claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.029
Don reviews Kong, criticizes game announcement teasing, and discusses upcoming pinball acquisitions.
Kong is Stern's third-best recent game behind Jaws and Godzilla in Don's ranking
high confidence · Don directly states his ranking: Jaws #1, Godzilla #2, Kong #3, with John Papadiuk close behind
Jaws has more compelling code and integrated modes with subtle touches like Keith appearing in the window
high confidence · Don explicitly compares Jaws' code favorably to Kong, noting he hasn't seen similar details materialize in Kong
Pinball Brothers is doing excessive teasing for Predator with vague jungle images instead of concrete information
high confidence · Don criticizes the teasing strategy, noting it makes him lose interest and comparing it to DPX's similar approach
A reproduction Medieval Madness playfield costs about $1,000 from Marco
medium confidence · Don cites this as a factual data point when discussing Medieval Madness restoration economics
Don is planning a trip to Austria to visit an American Pinball representative and play Dune at a specific location
high confidence · Don describes making a weekend trip with pinball friends to Vogelbrook in Austria
Dune's release was sudden and unexpected, dropping while Don was at an airport
high confidence · Don describes being surprised by Dune's release announcement while traveling to the airport
Evil Dead has mechanisms distributed across the entire playfield, similar to X-Men: Uncanny X-Men
high confidence · Don praises Evil Dead's mechanical design and compares it favorably to X-Men's periphery design
Don's main criticism of Evil Dead is the ball release timing from the cabin mode scoop
high confidence · Don explicitly states this is his only criticism, wishing balls would launch directly from a scoop to the flipper
Avatar is currently worth approximately $11,750 on the secondary market
“The layout is good. The mechanisms are fun. The drop targets sweeps are probably my favorite part of it. That and I didn't think I was going to love the little curly Q hit back shot on the right orbit as much as I do.”
Don @ early — Establishes Don's hands-on appreciation for Kong's specific playfield features and mechanical design
“That left upper flipper, that whole right upper quadrant of the game, feels like it's so mini playfield and it definitely does.”
Don @ early — Describes a key layout feature that elevates Kong's design complexity compared to other Stern games
“Jaws still holds that place. And it's really because of the theme. Now, I would argue that this layout on Kong is a more interesting layout than Jaws, only just, just premium is what I'm comparing to.”
Don @ mid — Shows Don's nuanced ranking — Kong has better layout mechanics but Jaws wins overall due to theme integration
“I won't judge Kong harshly on the code. I will judge it on the modes. I think the modes in other games are more compelling.”
Don @ mid — Identifies Kong's weak point relative to recent Stern releases in code depth and mode design
“They're doing these teasing images... and then he had like the back of a playfield like against a corner... I don't want to see the bottom of the cabinet, the playfield. That doesn't mean anything to me... When you do this kind of edging, this teasing, you just kind of like dangling something, like it's still a jungle you know and I get the idea is that they're trying to keep the conversation in the community but that's going to get stale.”
Don @ mid — Direct criticism of Pinball Brothers' marketing strategy for Predator, warning that excessive teasing creates fatigue
“By the time there is an actual release, I'm not going to care because it's going to be like, oh, it's probably just another tease, you know, and then, oh, that game came out this afternoon. Yeah, I haven't looked at it yet.”
Don @ mid — Articulates the burnout effect of prolonged teasing campaigns on community engagement and his personal interest
product_launch: Don has received Kong for home play and is in early modification/customization phase ('mod build phase')
high · Don states: 'I've had some time with Kong here. I've started the mod build phase of everything.'
gameplay_signal: Kong's playfield layout praised for interconnected shot sequences, drop target mechanics, and upper flipper mini-playfield area with good ball control and feedability
high · Extended discussion of left orbit to right upper flipper flow, curly-Q shot, drop target complexity, and upper quadrant as pseudo-mini-playfield
code_update: Kong's code modes assessed as less compelling than recent Stern releases (Jaws, Godzilla); lacks subtle animated touches and integrated narrative elements seen in Jaws
high · Don states: 'I won't judge Kong harshly on the code. I will judge it on the modes. I think the modes in other games are more compelling.'
announcement: Kong's announcement strategy praised as effective: gong picture reveal followed by comprehensive information release within days
high · Don states: 'Look at Kong. What do we have with Kong? We got a picture of the Kong gong and then like two days later it was like here's all the information. Perfect.'
sentiment_shift: Pinball Brothers' prolonged vague teasing campaign for Predator creating community engagement fatigue; Don warns this dampens interest in eventual release
high · Don: 'by the time there is an actual release, I'm not going to care because it's going to be like, oh, it's probably just another tease... I haven't looked at it yet.'
groq_whisper · $0.127
medium confidence · Don estimates this price when considering whether to sell Avatar to fund a $15,000 game
Harry Potter is the most expensive license ever in pinball and has been the most-discussed rumored game for two years
high confidence · Don describes Harry Potter as the most wanted/discussed rumored game with premium licensing costs
“I'm probably Predator's biggest fan as far as a license, if anybody... And he's extremely excited about it. Like he's really excited. And he's the kind of guy that if something sucks, he'd be like, Donnie, I don't know what they doing, man.”
Don @ mid — Sources credible insider enthusiasm for Predator from someone who has seen gameplay but cannot discuss details
“I'm having a hard time justifying the purchase of Harry Potter for Cripes Sakes. And this is the game that's been rumored and like the most wanted thing as far as like being talked about in the community for like two years now, right?”
Don @ late — Confirms Harry Potter as the community's most-anticipated rumored title with premium pricing that creates hesitation
“One thing I wish and I'm fine with shooting under the ramp to start modes, but I really wish the balls would drop into a scoop and then like when the mode is ready to start, they would just launch out of the scoop.”
Don @ late — Identifies specific gameplay design improvement for Evil Dead's cabin multiball feature
“I'm enjoying the Ben Heck out of Avatar. Number two, I've only had it for a couple of months. I don't want to sell it this quick... I need to feel good about it. I don't want to feel like it's an obligation, right?”
Don @ late — Reveals Don's decision-making criteria for game collection: enjoying the game over financial optimization
design_innovation: Don created custom banana-themed shooter rod for Kong using 3D-printed handle and real Stern rod mechanics, calibrated weight to match stock Stern shooters
high · Don describes sourcing banana files, 3D-printing components, and calculating weight equivalents to Stranger Things shooter rods
machine_intel: Harry Potter pinball machine remains rumored/unannounced despite two years of community discussion; described as 'most wanted thing' with highest licensing costs in pinball history
high · Don: 'Harry Potter's coming out... the most expensive license ever in pinball... the most wanted thing as far as like being talked about in the community for like two years now'
event_signal: Don planning weekend trip to Austria with pinball friends to visit American Pinball representative at Vogelbrook location and play Dune
high · Don: 'I had a couple of the pinball friends that are going out there, so we're all going to make a little weekend trip to Austria to Vogelbrook... there will be a Dune machine there to play'
product_launch: Dune pinball released with minimal advance notice, dropping while Don was traveling to airport; perceived as unexpected/poorly communicated release
high · Don: 'it was the actual release... I'm sitting at an airport trying to get information about this, but like, I gotta go check in for my flight, get through security'
gameplay_signal: Evil Dead's cabin multiball mode criticized for ball release timing; player would prefer direct scoop-to-flipper launch rather than ball rolling down ramp after mode trigger
high · Don: 'I really wish the balls would drop into a scoop and then like when the mode is ready to start, they would just launch out of the scoop'
market_signal: Avatar pinball estimated at approximately $11,750 for quick secondary market sale; price gap vs new $15,000+ games makes upgrade less attractive financially
medium · Don: 'I'm looking at probably only getting like $11,750 for it... to get it to go and then use that for another $15,000 game... that doesn't seem fun to me'
design_philosophy: Don values extensive mechanical distribution across playfield (as seen in Evil Dead and X-Men) and interconnected shot sequences over simpler layouts
high · Don praises Evil Dead for 'mechanisms sprinkled everywhere' and compares favorably to X-Men for filling every part of playfield with interactive elements