3 Reasons Why Pokémon is HUGE for Pinball!

Cary Hardy·video·9m 23s·analyzed·Feb 18, 2026

Analysis

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TL;DR

Pokemon Pinball positioned as industry game-changer for audience growth, licensing opportunities, and operator economics.

Summary

Cary Hardy analyzes Pokemon Pinball as a landmark release for the industry, arguing its $280B+ IP pedigree will attract new demographics to pinball, unlock previously difficult licensing deals (Super Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong Country), and drive operator revenue through mass-market appeal and mechanical gameplay. He positions Pokemon as both a gateway drug for casual players and a proof-of-concept that legitimizes pinball to major IP holders.

Key Claims

Pokemon is the largest intellectual property at over $280 billion worth
high confidence · Cary Hardy, opening statement establishing Pokemon's scale as the foundational premise for all three reasons
Pokemon Pro/Premium editions will serve as gateway for new demographics unfamiliar with modern pinball
high confidence · Cary Hardy discussing Reason #1, contrasting with Stern's Costco home editions as secondary gateway
Pokemon home edition is 'very strongly rumored' to be coming to Costco
medium confidence · Cary Hardy stating rumor about upcoming Costco release to extend demographic reach
Pokemon success could unlock Nintendo licensing (Super Mario, Metroid, Zelda, Donkey Kong Country)
medium confidence · Cary Hardy speculating on Reason #2 that Pokemon proves capability to other major license holders
Sonic pinball is confirmed to release 'a little bit later on this year'
high confidence · Cary Hardy referencing already-announced Sonic title as additional proof of momentum
Pokemon Pro will earn well on location routes due to universal brand recognition and appeal to kids
medium confidence · Cary Hardy discussing Reason #3, expressing personal consideration of placing Pro on route
Mechanical/analog pinball gameplay appeals to younger generation unaware of non-digital entertainment
medium confidence · Cary Hardy noting secondary benefit within Reason #3 about generational appeal

Notable Quotes

“This is the largest intellectual property out there ranging at over $280 billion worth. This is something massive. Everyone knows what Pokemon is.”
Cary Hardy @ early — Establishes foundational premise: Pokemon's unique scale as IP justifies industry impact analysis
“These are toys. A box of lights. They're toys. Okay, that's what they are. They entertain us.”
Cary Hardy @ mid-early — Reframes dismissive 'looks like a toy' criticism as feature not bug, defending Pokemon's aesthetic approach
“Pokemon will probably not be the only game that you buy because once you have one, you're going to want more.”
Cary Hardy @ mid-early — Gateway drug hypothesis: Pokemon entry purchase leads to broader hobby adoption and repeat sales
“If you make a new Super Mario Brothers game, even based on the new movies, you're basically going, 'We're going to be printing money with this.'”
Cary Hardy @ mid — Illustrates licensing opportunity value: Pokemon success as proof-of-concept unlocks mega-IP for pinball
“This game is not going to be for you... Regardless of how we feel about the game, this again is the largest IP that is now in a pinball machine.”
Cary Hardy @ late — Acknowledges taste/preference division while asserting macro industry impact supersedes individual preferences

Entities

PokemongameStern PinballcompanyCary Hardyperson Costcocompany Sonic the HedgehoggameSuper Mario BrosgameDonkey Kong CountrygameZeldagame

Signals

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community_signal: Pokemon receiving overwhelmingly positive reception across community despite individual taste/design preference divisions; industry viewing game as milestone regardless of personal appeal
high · Cary Hardy: 'the overwhelming response to this is positive' and 'this game is overwhelmingly going to be bringing positive to this industry'
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competitive_signal: Pokemon success creating licensing arms race dynamic where other manufacturers may pursue difficult IP previously unavailable; Nintendo gates expected to open
medium · Cary Hardy: 'this is going to open doors for Stern Pinball, possibly other manufacturers as well'
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market_signal: Costco home edition rumored as secondary gateway distribution to extend Pokemon's reach beyond arcade/collector/enthusiast base to mainstream casual audience
medium · Cary Hardy: 'once that gets put into Costco, then you're even more going to possibly extend the demographic and reach a broader audience in this hobby'
$
market_signal: Pokemon Pro positioned as route operator revenue opportunity due to mass-market brand recognition and kid appeal, presenting alternative to premium LE for commercial placement
medium · Cary Hardy: 'I am very positive that this machine would earn very well because everyone knows what Pokemon is' and 'I am really debating on putting a pro in route'
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announcement: Sonic the Hedgehog pinball confirmed for release 'a little bit later on this year' as next major licensed title capitalizing on Pokemon licensing momentum

Topics

Market Expansion and New DemographicsprimaryIP Licensing Strategy and OpportunitiesprimaryOperator Revenue and Route PlacementprimaryPokemon Game Reception and DesignsecondaryHome Edition Distribution via CostcosecondaryMechanical vs Digital Gameplay AppealsecondaryFuture Nintendo Pinball Possibilitiessecondary

Sentiment

positive(0.85)— Cary Hardy is enthusiastically bullish on Pokemon's macro impact despite acknowledging game design preferences are subjective. He frames criticism (layout, art, toy appearance) as 'nitpicky' relative to industry-wide benefits. Tone is optimistic about licensing momentum and operator opportunity, though he expresses personal gameplay reservations.

Transcript

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So, last week Stern Pinball released Pokemon by Stern Pinball, and I think the overwhelming response to this is positive. Now, of course, you're not going to be able to please everyone. You have the people that don't like the layout or they don't like the art. I've read all types and sorts of comments in regards to this game. So, I think what a lot of people are missing though is whether you like it, you hate it. The main thing here is well I've got three actually that I want to mention but I think the grounding rod the bedrock for these three reasons all comes back to the same thing and that is because this is the largest intellectual property out there ranging at over $280 billion worth. This is something massive. Everyone knows what Pokemon is. They've heard of it. They may have played the games. The whole world is essentially aware of such a thing. So, with that in mind, I'm going to give you three reasons why Pokemon is a huge deal for pinball. So, starting with number one is obviously going to be reaching out to a demographic that is currently not in the pinball hobby. were reaching a new customer base, someone of different interests, people that were unaware that pinball machines were still being made because of the fact that everyone is aware of Pokemon and so now they know that they can get this machine and this is essentially a gateway drug. Now they Stern has already mentioned that they would like to think the home versions that they sell at Costco are kind of like the gateway, but I believe that Pokemon itself, even the pro premium, whatever, is going to be a gateway for this new demographic. And once the new home edition, which is very strongly rumored to be Pokemon, once that gets put into Costco, then you're even more going to possibly extend the demographic and reach a broader audience in this hobby or industry. And I know people see Pokemon as a child type of toy or there is even a comment I remember reading online that the Pokemon machine looks like a toy which I busted out laughing because that's what these are. These are toys. A box of lights. They're toys. Okay, that's what they are. They entertain us. So when John Youssi Pokemon, which I believe this stern has done pretty damn good justice with it with me knowing very little about Pokemon. I think that they really did do a proper representation of it from my perspective. Now I would love to hear from you Pokemon fanatics on how well they were able to implement this theme into a pinball machine. So, by all means, if you are joining into the pinball hobby due to Pokemon, then by all means, we welcome you with open arms, guys. Welcome to the hobby. And without a doubt, Pokemon will probably not be the only game that you buy because once you have one, you're going to want more. And let's move on to reason number two. Look, this is something that I believe is going to open doors for Stern Pinball, possibly other manufacturers as well. Due to the fact of how huge this license is, who owns the license, then we can potentially get those other licenses that have been difficult to obtain, especially whenever they're able to see what they've done with it and the reception behind it. I think that we could potentially see in the future a Super Mario Brothers, a Metroid. I mean, because for those that don't know, Metroid, Samus can turn into a ball and move around, but you get us a a Mario game that is like an easy print for money. I mean, that's that if if you make a new Super Mario Brothers game, even based on the new movies, you're basically going, "We're going to be printing money with this." whether it be on locations and of course turn by all means by how many you will sell. But if you could open up that Nintendo gate to let them start getting other licenses out there, potentially a Zelda. I personally would love to see a Donkey Kong Country. Imagine Barrel spiring onto the other portions of the playfield. There's so much you could do with it, especially if you get Jerry Thompson on audio. I feel like he would do a great job with Don't Get Gone Country. Just saying. I could potentially it's just in my head I see him doing that game justice on audio. Well, he does every game, but that's the one I would push towards it. I don't know, just something about it. I feel like he would nail it. And of course, we already know that we're going to be getting a Sonic a little bit later on this year. And that just kind of makes sense as well because he turns into a blue ball. He has other pinball games. So, it just makes sense. We're getting Sonic. Let's get a Mario game. Let's get other licenses that are going to be major hits. And I think that Pokemon is going to hopefully be that foot in the door to show other license holders that hey, we did the largest intellectual property. We can do this too kind of thing. So number two in a nutshell is this can potentially open the door for other licenses that were previously very difficult to obtain. And number three, I believe this to be very beneficial for operators out there. For you people that own arcades or just have a machine on location. I actually am really debating on putting a pro in route due to the fact that I am very positive that this machine would earn very well because everyone knows what Pokemon is. Everyone goes to these places and they have their kids and the kids want something to do. and what's going to bring in that cash flow and give them something to do. Something they immediately recognize and they can put money into and be entertained. And even more on a positive note, it's not digital. It's analog mechanical. Something that this new generation is kind of unaware of. And I think that would be another beneficial point. I'm not going to make it a number four. I'm just going to keep it in the same route as number three by saying that this will get the next generation involved in pinball. Get them away from the digital screens and more into mechanical analog systems. So, look, Pokemon, for some of you out there, this game is not going to be for you. Chances are it's not going to be a game for me. Regardless of how we feel about the game, this again is the largest IP that is now in a pinball machine. This is going to be beneficial for the industry enthusiasts. It's going to pay forward and I think it's going to open up a lot of opportunities for pinball manufacturing and I cannot wait to see what comes of it. So, and that's pretty much all I need to say about this is that I think that this is going to be very beneficial for Stern. It's going to be very beneficial for us pinball enthusiasts in the long run. It's going to be beneficial for operators. There's so much good from this game that overwhelmingly decimates any negatives in regards to how many shots there are or how it shoots or sound effects or if it looks like a toy. these other little things, nitpicky things. Say what you want, but this game is overwhelmingly going to be bringing positive to this industry. Let me know your thoughts and feelings on Pokemon by Stern Pinball in the comments section down below. Special thanks to all my Patreon supporters out there. Your monthly contribution is very much appreciated, and I will see you guys on the next one. Peace out. I mean, it just makes sense on some of these titles, guys. Sonic is a no-brainer. I'm excited about that. But can you imagine if they do a Super Mario or a Mario Brothers game, you better not mess this one up. There better be all kinds of pipes that make the sound effects and coming out from all over the place. I know there's the got version, but that game is way too easy. And the thing is, even that game still earns quite a bit of money on locations. That should tell you something. Can you imagine a game with it being under a new platform like Spike 3 or another manufacturer? But would you rather have Donkey Kong Country or Mario Brothers? I lean towards Donkey Kong Country, but if you want to go Mario Brothers, let me know in the comments section down below.