Extra Zizzle

Pinball News Website·article·analyzed·Jul 15, 2007

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.015

TL;DR

Zizzle releases improved G2 mini-pinball machines with new themes and LED lighting at $249.

Summary

Zizzle, a toy company, released second-generation (G2) reduced-size pinball machines based on Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and Spider-Man 3, featuring redesigned artwork, improved hardware, and enhanced LED lighting. The machines maintain the $249 or less retail price point and are expected to ship in September 2007. Designer John Popadiuk Jr. indicates plans for new designs and potential full-size games in the future.

Key Claims

Zizzle's G2 models include hardware improvements based on customer feedback from G1 models
high confidence · Direct quote from John Popadiuk Jr. about building lit model, testing, and approval cycle with Hong Kong production team
New lighting additions (illuminated slingshots, ramp entrances, rollover lane guides, backbox illumination) are the most noticeable changes
high confidence · Article directly states 'probably the most noticeable change' and provides detailed list of LED improvements
Price point remains $249 or less despite new features
high confidence · Explicitly stated: 'Despite the new additions, the price of the games has not increased from the $249 or less retail level'
G2 games are expected to ship in September 2007
high confidence · Article states: 'The new games are currently in production and should start appearing in the stores in September'
John Popadiuk Jr. has plans for totally new designs and is considering full-size game manufacturing
high confidence · Direct quote from Popadiuk: 'he has plans for some totally new designs, but also said how many people are asking for a full-size game to be manufactured'

Notable Quotes

“Everyone loves pinball.... especially when you can get it into the home for only a couple of hundred bucks. A great value.”
John Popadiuk Jr. — Articulates Zizzle's value proposition for home market penetration through affordable pricing
“We built a lit model here, played it and then sent it to our design staff in Hong Kong, then they made all the production changes and sent new samples back for us to approve and play.”
John Popadiuk Jr. — Describes the G2 development and approval process, indicating international design collaboration
“He's the hottest of the intellectual properties right now, and one of the things Zizzle excels at is knowing how to market their products.”
Author — Commentary on Zizzle's marketing strategy and Spider-Man's cultural moment in 2007

Entities

ZizzlecompanyJohn Popadiuk Jr.personPirates of the Caribbean: At World's EndgameMarvel Super Heroesgame Roger Shiffmanperson Marc Rosenbergperson Chris NicolellapersonBrad Slavinperson

Signals

?
licensing_signal: Zizzle leveraging contemporary movie releases (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Spider-Man 3) for rapid theme updates and product revisions
high · Article explains: 'Since then, the two brands have been in action again with the release of the Pirates Of The Caribbean - At World's End and Spider-Man 3 movies, so Zizzle has taken the opportunity to not only update the themes'
$
market_signal: Zizzle maintaining sub-$250 price point on enhanced G2 machines despite feature additions, emphasizing value positioning for home market
high · Direct statement: 'Despite the new additions, the price of the games has not increased from the $249 or less retail level'
?
product_strategy: G2 models feature systematic hardware improvements (LED lighting, playfield plastics, pop bumpers, plunger assembly, PCB rewiring) addressing G1 customer feedback
high · Article lists specific improvements: 'new and improved playfield plastics to look more attractive and help eliminate ball hangs, redesigned pop bumpers to improve the action, a stronger plunger assembly made from a glass-filled material'
?
product_strategy: Zizzle planning totally new design platforms and considering full-size machine manufacturing alongside reduced-size line
high · Popadiuk quote: 'he has plans for some totally new designs, but also said how many people are asking for a full-size game to be manufactured'
?
technology_signal: Widespread LED integration across playfield (slingshots, ramp entrances, lane guides, toy features, backbox) as standard feature in G2 generation

Topics

Product design and iteration (G1 to G2)primaryLED lighting enhancements and visual improvementsprimaryHardware improvements based on customer feedbackprimaryAffordable home pinball market segmentprimaryLicensed IP theme strategy (Disney, Marvel)secondaryInternational manufacturing (Hong Kong production)secondary

Sentiment

positive(0.78)— Article is favorable toward Zizzle's improvements and business strategy. Author praises the redesigns, hardware improvements, and marketing acumen. Some technical accomplishment is noted without criticism. Framed as successful product iteration with market potential.

Transcript

raw_text · $0.000

Date: 15th July 2007. Toy company Zizzle caused a stir late last year when they introduced their two reduced-size pinball games onto the market. Disney's Pirates Of The Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest and Marvel Heroes & Villains were two variants of the same playfield layout created by John Popadiuk, Jr for the three-quarter size machines. Since then, the two brands have been in action again with the release of the Pirates Of The Caribbean - At World's End and Spider-Man 3 movies, so Zizzle has taken the opportunity to not only update the themes promoting the new titles, but also to make improvements to the games with the second generation - or G2 - models. First of the two is Pirates Of The Caribbean - At World's End. Apart from the renaming, the whole playfield and backglass artwork package has been redesigned to give a lighter feel and make it representative of the final movie in the trilogy. The dead man's chest has gone, to be replaced by the Flying Dutchman ship and new decals have been added to the ramps. The slingshots and other playfield plastics also sport new designs. There are also changes to the hardware based on hundreds of customer reports and suggestions from purchasers of the earlier G1 model. They include new and improved playfield plastics to look more attractive and help eliminate ball hangs, redesigned pop bumpers to improve the action, a stronger plunger assembly made from a glass-filled material to help prevent breakage, and some improvements under the playfield by putting all LEDs on PCBs and streamlining the wiring. But probably the most noticeable change to both new games is the extra lighting. The slingshots are now illuminated as are both ramp entrances, the rollover lane guide and the toy feature at the top centre. All four areas are lit with blue LEDs, matching the Flying Dutchman and the five mode inserts, giving an impressive look in the dark. The second game has also changed its name for the second generation model. Now called Marvel Super Heroes, it brings Spider-Man to the fore following his recent big screen adventures using his blue and red suit colours as the main theme for the totally new artwork package. While Pirates Of The Caribbean has become lighter, Marvel Super Heroes' art has gone in the opposite direction, matching the Spider-Man 3 movie's theme of exploring the character's darker side. If the theme is darker, the playfield includes the same additional lights as Pirates Of The Caribbean and like the other title, it also includes the final new feature - backbox illumination. The backbox image is now lit by six LEDs with a special optical design to give the best effect possible. If there was any doubt about Spider-Man's promotion to lead role in the game, the backbox image now makes it perfectly clear. He's the hottest of the intellectual properties right now, and one of the things Zizzle excels at is knowing how to market their products. But it's not just marketing. Without doubt, the new lighting effects and the extra artwork on the playfield plastics make the game look more polished and complete. These are not just minor changes either. The concepts may be the same, but the scope of the rebranding and improvements clearly indicate Zizzle believes the range has potential for further sales in the run-up to the crucial holiday season. John Popadiuk, Jr. told Pinball News how the new games came about: "Roger Shiffman (CEO and President) and Marc Rosenberg (CMO) came to Chris Nicolella and I (Chris handles all electronic games, and me for pinball guru-ness) earlier in the year and mentioned they want to "kick up" the current design. We called it G1.So G2 was born. We built a lit model here, played it and then sent it to our design staff in Hong Kong, then they made all the production changes and sent new samples back for us to approve and play." Despite the new additions, the price of the games has not increased from the $249 or less retail level. The new games are currently in production and should start appearing in the stores in September. Pinball News asked John about his future plans for the Zizzle range of pinball games and he told us he has plans for some totally new designs, but also said how many people are asking for a full-size game to be manufactured. But for now, the focus is firmly on the new Pirates Of The Caribbean and Marvel Super Heroes games. As John told us: "We have had a great response from kids and parents alike. Everyone loves pinball.... especially when you can get it into the home for only a couple of hundred bucks. A great value." For sales information contact: Brad Slavin from Zizzle at: info@zizzle.com Back to the Shows page Back to the front page