First I believe they will be over AU$10K by the time they get to Australia.
Second they are using completely new electronics (good or bad? - who knows?)
Third there is only ONE reason licenced parts are hard to get for some titles and that is the manufacturer DID NOT BOTHER to negotiate properly with the rights owners in the first place. My licence agreement with ITV for Thunderbirds Pinball stipulates that ALL and ANY artwork - toys etc will be available "for the life of the machine". I can assure you this was a sticking point but one I would not budge from as I am well aware of the problems people have with some items for some machines. This point alone is one reason negotiations took longer than they might have and I am certain it was of no interest to Bally/Williams/Gottlieb back in the day.
I am doing what I can to ensure that my customers NEVER have this idiotic and nasty licencing issue with machines they buy from me - EVER!
Well personally I don't like it. Better off moving forward, it's the only way for pinball to survive in the long term. Would hate to see Stern close up due to declining sales caused by remakes.
Maybe it is a move in the right direction, instead of every pinball being a movie or band theme, this may start them on the path to creating their own original themes.
Licensed themes always seem to create more hassle with replacement parts down the road.
