# Stern Pinball's Trojan Horse?

**Source:** Cary Hardy  
**Type:** video  
**Published:** 2021-10-06  
**Duration:** 9m 27s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-7N1BI1_ag

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## Analysis

Cary Hardy presents Insider Connected as a gradual monetization strategy for Stern Pinball, arguing that the platform's hardware installation, mandatory on new games, is designed to lock players into a subscription ecosystem with cosmetic microtransactions and feature paywalls. He compares the strategy to the boiling frog parable, warning that Stern is slowly introducing pricing and control mechanisms that players may not immediately recognize until they become normalized.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Insider Connected hardware will be installed in every new Stern game starting with Godzilla — _Stern's new hardware will be installed in every new game release, starting with Godzilla and forward._
- [HIGH] Pro account tier will cost monthly but offer discounts for annual payment — _the pro account will be a monthly fee but if you pay it annually it's going to be a little bit cheaper_
- [HIGH] Insider Connected will include Software Integrity Verification (SIV) to detect unauthorized audio/video mods — _Software Integrity Verification or SIV meaning Stern will now know whenever your code has unauthorized audio or video clips installed_
- [MEDIUM] Free accounts will have cosmetic features that disappear if the account is not pro-activated — _if you let your account go into the free version you would lose all of those cosmetics because your pro account would be inactive_
- [HIGH] Stern has only shown the tip of the iceberg regarding Insider Connected features — _stern has already talked about a lot of the features that are going to be implemented in this piece of hardware but they've also mentioned that they've only basically shown us the tip of the iceberg_

### Notable Quotes

> "Think of it kind of like a drug dealer giving out a free sample. It's there for you to possibly get hooked."
> — **Cary Hardy**
> _Core metaphor for the free-to-paid conversion strategy; reveals Hardy's skepticism about Stern's intentions_

> "Do you remember when Netflix was only like six dollars a month? How much are you paying for Netflix now? See what I mean?"
> — **Cary Hardy**
> _Historical precedent for subscription creep; warns of long-term cost increases_

> "I mean after spending 8k on something you think you might be able to make it your own but no."
> — **Cary Hardy**
> _Critique of SIV blocking mod culture; highlights loss of owner autonomy_

> "Stern is going to be adding all sorts of things down the road, but it's going to be let out slowly so we can adapt."
> — **Cary Hardy**
> _Articulates the 'boiling frog' strategy; suggests deliberate incremental feature rollout to avoid backlash_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Stern Pinball | company | Manufacturer developing Insider Connected platform and implementing it on new game releases starting with Godzilla |
| Cary Hardy | person | Video content creator covering pinball industry; analyst/critic of Stern's business strategy |
| Insider Connected | product | Stern's digital platform for connected pinball machines with subscription tiers, cosmetic microtransactions, and remote functionality |
| Godzilla | game | First Stern pinball game confirmed to ship with Insider Connected hardware installed from factory |
| Spike 2 | product | Stern hardware platform targeted by Insider Connected ecosystem; will receive hardware retrofits and software updates |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Insider Connected monetization strategy, Subscription tiers and pro accounts, Software Integrity Verification and mod restrictions, Cosmetic microtransactions
- **Secondary:** Hardware bundling and forced adoption, Home collector autonomy and customization, Long-term price creep and subscription escalation

### Sentiment

**Negative** (-0.75) — Hardy is critical of Stern's strategy, framing it as deceptive and designed to gradually extract revenue. However, he acknowledges benefits for operators and admits his own susceptibility to cosmetic purchases. The tone is cautionary rather than condemning, with the 'boiling frog' metaphor expressing concern about normalization of costs without malice attribution.

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** Stern implementing mandatory hardware (Insider Connected) on all new game releases to enable continuous subscription revenue model (confidence: high) — Stern's new hardware will be installed in every new game release, starting with Godzilla and forward
- **[community_signal]** Insider Connected SIV feature will prevent mod installation and customization, restricting home collector autonomy after $8k+ purchase (confidence: high) — Software Integrity Verification or SIV meaning Stern will now know whenever your code has unauthorized audio or video clips installed... after spending 8k on something you think you might be able to make it your own but no
- **[market_signal]** Insider Connected positioned as gradual monetization trap via subscription creep and cosmetic paywalls, compared to Netflix pricing trajectory (confidence: high) — Do you remember when Netflix was only like six dollars a month? How much are you paying for Netflix now? See what I mean?
- **[market_signal]** Insider Connected will enable remote software updates, eliminating USB-based update workflow and associated service costs (confidence: high) — Online updates, so you no longer have to deal with the USB drive and opening the back glass and getting back there with all that. That will be a thing of the past.
- **[market_signal]** Stern justifying recent price increases by bundling Insider Connected hardware costs, which players may not want or use (confidence: high) — they say their price increase is valid because of this hardware that they are installing in these games
- **[product_strategy]** Stern has intentionally revealed only partial feature set for Insider Connected; additional features and monetization mechanics to be added incrementally (confidence: high) — stern has already talked about a lot of the features that are going to be implemented in this piece of hardware but they've also mentioned that they've only basically shown us the tip of the iceberg
- **[technology_signal]** Mandatory internet connectivity hardware raises privacy and data control concerns despite Stern stating internet connection is optional (confidence: medium) — Why charge us extra for a machine because you're implementing hardware that you don't even want or want to use?

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## Transcript

 There's an old fable about boiling a frog to death. A frog adapts to temperature change, but it will immediately avoid drastic changes. So by very slowly heating the water in this pot, the frog is gradually changing and adjusting to its surroundings. Now this change happens so slowly that the frog doesn't even realize that it's boiling to death. Now I want you to keep this little fable in your mind because it can kind of correlate to us. It's only natural that we don't like change but changes are coming. What's up guys and welcome back to my channel where I talk and do everything pinball. So if that sounds interesting to you then hit that subscribe button down below. Now what change is coming? That change is Stern's Insider Connected. The upcoming digital profit powerhouse for all the Spike 2 games. This device will give you a number of benefits. But if you think that they've spent the last two years developing a piece of hardware just to make you happy, you are sadly mistaken. Now, what have you been asking to be put into your modern pinball machines? The ability to update your game's code using the internet, like Wi-Fi, right? Now, Stern heard you, and they could have done this, honestly, a good while ago. But why sell you a piece of hardware that gives you just that, when they could spend a couple of years developing a new platform, and that would essentially gain them continuous revenue for years to come. So that is what they've done. Stern's new hardware will be installed in every new game release, starting with Godzilla and forward. And this is one of the reasons why they say their price increase is valid because of this hardware that they are installing in these games. But Kerry what if I don want the insider connected That irrelevant because the hardware will be there anyways for you to try Think of it kind of like a drug dealer giving out a free sample It there for you to possibly get hooked What if I don't want my machine connected to the internet? That's fine. You won't be required to be connected to the internet for updating your machine's code. For now at least. Okay, I've mentioned how this hardware will be installed from the factory from all their upcoming new releases, including all the older Spike 2 games that won't be released until after the first of the year. But what about the games that have already left the factory? This isn't a required piece of hardware, so if you don't have the Insider connected and you don't want it, then don't worry about it. This will not affect you yet. But if you want to be part of the online experience, then that's where you call your distributor and get this piece of hardware for your machine. Now that's the initial hit to your wallet, but what about this continuous revenue that I mentioned earlier? That's where Stern's really going to be diving into what a lot of gaming companies have been doing for years, and that's microtransactions. First thing you will need to do if you want to take advantage of the connected system is create an insider account for free. Then you will have the ability to scan your own personal QR code on any connected Stern game. Congratulations, you will be in the club. Then you can join in on all the conversations online or in person with other pinball enthusiasts talking about these cool perks and badges and achievements. Now you won't be able to really understand some of the perks and features that people are talking about because you settled for the free account. Why? Why would you settle for the free account? Why would you do something like that when you could go pro? If you go pro, then you will have all these extra features and perks and stuff like that and new modes and code updates that wouldn't be available to the free users. Now the pro account will be a monthly fee but if you pay it annually it's going to be a little bit cheaper but that is the continuous revenue that I was talking about. Now the pro account is completely optional guys so if you want to stay with your free account you can but if you think that stern is just going to let you just have your free account by not pushing you to go pro push may be a harsh word encourage you to go pro then you also again sadly mistaken Now, let's dive a little bit deeper into these inevitable microtransactions. Now, more than likely, these microtransactions will be, a lot of them are going to be cosmetic. Cosmetic? How so? Now, what if you scanned your QR code and instead of it just being the regular color with your initials in there, it brought up like a background image, for instance, maybe even your own personal face or a library of images that you can select on your Insider Connected application. You could do that. I mean, it might cost you a buck or two, but you could do that. Now, what if you wanted some kind of fancy border around your initial badge, you know, whenever it shows you on that machine? You could have that also. It might cost you a buck or two, but you could have it. Do John Youssi where I'm going with this? I mean, the possibilities are essentially endless. Now, what would be even better for Stern is if they gave you all these perks and cosmetic features that you could attach to your name, but they were only accessible if your account was pro activated so meaning if you let your account go into the free version you would lose all of those cosmetics because your pro account would be inactive stern has already talked about a lot of the features that are going to be implemented in this piece of hardware but they've also mentioned that they've only basically shown us the tip of the iceberg. This brings us to that frog that is slowly heating up. Stern is going to be adding all sorts of things down the road, but it's going to be let out slowly so we can adapt. Do you guys remember when Netflix was only like six dollars a month? How much are you paying for Netflix now? See what I mean? Now understand guys, I'm not telling you this stuff because I disagree with what they're doing or think that it's wrong. I'm just trying to make you aware. Do you think I'm not susceptible to digital cosmetics and everything when it comes to video games No I am ashamed of how much money I have thrown at digital cosmetics when it comes to games And a lot of you out there that play modern video games should be well-versed in what Stern is going to be rolling out. Most of which is going to be good, especially for operators. Online updates, so you no longer have to deal with the USB drive and opening the back glass and getting back there with all that. That will be a thing of the past. achievements and badges things to basically increase the longevity of your game giving you more things to accomplish in the ability to compare your progress with other people including your friends remote troubleshooting meaning that you could call stern they could remote into your machine and help you troubleshoot through any issues that you have software integrity verification or SIV meaning Stern will now know whenever your code has unauthorized audio or video clips installed. This is going to be cracking down you individuals out there trying to make your game in your own home more enjoyable. I mean after spending 8k on something you think you might be able to make it your own but no. These are merely just a few things that will be coming your way. Now this platform is going to take a bit to get some momentum. Parts shortage is not a joke. But with each new game release they will be getting closer and closer to this being the new normal. Now I know some of you out there don't like the sound of this. You don't want your machine connected to the internet. What's so hard about using a USB drive? Why charge us extra for a machine because you're implementing hardware that you don't even want or want to use? I get it. but times are changing for better for worse well I guess we'll just have to keep adjusting and see where things go

_(Acquisition: youtube_groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 711d3872-932f-44cf-bf26-b596e89aa0e7*