I think a themed game would carry more interest if the pinball is true to the theme. In that I mean, the missions and game play have some kind of connection to scenes in a movie etc. Themes like charlies angles and the like from the eighties really could have been any theme as far as Gameplay. The theme was purely artwork. Putting letters on targets aren't classed as a theme to Gameplay in my opinion. Kiss or even playboy weren't revolutionary in Gameplay, and so I think being a licensed theme help immensely in their sales. Would kiss the pinball have sold as well if it was car theme, or zombie or billiards? I don't reckon but others may disagree.
So in a nut shell I think licensed themes had a bigger impact in the 70's 80's than in the dmd era because a well designed and gimmicked pinball would have won players over more so than just calling it a Shrek???
