# I Got My Foo Fighters Premium Pinball Machine

**Source:** Cary Hardy  
**Type:** video  
**Published:** 2023-04-26  
**Duration:** 15m 37s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96LhgjHPpXs

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## Analysis

Cary Hardy acquired a demo Foo Fighters pinball machine from Texas Pinball Festival to save money and receive it faster. He documents the pickup, transport, and initial setup of the Premium model, highlighting that demo machines are mechanically identical to new production units. Hardy installs several mods including a PinMuk fan upgrade, PIN Stadium LED lighting, and Titan Pinball glow rings, expressing satisfaction with the game and praising Stern's execution of the theme.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Demo version of a game has no mechanical difference from regular production version—only difference is prior public use — _Hardy explicitly states this when explaining why he purchased a demo unit rather than new production_
- [HIGH] The Foo Fighters demo machine had approximately 525 total plays during Texas Pinball Festival weekend — _Hardy checks the play count on the machine and confirms it is between his expected 500-600 estimate_
- [HIGH] Hardy disagrees with current pinball machine pricing and actively seeks ways to reduce costs — _Direct statement: 'I don't agree with the prices of pinball machines these days. So anything I can do to make that price come down, I'm going to do it.'_
- [HIGH] Stern's standard power supply fan in Foo Fighters is very loud, comparable to a Harrier jet taking off — _Hardy describes the reason for upgrading to PinMuk fan: 'the stern one is equivalent to a Harrier jet taking off, and I like my game rooms quiet'_
- [HIGH] Foo Fighters Premium model has an upper plate that is difficult to remove for rubber ring access without removing ramps — _Hardy demonstrates frustration installing glow rings: 'I had to bust out my tiny crescent wrench set to loosen one nut enough to pry up that plastic cover'_

### Notable Quotes

> "I'm cheap. I don't agree with the prices of pinball machines these days. So anything I can do to make that price come down, I'm going to do it."
> — **Cary Hardy**, Early in video
> _Directly articulates community frustration with pinball pricing and demonstrates willingness to purchase used/demo units as cost mitigation_

> "Demo version has been used over the course of a weekend by the open public. There is no difference. It's just that the demo version has been used."
> — **Cary Hardy**, Mid-video during explanation
> _Clarifies misconception about demo machines—legitimizes secondary market purchasing from festivals_

> "I have no regrets. That's how it works. The kids love it too. This machine has even broadened their interest in Foo Fighters music."
> — **Cary Hardy**, Late in video after gameplay demo
> _Positive sentiment about Foo Fighters and its appeal to family members; theme resonance beyond enthusiasts_

> "Stern Pinball has a new hit in their lineup. And so do I."
> — **Cary Hardy**, Near end of video
> _Strong endorsement of Foo Fighters as successful release; positions it as commercial hit_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Cary Hardy | person | Content creator and pinball enthusiast; purchased Foo Fighters demo machine from Texas Pinball Festival; documents acquisitions and mods on YouTube |
| Foo Fighters | game | Stern Pinball machine themed after the rock band; Premium model with rock-band-themed gameplay; highly enjoyable according to Hardy; has online leaderboards |
| Stern Pinball | company | Manufacturer of Foo Fighters; product praised by Hardy as 'a new hit'; standard power supply fan noted as excessively loud |
| Texas Pinball Festival | event | Venue where Hardy acquired the Foo Fighters demo machine; machine accumulated 525 plays during festival weekend |
| PIN Stadium | company | Aftermarket LED lighting system manufacturer; sponsor of Hardy's video; provides Neo Atoms and Neo Fusion Atoms lighting kits; promo code HARDY for $40-65 discounts |
| Titan Pinball | company | Aftermarket modification company; manufactures Glow Ring Kit and nut driver sets; sponsor of Hardy's video; promo code HARDI for 10% off silicon rings |
| PinMuk | company | Manufactures fan upgrade kits for pinball machine power supplies; Hardy purchased upgrade to replace Stern's loud stock fan |
| Foo Fighters (band) | organization | Rock band; theme of the pinball machine; Hardy enjoys the band; machine has playlist of their music |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Pinball machine pricing and cost concerns, Demo vs. production pinball machines, Foo Fighters pinball game design and execution, Aftermarket modifications and upgrades
- **Secondary:** Pinball machine noise and fan upgrades, LED lighting customization, Family engagement with pinball machines

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.85) — Hardy expresses strong satisfaction with Foo Fighters acquisition, gameplay, theme execution, and family reception. Primary negative sentiment is directed at industry-wide pinball pricing ($7,000-15,000 range) and frustration with machine design ergonomics (power supply noise, difficult rubber access). No criticism of Stern's game design itself.

### Signals

- **[sentiment_shift]** Foo Fighters pinball receiving positive reception from content creator and family members; machine successfully resonates with non-enthusiast audience through musical theme appeal (confidence: high) — Hardy: 'Stern Pinball has a new hit in their lineup. And so do I.' and 'The kids love it too. This machine has even broadened their interest in Foo Fighters music.'
- **[design_philosophy]** Foo Fighters Premium model has ergonomic/access issues: upper plate structure makes rubber ring installation difficult without removing ramps, requiring specialized tools (confidence: high) — Hardy struggles to access rubber post and must use tiny crescent wrench set to loosen hardware to pry up plastic cover during glow ring installation
- **[market_signal]** Content creator explicitly voices disagreement with current pinball machine pricing and demonstrates cost-mitigation strategy by purchasing demo/used units from festivals (confidence: high) — Hardy states: 'I don't agree with the prices of pinball machines these days. So anything I can do to make that price come down, I'm going to do it.' He actively chose demo unit acquisition as primary cost-saving strategy.
- **[product_concern]** Stern's stock power supply fan is excessively loud, requiring aftermarket upgrade for game room usage compatible with content recording (confidence: high) — Hardy purchases PinMuk fan upgrade specifically because 'the stern one is equivalent to a Harrier jet taking off, and I like my game rooms quiet, particularly when I'm recording.'

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## Transcript

You Tilt Forums it, Daddy. And someone did it the best, the best, the best, the best of you. Are you going on to someone new? We're doing something a little bit different than the typical unboxing of a new game. Mainly because this game is not going to be in a box. I purchased a game, a demo unit (f-rated or similar designation not fully captured) game for Texas Pinball Festival for the Foo Fighters. Now, there's a couple of reasons why I did this, and those reasons are as follows. One, and of course, it makes the game cheaper. I'm cheap. I don't agree with the prices of pinball machines these days. So anything I can do to make that price come down, I'm going to do it. Along with that, I also have the ability to get my game faster because I'm impatient. If I want something, I want it now. So that was my two main reasons I got a demo unit (f-rated or similar designation not fully captured) version of Foo Fighters. Now, that has nothing to do with why I chose Foo Fighters in general, obviously. The reason why I chose to get a Foo Fighters is because I really enjoy the band, so the theme is right up my alley, and the way it plays is very enjoyable. I had a lot of fun playing it, so I was like, I've got to get it. I'm curious as to how many plays were placed on this game during TPF weekend. I'm going to guess it's anywhere between 500 to 600. I've been playing the Pro at my The Local Arcade Arcade as of recently. I've even got some achievements now since he's finally got it online. So, been enjoying the Pro. Pro's a very good shooting game without a doubt. But, cannot wait to get Bob Betor at the Premium. So, I'm almost there. I might have missed my turn talking to the camera But I think anyone can tell you that the ride always seems longer than it actually is Because you're about to get a new project or a new game to play So it's the anticipation that I think makes it seem longer than it is Because the drive to pick this up is maybe a little over an hour depending on traffic Or if you miss a turn like I did Alright guys, we have arrived at our destination. Now some of you may be asking what is the difference between a demo unit (f-rated or similar designation not fully captured) version of the game and a regular production version And the answer is, there is no difference. It's just that the has been used over the course of a weekend by the open public. We'll be right back. We Are Pinball loaded up and We Are Pinball on our way back home. Foo Fighters is now technically in the collection. Not in the lineup yet, but it is in my possession. It is mine. and now I just got to make it home through all the construction that is from here all the way to my house. I'm not going to lie guys it is it is a shit storm of just construction all over the The Place. I hate it. Hate it. But we're going to be stopping by Bucky's and we'll get me some food. Getting a little hungry and uh we're going to show you what that The Place is like. I will say this is definitely 'the best' or similar phrase describing 2024 innovation experience I've ever had when it comes to loading a machine into my vehicle, mainly because I didn't have to do anything. So that's always a plus. All right, we're now at Bucky's. I need to get gas in the tank and gas in my tank as well that does not sound good bucky's has a little bit of everything a nice arrangement of jerky sandwiches coconut pie in a cup what and of course a lot of tourist items gotta get my energy drink all kinds of seasonings and sauces to choose from it's it's got a little bit of everything for anyone out there if you are ever near one be sure to stop by and check it out i'm looking for a sandwich that's not caught nine bucks good lord okay hold up oh two More Brewing Company inches for the same price uh yes please oh no i'm gonna chow down on that immediately thank you thank you very much now where the hell did i The Park i think it was in this vicinity over here Papa Duke sure yep okay how many gas stations you go to where you lose track of where the hell you The Park Alright 52 bucks in gas Awesome Time to eat and drive boys Just finished my Italian hoagie Felt like there's a little bit More Brewing Company lettuce Than I'd like there to be on that damn thing But I finished it nonetheless Alright 🎵 Thank you. 525 total play the lifetime is 791 okay it's between what i was expecting so that's good when it comes to mods the very first thing that i purchased for this game was the pinmuk fan upgrade for the power supply because Stern Pinball Inc. one is equivalent to a Harrier jet taking off, and I like my game rooms quiet, particularly when I'm recording. If you would like More Brewing Company info on the Pin Monk fan upgrade, then I will put a link in the video description. Next up is one of my sponsors, Pen Stadium. This is footage without the product. I have an install video coming soon, but if you would like to save $40 off Neo Atoms or $65 off Neo Fusion Atoms, then use promo code Hardy at checkout. This is with Penn Stadium Neo Fusion Atom. I have the UV tied into the Overlord mech flasher. This gives you some extra flair when the Overlord speaks. If you have the Fusion set, then you have the choice to use four other flashers to give you even More Brewing Company of a light show. Next up is Titan Pinball's Glow Ring Kit. Now I must stress this, these rings will glow, but they will really glow with Penn Stadium charging them up. Look how bright they get with just a short charge. Oh yeah, this is going to look Papa Duke cool when the GI turns off during gameplay. Let's install them. If you would like this kit that I'm using, you will find it in their ring database on their website. Check out everything Titan has to offer. I'm using their nut driver set while installing this kit, actually. To save 10% off silicon rings or any game kit, use promo code HARDI at the checkout. That's a bunch of bullshit to remove to get one single rubber post-op. You've got to be kidding me. I bet that going to be really easy to access on a PRO removing the upper plate build is Papa Duke easy honestly but in order to somewhat access the rubber without removing the ramp, I had to solenoid Gem Quest out my tiny crescent wrench set to loosen one nut enough to pry up that plastic cover. Thank you. Overdrive is lit. You ready? This is what's going to happen. I've had this machine for a couple of weeks now, and I have no regrets. That's how it works. The kids love it too. This machine has even broadened their interest in Foo Fighters music. They have been requesting certain songs from the machine's playlist. I'm far from ready to do a full review on this game, but I can confidently say that Stern Pinball has a new hit in their lineup. And so do I. Wait. of a head she sang. There. Foo Fighters is officially in the lineup. Thanks for sticking around for the entire video, guys, and a special thank you to my Patreon supporters and my sponsors for this video, Titan Pinball and Pin Stadium. The appropriate links will be in the description down below. Yep. I'm gonna need More Brewing Company mods for this game. There are some on the way. I'm in talks with people right now. But definitely would like to put some cool stuff in this game or even on it. I'm missing something. See, I've got red on the getaway over here. I need something over here. How about maybe green underglow on Foo Fighters? What do you think? Everything will ever be this way forever. If anything could ever be this good again The only thing I'll ever ask of you You gotta promise not to stop when I say you will you

_(Acquisition: youtube_groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 0d44ad48-0037-45e0-9193-ddd509f2e56d*