# Episode 945: "Will Wick Work For Stern?

**Source:** Kaneda's Pinball Podcast (Patreon feed)  
**Type:** podcast_episode  
**Published:** 2024-05-04  
**Duration:** 13m 5s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-945-will-103588848

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## Analysis

Kaneda speculates that Stern's upcoming John Wick pinball game will fail to resonate with the core pinball demographic despite the film franchise's box office success. He argues the theme lacks nostalgic appeal and emotional resonance compared to classic properties, predicts minimal mechanical 'wow factor,' and expects poor sales for a $13,000 Limited Edition—drawing parallels to the Venom machine. He also voices concern that the game won't translate the film's gunplay and action sequences into compelling pinball mechanics.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] John Wick film franchise has grossed over $1 billion at the box office — _Kaneda stated this as factual background on the IP's commercial success_
- [HIGH] The latest John Wick movie alone made over $400 million globally — _Kaneda providing specific box office figures for the most recent film_
- [MEDIUM] John Wick will be designed by a brand new designer Stern has never worked with, following a Keith Elwin game — _Kaneda states this early in the episode as announced information, but does not name the designer_
- [MEDIUM] The game will retail for $13,000 for the Limited Edition — _Kaneda references '$13,000 a pop' for John Wick L.E.s as a known pricing point_
- [MEDIUM] Stern will produce 1,000 Limited Edition units of John Wick — _Kaneda states 'Stern Pinball makes a thousand John Wick L.E.s' as an assumption about production volume_

### Notable Quotes

> "Will this be a theme that the pinball buying demographic will warm up to and will support?"
> — **Kaneda**, ~0:45
> _Frames the central question of the episode_

> "John Wick hasn't made its way into our souls. It hasn't made its way into our veins."
> — **Kaneda**, ~8:30
> _Expresses his core concern about the theme's emotional resonance relative to classic pinball properties_

> "I think this game is gonna come out. I don't think it's gonna have a lot of wow mechanisms in it."
> — **Kaneda**, ~12:15
> _Key prediction about mechanical design philosophy_

> "I think this is going to be their next Venom."
> — **Kaneda**, ~13:00
> _Central comparison predicting underwhelming sales and reception_

> "How do you recreate that in pinball format? And I just don't think it's going to work."
> — **Kaneda**, ~16:45
> _Summarizes his skepticism about translating the film's core action elements to pinball mechanics_

> "I don't think John Wick is a game that's gonna crush it on location. I just think this is like a B-level theme for Stern."
> — **Kaneda**, ~15:00
> _Expresses low expectations for both collector and operator appeal_

> "Everybody wait and see. Stern Pinball makes a thousand John Wick L.E.s, at thirteen thousand a pop, They're all gonna be worth like $9,000 in just like eight months."
> — **Kaneda**, ~19:00
> _Predicts secondary market depreciation and advises against immediate purchase_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Stern Pinball | company | Manufacturer of John Wick pinball machine; subject of critique regarding game design and market positioning |
| John Wick | game | Upcoming Stern Pinball machine based on the John Wick film franchise; central subject of analysis |
| Keanu Reeves | person | Star of John Wick films; actor associated with the IP being adapted to pinball |
| Kaneda | person | Host of Kaneda's Pinball Podcast; provides analysis and predictions about John Wick pinball's market prospects |
| Keith Elwin | person | Pinball designer; Kaneda notes that the new John Wick game will be designed by a new designer following a Keith Elwin title |
| Jersey Jack Pinball | company | Competitor manufacturer; Kaneda suggests their lighting capabilities would better suit the game's techno rave aesthetic |
| Venom | game | Previous Stern Pinball game used as a comparison point for expected underwhelming reception of John Wick |
| The Matrix | game | Referenced as a potential future pinball IP that Kaneda believes will compete with John Wick for sales |
| Jaws | game | Currently available pinball machine cited as example of established theme in current market |
| Texas Chainsaw Massacre | game | Recently released pinball game referenced as part of current theme lineup in the market |

### Signals

- **[product_strategy]** Kaneda expresses concern that John Wick, despite strong box office performance, lacks the nostalgic resonance and cultural penetration needed to justify its premium $13K price point in the pinball collector market (confidence: high) — John Wick hasn't made its way into our souls... it's not the kind of movie that you dream about... I just not sure that Stern Pinball will be successful in selling a John Wick game
- **[design_philosophy]** Kaneda predicts the game will prioritize code/software over mechanical innovation, with minimal 'wow factor' mechanics—expecting only flow-heavy design without upper/lower playfields or substantial toys (confidence: high) — I think they're going to make a game with a lot of flow... I think you're gonna make a game with a lot of software, but I don't think you're gonna see a game with a lot of mechanical wow in it
- **[sentiment_shift]** Despite John Wick's status as a well-regarded action franchise, Kaneda expresses skepticism that the theme will generate consumer demand or enthusiasm in the pinball market (confidence: high) — I think people are going to be curious about it... but I don't think John Wick is The Games People really want right now
- **[collector_signal]** Kaneda predicts rapid depreciation of John Wick LE units from $13K retail to ~$9K secondary market value within 8 months, suggesting weak long-term collector appeal (confidence: medium) — If Stern makes a thousand John Wick L.E.s, at thirteen thousand a pop, They're all gonna be worth like $9,000 in just like eight months
- **[competitive_signal]** Kaneda identifies future IP releases (Matrix, Harry Potter, Back to the Future) as stronger collector priorities that will draw demand away from John Wick purchases (confidence: medium) — I still think We Are Pinball going to get a Matrix Pinball Machine, We Are Pinball going to get a Harry Potter Back to the Future... I think there is just a lot More Brewing Company coming around the corner that is going to make people want to wait
- **[operational_signal]** Kaneda expresses doubt that John Wick will have sufficient draw for commercial venue/location operators compared to other themes currently available (confidence: high) — I don't think John Wick is a game that's gonna crush it on location
- **[design_innovation]** Kaneda identifies a fundamental design challenge: the John Wick films' core appeal (gunplay, headshots, action sequences) doesn't naturally translate to compelling pinball mechanics (confidence: high) — How do you recreate that in pinball format? And I just don't think it's going to work... it's not the kind of theme that screams out like world under glass
- **[product_concern]** Kaneda critiques expected design compromises (cheap Mustang toy, cheap Continental sculpt) as inadequate for capturing the essence of the John Wick aesthetic (confidence: medium) — we're probably gonna get like a cheap Mustang, we're probably not gonna get any lower or upper playfields... we're gonna get a cheap sculpt or plastic of the Continental
- **[market_signal]** Kaneda indicates that high retail pricing ($13K LE) combined with insufficient emotional attachment to the theme creates risk of weak initial demand and collector resistance (confidence: high) — now that these games are so expensive... I don't think John Wick has it... I don't think John Wick is going to be a super successful game for Stern
- **[rumor_hype]** Kaneda speculates on Matrix, Harry Potter, and Back to the Future pinball machines as potential future releases, suggesting these will overshadow John Wick in collector interest (confidence: low) — I still think We Are Pinball going to get a Matrix Pinball Machine... Harry Potter Back to the Future
- **[announcement]** Kaneda confirms that Stern Pinball has officially announced John Wick as an upcoming title, with official details to be revealed on Game Over Arcade Tuesday (confidence: high) — It is now official. Stern Pinball is making John Wick... We're not going to see the game until Tuesday

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## Transcript

Backpacking skate Holder Mad Wabby. Front cockpit shin. Backpacking late Johnny Pinball Pinball feud. Alright, so John Wick, the man, the hitman, the murdered dog, the Avenger that is the most badass Keanu Reeves film we've seen since The Matrix. It is now official. Stern Pinball is making John Wick. And on this episode of Canadian Pinball Podcast, I want to tell you right now, the baby is not here. So I'm going to be doing episodes until the baby arrives. I worked with Karl. Line, Pate outta P mary Mag, Game Over Arcade modal ry Testament presents. Io Rinaldin radiant, patsi8 blin. Gorayake Oreo raubeeee, Christian Santiago F Cheer default Cardinala, John Wick, the hitman, the badass movies John Wick, a franchise that is grossed over a billion dollars at The Box Arcade office. Will this be a theme that the pinball buying demographic will warm up to and will support? And also remember this. This game is going to be a brand new designer that we've never heard of right following a Keith Elwin game. In Now, let's talk about it. All right, so first and foremost, how are we going to dissect this? We're not going to see the game until Tuesday, but let's just talk about the theme, the theme of John Wick. Now, look, if you've seen these movies and you're a man that grew up in the 80s and the 90s and you grew up on action movies and you love The Matrix and you love Schwarzenegger and you love John Woo films like The Killer, Like this is John Wick. It's a movie in which a guy is a retired hitman and they kill his dog and it's like the Russian Mafia and he hides his weaponry under the glue floor of his The Garage. And if I'm spoiling anything right now, you're not gonna buy this game. The movie is out for so many years that the statue of limitations on spoiling the theme of John Wick is well past due. The movies are super awesome. They are super fun. They are literally like John Woo meets the Matrix meets Keanu Reeves meets a guy that can only kill you with a headshot. Plans are set into Riddle of waiting for I don think so But that being said think about the pinball landscape right now Where most of the pinball buying demographic is men, 40 to 60. And you're hitting them right now, just right now in the pinball world. You're hitting them with jaws, Which is a slow movie from the 1970s about a shark that eats a few people. You're hitting people with Looney Tunes. You're hitting people with Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which really only appeals to the people making the game. You're hitting people with The Princess Bride. You're hitting people with Pulp Fiction, but not really. That game doesn't have any clips from the movies. It doesn't have any of the scenes from the movies coming at you. It's More Brewing Company just like callouts and only five songs. It's not really like a modern pinball game where you're playing through the Pulp Fiction movie. And then you're coming at us with stuff like Abba. You're coming at us with stuff like what else is right now new in the pinball world? Barry O's Barry's Barbecue Challenge. You're coming at us with Ninja Clips. You're coming at us with all these other games elemental like like seriously when you think about it it's like thank you stern pinball for bringing out a game that's geared towards men that like action movies now will John Wick work for Stern pinball you know will this game be enough to get people to plop down that's what I'm going to talk about on this short episode of Canadian pinball podcast billion dollar The movie is going to be a fifth movie. It's one of the only franchises where the sequels have all individually earned More Brewing Company than the original movie. The original movie made like 80 million at The Box Arcade office and The Last Arcade John Wick movie alone globally made over 400 million dollars. Now here's the thing. I still don't think John Wick though has enough nostalgia, like has enough of a fan base, has enough of like a community around this property. Sure, I've seen every movie, I've enjoyed them, they're fun, but John Wick hasn't made its way into our souls. It hasn't made its way into our veins. It not the kind of movie that you dream about that you can wait to watch again It the kind of movie where like maybe you seen it once and that it You not going to see each of them like multiple times And even though it appeals More Brewing Company to like modern men than Elton John I just not sure that Stern Pinball will be successful in selling a John Wick game If they gonna make a thousand Elite at a pop and they want people to buy premiums for like $9,500 that's what has me concerned about John Wick And I know we're gonna see a lot about this Game On Arcade Tuesday We're gonna see who's designing it what mechs are in it and the music in the trailer when I heard the music Atomic Arcade arnat intrinsic Greg R Mutta, Trev Mondac odpow Karl De infectriment, Dave Palin, Lytzy, Leave ins Home by Edina, I feel like Jersey Jack Pinball has the only light show that would do this sort of techno rave hitman music justice. It's not gonna work with Stern Pinball. And I think what's gonna happen is this, and this is just Kaneda's prediction. I think this game is gonna come out. I don't think it's gonna have a lot of wow mechanisms in it. And I also just don't think people are gonna like be won over By a Stern john wick game for this much and I think this is going to be the ultimate test of stern pinball is because I feel like when I think about it, this is going to be their next venom. It's not going to be bad. Trust me, it's not going to be bad. It's going to be fun like every stern machine, but I just don't think there's going to be enough there. And that's my thing is like now that these games are so expensive. And now that everybody's looking In the meantime, I'm just gonna let you know that, like, I'm not trying to bring this game out of my gaming room, I'm just trying to bring my game into my gaming room. I don't think John Wick has it. I don't think John Wick as a theme is gonna make you wanna remove a game from your gaming room. I also don't think John Wick is a game that's gonna crush it on location. I just think this is like a B-level theme for Stern. I feel like this is gonna be another Venom pinball machine. In a really long time. I don't think this is the kind of theme that is going to make people like have to have it. I think people are going to be curious about it. I think we're going to play it on location, but I don't think John Wick is The The Games People really want right now. And that's just my two cents. And I just want to say this right now. I don't think John Wick is going to be a super successful game for Stern. And by the way they did not say, the All these are just a bunch of boxes people want checked for pinball and I think there is just a lot More Brewing Company coming around the corner that is going to make people want to wait for that I still think We Are Pinball going to get a Matrix Pinball Machine, We Are Pinball going to get a Harry Potter Back to the Future and again, as much as I love these movies, just because I love a movie, doesn't mean it's right for pinball. The other part is as I think about John Wick Pinball, it's not the kind of theme that screams out like world under glass. Like these would be the mechanisms. These would be the things I'd want to see in a John Wick game. And that's the thing. And I think what Stern's going to do, I think they're going to make a game with a lot of flow. I think you're gonna make a game with a lot of software, but I don't think you're gonna see a game with a lot of mechanical wow in it. I just don't. And we're probably gonna get like a cheap Mustang, we're gonna get a cheap way to like load balls into the chamber of the Gun, we're probably not gonna get any lower or upper playfields in this game, we're gonna get a cheap sculpt or plastic of the Continental. And that's the thing about John Wick Pinball is like to me, when I think about the John Wick movies, it's all about Keanu Reeves going berserk, chasing down this like Russian Arabian Mafia, shooting a hundred guys in the head with his gun. How do you recreate that in pinball format? And I just don't think it's going to work. So this is going to be a little bit of a short episode of Canadian Pinball Podcast. I'm waiting for the baby to come. If you know what we want, I know what's around the corner, and John Wick, albeit a curious theme, a contemporary theme in pinball, it's just not going to be a game that's going to separate you from thirteen thousand dollars, ten thousand dollars, and everybody's just going to wait and see on this title. Because we all know, if Stern makes a thousand John Wick L.E.s, at thirteen thousand a pop, They're all gonna be worth like $9,000 in just like eight months. Everybody wait and see. Kaneda loves you. John Wick, I can't wait to see what they do, but it's just gonna be the next Venom from Stern. Kaneda out.

_(Acquisition: groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-08-04 | Item ID: 2e3be204-d2f6-4b26-811d-3bb6e07cf060*