I agree ANT(Tony) that he wants it finished ASAP etc, but the things out of his control bit, I respectfully have to disagree, or at least question it. Management of these issues is what controls it, versus it being out of his control ??
One thing Gary Stern always talks about is that the pinball business is all about stock control, knowing exactly how much to order and exactly when, that the product cant turn up a day or two early cause it gets in the way, the fact that a day or two late holds up production etc etc. Its a really good video I watched (the recent Stern talk at the latest 2012 Pacific Pinball Expo) but it was this video clip which kept ringing in my head when I looked at the delays with JJP and WOZ.
Gary Stern kept saying that successful pinball manufacturing companies had CEO's that started in the stock rooms etc, he mentions Harry Williams, himself and a few others who all started and had the stock control side of the buisiness down pat. Infact, its this he talks about and not being late with your products/machines that makes u a winner in the pinball business. It makes me wonder, now that JJP is so late with WOZ, whether Gary chose the stock control topic and being ontime with your product etc topic, specifically for the 2012 PPExpo meaningly to set himself apart from JJP (or to highlight JJP's lateness).
He also says that a title that wont do well in Europe, or wont do well in a alcohol bar style location, will never do well.
(doing well is open for discussion ? is doing well 1200 machines or 5,000 machines etc)
When asked about WOZ, he mentions it wont do well in Europe, and askes will it be a machine people put into bars etc ?
Makes u think about things from his view( Garys pinball experience and overall stock control view). Stock control is the thing to master to get everything right, ontop of the other million problems of pinball design and manufacturing etc. The Pinball business in not a easy business, thats for sure.