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Kaneda's Pinball Podcast Saturday Morning Spectacular - September 6

Kaneda Pinball Podcasts YouTube Lives·video·1h 6m·analyzed·Sep 7, 2025
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Analysis

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TL;DR

Kaneda predicts Star Wars reveal will disappoint; criticizes Stern's launch strategy and Barrels' Dune sales spin.

Summary

Kaneda discusses the imminent Star Wars: Fall of the Empire reveal and shares insider feedback indicating the game will be underwhelming and 'mediocre.' He critiques Stern's marketing approach, NDA strategy, and messaging around the launch. He also extensively analyzes Barrels of Fun's Dune sales performance, accusing David Vaness of using 'delusion' to spin poor sales as market softness rather than a theme problem, and offers detailed advice on how to properly showcase Dune at Expo.

Key Claims

  • Stern does not have a full artwork game rolling around the facility and is keeping Star Wars very secretive

    medium confidence · Kaneda citing insider sources who have played the game but aren't giving specifics

  • Star Wars will be better than the Steve Ritchie Star Wars game but not impressive overall; features simpler layout designed for casual play

    medium confidence · Kaneda reports hearing from people who have played the game that it's 'just all right' and 'okay'

  • The AT-ST will be the main mech and will fall over like the Avatar mech, not as impressive as Hyperdrive

    medium confidence · Kaneda speculation based on insider feedback

  • Walking Dead is confirmed as the next game after Star Wars, not Tron

    high confidence · Kaneda claims '100% confirmation' of Walking Dead as next release

  • Barrels of Fun has 81 Labyrinth games remaining unsold and selling only 1-2 per week after initially announcing 1,200 units

    medium confidence · David Vaness texted Kaneda this information

  • Dune has not sold 663 units (Kaneda's subscriber count) and the market softness is due to the game title, not market conditions

    medium confidence · Kaneda's interpretation of David Vaness's responses about Dune sales

  • Star Wars Limited Edition (770 units) will feature a new Star Wars artist, not Zombie Yeti or Randy Martinez

    high confidence · Kaneda states he has been told this information directly

  • Stern's new CMO is not from the pinball industry and isn't contributing effectively to marketing

    medium confidence · Kaneda citing what he has heard 'over the years' from unspecified sources

  • Stern does not want to invest in creative marketing and still sees distributors as primary target, not collectors

    medium confidence · Kaneda claims this was 'main focus' of his meeting with Stern

Notable Quotes

  • “I don't think anybody knew. I don't even think Stern knows, to be honest.”

    Kaneda @ Early segment — Sets tone for entire segment criticizing Star Wars reveal opacity

  • “It's feeling like this launch is being made up as they go.”

    Kaneda @ Opening — Core criticism of Star Wars launch strategy

  • “They're gonna—they're going to get everyone to sign NDAs. They're going to do a dealer call on Tuesday. The images are going to leak on Tuesday before the media day, which makes the media day pointless.”

    Kaneda @ NDA discussion — Prediction of how Star Wars reveal will actually unfold

  • “It's not the market that's weak. It's the title that's weak. And that's a hard sort of pill to swallow because, you know, it really must hurt.”

    Kaneda @ Dune sales analysis — Directcritique of David Vaness's spin on Dune performance

  • “Spooky is going to sell 999 Beetlejuices in one day. In one hour. So, you know what I'm saying? Jersey Jack has sold more $15,000 Harry Potter in one month than all the Dune sales combined.”

    Kaneda @ Dune market context — Evidence that market is strong for other titles, weak specifically for Dune

  • “They need a separate room. They need to do it that way. Okay. I'm just saying that—is—is like—it—this—I don't want the pressure even just the pressure on my ears is changing the dynamic of how you should experience a pinball machine.”

    Kaneda @ Dune Expo strategy — Specific recommendation for Barrels to succeed at Expo

  • “There is a big difference between 'You made a really fun game that I really enjoy playing at a show,' to me that's King Kong. Really enjoy flipping King Kong. I don't ever want to own one. And that is the hurdle that Dune has to overcome.”

    Kaneda @ Dune ownership problem — Identifies core issue: Dune plays well but doesn't compel ownership

  • “If you made Batman '89, just go get it. Make it again. Sell a 1,000 units in one minute.”

Entities

Star Wars: Fall of the EmpiregameDunegameKanedapersonDavid VanesspersonBarrels of FuncompanyStern PinballcompanyJohn Borgperson

Signals

  • ?

    business_signal: Labyrinth initial 1,200-unit goal reduced to ~1,000 due to demand shortfall; 81 units still unsold after extended sales period

    high · Kaneda: 'When Labyrinth came out, they announced they're making 1,200 Labyrinth games... So now they got 81 left... selling like one to two a week... it would take over a year to get rid of those 81'

  • ?

    community_signal: Barrels planning Expo presence but potentially without optimized presentation setup (headphones mentioned as insufficient); Kaneda offering unsolicited strategic advice

    medium · Kaneda proposing 'Dune room' with dark space, no headphones, rotating 20-minute sessions at Expo for optimal cinematic experience

  • ?

    design_philosophy: Star Wars designed as simpler, more casual-friendly layout departing from competitive depth; AT-ST mech will fall over (ineffective mechanical design compared to expectations)

    medium · Kaneda: 'I think we're going to see a much simpler layout. I think we're going to see a game meant for more casual pinball fun, more universally easy to play' and 'Most likely the AT-ST is the mech, and it's going to be much like the mech in Avatar that just falls over'

  • ?

    leak_detection: Kaneda predicts Star Wars images will leak on Tuesday before official media reveal, making media day pointless

    medium · Kaneda: 'They're gonna—they're going to get everyone to sign NDAs. They're going to do a dealer call on Tuesday. The images are going to leak on Tuesday before the media day'

  • $

    market_signal: Significant gap between Dune sales and successful competitor releases (JJP Harry Potter, Spooky Beetlejuice); theme attribution rather than market weakness

Transcript

youtube_auto_sub · $0.000

0:07
All right, we live. We live. We a little bit late today, but I don't know. I feel good. How do you guys feel? Feeling like we're going to get Star Wars today? I don't know. I do not know. I don't think anybody knew. I don't even think Stern knows, to be honest. Oh man, here we go.
0:41
I got the iced coffee. Let's let people come in the house. We got Tilt Pin, baby. Jeremy, thank you for the one, two, three, four, five, six twies. Appreciate it. Happy Saturday morning, Spectacular. Little bit later today. went to see my little one play soccer. It's chaos. It's absolute chaos watching a four-year-old on a soccer field. They literally are running around like like asteroids. How was the soccer match? It was good. Jangis, I'm telling you, it was better than Stern Star Wars. Oh, shoot. It's too soon. We're going to talk about Stern Star Wars. What we're hearing, what the buzz or lack of buzz is on the streets. The kids are getting nervous, man. It's feeling like this launch is being made up as they go. No NDA required to hang out with Ganeda's Pinball Podcast, the world's somewhat favorite pinball podcast. How's everybody doing? Want to thank all the 663 maybe four subscribers that are listening on a weekly basis to the world's most entertaining most dynamic no show notes keeps you informed, keeps you smiling, keeps you laughing. Like if you're not listening to Canadas Pinball podcast, you you're not getting the full picture. I feel bad. You know, for just $5 a month, I'm giving you more fun than these damn machines are. You guys know it. Tim is in the house. What else is happening right now? You know, look, I got some inside information. Look, Sad Boy just hitting with the 50 bucks right away. My boy must have had a good night at the casino. Sad Boy, thank you so much. Let's read what you have become a staple now on this show. You've been kicking this show off every week with your donations, and I really appreciate it. The rest of you, you live in sad boy shadow in my honest opinion. What's good, brother? Cuphead is dead in the water from copyreritten mech that will probably keep it from being released. Wow. So, there's a mech in Cuphead that they can't release. Wormhole closes due to a divorce. Wow. Is that true? And Arvid can't even save Predator. Talk about a funfilled week. Wait, so the dude who owns Wormhole Pinball is getting divorced, which probably means the wife is taking half of all of those games. There's no faster way to destroy a wealthy man's happiness than to get a divorce. You know, I have no prenup. None. None. None. This is it. This is it. Not breaking up the family unit. not gonna get divorced the moment the kids are like out of school because I'm chasing tail like an idiot. Nope. This is it. It is sad to hear that though. It is sad. Divorce sucks. It's painful. It's painful. Um yeah, it's it's it's it's really, you know, because whenever divorce happens, it's never like the guy gets half of the woman's pinball machines or half of her car collection. You know, you know what I'm saying? You know, half of the Birkin bags. Anything you're going to get half of as a man, you're never going to want. Ah, what's the leak on Star Wars? Oh man, there's no leaks on Star Wars. There's no I'll tell you right now, from what I've heard, like Stern doesn't even have like a full artwork game rolling around the joint there. Like, they're keeping it very under wraps. But I continue to hear more and more uh information on the game from people that have played it.

  • No Stern LE has been as nice as Ghostbusters since Ghostbusters (4-5 years of mediocre LEs)

    low confidence · Kaneda's opinion based on his assessment of recent releases

    • Kaneda @ Alternative theme discussion — Example of theme licensing opportunity that would outsell Dune

  • “Why would I sp—why would I spend money out of my own pocket to go to Stern to see a Star Wars game where Stern's own employees are telling me it's mediocre?”

    Kaneda @ Stern media event decision — Kaneda refusing to attend Stern media day based on insider feedback quality

  • “Intentions, realities, and delusions. Okay? Intentions, realities, and delusions.”

    Kaneda @ David Vaness communication analysis — Framework Kaneda uses to interpret Barrels' messaging

    • Zombie Yeti
    person
    Jersey Jack Pinballcompany
    Spooky Pinballcompany
    Labyrinthgame
    The Walking Deadgame
    Harry Pottergame
    Retro Ralphperson
    Genghisperson
    Christopher Franchiperson
    King Konggame
    Beetlejuicegame
    Pinball Expoevent
    Avatargame

    high · Kaneda: 'Jersey Jack has sold more $15,000 Harry Potter in one month than all the Dune sales combined' and 'Spooky is going to sell 999 Beetlejuices in one day'

  • $

    market_signal: Stern's CMO from outside pinball industry; ineffective marketing approach focusing on distributor relationships rather than consumer engagement

    medium · Kaneda: 'the new CMO at Stern... isn't really... doing much... he just doesn't come from this world... Stern just doesn't want to invest in like marketing ideas'

  • ?

    personnel_signal: Star Wars LE features new/different artist (not Zombie Yeti, not Randy Martinez); suggests artist change at Stern for specific high-profile releases

    high · Kaneda: 'It's not Zombie Yeti on art. It is a Star Wars artist. It is not Randy Martinez. It is an all-new artist.'

  • $

    market_signal: Dune base price $12,200 plus accessories ($13,400+ total) perceived as excessive given weak theme/sales; pricing pressure on boutique manufacturers

    medium · Kaneda: 'the game's $12,200 and now additional accessories for the sling plastics and the shooter... people are not going to be dropping $13,400 on the game'

  • ?

    announcement: Walking Dead confirmed as next Stern release after Star Wars (Kaneda claims 100% confirmation); may feature show clips

    high · Kaneda: 'I hate to break everybody, but I have 100% confirmation that Walking Dead is after this game. 100%. It's not Tron. It's Walking Dead.'

  • ?

    product_strategy: Star Wars LE uncertain on differentiation value; Kaneda notes problem is Premium looking as good as LE, reducing LE appeal

    medium · Kaneda: 'I think if they make the Premium look as good as the LE, the problem with LEs now... is like nobody cares anymore'

  • ?

    product_concern: Insider feedback indicates Star Wars will be 'just all right' and 'okay,' better than Steve Ritchie game but not impressive overall

    medium · Kaneda: 'I'm just hearing that the game is just all right. Like, it's okay. Like, it's fun. It's okay. It's not going to be this like take my money now OMG game'

  • ~

    sentiment_shift: Community sentiment on Limited Edition machines has deteriorated; no must-have LE features for 4-5 years post-Ghostbusters

    medium · Kaneda: 'The LE has been absolutely completely turned into a meaningless overpriced like token... Nothing's had an exclusive anything that's been a must-have'

    • 4:46
    And you know, look, they're not giving me like too many specifics, but just feels like the same old story. Stuff was yanked out of the game. Um, and the game is just I'm hearing is it's not going to blow us away. It's I'm hearing it's better than the Steve Richie game, which arguably is maybe the lowest bar in the history of Star Wars games. It's better than that. And I think it's going to be better than that because of the code. You know, I don't even think this game is going to have a mech as like impressive as the hyperdrive. Uh, most likely the AT-ST is the mech and it's going to be much like the mech in Avatar that just falls over. Um, but I'm I'm just hearing that the game is just all right. Like, it's okay. Like, it's fun. It's okay. It's not going to be this like take my money now OMG game. I think we're going to see a much simpler layout. I think we're going to see a game meant for more casual pinball fun, more universally easy to play, and that's the vibe I'm getting. Will Ellie sell out fast? Says Tony.
    6:13
    I I don't think I I I I Star Wars, right? It's I don't know. I mean, really, I think in the end it's going to come down to how much different the LE is over the premium. I think uh if they make the premium look as good as the LE, the problem with allies now, gang, is like nobody cares anymore. Just nobody cares. They've ruined the what an LE means. Then Ellie has been absolutely completely turned into a meaningless overpriced like token for insecure men to buy now because the problem is is not only did they overmake the LE they overcharged and then the anniversary editions have you know in in more recent times been the nicer even game. So I I just think what does having an LE now mean? Like you know what I'm saying? Like we used to like we used to be nervous on the eve of a new Stern launch that we were not on a DRO's Ellie list and we were going to get shut out. And I I mean it when I say there hasn't been an Ellie as nice as Ghostbusters since Ghostbusters. We are now like four years, four or five years in which Sternle's have all been, I think, just too close or basic to every other model. Nothing's had an exclusive anything that's been a must-have. Um, 770 lees in the US is is maybe a lot, Jenga. But it's Star Wars, so if it's like a Darth Vader themed LE and the other ones aren't cool. Like, yeah, like it'll sell out. Like, this game needs to like look stunning. Uh, and I hope they nail it. It's not Zombie yeti on art. It is a a Star Wars artist. It is not Randy Martinez. It is an allnew artist. Um, my Harry Potter arcade plays just like the CES. Yeah. Um, well, Bri, you know, K, you know, like I think you're missing a shaker motor and I think you're missing that's it, right? That you really need. I think everything else you have the hot rails, right? You got everything else. You know, the the the funny part about Potter Gang and the reason why just think about it for a minute. The fact that they could sell you a $10,000 potter and make money on it. What does that tell you about what's in the $15,000 potter? That's it, right? It's like there there is there was nothing to take out. I mean, they maybe could have removed the upper playfield and I don't know, but not really. You need it for the Quidditch stuff. Like there there was not a ton in Potter, so not a ton to take out. It it does play great. There's no denying the fact that Potter does play great.
    9:13
    Um, let's talk about this NDA now. So, what is going on with this launch of of Star Wars? Like, what what is going on? It it's it it's like why did they put out the teaser if they didn't have everything else approved? I it really is looking like some someone made a mistake and now now that they're making media sign an NDA uh because the game might not be revealed before they get there. First of all, that's how the media should see the game before everybody else with an NDA. But that wasn't Stern's plan. But here's what's going to happen. They're gonna I'm just I'm going to tell you exactly how this is going to go. They are gonna they're going to get everyone to sign NDAs. They're going to do a dealer call on Tuesday. The images are going to leak on Tuesday before the media day, which makes the media day pointless. And that's how it's all going to go down. So, get ready. That's exactly how it's going to happen. Um, I'm not going to Stern next week. Uh, just not doing it. Uh, it's my mama's birthday and I also just just don't Why would I go to Stern when the game's going to be at automated in a week or two and I'm just not going to do it. I don't And I And the other reason I'm not going is because of what I've been hearing from people that have played the game. Um, I've been hearing from people that have played the game and they are not being they are not talking about it in a way that makes me want to spend any extra money to go see it. So, um, there's that.
    11:08
    The fact that Stern paid Vic for you guys to go see John Wick, they paid for your travel in your hotel. I mean, seriously, they I mean, that's how desperate they were. Did they reveal the Star Wars game yet? I mean, Jeremy, like, I don't understand. Like, yeah. Yeah, they did. We're just We're just still speculating what it's Come on, man. Come on. Like, I I I I love you, Jeremy, but like clearly they didn't reveal the game. Clearly.
    11:41
    Um, look, I just think I think that this game is going to get um it's going to divide the community. I think what's going for it is once that theme song hits and once the scroll happens on the screen and we see the fall of the empire and they tell the story of like how they're going to arrange all these iconic moments. I don't care, right? I don't care. That's why they're going to sell 770 right away. It's still Star Wars and the moments of the movie that we love are going to be served up to us in a way that's way better than what Dwight did with the Richie game. That was the worst coding uh decision ever to just stack different movie modes together for pinball multipliers, for lack of a better word. Dwight, what were you thinking? Um, Christopher Franchie, is there a Batman 66 in that set of pop culture vehicles? There is a um there's a Batmobile right here. Not 66 though. They the artist who did this series didn't do Batman. And then I got Akira over here. The artist who did this didn't do Batman 66. He did um the uh the Michael Keaton Batman. Um, hey Canada, how many launches do you think Stern needs to do to get it right? Uh, yeah, clearly. I mean, I don't know what they're doing. Um, but can the pinball be any worse than your glasses? Yeah. Yeah. Look, these glasses, baby. I'm looking good. It's a tight fit. It's a tight fit if you know what that means. Most of you don't. Okay. But, you know, I get it. the saratoral choices of pinball buyers, you know, leaves leaves a little maybe a lot to be desired, but can Okay, there's not gonna that's not gonna make me buy it. Better have it under the glass. Well, yeah. I mean, I agree. I think if this game has a really fun force use of magnets because Borg likes magnets and I think if this game has like uh a couple like wow mechs and it has like a lightsaber moment in battles and the sound is going to be good. Um I I think look it's still Star Wars gang. It's going to make you guys want to sell your DNDs and your Venoms and your John Wixs and maybe your James Bonds and yeah, I look I I think people are just starving for themes like these. So, I I I whenever you make a Star Wars game, it it has a fighting chance to be very successful. I think they're still going to sell a lot of these. I Ben Stern won't use the magnet on this game. It's the most obvious mech to use, but I know Borg loves magnets. There's going to be magnets in this game.
    14:47
    And then I I hate to break everybody, but have 100% confirmation that Walking Dead is after this game. 100%. It's not Tron, it's Walking Dead. Um, rumor that they might be putting the show clips in. Still feels like culturally we've moved on from Walking Dead.
    15:14
    What else we got here? Um, you know, so more more questions than answers. Another weekend with nothing for us to chew on regarding Star Wars. They couldn't give us a little They couldn't just pan across the cabinet. Uh, I I really do think it's um I really do think it's it's it's a shame that they have fumbled this. Um, I've also heard that the uh the new CMO at Stern, you know, isn't really uh doing much to be honest and, you know, he just doesn't come from this world. So, I think he's a little probably lost in in the new category he's in. Not surprised. But I also hear, and I've heard this over the years, that Stern just doesn't want to invest in like marketing ideas and doesn't want to invest in creative ways to launch the games. They're very cheap. They they still see them as a com they see they still see themselves as a company whose target audience are the distributors, not the customers, not the collectors. And this has been Stern's real problem over the last five years. It it it was the main focus of my meeting with them. They continue to not understand who is the actual target for their marketing, for their themes, you know, everything. the way they they act. They they they really do think they can just do these like distributor handshake deals and sell all their products and and all the consumers are just going to lose $3,000 on every LE and then they're not they haven't even tried other than lowering the number. They haven't tried to give us more LE value. They haven't they just continue to watch LE machines tank in value.
    17:16
    Well, look, I think more and more consumers are getting on other bandwagons. I am I I'm going to talk about Dune in a second. You know, I was talking to David Vaness uh and I have an update. I have an update on what his response was to my very simple question. Have you sold as many Dune machines as I have of Canadas Pinball podcast subscribers? Uh, as of today, let me check right now. My actual subc subscriber number as of today is 66ome. 663. Okay. And let's see. Let's see my audience. Let's see what we got new here. Hold on. Let me get a shout out to some of the newbies. Hold on. I need to move this. Can't see what I'm doing here. Monthly benefits. Oh my gosh. Okay. All right. I want to thank Night Surf Ride. $10 a month, baby. Thank you, Night Surf Ride. I want to thank, let's see, our new members this month. We've got Andy Palmer. Andy, thank you so much. We've got Craig Young is back. I think Craig like joins and then like cancels and rejoins like every month. Matthew Fizzy501. Fizzy's been very active in the chat. Um, I want to thank Mike and Minaj Mohamm. Okay. And then Brian Wilson is $10 a month. Let's give a shout out to my biggest pledges. Let's see what we got here.
    19:15
    just right now current. All right, let's see. Arcade Time is at $100 a month. I love this guy. And then we've got um Dan Jansen at 50. Dan, thank you. Pete Rosen at 50. A lot of guys at 30. Jordan Melville, man's worth more than than anything. Um, let's see.
    19:48
    Um, Barrel of Funds says you still owe them a pizza party. Do Do I
    19:57
    I'll send them pizza because they they need a free lunch. Um, all right. So, here's here here's how it went with David. So, we're texting, you know, he sent me pictures of uh parts arriving. It's cool. It's good to see. Um I asked him, "How many, you know, have you sold as many dunes as I've subscribers?" And he's like, "Busy day at the office." And you know, there there's there's two things happening with David. There's um there's I think there's three things happening with David. There's intentions,
    20:37
    there's realities, and then there's delusions. Okay? Intentions, realities, and delusions. Okay? And and and I'm going to explain what I mean by that because I I always do love having correspondence with David, but like I I literally work in the world of public relations. I work in the world of communication and spin doctoring. and spin doctoring. By that I mean when you, you know, selectively use language to try to spin a different narrative even if the truth and the reality is anything but that. So let me paraphrase because you know this is a just a text chat so I'm not going to share word for word. First thing he's like, "Look, we're we're very happy with Labyrinth sales." Um, you know, and he said something like, "We've got 81 Labyrinth games left to be sold." Okay, so I saw that. I was shocked. I thought they were all spoken for. They were all like, because remember, let's go back in history. When Labyrinth came out, they they announced they're making,200 Labyrinth games. Remember that was what happened when they announced Labyrinth. Okay. So now they got 81 left. And he said they're selling like one to two a week. I mean it's like that's like nothing, right? It's like barely it's over that would take over a year to get rid of those 81. And and also like the other problem is I mean I know dros that are sitting on Labyrinth games like sitting on them new and box. So uh that means does that mean America? Does that mean Barrels has 81 in boxes at barrels or those are at distros? So, not sure, but okay. So, that's fine. You know, it is what it is. But first, he said he said something first. He said, you know, no manufacturer discloses their, you know, their sales numbers until near the end of the production run. So, I'm like, all right. Well, yes, yes and no. Yes and no. So, you know, I I think more yes, right? Like that's true. Like, but you know, in the end, that normally only happens when you know you're not going to reach your goal. And so, then you are going to, you know, preemptively limit the number you're now going to make. So, so what happened with Labyrinth is you know they they realized that they they okay before I say this I want to say where he said then the next thing he says is 81 labyrinths are left and the game has exceeded our sales expectations. Okay, this is where like the delusion comes in. You initially said you wanted to make 1,200 Labyrinth games. That was your intent. That was your expectation. When you release a game and say, "We're making 1,200." When the pinball brothers say, "We want to make 800 Predators." That is your expectations. Exceeding your expectations would be to get 81 orders of Predator. exceeding your expectations would be 1,21 labyrinths. So anything less than that cannot exceed your expectations or if the the only way that can be true is if you don't even think you have anywhere your expectations are to get nowhere near 1,200 sold but yet you announced you were going to make that many which is also delusional on some level. Okay. So, if you when you said you were going to make 1,200 labyrinths and then you realized you weren't going to make it, was it 1,100? Even if it was 1,100 then they reduced it to a,000, right? Isn't that what happened? They said we're not going to make,00 we're going to make a,000. Okay. Okay. So, you took a 100red off the total because the demand wasn't there. Now, there's another almost 100 unsold. But don't tell me it exceeded your expectations. Just don't. Like this. This is the stuff. It's like I like David a lot. I like his passion. But when he says stuff like that, I just I'm like, what what are you saying to me, man? It's like when when he told me once, Chris, if I had a day one sellout, I would be disappointed. I I He's like, I don't want that. Sure you don't. Again, like I like what what are we speaking here? Okay. Then when asked about the Dune sales um he basically con you know they have not sold 663 dunes. I don't know the number but they haven't. He then went on to say that uh the pinball market over the last seven months has softened significantly from where it was. And I I just want to say something to that. It's only soft, David, because you made Dune. I I I want to repeat that. You're only feeling soft sales on this game because it's Dune. Spooky is going to sell 999 Beetlejuices in one day. In one hour. So, you know what I'm saying? Uh, Jersey Jack has sold more $15,000 Harry Potter in one month than all the Dune sales combined. Like easily like they've sold Guns and Roses and Harry Potter are like are on a similar like they've sold as many Harry Potters basically as G&Rs. Like it's a sales phenomenon for JJP in the same market that you released Dune. So that's the delusion that that my game's not selling because the market's weak. It's not the market that's weak. It's the title that's weak. And that's a hard sort of pill to swallow because, you know, it it really must hurt. And and look, I am looking forward to I'm going to go to automated. I'm going to play the new Dune on the new code. And you know, I keep hearing, okay, the other thing he said to me is like he thinks once the game goes to expo and people jump on it, it's going to sell out. That people have said it's that good when you get the cinematic experience, it's going to sell out. And may like again, I I hope so. I hope for their sake that happens, right? I'm not rooting against this company. Like I I hope so. I hope they do. I hope they move units because they need to like if if if Expo doesn't become like a watershed moment for them. I hope that's the right phrase. Um I I think they're in trouble because then, you know, but the problem is is, you know, now they're going to be up against Star Wars and The Walking Dead remastered, right? And um you know, Dune's not cheap, right? It's not cheap. And I think everyone's sort of like I think people look there's a big difference and I think King Kong is suffering from this. Harry Potter is not. There is a big difference between You made a really fun game that I really enjoy playing at a show. To me that's King Kong. Really enjoy flipping King Kong. I don't ever want to own one. And that is the hurdle that Dune has to overcome. And David and my friends over at Barrels, trust me when I say this. If you want to sell Dune Machines at Pinball Expo and give people the cinematic experience to to like really see how your game is is like playing the movie, you cannot just have the game on the loud show floor and have that experience be interrupted by the noise and the distractions. of a show. It's like having your movie on a screen and 25 other movies blasting at the same time. You need, trust me when I say this, David, you guys need to get a private section at Pinball Expo. Have a dune room. Great name, Almighty Yogurt. have a dune room that is pitch black where this game can come to life. If you just throw it on the show floor, trust me, you are going to have the same lukewarm response and sales that Avatar had. So, trust me, you're gonna have to They will have a tent and headphones. Uh I I don't know. Like headphones don't do it, man. I'm just gonna say this right now, Carrie. Headphones and pinball to me are are a distraction. I I don't like wearing headphones. It changes everything. It's not It's a weird way. It's like watching a movie while you wear headphones. There's something about the sound needs to come from the backbox. What I don't like about headphones is you lose a lot of the natural sounds of the game and it sounds more tiny and more like metallic and more uh like artificial. A pinball machine's true experience happens when there is distance between the speakers, your ears, your fingers, all of that. A a headphone experience to me is not gonna cut it. They need a separate room. They need to do it that way. Okay. I'm just saying that is that is like it this I don't want the pressure even just the pressure on my ears is changing the dynamic of how you should experience a pinball machine.
    31:29
    And they're not going to sell out because it's Dune. I mean, it's just it's just like it's like legitimately there's going to be a moment there's going to be a moment when Spooky sells a thousand Beetlejuices in 9 minutes. There's going to be a moment, trust me, when they sell a thousand Beetle Juices in 9 minutes. There's going to be a moment where David realizes we didn't get the right theme and and and I mean they already know that but be because in you know because again like in his head he's like well it's it's the market that's soft. It's not. People are writing checks for $15,000 Harry Potter left and right. And you know David like I just got to be candid man. If you made anything on this back wall, anything they it it all would have outsold Dune. I can Should we go around the horn? If you made Flintstones, you out sell Dune. I'm serious. More people would have bought a modern yaba daba doo Flintstone game based on the original cartoon than Dune. If you made Mario Kart, wouldn't really want to start with Mario Kart, but Mario Kart would have outsold Dune. The A team, I mean this, if you made the A Team Pinball,
    33:03
    right? I can't even hum the damn Doom theme song. Nobody can. Nobody remembers it. It hasn't left an indelible I get there's like a great orchestration in the film but like okay name like hum me the Doom theme song
    33:21
    right Optimus Prime G1 Transformers what are you doing Brian Savage your partner was in charge of the Transformers and GI Joe fan clubs for like 20 years and you come out with Dune with Timoth Shamalik This one's just the killer franchie. Get ready. Batman 89. Batman 89. Just go get it. Make it again. Sell a,000 units in one minute. You know, way do they get a load to me. Winged freak terrorzes. Where did they get a load of me? Where does he get those toys? You know, a Batman. Get the Prince album. And then obviously Akira, I've been saying it forever, Akira. Akira would sell. You have no idea the amount of Akira fans in the world. But what do I know? What do I know? What do I know?
    34:29
    Um, and also like the other thing too is now is like again the game the game's 122,000 and now additional accessories for the sling plastics and the shooter. Like it's just we just you just keep like people are not going to be dropping 134,000 on the game.
    34:49
    Sad boy. You guys are really bad by the way. You're I'm going to I'm going to shame my 113. Let's like super chats. Carrie, how do you get the super chats going? Like, what am I supposed to do here? How about this? How about this? If you if we reach another I'll tell you some details about Padreddi Gaming's Big Bang Bar.
    35:18
    Nobody wants a Kira nerd anime, Dave. You don't get it, Dave. You don't. You got to go watch Akira. It's It's like the perfect theme for pinball with the music, the energy, the magnets. Tetsuo grabbing the ball like Neotokyo on. If you put Neotokyo under glass, Dave sold out. Again, we're not talking thousands of units, gang, you would sell a thousand Akiraas if done right. Are you ready for the new pinball, Star Wars Fall Empire? Uh yeah, Junior, where you been, bro? Like, we've been talking about it. I heard it's mediocre and Stern knows it and that's why the marketing around it is piss poor. Anything new?
    36:08
    Anyway, look, it's look, I wouldn't start with Akira either, gang. I would start with Transformers the movie. Uh, if I would do Transformers, G1 the movie, Unicron, the death of Optimus, Megatron into Galvatron, Hot Rod into Rodimus.
    36:31
    All right. I think I think I did it. I think I did it. I think I reconnected it. I think I think uh I think David Vanes David Vaness pulled the plug. Are we back? We good? We Gucci?
    36:54
    That was weird. It like the whole thing just [ __ ] crashed. Ah, look gang. Super chat me. Super chat me. Come on. I'm I'm about to send myself some money. Look at this.
    37:18
    I'm paying myself. Yeah, literally. I don't know what the damn Sorry guys, I'm having issues on YouTube. All right. Or can we hear me now? Can you hear me now? Are we back? I'm not going to move this damn cable. Are we back? Are we good? Can you hear me? All right. This is why I don't get any super chats or stars because I like literally don't know what I'm doing. I need to do the Carrie mult multiple angles. Carrie says it over here. Carrie says it over here. Why do you think Star Wars ain't selling? Going to tell you like this. Going to tell you like this. Going to tell you like that. All the different angles. All the different angles in Car's basement. Let's do it. Let's do it. Let's do it.
    39:18
    Dude, you can't beg for money and not even do a basic live stream. I just did, baby. I just did. That's why I need more money. I can't afford a new cable. I actually ordered a new cable. It's this damn cable. It's like it it it like it's bent and it just keeps popping out. Um, all right. Here's the deal. Pretty Gaming is making Big Bang Bar. What's really Retro Ralph is back. Get out of town, Ralph. Welcome. Is Is this the real Retro Ralph, though? I hope so. Ralph, Ralph, Ralph, Ralph, we we have an expo planned. Ralph, you're getting you're getting unblocked on all of the channels today. Welcome back. We're happy to have you. We are happy you're here. We are happy you're here. You have no idea. It's not Ralph. It's not Ralph. Oh my god. It's not Ralph. Is it Retro Ralph? Is it?
    40:17
    Oh my god, Ralph is spelled wrong. Oh my god, that's a good troll. That's a beautiful troll. David Vaness, you're watching, brother. David, we were talking about you, bro. David, you should come on YouTube, David. Join the YouTube chat. David, you know, David, I'm going to put you on the spot. I'm going to put you on the spot. Come on. There's a moment, a moment of transparency. Like, it's almost like we're doing a live interview in front of an audience. How many How many of you sold, David? We know you need to sell more. Come on. This shouldn't be like This shouldn't make any anybody nervous. We know the game's going to go to X-ray. I was given some good advice on how to show the game. You got to get your own room. Show it without headphones. Show it in a dark room. Don't pipe and drape. Do the Dune room. create the dune room and give people like 20 minutes on and just rotate people through. You're driving. Well, you shouldn't be watching if you're driving. Drive safe.
    41:23
    Fake Ralph gives me more money than real Ralph. I'm not going to the media day. Ian. Ian. Ian. Why would I don't Why would I take
    41:37
    money out of my pocket, Ian. Why would I take money out of my pocket?
    41:45
    I got I I like I like fake money. I'm so broke, people. All I got is this is all I got in the world. How many Nudge magazines can I buy here? Um there's a few in there. There's a there's a few I always like I always like to have just 500 bucks in cash on me. If you ever mug me, you're going to get 500 bucks. I just always need $500 in cash on me at all times. Um, why would I spend money out of my own pocket to go to Stern to see a Star Wars game where Stern's own employees are telling me it's mediocre? Yeah, Ian, I'll leave it to you. I'll leave it to Don. I'll leave it Ralph's not going to be there. Uh, Jason Knap's not going to be there. It's going to be Colin, man. Now that Colin's a real journalist. Did you read that, by the way? Did you read his email? Like, I guess I'm just now the guy doing the research. I guess I'm just now the guy who can legitimately call himself a journalist. I guess I'm now that pinball journal. Like this guy's talking about covering pinball like he's covering the Gaza Strip. Have you I mean what a joke. It's pinball. Colin, you're not trying to like uh you know really do the research to understand the historical significance of different religious sex in the Middle East and how it's led to thousands of years of turmoil and how the implications of getting the facts right on this story, you know, will have, you know, grave consequences for Janet's pinball. Colin, if you need to take credit for like becoming someone who can write an article about Cuphead being delayed, you got some problems, bro. You got some problems. And then it was like, uh, now that I'm a real journalist, can people please give me money? I mean, it was like, look, you know me, like I'm not like I love the super chats. I love the stars on Facebook. Um, people people give me money and subscribe to the show because they see value in the content. And the part that Colin doesn't get still is the reason why the people aren't subscribing Colin is because they don't see the value in your content. If you make it better, not not more journalistic, just better, and you'll get more support. Gary Hardy gets support because people enjoy his content. Other content creators have hit a wall at a low number of subscribers and support because that's that's that's the that's what the value people see. Quit trolling Stern.
    44:25
    I still can't wait to see how he tries to reboot the Twippies just to prove Kada wrong. I love it. I'm gonna send him on a mission to do all this hard work and the show's still gonna be terrible. It's over. The Twippies are dead. Stern Le being special are dead. Like, it's different hobby now. It's a different hobby now. Like, nobody cares anymore. Like, nobody cares about a lot of that stuff anymore. Uh, I think collecting is kind of dead. Like, okay, ready for Padre Gaming. So, here's a big mistake Pretty Gaming is about to make. Okay, so Padre Gaming is about to make the remake to Big Bang Bar. Okay. And well, yeah, of course my mic is better on YouTube. I'm This is the Facebook is just the phone. This is This is my pro mic. Um Padre Gaming is about to remake Big Bang Bar. And here's a big mistake they're about to make. So in because they don't have the Capcom license instead of putting Capcom real big, you know how Capcom is at the Let's go look at it right now. Let's go look at it because I can I can I can share screen. This is why it's fun. This is why I'm hot. This is why you're not, Colin. Because Canada Big Bang Bar Pinball. Okay. So funny, man. It's funny. Like Okay, let's see. Just trying to find the um photos of it. All right, let's see. This This looks like [Music] it a sign. This looks like Okay.
    46:12
    All right. Where's the big bang bar? I want the backbox. [Music] Man, there's like not a lot of good photos anywhere.
    46:30
    Let me see. Like, is there one? There's one on eBay. What is this?
    46:37
    Uh artwork. Let's see. Oh, man. Like, sorry, guys. It's taking so long. I just don't know. Okay, here we go. This is perfect. All right, here we go. Share screen.
    46:57
    I don't know why that even happens. Okay, where is that? Oh my god. Here we go. All right. All right. So like this beautiful sexy right
    47:26
    Can you guys see me right now in the chat? And am I like Okay. All right. Cool. All right. So you see this? Here's the deal.
    47:42
    Oh, it's I'm signed out of Pinterest is the thing. Okay. All right. So, All right. You see where it says Capcom real big, right? You see where it says Capcom real big? All right. So, you know, like we're used to this. Like Capcom's an iconic logo. It's beautiful. Now, get ready where it says Capcom real big to
    48:19
    Get ready to see this. Oh my god. Oh, man. Okay. Sorry. It's because I got this damn Facebook thing blocking everything. That's why it's taking so long. Share screen. No. Share this. Um. All right. This This is This is what you're going to see. It It's not the um You're not going to see the pinball. you're just going to see the Padreddi real big over the dancing girl. Um I I you know, like part of me is like maybe you're going to like that. I don't think so. I I think they probably should have just I don't know, maybe left it blank, but that's what it's going to be. So, you know, insert Rick from Planetary all mad now. Ask Canada know this stuff.
    49:29
    Canada. All right, guys. Let's um let's um let's turn it over to you guys. Let's do a little Q&A. Whatever you I'm going to answer all your questions. Ask Canada anything. I think Jack Danger has it. Ask Jack anything. Ask Canada anything. You can ask me anything personal, professional, pinball related. You can ask me anything about fashion, whatever you want to ask me. I do have the best wardrobe.
    50:02
    Come on, let's get some questions going. You guys are slow. You're You're like the pinball media. When I went to JJP, all those guys, man, they're like, "Any questions?" Nobody had a question. Nobody. They're all like, "Ah,
    50:18
    yeah. It just makes it look inauthentic when you have Padreddi on it because it's that's not how we it's be like Padre introduces Street Fighter 2 and you're like what the um how do you think Star Wars LE will differentiate from the premium? Um Robert, I think it's going to be a a I hope for I think it's going to be a character base like you know the way like Slimer was Ghostbusters. I'm really hoping the Ellie is is Darth Vader like all over the game. That's what I hope it is. So, that's my guess. Are you a true Dodgers fan? No, I'm not. I'm an Otani fan. I don't believe anymore in like rooting for specific teams. I'm like I write I like players now. It's a weird thing now. I like Otani and I love Japanese culture and I love um you know like m you know Morioto's, right? Is it Morioto? Mickey Moto like I love his his makeup of but yeah I love players I don't really care about teams anymore. Um how did you get involved in pinball and do you regret it retro? That's funny. It's funny. Uh I got is wait is okay you know how you know my story. I got banned from pinside. I just got Lord of the Rings when I had my bedroom arcade and the rest is history. Is there a chance Steve Richie Star Wars will be like will be like more what? What's up? What's up? You're in charge of me now. You're in charge of me now. I'm in charge of you now cuz mommy's I'm in charge of you now cuz mommy's going. Okay. What does that mean? I'm in charge Okay. What does that mean? I'm in charge of you now. Is Cass going down?
    52:00
    Um, okay. We're getting back these photos. Do you like poop? Okay, Franchie. Amazing. Like way to keep it. Way to uh you know I can tell Franchie is like wait where's Cass?
    52:18
    Where's Where's Cass? She's my mama. She's my mama. She's taking Cass She's taking Cass to the doctor cuz it's his apartment. to the doctor cuz it's his apartment. No. No. Hold on one second. I'm going to No. No. Hold on one second. I'm going to set Hold your questions. Stop writing so I can answer them. I'm going to go set Killian up with You want to go watch something? Okay. Hold on. Say hi, Kill. Okay. Hold on. Say hi, Kill. Say hi to everybody. Come on, Say hi to everybody. Come on, let's go watch something.
    55:07
    All right. Sorry about that delay. You had to go get Bobo. Bobo was outside. All right, let's get some questions answered here. Sorry, gang. This is why this is why I'm hot. Okay, let's go back up here. Um, okay.
    55:34
    Any new pin theme rumors? No, we know them all. Did you drive the demon this week? I did. How do you think the Star Wars Ellie will differentiate? Ask that. Would Aussie sell more than ABBA? Uh, yeah, absolutely. I don't think it would. I don't think Aussie would do tremendously great. I think a lot of people I don't I just I don't like I think it would be like Led Zeppelin like in sales. I just don't think I don't think it would do that great. Did Gomez really interview you for Stern CMO? No, I was not being interviewed for Stern CMO. It's the opposite. I told them their marketing basically needed needed to re refocus its efforts on consumers and not distributors. And I told them I'd be open to the only job I'd be open to would be the CMO CMO role. And I put that thought in their head because Jody was is not a CMO and and and then they go hire a CMO. So, like I don't know. Like they hired exactly the role I said they needed. I just don't think they got what they needed. And I don't think whoever they got really understands the category like I do. And I think they would have been better off with me. And I mean that. I think I I told this to George. I have 12 years experience expertise in your hobby, in your category. If you go hire someone outside a category, good luck. Good luck. And that's what they got. So, good luck. I don't think I've seen any moves he's made that have made an impact. And I haven't even heard from him. And I don't think you can be a chief marketing officer at a major pinball company and be, you know, behind the scenes. I just don't. But again, I think it speaks a little bit to their arrogance that they think they can just sell without being out there. I think they need to be out there more. But I also think the CMO needs to make, you know, some some moves. And I I again like I just maybe those are going to come. We'll see. But I just haven't seen any yet. Talk about Back to the Future. When can we actually get it and how good Back to the Future is going to be? Probably October 2026. I'm hearing it's packed. I'm hearing if you like what you see in Labowski, you're going to see even more awesome stuff. And the vibes I'm getting from people that have seen it are so um over the moon positive. So, but Raza will come out before Back to the Future. 100% guaranteed. Um, how fun is it to hang at automated and when are you going next? It is uh always fun to hang at Automated. Mike is amazing and I always usually go with my boy Frank D'Angelo and I will I'm probably going to go next weekend if if people want to go hang out, play some Dune and and see um you know maybe Star Wars even might be there. I don't think Star Wars is even on the line though. Um I'm reading. Sorry guys. Keep keep I'm going to go I'm going in in order. Um, why do you wear sunglasses indoors? Okay. Because I'm cool like that. Uh, having any more kids? No. Do you like pinballs? Uh, let's see. In charge of me. All right, here we go. We're caught up a little bit. What do you think of TNA? Do you like the machine? And do you think more companies could do similar runs of original IP and avoid Um I I've always thought TNA is like a cool pin at a show. I think it's a little like, you know, it's really good. It's I think TNA is a unique I think TNA is a great $6,000 game. I think TNA is a terrible $9,000 game. I think it's I like that it's straightforward. The music's super cool. I remember when Scott just had the Whitewood. I remember like I I think TNA is really cool. I I never want to own one personally. I I would get bored of that pretty quickly, but um you know, it it was a really cool game. Um unfortunately TNA 2 turned into Rick and Morty, but I you know, I just wouldn't spend a lot on a TNA. Um what's the release window for the next JJP? Well, if I were a betting man, I don't think we're going to see Sonic until fall of 2026. I think this is going to be uh a long time to make all these Potters. Do you think Spooky should switch to at least two games a year? Absolutely not. Spooky shouldn't change anything. And two games a year means look I think they would have to really staff up more. But I also just I like the fact that all the whole company is focused on making one great game a year. I think it works for them. I think it works for our wallets. I think it makes it makes like it makes look I think Spooky's one game a year has more people excited than Stern's three to four games a year. And you know that's I would rather be working for a company that only that can all collaborate and make one great idea work at a time. I think once you start dividing and and having to like divert resources all over the place, it's not worth it. And they're not going to make twice as much money if they do it that way because they can only produce oh so many. Who is doing Raza? Raza is going to be made by Dutch Pinball X.
    61:12
    Um, do you think Stern will suffer the same fate as Williams? And if so, when? Uh, no. I don't think Stern's gonna bail out of pinball and start making slot machines. I do think Stern is um is I mean, look, they're always for sale, by the way. I do think Stern's going to have to downsize. I do. I I just I don't know what they're going to do. I I really I don't think it's going to last like forever at this scale. I don't know what the answer is, though. I think they they scaled real big. I just can't see uh the world continually absorbing the amount of games Stern needs them to every year unless like the operator scene blows up even more and becomes bigger. Um what's the car in the top middle behind you? Mario Kart. Um, if Roz is first, do you mean October 27th?
    62:14
    No. Raz's gang. Alice production will be over hopefully by like March. Okay. Then Raza, you know what I'm saying? Like they need to start making the next then Raza. Raza's numbers are going to be much less than Alice's numbers. That's why Raza is going to sell out. It's going to be more expensive than Alice, but it's a much more like fully flushed out game. Um, what is Brenda's dream theme for pinball? You know, I Brenda would want she would want Red Hot Chili Peppers and that would be number one. That's her favorite band. And she would want Spice Girls. Then I think she would want something for the family like uh Toy Story 1 or Lion King. Do you think Stern might buy Spooky and keep them? No. No. No. Have you gotten a chance to play updated Dune? No. You think they Do you think they will have the pinar? There will be no pin bar in Raza. I can But there will be an interesting thing happening on the apron. Let me just tell you that. But the pin bar as the pin bar as it was designed, no, you know, the the biggest challenge for Raza with Melvin is is trying to unravel what the heck Steve Bowen was trying to do with the code. You know what I'm saying? Like that's been the biggest challenge of Raza development is like Steve Bowen his code is like and that's the challenge now is like I don't know you might be getting what he he designed and like I don't know Bowen is no lineman he's no I you know his rule said everything about it was just weird is what I'm hearing. Um Barbie would be great. Um, let's see. Will there be uh Edison bulbs on Raza Topper? No. So, I can tell you right now that the there was a an original Raza Topper design that Deep Roots, you know, that John made in Deep Root fashion. They ran out of money and they they didn't implement it. But the I will tell you this, I I've seen the Raza topper. It's pretty effing cool. Uh, and it is not what was on the Deep Root game. And it's it's going to it's going to be neat. It's going to be neat.
    64:56
    If you were going to add a new machine to your collection tomorrow, which three are you considering? Um, I'm going to read another question. Tell us the dirt on where Uncanny X-Men started today. There's got to be more people. Um, all right. I'll I'll give you a little Okay, so first of all, if I was going to add three machines to my collection today, uh that are existing machines. Uh I would add X-Men LE. I I love the way X-Men shoots and looks and I like the new code is good. I I I'd want to bang on that game. I think I would add that. Um I would add a Lord of the Rings. You see some dude selling in LA for $15,000. Am I so stupid? Like I'm just over like I'm just over I bought my Lord of the Rings for seven. The game was originally 5,500. I'm just so stupid like looking at the Lord of the Rings le and the guy doesn't even have any of the figurines or the mods you want and he wants 15,000 or 14 something. I'm just like I when I see this stuff, gang, it's so easy to say it's so much easier now in 2025 to say no to almost everything and all the prices people want for pinball. Eight years ago, I I wanted to buy everything and I would buy everything I wanted because I I didn't feel bad about buying this