SDTM: This Or That? 2: The Empire Flips Back

Straight Down the Middle·video·26m 20s·analyzed·Jan 25, 2025

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.031

TL;DR

SDTM hosts compare D&D, Stranger Things, and other pinball machines through fan-submitted 'This or That' matchups.

Summary

Straight Down the Middle hosts Zach and Greg conduct a 'This or That' comparison series evaluating pinball machines across various matchups. Key discussions include Dungeons & Dragons (new Stern cornerstone) vs. Stranger Things, game selections for different player types (grandkids, collectors, casual players), and comparisons between classic and modern games. The segment features community-submitted comparisons and reveals positive sentiment toward D&D's innovation while maintaining affection for established titles like Pulp Fiction, Medieval Madness, and Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Key Claims

D&D dragon mechanism is 'the coolest mech that Stern's ever created' and represents major innovation in pinball design
medium confidence · Host expresses opinion based on watching video streams, not hands-on play; represents enthusiast assessment of design innovation
D&D ruleset is 'one of the deepest code sets Dwight's ever' created
medium confidence · Host states 'they said it's one of the deepest code sets Dwight's ever—' indicating this is attributed claim from official/credible source
D&D Premium might be Brian Eddy's best design at Stern, potentially matching his historic work
medium confidence · Host opinion: 'I think it might be one of Brian's best designs. This is looking like it might be one of Brian's best designs since back in his day'
Pulp Fiction offers superior depth and complexity compared to Total Nuclear Annihilation
medium confidence · Host preference based on gameplay analysis and feature comparison (subway, physical ball locks, callouts)
Creature from the Black Lagoon is superior to Monster Bash in modern pinball preference
low confidence · Opinion stated: 'Creature all day long. Easily.' and 'I think Monster Bash is overrated' but both hosts agree without detailed justification

Notable Quotes

“The coolest mech that Stern's ever created is that dragon. It shoots pinballs at you. That's insane. Just the fact that you can hit it from multiple sides and multiple angles and it still registers is a shot? I mean, that's like a bash toy times 10.”
Host (Zach or Greg - unclear) @ Early in D&D discussion — Highlights D&D's mechanical innovation as a standout design achievement in Stern's history
“I think it might be one of Brian's best designs since back in his day. Hopefully it took them long enough.”
Host discussing Brian Eddy design @ D&D Premium comparison section — Recognition of Brian Eddy's return to top-tier design quality after perceived decline
“I would take The Beatles over TNA. Kill me... Pulp Fiction over The Beatles. And it's still Pulp Fiction over TNA.”
Host expressing strong preference hierarchy @ Modern retro vibes comparison — Demonstrates Pulp Fiction's positioning as premium choice among modern retro-themed games
“I don't want to work on shit, man. I don't want to work on shit, and if there's a better version out there, I want that. So I would never be content with an original Medieval Madness.”
Host (Greg) @ Pulp Fiction LE vs. Original Medieval Madness section — Expresses preference for modern remakes over original machines, reflecting collector priorities toward reliability and code quality
“Deadpool is just pure fun. The shots are good. The code is good. But Deadpool is still just fun to me. And Iron Maiden is fun, but it's still linear.”
Host discussing Pro choice @ Iron Maiden Pro vs. Deadpool Pro section — Characterizes Deadpool as more accessible/fun while Iron Maiden leans competitive/serious
“So now they're going to have the old one—a very good example of the old one—and then the new LE set next to it.”
Host (Greg) @ D&D Premium comparison - customer anecdote — Illustrates D&D's appeal to theme-focused collectors and the value of owning both classic and modern versions of same IP

Entities

Dungeons & Dragons (Stern, 2025)gameStranger Thingsgame Pulp Fictiongame Total Nuclear AnnihilationgameMedieval Madness (remake)gameToy Storygame Creature from the Black Lagoongame

Signals

?
design_philosophy: Deadpool positioned as more accessible/casual option compared to Iron Maiden's competitive/linear orientation
medium · Quote: 'Deadpool is just pure fun... lighthearted, quirky... Anybody can step up and play it' vs. Iron Maiden as 'more serious game' and tournament-viable
?
code_update: D&D credited with deep ruleset programming by Dwight Sullivan; positioned as among his most complex work
medium · Host states: 'they said it's one of the deepest code sets Dwight's ever—' indicating attributed claim about code complexity
?
collector_signal: D&D's appeal to theme-focused collectors demonstrated through anecdote of customer owning both 1987 Bally and 2025 Stern LE versions simultaneously
medium · Greg shares story of customer who intentionally collected both versions to display side-by-side as thematic complements
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community_signal: Fan submission and 'This or That' format demonstrates active community participation in content creation and machine comparison discussions
high · Multiple named community members (Joel Engelberth, Gavin Francis, Chance Galinski, Josh Lender, and others) submitted comparison scenarios
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design_philosophy: Pulp Fiction consistently rated above Total Nuclear Annihilation and The Beatles in depth/complexity rankings despite aesthetic considerations
medium · Hosts establish clear preference hierarchy: 'Pulp Fiction over TNA... Pulp Fiction over The Beatles' based on feature set and gameplay depth

Topics

D&D as cornerstone Stern release and design innovationprimaryDragon mechanics and innovation in pinball designprimaryGame accessibility and audience suitability (family, competitive, casual)primaryCode depth and ruleset complexity as differentiatorssecondaryClassic vs. modern game preferencessecondaryThematic IP comparison (dragons, monsters, entertainment franchises)secondaryBrian Eddy's design trajectory and current work qualitymentionedMerchandise and apparel delays (Dirty Pool t-shirt reference)mentioned

Sentiment

positive(0.78)— Hosts express strong enthusiasm for D&D's mechanical innovation and design quality while maintaining balanced, respectful comparison of alternatives. Some light criticism of older titles (Monster Bash as overrated) balanced by appreciation for classics. Overall tone is celebratory of pinball diversity and inclusive community engagement through fan submissions. Lighter humor about unrelated topics (Con Air, Nicolas Cage films) maintains accessible, entertaining atmosphere.

Transcript

youtube_auto_sub · $0.000

let's kick this [Music] [ __ ] straight down the middle back at you Zach and Greg Greg last time we did a this or that it kind of cut off we ran out of M ran out of ran out of 4K really yeah let say technically a 6K crop not my fault normally I have extra SD cards well that's my fault because I take them so that's okay let's jump right into this or that for those of you who don't who don't know the what this or that is uh figure it out watch one of the previous video use Google it's your best friend what we didn't get to do last time Mr bone was uh we didn't get to talk about Dungeons and Dragons because it it just came out now we still haven't got our hands on one this is by Stern Pinball their newest Cornerstone as of this recording early 2025 but I thought why don't we take this chance to finish up or this or that but also to throw in some dragons here so how about this this or that and remember comment comment Down Below on what you would pick or which one of us you think is correct Dungeons and Dragons or it's counterpart for stiring pinball stranger things that's D and D related right right you still probably St shooter Rod oh now this is without us really playing it yes this is just based on watching the videos the streams of Dungeons and Dragons what we think it'll be uh versus what we have loved since it came out I'm going stranger things I'm going stranger things listen you still get the D and D element like you said still D and D element it's still stranger things you're getting better than stranger things and I just love the I don't know I love how it shoot I love the r set I love I've never have you ever played Dungeons and Dragons like I did when I was a 10 I went to a couple of dungeon dragons meetups did you yeah me and my brother please tell me what like a weird man's house that you went to no no it was just like a all the other kids one of your mom's F back in that early early early 90s have your kids come over play with my dragon play with this D and D tell them I'm wearing a wizard R my friend Steve's coming over we got two it's D and D oh man we got two D's over here said D and D man no you said 2 D's that's not appropriate no so you're going stranger things stranger things all in what about this one cuz a lot of people were shocked when you talked about the love that you had of Venom John Wick so fine we'll take uh we'll take Venom Pro and John Wick Pro okay or a d and dle oh oh no I'm going man I swear to God I listen I like those games that much and I like the way they shoot that much that I'm 100% going with those like no questions asked and that new D it's beautiful that La is beautiful but layout still going the freaking the toys and Mex the gelatinous boob or gelatinous cube right I mean there's just so much it's got that implant over there hey be might be might have sold I a good seller so far but maybe even better I can see the mod makers now we're going to make the gtin uh the like the coolest Mech that Stern's ever created in that dragons a moving Dragon it shoots pinballs at you that's insane just the fact that you can hit it from from multiple sides and multiple angles and it still registers as a I mean that's like a bash toy * 10 like it's the next and that's what we're always crying about Innovation Innovation something new yes and then here they come with something kick out from the it's like the little uh treasure chest with a tongue thing I forgot I'm sorry I don't know what that shit's called but it goes in there and like James Bond kicks it across the Playfield but it sets up your upper Flipper the layout's awesome on dude it's got a lot of cool stuff and they said it's one of the deepest code sets Dwight's ever yeah yeah I'm going deep I still think it might be one of Brian's this is looking like it might be one of Brian's best designs since back in his oh Shadow name abely this is his best design at certain I think he's starting to get back third flipper getting in that Groove a little bit hopefully [ __ ] took them long hey stranger things okay it's not the best shoo no but I like the way it shoot it feels good I like his brutality people say Ghostbuster shoots bad too and I don't shut up shut up all right we'll stick to D and D last D and D thing all right D and D premium we're going to keep it in the the realm of of medieval dungeons and dragon okay DND D premium by steering pinball mhm they still get the moving Dragon stuff and B 1987's Dungeons and Dragons remember that game we go topper and everything and throw in also a Game of Thrones LA because that's got dragons in it too all kinds of dragons or I like it Medieval Madness that remake that's got dragons and The Hobbit which has smow Dragon so as a recap the new Stern D and D premium and the D and D 1987 ballet and a game of thrones with kisi LA or Medieval Madness in The Hobbit do you know how hard that is because I want like four of those everything is so different and I I kind of think the the the old DND D kind of excuse it game number three it's a cool game but it's still just I mean you know it' be kind of cool having the old one and the new one oh not not off topic so a friend of ours a customer that bought the brand new customer that bought an Le so what got them in the pinball is they're giant DND D fans they went and got the old DND D but then they ended up owning two of them at one time because they finally found one with a Topper but didn't sell that one so they had two setting beside each other finally sold that one now they're going to have this one so now they're going to have the old one a very good example of the old one and then the new L set next to it it's not easy to find them old ones with the top no that's what they look forever and then finally found one so that's kind of I don't know I want to see a picture of that that'd be cool oh yeah I'll get a picture from her yeah it's cool but these are all drag pinball we love dragon stuff so are you dude the Game of Thrones is so good another Stern so it sits well with dungeon dragons Hobbit's good Hobbit's really good they all just again they play so the rules are all so different I Think It's Tricky for me but I would go I got a spot in my heart for The Hobbit I do too and Medieval Madness is pure fun I think I'm going to go that way yeah I've owned Game of Thrones a lot you know what I'm going to go I'm going Game of Thrones and I'm going dungeon only because of the depth you get Dungeons and Dragons just the moving Dragon the the I think most people agree with it CU most like hob as much I love The Hobbit I love the rules set on that but many people Madness as fun and as great as it is it's still it's still the rule set that it is so it's I think I'm going to go something a little deeper and a little more complex I ran into this one the other night I may have been intoxicated but I might not have been it's just weird uh knowing which way it was maybe I don't even remember but I stumbled upon this this or that did you ever take a [ __ ] and have this or that and you're like oh yeah oh that's a good I don't even know which way I'd go yeah so I wanted to present it to you it's out of right field doesn't make any sense World Poker Tour okay and Maverick both card them right you get some card stuff or WWE Stern WWE I thought you were going like oh and Royal R to keep it wrest so you go with the card games and Maverick and World Poker Tour or do you go to the stinker that people think Stern WWE is Ellie and Rumble which we like we like the Royal rumble's amazing I like Royal Roy Rumble is great um and I got stumped on this one cuz I don't Poker Tour is a good game I don't I don't get it people love it it's got a lot of dep but if you were to ask people World Poker Tour or Sterns WWE people be like they slap you like what are you yeah but the problem is is then you you get into like Maverick I hear mix about Maverick some people say you know hey once you learn like what you're supposed to do the the rules it's it's kind of a good game but then some people are like n it's just a piece of [ __ ] yeah it's [ __ ] yeah I find it hard but for some reason I'm going wrestling because I think Royal Rumble is so good I love I but call me crazy Greg bone I wouldn't mind owning a WWE L something's drawing me I would play it to it the little upper ring I'm not mad at it because I like the Nostalgia of the old wrestling stuff Hulk Hogan Mao man and stuff and I've never really owned the LA mhm I've owned the the pro with John Cena and stuff I'm not wrestling but that's still nostalgic if somebody has a nice WWE I'm good with that I I agree they think we're crazy I agree all right now our friend Joel uh flipping out Joel engelberth uh he he had a cool scenario here he said what about a game specifically for the grand kids cuz he's thinking of his parents like what what would be good at his parents house for the grandkids that come over or just in general any of you or grandpappies out there grandies uh Looney Tunes okay that's a kid theme Scooby-Doo okay that's a kid and Stoner theme and then or Toy Story okay I was glad cuz I already was like if he don't throw that in there Joel you're dead to would you would Toy Story wow just that easy 100% that easy Scooby-Doo I just don't like I mean kids are going to get kind of frustrated with it and I think Looney Tunes maybe the same way kids like to go to the upper Playfield though I think yeah but I mean depending on the age of the kids it's still a widebody it's still kind of Lun tun can be brutal it's what I'm saying Looney Tunes is fast I mean great shots you can get some good flow going on there's a lot going on but it's like you said that can be very brutal whereas I think Toy Story it still has a lot of fun you can hit the shots it's still Toy Story de don't care still depth the like Kaboom is always F fantastic to H I'm going toy St Toy Story all in easy what do you guys think perfect game for the grand kids and then Joel came back and also said what about this how about this or that a modern pen with retro Vibes so total nuclear Annihilation okay or Pulp Fiction or the Beatles o all modern with retro feel feels see I love TNA pul fiction The Beatles or TNA I love TNA but it's TNA still repetitive uh Pulp Fiction is freaking phenomenal yeah man and I love the Beetles it's one of my favorite Stern game so here's here's the deal I would take the Beatles over TNA kill me I will I think but then It's Tricky I think fiction over mhm just because of the the depth and complexity of that and it's still Pulp Fiction over the beetle Beatles and D you know where it gets really complicated is which one's which one aesthetically is the most beautiful oh that tricky I know the art on Beatles is better but when you look at the full composition and you look at how that as a p i know like the topper pulp I know it feels more retro it does yeah that's what I'm saying that becomes tough I'm still going Pulp Fiction just because of everything that's in it the subway I'm going Pulp Fiction too because it's just a back two physical ball locks the call outs everything yeah Pulp Fiction Beatles then how about this uh yeah if it's an alley of Pulp Fiction I'm going that if it is just the SE then give me Beatles Because I can't do without that topper I've got to have that topper okay all right now this individual down south pinball shout out uh they said I want to add a pro version to my lineup I wouldn't go Star Wars Pro no I'm sorry all right they want to add a pro version to their lineup they've narrowed it down to Iron Maiden Pro or Deadpool Pro and this is they've got all of wins other games they've got a bond a Batman 66 a Gomez and they like both of their Styles so would you go Iron Maiden Pro or Deadpool Pro who you got to go both I mean that's I know they've got all of elwin's other stuff so that they need Iron Maiden no so that's what I was thinking so a lot of that are very serious games there's still just something to be said about Deadpool is just still pure fun the shots are good the code is good but Deadpool is still just fun to me and Iron Maiden is fun but it's still Lin it can still be some brutalness to it it can still you know still a more serious game um I'm almost I'm I'm going to go Deadpool on that you could go Pros for both of those I mean iron made oh easily both fantastic games yeah I would I would I would go Deadpool just because it's still light-hearted quirky it still has some depth to it um anybody can step up and play it yeah I'd go Deadpool Pro as well the only caveat would be if like you're super competitive type of player and maybe iron maybe because you're going to see that probably more in tournaments and stuff but agreed yeah agreed all right Gavin Francis said you're going to go Pulp Fiction bad mother Flipper the Le uh or an original Medieval Madness that determined it for me uh I'd have a harder time if it was the Remake cuz I prefer the Remake over the original Medieval Madness so on P yeah yeah cuz I don't want to work on [ __ ] man I don't want to work on [ __ ] and if there's a better version out there I want that so I I would never be content with an original Medieval Madness all these you know old guys are like no the originals are better I think I go pulp too you're going pulp mhm okay it's just I know that I've got the best version I just mine's just not so that it's just still the the the depth of the code as much as and I still want a medieval manness it's it's still amazing and I have a blast on that game yeah but okay what about uh chance Kinski chance galinsky said are you going to go to a Creature from the Black Lagoon Monster Bash oh Cree Cree all day long easily I think Monster Bash and overrated I do too and we love univers we're we're giant Universal monster fan I love that theme I love the sound I love the I love the look of it it's gorgeous the rules y rules are a little rest in peace Lin I love it but that that I just never got you can really blow that game up in one night and then be done Quist bble I don't know if it's like a list Quist bble but his name was no Quist it's not Kristen Quist I read both names is bble bble that's I thought it was Kristen Bieber I'm trying to think of what's a Bieber song trying to think of a Bieber song I don't know oh [ __ ] I want to hear Bieber with a list quen people quen went with a a fully Decked Out virtual pin okay or an em with a wonky flipper that's funny I would still go with the em with walk flipper because I'm I will fix that flipper there's no fixing virtual pin at least you got one real flipper exactly exactly you just get used to nudging bouncing off of that dead I think most people would think that I would go em as well cuz they know how I feel yeah but I mean dude you know what some virtual pinball stuff I think I may go virtual pin some virtual pinball stuff's cool you want to know why why because the EM doesn't work and I do not I don't want to mess with an em I don't know how to mess like I can't that's very true so one would be a paper weight and the other one at least would be one that I don't play what if it was a solid state game with a a wonky flipper I could fix that okay yeah so it changes yeah you know the only reason I would want a virtual pen is to learn rules I would like I used to say that but then no I don't a [ __ ] about don't I still do no I'd like to learn the only reason but I still wouldn't buy one for that what I'd want to vpin for is some of the interesting things that they do I'd want to maybe learn from like oh that's an interesting layout I wonder if that would work in phys I agree or I wonder how we can make that work in phys like because there's cool I did that with the I played the Jurassic Park pins on Virtual pins and they're just so [ __ ] cool and I thought the same thing like how couldn't How Could You incorporate this into a real game all right next one comes from Adam Hicks buddy Adam Hicks what Adam hick says how about this this or that James Bond with the original release code okay or a [ __ ] root canal W he got joke it was such a good joke I had to include it I my timing was good on presenting it or J that Bond was bad it was bad was so bad man it was a watered oh my God it was it wasn't even system 11 level it was bad I hate going to the dentist it was really bad so I'll go with I'll go with in hopes of knowing what it can become yeah I'll go with Bond oh man still shoots Canal suck BR Canal do suck that's funny only had one all right Misha said I'm back [ __ ] last time they said mac and cheese or mashed potatoes not as easy as one might think no I love mashed potatoes I do love mashed potatoes but if I mean going Mash pot they're not designating gravy though no I'm fine with just mashed potatoes I love mashed potatoes I do I know that that's crazy everybody out there Mac cheese oh not instant instant you know what hey give me both when I first met my wife I cuz I grew up you a good home cooking thr I got into the cabinet and there was flaky mashed potatoes in there I was like what the [ __ ] is this how you even [ __ ] make this yeah I'm like it's like add warm milk and butter like no you're not bro you better get out that mixer that [ __ ] wasn't bad you don't want lumpy potatoes he we ate that we ate now she makes real mashed potatoes but I remember hitting the side of the bowl with that little mixer and like a whole stick of butter that's how Grand yeah shake you more so you're going to mash potatoes I'm going to mashed potatoes I love without gravy yeah I'm fine without gra give me give me a grape mac and cheese but with gravy I'm going Mash white gravy or brown gravy I'm a brown gravy guy I like brown gravy I I'll eat a white gravy especially if I'm eating breakfast but um but I like a brown gravy give turkey gravy over all of it that's That's Country oh turkey grav I was supposed to go Barr last night I didn't go I'm so mad I didn't go to that dinner sit by that fireplace eat my chicken fried ever met this mad that they didn't get to go to crack I love cracker bar it reminds me of vacation they got the little store you just walk in there it's just like when you're on vacation and I walk in there yeah it's such going to cheap little shop yeah it's a happy place for me and I always request even if I had to wait now the oldfashioned candy I'm going to say yeah oh yeah salt waterer I bought some ski in there remember like ski like Mountain Dew ski yeah I bought some ski in there one oh man I love I go to that little shop the little Peg I get the little game I get little Swizzle candy sticks like you didn't get like five for a dollar I get those oh yeah I sit by the fireplace I will wait I will wait an hour to sit by the I don't judge people to go to Cracker Barrel for breakfast especially if they don't have a local Diner you shouldn't judge anybody to go crack bar but man if they're eating dinner you don't crack man oh my God that's like that's like I get a unsweet tea that's like Denny's no it is not say's breakfast Denny without breakfast D no no I hey I'll go I'll go I'll eat there I'm going to say something so my kids told me I haven't been in there for a minute my kids said they repainted ours but they painted it like white yeah so they said it doesn't have the Ambiance and it doesn't have that they said it feels too too you got to feel like you rub your finger and have duck like all the [ __ ] hanging like the tricycles hanging [ __ ] sorry tangent but I love that place Robert mcclaflin said bird dog peach or bird dog Blackberry I think it's a liquor I think I've drinking bird dog before it might be like a is it a vodka or is it like a tequila I know Mad Dog this is uh bir I don't know I I guess I would go with uh I think I I'm not a big Peach guy I'm a peach guy but I think I would take Peach forever wow such an amazing movie what do we need get Face Off Face face off would you like anything else once we're airborne oh Peach you know I can uh eat a peach for hours when he's like in the he the at the [Music] beginning your voice makes even a hack like him seem like a genius hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah [Music] first like takes over his he's saying that and then record I could eat eat a peach so stup amazing I love that movie God he's speaking truth too I like a peach over a Blackberry you're more of a Blackberry take a peach though like black the ber sweet the juice though that's what they say that's what they sayit all right we got to end this thing Josh lender said this or that will I actually get to order a dirty sank t-shirt this year or we just going to keep getting our pinballs teased I we should have we should you got tears you I love Nick Cage I could eat a I love Nick Cage I love [ __ ] love I still we still need to do that Con Air machine I watched that the other night I made my kids watch it even though it's R I was like I'm sorry I want a Topper a sculpt of his head but his hair is blowing on the Topp it's just a fan on it blowing his hair I forget oh my gosh if you wouldn't have said it wow oh man that's going to mess with me now Steve bashim oh man John malovic Chappelle Dave Chappelle dude it's a that's an Allstar cast Danny bro it is a that is like that is one of the biggest All-Star casts I've ever seen in my I still get creeped out about this Steve bashim thing oh it's so creepy I still don't know what happened no I don't either no I don't think we're supposed to to me that's worse than what's in the box oh yeah what's in the box no we know what's in the box we don't know what happened we don't know what happened they didn't explain it either no no thanks to end on that note uh like And subscribe and follow and if you're looking for a brand new pinball machine come get your peaches living out pinball yeah so bye bye-bye from flipping out pinb you can even email Greg Greg flippinout pinball.com or text him or something but uh until next this or that we should have done this or that Nicholas Cage movies I'd like them all we should do a top 10 ni Cage movie long legs man oh long legs what was the one with the Vegas I the not the dark one 55 mm oh not the god that's real dark that's real dark no not the one Fe and lo or no that's um [ __ ] um what is leaving Leaving Las Vegas Leaving Las Vegas I like the comedy one yeah think James con honeymoon in that he gambled all this life with straight down the midle you had a fling with a slingshot you're rolling out the out again and try to cradle you with my dude I'm warm blood you cold blood I mean cold yeah but I mean I'm cold I run hot I run cold that's why most people are yeah we make a good Duo there don't we hot cold I hate being cold yeah I don't mind it and you don't like being hot being hot I can't stand being hot [ __ ] hot man I hate being cold I about die I'm dying right now I need my heaters if I on a pool I would die I could not be outside in the summer if I didn't have a hot tub I'd die I love I out there I pee outside in the cold do you yeah every night smoking stoy and pee outside yeah smoke smoke cigar on the back por yeah cigar I love cold I don't I set out last year 4 degree Carl Weathers had cigar it's nuts I don't like it a little fire going fire pit no thank you I like it yeah I don't know why it's weird