SDTM Episode 62: This Or That? (Maiden LE vs POTC LE & more pinball choices)

TL;DR

SDTM hosts play 'This or That' pinball machine comparison game with viewer submissions.

Summary

Key Claims

• Iron Maiden LE and Pirates of the Caribbean LE have approximately $500 price difference

  high confidence · Greg Bone states Iron Maiden LE is $9,000-$9,900 and mentions only a $500 difference from POTC LE

• Pirates of the Caribbean will not have Johnny Depp or video in future versions

  high confidence · Zach Sharp mentions 'no Johnny Depp or no video ever again' regarding licensing limitations

• Guardians of the Galaxy recently received a new code update (Heavy Metal Meltdown)

  medium confidence · Greg Bone mentions 'Guardians has a new code now. Guard people are really... Good. Heavy Metal Meltdown'

• Iron Maiden code is considered superior to recent Guardians code updates

  medium confidence · Greg Bone states 'I'll give Iron Maiden the... not there' and later 'It's no Iron Maiden code'

• The Big Lebowski is a better game than Heighway Pinball's Alien

  low confidence · Greg Bone personal opinion: 'It's a better shooter. It's it's a better theme'

Notable Quotes

• “Do you go Iron Maiden Elite or do you go Pirates of the Caribbean with Jersey Jack Pinball?”

  Zach Sharp@ 3:06 — Opens first major This or That comparison of the episode

• “I like toys and I like gimmicks and I like movies. I love movies and I like good art... Pirates of the Caribbean stands out.”

  Greg Bone@ 4:06 — Explains preference rationale emphasizing theme and mechanical elements

• “It's a better game... The Big Lebowski is a way better theme than Alien.”

  Greg Bone@ 9:46 — Clear statement of preference separating game quality from theme attachment

• “I'm gonna go short-term Iron Maiden, long-term Guardians because Guardians will stay in my collection longer.”

  Zach Sharp@ 13:33 — Articulates timeline-based purchasing strategy for collection management

• “If I had the collection that I have right now, I'd go with The Lord of the Rings. If I was a few pins short, I will always take quantity over the quality.”

  Greg Bone@ 18:26 — Demonstrates collection-dependent decision-making philosophy

• “I just don't like the Shane Black. The Arrow trim package. It looks blotchy all the time.”

  Zach Sharp@ 29:42 — Specific criticism of cosmetic design element affecting preference

• “If you want a fast-shooting game that's fun, balls of the wall, you're just shooting balls, go Guardians. If you want a masterpiece of beauty, elegance, and in your game room that's really deep and hopefully an upcoming final code that puts it over the top, go The Hobbit.”

Entities

Signals

• ?

  code_update: Guardians of the Galaxy recent code update (Heavy Metal Meltdown) mentioned as improvement but still considered inferior to Iron Maiden's established code

  medium · Greg Bone: 'Guardians has a new code now... It's Papa Duke cool. I like it, but it's no Iron Maiden code'

• ?

  community_signal: Viewer participation in This or That segment indicates active community engagement with show format; multiple viewer submissions received and discussed

  high · Multiple viewer questions incorporated throughout episode ('Fish and Pinball' submission, 'The Jack' submission, 'John Krause' submissions)

• ?

  competitive_signal: Hobbit positioned for potential final code improvement that 'puts it over the top,' suggesting ongoing development and community expectations for ruleset enhancement

  medium · Greg Bone: 'hopefully an upcoming final code that puts it over the top, go The Hobbit, dude'

• ?

  design_philosophy: Clear tension between players who value toy/theme/movie integration (Greg Bone favoring JJP) vs those valuing pure code depth and shot layout (potentially Stern-leaning)

  high · Greg Bone: 'I like toys and I like gimmicks and I like movies... Pirates stands out' vs discussion of Iron Maiden's superior code

• $

  market_signal: Price parity between premium machines (Iron Maiden LE ~$9500 vs POTC LE ~$10k) enabling direct feature/quality comparison shopping

  high · Greg Bone discusses only $500 difference between Iron Maiden LE ($9,000-$9,900) and POTC LE

Topics

Sentiment

positive(0.75)— Hosts express enthusiasm for machines being compared, though with critical analysis. Positive tone dominated by playful debate and genuine appreciation for game design. Some criticism of specific design elements (Shane Black Arrow trim, mustard) but overall constructive and good-natured.