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Pinball Brothers CEO defends Predator Pinball launch amid licensing complexity and community criticism.
Pinball Brothers plans to start shipping Predator games mid-August
high confidence · Daniel Janson stated 'the plan is to start shipping the first games mid-August' in response to build schedule question
Predator is designed as a sister game to Alien and belongs together thematically
high confidence · Janson: 'We see the game quite a lot as a sister game to to Alien to be honest' and notes both share the same artist (Oric Lawson)
Disney licensing permits use of blood, gore, and wide-angle Arnold Schwarzenegger shots in the game
high confidence · Janson stated Disney 'are fine that we are using all the scenes with the blood and gore' and clarified there are more Arnold wide-angle shots than expected
An internal gameplay video was leaked by a distributor (NAP Arcade/Coin Taker) breaking NDA
high confidence · Janson: 'there actually is a gameplay video uh out there which uh which is um not put out there by us' and notes 'somebody apparently has broken their NDA here'
Pinball Brothers is using the FAST system for Predator electronics instead of previous board systems
high confidence · Janson: 'we decided for this game to actually uh we saw a lot of benefits to actually use uh their FAST system uh in this game' and credits Fast Pinball/Aaron for electronics
Predator has a custom-sculpted Predator toy and camp model, not purchased toys
high confidence · Janson: 'Yes, very much very much so from from scratch' and credits sculptor Marlin Eva from Sweden for detailed hand-painted appearance
Tariff uncertainty prevents firm pricing/shipping strategy until July 9th deadline
high confidence · Janson notes tariff pause 'coming to an end I think um is it the 9th of July or something like that' and states strategy depends on post-tariff situation
Licensing approval has multiple layers beyond product design, including advertising/marketing restrictions
high confidence · Janson explains 'it's not just getting approval for your product and what's in the product, but you but there's another sort of completely different layer to to get approval for advertising it'
“we really love the the 70s and 80s in in particular. So, uh there might be more games coming in in the same kind of um shelter”
Daniel Janson @ early in interview — Hints at future 70s/80s action film licenses in Pinball Brothers pipeline, suggesting strategy shift toward nostalgia action IP
“it's not just getting approval for your product and what's in the product, but you but there's another sort of completely different layer to to get approval for advertising it”
Daniel Janson @ mid-interview — Explains licensing complexity that community critics may not understand; defends marketing approach and explains why launch teasers were constrained
“if you did something on Alien that burned a bridge with that licenser, then there wouldn't be a Predator game”
Host (Jeff Dodson) @ mid-interview — Articulates risk of licensing mismanagement; explains why Pinball Brothers must maintain careful relationship with Disney across both titles
“it's really really tough to to develop pinball machines because there are so many parts there are so many uh things in it that needs to work perfectly uh or you will experience uh the game as um not great obviously”
Daniel Janson @ mid-interview — Defense against community criticism; acknowledges manufacturing complexity that casual observers underestimate
“we have no problem being criticized and I think everybody should should tell us what they think isn't what they don't think is good”
Daniel Janson @ mid-interview — Attempts to distinguish between constructive and destructive criticism; shows openness to feedback while expressing frustration with negativity
“the first games, we are building games as we speak now. we have started to uh produce the game... the plan is to start shipping the first games mid-August”
Daniel Janson @ late in interview — Firm production timeline; indicates manufacturing has begun despite ongoing approval processes
“we have really packed this one. It's really a fully packed widebody game. So it it cost a lot of money to to produce it basically”
business_signal: Smaller pinball manufacturers face severe business model risk; Predator commercial success uncertain despite positive game reception
medium · Host: 'if this game doesn't do well, like that's a problem for you as a business' and notes smaller companies need community support
community_signal: Kaneda's public criticism of Predator launch marketing approach and teaser strategy; broader debate about constructive vs destructive community feedback
high · Host acknowledges Kaneda criticism; Janson responds that feedback should be constructive but accepts legitimate criticism
event_signal: Predator Pinball officially launching with mid-August shipping date; widebody game competition from Spooky Pinball continues
high · Janson confirmed 'the plan is to start shipping the first games mid-August' in response to production timeline question
leak_detection: Internal Predator gameplay video leaked by distributor (NAP Arcade/Coin Taker), breaking NDA; video shows incomplete audio/sound design
high · Janson: 'there actually is a gameplay video uh out there which uh which is um not put out there by us... somebody apparently has broken their NDA here'
licensing_signal: Disney licensing permits blood/gore content and wide-angle Arnold Schwarzenegger shots; multiple approval layers required beyond product design
high · Janson explained Disney approvals cover both product content and advertising separately, creating complexity in marketing strategy
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Pinball Brothers may add adult mode with increased profanity/gore callouts in future software update
medium confidence · Janson: 'It currently it's not actually. Uh but uh we are I know that question is uh is um uh on the table' regarding adult mode
More Arnold Schwarzenegger content may be added via future software update if Disney licensing resolves
medium confidence · Janson: 'it's definitely possible that it's possible but I must I must actually add something' regarding future Arnold content, but expresses uncertainty
Daniel Janson @ late in interview — Justifies pricing; indicates Predator is feature-rich widebody with significant BOM costs
market_signal: Widebody format remains niche; only Spooky Pinball and Pinball Brothers actively producing widebody games among current manufacturers
high · Host: 'you and Spooky Pinball are the only two companies that are willing to take on the kind of lineage of still producing widebody games'
community_signal: Playfield artist Oric Lawson's design process: initial draft rejected, followed by iconic lower playfield graphic that exceeded expectations
high · Janson: 'that wasn't super great. I think it was just a a test' followed by 'right after that he came up with this uh this part of the playfield and everybody just went wow'
market_signal: Tariff uncertainty (deadline July 9th) creating pricing flexibility challenges; Pinball Brothers and distributors attempting to absorb costs
high · Janson: 'we don't really know what happens after that' regarding tariff impact, and notes 'if the tariffs would be uh super high... people in the US would like to sort of um wait a bit'
product_strategy: Adult mode with increased profanity/gore callouts planned for future software update; additional Arnold Schwarzenegger content possible if Disney licensing resolves
medium · Janson acknowledged adult mode 'on the table' but not in launch version; noted Arnold content additions 'definitely possible' pending licensing
product_strategy: Pinball Brothers hints at future 70s/80s action film licenses in development pipeline; strategy shift toward nostalgia IP
medium · Janson: 'we really love the the 70s and 80s in in particular. So, uh there might be more games coming' suggesting planned sequel franchises
technology_signal: Pinball Brothers transitioning from previous board systems to FAST system for Predator; enables enhanced lighting control and electronics capability
high · Janson: 'we decided for this game to actually use their FAST system' and 'that gave us quite quite a lot of new opportunities when it comes to lighting'