# Kaneda Kudos Test

**Source:** Kaneda Pinball Podcasts YouTube Lives  
**Type:** video  
**Published:** 2026-01-03  
**Duration:** 25m 41s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig3ljer_zks

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## Analysis

Kaneda tests streaming setup for the Twippies award show, discussing award categories and eligibility (particularly Beetlejuice). He critiques Stern Pinball heavily, claiming 2025 was their worst year, expressing concerns about Pokémon art quality, Star Wars and Walking Dead sales challenges, and Spike 3 platform issues. He defends his Jaws 50th production volume estimates and signals optimism about the award show being the most interesting year for analysis.

### Key Claims

- [MEDIUM] 2025 was one of the worst years in the history of Stern Pinball — _Kaneda's personal opinion expressed during stream test; no data provided to support claim_
- [MEDIUM] Pokémon pinball will have disappointing art and not much content in the game — _Kaneda cites 'early reports' but does not name sources; hearsay characterization_
- [HIGH] Pokémon pinball will not be revealed at CES — _Kaneda cites Retro Ralph as confirming non-attendance; corroborated by absence of teaser announcement_
- [MEDIUM] Barrels of Fun made Dune available on December 31st with artificial urgency as a cash grab — _Kaneda's interpretation of Dune's limited-time ordering window; describes company as planning additional production despite deadline language_
- [LOW] Jaws 50th produced in higher quantities than market believes — _Kaneda's speculation; no production data provided_
- [HIGH] Jaws 50th Premium version is superior to Limited Edition due to glitter enhancement on playfield — _Kaneda directly states Premium buyers are getting 'the nicer version' for $3,000 less_
- [MEDIUM] Stern's Limited Edition strategy has destroyed collector desirability and product positioning — _Kaneda's critical opinion on Stern's three-tier pricing model; characterizes as lacking vision_
- [MEDIUM] Spike 3 is a big disappointment — _Kaneda's stated personal assessment; no specific technical issues cited_

### Notable Quotes

> "I think out of all the years I've been in pinball, I think this year is probably the most interesting year to like analyze um all the different companies and and have a fun show about what is the best"
> — **Kaneda**, early
> _Sets expectation for award show depth and uniqueness in 2025_

> "I'm 100% convinced they're going to make more. And I think they they did this as a cash grab."
> — **Kaneda**, middle
> _Direct accusation of Barrels of Fun's December 31st Dune deadline as manufactured scarcity tactic_

> "Jaws 50th is is the last great game Stern made. I I'm just going to say this right now"
> — **Kaneda**, middle
> _Stark assessment that Stern's quality has declined post-Jaws; positions game as swan song_

> "I think this has been one of the worst years in the history of Stern Pinball. And I think they're in big trouble"
> — **Kaneda**, middle
> _Strong negative pronouncement on Stern's 2025 performance and market position_

> "guys spending $3,000 less are getting the nicer version of Jaws. Like they just don't get it."
> — **Kaneda**, middle
> _Criticism of Stern's three-tier pricing strategy inverting traditional Limited Edition premium positioning_

> "they literally destroyed their own position within the market. And I I don't think they have a way out."
> — **Kaneda**, middle
> _Expresses pessimism about Stern's ability to recover market leadership_

> "There are so many better options now. There are so many better games that hold value better. There are so many more creative companies now than ever before."
> — **Kaneda**, middle
> _Contextualizes competitor manufacturers now offering superior alternatives to Stern_

> "Tonight's about having fun, okay? Tonight's about having fun. I might even have some cocktails. It's not about There's This isn't about seriously getting it right."
> — **Kaneda**, late
> _Establishes tone for award show as entertainment-focused rather than authoritative judgment_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Stern Pinball | company | Primary target of Kaneda's criticism regarding 2025 performance, product strategy, and market positioning |
| Kaneda | person | Host of award show (Twippies), pinball content creator, expressing strong opinions on industry performance |
| Beetlejuice | game | Discussed regarding award eligibility despite limited availability; characterized as highly hyped end-of-year release |
| Pokémon | game | Unreleased Stern game receiving negative early reports on art quality and content depth |
| Jaws 50th Anniversary | game | Stern's premium release positioned as last great game; Premium version has superior glitter playfield vs LE |
| Barrels of Fun | company | Criticized for December 31st Dune limited-time ordering as artificial scarcity/cash grab tactic |
| Dune | game | Barrels of Fun pinball game subject to limited-time ordering window; Kaneda skeptical of production scarcity claims |
| Star Wars | game | Stern game facing sales challenges; Kaneda implies poor reception and market positioning difficulty |
| The Walking Dead | game | Stern game facing sales challenges; mentioned alongside Star Wars as requiring aggressive market push |
| Spike 3 | product | Stern's platform technology criticized as disappointing; underlying concern about technical innovation |
| Retro Ralph | person | Pinball content creator cited as source for confirmation that Pokémon not appearing at CES |
| Colin | person | Appears to be Colin/Kineticist (This Week in Pinball); Kaneda references as having 'torpedoed' previous Twippies |
| Twippies | event | Annual pinball industry awards show being hosted by Kaneda; scheduled for tonight |
| CES | event | Consumer Electronics Show; traditionally venue for Stern new game reveals; Pokémon skipped this year |
| Evil Dead | game | Mentioned in award eligibility discussion as potentially eligible across multiple categories |
| Goonies | game | Upcoming game expected to dominate conversation in 2026, relegating Beetlejuice focus to 2025 |
| Sonic the Hedgehog | game | Pinball game delayed to July; Kaneda planning to acquire after Beetlejuice end-of-year arrival |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Twippies Award Show 2025 Planning, Stern Pinball Critical Assessment & Market Position, Limited Edition vs Premium vs Pro Pricing Strategy
- **Secondary:** Unreleased Game Expectations (Pokémon, Beetlejuice, Sonic), Barrels of Fun Scarcity Marketing Tactics, Competitor Manufacturers & Creative Diversity, CES 2025 Stern Absence
- **Mentioned:** Streaming Setup & Technical Production

### Sentiment

**Negative** (-0.72) — Strongly critical of Stern Pinball's 2025 performance, strategy, and market position. Frustrated with competitor tactics (Barrels of Fun). Tempered somewhat by optimism about award show being entertaining and acknowledgment of other manufacturers offering better alternatives. Final tone shifts to lighthearted anticipation for evening's awards event.

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** Stern Pinball's market position deteriorating due to product strategy missteps, Lost enthusiast buyer segment, three-tier pricing model destroying Limited Edition value proposition (confidence: high) — Kaneda's sustained criticism of Limited Edition strategy inversion, Premium superiority over LE, and characterization of worst year in Stern history
- **[competitive_signal]** Competitor manufacturers now offering superior value and creative appeal vs Stern; market diversity increasing (confidence: medium) — Kaneda emphasizes 'so many better options now', 'so many better games that hold value better', 'so many more creative companies'
- **[event_signal]** 2025 Twippies award show expected to be most interesting/competitive in recent years due to strong year-round competition and diverse manufacturer performance (confidence: high) — Kaneda frames award show as having most interesting analysis opportunity; expects Stern weak showing
- **[market_signal]** Jaws 50th produced in higher quantities than secondary market perception; Premium version outperforms Limited Edition in playfield quality (confidence: medium) — Kaneda's assertion that dealers/distros ordered heavily; Premium has superior glitter enhancement vs LE
- **[market_signal]** Barrels of Fun's December 31st Dune deadline characterized as artificial scarcity / cash grab tactic (confidence: medium) — Kaneda expresses skepticism about 'final chance' language and conviction company will produce more units despite deadline
- **[market_signal]** Stern's three-tier pricing model inverting traditional premium positioning: Premium version superior to LE at $3,000 lower price point (confidence: high) — Kaneda directly criticizes Jaws 50th strategy where Premium buyers get 'nicer version' for less money than LE
- **[product_strategy]** Pokémon pinball not appearing at CES 2025, breaking Stern's traditional new game reveal pattern (confidence: high) — Kaneda confirms absence of CES teaser, cites Retro Ralph confirmation of non-attendance
- **[product_concern]** Pokémon pinball expected to disappoint on art quality and game content depth (confidence: medium) — Kaneda cites 'early reports' of poor art and 'not a ton in the game'; predicts community disappointment
- **[sentiment_shift]** Kaneda's perception of Stern's market dominance and enthusiasm eroding; characterizes Lost swagger and enthusiast support (confidence: high) — Sustained criticism of Stern's strategic direction, loss of collector goodwill, and explicit statement 'they've lost their swagger'
- **[technology_signal]** Spike 3 platform disappointing; new cabinets perceived as cheap (confidence: medium) — Kaneda states 'Spike 3 is a big disappointment' and criticizes cost reduction approach in cabinet design

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## Transcript

YouTube does it right. YouTube has it uh YouTube mirrors it properly. We'll let some people join real quick. How's everybody? Oh man, I'm I'm excited for tonight. 

 Good morning, guys. How's everybody doing? Oh, we're going to do a little little tester. Jenis is in the house. Uh, Jenga, what's up, brother? Now, how you guys doing? Um, I'm going to do a podcast probably today. Got the award show tonight. It's going to be fun. I'm really looking forward to I This was a good award show. Talk about Colin torpedoing. Probably would have been the most interesting Trippies ever. No one cares anymore. Like he destroyed it. But this this year, I think out of all the years I've been in pinball, I think this year is probably the most interesting year to like analyze um all the different companies and and [clears throat] have a fun show about what is the best because it gets it gets difficult. It gets real difficult when you get into like designer of the year, best layout, best theme, best theme integration. I I think tonight's show is going to be a an awesome an awesome show. Um here, let me uh Okay, so here's the test because I got to go work on this deck because I you know I I'm I'm doing more than just mailing it in. So here we go. Let me know if you guys can see this. [crying] Okay, can you guys see this? Okay, because this is how we're going to kind of roll. Okay, let me ask you guys a question because when I go back to when I go I'm going to go back to the deck. Let me know if you can still see me cuz I think the hard part I'm going to flip through. Is it black now? Like right now. Am I am I black or can you like can you still see me? Wait, what's a small image? My image is small. Make me bigger. 

 Both are small. Don't Do John Youssi the big image of me in the lower right? Is there a way to make your image I don't know if there's a way to make me bigger. Yeah. Yeah. I don't think there's a way. Let me see. Is there? 

 Yes, you can make your shared image or content on YouTube by using full screen modes. 

 Is this good? Do you guys like it like this? Cuz like what I'm going to do then Ed Boon. Right. And then like 

 then we'll like we'll do each and then the winner is we'll go back and forth. You guys excited? 

 Go through all the And then we get Ed Boon. 

 You are in picture and picture mode. You look fine. Just make sure that the text of your slides are not covered with the position and size of your image. Okay. Did anything bleed over? Let's see one. Let's see. 

 I think everything looks good. But that's good to know. Everything will be best Twip editor. Are there any categories you think I'm missing? Are there any categories you think are missing from the list? The The one that I always like I don't have like best mod. I'm not I'm not going I'm not searching. There's too many mods. I'm sorry. And I think for topper 2, we're only going to do officially manufacturer release toppers. I'm not doing mods. I'm not doing location. I'm not doing I'm not doing like like bootleg toppers. I'm I'm not doing any of that. Like, sorry. Like, this is what the pinball companies are making this year. Best customer service dealer of the year. The problem with that, you know, is is there's that is there's no way for me or anybody like that is too individually personal. Like if you know what I'm saying like dealer of the year, there's no dealer of the year. Like there's a lot of really good dealers and no one deserves to lose that category. So I'm I'm not doing that. And customer service, like there's a bunch of companies that have great customer service. And again, like it's it's like individual experiences there. So I don't I don't want to do that. I I want I want I think everything I have here is something that everybody has an opinion on and everyone can say what they would pick to win on all of this. Right. So like I think we're good. No. Again, best show expo of the year I also don't agree with because I I haven't visited all them. So I can't 

 I can't be like best show pinball at the beach or expo. You hear that? You hear the insanity in this house today? Best mom. Yeah, absolutely. So all right. So um and I think what's going to be fun is and I'm going to do this the right way. So certain games are going to be eligible for certain categories. And this is where it's going to get hard for me to pick a winner is like best artwork. Beetlejuice is included in that. Now, Beetlejuice will not be eligible for like best layout or design because I haven't I haven't played it and nobody's really played it, but it is eligible. This is where it's going to get interesting. And 

 what do you think? Should it be eligible for best mech? I don't know. I don't know. Right. Or should it only be the mechs that have been released? 

 So, no. Is it okay? Okay. No, this is good. This is good. So, but I think artwork is fine, right? Beetlejuice for artwork because the art's not going to change. So even though we haven't stood over it, It does raise an interesting point if you if you haven't stood over the Beetlejuice artwork and I haven't, but I can Should it be eligible or not? I think it should because the artwork I can see I can I can I can tell what it's going to be like. 

 So no, we should we should keep Beetlejuice out of all categories. 

 I think we put it in for art. I think it'll also be eligible. I think we should I think we should also well because again like best game launch reveal Beetlejuice is eligible. You know, I'm going to keep it in for art. I'm going to keep it in for launch reveal and some other categories. You'll see. But I also think it's fine if if something is eligible for multiple years of awards because No, because by the time we get to this time next year, gang, we're it's going to all be about Goonies and and we're going to be so far beyond even wanting to talk about Beetlejuice. That's why I'm like I want to give Beetlejuice you. I think an award show for the best of Pinball in 2025 that doesn't have Beetlejuice in some categories would be silly because Beetlejuice basically owned the end of the year. like it owned the end of the year the conversation. It had the most hype ever all year. So, it's going in. I'm just saying. Evil Dead should not be eligible for best art if Beetlejuice is. Why? That doesn't make any sense. Why? Why? Why is Evil Dead not up for the same award? 

 I mean, Evil Dead is absolutely eligible. Yeah, but we didn't do this last. Did we do Did Was Evil Dead in it last year? Did it win? 

 I think it might have won. 

 Well, I'm just going to say this right now. It'll be consistent. Also, gang, let me let me let me just Tonight's about having fun, okay? Tonight's about having fun. I might even have some cocktails. It's not about There's This isn't about seriously getting it right. It's about having fun. Spending like an hour, hour and a half talking about the best of the year. Like, that's what tonight's about. So, don't be don't come with anger and strict rules here. Like, we're just having fun, okay? I just want to remind everybody of that, 

 you know. You know, I just like I want to make sure everybody knows that. 

 Oh my god. Is Colin still trying to make money doing this? I feel bad for the guy. I really do. Um, I will say this. I did not order I did not order on December 31st a Dune. I just I you know what I was close, but the more I kept hearing how they were communicating the final chance they I they're going to make more. I'm 100% convinced they're going to make more. And I think they they did this as a cash grab. You know what's crazy me? Okay, so I was reading something. Let me read what they wrote. Hold on. Let me go to it. 

 Um, where is it? Um, what is it? Barrels. Um, I I can't find it. Like they wrote something in a comment section that I think they wrote it on um Hold on. They wrote it on pinside. I think David went in there and it just it it again I just I want to give these guys the benefit of the doubt but they say stuff that always makes me like [screaming] like I don't know it's like you have to suspend common sense. Let's see where is it. Hold on. Thanks for staying with me, guys. I got to find it. [crying] 

 Uh, is it here? Sorry, I'm just I want to read the exact wording. 

 This is why Pinid's funny cuz I don't even know if I'm in the right thread to be honest. Okay. So, I can't find it right now, but [snorts] basically the gist was like we don't want people to feel any pressure or like I'm like this is exactly what you're trying to create is pressure by having this December 31st deadline. [screaming] Um, dude, Charles, I feel like Dro's sad boy. What's up, brother? I'm docking your pay for being live on the wrong day. What day was Well, I'm going to do live. Wait, what? What's the right day? New Year's Eve. I I figured like no one would want to do this on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day, so I figured like give people a few days to recover. Um, I um I think that so many dealers and dros will have ordered the Jaws 50th topper that it's not going to be hard to get. I also like I don't know, man. Jaws 50th continues to be one of these games where like I really think I might throw one in the in the house here. Like I kind of live in a in a in a maritime town. like this the Jaws in Rowan in Connecticut like makes total sense. So I'm I'm on the fence about that. I also think I'm okay getting a used Jaws 50th. I don't need a new one. And I don't think they're going to go up in value. So like I, you know, I fully foresee myself being able to grab a Jaws 50th one day for like 8 G's and be happy. You know, I I don't I think they made a lot more than people think. I mean, let's be honest, gang. Jaws 50 is is the last great game Stern made. I I'm just going to say this right now, and I don't know the results yet, but I remember years in which Stern swept the awards. And I'm just going to say this right now. It ain't it ain't I don't think they're gonna have a good showing this year at all. And I think this has been one of the worst years in the history of Stern Pinball. And I think they're in big trouble because I'm getting early reports on Pokemon Gang that the art isn't good at all that there's not a ton in the game. That it's get ready for Pokemon disappointment is my what I'm hearing. I also if I don't think it's going to be at CES. If it was, we'd get the teaser today, like in a few hours. So, if we see the teaser at noon today, yes, it'll be at CES. If we see nothing today, I bet we don't see it. All right. Retro Ralph said it's not at CES. All right. So, it's not going to be at CS. So, [gasps] that's like 

 I That's um 

 Yeah, that's like that's I I don't I'm not surprised. I'm not surprised. I I think they're they need to sell these Star Wars machines and they need to sell these Walking Deads. And, you know, Stern's approach when they have these flops is just to keep trying to shove them out into the world. Look, the newbies will buy it. Like, newbie suckers, newbie suckers always don't know. They don't know, man. Like, newbies in this hobby, newbies in this hobby absolutely think everything is amazing because it's pinball. Like, they're they are just happy to have a pinball machine. So, um All right. So, nothing new next week from Stern. I mean, this this is breaking tradition from them. They They typically bring a new game to CES. I think they're in big trouble, gang. You know how I feel. I think Spike 3 is a big disappointment. I think the new cabinets are cheap. I think the the overall vibe at Stern is to figure out a way to make a better margin on their games, but they're they're in um they're in much bigger trouble than people realize. The amount of employees they have, I just I think they've lost their swagger. I think they've lost they've lost us in terms of like the pure enthusiast buyer. they have like it. There are so many better options now. There are so many better games that hold value better. There are so many more creative companies now than ever before. And I think Stern just just destroyed their own like like they literally destroyed their own position within the market. And I I don't think they have a way out. I really don't. I think they ruined the collector nature of their product. And the Ellie, the Ellie was always the center of gravity that made the other two versions of the game desirable, right? Instant sellout, then you move on to premium and and like making Jaws 50th better than Jaws. Like they just they their strategy is bonkers. It makes no sense. So guys spending $3,000 less are getting the nicer version of Jaws. Like they just don't get it. like how annoying how annoying it is to be a stern buyer seeing their strategy unfold. It is bad. It lacks vision and it lacks long-term sustainable goodwill with the community. And I think again when we get to the award show tonight, you're going to see a Stern that is like 

 falling behind. Okay. And And I don't think anybody cares. Just fun watching them continue to make boneheaded mistake after boneheaded mistake. 

 So you're saying Jaws 50th is not available for sale anywhere? fly. 

 Can you get Jaws 50 on Amazon? 

 where can you buy the Jaws 50th topper? Is it someone have a link? Who's got it for sale? 

 and the topper. I might get one. I might get one. Put it in the garage. That might be my garage game for now because I'm not getting Beetlejuice until the end of the year. Sonic is not until July. Um Oh my god. You hear this? You hear this? All right, [snorts] gang. Let me go do the work to make this deck and then I'll um I'll see you guys later tonight for the awards show. Let's have some fun. Let's talk pinball. It's going to be fun. You're going to hear my my Canada kudos. Um but as always, like I think the chat's going to be where the real fun happens. So like uh let's let's I'll see you guys later tonight. All right. And there might be a podcast today. So maybe maybe Okay. 

 And thank you guys for the support. I know the month is over. Let's see. I We always lose. We dip below 700 again. It's It happens. What are we at like 686 now? Something like that. Let's see. People leave. You know what? People always leave end of the year and then Yeah, 686. It happens. And then people come back when like there's new launches. We're the award show is gonna be here and I might do it on Facebook. Facebook's not going to be able to see the slideshow because I can't share screen on Facebook, but it'll be here [screaming] on YouTube. [crying] Oh my god, Brenda, what's up with this guy? What was it? Oh, yeah. The Patreon. Okay. So, let's see. 

 What time is the award show? Charles. Charles. Like, I'm not answering that. I'm not answering that. 

 It's like I'm not answering that because it's in every image about the award show. 

 okay. All right, everybody. Have a great Friday. gang. I think Stern produced a lot of Jaws 50ths. Okay, don't don't worry about that. [crying] 

 All right, I'm gonna end this stream, guys. We'll see you later tonight. Peace out.

_(Acquisition: youtube_auto_sub, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 4333b2fa-a5da-4ee6-b9bc-de2f532337e1*