I suspect that the money people backing stern now are focused, as money people will be, on maximizing return, and pressing the envelope to see where the burst spot is. What better way than a non-direct stern product? Clever money people. Or maybe not given the reaction.
That's obvious isn't it? Backers with the cash want a return on there investment and as much and as fast as possible :) but having said that without them Stern may have folded and who knows where pinball would be now. Must be cheaper for the smaller company's to utalise sterns production line like the MMr people-maybe Jack should have to lol
That's an interesting question. When the investors came in and made some hard decisions, Stern turned the corner. Can't re-write history - that's what saved Stern. Stern did not save pinball. If Stern folded, then all the rest of the games manufactured prior would still exist. The restoration side of the industry would still exist. Collections would still exist. The boutique manufacturers would be popping up all over the place, and at the same time falling over.
Pinball is not just NIB. If EVERYONE closed there doors, pinball would still be alive. Anyone making games means nothing to woodrail collectors, EM collectors, SS collectors and most DMD collectors. The parts industry would be flourishing as cashed up Stern collectors would revert back to older games, or move out of the hobby.
This is another example of dumb decisions by people at the top. This happens in all industries. In is part of running a business.
