Episode 801: "Steve Ritchie's JJP Title is..."

Kaneda's Pinball Podcast (Patreon feed)·podcast_episode·16m 35s·analyzed·May 7, 2023

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.031

TL;DR

Kaneda reports Steve Ritchie Matrix rumor for JJP; criticizes recent game design at both manufacturers.

Summary

Kaneda reports a rumor that Steve Ritchie's next game at Jersey Jack Pinball is The Matrix, timed for the film's 25th anniversary in 2024. He frames this as a critical game for JJP to recover mojo after lukewarm reception to Toy Story 4 and The Godfather, and criticizes recent Stern titles (Game of Thrones, Star Wars, Led Zeppelin) as theme-dependent rather than mechanically innovative.

Key Claims

Steve Ritchie's next game at Jersey Jack Pinball is The Matrix
low confidence · Kaneda states he's 'hearing this rumor from one of my best sources imaginable' but explicitly frames it as unconfirmed rumor, not fact. No independent verification provided.
Toy Story 4 did not capture the imagination of pinball lovers and lacked actual toys in the game
high confidence · Kaneda expresses this as his assessment based on community reception and theme analysis
Jersey Jack Pinball has had two lukewarm games in a row and lost mojo since Guns N' Roses
medium confidence · Kaneda's opinion based on market reception and theme quality assessment
Guns N' Roses was the greatest launch in the history of pinball
medium confidence · Kaneda's subjective assessment, used as comparative baseline for JJP's decline
Steve Ritchie hasn't had a hit game since AC/DC Premium and Star Trek
medium confidence · Kaneda's opinion on Ritchie's recent track record at Stern
Jersey Jack Pinball has a great relationship with Warner Brothers
medium confidence · Kaneda uses this to support licensing plausibility for Matrix game
The Matrix game could come out in Q4 2023 to get ahead of the 25th anniversary
low confidence · Kaneda's speculation about release timing based on rumor
Pat Lawlor is no longer with Jersey Jack Pinball
high confidence · Kaneda mentions 'now that Pat Lawlor is gone' indicating confirmed departure
The Godfather was a Jack Guarneri decision
medium confidence · Kaneda attributes game selection to specific individual at JJP
Galactic Tank Force is sending games to people without fixes despite promised quality improvements

Notable Quotes

“Jersey Jack Pinball went from being the belle of the ball with Guns N' Roses... And since Guns N' Roses has come out, it's been about three years of just lackluster mojo over at Jersey Jack Pinball.”
Kaneda @ ~8:00 — Core thesis: JJP's market position decline since their peak launch
“Fine to shoot is not good enough. Shots are not the new toys in pinball.”
Kaneda @ ~10:30 — Design philosophy critique: argues theme execution and mechanics matter more than shot variety
“If Steve Ritchie and Jersey Jack Pinball can figure out a way, that slow motion bullet time action on a pinball machine, this is groundbreaking innovation.”
Kaneda @ ~18:00 — Vision for Matrix-specific mechanical innovation specific to the IP
“You take away the dragon, that game could have been anything. Game of Thrones Premium Edition could have been anything, right?”
Kaneda @ ~21:30 — Criticism that recent Stern games are theme-dependent shells rather than thematic integration
“I want to see a 3D world coming to life under glass for $12,000 to $15,000.”
Kaneda @ ~27:00 — Value proposition criticism: expectation of mechanical depth justifying premium pricing
“I'm hearing this rumor from one of my best sources imaginable.”
Kaneda @ ~13:00 — Source attribution for Matrix rumor; establishes credibility claim without naming source
“Now that Pat Lawlor is gone, I have more faith in this company.”
Kaneda @ ~28:00 — Commentary on leadership change at JJP and its cultural implications
“The last three games that he failed on, you could drop any theme over that game and it could immediately become something else.”
Kaneda @ ~22:00 — Critique of Ritchie's recent work at Stern as theme-agnostic

Entities

Kanedaperson Steve Ritchieperson Jersey Jack Pinballcompany Pat LawlorpersonJack GuarneripersonChristopher Franchiperson

Signals

?
business_signal: Jersey Jack Pinball needs major hit to restore market position; recent leadership/decision-making questioned; cultural optimism expressed post-Lawlor departure
medium · Kaneda frames Matrix as 'make-or-break' for JJP recovery; criticizes Godfather as Guarneri decision; expresses faith in company culture post-Lawlor; recommends JJP focus on home runs vs. marginal releases
~
sentiment_shift: Kaneda's strategic delay of Godfather scoop suggests community desire to preserve manufacturer announcements; competitive tension between pinball media outlets on rumor-breaking
medium · Kaneda explains he held Godfather rumor to 'not rain on Jersey Jack Pinball's parade' but was subsequently scooped by Pinside; competitive reference to Don's Pinball Podcast replicating his format
?
design_philosophy: Kaneda advocates for thematic-mechanical integration over shot-based gameplay and parts-count; criticizes recent games as theme-dependent shells
high · Repeated emphasis: 'Fine to shoot is not good enough. Shots are not the new toys'; 'you could drop any theme over that game'; 'I want to see a 3D world coming to life under glass'; mechanic examples (telephone booth, bullet time mechanics)
?
event_signal: Allentown pinball show referenced as upcoming event; community awareness suggests major gathering/announcement window
low · Kaneda mentions he 'doesn't want to talk about the show at Allentown' in context of Matrix rumor excitement; implies scheduled event timing
?
licensing_signal: Matrix licensing plausibility supported by JJP's existing Warner Brothers relationship (Wizard of Oz, Willy Wonka); 25th anniversary (1999-2024) provides thematic release window

Topics

Jersey Jack Pinball market positioning and recent game receptionprimarySteve Ritchie's career trajectory and design philosophyprimaryPinball game theme selection and thematic integration with mechanicsprimaryRumored Matrix pinball game by Jersey Jack PinballprimaryStern Pinball recent releases and design criticismsecondaryPricing tiers and value proposition for premium pinball gamessecondaryLeadership changes at Jersey Jack Pinball (Pat Lawlor departure)secondaryPinball media competitive dynamics and rumor-breaking credibilitymentioned

Sentiment

mixed(0.35)— Strong negative sentiment toward recent Jersey Jack Pinball games (Toy Story 4, The Godfather, Avatar) and recent Stern titles. Highly positive/aspirational sentiment toward hypothetical Matrix game. Frustrated tone regarding game design philosophy drift. Cautiously optimistic about JJP's potential if Matrix rumor proves true. Critical of leadership decisions (Lawlor, Guarneri) but hopeful for cultural improvement.

Transcript

groq_whisper · $0.050

I didn't know you at all. I heard a rumor. They say you've got a broken heart. Sit up, sit up, sit up, sit up, sit up, sit up, sit up. Ah, happy Sunday everybody. It is your host Kaneda. Welcome to Kaneda's Pinball Podcast. Now, for eight years I've been doing this show, and whenever I hear a really good rumor, I immediately grab this microphone and I share it with each and every one of you. And I hate being scooped. You know me. I hate being scooped. I got scooped on The Godfather. I knew it was going to be The Godfather. And I held back because I didn't want to rain on Jersey Jack's parade. And then people scooped me on Pinside. And I'll never hear the end of it within my own ego. But here's what I'm about to do right now in this episode of Canada's Pinball Podcast. I'm going to give you a very juicy rumor I heard. I'm hearing what Steve Ritchie's next game is going to be at Jersey Jack Pinball. And when you think about it, and I've been thinking about Jersey Jack Pinball a lot. Because I think this company needs a big game. I think they need a big title. I think they've lost their mojo. I think they've had two lukewarm games in a row. Toy Story 4 did not capture the imagination and the hearts of pinball lovers. It just did not. It was a very pedestrian game based on a movie that nobody really wanted, right? If you love Toy Story, you do not want Toy Story 4 only. It didn't have any toys in the freaking game. I mean, it's called Toy Story. And there are no toys that come to life in that entire game. and then they raise the price on us. $12,000 for the LE, $15,000 for the CE. Then another game comes out after that. Godfather. Not a theme anybody really wanted in pinball. A terrible movie for a pinball machine. I think when you think about a theme that translates well into pinball, you want a theme that's got some energy. You want a theme where you can see the world under glass. You want a theme where mechanisms make total sense after you watch the movie. Oh, we can make this, this, this, and this. you want a theme that has like great music that's somewhat energetic that gets you going I mean Godfather has none of these things for a pinball machine even though it's such a popular book and movie it's just not great for pinball I love the Shawshank Redemption I don't want a Shawshank Redemption pinball machine and so Jersey Jack went from being the bell of the ball with Guns N' Roses people love Guns N' Roses GNR was the greatest launch in the history of pinball it just was. And since Guns N' Roses has come out, it's been about three years of just lackluster mojo over at Jersey Jack Pinball. And for Jersey Jack Pinball to be successful, they really need to knock it out of the park with every single game they put out there. A couple thousand units sold, 2,500 units sold, that's not good enough. They need a game that's like GNR. They need to at least sell 3,000 to 5,000 of each game. And it's not just about selling them. There needs to be the passion and the excitement to own the game. I've been watching all these streams of freaking Godfather, right? I don't see anything happening in the game that says, take my money now. I don't see anything happening in any of these streams that makes me get giddy inside, that makes me wonder how did they engineer that, that puts me into the scene or the movie of that TV show I love in such an adrenaline-filled way that makes sense for pinball. I don't see it. I don't feel it. And I know the game's fine to shoot, but at these prices, people, fine to shoot is not good enough. Shots are not the new toys in pinball. And we saw this with Pulp Fiction. If you really want to drive the energy and the excitement, you need a theme people really want. And so I am so happy to reveal to you, I am hearing that Steve Ritchie's next game is not going to be Elton John. and this is the rumor I am hearing and this rumor makes total sense and here's how I'm gonna give you this rumor I'm gonna give you this rumor with ten quotes from this movie that are gonna get each and every one of you very excited and then I'm gonna get back on the mic and I'm gonna talk about why I think if this rumor is true and if this is Steve Ritchie next game I think Jersey Jack pinball is about not only to get its mojo back but they about to get Kaneda to order another Jersey Jack Pinball machine and it will go right next to my Guns N Roses CE I'm really hoping this rumor is true. And so here it is. The king, Mr. Steve Ritchie, wants to prove to everybody that he can leave Stern Pinball, go over to Jersey Jack Pinball, and come back with a game that's going to blow us all away. So drum roll, ladies and gentlemen. Is this going to be the next game from Steve Ritchie over at JJP? Let's hit it. Let me tell you why you're here. You're here because you know something. What you know you can't explain, but you feel it. Send two units. They're bringing her down now. Now, lieutenants, your men are already dead. I'm trying to free your mind, Neo. But I can only show you the door. You're the one that has to walk through it. No one has ever done anything like this. That's why it's going to work. Do not try and bend the spoon. That's impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth What truth? There is no spoon There is no spoon? Then you'll see that it is not the spoon that bends It is only yourself Come on, stop trying to hit me and hit me To deny our own impulses is to deny the very thing that makes us human. This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill. The story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill. You stay in Wonderland. And I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. We're willing to wipe the slate clean. Give you a fresh start. All that we're asking in return is your cooperation in bringing a known terrorist to justice. Yeah. Wow, that sounds like a really good deal. But I think I got a better one. How about I give you the finger... ...and you give me my phone call? You have to let it all go, Neo. fear doubt disbelief free your mind you can have that feeling where you're not sure if you're awake or still dreaming i don't want to be dreaming i want matrix pinball by jersey jack pinball to be real i want to take the freaking red pill and i want to order my red pill collector's edition of this game how great would that be the red pill is like the ce and the blue pill is the le i also think if i was jersey jack pinball i would do this i would set aside 25 editions of the collector's editions and only sell them to people whose last name was Anderson. Mr. Anderson edition. So here's the thing. Next year is the 25th anniversary of the original movie, The Matrix. Jersey Jack Pinball has a great relationship with Warner Brothers. It is the studio they have the best relationship with. I believe Warner Brothers was Willy Wonka and was also Wizard of Oz. And so is this rumor going to be true Is Kaneda going to be accurate Will he finally put something out there that everybody wants The good news about this rumor is this If I wrong you not going to be mad at me You're going to be mad at Jersey Jack Dimble for bringing you freaking Elton John. I'm hearing this rumor from one of my best sources imaginable. And now it starts to make total sense. 1999, the movie came out. 2024, the 25th anniversary of The Matrix. Can Jersey Jack finally get a game out that actually coincides with the anniversary year of the film itself? I think Godfather, they missed it by a little bit, but this would be amazing. You think about the soundtrack in The Matrix. You think about the storyline. You think about the black and the green and the code and all the different things, the telephone booth. You think about the Sentinels. You think about Kung Fu Studio. How about the bullet time? If Steve Ritchie and Jersey Jack Pinball can figure out a way, that slow motion bullet time action to a pinball machine, this is the easiest take my money now, right away. I don't care how much it costs. I want this game. And if we get a Steve Ritchie game that has great flow and shoots amazingly well. And Jersey Jack goes back to actually putting mechanisms into their games. Hello, everybody. Can we look down at Toy Story and at The Godfather and realize there's no mechanisms in these games that are that impressive at all? They gotta go back to actually putting mechs in their games. I don't believe parts equal mechs. I don't believe shots equal toys. No, we need to put real things back into pinball machines. We need to have a telephone booth that opens up. How about putting a disappearing magnet underneath that telephone booth? How about having a telephone booth that actually starts ringing itself? I'm so excited about this rumor. I really want this rumor to be true. I don't even want to talk about anything else. I don't want to talk about the show at Allentown. I don't want to talk about Galactic Tank Force sending games to people and they haven't fixed any of the issues with the games yet. I thought they were fixing these issues. No, they're sending games to people without the fix in place. So here's the thing. This is why people never want you to know what theme is around the corner. And this is why I've been telling everybody, you really should wait and see before you pull the trigger on these expensive games. Because now you know that Jersey Jack's next game might be the Matrix. How many of you out there want to write checks for the Godfather next week? You might not want to. This is why they want you only to focus on the current game. But this is why a pinball company like Stern Pinball or Jersey Jack Pinball, they should never get the theme wrong. A great theme will always be a great theme. A mediocre theme that you have to warm people up to the game like the Godfather. A mediocre theme like Galactic Tank Force. It's like these mediocre games, right? Like I would say Foo Fighters is above a mediocre theme, but they executed it so well. But look, it had to win you over with the way they executed it. But the Matrix made by Steve Ritchie, it is like a no-brainer, take my money now kind of game. And we know that Steve Ritchie knows the following. He knows he needs to prove himself again. He does. He hasn't had a hit game in a really long time. He hasn't had a hit game since like ACDC and Star Trek. He's really dropped the ball on huge titles like Game of Thrones, huge titles like Star Wars, huge titles like Led Zeppelin. He hasn't had a hit. Even though some of these games have sold very well, the only reason they sold very well is because the themes were amazing. Like, of course you're going to sell thousands of Star Wars pinball machines. We all know deep down in our souls that that game didn't really win us over. That Led Zeppelin didn't win us over. That Game of Thrones could have been anything, right? You take away the dragon, that game could have been anything. And I think what we looking for from Steve Ritchie in The Matrix is when we look under the glass we see The Matrix We see mechanisms from the movie We don feel like you could just drop another theme on top of this game The last three games that he failed on, you could drop any theme over that game and it could immediately become something else. Think about it. If you just remove the TIE Fighter from Star Wars, that game could be anything. Freaking Led Zeppelin could be anything the way it is. I mean, the only mech in the game that's interesting is a freaking spinner that pops up from under the playfield. Same thing with Game of Thrones. If you just remove the dragon from that upper playfield, what in that game screams Game of Thrones? So this is his moment. This is what I'm hearing. And this gets me really excited. Now, the other question becomes, when would this game come out? Now, I think here's what they're planning. I think this game is going to come out in Q4 of 2023, get ahead right away of the anniversary of the Matrix. And even that sounds a little late, but I don't think that Godfather is going to sell very well. I think if Jersey Jack were smart, they would do the following. They would do the Godfather, then do another final run of Pirates of the Caribbean. I think they should finish the code on Pirates of the Caribbean and complete the code on freaking Guns N' Roses. I mean, every single Guns N' Roses owner out there, and there's like 5,000 to 6,000 of them, they all deserve to have final code for GNR. I think it's ridiculous. They've heard the feedback. They know what people want. Just do it, Jersey Jack. It's just software at this point. And I think Jersey Jack Pinball is in a very good position to turn everything around. I think they're going to be in a position to get their swagger back. And then I think they really need to get together and from now on, just hit home runs. Don't listen to Jack Guarnari when he says we need to make the Godfather. That was a Jack Guarnari decision, not a good decision. And I'll say this, now that Pat Lawler is gone, I have more faith in this company. And I think the culture is going to be much better. And I think the vibes over there are going to be much better. but they need a game that gets the energy back. They need a game that gets their mojo back and the Matrix would be it. It's not going to be The Godfather. I don't care how much Christopher Franchi wants to yell at us. It's not going to be that game. I don't care how many parts are in that game. I look down at the game and I don't see the magic. Where's the magic? Diverters are now the magic. No, I want to see a 3D world coming to life under glass for $12,000 to $15,000. Jersey Jack, I want you to impress me. I want you to impress the pinball going community. Not with artwork. Not with gaudy things stuck to the legs of pinball machines. Not with radcals. Not with hot rails. No. I want you to freaking make a game again that looks loaded. Like the mechanisms that are screwed into the wood are freaking weighing that damn machine down. And let's face it, people. These hot rails. what better game would there be to do a jersey jack light show than the freaking matrix i can see it right now all the green lights just trickling down the play field the entire machine becomes that look of the matrix turning into code this is it people this is going to be like the greatest episode ever where canada hypes jersey jack pinball on a rumor and everyone's going to want this rumor to be true now i mean look two days from now you're going to get a new show from Don's Pinball Podcast because after I do my show, he just does another show where he does my show in a much nicer way. Don, I love you, but see, now you're going to do this. He's got no rumors. Everybody, love you guys. Have a great weekend. We'll talk to you soon. I hope this rumor is true. Kaneda out. Now you know why you spend at least $5 a month. Now you know why everyone's a member of the Kaneda Club. All right, later. I heard a rumor Yes, I did Ooh, ooh, ooh