Episode 772: "Bond 60th is a Joke"

Kaneda's Pinball Podcast (Patreon feed)·podcast_episode·7m 28s·analyzed·Feb 22, 2023

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.025

TL;DR

Kaneda condemns James Bond 60th as overpriced ($20k for $5-7k value), industry greed, and censorship.

Summary

Host Kaneda delivers a scathing critique of Stern's James Bond 60th Anniversary machine, priced at $20,000 USD ($33,000 in UK/Australia), calling it overpriced, underengineered, and symptomatic of greed in the pinball industry. He argues the machine lacks innovation, code depth, and callouts, is worth $5,000–$7,000 at most, and accuses Stern of censoring price criticism during streams. Kaneda frames the game as a 'Trojan horse' designed to make other expensive machines seem reasonable and calls on distributors and the community to reject the pricing strategy.

Key Claims

James Bond 60th is priced at $20,000 USD, the most expensive pinball machine ever released by a manufacturer.
high confidence · Kaneda, opening statement; corroborated by KB context listing $20,000 USD ($33,000 UK) price.
Stern removed the $20,000 price from their website because they are ashamed of it.
medium confidence · Kaneda's assertion; not independently verified but stated as direct observation.
Stern moderated out comments asking about the price during the stream launch.
medium confidence · Kaneda's direct claim about stream moderation; reflects a specific observation but unverified.
The machine has almost no software, barely any code, no callouts, and no playfield innovation.
medium confidence · Kaneda's gameplay critique based on the stream; reflects opinion/observation, not manufacturer specifications.
The true value of James Bond 60th is $5,000–$7,000, making it a Stern Home Edition in terms of quality.
low confidence · Kaneda's valuation opinion; speculative and not based on market data or teardown analysis.
James Bond 60th is priced as a 'Trojan horse' to make $13,000 LEs and $10,000 Premiums seem like good value.
low confidence · Kaneda's strategic/conspiracy-based interpretation; speculative opinion about manufacturer intent.
Stern did not stream the machine before order banks opened because they knew it would hurt sales.
low confidence · Kaneda's speculation about Stern's decision-making; no evidence provided.
Exchange rates overseas (Europe ~$30,000, Australia ~$40,000) indicate the game is not actually going overseas in volume.
low confidence · Kaneda's claim about pricing and export patterns; lacks supporting data.
Keith Elwin could design this game in his sleep.
low confidence · Kaneda's dismissive opinion about the designer's effort/skill application; rhetorical exaggeration.

Notable Quotes

“This is the most expensive pinball machine that has ever been released by a manufacturer. $1,995 and Stern Pinball is ashamed of that price because they removed it from their website.”
Kaneda @ 0:00–0:30 (approx) — Opening claim; contains apparent typo ($1,995 vs $20,000 context suggests transcription error) but core assertion is clear.
“This is a Stern Home Edition. This is worth like $5,000 to $7,000 at most.”
Kaneda @ 1:00 (approx) — Core valuation claim; defines the central argument about overpricing.
“It's really unfortunate that our hobby is now being hijacked by greed, people. It is simply greed.”
Kaneda @ 2:30 (approx) — Thematic statement encapsulating the entire critique; frames as systemic industry problem.
“I feel ashamed for Keith Elwin being up there and having his name associated with this $20,000 machine.”
Kaneda @ 3:00 (approx) — Personal criticism of designer's involvement; emotionally charged.
“If you buy this game, you are sending a message to Stern Pinball that this is okay.”
Kaneda @ 4:30 (approx) — Direct call-to-action; frames purchasing as moral/community decision.
“This game at this price is a Trojan horse. To make the rest of us feel like these $13,000 LEs are a good value.”
Kaneda @ 5:30 (approx) — Conspiracy/strategy theory; alleges intentional market manipulation by Stern.
“When Stern Pinball can usher out this game, a game with barely anything in it. And it was an absolute joke to see this machine as being sold for this much money.”
Kaneda @ 7:00 (approx) — Emotional peak; summarizes lack-of-value criticism.
“Stern Pinball, if you're gonna make a $20,000 machine, it should be the greatest machine you've ever made, not this joke.”
Kaneda @ 9:30 (approx) — Conditional framing; suggests what would justify the price.

Entities

KanedapersonStern PinballcompanyJames Bond 60th Anniversarygame Keith Elwinperson George Gomezperson Jack Dangerperson Jersey Jack Pinball

Signals

?
product_concern: James Bond 60th priced at $20,000 USD but perceived to lack commensurate game design, code depth, and innovation; estimated actual value $5,000–$7,000.
high · Kaneda's detailed critique of missing features: no callouts, minimal code, no playfield innovation, scoring reels add nothing.
?
community_signal: Significant community dissatisfaction with pricing strategy; Kaneda frames this as one of the 'lowest periods in pinball' since covering the hobby.
high · Kaneda's opening statement and repeated calls for community boycott; framing of $20,000 price as industry-wide turning point.
?
product_strategy: Stern's $20,000 James Bond 60th positioned as price anchor to justify $13,000 LEs and $10,000 Premiums; strategic pricing to shift perception of value.
medium · Kaneda's explicit claim: 'This game at this price is a Trojan horse. To make the rest of us feel like these $13,000 LEs are a good value.'
?
industry_signal: Industry-wide price increases: Stern LEs doubled in price over a few years; Jersey Jack machines at $15,000+; overseas pricing at $30,000–$40,000 (Europe/Australia).
medium · Kaneda's comparative claims about price doubling and international exchange rate markups; criticism of Jersey Jack production strategy.
?
community_signal: Reports of comment moderation during Stern's James Bond 60th stream launch, specifically filtering out price-related criticism.
medium · Kaneda's claim: 'they were moderating out the comments when people were asking about the price' during stream.

Topics

Pricing and value perception of James Bond 60thprimaryStern Pinball's pricing strategy and market manipulationprimaryGame design quality and innovation (code, callouts, playfield mechanics)primaryCommunity censorship and moderation during Stern's streamprimaryDistributor ethics and accountabilitysecondaryPrice escalation across the pinball industry (LE, Premium tiers)secondaryIndustry greed and unsustainable market dynamicsprimaryCommunity health and long-term viability of the hobbysecondary

Sentiment

negative(-0.92)— Kaneda is intensely critical, angry, and disgusted throughout. He uses words like 'ashamed,' 'emasculated,' 'joke,' 'horrible,' and 'greed' repeatedly. The tone is one of betrayal and disappointment in the industry and community. No positive sentiment is expressed toward Stern, the product, or the community's response. Only mild positivity toward competitors (Scooby-Doo, Galactic Tank Force) for being cheaper.

Transcript

groq_whisper · $0.022

Last night's pinball stream of James Bond's 60th I think was one of the lowest periods in pinball since I've been covering this hobby. This is the most expensive pinball machine that has ever been released by a manufacturer. $1,995 and Stern Pinball is ashamed of that price because they removed it from their website. They don't even want to stand behind it. And when the most expensive pinball machine of all time gets streamed by the biggest pinball company in the world, isn't it Funny how they were moderating out the comments when people were asking about the price because nobody saw $20,000 in value. Nobody saw $15,000 in value. Nobody even saw $10,000 in value. Everybody knows the reality behind this game. This is a Stern Home Edition. This is worth like $5,000 to $7,000 at most. And the game itself is all over the place. It's a mess. You don't need the scoring reels. They don't add anything to the game. You've got no callouts. There's no real innovation on the playfield whatsoever. You've got barely any code in the game. And so look, it's not about this game. It's what this game represents. It's really unfortunate that our hobby is now being hijacked by greed, people. It is simply greed. As a community, we have spent millions of dollars with our distributor friends buying these Stern machines over the years. Stern Pinball has made so much money, and this is how they pay you back as a collector. And I feel ashamed for them. I feel ashamed for Keith Elwin being up there and having his name associated with this $20,000 machine. I feel ashamed for all you distributors out there that are trying to convince us that this game is worth anywhere near that much money. And we all know you making like anything over is money in your pocket So no wonder you trying to convince us to buy this game And then you got the James Bond fanatics that are going to war for this game But I'm here to tell you right now, none of us, and I mean none of us in this community, should be celebrating this move. If you buy this game, you are sending a message to Stern Pinball that this is okay. That you can put almost nothing in a machine. Almost nothing. No software. No moments. There was no pinball moments in this stream last night. Absolutely no call outs, no energy. None of what we love about pinball came through in this game other than like some interesting geometry and shot layouts, which Keith Elwin could design in his sleep. And now all of a sudden this thing is $20,000. All of a sudden we're going to start getting fleeced by the number one pinball company in the world. And everybody knows the real truth. It's not even about this game, ladies and gentlemen, this game at this price is a Trojan horse. To make the rest of us feel like these $13,000 LEs are a good value. To make the rest of us feel like these $10,000 premiums are a good value. All of a sudden, just a few years later, you're paying double what you used to pay for Stern LEs. And now you want to tell me that that's fun? Why is anybody going along with this ride why are people celebrating this why would anybody support this and i don't want to be a part of this hobby anymore where they're going to censor people asking stern and Keith Elwin and george gomez and jack danger show us show us where the 20 000 in value is in this machine they don't even want to give us the ability to ask that question when people interview Keith Elwin they not asking him that question and i think that is sad and i don know what happened to all all of us grown men but they absolutely emasculated so much of this community where so many of you rich guys are just saying well it looks fun and I can't wait to shoot it. Is that the only conclusion you can come to? It looks fun and I can't wait to shoot it? How about the fact that it's $20,000, okay? Let me tell you something. McDonald's french fries are delicious and they're still delicious if McDonald's charges us $100 for the french fries. But if I charged you $100 for french fries, people would boycott McDonald's. And yet Stern Pinball can usher out this game, a game with barely anything in it. And it was an absolute joke to see this machine as being sold for this much money. And there was a reason why Stern Pinball didn't stream this game before they took your hard-earned money because they knew they knew if they streamed this machine before the order banks opened up that almost nobody would buy this game and so this is what pinball has become this is all it is now a bunch of greedy companies cash grabbing us before they show us what's in the game this is what pinball has become now fifteen thousand dollar jersey jack machines that they're going to make a thousand of and then stern pinball trying to justify that most of these games are going overseas, these James Bond games? No, they're not. Have you seen what the exchange rate is on this game overseas? It's like freaking $30,000 in Europe and it's like $40,000 in like Australia. There is no way these games are heading overseas and people are gobbling these things up. And I mean it when I say it, if you buy this game and if you support this kind of move, you're just hurting this hobby for everybody. And where's the fun in that? Like where is the fun in any of this? There's no innovation in this game. There's no hard work that went into this game Keith Elwin can make this game in his sleep and I sorry but I just got so disgusted looking at the stream last night and then looking at the comments as everybody kisses Stern ass with this move Stern Pinball, if you're gonna make a $20,000 machine, it should be the greatest machine you've ever made, not this joke. And if this hobby keeps going in this direction, more and more people are gonna get fed up with it, more and more people are gonna exit the hobby. And I mean it when I say it, You distributors need to have our backs. When Stern pushes a product like this on you, say no, we're not taking it. We put our faith and our trust in our distributor friends and you've gotta have our backs. So when distributors say they priced this perfectly, they're letting us down, all right? What an embarrassing day for everybody involved with this game and what an embarrassing day for anyone supporting and celebrating this move in pinball. This is horrible, people. let's get back to loaded games where the value is there scooby-doo is half the price galactic tank force is going to be half the price every pinball machine should be half the price we've got to wake up people canada's pinball podcast out and if you're not a club member maybe you should join because we're the only one saying this stuff Thank you.