Episode #187 Bonus show!

TL;DR

Don discusses collecting, Dune impressions, LE pricing strategy, and rumors of Spooky/Brothers new releases.

Summary

Key Claims

• Expression Lights cost $699 and have increased in price from initial $499 with Led Zeppelin

  high confidence · Don, discussing Stern LE value proposition and pricing inflation

• Metallica Remastered comes with expression lights, adding ~$700 value that Jaws LE and D&D LE did not have

  high confidence · Don, comparing feature sets across Stern LEs to explain secondary market pricing differences

• John Wick LE was produced in 1,000 units (vs. 200-500 for comparable titles) and 300 units still sitting unsold

  medium confidence · Don, speculating on John Wick oversupply and secondary market saturation

• Expression Lights take 6 months to a year to receive after order

  high confidence · Don, citing personal recent experience acquiring Metallica expression lights

• Barrels of Fun's Dune Pinball has a slower, cinematic gameplay experience with limited theme appeal

  high confidence · Don, based on personal gameplay at Barrels of Fun factory visits

• Spooky Pinball's next title is rumored to be Beetlejuice (unconfirmed)

  medium confidence · Don, citing recurring rumors heard in community but noting no official confirmation

• Pinball Brothers new game announcement rumored for April 25, 2025

  medium confidence · Don, referencing teaser images and April 25th date being 'battered around' with expected debut at Pinball Expo

• Brad Albright created full-character Pulp Fiction topper plastics with single-screw installation

  high confidence · Don, describing recent topper unboxing and installation experience at Electric Playground

Notable Quotes

• “Expression Lights take forever to get out. I only just recently managed to snag a set for Metallica that I needed. The six months a year long delay to get expression lights plus the $700 cost... supports value in the Avatar that otherwise is there.”

  Don @ mid-episode — Explains how long delays and high costs of Expression Lights paradoxically create value perception for LE machines

• “I'm excited for Kong. I'm really excited for Spooky Pinball's next title. But like I not excited for getting... Dune... The game is very slow. It's not like an exciting game.”

  Don @ mid-episode — Direct assessment of Barrels of Fun's Dune as mechanically solid but thematically and experientially limited

• “I think they're doing Beetlejuice this time. I haven't heard any confirmation from anybody about that, but that's the rumor that comes up the most.”

  Don @ late-episode — Unconfirmed rumor about Spooky Pinball's next title, signaling community speculation

• “Are we two days away from a release? I know Joe at Pinball Star has been strongly hinting that he's going to have some brand new games to play at Pinball Expo... we were all expecting that to be the debut of the new Pinball Brothers game.”

  Don @ late-episode — Pinball Brothers imminent release tracking; date convergence (April 23 episode, April 25 rumor)

• “It almost seems like it's me running the company. Like it's a one man show... It doesn't seem like there's a coordinated effort behind this and I really need to see that before I get excited about putting money down.”

  Don @ late-episode — Criticism of Pinball Brothers' marketing and communication strategy for upcoming release

• “So this feels like all the best parts of Alice in Wonderland with a better layout than Alice in Wonderland... I would definitely get this over the game was very fun.”

  Don @ mid-episode — Comparative assessment of Barrels of Fun's Dune Pinball as mechanically/layout-wise superior to American Pinball's Alice

Entities

Signals

• ?

  rumor_hype: Spooky Pinball's next title rumored to be Beetlejuice; Don cites this as recurring community rumor with no official confirmation but notes Christopher Franchi's preparatory Beetlejuice translite artwork

  medium · I think they're doing Beetlejuice this time. I haven't heard any confirmation from anybody about that, but that's the rumor that comes up the most... This guy is probably like giddily putting his all into this cabinet if that is what the theme is.

• ?

  machine_intel: Pinball Brothers new game expected April 25, 2025 (2 days after episode date of April 23); teaser images circulating; debut expected at Pinball Expo in Allentown, Pennsylvania; live Q&A and order details expected soon

  medium · I've been dropping teaser pics and things. I've heard the date of April 25th, battered around. And today's April 23rd... Joe at Pinball Star has been strongly hinting that he's going to have some brand new Games to play at Pinball Expo

• ?

  product_strategy: Stern's LE pricing strategy relies on bundled high-cost accessories (Expression Lights $699, shooter rods $249) rather than traditional cosmetic differentiation; supply delays of 6-12 months for Expression Lights create perceived scarcity value

  high · Metallica Remastered comes with the expression lights. So that's like an extra $700 of value baked in there... The Six months a year long delay to get expression lights plus the $700 cost... supports value

• $

  market_signal: John Wick LE (1,000 units) experiencing oversupply with estimated 300 units still unsold; contrasts with more limited runs (200-500 units) that command higher secondary prices

  medium · Nobody wants 1000, there's probably still 300 sitting in boxes in a dustbin. The game comes with the $700 lights.