Episode 107 – Pindemonium with Mrs & Dr Pin

Head2Head Pinball·podcast_episode·1h 51m·analyzed·Sep 2, 2019

Analysis

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TL;DR

Australian pinball champion Paul Jones discusses competitive play, game pricing, and modern pinball technology.

Summary

Host meets Paul Jones, an Australian competitive pinball champion, in Wollongong to discuss pinball history, modern machine pricing, and gameplay. Paul shares his competitive journey representing Australia internationally and discusses the evolution of pinball technology. The segment includes live gameplay demonstration on an AC/DC pinball machine and discussion of modern game pricing ($8-9k base, $13-14k LE) and Stern's release schedule.

Key Claims

Stern releases approximately three pinball machines per year
high confidence · Paul Jones states directly: 'Stern release probably three a year'
Base model pinball machines cost $8-9,000 and limited edition models cost $13-14,000
high confidence · Paul Jones provides pricing breakdown: 'base model, which is probably eight to nine thousand... limited edition... around thirteen to fourteen thousand'
Paul Jones represented Australia at an international pinball tournament in Italy, competing against the top 64 players
high confidence · Paul confirms: 'The top two throughout Australia got the chance to go overseas... and myself and Jason Lambert from Brisbane went over and against the top sixty-four players'
Competitive pinball players practice 2-3 hours per day, especially leading up to major tournaments
high confidence · Paul states: 'especially leading up to the big ones. Probably two to three hours a day'
Australia is improving its standing in pinball and competing increasingly with European players
medium confidence · Paul responds when asked about Australia's pinball records: 'We're pretty good. We're getting better and better. Obviously, more and more tournaments too much with the Europeans'

Notable Quotes

“Stern release probably three a year”
Paul Jones @ ~7:45 — Establishes Stern's annual release cadence
“You got your base model, which is probably eight to nine thousand. Then you have your limited edition, which is the top-end, you know. You're looking around thirteen to fourteen thousand.”
Paul Jones @ ~9:20 — Provides current market pricing for new machines
“The top two throughout Australia got the chance to go overseas, and myself and Jason Lambert from Brisbane went over and against the top sixty-four players”
Paul Jones @ ~2:15 — Details Australia's international tournament participation
“I've got a six-year-old boy, and you know, I do that through the duties, but he loves it. He loves being down here as well.”
Paul Jones @ ~4:00 — Illustrates competitive player's family life and balance with pinball engagement
“Nowadays, you know, a lot more with modern technology, and they can do a lot more ruleset and everything else. Like so, and animations, as you can see on the back screen there.”
Paul Jones @ ~6:30 — Contrasts modern pinball technology with historical machines

Entities

Paul Jonesperson Jason Lambertperson AMD DistributorscompanyStern PinballcompanyAC/DCgame Game of Thronesgame Star Warsgame

Signals

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business_signal: Stern Pinball maintaining consistent release cadence of approximately 3 machines per year in Australian market
high · Paul Jones: 'Stern release probably three a year' and AMD Distributors handling modern releases
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event_signal: International pinball tournament in Italy featuring top 64 players with Australian representatives competing
high · Paul Jones and Jason Lambert represented Australia against 'top sixty-four players' in Italy
?
community_signal: Australia showing competitive growth in pinball rankings with increased participation in international tournaments and rising performance against European competitors
medium · Paul Jones: 'We're pretty good. We're getting better and better. Obviously, more and more tournaments too much with the Europeans'
$
market_signal: Current Australian retail pricing for new pinball machines: $8-9k base, $13-14k limited edition representing premium tier pricing
high · Paul Jones provides direct pricing: 'base model, which is probably eight to nine thousand... limited edition... around thirteen to fourteen thousand'

Transcript

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0:02

I think pinball machines are a thing of the past we have some great news for you they are back in a very big way and we've sent our very retro John a Coleman off to investigate g'day John oh where are you exactly

0:27

I'm losing my balls hello there hi there base guys and gals it's me John Oh common hi Sarah I'm in Wollongong Wollongong which is of course the ancient aboriginal word for pinball paradise and I'm here with my very good friend Paul come over here Paul now this guy I thought I was addicted to pinball machines and jukeboxes and all that sort of stuff and you Paul a pinball champion how long have you been playing the pennies fixing them owning them Oh ever since I was a young kid probably back when I was 14 but I had a message break from it and I got back into it probably competitive side of pinball for the last six years I mean look at this look at this over here Sarah and Joe and everyone but all the stuff he's won just from being pin pinball wizard and I mean Paul Jones pinball wizard I mean do you do you sort of you've represented Australia recently in Italy yes that's correct the top two are throughout Australia got the chance to go overseas and myself and Jason Lambert from Brisbane went over and against the top 64 players I just love it you can just you can just I mean it you got to practice a lot oh yeah practice practice a lot especially leading up to the big ones probably 2 to 3 hours a day and and you have like any youngsters around the house we've gotta go dad please help me with you with my homework come out of the pinball treasure chest yeah look at stuff but it's a balance I've got a six year old boy and you know I do that through the duties but he loves it he loves being down here as well so unbelievable it's like this sort of ultimate so over stimulation for Johnno I don't think Joe Hildebrand its dad this game of Thrones games as ac/dc there's a Star Wars games there's kiss there's everything that the the miss spent youth that I had down at Bondi Beach and all the milk bars things have changed so much Paul yes you know I put my money have a look down here back in the old days you see you would put your money on the machine because you sort of put your 20 cents in your ten cents on the machine and and that meant that that was held for you to play that's correct sir if you come back get a third a thick shake or a malted milk or something and then you just play your videos but how much the technology's changed yeah it definitely changed nowadays you know a lot more with modern technology and they can do a lot more rule set and everything else like so and animations as you can see on the back screen there and it's great it is incredible I mean I was saying to to Sarah and Joe and everyone before the fact that you know you just think that that pennies don't come out new pin balls don't come out but like Game of Thrones is how often do pinball machines come out I look Stern release probably three a year and you've got people in Sydney AMD distributors which are based at Alexandria they're there they're distributed for all the modern machines like Batman ac/dc as you've touched on Star Wars so don't see Bruce and Michael up there and they look after everyone in regards to the new releases what's your I mean how much does a pinball machine cost these days if I wanted to have one in my man cave when Joe comes over when you know we just you choose hang out yeah look they range there's three models you got your base model which is probably eight to nine thousand then you have your limited edition which is the top-end you know you're looking around thirteen to fourteen thousand all right Joe I'm gonna do some major wheeling and dealing I will bring back a pinball machine for the studio ten cast and crew and we'll be back live in Wollongong very shortly and I'll show you a few tilting and flippin methods right are you going John I've you loosen up those thumbs that are you going the pinball yeah it's not actually a thumbs thumbs is more texting Sarah that's more your department yes I'm here and I'm I'm very over stimulated Joe knows what I mean I'm over tilted I heard this is not a place for you to be Joe this is not a place for people who are worried by flashing lights and Paul show me some of the things you show you before we're gonna start the game here okay okay now does it get a bit nasty during sort of Thomas does it get a bit kind of people nudging you and stuff semi professional okay for young people watching the idea is when the big silver ball goes up there you don't want it to go through the flippers that's the last thing you keep the ball in play as long as possible okay here we go here we go I'm playing the ac/dc one here we go here we go yes this has got lots of moving parts - a - Sarah yeah don't come on well here comes from an export I know I know but if I push it too much it tilts note it's a bit like my doing okay look the poor nuts here I'm scoring points I'm scoring points are you look see it's all up there okay I can't you do it now take over Paul here we go yeah interview Paul while he's doing it no no I'm Paul could you could you apply and talk at the same yeah right we can do that which country in the world is the dirtiest players would it be the Italian no I wouldn't say they tell you how does Australia stand in the pinball records oh we're pretty good we're we're getting better and better obviously more and more tournaments too much with the Europeans and so forth them how much is this ac/dc machine gonna cost me and Joe Hildebrand oh you can take this one if you like [Laughter]