# Episode 773: "Stern Sucker Punches JJP & AP w Foo Fighter Teaser!"

**Source:** Kaneda's Pinball Podcast (Patreon feed)  
**Type:** podcast_episode  
**Published:** 2023-02-24  
**Duration:** 11m 2s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-773-jjp-79156231

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## Analysis

Kaneda expresses extreme enthusiasm about Stern Pinball's Foo Fighters game trailer, which he views as a competitive sucker punch against Jersey Jack Pinball and American Pinball. He praises the high-energy rock aesthetic, compares it favorably to James Bond and predicts it will be a sleeper hit that outperforms competitors' upcoming releases like Galactic Tank Force and Legends of the Holla. He criticizes competing manufacturers for slow product releases and declining sales.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Stern Pinball released James Bond and Foo Fighters as back-to-back releases while competitors are waiting for their next games — _Kaneda's Pinball Podcast episode, discussing release timing and competitive positioning_
- [MEDIUM] Foo Fighters game will surprise players and run circles around James Bond from a design standpoint — _Kaneda's prediction based on trailer response and Jack Danger's design philosophy_
- [LOW] James Bond 60th buyers got 'sucker punched' by spending ~$20,000 on the game — _Kaneda's opinion on secondary market value and game quality vs. Foo Fighters_
- [MEDIUM] Galactic Tank Force features two tanks, a center scoop, two ramps, and mediocre animations by American Pinball's team — _Kaneda citing information from a friend who played Galactic Tank Force_
- [MEDIUM] Foo Fighters will have better theme integration and band collaboration than James Bond had with its license holder — _Kaneda's speculation based on trailer content and comparing licensing restrictions_
- [MEDIUM] Louis Toy Story sales have been flat for the last five months — _Kaneda's observation about Jersey Jack Pinball's recent release performance_
- [MEDIUM] Zombie Yeti's artwork is integrated into the code itself, not just playfield/cabinet artwork — _Kaneda's observation of Foo Fighters game design_
- [LOW] Foo Fighters will be compared to Larry Day's Metallica as a sleeper hit — _Kaneda's prediction and historical design comparison_

### Notable Quotes

> "Stern Pinball sucker punched everybody else in the entire industry"
> — **Kaneda**, opening
> _Sets the core thesis of competitive advantage through marketing timing_

> "I had no expectations of the Foo Fighters. I haven't. I'd like this band is not even on my radar, but this song kicks ass"
> — **Kaneda**, early segment
> _Establishes genuine surprise and credibility of trailer impact despite unfamiliarity with the band_

> "I think this game is going to be a sleeper hit. I think this game from a design standpoint is going to run circles around James Bond"
> — **Kaneda**, mid-segment
> _Direct prediction comparing Foo Fighters favorably to recently released Stern game_

> "Pat Lawlor was resting on his laurels and that's why Louis Toy Story is an empty joke"
> — **Kaneda**, mid-segment
> _Harsh criticism of Jersey Jack Pinball's designer and recent release quality_

> "If there's one company that you can't let in front of you? It's Stern Pinball"
> — **Kaneda**, late segment
> _Warns competitors about Stern's competitive dominance and market positioning_

> "This is how you get the Twippies Awards. You hit first and you hit hard."
> — **Kaneda**, closing
> _Connects marketing strategy to industry recognition and award visibility_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Stern Pinball | company | Major manufacturer releasing James Bond and Foo Fighters back-to-back; positioned as dominant competitive force |
| Jersey Jack Pinball | company | Competitor struggling with flat Louis Toy Story sales; criticized for slow product pipeline |
| American Pinball | company | Competitor developing Galactic Tank Force; criticized for slow releases and mediocre animations |
| Foo Fighters | game | Stern Pinball game with high-energy rock theme; subject of recent trailer praised for marketing impact |
| James Bond 60th | game | Recent Stern release; compared unfavorably to Foo Fighters; secondary market depreciation mentioned |
| Galactic Tank Force | game | American Pinball game in development; features tanks, center scoop, mediocre animations per report |
| Louis Toy Story | game | Jersey Jack Pinball release with flat sales for past five months; used as example of competitive stagnation |
| Jack Danger | person | Designer of Foo Fighters; called a personal friend by Kaneda; described as nervous/anxious about game delivery |
| Zombie Yeti | person | Artist for Foo Fighters; artwork integrated into code and visuals; praised for creative execution |
| George Gomez | person | Described as legendary Stern designer; had licensing struggles with James Bond license holder |
| Pat Lawlor | person | Legendary pinball designer; criticized for resting on laurels; associated with Louis Toy Story |
| Ken Cromwell | person | Industry figure at competitor company; told needs to generate excitement and hype |
| David Fix | person | Associated with American Pinball; told needs to improve excitement for Galactic Tank Force |
| Josh Kugler | person | Animator at American Pinball who was removed from team; associated with Galactic Tank Force animations |
| Legends of the Holla | game | American Pinball game; compared to other releases as example of slower product cycle |
| Twippies Awards | event | Industry recognition awards; Kaneda suggests Foo Fighters marketing strategy will help Stern win |
| Texas Pinball Festival | event | Upcoming event where Jersey Jack Pinball could reveal next game |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Stern Pinball competitive strategy and market dominance, Foo Fighters game trailer reception and hype
- **Secondary:** James Bond 60th reception and secondary market performance, Jersey Jack Pinball and American Pinball competitive struggles, Game design and theme integration philosophy, Product release timing and marketing strategy
- **Mentioned:** Galactic Tank Force development and animation quality, Industry awards and recognition (Twippies)

### Sentiment

**Mixed** (0.72) — Extremely positive about Foo Fighters and Stern's competitive positioning, but negative toward competitors (JJP, American Pinball), Louis Toy Story quality, and James Bond buyers. Enthusiasm is genuine but harsh toward rivals.

### Signals

- **[announcement]** Foo Fighters game officially revealed via trailer; Stern showing full game next week with order banks opening after (confidence: high) — Kaneda states 'they are gonna show the game next week and then the order banks are gonna open up'
- **[product_strategy]** Stern Pinball executing back-to-back releases (James Bond and Foo Fighters) to establish market dominance over slower-moving competitors (confidence: high) — Kaneda emphasizes Stern released two games while JJP and AP struggle with single releases; 'Stern Pinball sucker punched everybody'
- **[sentiment_shift]** Kaneda expresses concern about JJP and American Pinball losing competitive momentum due to slow product pipeline and declining sales (confidence: high) — Louis Toy Story sales 'flat for five months'; criticism that competitors 'sitting around waiting for their next game'
- **[design_innovation]** Foo Fighters features Zombie Yeti artwork integrated into code itself, not just playfield/cabinet cosmetics (confidence: medium) — Kaneda notes 'his artwork is not just on the playfield and the cabinet, his artwork is in there in the code itself'
- **[marketing_signal]** Foo Fighters trailer described as one of Stern's greatest teasers with high energy and compelling band integration (confidence: high) — Kaneda calls it 'probably one of Stern greatest teasers to date' with 'so much high energy'
- **[machine_intel]** Galactic Tank Force features two tanks, center scoop, two ramps; includes live actor recordings; animations by Josh Kugler/team being replaced with mediocre style (confidence: medium) — Kaneda citing friend who played: 'two big tanks you bash them...scoop up the middle...two ramps...animations done by Josh Kugler'
- **[gameplay_signal]** Kaneda contrasts Foo Fighters' relatable rock theme with Galactic Tank Force's space battle theme as less universally appealing (confidence: medium) — 'Who amongst us wakes up and says I can't wait to have a tank battle in outer space'
- **[licensing_signal]** Foo Fighters appears to have stronger band collaboration and fewer licensing restrictions compared to James Bond (confidence: medium) — Kaneda predicts band 'was part of making this game' and won't be 'restricted like they were with James Bond'
- **[product_concern]** American Pinball animations and production quality concerns; live actor recordings mixed with mediocre animations similar to past titles (confidence: medium) — Kaneda notes 'mediocre animations...same style you saw with Houdini and Oktoberfest...mixture of mediocre animations and live action'
- **[competitive_signal]** Stern establishing clear market leadership through strategic release timing and superior marketing execution vs. competitors (confidence: high) — 'If there's one company that you can't let in front of you? It's Stern Pinball' and 'this game is gonna have some swag'
- **[event_signal]** Texas Pinball Festival positioned as potential venue for Jersey Jack Pinball to reveal next game and counter Stern's momentum (confidence: medium) — Kaneda suggests JJP 'can sit on your hands and wait for Texas Pinball Festival' for next game reveal
- **[market_signal]** James Bond 60th experienced secondary market depreciation; buyers described as having overpaid relative to Foo Fighters value proposition (confidence: low) — Kaneda calls James Bond buyers 'suckers' for dropping '$20,000 on that game' that will be outdone by Foo Fighters

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## Transcript

 The Oh my gosh, John Youssi what just happened on a Friday Stern Pinball sucker punched everybody else in the entire industry that was waiting for March to get their new games out and look what we got now. We've got Foo Fighters trailer and I'm gonna say this right now. I had no expectations of the Foo Fighters. I haven't. I'd like this band is not even on my radar, but this song kicks ass like this song is high energy rock and roll. And look, I know what we say. We say there's so much rock and roll and dad rock in the pinball world. But man, pinball is a high energy game. Can you tell the high energy in Canadian's voice right now? And I'm going to do a short little podcast right now. That's just going to get right to the point. I'm going to talk about what this trailer means for the pinball industry right now, because Stern Pinball just sucker Sturm Pinball, Jersey Jack and American Pinball, and if you're Ken Cromwell and if you're David Fix you need to get something together people you need to get some excitement and hype because stern pinball dropped this this Friday they are gonna show the game next week and then the order banks are gonna open up and how are you gonna follow up a high energy trailer like this with the freaking Godfather theme song you're gonna put people to sleep how are you gonna follow up a high energy game like this and ask people to Join you in outer space for a tank battle. It is so funny to me and I also love that this trailer that had like zombiety artwork. There is more in this trailer than is in the code for James Bond 60th and I think everybody who bought a James Bond 60th when John Youssi this game from Jack Danger, you're going to realize that you also got sucker punch because only suckers would drop 20,000 on that game. Can you hear the excitement in Kaneda's voice? I am also excited because we get to move 90 hours backstage,吉 And I think there some high energy here Even this song in the trailer gets me energized And this is what pinball should be And I going to call it right now I think this game from Stern Pinball from Jack Danger from Zombie Eddie I think this game is going to be a sleeper hit I think this game from a design standpoint is going to run circles around James Bond I think Stern Pinball made this game with the Foo Fighters and I think we going to see a lot of theme integration I don think we going to see all the struggles George Gomez had with the license holder with James Bond I expect this game I going to call it right now I think this is going to be a modern day Metallica I think it going to be a modern day Metallica I think it going to come out of nowhere and I think it going to be a surprise Engage 1-d voted in no shutouts webinar online by taking credit Mexican Every single new pinball machine that comes out and with this machine coming out, I think it's gonna introduce us and look I'm gonna say this I never in my life have heard the song in that trailer and I'm like that's a kick-ass song if the Foo Fighters have a lot of songs like this and you put it into a fun pinball machine I mean I'd much rather hear that track then freakin rush oh my god Canadian just triggered the rush fanatics but not even rushes this high energy and I think this could work really I also believe in my brother Jack Danger, he's a personal friend and I think he's going to come out and surprise a lot of us. He spent the last two years really nervous and anxious about getting this game out and I like that. He's got that nervous energy, he wants to make a name for himself, he wants to become pinball designer famous. You know who didn't? Pat Lawler. He was resting on his laurels and that's why Toy Story is an empty joke. The End of February and sucker punch the marketing efforts of Jersey Jack Pinball and American Pinball. And I would even argue for Scooby-Doo buyers out there, some of you are gonna wish you would have waited. If you look at this trailer, we've got the Foo Fighters inside a van. And maybe their van adventure is gonna be New yang I excited There a lot of crap going on in my personal life that I plowing through and I know I been negative so I definitely want to get more Positive and more excited about pinball the hobby we all love and look let me take a little bit down back to reality do I think they going to sell a thousand Foo Fighter Ellie on day one at a pop no I do not I don think there going to be FOMO for this the way there would with other themes but I do think this thing is going to have a lot of excitement around it and I also think Stern Pinball might The Week in Pinball, Johnny Pneumonic, Black Water, Kaneda's Pinball Podcast, Twippies Awards, transliteelectronic You look at a company like American Pinball like what were you waiting for? What were you waiting for Jersey Jack? What are you waiting for your toy story sales have been flat for the last five months? What are you guys waiting for if there's one company that you can't let get in front of you? It's Stern Pinball and not only do they get James Bond in front of your next game Jersey Jack and in front of your next game American Pinball now they've got two games in front of your next games Stern Pinball released James Bond and Foo Fighters and all you have is Legends of the holla as you watch toy Story sales plummet they've got James Bond out and Foo Fighters and where's your next game and we know it's close it's not that you guys are not close but man you gotta stop getting lapped by stern pinball because this game and I mean it when you can feel it in the trailer this game is gonna have some swag or it's gonna have some energy I feel like the band was part of making this game they're not gonna be restricted like they were with James Bond it's not gonna be toy list like Toy Story All of this is going to be a tank battle in outer space. It's not going to be unrelatable like a tank battle in space. Think about it everybody. Who amongst us wakes up and says I can't wait to have a tank battle in outer space. Okay and I'm going to tell you right now. I spoke to a friend of mine who played freaking Galactic Tank Force. He played it. And I'm not going to go into it in too much detail. But he said look there's two big tanks you bash them. There's a scoop up the middle that fires the ball back at you. There's two ramps. There's two flippers. The animations were done by Josh Kugler and the team over there They got rid of Josh Kugler and we going to see some of these like you know sort of not that great animations from American Pinball the same style you saw with like Houdini and Oktoberfest And I also heard that they hired live actors to record parts for the game So we going to see a mixture of like mediocre animations and live action going on in Galactic Tank Force All of a sudden my excitement for Galactic Tank Force is just declining single day and I mean it when I say it David Fix and AP you need to get my excitement back up You need to win people excitement This trailer is probably one of Stern greatest teasers to date Most of their teasers don have so much high energy and you can sit on your hands Jersey Jack you can just sit on your hands and wait for Texas Pinball Festival and if it Godfather what are you waiting for Alright tämä, eine, I think we about. Let пес look at website梵peup Dochem Tantrum, ASU, and RHS. This week's topic is how you can make this slow mafia drama nearly as exciting as a rock and roll pinball machine from sternpinball that's going to land with zombietti artwork and his artwork is not just on the playfield and the cabinet, his artwork is in the code itself and even in that little trailer I think this stuff is going to look awesome like on the screen. Out of nowhere, Stern Pinball sucker Punches the competition. They get two games out when other companies are just sitting around waiting for their next game as their sales have declined. Stern Pinball is just gonna clobber everybody. Kaneda is super excited. Happy Friday everybody. And look, Don's gonna have to follow this up. Don, you're gonna have to get a show out now. This is how you get the twippies. You hit first and you hit hard. And look, we can do this in just a little over 10 minutes. We don't need 90 minute analysis. why not tries to beat the COVID19? By Moran, Remember score coke content subsequently how the world

_(Acquisition: groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: bbd2d1e5-e024-4102-bf20-41553f8e3619*