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Author Topic: NIB Transformer Pinballs $3000  (Read 2203 times)

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Offline Retropin

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Re: NIB Transformer Pinballs $3000
« Reply #30 on: October 03, 2012, 06:47:44 PM »
Seems BALLY did several HOME pinballs.. they must have had some success or they wouldnt have persisted with producing 3 titles all up.
Seems they were fraught with problems due to the cheap way they did the electronics.
Heres the list..

FIREBALL.. done 3 times! Each with a circuit upgrade that they never got right.
GALAXY RANGER
CAPT FANTASTIC
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Offline Homepin

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Re: NIB Transformer Pinballs $3000
« Reply #31 on: October 03, 2012, 07:28:18 PM »
Bally made about 10.000 Firballs so I wouldn't call that a flop - there were other titles as well, Evel Knievel for one and I'm sure there were others. Ithink the key point here is the price - there is no way a cheap arse 'toy' is going to sell for $3K when the real deal is only $5k - not a chance in hell. Stern marketing have cocked this one up big time.

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Offline Retropin

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Re: NIB Transformer Pinballs $3000
« Reply #32 on: October 03, 2012, 08:01:20 PM »
10,000 home use Firballs?? Bloody hell
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Offline pinnies4me

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Re: NIB Transformer Pinballs $3000
« Reply #33 on: October 03, 2012, 08:07:03 PM »


Ah, Stern.

As the competition moves to LCD, Stern moves back to Alpha-numeric.

Not surprised one bit.

Surely they could have made this and sold it profitably for $1,995.00? $3K is a joke.
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Offline Homepin

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Re: NIB Transformer Pinballs $3000
« Reply #34 on: October 03, 2012, 08:35:27 PM »
there is a guy in the USA re-making the MPU for them - here:

http://www.nightmarepark.com/Pinball%20Mind.html

They originally sold for, retail US$645 BUT that was at the peak of interest in pinball.......

I guess that would equate to around $2K in todays money??? Even then I think they would struggle to sell..... !@#

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Offline Retropin

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Re: NIB Transformer Pinballs $3000
« Reply #35 on: October 03, 2012, 08:38:21 PM »
Quote from: Homepin on October 03, 2012, 08:35:27 PM
there is a guy in the USA re-making the MPU for them - here:

http://www.nightmarepark.com/Pinball%20Mind.html

They originally sold for, retail US$645 BUT that was at the peak of interest in pinball.......

I guess that would equate to around $2K in todays money??? Even then I think they would struggle to sell..... !@#



I ALMOST bought one of these recently from US.. asking $600 but it didnt sell
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Offline Ant68

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Re: NIB Transformer Pinballs $3000
« Reply #36 on: October 03, 2012, 08:46:55 PM »
Can't see where this is heading at all .
Looks Chinese to me , old mate in Taiwan could knock that up in no time , plus there's hundreds of 2nd hand titles you could buy for that money , wouldn't a home user just do that ?

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Offline Caveoftreasures

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Re: NIB Transformer Pinballs $3000
« Reply #37 on: October 03, 2012, 08:48:30 PM »
Who thinks it is for the child Home Use Only market ?. You wouldnt put a dot matrix or LCD screen in it if its for the childrens market.
Would you want to give anything more complex/more expensive to a kid for his toyroom.?
Its basic enough for a kid, but got the features incase the teenager brother or sister want to have a game, or even a mum or dad who arent seriously into pinball but dont mind a quick game with the kids ?.

Its probably been designed with breakage in mind, and its all a young kid would need surely ?  Its for rich kids where mum n dad have plenty of coin. 3 grand for rich USA families who dont want to cart a 150 kilogram real pinball (Pro/Premium/LE etc) around might be a compromise ?.
I personally dont see it taking off, but who knows in this crazy world.

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Offline swinks

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Re: NIB Transformer Pinballs $3000
« Reply #38 on: October 03, 2012, 08:54:32 PM »
here is confirmation from Stern's Website
http://www.sternpinball.com/Community/Blogs/news/transformers-pin.aspx

click the photo for a zoom up

« Last Edit: October 03, 2012, 08:56:42 PM by swinks »
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Offline Strangeways

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Re: NIB Transformer Pinballs $3000
« Reply #39 on: October 03, 2012, 08:56:16 PM »
Quote from: pinnies4me on October 03, 2012, 08:07:03 PM


Ah, Stern.

As the competition moves to LCD, Stern moves back to Alpha-numeric.

Not surprised one bit.

Surely they could have made this and sold it profitably for $1,995.00? $3K is a joke.

Exactly my thoughts. Absolute stupidity. Again, Stern NEVER innovate.
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Offline Caveoftreasures

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Re: NIB Transformer Pinballs $3000
« Reply #40 on: October 03, 2012, 09:11:45 PM »
But IF, and i said IF, its a rich kids toy for the home market ?, why would you have to innovate for a kids model ? What is it missing ? What innovation does it need ? All the other models are still available.
Why would you put anything else into it if it could be damaged etc. It looks like its made for toys to be thrown at it.  !@#
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Offline Cow Corner

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Re: NIB Transformer Pinballs $3000
« Reply #41 on: October 03, 2012, 09:15:48 PM »
Wow this thread sure has a lot more life than I gave it credit for.
 :D
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Offline Caveoftreasures

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Re: NIB Transformer Pinballs $3000
« Reply #42 on: October 03, 2012, 09:24:14 PM »
Quote from: Cow Corner on October 03, 2012, 09:15:48 PM
Wow this thread sure has a lot more life than I gave it credit for.
 :D

Personally, I would NOT have made or released that model, without a much clearer marketing message as to who specifically it is designed for (age etc) if it was up to me. Saying home market is very broad. I am home market, but NOT for that product ever.
Even though its obviously for kids, it sends a mixed message and some people think its for adults and may worry its a replacement for other adult models when it obviously isnt ?, depending on your beliefs.
Its probably just a experiment to see if there is a market for a rich kids model.
I have had quite a few people ask me if its going to replace the Pro model for the home market. I dont believe it ever will. Not unless someone at Stern goes completely insane.
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Offline coon82

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Re: NIB Transformer Pinballs $3000
« Reply #43 on: October 03, 2012, 09:25:49 PM »
Quote
What is it missing ?

My first thought is taste. I can understand trying to get more people involved but why go backwards after starting to gain some momentum with recent titles. Talk about devaluing your brand.  *!@
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Offline Retropin

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Re: NIB Transformer Pinballs $3000
« Reply #44 on: October 03, 2012, 09:34:22 PM »
Quote from: coon82 on October 03, 2012, 09:25:49 PM
Quote
What is it missing ?

My first thought is taste. I can understand trying to get more people involved but why go backwards after starting to gain some momentum with recent titles. Talk about devaluing your brand.  *!@

Couldnt agree more... its above the little plastic flipper Transformers pinball you can get ( remember ATOMIC??) and below the PRO... STERN have very cleverly come up with a NOTHING!

Whos says they dont have innovation?
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