claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.036
Stern production updates, John Wick media tour controversy, July game speculation, new code for Bond/Jaws.
John Wick LE shipments delayed approximately 4 days due to back glass part delays; Stern bumped up Premium production to compensate
high confidence · Zach Minney reporting direct communication from Stern about part delays and shipping schedule adjustment
Stern accelerated John Wick Pro production from August to mid-June to address homeowner demand
high confidence · Direct update from Stern to dealers on production schedule modification
June production includes Black Knight Pro, John Wick Pro/Premium/LE, Joel Pro/Premium, Iron Maiden Pro/Premium, and Jurassic Park Premium as final 2024 run
high confidence · Stern production schedule provided to dealers
Deadpool Pro end-of-July production is the last build for 2024 for that model
high confidence · Stern announcement to dealers
George Gomez indicated Jack Danger is the next new cornerstone title after current production slate
high confidence · Zach citing Gomez statement; speculation includes X-Men 97 or Pokemon as possible themes
Godzilla Premium is heavily out-of-stock for dealers with no specific restock timeline communicated, suggesting possible surprise rerun
medium confidence · Zach Minney personal dealer perspective on inventory and communication gaps
James Bond received version 1.02 code update with 20 new insider-connected achievements and 'swipe a ball' feature
high confidence · Announced at end of episode; Stern continuing post-launch support
Stern's John Wick media tour created backlash over selective invitations to pinball media influencers while excluding established podcasters
high confidence · Craig Bobby's detailed segment on controversy; Pinball Show hosts were not invited
Stern invited non-pinball media influencers for John Wick promotion, which angered core pinball media community
“So I'm going to say that Stern got it mostly right in that they brought enough of the right people from the pinball media down to give them the Stern VIP treatment... Now, I say mostly because there were some notable invite misses, namely myself and Dennis Creasel of the Pinball Show.”
Craig Bobby @ ~29:45 — Articulates the core complaint about Stern's media tour invitations and their impact on excluded podcasters
“Maybe they're holding off because they're saying, Zach, I know you have this many on order, but here comes this. You may want to modify that order accordingly.”
Zach Minney @ ~48:30 — Theory on why Godzilla Premium restock timing is being withheld from dealers, suggesting strategic allocation planning
“I still don't see the point in Spike 3-ifying these games. LCD integration? I just don't. Why not just make another new game?”
Dennis Creasel @ ~51:15 — Challenges the resource allocation for modernizing existing games versus developing new IP
“I've got to give kudos to Stern. I've got to give him props for us thinking when a game hits 1.0 that it's done. and James Bond is deep enough, but they're like, no, we're going to keep going here.”
Zach Minney @ ~59:30 — Praises Stern's commitment to ongoing code development and post-launch support for James Bond
“Stern knows where their bread is buttered, Zach. That's true. It's not maple syrup. And it's not buttered by the pinball show.”
Dennis Creasel @ ~36:45 — Self-aware joke about show not being prioritized by Stern for media tour invitations despite claiming highest listener numbers
“If I were to guess again, I have no clue... Pokemon next year.”
Zach Minney @ ~56:00 — Speculative claim about potential future Jack Danger game theme (X-Men 97 or Pokemon)
“proving once again that sometimes, no matter how well-meaning you are or try to be, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't.”
Craig Bobby @ ~25:30 — Meta-commentary on Stern's impossible PR situation regardless of media tour invite strategy
business_signal: Dealers out of stock on Godzilla Premium with no restock timeline communicated, creating inventory pressure during slower summer sales period
medium · Zach: 'Godzilla Premium, I'm out of as a dealer. That's a problem, especially in a time where I need products to sell... they haven't told me when's the next run'
community_signal: Stern's John Wick media tour created backlash over selective invitations to non-pinball influencers while excluding established pinball podcasters
high · Craig Bobby: 'pinball media personalities who have slayed and poured their hearts and souls into countless hours of podcast streams, blogs, and news articles felt passed over, ignored, and let's face it, downright insulted'
community_signal: Stern's George Gomez conducted multiple promotional interviews with pinball media to address John Wick design concerns and licensing challenges
high · Craig Bobby: 'George goes into enthusiastic detail about the ins and outs of what went into the making of John Wick and the challenges of what Stern faced'
design_philosophy: Dennis questions resource allocation for Spike 3-ifying old games versus developing new IP; debate over whether modernized remakes should count as cornerstones
medium · Dennis: 'I still don't see the point in Spike 3-ifying these games. LCD integration? I just don't. Why not just make another new game?'
licensing_signal: John Wick licensing agreement with Lionsgate prohibited guns and weapons on playfield, requiring mid-design constraint adjustments
groq_whisper · $0.288
high confidence · Craig Bobby citing feedback from pinball podcasts and Pinside posts
high · Craig Bobby: 'Stern's artistic hands tied by the John Wick licensure Lionsgate to not use guns anywhere on the playfield'
market_signal: Stern allocating Black Knight Pro and other recent releases with production limits and dealer allotments due to anticipated demand
high · Zach: 'Same thing with Black Knight Pro, y'all. That came with an allocation. They anticipate it not being a free-for-all... here's your allotment based on the first run of them'
personnel_signal: Elliot Eisman (mechanical engineer) designed John Wick playfield under licensing constraints; George Gomez led PR recovery effort
high · Craig Bobby: 'Stern's creative control officer and pinball icon George Gomez tells longtime mechanical engineer turned John Wick playfield designer Elliot Eisman to hold his beer'
announcement: Stern accelerated John Wick Pro production from August to mid-June for homeowner demand
high · Zach: 'They updated us. They are taking a portion of those August allotments and orders, and they're going to be producing some of them here in June, likely mid-June, so here in a week or two.'
product_strategy: John Wick LE shipments delayed approximately 4 days due to back glass part delays; Stern compensated by accelerating Premium production
high · Zach Minney: 'There is a part delay. Rumors were in the back glass, but I don't know for certain. There's a part delay on John Wick LEs. Thus, we have to push those back a week.'
product_strategy: James Bond and Jaws receiving new code updates; James Bond v1.02 added 20 insider achievements and 'swipe a ball' feature
high · Zach: 'James Bond, version 1.02... They've added 20 insider connected achievements in this latest code update, as well as a new feature, a rule called swipe a ball'
product_strategy: George Gomez indicated Jack Danger is next new cornerstone after current production slate; potential themes include X-Men 97 or Pokemon
medium · Zach: 'George Gomez has said that Jack Danger is next... rumors for Jack's game would include things like X-Men 97... or Pokemon'
rumor_hype: Speculation about July mystery game being Godzilla Premium anniversary edition (70th anniversary) rather than new cornerstone
medium · Zach Minney: 'Maybe there's nothing in July, but it's fun to play it... Godzilla Premium is one of the best-selling games out there... I'm out of as a dealer. That's a problem'