as well.  

I don't think it will be hard to tell at all the difference between the home/commercial version when it comes time to resell.  The games are so different it will be easy.  

I am curious though how the software is going to compensate for the total lack of the POTD feature on the right side. I haven't played the updated software but in the lame software version, the right side POTD was how you lit Lucious fox for the 50 mil wizard mode and how you were able to light extra ball.  I'm curious to see how or if they even bothered to adapt the software for those issues, one would assume they would have to, but complete software has never been Stern's strong point.

Anyway I think it's an interesting direction and hope it works out for them.  Obviously this pin isn't built for the collector, it's built for the home market.  I listed to a interview with Gary at Expo where he actually acknowledged that the home market was becoming a bigger part of his business, but he is trying to target the home market for people who just want one machine in their basement, rather then the  fanatics that we are that are already buying machines.  

Damn... blocked at work.  Someone know of pics somewhere else?

I for one think this is a great idea - hopefully they'll produce a few machines with fewer toys... more like SS machines that I prefer!
Daniel

Quoted from dos.reboot

Pics are up.  
http://groups.google.ca/group/rec.games.pinball/browse_thread/thread/4ee2846619e14019#

Adam, I think actually the POTD is still there.. it looks like they moved it to the left, in place of the teeter-totter (not as a 2nd level though)

Nothing to see...move on.

This is a great move! Offering up multiple versions of a title is good business sense. Nearly every company does this, it's about time pinball caught on.

There's a reason there are multiple "SKUs" of things like the xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo DS. This product will appeal to people that want a new pinball but don't have $5 to spend on one. At the same time, the people that want the total package can still buy it. This is called price discrimination, and if it means Stern stays around longer and brings more people into pinball, then I'm all for it.

As for resale confusion, the differences should be obvious. It'd be nice if they changed the name, but if you're buying a pin, getting to look at some pics first is a must.

Quoted from jonny_eh

This is a great move! Offering up multiple versions of a title is good business sense. Nearly every company does this, it's about time pinball caught on.

Seriously?  This has already been tried in the past with pinball (more than once I might add) and it failed...

D