The context was without Stern, the BNIB market/industry would have died.
Wasn't talking about old 1990,s DMD machines.
Also, a lot of people who are new to pinnies wont buy 25 year old machines with massive question marks & reconditioning bills that can be sky high.
Brand new stuff has got the barcades etc flourishing again cause the titles are fresh & new.
A successful pin business will promote both new and vintage side by side to cover all the bases and everyone wins.
They are apples & oranges.
As long as our industry grows, it's all good.
The home market has been thriving since the surplus sited pins fell out of favour back pre 2000.
The home market has been going great guns for 15 plus years.
Maybe ten years for Stern but both operators and Home users are both revved up currently.
JJP has been instrumental in helping this along no doubt.
In that context, your statement is true. Generally speaking, Stern are the leading commercial manufacturer, but have no bearing on the hobby's or industry's survival today. In years to come, if they are around after our generation move on, then yes - they would have a significant bearing.
Newbies start off in the second hand market and progress to the Addams Family titles. The only "NEW to the hobby" collectors I've ever seen by NIB Sterns are AC/DC fans, Metallica Fans and KISS fans. Most collections have predominantly older games and might have a late model Stern. The home market only started around 2008 at the very earliest. The demand for restored pinballs has never been higher. The demand for NIB Sterns has grown, but the biggest question is "for how long". If Stern keep bringing out licenses that are broad (Wrestlemania), Movie pins (Avengers / Ghostbusters) and Music Pins (KISS, Iron Maiden) then they will continue to grow as long as they become more proficient at code maturity at the shipping stage. We see that KISS and GoT have FAR superior clearcoats to TWD - massive difference, so they ARE listening.
My thoughts on Stern pinball is that irrespective of the title, they need to reduce the supplier prices and that way, sell more games.
I think during my review of TWD LE, I stated I would not hesitate to part with $7500 for the LE. I did buy a KISS LE ($11,500). Both these titles are excellent. I played a Tron at Cursed's meet and I was pleasantly surprised. As a Pro, it looked like an LE and played exceptionally well with brilliant code. If that title was $5600 for the PRO - I would consider buying it.
Ghostbusters WILL BE an awesome game. Artwork is hand draw and appears to lend into the original movies. Designed by Trudeau - my favorite modern day designer - all the boxes are ticked - except the factory price is way too high. I can live with basic code for 3 months - but the price is the issue. It is the major issue with most pinheads and adding shaker motors and free delivery are not the answer any longer.
