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Episode 124 Rambling Pinball Man

Poor Man's Pinball Podcast·podcast_episode·analyzed·Aug 31, 2022
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claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.027

TL;DR

Drew reviews Godzilla, criticizes TNA pricing strategy, and discusses delayed Stern announcement.

Summary

Poor Man's Pinball Podcast Episode 124 features host Drew discussing Stern's delayed August game announcement, Spooky Pinball's Total Nuclear Annihilation pricing strategy ($8,995 for 250 units), his extended summer hiatus due to a new job, and his enthusiastic review of Godzilla pinball after six weeks of ownership. The episode covers community updates, sponsor acknowledgments, and Drew's current pinball collection including Godzilla, Star Wars: The Mandalorian, and Insider Connected integration across multiple machines.

Key Claims

  • Gary Stern promised a new cornerstone Stern release in August that did not materialize

    high confidence · Drew (host) states: 'Gary Stern himself told us we were going to have a new Stern release, cornerstone release, here in August. It is now officially August 31st... and there is nothing.'

  • Spooky Pinball is producing Total Nuclear Annihilation at $8,995 with only 250 units planned

    high confidence · Drew: 'Total Nuclear Annihilation, which I was also excited about until I saw the price. Come on, Spooky Pinball. $89.95... They're only doing 250 units.'

  • Spooky Pinball is currently manufacturing approximately 40 machines per week

    medium confidence · Drew: 'Because now they're making The Games, I think they said they're making almost 40 a week.'

  • Godzilla pinball has a rating of approximately 9.6 on Pinside

    high confidence · Drew: 'I mean, I didn't give it all, you know, full, what do they have, like six check boxes there or whatever. But, you know, they were all super high marks... I think my rating ended up being like a 9.6 or something.'

  • Drew owns three machines with Insider Connected and plans to expand to five to seven Stern machines

    high confidence · Drew: 'I have three of them now... I'm hoping to have five or six or seven Sterns in my lineup.'

  • Kaneda's Pinball Podcast initially criticized Spooky's TNA pricing strategy but later called it a smart business move

    medium confidence · Drew: 'Kaneda's Pinball Podcast, he did a whole podcast about how this was a shit move and kind of different things. And then he said it was a smart business move.'

  • Drew has been absent from producing pinball content due to a new job and enjoying summer activities

    high confidence · Drew: 'with my new job and i know i've talked about this before but you know that's that's why there hasn't been as much pinball content... I've just been just been enjoying my life'

  • Scott Ian (co-host) has been focusing on personal health and fitness rather than appearing on the podcast

Notable Quotes

  • “Gary Stern himself told us we were going to have a new Stern release, cornerstone release, here in August. It is now officially August 31st. It's 6:09 p.m. and there is nothing.”

    Drew (host) @ ~3:00 — Key frustration about Stern missing promised August announcement deadline

  • “They're slowly, you know, taking guys like me and they're, they're moving us, you know, up, up the chain... they're conditioning us and I think it's happening to a lot of people.”

    Drew (host) @ ~8:00 — Critique of price escalation strategy and market conditioning tactics by manufacturers

  • “there's just nothing that falls flat for me in that game... I haven't bolted a lot of games, as you know, but I don't see this one going anywhere for a very long time”

    Drew (host) @ ~28:00 — Strong endorsement of Godzilla as best-in-lineup machine with staying power

  • “I mean, you put the art there and then you have the shots... the whole team, you know, including Jerry Thompson with the sounds, I mean, forget it. It's just awesome.”

    Drew (host) @ ~26:00 — Detailed praise of Godzilla's design, art, and audio implementation

  • “I'm rooting for Team Spooky Pinball, and I hope that it's something amazing.”

    Drew (host) @ ~15:00 — Conditional support for Spooky's future despite pricing concerns

Entities

Gary SternpersonDrewpersonScott IanpersonKanedapersonKeith ElwinpersonJeremy PackerpersonJerry Thompsonperson

Signals

  • ?

    community_signal: Stern's Insider Connected leaderboard and achievement system driving social gameplay and score-chasing behavior among collectors

    medium · Drew: 'I'm really enjoying the Insider Connected on all my games... I'm just enjoying the achievements... score chasing with some people that you know that have it'

  • ?

    design_philosophy: Star Wars: The Mandalorian playfield layout frustrating for some players due to difficulty locating shots, though gameplay improves with continued play

    medium · Drew: 'I almost gave up on Star Wars The Mandalorian for no other reason than I was just getting frustrated with, I don't know, the layout but I just couldn't find the shots'

  • $

    market_signal: Production efficiency at Spooky Pinball: ~40 machines per week capacity, enabling 250-unit TNA run to complete in 6-8 weeks

    medium · Drew: 'they're making almost 40 a week... they can get them all out in six, seven, eight weeks' for 250 units

  • ?

    community_signal: Scott Ian (co-host) currently absent from podcast due to personal focus on health and fitness rather than industry participation

    medium · Drew: 'He's been right in his ship in his life, as they say. He's been working out, trying to eat healthy... we still hope to get him to hop on this mic soon'

  • $

    market_signal: Community perception of gradual price escalation conditioning buyers to accept higher price points over time

    medium · Drew: 'they're slowly, you know, taking guys like me... they're conditioning us... if we keep getting these high prices now, it's like, well, 6,000 doesn't seem so bad now it's 7,000 doesn't seem so bad'

Transcript

groq_whisper · $0.065

0:00
Sitting in the morning sun, I'll be sitting when the evening comes. Hello ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Poor Man's Pinball Podcast. This is episode 124 and we have a great show for you today. Today's episode, Stern's next pin, TNA 2.0, summer shenanigans, where the hell is he in, and a new tribe member induction. So stay tuned for an amazing show. Let's get right into it folks. Gary Stern himself told us we were going to have a new Stern release, Cornerstone release, here in August. It is now officially August 31st. It's 6.09 p.m. and there is nothing. We don't have anything. Not terribly surprised, but we were promised. I don't know about promised. He said it a couple months ago. I'm sure it's coming out soon. I would have to assume, you know, this September sometime, maybe in a week or so, we'll probably get the reveal. Or maybe tomorrow, who knows. But it definitely didn't happen here in August. I know they're still getting caught up, but it is a little disappointing because there really hasn't been a whole lot to discuss in the news. However, there was a couple cool things that we are going to talk about a little bit later, but a little disappointing. No Stern release this week. But that's okay. It's been about a month. I know I've been a little bit lacking in the pinball content, but once again, there hasn't been a whole lot, but I just wanted to get another episode out.
1:29
I was really hoping to talk about the Stern release, but instead, we can talk about TNA 2.0, which I was also excited about until I saw the price.
1:40
Come on, Spooky. $89.95. I'm not poo-pooing them. I think it's actually very smart on their part. They're only doing 250 units. I think, contrary to Kaneda's Pinball Podcast, he did a whole podcast about how this was a shit move and kind of different things. And then he said it was a smart business move. So I don't know. Which is it, Chris?

medium confidence · Drew: 'He's been right in his ship in his life, as they say. He's been working out, trying to eat healthy.'

Zach Sharpe
person
Nicoleperson
Ericperson
John Hallperson
Spooky Pinballcompany
Stern Pinballcompany
Godzillagame
Total Nuclear Annihilationgame
Star Wars: The Mandaloriangame
Insider Connectedproduct
Poor Man's Pinball Podcastorganization
We Are Pinballorganization
Flipping Out Pinballcompany
  • $

    market_signal: Spooky Pinball pricing TNA at $8,995 with only 250 units, representing premium positioning and scarcity strategy

    high · Drew: 'Total Nuclear Annihilation... $89.95... They're only doing 250 units... I don't see the value personally but that's just me i would probably be a buyer at six or seven thousand but definitely not at nine'

  • ?

    product_strategy: Stern's promised August cornerstone game announcement did not occur as of August 31st; expected to arrive in September

    high · Drew: 'Gary Stern himself told us we were going to have a new Stern release, cornerstone release, here in August. It is now officially August 31st... and there is nothing.'

  • ?

    product_concern: Mixed reception of recent Spooky Pinball releases (Halloween and Ultraman) viewed as misses by some players, raising questions about design direction

    medium · Drew: 'there was, you know, a little bit of disappointment with Halloween and Ultraman... I will agree with Kaneda's Pinball Podcast a little bit here that if they're going to keep charging these prices, you know, they do need to up their game'

  • ?

    rumor_hype: Speculation about Stern's delayed August announcement being either Venom or James Bond themed, with cornerstone tier positioning

    low · Drew: 'send me a text... let me know what you think Stern's next pin is going to be is it going to be venom is it going to be james bond is it going to be something else'

  • ?

    business_signal: Spooky Pinball using limited production runs (250 units) and premium pricing to maintain cash flow and keep production line moving between major releases

    high · Drew: 'this will definitely keep the line moving for them, keep the money flowing to Spooky Pinball and it'll, it'll bridge the gap onto their next title'

    • 2:08
    You know, I think it was a smart move. I think they're going to sell every one of them. I mean, 250 is not a lot. it's um i don't see the value personally but that's just me i would probably be a buyer at six or seven thousand but definitely not at nine and i guess you know if they keep doing this and i don't know wants to hear this but this is what's going to happen because you got people like me like a couple of years ago i'm like i would have paid five thousand for one you know and then they were going for six and seven and now i'm like well i'd pay six or seven and now they're going for nine. So they're slowly, you know, taking guys like me and they're, they're moving us, you know, up, up the chain. And, and, you know, if we keep getting these high prices now, it's like, well, 6,000 doesn't seem so bad now it's 7,000 doesn't seem so bad. So, you know, in a way they're conditioning us and I think it's happening to a lot of people. So, and once again, it's not like they're trying to make a thousand of them or 2000, they're going to make their quick couple million bucks. Um, and, and I think good for them, you know, they keep the line moving. Um, you know, there was, you know, a little bit of disappointment with Halloween and Ultraman and some people, you know, just kind of either sold their spot or just left altogether. But, um, you know, this will definitely keep the line moving for them, keep the money flowing to Spooky and it'll, it'll kind of bridge the gap onto their next title, which I would have to assume they'll probably be announcing, you know, maybe in a couple months. Because now they're making games, I think they said they're making almost 40 a week. So, you know, they might be able to knock out all these TNAs in, I don't know, we'll call it two months. You know, eight weeks times 40, that's, you know, 500. So, did I do that math right? Eight weeks times 40. Nope, 320.
    4:01
    It's been a long day, folks. It's been a long day. But that's still more. They're going for $250, so they can get them all out in six, seven, eight weeks. So that would be pretty awesome. So once again, good on Spooky. I'm happy for them. They are good folks over there.
    4:19
    I will say Ultraman and Halloween was a miss in my eyes, but they can't all be home runs. And I think all in all, they're still doing really well. and let's hope their next title is something that, you know, it's going to be another home run, knock it out of the park, and they can just keep plugging away and doing what Spooky does, and that's, you know, good customer service and the goodwill in the community, and, you know, we'll see what happens, what's next for Spooky. But, you know, I will agree with Kaneda a little bit here that if they're going to keep charging these prices, you know, they do need to up their game a little bit. I don't know what they've done in the way of designers or what's going on with the next game. But what I can say is I'm rooting for Team Spooky, and I hope that it's something amazing. So moving on, what has Drew been doing? Drew has been... I've been screwing off all summer. That's really what I've been doing. It's been great. My wife and I were just talking about this We just got back from the Dells the Wisconsin Dells for those who don know there a place about two hours from Milwaukee and it's basically, they call it the water park capital of the world. There's just, you know, it started with just a couple of, like, outdoor water parks that were really awesome, so it was really great in the summertime, and then more resorts started coming in, and they were building the indoor water parks and go-kart tracks and different things, So it's this big tourist place, and now it's year-round because they have the indoor stuff. So anyways, we stayed at a place called The Wilderness. I was there with Eric, tribe member Eric and his wife. We brought the kids, and we had this nice big condo that we rented out. It was awesome. So we were there for most of the weekend, and that's the kind of stuff I've been doing. We've been doing a lot of outdoor stuff and just enjoying the summer because we only get, I don't know, two months. in reality we get three or four you know good solid months here in wisconsin but the weather's so wonky sometimes and it was just it's just been nice and with my new job and i know i've talked about this before but you know that's that's why there hasn't been as much pinball content different things because i've just been just been enjoying my life and just trying to trying to figure out you know how how it all fits together with my new career and everything so but it's been great. Like it's, it's been mostly positive and I apologize for not getting out more content. I want to, and I'm going to, you know, it's just, uh, like I said, enjoying my life. And then all of a sudden, you know, the week gets away from me and then the next week gets away from me. And you know, I have lots of people that still want to record and we're going to do that. And there probably will be a lot more as we get some more news here in the fall and the weather, you know, kind of chills out a little bit here in Wisconsin. No pun intended. That was my dad joke for the day. The weather chills out. Bad, bad joke. So that's where we are with that. But episode 124, we're still cruising along. And of course, I still miss Ian. Where is Ian? We don't know where Ian is. Yeah, we do. He's been right in his ship in his life, as they say. He's been working out, trying to eat healthy. Yeah, Ian's been good. I think Ian's on a better path now. So I don't know if he wants me talking about all this, but, yeah, of course we miss him. But that's where he's been. So for you guys who always ask, he's good. And we're still hoping to get him to hop on this mic soon because, you know, it's just better with him. I mean, there's no doubt about it. I can sit here and drone on about pinball, which is fantastic, and I'll do that, and I do, and I'm going to bore the hell out of you guys, and that's fine. But, you know, getting Ian on here and just having a few drinks or not having drinks doesn't matter. And just enjoying life and having a bunch of laughs. That's what makes it awesome.
    8:19
    So anyways, that is the mystery of where Ian is. But anyways, let's get back to pinball. So send me an email, guys. poor man's pinball gmail.com send me a text 414-828-3739 let me know what you think stern's next pin is going to be is it going to be venom is it going to be james bond is it going to be something else i don't know um i would really like to see it be venom i still think that'd be a great theme james bond i know is a great theme for a lot of people not my theme but i will still be excited to see what they can do with it see if that maybe is the kapow title we don't know It's supposed to be a cornerstone coming out, which means it's not a Kapow title in theory. So we'll just have to wait and see. What else do we have going on in pinball land? I guess now would be as good a time as any to shill, shill, shill. Don't forget to listen to Tribe Multiball with Rachel and Tim. They had a great new episode this week with Gamma Goat himself, Ian Hauer. that is next on my listen list try saying that three times fast listen list listen list listen list so check them out don't forget Orbital Albert is now on the PPN the Poor Man's Pinball Network he just dropped an episode the other day I guess it would have been about a week ago great episode as always Orby thank you so much for being part of the network and of course we have our great sponsors doc finley pinball prices.com don't forget to check out pinball prices.com to check out all of today's prices in today's crazy market pinball prices.com buy that man a beer and flipping out pinball how could we forget zach and nicole they are still selling pinball machines they're selling pinball accessories they're selling raw thrills they're selling all kinds of great stuff you know how to get a hold of them they are one of the premier sponsors of the poor man's pinball podcast and the Poor Man's Pinball Network. Zach and Nicole have always been so generous to the show, to me personally, to Ian. We can't thank them enough for everything they have done for us over the years.
    10:37
    So what else, guys? Not a whole lot going on. Like I said, quick 10-minute episode. Just wanted to check in make sure everyone is staying safe staying healthy this summer Want to make sure that everyone is playing a lot of pinball You know what I really been enjoying my Godzilla and that something I really wanted to talk about because I know everyone's had it for a while. I know I was late to the party. Thanks, Zach and Nicole. I got my Godzilla. I've had it now for, I don't know, six weeks or so. and um so you know i got to break it in i got the the honeymoon period is over as far as because i i've played it a lot and i really wanted to get a bunch of games in before i started talking about how it's the best game ever but um i think it is i mean you know just if you if you put it in a vacuum or you kind of take the you know the bits and pieces of it like there's just nothing that falls flat for me in that game. You know, you have the art, the amazing zombie yeti art, which, you know, just A plus all the way through. I did my review on Pinside, and I really tried to be as unbiased as possible, and it was tough. I mean, it wasn't tough to be unbiased, but it was tough to, like, just not, you know, hey, this is great, this is great, this is great, you know. I mean, I didn't give it all, you know, full, what do they have, like six check boxes there or whatever. But, you know, they were all super high marks. And, you know, even if something wasn't like quite the best ever, it was still great. So, I mean, I think my rating ended up being like a 9.6 or something. But, yeah, you put the art there and then you have the shots. And, you know, of course Keith Allen games have this beautiful flow to them. But then the way that the whole team, you know, including Jerry Thompson with the sounds, I mean, forget it. It's just awesome. And then just the way, you know, they make it feel like you're destroying the city. And you got the fighter jets. And you got all these cool modes that make it seem like you're, you know, smashing through the city. And then the lights go out when you break down the power lines. And all that good stuff. So I just can't say enough good things about it. And then the funny, goofy animations and the campiness of it all, you know, just well put together. You know, will it remain the best game of all time forever and ever? I don't know. But for right now, I mean, I haven't bolted a lot of games, as you know, but I don't see this one going anywhere for a very long time because I like turning it on. I like looking at it. I like playing it.
    13:29
    You know, it makes you feel like you're a better player because of the flow. I'm starting to get some better scores but the rules are obviously super complex and super deep but once you kind of learn as you go and you read the rules and you kind of get better at it you play a lot, you can really sink your teeth into it see there's another pun sink your teeth into Godzilla like I said there's really not a box that I wouldn't check for this game and you know i guess at the beginning it was the theme because i was like yeah godzilla it is what it is but you know i knew what godzilla was i understood the the lore of godzilla and and the story behind it so you get into it and then you watch a couple movies and then you go holy shit like this is it this is exactly what the theme was supposed to be and um you know and then then i turn it off and i play some other games but then guess what i just want to go right back to it and I just want to keep playing it. So, you know, and now a couple of us in the tribe, we, you know, four or five of us have this game. So we're kind of like score chasing each other, which has been kind of fun too. So Ari, Tim Lee, I'm coming for you bastards. Um, yeah, that's, that's it about Godzilla. I mean, it is, it's fantastic. I'm so glad I got it. Um, you know, I, I recommend everyone get on a premium and, and bye, bye, bye, bye. Flipping out pinball. You know, I'm sure they're going to be running it for at least another two years. You know, and this will be one that if they ever do start faltering in sales, you know they're coming back to the well for Godzilla. So that's, you know, that's my prediction for 2029 or something when pinball sales finally start declining. So, yeah, Godzilla, huge, huge win. I almost gave up on Mandalorian for no other reason than I was just getting frustrated with the, I don't want to say the layout but I just couldn't find the shots I played a bunch of games and it's like sometimes you lose the shots and this and that but then I had a good game and I'm like nope, nope this game's awesome, it's staying for a while that was just kind of funny that one might not stay forever but I am enjoying it and I do go back to it So I think that one will stick around for a while. I'm really enjoying the Insider Connect on all my games. I have three of them now, and I'm just enjoying the achievements and that kind of thing. It's just kind of fun. And then score chasing with some people that you know that have it. So that's kind of neat. And I know they're going to be doing more with these leaderboards and stuff. So that just exciting stuff So I hoping to have five or six or seven sterns in my lineup So we see how that goes But uh you know so far so good you know keep selling some homes and I can keep buying some pinball machines. So it'll, uh, it'll work out. Okay. And I, I probably won't need to sell any for a little while. So I'm going to have a nice collection and, uh, and growing and counting as they say. Oh, and we were, uh, once again with Eric and his wife, we were at the state fair, the Wisconsin state fair a couple of weeks ago. And they have this amazing booth where those guys make the, you know, the wood signs, you know, they're handmade, hand painted. They're just cool, cool, you know, cutouts, wood signs. So he had a bunch of, you know, Marvel stuff and Avenger stuff and Star Wars stuff. So I bought the coolest, um, topper for Mandalorian. And basically what it is, it's, it's a little Yoda that's about, four inches tall and three inches wide. It's just cut out of wood and it's painted. It's really cool. I just took some Velcro and I stuck it right on top of the machine.
    17:23
    There's just a little Grogu up there. I thought that was kind of cool because it only cost five bucks. Poor Man's Topper. There you go.
    17:31
    I'll take a picture of that and put it on the Poor Man's fan page which reminds me of another show. Go to Poor Man's pinball fan page and give us a like. We're actually moving up there. I think we have, I don't know, 700 or 800 of you guys liking us, following us, that kind of thing. So that's always exciting.
    17:51
    I think that's it. I don't want to just keep droning on, boring you guys, but I do appreciate all of the support. And I know we said we were going to induct a tribe member, but that's always more fun with more people, meaning with a co-host. So I think I'm just going to save that one for hopefully next week. I'm supposed to have Tribe Member John Hall on again. He's kind of been a fan favorite. So him and I have been talking. We just haven't really connected as far as when we're going to do it. So maybe I'll just save this one for now because, you know, this episode was a little segmented and not quite what I wanted. So I'm just, I'm not going to induct this person just yet. But Tribe Member 46, you are coming on board very soon. he or she does not know it yet but they will be excited so it's super exciting every time we induct a tribe member and I'm hoping to get to at least 50 before the end of the year so that means there's four more opportunities we have some of our tribe pledges out there I hope you guys are still communicating with the tribe council but we want to get more people into our inclusive tribe because it's amazing. I mean, it's kind of exclusive but kind of inclusive at the same time, if that's possible, and it is because it's the Poor Man's Pinball Podcast Network. We can do whatever we want. And I really appreciate you guys, appreciate everything, appreciate our sponsors, listeners, fans, friends, family. So that's all I have for today. This is Episode 124. I will talk to you guys soon.
    19:31
    again. Yeah. I'm sitting on the dock of the bay, watching the tide roll away. Sitting on the dock of the bay, wasting time. I left my home in Georgia, headed for the Frisco Bay.
    20:01
    I've had nothing to live for. It looks like nothing's gonna come my way. So I'm just gonna sit on the dock of the bay. Watching the tide roll away. I'm sitting on the dock of the bay. Wasting time. Look like nothing's gonna change Everything still remains the same I can't do what ten people tell me to do So I guess I'll remain the same Sitting here resting my bones And this loneliness won't leave me alone Listen, 2,000 miles I roam Just to make this dock my home Now I'm just gonna sit at the dock of a bay Watching the tide roll away Sitting on the dock of a bay Wasting time
    21:26
    Thank you.