This is a comment from left field, but its probably very realistic when u think about it.

My brother said the other day, "that all the pinball industry needs to thrive again, is for a decent CHINEESE company to start making a really well designed pinball machine, at a really decent price, that would be a interesting title to both the western markets, and perhaps the Asian markets at the same time, and all of a sudden, the price for a brand new pinball machine would probably be half of what STERN is currently charging, and perhaps the retro, old is now new again thing, might help sales numbers of new pinball machines to new familys etc, in MANY countries, go thru the roof". Food for thought.

The ability of the CHINEESE to mass produce good quality stuff at low prices is now very well known by the world.  I would like Mike (Homepin) to give me/us a comment here, because he has business's in China and Australia. Why arent the Chineese involved in the retro pinball market, like STERN, and has anyone seriously looked at getting something going ?  I reckon Mike would have a great educated idea/thoughts on this.    Future possibilities of the Chineese doing something on a large scale, building/selling/marketing pinball machines like Stern etc.