Episode 153 – ClusterVUK 3, Season of the Witch

TL;DR

Roundtable discussion of playfield quality defects in modern pinball machines and their manufacturing causes.

Summary

Key Claims

• Gary Stern stated Stern is 5,300 games behind on production

  high confidence · Ron Hallett citing Gary Stern's public statement about Stern's production backlog

• Guns N' Roses playfield has a three-quarter inch chip visible on Pinside forums

  high confidence · Ron and Bruce discussing documented defects on Guns N' Roses in Pinside thread

• Williams games from the 1980s-90s used seven-layer plywood and higher-grade wood than modern manufacturers

  medium confidence · Bruce recalling Pat Waller's seminar from mid-2000s at Stern, discussing wood hardness standards

• Modern manufacturers have switched from seven-layer to nine-layer plywood, which performs worse

  medium confidence · Bruce stating he was told nine-layer ply is inferior, though he admits not being a wood expert

• Clear coat formulations changed due to environmental regulations that removed formaldehyde-based treatments

  medium confidence · Discussion about wood treatment bans and eco-friendly ink creating chemical incompatibilities

• Jersey Jack has had chipping/pooling issues on at least three to four different machines since Dialed In or Pirates

  medium confidence · Ron and Bruce debating which JJP game first had issues; unclear if referring to all machines or specific units

• Stern manufactures some playfields in-house and outsources to multiple external manufacturers

  medium confidence · Ron referencing Jack Danger video showing in-house manufacturing, but claiming current outsourced quality is poor

• Jeff Rivera's Ghostbusters LE could not fit a ball into the scoop, suggesting no factory testing occurred

  medium confidence · Ron citing Jeff Rivera's reported experience as evidence of inadequate QC

• Jersey Jack provides only blank playfields for warranty replacements, while Stern often sends fully populated playfields

Notable Quotes

• “We need some sort of scandal name...Merco sucks. I think that's reasonable.”

  Bruce Nightingale @ early segment — Humorous but pointed naming of playfield quality issues tied to Merco (apparent playfield manufacturer)

• “But at the same time, you spend twice as much on a J.J.P. game, you expect better quality, in my opinion. I mean, just like a Porsche.”

  Ron Hallett @ mid-segment — Direct criticism of Jersey Jack's premium pricing relative to quality control failures

• “If you complain loud enough, they just send you a play field. And for them, that would probably still be cheaper than trying to change the play field, how they do the play field.”

  Dennis Kriesel @ later segment — Analysis of manufacturer cost-benefit: warranty replacements vs. process improvement

• “Well, obviously it's a defect because it used to not be a problem. And so now that people are experiencing this, I completely sympathize.”

  Dennis Kriesel @ later segment — Validation of quality regression as a real issue despite debate over severity

• “It's like buying a Porsche and getting a Kia instead.”

  Ron Hallett @ mid-segment — Metaphor for the gap between JJP's premium positioning and delivered product quality

• “They've never admitted the issue. Yeah, they've done the least to try to address it of any of them, too. Like, at least with Stern, you can see that they're trying things even if it's not working.”

  Dennis Kriesel @ later segment — Comparative criticism of JJP's non-response vs. Stern's experimentation with solutions

• “A washer is like a cent...But guess what? When you put in how many guide rails are on them a game, and you multiply that by how many washers are needed. So even if you need 200 washers, that's $2.”

  Bruce Nightingale and others @ late segment — Discussion of trivial per-unit cost of preventive measures, implying manufacturer prioritizes cost-cutting over quality

Entities

Signals

• ?

  product_concern: Systematic chipping and pooling defects on modern pinball playfields, particularly around posts and high-impact areas, affecting Stern, Jersey Jack, and other manufacturers. Documented on Pinside forums with photos of Guns N' Roses, Avengers, and other recent releases.

  high · Multiple guest panelists describing personal ownership of affected games (Batman, TNA, Wonka, Deadpool); Pinside thread documentation; comparison to vintage games without these issues

• ?

  manufacturing_signal: Playfield quality degradation appears linked to material cost reduction: lower-grade wood (9-layer vs. 7-layer plywood), cheaper clear coat formulations, reduced or eliminated pre-production testing.

  high · Pat Waller seminar account; discussion of formaldehyde bans and eco-friendly ink incompatibilities; references to rapid assembly and quick clear-coat curing; manufacturer refusal to add $2 in washers per unit

• ?

  business_signal: Stern Pinball reported 5,300 games behind on production orders, attributed to volume demand. This backlog potentially exacerbates quality control failures if pressure to ship is prioritized over QC.

  high · Gary Stern cited statement; Ron and Bruce noting rush-to-ship implications on game testing and quality

• ~

  sentiment_shift: Community sentiment shows frustration that modern games at $9,500+ (JJP Premium) exhibit worse defects than games from 20+ years ago at lower price points. Expectation-setting has shifted from 'new games should work' to 'new games require post-purchase repair/modification.'

  high · Extended panel discussion; multiple guests expressing frustration; comparison of Porsche pricing with Kia delivery; mention of washer installation as expected practice