Saturday Morning Spectacular LIVE from Automated Dec 6

Kaneda Pinball Podcasts YouTube Lives·video·50m 55s·analyzed·Dec 6, 2025

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.038

TL;DR

Jersey Jack founder Jack Danger discusses Harry Potter success and upcoming Sonic release in live interview.

Summary

Live Saturday morning broadcast from Automated Amusements featuring Jersey Jack Pinball founder Jack Danger in conversation with Kaneda and Todd Tucky. Discussion covers Harry Potter's massive commercial success (1,000+ Collector's Editions ordered), upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog pinball for mid-2025 release, Steve Ritchie's next game comparing favorably to Elton John, production capacity of 25-30 games/day, and licensing challenges including failed bids for Ghostbusters and lack of Matrix license. Also covered Winchester Mystery House and Beetlejuice sales performance, manufacturing improvements, and broader industry economics.

Key Claims

Harry Potter Collector's Edition had at least 1,000 units ordered
high confidence · Jack Danger directly stated 'At least a thousand' when asked about CE orders
Jersey Jack Pinball produces 25-30 games per day at maximum efficiency
high confidence · Jack Danger: 'we're doing about 25 to 30 a day' with good weeks around 150 units
Sonic the Hedgehog pinball targeting mid-year 2025 release (May-June timeframe)
high confidence · Jack Danger confirmed 'middle of the year' release when asked about timing
Winchester Mystery House had only 10 units available; all sold within an hour
high confidence · Distributor stated 'we only had 10' and 'They were all gone within an hour'
Stern only sold 200 Walking Dead Remastered units
medium confidence · Rumor mentioned on stream but not confirmed by any official Stern representative
Beetlejuice had 10 units available at Automated Amusements; all sold
high confidence · Distributor stated 'we got 10 of them' and Mike sold all others
Steve Ritchie's unreleased game will 'give Elton John a run for its money'
high confidence · Jack Danger's direct comparison of Ritchie's game quality to his Elton John design
Jersey Jack is working on internet connectivity for all their games
high confidence · Jack confirmed 'We've been working on it for a couple of years' regarding game connectivity
Jersey Jack rejected Three Stooges license early in company history
high confidence · Jack stated 'I went to the Three Stooges' as first rejected license, confirmed by Todd
Jersey Jack had Matrix license but it 'has nothing' - just a movie poster lunchbox deal

Notable Quotes

“I mean personally I think we could make Harry Potter forever. It was the same way I felt Wizard of Oz.”
Jack Danger @ ~10:45 — Indicates extraordinary commercial potential of Harry Potter IP for JJP; suggests sustained production line possible unlike typical game lifecycles
“It's going to give Elton John a run for its money.”
Jack Danger @ ~19:20 — High praise for Steve Ritchie's unreleased game; Elton John widely considered one of Ritchie's best modern designs
“You don't hire Michelangelo to tell him how to paint the Sistine Chapel, right? Just let him loose.”
Jack Danger @ ~20:00 — Philosophy on designer autonomy; justification for extended development timelines on Ritchie's game
“Resist that. Resist that. Don't do that. Make it be perfect, right?”
Jack Danger @ ~18:45 — Quality control mandate from leadership; addresses industry perception of rushing games to market
“There's always going to be something, right? And nobody caught it. And if there's not, you'll find something.”
Jack Danger @ ~45:30 — Response to AI art controversy on Harry Potter; deflects criticism by normalizing quality issues
“I didn't license Pokemon. I know, but imagine would that's the answer.”
Jack Danger @ ~32:00 — Direct dismissal of Pokemon license pursuit; indicates strategic licensing selectivity
“It took me 15 years, you know... Games in three months. Crap.”
Jack Danger @ ~58:00 — Reflection on accelerated game release pace; contrasts with historical production cycles
“Imagine $58 million and you didn't build one game.”
Kaneda @ ~60:30 — Reference to Robert Mueller/Deep Root Pinball Kickstarter failure; used as cautionary tale
“Pinball's not about that. Pinball's about making people happy. Give them a game.”

Entities

Jack Dangerperson Jersey Jack Pinballcompany Harry PottergameSonic the Hedgehog PinballgameSteve Ritchieperson Wizard of Ozgame Elton Johngame

Signals

?
business_signal: Manufacturing cost inflation impacting profitability; tariff concerns affecting pricing; economic uncertainty creating caution in industry
medium · Jack referenced Albert (CFO) handling tariff issues; discussion of food/labor/material cost increases; general unease about economic trajectory
?
business_signal: Jersey Jack operating at 25-30 games/day capacity with deliberate constraint to maintain quality; could theoretically increase but choosing not to
high · Jack: 'we're doing about 25 to 30 a day' and 'We could probably go higher, but maybe the quality would drop'
?
community_signal: Jersey Jack implementing internet connectivity for all games; working on feature for couple of years; will enable remote capabilities
high · Jack: 'We've been working on it for a couple of years' regarding internet connection; explicitly confirmed 'Yes' to planned implementation
?
competitive_signal: Stern Pinball prices now aligned with JJP at $13K+ range; Stern games experiencing significant secondary market value depreciation vs. JJP titles
medium · Jack: 'Stern obviously raised their prices to be in line with your company now' and 'they're losing significant value now over the last few years'
?
design_philosophy: Quality-first manufacturing mandate; leadership resisting 'good enough' mentality at game completion stage; extended development cycles prioritized
high · Jack: 'Resist that. Resist that. Don't do that. Make it be perfect' and 'I want to make great games' not just good games

Topics

Harry Potter commercial success and production capacityprimaryUpcoming releases: Sonic the Hedgehog mid-2025 and Steve Ritchie's unreleased gameprimaryJersey Jack Pinball licensing strategy and challengesprimaryManufacturing and quality control philosophyprimaryLimited edition pricing strategy and secondary market value protectionsecondaryIndustry economics, inflation, and manufacturing costssecondaryCompetitive landscape: Stern, Spooky, Barrels of Fun market positioningsecondaryHistorical context: Wizard of Oz legacy and game design philosophymentioned

Sentiment

positive(0.78)— Jack Danger is confident and celebratory about Harry Potter success; maintains optimistic outlook on company direction despite inflation/economic concerns. Industry challenges acknowledged but positioned as manageable. Some deflection on quality issues (AI art controversy) but overall constructive tone.

Transcript

youtube_auto_sub · $0.000

0:02

Who said that about Utah? Let's Let's out him right now on live. Who? Who? You want to jump in? You want to jump in? I'm trash. I'm trash. No. Should we um

0:29

I'm gonna go. Let's go find Todd Tucky. Who cares? The guy The guy that knows nothing about The guy The guy that knows nothing about games. What is he What is he a Twippy award winner? You know, you're a Twippy award winner? You know, you're not eligible. They they canled all the content categories. I want to be famous. I want to be famous. All right. We're here at automated at All right. We're here at automated at automated. He's so tiny and I'm so fat. He's so tiny and I'm so fat. All right. So, All right. So, let's talk. So, Winchester, did you sell let's talk. So, Winchester, did you sell any? Uh, yes. Well, well, we we only had 10. Uh, yes. Well, well, we we only had 10. We could only get 10. And Mike, I sold one. I could sold 50, but um Mike sold his. They were all gone within an hour. Did anyone here get a Winchester? Did anyone here get a Winchester? No. No. No. Anyone here at Beetlejuice? No. Anyone here at Beetlejuice? Uh, we got 10 of them. Uh, we got 10 of them. 10? 10? And Mike sold the I got one and then And Mike sold the I got one and then Mike sold all the others. Okay. So, um, I heard a rumor that Stern Okay. So, um, I heard a rumor that Stern only sold 200 Walking Dead remastered. Do you hear that, Jack? Stern only sold Do you hear that, Jack? Stern only sold 200 Walking Dead remastered. I don't know. I haven't sold one yet. I I don't know. I haven't sold one yet. I did have some people interested now. It's rare. now. It's rare. They want to see it. They want to see They want to see it. They want to see the game. It's not. It's not. We have it on order. We have it on order. Yeah. Yeah. It's just You think it's too much? I It's just You think it's too much? I mean, the old Walking Dead was half the price. Did we need another Walking Dead? Well, I'm excited to see the TV screen and then they they have a few extras on and then they they have a few extras on the playfield. Yeah. Yeah. Um I'm waiting to see. And we do have I Um I'm waiting to see. And we do have I have somebody interested in one, but they want to see it. Okay. So, we're going to wait until we get So, we're going to wait until we get one. You know, there's there's not We don't have one there's there's not We don't have one here, right? No, I was hoping No, I was hoping there's a there's a Dune here, though, there's a there's a Dune here, though, right? There is a Dune. There is a Dune. Okay. Okay. A Dune. A Dune. How do you like Dune? How do you like Dune? I with all the updates on the code, it's I with all the updates on the code, it's a lot better. Okay. And I enjoy it very much. I love Okay. And I enjoy it very much. I love the worm. By the way, we learned that the worm is actually called William. William. William. His name, the mechanism is called His name, the mechanism is called William. Jack, you want to get in here? Jack, you want to get in here? That's pretty good. That's pretty good. We got another industry first here, Mr. We got another industry first here, Mr. Jack and Oh, you guys are came over. [laughter] Oh, you guys are came over. [laughter] Can we talk to you, Jack? Hold on. Can we talk to you, Jack? Hold on. Wait, wait, wait. We're gonna Okay. Wait, wait, wait. We're gonna Okay. Well, we're going to go back and forth. I've got to really back and forth. Back and forth. All back and forth. Back and forth. All right. Because he's the master. I'm not. Because he's the master. I'm not. I've been Jack. I've been Jack. Jack makes the games. Jack makes the games. Shoot up and Shoot up and Jack makes the games. Jack makes the games. I'm sorry. We have a much bigger name on I'm sorry. We have a much bigger name on the other line. Yeah, we just we canled Todd for Jack. Yeah, we just we canled Todd for Jack. All right, Jack. How you doing? Chris, congratulations on Harry Potter success. By the way, there was just somebody here By the way, there was just somebody here that was wearing exactly this. No, the same outfit No, the same outfit minutes ago. minutes ago. Did you get his name? Did you get his name? No, I didn't. He ran out. No, I didn't. He ran out. Is he eligible for a Twi? [laughter] Is he eligible for a Twi? [laughter] They they canceled my eligibility. Um, all right. So, Harry Potter, big success. Um, how many Can you tell us how many CES were ordered? At least a thousand. At least a thousand. At least a Okay. More than a thousand. At least a Okay. More than a thousand. What's your What's your favorite CE? I like all three. Okay. I like all three. Okay. I really I tell you what, I like all I really I tell you what, I like all three. The Perpetual Salesman. Okay. So, the The Perpetual Salesman. Okay. So, the next game from JJP, I just have to ask. We we know it's Sonic the Hedgehog. Pinball machine. It's a pinball machine. We're all very excited. When When's the time frame, you think? Are we going to see it sometime next year? Yeah. Yeah. In In the middle of the year. Okay. So, around like summer, like May, Okay. So, around like summer, like May, June. Yeah. I like releasing things. We get Yeah. I like releasing things. We get the whole world uh to ourselves kind of. Okay. Nice. Okay. Nice. Show launches. Show launches they either Show launches. Show launches they either go perfectly or they go disastrously, right? I've done both. And you're and so there'll be ostensibly And you're and so there'll be ostensibly two lines then because Potter you got you're going to because Potter you got you're going to keep making it. I mean personally I think we could make I mean personally I think we could make Harry Potter forever. It was the same way I felt Wizard of Oz. Yeah. Yeah. You know I probably could have had a You know I probably could have had a company if I was making 25 Wizard of Oz games a week. Yeah. Yeah. I could have probably done that for the I could have probably done that for the last 14 years. [laughter] Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Is there ever talk of doing another W Is there ever talk of doing another W run because you could still sell them? I because you could still sell them? I mean, people when I when I said years ago, my foot when I when I said years ago, my foot when I said years ago was when I said years ago was Yeah, thank you. Yeah, thank you. Um, the 100th anniversary, you know, if Um, the 100th anniversary, you know, if I'm still around. What year is that? What year is that? 2039. 2039. 2039. 2039. We'll do a 100th anniversary game, We'll do a 100th anniversary game, right? Right. Yeah, because what you did right? Right. Yeah, because what you did the 70th anniversary was 75th. Okay. Um, but there's still demand. No, and I but there's still demand. No, and I think you've confirmed no more pirates ever, which those guys continue to hold their value. Pirates of the C. You know, Mike had about four of them here once for for 125. Couldn't move them. Couldn't move them. Couldn't move them. And then that those same exact games And then that those same exact games were so everything sold out at the factory so everything sold out at the factory and then everything went crazy. 40 grand they were going for at one 40 grand they were going for at one point. Yeah. Yeah. The scenes. The scenes. And what about The Hobbit? He's got a And what about The Hobbit? He's got a beautiful Hobbit in there. And I forgot how great it was. Yeah. Yeah. Hobbit's the last great. Hobbit's the last great. If you didn't play Wizard of Oz in a If you didn't play Wizard of Oz in a long time, go play Wizard of Oz. Another great game play. play. Jack, right now you guys got next up um Jack, right now you guys got next up um most likely Mark Richie. Is Mark Seiden working on another one? Mark Richie. Steve Richie. Mark Richie. Steve Richie. Steve. Why did I say Mark Richie? Mark, Steve. Why did I say Mark Richie? Mark, that's his brother, right? Is Mark doing anything over at Play Is Mark doing anything over at Play Mechanic CGC? What do you hear in there? Does he talk to his brother? Does he talk to his brother? I think he's making I think he's making Halo. Halo. That's the rumor. I don't Halo. Halo. That's the rumor. I don't know. Okay. So, Steve is up next. And is Mark Okay. So, Steve is up next. And is Mark Siden working on something new? Yes. Okay. And and Eric as well. So, you've Okay. And and Eric as well. So, you've got Mark started his his next game. Yeah. Mark started his his next game. Yeah. Okay. So, Eric's already on to the next one. Okay. How excited are you for the the the next How excited are you for the the the next few titles? I mean, I know you're not going to say you're not you're going to kill it. Do you think the next three years of JJP Do you think the next three years of JJP are going to be sort of like a new benchmark for the organization? You know, I think so. I I mean, we're You know, I think so. I I mean, we're trying to continuously improve everything, right? I mean, we're not perfect. We're making games that I don't want to make good games. I want to make great games. You know, Steve's at a point right now with his game where you get to the end of the road and there's some little tweaks. Something not might not work all the Something not might not work all the time. Might work most of the time. Somebody else would say, you know, it's good enough. Yeah, Yeah, it's good enough. It's pinball, you it's good enough. It's pinball, you know, doesn't go up the ramp all the time. It rejects you. Death Star shot and Stern just shoot. Death Star shot and Stern just shoot. He doesn't feel that way, right? He said He doesn't feel that way, right? He said if something's designed on there, it should be reliable and should work. it should be reliable and should work. So all those little things that you do at the end, they take a long time, right? right? And I told everybody on a call uh two And I told everybody on a call uh two weeks ago, because we do weekly calls uh on all the game development. I said, you know, at this stage of the I said, you know, at this stage of the game, it's easy to get um get the idea, hey, we worked on this long enough, it's good enough. Get it out of here. Get it out of here. And I said, don't I said, resist that. And I said, don't I said, resist that. Resist that. Don't do that. Make it be perfect, right? I'm going to go out there uh I think on the 15th or 16th something like that. I'm going to see. Have you played his new game? Have you played his new game? I did. I did. And you've played all of his previous And you've played all of his previous games. So, how does this game compare to his It's going to give Elton John a run for It's going to give Elton John a run for its money. Okay. All right. Okay. All right. Yeah. Yeah. Which one do you Is it got a little bit Which one do you Is it got a little bit more Well, it's not done, you know. It's not Well, it's not done, you know. It's not But the sample that I took, um, it's a fun game. It's another game that it's a fun game. It's another game that you walk up to, you smile. Right. Right. Right. Right. It's a fun game. And Steve, you know, It's a fun game. And Steve, you know, you don't hire I said it at shows. I said it many times. You don't hire Michelangelo. Tell him how to paint the system chapel, right? Just let him loose. Let him give him the Just let him loose. Let him give him the time. We gave him the time. We gave him the We gave him the time. We gave him the budget. And you see what happened with with Alton John. It's probably the best game he's done in a long time in my opinion. I'm going in a long time in my opinion. I'm going to say that. Right. So we we we we heard just a Right. So we we we we heard just a couple weeks ago. So JP to win is is is he still working with he's leaving JJP? You know, JP's interesting. You know, we have a great relationship with him. we have a great relationship with him. He still wants to do stuff for us. Okay. Okay. So, it wouldn't surprise me if you see So, it wouldn't surprise me if you see him back on Eric's game. Okay. On Eric's next game. Okay. So, he Okay. On Eric's next game. Okay. So, he won't be on Steve's game. No, I I think there might be some things No, I I think there might be some things he might have done. Okay. And the rumor is he's going over Okay. And the rumor is he's going over to work on a little Back to the Future. Yeah, it was a rumor. I heard that, too. Yeah, it was a rumor. I heard that, too. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Okay. I didn't ask him. I talked to him the I didn't ask him. I talked to him the other day. You you you you mentioned earlier that you are always looking to continuously improve. What looking at your platform now what what kinds of things would you like to improve upon that you see area for improvement? I think the electronic system I think we I think the electronic system I think we can do a little bit better on that. You know years ago when I did the IO board I was being an operator I was very conscious of people repairing things in the field right right and I did the through hole technology and I did the through hole technology so it's big now everything's surface so it's big now everything's surface mount okay okay where it's very difficult to service where it's very difficult to service right right I didn't want to make you be married to I didn't want to make you be married to me because you blew out a node board or something like that and you're charging all kinds of money for it I wanted you to be able to fix it right right so we're going forward with so we're going forward with that in mind. Okay. Okay. But we're going to bring, you know, it's But we're going to bring, you know, it's it's it's 15 years, you know, January 1, 15th anniversary, right? Internet connection. I know you right? Internet connection. I know you guys have like you you had Scorbit for a little bit, right? Is that something we might see ability Is that something we might see ability to connect all the Jersey Jack games out there one day? Yes. Yes. Okay. Okay. We've been working on it for a couple of We've been working on it for a couple of years. Okay. So, one day we're going to get Okay. So, one day we're going to get internet connection into these games. Um, has there been a Has there been a theme that you didn't get that you wanted that you can talk about? Yeah. Yeah. That I can talk about? That I can talk about? Yeah. Yeah. How about the first one, Jack? How about the first one, Jack? Oh, well, I guess that's true. In the Oh, well, I guess that's true. In the beginning, I went to the Three Stooges. Yeah.

10:28

No, no, no. Well, you know who you know who loves that Dr. Frightener? This Larry. Had you Larry the O guy? He's a He's a character. Larry came to Iappa and I listened to him for like 20 minutes and his son wanted to go to the booth and he finally walked away while Larry was talking. Larry told me to license the NFL. I mean I uh I just don't think Three I mean I uh I just don't think Three Stooges would have been a good call. So um you know there's there's rumors of like Okay, let me ask you a different question because I know you can't always speak specific themes. Do you really think, you know, seeing the success of Harry Potter, um, seeing the success of Beetlejuice recently, uh, would do you think like the 80s nostalgic sort of period is is really where this demographic gravitates towards? And I think Potter's what, like early 2000s, maybe late 90s, when 20 20 2001 was the first Potter maybe movie, 2001 was the first Potter maybe movie, but the books were out prior, right? Where where do you think the sweet spot for this demo is? It's changing. You know, everything It's changing. You know, everything changes every day, right? We're all getting older. New people coming into the industry, new people coming into collecting. You saw ata um there were people at Aia that came looking specifically for pinball machines at the show. Um at Expo Um at Expo when they asked people to put their hands up, it was our first expo. I think about 40% of the room put their hands up. That's really good. You know, we have to That's really good. You know, we have to keep spreading the word of what we're doing. People, most of the earth does not did not know that you there's pinball machines. To us, it's our lives. Right. Right. Look at you. You're all decked Right. Look at you. You're all decked out in pinball stuff. It's our lives. But, you know, you don't realize that. I go somewhere and I say, "Pinball." And I go somewhere and I say, "Pinball." And the guy says, "Paintball? Did you paintball? P you sell paintball guns, right?" right?" No. No. A pinball machine. No. No. A pinball machine. We We've got a question. We We've got a question. Talk to somebody about your email Talk to somebody about your email address, jacket jerseyball.com. jacket jerseyball.com. And somebody said to me in the bank the other day, Jack, we have a question here. Um, Jack, we have a question here. Um, there's a rumor Sad Boy here who always gives 50 bucks every week. So, thank you again, Sad Boy. There's a rumor about Ghostbusters that might have gone from Stern to JJP. Is there any truth to that rumor? I know you I can confirm or deny that rumor. I can confirm or deny that rumor. Okay. Would you Okay. Would you rumor? I will confirm that. rumor? I will confirm that. Would you like to make Ghostbusters? Would you like to make Ghostbusters? I don't know. Well, you know, some some I don't know. Well, you know, some some things that were made already should just be laid to rest and done. You know, I I'm not sure that that could be remade, right? When you see like a a big right? When you see like a a big property like Star Wars and you see the and you see the stop already stop doing Star Wars games. stop already stop doing Star Wars games. Stop. Stop making Star Wars in general. Stop making Star Wars in general. 14 Star Wars games. 14 Star Wars games. I guess that's a question like a a I guess that's a question like a a property that big that never really did have like a masterpiece game that people love. Is there ever any like why don't we see if we can finally make a great Star Wars game or not? I wouldn't do it. Wouldn't do it. I wouldn't do it. Wouldn't do it. I wouldn't die on that hill. I wouldn't die on that hill. Right. Right. Right. Right. You know what I would have done if I was You know what I would have done if I was John Bogen? I had to make a new game. I'll tell you off camera. I'll tell you off camera. Okay. Okay. Tell you what to do. Tell you what to do. All right. [laughter] All right. All All right. [laughter] All right. All right. So, um Well, there was a rumor he was making Indiana Jones and it was finished and then they the licensing shifted hands or the ownership of the property and it got sh Disney is a percentage basis. um of sh Disney is a percentage basis. um of of sale price is the royalty. Okay. Okay. So um So um and back in the day when there was only one company, you could give a licensed company like $5 a game, right? right? Today there's everybody you you don't Today there's everybody you you don't have a pinball company yet. Not yet. Not yet. But you're smart. But you're smart. I'm going to buy home own pen. I'm going to buy home own pen. But um really what happens is that with competition, you have a lot of people banging on the doors of the same people for licenses. You know, somebody called me yesterday from a license company and said, "Hey, so and so was over here last week looking at this license. Maybe you want to look at it." Yeah. Yeah. So, what they're trying to do is they're So, what they're trying to do is they're trying to create an auction, right? right? You want me to bid against somebody and You want me to bid against somebody and everything? Has that happened to you? Have you had Has that happened to you? Have you had to go in and either save a license you thought you had or have you outbid somebody? I mean, the Sonic was a license that apparently AP was pursuing with Ryan McUade's game. And you probably should have the license you probably should have the license before you develop the game, right? Do you think some people make right? Do you think some people make mistakes by publicly talking about their intent? Talk about it. Talk about it. Yes, you're Yes, you're season veteran. Well, you know, it's interesting, right? Because both telling people what you're doing. Don't telegraph that. Spooky. Spooky did it on Godzilla Spooky. Spooky did it on Godzilla and American did it on Sonic. and American did it on Sonic. Um, so how do you think Pokemon's going Um, so how do you think Pokemon's going to do? You know, light themes and do you think that theme's going to click with the pinball buyer? I didn't license Pokemon. I didn't license Pokemon. I know, but imagine would that's the I know, but imagine would that's the answer. Okay, so I didn't license Pokemon. I didn't license Pokemon. Okay. Uh, let's see. So, two lines. Have Okay. Uh, let's see. So, two lines. Have you guys ever had two fully operating lines? We did in Jersey We did in Jersey and it was We had one employee that and it was We had one employee that could build uh three. Was it a day? One employee could build three. could build three. Believe it or not, even you you might be Believe it or not, even you you might be able to build one. Yeah. I mean, probably not. I I can't Yeah. I mean, probably not. I I can't even tell you. I can't even solder. Um you don't have to How many currently you don't have to How many currently right now when you guys are at your maximum efficiency, how many games a week is coming out of JJP? Uh we're doing about 25 to 30 a day. Uh we're doing about 25 to 30 a day. Okay. So, a good a good week around 150. Okay. So, a good a good week around 150. Yeah. And you want to have quality Yeah. And you want to have quality control. We could probably go higher, but maybe the quality would drop. I'm just saying maybe. Okay. Okay. Not saying it would because I'm not Not saying it would because I'm not running the factory and and just because, you know, I want and and just because, you know, I want to ask you every question. The there was it annoying having that AI art issue on Potter at the beginning. Did Did that just everyone listen? There's [laughter] listen? There's [laughter] I'm doing this so long. There's always going to be something, right? And nobody caught it. right? And nobody caught it. And if there's not, you'll find And if there's not, you'll find something. Yeah. Of course. Of course. Um, well, Yeah. Of course. Of course. Um, well, Jack, look, we're we're super happy for all the success. I think everyone is um, you know, really excited to see what you guys have coming down the pipeline, you know, and Mike always throws a great party every year. Mike throws a great party Mike throws a great party and, um, so guys, if you're thinking and, um, so guys, if you're thinking about getting a game, I heard Mike's just found 10 extra Beetlejuices that he has unsold. So, um, call over here. [laughter] You might have some pirate games, too. You might have some pirate games, too. You don't know. Jack, do you think it's like wrong to Jack, do you think it's like wrong to just auction off games? Is that like just What do you mean how auction off? Like What do you mean how auction off? Like let's say you have a game like if you if you only made a thousand Harry Potter CDs or there there would have been a lot of people locked out. Do you There would have been a lot of upset There would have been a lot of upset people and I didn't want to see anybody that wanted a Harry Potter game should be able to buy one because now we have a game for $10,000. Yeah. Yeah. We have a game for 12 and you can We have a game for 12 and you can justify where that $2,000 is. That's right. That's right. Not like we made a game and it's 7,000 Not like we made a game and it's 7,000 more and you and you put a label on it or a piece of somebody's furniture on it. Thank you. Oh, Gordon, I know what the hell you did. Yeah. Yeah. You know, I can't justify that. You know, I can't justify that. And then you have the collector edition And then you have the collector edition and our collector customers, they're very loyal to the company and we they're very loyal to the company and we we appreciate that. Very loyal buyers and they have room a whole room full of all the CE games, you know, including look, let's face it, Emerald City limited edition was a CE before anything. And the gold smug is beautiful, too. I mean, there are playable artwork. So when we did what we did with the collector game, the problem is if if Mike has allocated 50 of them, let's say, Mike has 150 customers that want the game. So the customer calls Mike. Hey Mike, how you doing? You got a game reserve for me? Oh no, I didn't know you went to him. What do you mean you didn't know? I bought every game from you. You didn't know what you don't. And there's and there's this pinball's not about that. Pinball's about making people happy. Give them a game. It doesn't matter. And and by the way, I'll say this. There's only 110 um um let me pick a game. There's 112 LA uh standard edition version Wizard of Oz games. So that's pretty rare. How come they're not 50 grand? Yeah, it's interesting. Yeah, it's interesting. It's not about the rarity. It's about I It's not about the rarity. It's about I want a game. I want a game. Are we going to see unlimited C's on the Are we going to see unlimited C's on the next title? I'm going to keep the same formula. I'm going to keep the same formula. Okay. Okay. So, what's good? I mean, you know, then it it it

19:01

hard it's hard to limit what you're doing. I mean, I get that, you know, if you make 500 or thousand or something, you're going to sell out and you're happy. You know, you're happy, you know, doing that. And you have a company that's spooky is different than us. And everybody's different than us. Everybody's different than, you know, you can't you can't put too many companies on top of each other and say they're on the same path, right? right? Is there any ever the same path as Is there any ever the same path as anybody? Is there ever any concern? I mean, Is there ever any concern? I mean, seeing I mean, Stern obviously raised their prices to be in line with your company now. I mean, you if you look at a Stern for 13, it doesn't come with a topper. You put the topper on it, all of a sudden you're right around your 15. Um, looking at those sterns, they're losing significant value now over the last few years. Is there ever any concern if I make an unlimited run? Right now, there's no secondhand value loss to my customers that there is a little bit of a protection of the the value of a game if it is limited to some capacity. Not if it's a bad game. if it's a bad game. It is true. I, you know, I said recently It is true. I, you know, I said recently that I just don't think many Harry Potter CES will ever be up for sale. No. And how many Wizard of Oz do you see No. And how many Wizard of Oz do you see for sale? Right. Right. It's like it's like your wife, right? If you love her. Oh, Oh, should I talk? should I talk? I don't even I didn't even finish this I don't even I didn't even finish this analogy in my head. I should stop right now. Happy wife, happy life. Happy wife, happy life. Yeah. Well, Jack, it's always a Yeah. Well, Jack, it's always a pleasure. Happy holidays. Hope you had a great surprise. I didn't know I'd get ambushed surprise. I didn't know I'd get ambushed today. No, you're you're here every year. No, you're you're here every year. I think we do this interview every year. I think we do this interview every year. Okay, I'm gonna swing back around to Todd and Todd talk about wealth of information. I'm going to I'm going to give away all secrets. Yeah, we're going to Yeah, we're going to Well, then I'll sit here then and make Well, then I'll sit here then and make sure uh switch sides of the table. switch sides of the table. Technically say the Three Stooges was a Technically say the Three Stooges was a secret. Nobody was aware of it. I mean, it's a good idea you didn't make I mean, it's a good idea you didn't make Three Stooges. Um I will I will tell you something that Jack did on the Wizard of Oz. Uh I mentioned it in the video I did. Did you know that Jack never advertised on his brochure? never told anybody that he put a little monitor inside the crystal ball. That was Jack's idea to give the customer a little surprise he was not expecting. So when they unboxed the box and they saw that crystal ball light up. Wow. That was like wow. Wow. That was like wow. Yeah. When we went to Aappa that year, Yeah. When we went to Aappa that year, um we had eight games in the booth and we had a yellow road carpet that John had made. And nobody knew that what was in the crystal ball. A kid had asked me at a show and I said, "Well, it's an it's an LED. You know, it's going to light up." That's what I said. Now, that crystal ball, only the player Now, that crystal ball, only the player can see it. That's right. That's right. It's aimed at somebody about 5'8, 5 foot It's aimed at somebody about 5'8, 5 foot n and that was their secret while they're and that was their secret while they're playing that game is to see the crystal ball. That's right. That's right. Magic. Pinball magic under. You know, I Magic. Pinball magic under. You know, I I miss the one thing I miss is the wood apron was just Gorgeous. That was beautiful. That was beautiful. Just Just that was an homage to the wood rail that was an homage to the wood rail games. Okay. Okay. That's why I thought we did that. That's why I thought we did that. Okay. How like Jack's off camera, but uh Okay. How like Jack's off camera, but uh tariffs, are they just annoying you right now? Talk to Alber in my company. Okay. My Talk to Alber in my company. Okay. My CFO. Okay. Okay. Albert's probably not happy. Albert's probably not happy. There's some holes in the walls. There's some holes in the walls. Yeah. Yeah. Um Okay. So, we got Jack Yeah. Yeah. Um Okay. So, we got Jack here. We got Todd here. By the way, Jack, you got a lot of great By the way, Jack, you got a lot of great comments. Yeah. I mean, the people love you, Jack. Yeah. I mean, the people love you, Jack. They love you. I mean, you're the the greatest pinball salesman, even better than Canada. I just want to make everybody I just want to make everybody have a good experience. And you have good experience. And you have Well, when you think legacy is sealed, Well, when you think legacy is sealed, when you think about what Jack brought when you think about what Jack brought out to market, it was 13, 14 years ago, Wizard of Oz. Yeah. Yeah. And you look at the games that were And you look at the games that were available then and it was $6,500. I mean, a lot of and it was $6,500. I mean, a lot of these newbies forget like there. See, I think sometimes it's a blessing and a curse being in this hobby as long as all of us have is you you see, you know, the price increases. You see um the changing dynamic of the hobby, but in the end, we still just all want the same things in these games, these world under glasses in in in experience. You know, Enzo Ferrari used to say this, I want to make a car that when you drive it, you say, I only live once. I need to own this car. Yeah, I mean and that is very much the aim I mean and that is very much the aim hopefully of all pinball manufacturers, but and the lineups of J. I mean, I still and the lineups of J. I mean, I still got my Guns and Roses and I take grief from people that say the gameplay is not there, you know, and every once in a while I turn it off for a few weeks and then I turn it back on and I'm just like blown away. It's a beautiful game. It's a beautiful game. You have friends You have friends that Yeah. Yeah. My guns is in my office upstairs. My guns is in my office upstairs. Yeah. And it's in corner and it has the Yeah. And it's in corner and it has the topper that Joe Duso did the apron. I put the game on and I put it in I I put the game on and I put it in I pushed the button in jukebox mode. Yeah. Let it do it thing. Yeah. Yeah. I just stood back. I just stood back. Yeah. It it it it will probably go down Yeah. It it it it will probably go down as still the greatest amount of musical assets ever inserted into a pinball experience ever. When I get a license, I want the When I get a license, I want the cooperation. Yeah. Have you ever had Have you ever asked Have you ever had Have you ever asked Slash to help you with another license? Cuz he like everyone likes him. Like they they just do nice stuff for Slash Godfather. Slash Godfather. Yeah. Yeah. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. And he was doing something on two other And he was doing something on two other games that working. Okay. I love that he's like Okay. I love that he's like Hector just asked he gave you 200 MXs, Hector just asked he gave you 200 MXs, whatever that is. But anyway, I think I think that's Mexican pesos, baby. Okay. I it wants to know will they ever Okay. I it wants to know will they ever make Matrix? I had the Matrix license. I had the Matrix license. You You still do? You You still do? I had it. I had it. Oh, you had it? Oh, you had it? It has nothing. It has a movie poster. It has nothing. It has a movie poster. It's a lunchbox deal, as they would say. It's a lunchbox deal, as they would say. Look, Look, a game like Top Gun, right? Top Gun license. Tom Cruz 15 million to say hello. Okay. So, what are you going to get? Well, you know, somebody said to me, "Well, Raw thrills. the Top Gun video game. Of course they did Top Gun video game because it's a video game. All you need is a name the name and you make your own jets, make your and you make your own jets, make your own scenery, make your own movie assets in their top doesn't matter. Kid just wants to sit down and drive and Kid just wants to sit down and drive and fly a jet. Yeah, Yeah, my grandmother wants to fly jets, right? my grandmother wants to fly jets, right? That's what gentlemen wants to fly jets. So they can make that license work because Steve said to me, Richie said to me, "Hey, my brother got the license. Why can't you get the license? Yeah. Yeah. I'm like because we don't have any I'm like because we don't have any assets. That's why we can't make a game. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So, no no Matrix, no Top Gun, Okay. So, no no Matrix, no Top Gun, um um no Ghostbusters. So, what's left? The world is So, what's left? The world is there's a lot. You know what I would there's a lot. You know what I would love to see? Just more Fifth Element. Fifth Element. Any comedies, Jack? Like, um I mean, The Any comedies, Jack? Like, um I mean, The Office would be great, but I didn't want to game. didn't want to game. He didn't want a game. He didn't want a game. Springsteen didn't want a game. Springsteen didn't want a game. Really? Cattyshack. What about Catty Really? Cattyshack. What about Catty Shack? Catty Shack. You got a lot of states to Catty Shack. You got a lot of states to deal with. Bill Murray, Bill Murray, it's the it's the estates it's the it's the estates because when somebody's dead and somebody gets control of your estate. Yeah. Yeah. Uh and they have a different idea than Uh and they have a different idea than an actor had, you know, somebody might have thought it was real cool to have a pinball. Yeah. Yeah. And they're just saying, "Well, I need And they're just saying, "Well, I need uh I need $500 a game or something." Okay. I need $500 a game or something." Okay. Did um what about Barbie? You think Did um what about Barbie? You think Barbie would sell? I think it would. I think it would. I do too. I've been saying Barbie and I do too. I've been saying Barbie and K-pop Demon Hunters now. I I have Have you seen K-pop Demon Hunters yet? Yeah. I I stumbled on it. My daughter Yeah. I I stumbled on it. My daughter was watching with one of her friends and it was about a quarter of the way in and they're watching it in the house before it went to the theaters. Yeah. Yeah. And I sat down. I said, "This is a great And I sat down. I said, "This is a great movie." Yeah. It's amazing. Yeah. It's amazing. I loved it. I loved it. And I said, "Why isn't this at the And I said, "Why isn't this at the theater?" And then they they put it and it became the number one they put it and it became the number one uh movie movie in theaters. for my industry friends based on that. I mean it's based on that. I mean it's so there is going to be a K-pop so there is going to be a K-pop redemption. Let's see. I'm trying to see if there Let's see. I'm trying to see if there any questions. I can't any more guys. Somebody gave you 10 10 bucks. Somebody gave you 10 10 bucks. 10 bucks. Who we got here? Is that we 10 bucks. Who we got here? Is that we got 10 bucks here from the truth. Kareth. Kareth. Kurth. Kareth. Kurth. Kareth. Kareth. Kareth. All right. Um, so we are now approaching All right. Um, so we are now approaching a new year and we're looking at Beetlejuice at the beginning of the year. It looks like a Jersey Jack game number what, Jack? 12 or 11. 12 or 11. Losing count. Losing count. Lucky 13. Lucky 13. Is it 13? Okay, so we've got Spooky Is it 13? Okay, so we've got Spooky Beetlejuice, which is I think Spooky's around like 13th game. Games in three months. [laughter] Games in three months. [laughter] Crap. It took me 15 years, you know. Yeah, Dutch is still on game. Dutch is Yeah, Dutch is still on game. Dutch is still in game number one. Like [laughter] um I guess we got Beetlejuice, we got what's the rumor is either Transformers or Pokemon from Stern sometime at CES first week in January. Then we're looking at Raza, the return of John Papauke Jr.'s I heard he's driving a bus now. Have you heard this this? He's apparently I went to see I went to see uh Robert I went to see I went to see uh Robert Mueller on American Greek. Yeah. What did Robert Mueller ever go to Yeah. What did Robert Mueller ever go to jail? Thought he did. Thought he did. People following the case. I haven't People following the case. I haven't followed him. Did Blueberry when he Blueberry Johnson, Did Blueberry when he Blueberry Johnson, that guy? He's like, imagine. Imagine Imagine $58 million and imagine. Imagine Imagine $58 million and you didn't build one game. Yeah. Yeah. If the guy took the money and put it in If the guy took the money and put it in Apple, he could have stolen the 58 million and given it back. Yeah, that's what I don't get. I mean, Yeah, that's what I don't get. I mean, anything anything centaur. Well, did you see that new I just saw Well, did you see that new I just saw another There's Robert Muellers everywhere in every industry. Netflix wire this director that's 47 Ronin 48 million and the dude just starts buying Ferraris, Rolls-Royces and buys a $600,000 mattress for his bed. Wow. Wow. And and so they blow through all 48 And and so they blow through all 48 million and he's like, I'm I'm doing it. I'm making the show. And they give him another 11 and he just goes and blows it on more dumb [ __ ] It's like and not a single episode is completed. It's it's unbelievable that you know to be able to hoodwink people to that level. But Robert was an evil person to do that. an evil person to do that. Yeah. I mean while we saw Haggus when Yeah. I mean while we saw Haggus when you see some people like right now like do you think that there should be more for both of you guys like more companies coming in or you think we're good now? Like we got in the water. in the water. We're good now. We're good now. Okay. Do you um do you think like we're Okay. Do you um do you think like we're going to see any more closures from some of those smaller companies next year? Like we got Pinball Brothers, Padretti. I think once we get over this electronic I think once we get over this electronic or this economic hump, we'll be okay. we'll be okay. It's a weird economy, right? Because I It's a weird economy, right? Because I feel inflation's through the roof. Wages haven't gone up, but we haven't really had a true recession where where the markets have crashed. Like the markets have been very strong for some people. Um, but the cost of living is through the roof. The cost of manufacturing is going through the roof. Everyone's just feeling in uneasiness now. I looked at a menu, right? You go to I looked at a menu, right? You go to like we went out last night. The things that used to be $27 are now The things that used to be $27 are now $37. Yeah. It's Yeah. It's And you know what changed? Well, the And you know what changed? Well, the cost of food changed, cost of labor changed. Yeah. Yeah. Cost of pizza box changed. Cost of pizza box changed. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, all these things went up. I I mean, all these things went up. I [clears throat] should mention that Jack very generously took us out to dinner last night. Oh, really? Oh, really? Where'd you guys go? Hey, you didn't Where'd you guys go? Hey, you didn't have to mention it in front of me because you're a great guy. Gusto. Mucho. Gusto. Gusto. Mucho. Gusto. Gusto. It was very generous. It was very generous. Are you staying local, Jack? Right now, Are you staying local, Jack? Right now, or did you drive? Oh, nice. Okay. All right. Can Canadian Oh, nice. Okay. All right. Can Canadian didn't get the dinner invite, guys. Now, now that we know it's public, well, like I'll Friday before day. Well, there was only Friday before day. Well, there was only 13. I'll bring you guys to Roan Seafood on I'll bring you guys to Roan Seafood on the Thursday. We'll bring the whole family out like But to point of like, yeah, when we go out now like and just for now, you got like these little people. I love it. I love it. I love it. I love it. They're getting bigger, more every day. They're getting bigger, more every day. They're amazing. They're amazing. They're not slobbering all over. They They're not slobbering all over. They could go to a restaurant and actually have dinner. Just feed them first. Get some chicken Just feed them first. Get some chicken nuggets and fries. They they can last about a half hour at They they can last about a half hour at the table before it's Let them have their little iPads. This Let them have their little iPads. This is what they play with. Scotty Pinball said, "I rent I will rent a party bus if J-pop was the driver." So, I heard John's got like this long So, I heard John's got like this long burly beard and is like just kind of just off. I mean, talk about But Roz is just off. I mean, talk about But Roz is coming back. We're still not done remaking John Papa Jr. ideas. So, Roz is coming back in uh April, May 33 by Dutch Pinball X. Then we're gonna get apparently apparently it's gonna be nice. it's gonna be nice. Elwin might be working on Fallout. Do we Elwin might be working on Fallout. Do we like that as a I've never Fallout. So I don't even know I've never Fallout. So I don't even know what it is. Do you know what Fallout is back exactly? No. exactly? No. Neither do I. Neither do I. No. 35,000 foot view. Yeah. No. 35,000 foot view. Yeah. It's, you know, the ominous titles of It's, you know, the ominous titles of Stern recently, The Fall of the Empire, The Walking Dead, and Fallout. You it it You it it In my way of thinking, I never named something as a negative, right? right? Yeah. Yeah. You know what? No good gophers probably You know what? No good gophers probably could have sold more. Yeah. Yeah. If it wasn't called No Good Golfer, If it wasn't called No Good Golfer, pretty pretty decent gophers. pretty pretty decent gophers. You got a hit. Well, well, they managed to get around Well, well, they managed to get around licensing Catty Shack because everybody thought it was the Catty Shack pinball. Yeah. Wasn't there like a vacation Yeah. Wasn't there like a vacation pinball machine, too? That wasn't Vacation America by uh Chicago Gaming. Vacation America by uh Chicago Gaming. Actually, something interesting to note. When that game came out, it was very cheap. The brand new, right? It was $17.99. Uh I I thought the wholesale price was 15. It's supposed to sell for 3,000, right? Something around there. But but it had Something around there. But but it had the lockown bar had two latches and everybody says, "Oh, this is so cheap with the latches." And now that's what we have. Not for me. Patches except Jack. And Jack still has Patches except Jack. And Jack still has the um coffin lock. I think I'd like to get rid of that. I think I'd like to get rid of that. Why? Why? Because if they're not adjusted on the Because if they're not adjusted on the old games the right way, the bar is loose. Adjust it. Adjust it. My G&R1's a little at times, you know, My G&R1's a little at times, you know, I'm like shimmy shaking it a lot to get it close. to get it close. All right. Now I have to tell Jack Fran All right. Now I have to tell Jack Fran she loves him. So Chris, he gave him 20 bucks. he gave him 20 bucks. Christopher Franchie loves you. Christopher Franchie loves you. Hey, Chris. Hey, Chris. Um, you know, and Chris has worked with Um, you know, and Chris has worked with you on a few titles. He worked on Elton John. I still think Franchie's cabinet should have been the CE, but that's just me. It would have sold more CES. Um, and did Godfather work with you? But it worked because he sold a lot of But it worked because he sold a lot of platinums and he sold a lot of I look I I think I look I I think I can't find a new one in the box. I can't find a new one in the box. Harry Potter's phenomenal. I still might Harry Potter's phenomenal. I still might give Elton the edge on the gameplay. There's just something about that upper right flipper shot on that game that is just I made that shot like 10 12 times in a I made that shot like 10 12 times in a row. It It's so good. It It's so good. If you hit it right, it's just right. If you hit it right, it's just right. I love when people are like, "There's no I love when people are like, "There's no pose is just right and you can time it." pose is just right and you can time it." People people when people say there's People people when people say there's like no mess in like there's literally a ginormous piano under glass that he's banging on the keys. There's no mechs in it. That would have been a flat plastic before about Steve's game where the before about Steve's game where the point was he was at that point the same time with Elton John and they couldn't get the head to move and they couldn't get the hands to work the right way, right? right? Somebody from the factory calls me up Somebody from the factory calls me up and says, "Listen, you need to tell Steve that head's not going to move and the hands aren't going to move." You go to Steve Whisper, you know, you know, you can talk. I said, "All right, fine." So I called him up. How you doing? Good. Everything's good. Any problems? Yeah. You know, we're working through this thing all members. Why? What's the matter? Nothing. Just solve it. I want his head to move and I want his hands to move. You'll figure out how to do it. That's great. That's great. Have a nice day. Have a nice day. Yeah. I love it. Yeah. I love it. How was that? How was that? No, it's it adds such a nice dynamic to No, it's it adds such a nice dynamic to to that world in that game. The one we have in the showroom's been The one we have in the showroom's been hammered on for two years. We've had zero trouble with Elton. We have another 20 bucks here. Look, We have another 20 bucks here. Look, we're making more money here. Yeah, it's going back on tour. Really? Yeah, it's going back on tour. Really? Isn't he blind? No, he's not blind. He's very healthy. No, he's not blind. He's very healthy. He's going on tour next year. It's going to be called the Once Around Sun tour. He's going to have guest guests with He's going to have guest guests with him. He's going to start off in LA Roger Stadium and he's going on tour for a year. and he's going on tour for a year. Oh man. I mean, this these guys are Oh man. I mean, this these guys are making more now than they ever made. Stay home. How's it going to stay home? Stay home. How's it going to stay home? No, I know. Well, it's just it's No, I know. Well, it's just it's addictive. You know, you love them so much. I got You know, you love them so much. I got to get the hell out of here. All right. So, Jack, we have a question All right. So, Jack, we have a question here. This is a good Has there been any talk This is a good Has there been any talk on making the mummy game? Like some Universal monster the mummy based on the Brandon Frasier? based on the Brandon Frasier? Yeah, the Brendan Frasier mummy or old Yeah, the Brendan Frasier mummy or old mummy. I would think that Australia I would think that Australia that would be a lot of licensing too. Didn't Tom Cruz make a version of The Didn't Tom Cruz make a version of The Mummy that was terrible? Am I making that up? No. No, he did. I thought it was okay. I No. No, he did. I thought it was okay. I didn't think it was that terrible, but the I need something that's gonna sell all I need something that's gonna sell all over the world. Yeah, The Mummy. Yeah, The Mummy I don't Yeah, The Mummy. Yeah, The Mummy I don't think would sell. Yeah. Yeah. Well, like I mean Dracula. Well, like I mean Dracula. How about an Uncle Buck? How about an Uncle Buck? I would love Uncle