I don't understand the resistance to a re-run of a commercial machine built to make money? Stern is a company. Their goal is to make money. They make pinball machines. They have a production line on which they make their machines and in between major production times, they re-run a machine. At the moment, these standard model machines had low production numbers and demand is there (communicated from distributors and now hobbyists direct via the Internet) for a re-run of Iron Man.
My biggest frustration in being an Australian pinball hobbyist at the moment is having to hunt down a machine that was only made in the past ten years and then paying close to brand new prices because these base models are scarce. I don't collect pinball machines as an investment and neither do my friends in the hobby. There is an option to purchase Limited Edition machines and I believe that they should stay limited. I don't believe that base model machines should cease production so a small percentage of the hobby can covet their "rare" machine in their garage.
I can't afford an Iron Man re-run, but I'm stoked for the people that get the chance to own this game and I hope I now get a chance to play one. I live five hours from both Sydney and Melbourne and I haven't been able to play Iron Man since its initial release when a retailer had it in their showroom. Maybe in the future, I'll be able to buy one more easily than I would now. This is a good thing for pinball. More machines is a good thing for everyone. We are a part of a hobby centred around "amusement" machines. Let's bring the amusement part back, people!
