Journalist Tool

Kineticist

  • HDashboard
  • IItems
  • ↓Ingest
  • SSources
  • KBeats
  • BBriefs
  • RIntel
  • QSearch
  • NName Review
  • +Health

v0.1.0

← Back to items

Kaneda's Pinball Podcast Saturday Morning Spectacular Jan 3

Kaneda Pinball Podcasts YouTube Lives·video·1h 17m·analyzed·Jan 4, 2026
View original
Export .md

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.040

TL;DR

Kaneda analyzes Twippies winners and declares Stern in trouble as boutique manufacturers dominate.

Summary

Kaneda hosts his Saturday Morning Spectacular podcast the day after hosting the Twippies Awards ceremony. He discusses the award winners, provides broad commentary on the state of pinball in 2026, and critically assesses Stern Pinball's declining position relative to boutique manufacturers. He also raises concerns about Project Pinball's financial transparency, citing high revenue ($840k+) against unclear expenses.

Key Claims

  • Stern Pinball had a terrible year in 2025 with declining enthusiasm, no sellouts, and diminished unboxing activity compared to boutiques

    high confidence · Kaneda's direct statement: 'It was a terrible year for Stern Pinball. I don't care what anybody says... There is no way they had a great selling year.'

  • Boutique manufacturers (Spooky, Jersey Jack, Barrels of Fun, American Pinball, Dutch Pinball) are now the primary focus for collectors buying multiple games annually instead of Stern

    high confidence · Kaneda: 'You're no longer like thinking about Stern. You're thinking about, okay, I'm gonna get Sonic the Hedgehog. I'm going to get Beetlejuice. And I'm going to get Winchester.'

  • Stern's Star Wars topper design is 'absolutely atrocious' and the company is 'mailing it in' on the biggest IP they have

    high confidence · Kaneda on air: 'Making fun of the Stern topper for Star Wars, which is absolutely atrocious. They should be ashamed of it.'

  • Project Pinball filed financial reports showing $840,000+ in revenue with $600,000+ in expenses, but the allocation is unclear

    medium confidence · Kaneda: 'Project Pinball made $840 something,000 in revenue last year... the expenses is $60 and something thou how are their expenses $600 and something,000?'

  • Jersey Jack's Harry Potter Arcade Edition prompted an emergency meeting at Stern to discuss competitive impact of $10k full-featured games vs $13k Stern LEs

    medium confidence · Kaneda: 'I heard when Jersey Jack released the Arcade Edition of Potter with everything in it, they had an emergency meeting at Stern'

  • Insiders at Stern indicate Pokemon is not performing well and Transformers is the only strong project in development

    medium confidence · Kaneda: 'I keep hearing from people within Stern's walls, people that work there that Pokemon isn't great and that Transformers is the only really cool thing happening right now'

  • Spooky Pinball (Bug and Luke) executed the best game reveal of the year for Beetlejuice with superior energy and community engagement compared to Potter

    high confidence · Kaneda's Twippies award explanation: Beetlejuice reveal was 'more personal,' had 'more buildup' and generated instant orders due to community FOMO

Notable Quotes

  • “Stern Pinball is in big trouble and there is no denying the fact that Stern Pinball relative to everything else happening in the hobby is one of the least exciting companies right now.”

    Kaneda @ ~5:30 — Central thesis of the broadcast; strong criticism of Stern's market position and necessity for change

  • “It was a terrible year for Stern Pinball. I don't care what anybody says. I don't care what the apologists say. There is no way they had a great selling year.”

    Kaneda @ ~5:40 — Explicit claim about Stern's 2025 performance; dismisses counter-arguments

  • “You're going to be like, 'Damn, damn. damn. Stern's in trouble' when you see [Sonic the Hedgehog].”

    Kaneda @ ~23:00 — Teases Jersey Jack Sonic release as major competitive threat; acknowledges he has insider information

  • “If you only have one game in your house and it's Harry Potter CE, you've got something special. It's just that kind of game.”

    Kaneda @ ~42:00 — Affirms Harry Potter as game of the year; justifies recognition despite mechanical simplicity

  • “I would love to buy a Winchester. Um I can't get one. I can't get one. I would love to scalp a Winchester. I'll tell you that. Be amazing. I think you can make eight grand on the table today.”

    Kaneda @ ~27:30 — Demonstrates extreme secondary market premiums for limited machines; commentary on FOMO and scarcity

  • “The new Twippies is garbage run by a garbage man... He doesn't even have anything interesting. Like, no one can use their brain.”

    Kaneda @ ~33:00 — Harsh criticism of Colin/Kineticist's Twippies reorganization; reflects community criticism of award changes

  • “Potter and Elton and I think Sonic and what's after I think we're going to see the impact that Steve Ritchie has had on this company was always the missing piece of the puzzle.”

    Kaneda @ ~40:00 — Credits Steve Ritchie hire at Jersey Jack as transformational for game quality; positions JJP as ascendant

Entities

Stern PinballcompanySpooky PinballcompanyJersey Jack PinballcompanyBarrels of FuncompanyHarry Potter (Pinball)gameBeetlejuice (Pinball)gameDune (Pinball)gameEvil Dead (Pinball)game

Signals

  • ?

    business_signal: Stern's reduced production sellouts, diminished unboxing activity, and declining collector enthusiasm signal structural market share loss to boutiques

    high · Kaneda: 'The games, the unboxings aren't there. The sellouts are not there anymore... the enthusiasm for their stuff is not there anymore.'

  • ?

    community_signal: Project Pinball's financial transparency questioned; $840k+ revenue with $600k+ expenses allocation unclear; multiple industry figures privately critical but unwilling to go public

    medium · Kaneda: 'I keep hearing from people within Stern's walls... There are a lot of people... very much against Project Pinball and will never publicly go on the record... They come to me'

  • ?

    community_signal: Award show format and categories under scrutiny; Colin's Twippies simplification criticized as removing interesting categories; community questions award credibility

    high · Kaneda: 'The new Twippies is garbage run by a garbage man... He doesn't even have anything interesting. Like, no one can use their brain.'

  • ?

    competitive_signal: Mechanical innovation (particularly worm mechs in Dune and Beetlejuice) becoming key differentiator; Potter staircase criticized as 'just a diverter' lacking innovation

    high · Kaneda: 'Worms are now like the greatest mechs in all of pinball... the Potter staircase... it's cool and it's always diverting... it's just a diverter'

  • ?

    design_philosophy: Barrels of Fun's Dune otherwise excellent but lighting system (LED strips on sides) looks unfinished; addressable upgrade for future games

Transcript

youtube_auto_sub · $0.000

0:03
[sighs] [gasps] You guys on Facebook, man, just join us on YouTube, man. Look how much better it looks. The sound is so much better. Got the dual Neo Geos in the picture. Ah, we're going to talk about the award show today. We're going to talk about everything happening in the world of pinball. Lovely Saturday here in beautiful Rhodeen, Connecticut. Dream. Dreams really do come true. How's everybody doing? We're going to wait for people to come in. It takes a while. The world is waiting for this show. The world is waiting in anticipation of what will Canada say this Saturday.
0:48
How's everybody doing? [clears throat and cough] Sunny day. Let me close the blinds a little bit. Give me a little bit. There we go. Was right in my eye.
1:05
We're gonna um What's up, Raymond? What's up, dudes on Facebook? We're We're going to go all through the award show winners last night. I want to discuss again with you guys whether you agree, you don't agree. I'm sorry the show went a little long. I'm sorry for all my likes and ums. I was tired and had some Inhadens in me. I don't really love to booze up live. I don't. People wanted it though and I'm a people pleaser. Yeah. I gave the people what they wanted. Got a little little tipsy at the end. Not bad though. Nothing I'm ashamed of. Nothing I would be worried about if HR saw it. I dropped two curse words, which I never do. Making fun of the stern topper for Star Wars, which is absolutely atrocious. They should be ashamed of it. got some nice notes from people postshow from people within the industry uh thanking me for their recognition and that's what the show is all about. Um and that's why I love doing it. And I I think when whenever there's going to be an award show, I don't think the stuff that got recognized last night is going to be that far off from where most people will give praise because it was a really interesting year. And what I what I loved about last year's games, and we'll talk about it, is the variety of stuff that was recognized, the amount of new individuals in the hobby that are being recognized, and just the the overwhelming talent that is spread out across the hobby. And it's really a good time to be in pinball. All right, let's um let's uh copy this link. Hold on a second. Gonna drop it. All right. I'm surprised you're on this time this morning. Yeah. After last night, right, guys? Yeah. I don't think as many people are going to join because they got they got their Canada fill last night, you know. Oh, hold on. I'm just trying to move this around. You know, two and a half hours of Canada is a lot. It's a lot to then wake up and get another hour and a half of Canada. But I I live, I eat, I sleep, pinball. I'm looking at my I just booked I'm so excited. I just booked Japan for my big 5 birthday next year. Brenda and I are going for about two weeks. We're going to have to get someone to watch the kids. Aunties, get ready. We have the most amazing aunts. Brenda's sisters are the best. Um, you know, look, I think all of us and you know, two business class tickets to Japan was the cost of let's see, hold on. Chats, where's the chats, guys? Get in here. Get in here, gang. Get in here.

  • The Dune worm mech is the best mechanical innovation of 2025, deserving more recognition for engineer Travis and Barrels of Fun

    high confidence · Kaneda: 'the worm mech in Dune is is really to me the best mech of the year... I really want there to be a lot more name recognition for these engineers'

  • “Where does all that money go? I mean, I'm just saying because that's a crazy amount of money... I don't know like so when I dig and look at the numbers I am surprised by them.”

    Kaneda @ ~48:30 — Raises accountability questions about Project Pinball's finances without clear answers; signals transparency concern

    • Star Wars (Pinball)
    game
    Winchester Mystery House (Pinball)game
    Sonic the Hedgehog (Pinball)game
    Christopher Franchiperson
    Eric Minorperson
    Steve Ritchieperson
    Twippies Awardsevent
    Colin/Kineticistperson
    Kanedaperson
    Project Pinballorganization
    Dutch Pinballcompany
    American Pinballcompany
    Bug and Lukeperson
    The Abbas Familyperson
    Pat Lawlorperson
    Retro Ralphperson
    Jeff Dodson / Dirty Poolperson

    medium · Kaneda: 'The only thing left to be done at Barrels of Fun... is to get rid of the ticky-tack lighting system on the sides... I don't like LED strips that are just like stuck in'

  • ?

    licensing_signal: Jersey Jack's Toy Story/Wonka licensing pivot from Lawlor's original design created production burden and altered game vision

    medium · Kaneda: 'If Lawlor's Wonka was able to stay as Toy Story 1, I think it's a whole different... response to that game... they had to quickly pivot and turn Toy Story one into Willy Wonka'

  • $

    market_signal: Three-tier pricing model (Pro/Premium/LE) under pressure; JJP's $10k Arcade Edition forces emergency meeting at Stern; secondary market premiums ($24k Winchester, $8k+ Beetlejuice) suggest unsustainable collector demand

    high · Kaneda on Potter Arcade Edition: 'If Jersey Jack is going to give full-featured games out for 10 G's... you put a Harry Potter Arcade Edition next to a $13,000 Stern LE... just go kick yourself in the nuts'

  • ?

    personnel_signal: Steve Ritchie hire at Jersey Jack credited as transformational; positioned as 'missing piece of the puzzle' for company's competitive ascendance

    high · Kaneda: 'The impact that Steve Ritchie has had on this company was always the missing piece of the puzzle... Steve Ritchie masterpiece [Sonic]'

  • ?

    product_strategy: Reveal strategy is now key competitive factor; Spooky's Beetlejuice reveal (personal, buildout, instant orders) rated superior to JJP's Potter reveal despite Potter's bigger IP

    high · Kaneda on reveal awards: Spooky 'more personal,' 'more buildup,' 'explosion of orders instantly like Potter... more energy with Beetlejuice because everybody knew they had to grab one'

  • ?

    product_concern: Star Wars criticized as rushed, with weak mechs, poor topper design, and inadequate effort despite being Stern's most valuable IP

    high · Kaneda: 'Star Wars [looks] cheap... mailing it in on the biggest IP they have... The topper looks rushed. Everything about it is just stupid.'

  • ?

    rumor_hype: Internal Stern sources report Pokemon performing poorly and Transformers as only strong 2026 project; indicates development pipeline challenges

    medium · Kaneda: 'I keep hearing from people within Stern's walls... Pokemon isn't great and... Transformers is the only really cool thing happening right now'

  • ~

    sentiment_shift: Community sentiment has shifted markedly against Stern Pinball; boutique games dominate awards and collector interest; Stern no longer default choice for multi-game buyers

    high · Kaneda: 'You're no longer like thinking about Stern... the excitement, the enthusiasm, the energy is all in the boutique space.' Awards show recognition concentrated on Spooky, JJP, Barrels of Fun.

    • 4:13
    Um, was the was the cost of a like a Winchester was the cost of a Beetlejuice. Sad Boy, man, you keep docking my pay, bro. What's happening here? You might as well have been in Manhattan last night. Last 45 minutes were classic. Thanks again, dude. Were they good? Did you enjoy it, Sad Boy? Um, yeah. Yeah. I wasn't too bad, though. I I know when I when I've had too much and and I don't even make sense. I was still coherent and I was still making sense. Just a little bit, you know, little much in me for sure.
    4:52
    I I um I can't wait to go to Japan. I'm glad you guys enjoyed the show. We're going to talk about the winners today and we're going to talk about where I think pinball's going in 2026. and and really the takeaway from last night for me was very eye opening. I I think it should be eye opening and I think if there's one one very big takeaway from last night, what's up guys? Hey, what's up K man? Hello from Orlando. My wife and I are going to Japan later this year as well. When are you going? I'm I'm Mike Jones. I'm going to Japan the last week in September through the first week. Oh, no. September 22nd through like October 5th. So, I can't wait to go. Just guys, everybody book. Let's all go. Let's just take over Japan with the Canada Club. It's going to be amazing. And it's the one place where they know how to annunciate Canada. They would say Canada. It's Akira, right? It's not Akira. It's Akira. Let's do this road trip, baby. Drinking my coffee out of a Paw Patrol cup cuz Chase is on the mofo case, baby.
    6:03
    Oh man, it's good. How's everybody doing on We got Facebook, we've got YouTube. I think I burned everybody out, but I keep going, baby. I don't care. I'll talk to one person. Even just one person is watching. At the height of the show yesterday, I look, there was like zero show promotion. I I did a bad job. I should have been promoting the show for like a week or two and made more people aware. It was like day of, you know, like the morning of. So, I was still shocked to see we got about 175 people to tune in at I think around at the height of the show. So, that was cool. I mean, we're we're nano influencers. I I hope everybody realizes that like nano there there's there is like influencers making millions a month. There's influencers making $10,000 a month. Then there's pinball influencers that most of which are making nothing a month. Majority are making nothing. And I I I think I make the most as a pinball influencer. Maybe. I don't know. And it's not a lot. It's not a lot. I I don't get like the um I'm sure Ralph makes something decent on his YouTube stuff. He gets a lot of views. And I mean, the smart move, and you're going to see it in 2026, is, you know, converting the the Canada fan base into um into a place where you can also place some orders for some some hot games. Get ready for this, people. It's going to be fun in 2026. You'll see more to come on that uh shortly in this new year. Um let's see. Yeah, there were kids opening a Kinder egg getting 5 million views, right? It's crazy. I mean, absolutely crazy. So, let's do this. Before we go back over, I might pull it up again and we'll we'll see the uh the winners real quick. I want to just give you my broad takeaway of what last night's kudos awards to meant and the big takeaway because when you analyze all the winners and you see all the games from last year, I really think it's it's nice to have it all packaged together like it was last night because it gives you a good perspective on where this hobby is, where it's going, where the moment momentum lies, where the energy lies. And I think it's an exciting time to be in pinball. I've been in this hobby now for 13, 14 years, I want to say, maybe 15 now, almost coming up on. I wasn't a pinball fanatic. When I was a kid, I was an arcade guy. I Christopher Francie's in the house. The liquor hit you pretty hard. Uh yeah. No, like well the thing is Franchie is I haven't really had a drink all week and I've been tired cuz I haven't slept much and and Manhattan with the sugar like you crash like they're not like it's not like an upper drink. It really does slow you down. So thank you for for Thank you everybody for having the patience to sit through it all. uh wasn't my best performance by any means, but this will be a better show guaranteed. But it was fun. I think we all had fun. I think it was fun recognizing the takeaway though was simply this. Stern Pinball is in big trouble and there is no denying the fact that Stern Pinball relative to everything else happening in the hobby is one of the least exciting companies right now. And they need they need to get their asses kicked a little bit, I think, to turn a page. And I think they're going to respond. I do. I don't think they're used to the level of apathy towards them. I don't think they're used to really missing the mark as much as they did in 2025. I mean, it was a terrible year for Stern Pinball. I don't care what anybody says. I don't care what the apologists say. There is no way they had a great selling year. There's just no way. The games, the unboxings aren't there. The sellouts are not there anymore. The the just the enthusiasm for their stuff is not there anymore. And then you look at you see like, you know, the potential for Dutch to enter the race with Back to the Future. Raz is coming back. American Pinball's even coming back with God knows what. But it just starts to feel like the excitement, the enthusiasm, the energy is all in the boutique space. And that's a okay because there's enough boutiques now where if you want to buy two or three pinball machines a year, you're no longer like thinking about Stern. You're thinking about, okay, I'm gonna get Sonic the Hedgehog. I'm going to get Beetlejuice. And I'm going to get Winchester. I mean, if you get those three games, you're going to have an amazing pinball year. Is the audio choppy, Hans? I I mean, sounds good on my end. Is it Is it good? Anyone else having choppy audio? There's no audio now. Oh, man. What happened? Hold on. Hold on. Hold on.
    11:19
    Oh. All right. I I know how to do this. I know how to fix the audio. Hold on. We're going to go back. Reload it. Maybe the cable. Is that better? We have audio now. Are we Are we good? Yes. Are we back?
    11:42
    Oh, okay. I didn't we good? Okay. Yeah, maybe I I might have jingled the cable. Yeah, it's of course it's fine on Facebook. Um, yes. I just think there's a lot of excitement and enthusiasm.
    11:57
    Let's do this. Let's pull up the winners. You can't see it on Facebook, but you see at the top of the my Facebook page.
    12:18
    All right, I'm going to go real quick. Let's go full screen. So, Harry Potter winning best theme of the year. We all agree. I just want to hear yes or no. If you disagree, do you think there was a better theme? I I I will say when I did Potter as best theme, I would say the other one I think Beetlejuice would have been number two for me, but I but but Potter is way bigger than Beetlejuice. So, as an IP, I I don't think, you know, I'm just going through it quickly. If you relax, calm down. Let's Well, let's just do this. Let's go to the um let's go to the last slide
    13:05
    because it has everything on one slide. I'm not sure you know this though. All right. All right. So, as we can see here, Potter for best theme. All right. Then we have for best theme integration, Evil Dead. I I think you I think Do you guys agree or disagree with the Evil Dead as theme integration? I think there was a lot of good theme integration this year. I think I think Dune was great. I think Evil Dead though, the reason Evil Dead took it and not Potter is I just still don't think Potter has as many mechs in the Potter universe that it that I would have liked to have seen. And again, really difficult. Eight movies, a lot of stuff, but again, there's nothing magical happening in Potter. The staircase is really cool, but I would like to have there have been like a few more things. Okay, so most people agree on Evil Dead. So, for best animations, I gave it to Potter. Again, animations, as I explained last night, difficult because most games are not really like animated. It's just organizing clips, which nobody does it better than Potter. I was on the fence about giving it to Potter and JP John Paul to win because uh I I still think Potter is a little complex, like overly complex on the screen, but it's still beautiful. Like it's you know what I'm saying? Like so I gave it more of a win for the the the the beauty of the organization of everything. [cough and laughter] Of
    14:46
    course, Potter's a better theme than Predator. I mean, it's hairy freaking Potter. Predator is like a tiny tiny franchise compared. All right, so then best code. I saw people making fun of me on Pinside that Canada giving a code award when he doesn't play pinball. I've played all these games enough to to to give awards, too. Um, I Ben Hec and Evil Dead I think deserves it. Again, I think when I play Evil Dead, and I explained it last night, I love the straightforward nature of the code. I love how it just it's mode based. It puts you in the movie. It puts you in the scenes. I love selecting which movie I about it. I love the way Spooky codes its games. Now,
    15:32
    any any thoughts on best code? I I would say that in this category would be King Kong, Harry Potter for sure, right? I think Dune is getting there quickly, but I haven't played the latest Dune code. Woke up to us taking out narot terrorist, but we'll still connect. [clears throat]
    15:58
    Yeah. Didn't they um extract the Venezuelan leader last night? Crazy. Like it's like some Delta Force stuff. I You know what it is, Kelly? I don't really read much news anymore. It's all terrible. It's all misery and gloom and doom every single day. I think if you read the news now, you're just going to hate life and hate the world and hate the people in it. And I don't want to hate the world and the people in it. And I love America. I love what this country's done for my family, my parents, my grandparents, the opportunities. I love this nation. And whenever I read the news, I I feel like it's just trying to get me to hate who I am, where I live, and and and where we're going. You know, once you turn off the news and you turn off social media, happiness begins. It's a beautiful thing. Now, this is to me, this is not this this is community. This is not like doom scrolling on TikTok like everyone's doing these days.
    16:56
    So, Potter is better code, says Bill. Okay. Well, here's the thing about Potter is like, yeah, but it's getting deep into it's kind of difficult. So, but I do think giving Harry Potter best launch code that I kind of did that because I did want to recognize Potter Code and I do agree that we should recognize games that launch with great code should be a recognition in this hobby. Do you guys agree with that? that best launch code is different than best code because some games take a year or two to get coded. Like Batman took two years and it was by the time it ended it was amazing but it was the worst launch code. So I do like recognizing a company that gives you a great initial out of the box experience. Um, best music I think was one of my um, you know, giving it to to Dirty Pool. Um, was really and and Jeff Dodson, as I said yesterday, you know, he really he really deserves it. And he he goes by the name Dirty Pool. And I I heard from him last night. He sent me a really nice note thanking me for the recognition. And I do think Jeff Dodson and his work that he's going to do, I believe he's working on Winchester Next, he's a really, really awesome dude. I believe Jeff was the dude who sat down at the piano with me at Expo and just started like jamming out. He's got a He's kind of like a little bit of a virtuoso is I I I was really an impostor on those keys next to him. Um, and he just really good guy. We got David Vaness in the house. Can we all say hi to Mr. Vaness? David, how are you doing? I hope David that you um you enjoyed the show if you haven't seen it yet, but I hope you also feel that Dune, you know, got a lot of great recognition last night. And you know there was one other that I had for Dune and it was it was theme integration to me was very close but to see barrels win for music and you know for mechs. Um does that not look like Travis? Because people were saying it doesn't look like him. Travis winning for best mech and the worm mech in Dune is is really to me the best mech of the year. And I I really want there to be a lot more name recognition for these engineers that are contributing their skills and their talents to making more mechs like that. And it's a really really amazing thing to see. And again, I I think a lot of us are looking down the aisle and you look at a game like Star Wars and it looks cheap. You look at a game, you know, like Walking Dead Remastered, I don't know, those mechs are old. Yesterday's news or 12 years old. Where's the innovation? Where's the new creativity? The other mech, and I it it definitely would give it a run for the money, is the the worm. It's funny how worms are now like the greatest mechs in all of pinball, but the worm in Beetlejuice, I think, is definitely going to be really um up for contention next year. And then I also think what's in Sonic the Hedgehog and Transformers I I'm hearing has some amazing mechs in it. So, uh, everyone agree with the best mech being Dune because I I saw a debate about should it have been the staircase with Potter? Don't get me wrong, I love the pod or staircase, but it is just a diverter. You know what I'm saying? Like, it's cool. It's cool and it's always diverting, you know? It So, I mean, on some level, I I you know, it's a diverter.
    21:08
    Yeah, I heard just uh Winchester number seven just went out to somebody. I look I would love to buy a Winchester. Um I can't get one. I can't get one. I would love to scalp a Winchester. I'll tell you that. Be amazing. I would I think you can make eight grand on the table today. 100%. Eight grand. I think people are nuts. So, let's jump. Let's keep going. So, the best topper uh easily Beetlejuice. I think second would have been Evil Dead. I mean, Spooky's just crushing it with these toppers. And again, I know I went on a rant and and I really did just destroy Stern's Star Wars topper, which I deservedly so. And I I think that Stern is just mailing it in on the biggest IP they have. They rush the game. The topper looks rushed. Everything about it is just stupid. And I think they need to call a meeting and get get everything together because it's just looking real bad over there. Uh did Evil Dead topper much better than Beetlejuice? You think so? You think so? I don't know, man. I I think the I think the Evil Dead one I mean they're both really awesome. They're both really awesome. Let's see here. Best reveal. You know, I gave it to Spooky Bug and Luke. This one was another one I was on the fence about. Obviously, the Potter reveal was great with Retro Ralph's video, um, Keys in the Backbox, Baby. They both were great. I the reason why I thought the spooky reveal was just a little bit better was how personal it was and how they pulled everybody in and they did more and there was more of a buildup and there was more of a of like an explosion of orders instantly like Potter and again like part of it when it comes to best reveal is is how the community gets energized by the reveal moment. And I think there was just like a lot more energy with Beetlejuice because everybody knew they had to grab one or they were going to miss out. No one felt that way with Potter because unlimited CES. So moving forward, you know, now that Jersey Jack, it's exciting to see their new games. I can't wait for you guys to see Sonic. I can't wait. I I I have I I know some stuff I can't tell you guys. I Man, I said I wouldn't say anything. I'm not gonna say anything. I'm just going to say it's going to when you see it, you're going to be like, "Damn, damn. Damn. Stern's in trouble." Um, all right. So, most collectible. I have Beetlejuice here, and I explained it. I look, I think Winchester easily going to hold value. So will Beetlejuice. Who knows? I mean, both of these games are always going to sell for well above MSRP. You're never going to see any of them go for anywhere near what they what they sold for brand new. Which leads me to uh you know the five Canada club member games that we have. Who is doing Sonic? James Brown. Who who like James I love you bro. Like on Facebook like are you new bro? JJP is doing Sonic. Steve Richie masterpiece. I heard it's his greatest game ever. Um best value Harry Potter arcade edition easily. You know, I heard when Jersey Jack released the arcade edition of Potter with everything in it, they had an emergency meeting at Stern, an emergency meeting to discuss the impact that this could have if Jersey Jack is going to give fullfeatured games out for 10 G's. You put a Harry Potter arcade edition next to a $13,000 Sternle LE and just then just go kick yourself in the nuts if you buy the Stern. You know what I'm saying? Are you getting Winchesterers for Canad Club, too? I do not have any Winchesterers for the Canada Club. David, David, make five Canada Club member games. Make five show games for the Canada show.
    25:26
    so most improved company, right? Love this category, by the way. To me, these are the interesting categories that Colin and his crappy trippy, you know, the new Twippies is garbage run by a garbage man. The new Twippies is just going to be terrible. Um, he doesn't even have anything interesting. He didn't even add any interesting categories. Like, no one can use their brain. But I think most improved company to me is a terrific new category. Pat yourself on the back, Canada. And I think no company deserves it more than barrels of fun. It really, David, you did it. You You legit picked the theme that I would have told you, no way. You knocked it out of the park. You've got amazing engineers. You got amazing sound engineer, mechanical engineers. You've got a beautiful game. The only thing left to be done at Barrels of Fun, and David knows what it is, is to get rid of the tic-tac lighting system on the sides and do what Melvin can help him do and make it more seamless. you know, like the lighting analyst, like get rid of the tick tickytac lights, which is easy. And also, like you could upgrade the old games to have the new lighting system in it when they do it. So, I think once they do that, it'll be the final I don't like LED strips that are just like stuck in. I think Beetlejuice has it too in the back. I No, no, no, no, no. Guys, you got to make the lighting not look like it's unfinished, if you will.
    27:04
    Um, all right. Let's go a few more. Best art. Mr. Franchie killed it on Evil Dead. Killed it on Beetlejuice. Do you guys disagree with the tie there? Because I I I want to say this and I said it last night. I I have to recognize the genius move to do that unique. So unique that art package on Harry Potter CE. I know the playfield wasn't done. That That's the only thing I'm a little bit disappointed in is they didn't get what is it? Mina Mina Lima, right? Mina Lima to do Imagine if they had done the playfield different and the topper all in that style. It would have been just, you know, chef's kiss. But but alas, it is it is stunning though. And I think it is the biggest you most unique risk and artistic like gamble if you will to go in a direction like that and they nailed it.
    28:15
    Um and then obviously Eric Miner Minor Minè how do you say it? I always say it wrong. uh designer of the year. Amazing game, Harry Potter to shoot. One of the best shooting pinball machines of all time. One of the most stunning pinball machines of all time. It is a um it's a game changer. I really think they nailed it. And I think the more you get into the code, they heard the feedback, they've they've brought more of the audio from the movie back into the game more. It's just a stunning game. If you only have one game in your house and it's Harry Potter CE, you you've got a you've got something special. It It's just that kind of game. And I think Harry Potter really it get got game of the year as well and for it deservedly so. They they nailed it. They nailed it. I wish there was a few more like wow mechanical things in it, but again, it's the sum of the parts. the Abbis family who I've um you know come to know more intimately over the last year really is is um is an amazing family and and their um their energy and their enthusiasm for this hobby is is genuine. I mean it I mean I've sat down and I've had great conversations with them and they are genuinely in it. They are passionate about this hobby. They are so excited for what's coming down the road. uh even though I try to get more information out of them, they they they keep me at arms length, but but you know, I really do respect what they have going on. And again, I think they're going to achieve, if not have already achieved creating the world's greatest pinball machines ever. and and it's they're they're so close, you know, and I think Potter and Elton and I think Sonic and what's after I think we're going to see the impact that Steve Richie has had on this company was was always the missing piece of the puzzle. You know, they had some unfortunate things happening with licensing deals. They were, you know, if if if Lawler's Wonka was if if Lawler's Wonka was able to stay as Toy Story 1, I I think it's a whole different a whole different response to that game. The fact that they had to quickly pivot and turn Toy Story one into Willy Wonka and then have to make what was it? Toy Story 4, you know, it just, you know, unfortunate that they got forced to do that. So, I I want to say like I'm really when I think about what's coming in 2026, I get really giddy. I'm I'm nervous about Back to the Future. I won't lie. Just nervous. I don't know. But let's talk about some of the rumors I've been hearing. So, and I saw on Pinite people are trying to like I don't know why people I'm I'm not like making this stuff up. I keep hearing from people within Stern's walls, people that work there that Pokemon isn't great and that Transformers is the only really cool thing happening right now. Hector, thank you so much.
    31:53
    Glad to know Richie is making Michael Jackson. Well, you know, Michael Jackson is on the table. I mean, Michael Jackson would be amazing. You know, they had they had they were going to make it right when the documentary dropped and they just decided not to. No, that's a thousand that's a,000 Mexican pesos, right? [laughter] Uh, I did get a $100 last night, which was the most ever, I believe, donated to the show, which is great. I mean, from a single YouTube live. So, thank you guys so much. Uh, Hector, thank you for the $55. You guys are going to keep getting Brenda wasted. That's where the money goes. Some people, you know, donated to Project Pinball. Do we can we talk for a minute about I I don't I I I don't know, gang. like what what should I do here with this story that people keep throwing it on my desk that Project Pinball made $840 something,000 in revenue last year. Can we talk about that? Are we allowed to ask how the heck does a company with 50 pinball machines, most of which have been placed in these hospitals years ago, why they how they have $840,000 in income and then you see the expenses is $60 and something thou how are their expenses $600 and something,000? the games are already they own the games, but it's but that was just one year's expenses. So, I just don't understand where all the money goes. I remember when Ken Cromwell did his fundraiser and raised $50,000 for them and you never really heard where that money went.
    33:50
    No, it's it's like I I don't get it. Everything is public, but it they they just
    34:03
    whatever they're filing, how could it be that much? Like, where does all that money go? I mean, I'm just saying because that's a crazy amount of money
    34:18
    and you know it's the hardest thing too is that nobody you know I don't know like I reach out to them I sent them an email want to discuss they don't get back to me I I don't know like so when I dig and look at the numbers I am surprised by them I I think over the last like few years they've raised like something like $4 million and here here here we all are. How many of you are making $800,000 a year? Seriously. And and the people that are servicing the games aren't charging money. They're not getting paid to service those games. They're doing it. It's a charity. They're doing it for free.
    34:59
    I I don't I don't know. I was just talking about project pinball bill that they they had $840,000 in revenue and claim that there's over $600,000 in expenses. I don't get that part. And these raffles are shady. So you're selling a single game for double the price. Where does that money go? You know, so when you sell one Beetlejuice for $24,000, where does that money go? Are they even paying full retail for that game? Is Spooky donating them as a tax rate? I don't I'm just The whole thing The whole thing to me is a little sus because of the amount of money
    35:59
    Well, most of the games are at Ronald McDonald houses. Yes. And they've been But they've been there for years.
    36:11
    I don't know. I don't know. I mean, look, this is as much as I'm going to do on this is just say, I I I you know, I don't I don't know. Like, I'm not going to go on some investigative journalistic like witch hunt, but I would like to know where all that money goes. That's the only thing, you know, and then you look at the games that are in the hospitals. They're not expensive games. There's maybe one Wizard of Oz somewhere, but for the most part, a lot of Spider-Man's a lot of Spider-Man Home Editions.
    36:48
    Yeah. I mean, I think the guy used to have like a lucrative I think he was maybe a lawyer or something. He used to have like a lucrative job and now he's doing he's making a lot of money. Come on. I mean, you can't tell me that they're not pocketing. This is their job. Like six like a lot of that money is going into their own pocket. I mean, I I don't know. Like that's just I guess I just I I don't know. I guess every day is an expense if if you're running a charity.
    37:33
    Well, you know, the thing is I never hear anybody else ever even question this. And yet, and here's my issue with it, there are a lot of people that you know very well who have pinball companies that are very against Project Pinball and will never publicly go on the record to air their grievances with Project Pinball, right? They come to me like they give it all to me. They're like, like look at this. Look at this. Okay. If if enough people want to push this boulder, I'm I'm cool like being, you know, just pushing it a little bit and asking some questions. And look, they're they're fully within their right to respond. I I emailed them. They they didn't get back to me. Uh I don't know what else to do. I'm not going to like call them and blindside them. But yeah, I think I do think they owe with this amount of money coming out, I think they do owe the community more of an explanation of where all this money goes. That's that's my only thing.
    38:46
    Um, and I I think um, you know, people and and what what annoyed me this week was that guy that lied about getting the second topper and then he to make amends, he just donates 1,500 bucks to Project Pinball. When I saw that, I got really annoyed because I just thought, what what what is this now? So they're they're acting like any any donation of Project Pinball absolves you of your sins, wipes clean your record, restores your credibility and your reputation. It's garbage. Like why does Project Pinball deserve that money? And now where is that $1,500 going? So this guy donates 1,500 bucks. It goes right into the pocket of Project Pinball to their expenses. And they the guy donating it gets a tax write off and and Project Pinball gets a tax write. That's just it's it how is that how you make amends for lying that you got a topper that you didn't pay for and then you sold it like a scumbag and there's no other way around it. And yeah, I heard the guy's response. Uh, you know, I got caught and like wh what who are these people that are are in like a difficult financial space ordering $2,000 toppers.
    40:13
    I mean I I don't know. You know who and I think you guys know you remember Richie Wrench? You guys remember Richie Wrench?
    40:22
    Remember Richie Wrench? Used to have every Jersey Jack CE number 12 in his front of his plumber business. He tried to do that to me years ago. It was one of the most frustrating moments in this community for me. I'll give you the story real quick for those who who don't remember or didn't hear it. I bought one of Brian Allen's Rick and Morty transl lights. He made I think he made like 25 of them or something or 50. He couldn't sell them because he didn't have the IP permission, but he sold like 50 of them. I bought one and Richie Wrench bought it from me I want to say for like I put it on eBay. He bought it for [sighs] you. I want to say something like two grand or something like that. I could go back and look. So, you know, he and he knew he knew I knew who you was. And he's like, "I'm you know, it's Richie Ranch." Like, "Cool." Like, I was like, "All right, Richie. Awesome. I'm going to FedEx it to you." I FedEx it to him. $2,000 translate. I FedEx it to him and he then he doesn't even reach out to me. He opens, this is crazy. He opens a credit card dispute chargeback saying he never got it. Like this, this is that's the first movie he does. I never got it. Tries to credit card charge back and get his money back. Okay. I'm like, Richie, what's up? like FedEx says it was delivered and he's like I never got it. I want my money back. I'm like okay well that's that's that's that sucks. Like hold on a second but before you do the chargeback why didn't you come to me let me see what's up. Okay. Again, this is a guy sitting on over a4 million dollars in pinball machines bragging about his Dodge Viper. Like how much money he has, right? Over two grand. You know, you talk about like someone's character and someone's reputation, how thinly veiled people are when it when it comes to anything like with money involved. So, I I reach out to FedEx and they say, "We delivered it." I was like, "Richie, what's your address?" He's like, "This is my address." Okay, Richie, that they they said they delivered it there. They have a picture of it and it was signed for by somebody, right? Okay. Now, let me ask you guys a question. If if you if you were expecting a package to be delivered and you have a wife and two kids, would you not ask them, "Hey, did anyone get a package?" Okay. So, like two days go by, FedEx is, you know, trying to track down the package. They said they delivered it. He then hits me up and is like, cuz then they told me who signed for it. He's like, "That's my wife." I'm like, "Richie, what?" So, then he's like, "Oh, my bad." Like, my wife had it. And this is like five days later after I had to do all this work trying to locate this package. The dude never The dude just didn't want to pay for it. And I just don't understand like why you would do that to somebody. And you know, I never really and then he you know, he had a whole period where he like flamed out of the hobby and and sold all his machines. And I I don't know, but you know, he never really apologized. It was just a weird thing to do to somebody. Look, I I'm not the I'm no saint. I've got my issues. can't hold my liquor very well. I I sometimes will say things I don't mean. I sometimes go on unfair rants, but for the most part, just when you get caught, just do the right thing and don't be a crook. Don't try to steal. You know, I I went through a difficult thing with that Fix It Felix game and you know, like and it got resolved, but I I'll never do a deal like that again. And I bought the game for I think it was like $7,500. And I was like, I don't want the paperwork for it, which was the other $1,500 I owed him for the paperwork. That's how we said like I took I left with the game. 7,500. I'll give you 1,500 for the paperwork later. He's like, okay. And I was like, I don't want the paperwork. He's like, well, you can have it anyway. And and whatever. I should have just whatever. The amount of people calling me a crook and a thief and I robbed this kid for like I I lived with that for years. I should have just It annoyed me. I'm like, never I'll never do a deal like that again. And even though him and I resolved it, people still bring it up like I'm a crook. I've done probably 50 arcade and pinball deals since then and never had a single issue.
    45:21
    Um, so yeah, look, Project Pinball, whatever. Okay, so let's talk about let's talk about the fact that there's not going to be Pokemon at CES. And now we're hearing the earliest we're going to get the next Stern game is sometime in late January. H I don't understand. I don't think it I it might not be Pokemon now. I I think it might be Transformers and they might hold Pokemon to reveal it at Comic- Con because remember the next game would be Comic-Con time frame. Why would you bring I it makes more sense to bring Pokemon to Comic-Con as the big launch. So, which is good because I think Stern needs a freaking hit and I hear Transformers is the hit and I hear Transformers is the game that everyone is most excited about.
    46:21
    So, what do you guys I mean, look, I'm excited for G1 Transformers. Now, if they they need to get Stan Bush's music in the game, they need to have a transforming something happening. They need I I just worry I don't know. We'll see. I worry that Stern they just they just look cheap. I just h it's like nowadays if you had to pick a company to make your favorite theme, it's like now you've got like Spooky, Barrels, and JJP. I don't think anyone looks at I don't think anyone looks at Stern now as like I want Stern to make my dream theme anymore. The Pokemon 30th anniversary is February 27th. Wow, that ages me because I I did Pokemon's 10th anniversary 20 years ago. We had Hulk Hogan. We had a big Pikachu balloon in Brian Park and we we basically had the most amazing birthday bash and cuz Pikachu and Hulk Hogan had the Pikachu colors. I I'll never forget how big Hulk Hogan was standing next to him. I was like, "Dude, this dude's arm is like literally the size of my like body." It was awesome. If you Google it, I got I had all these like What's crazy is I had all this like anniversary stuff, a watch and a poster. And just for like giggles, I put it up on eBay and like the watch sold for like $900. The poster sold for like $500. And the these collectors are rabbit.
    48:00
    Oh man. Zombie Yeti doesn't look man. You know, I I feel bad for Jeremy because he he's like so talented and he works so hard and he has to deal with us. Sucks. Sucks.
    48:24
    You know, I don't I don't think he has bad taste. I think I think he just needs a little help and a little guidance at times. And I also just think his hands are tied on so many of the decisions that get made that it's I I I bet he gets forced into going with it, right? If Disney's forcing us to work with this artist, then we have to go with it. But I don't know. I just feel like all of Star Wars was was halfassed. All of it. How could you say meh about Transformers, Kelly? I mean, if you're a child of the8s, raise your hand. Transformers was the hottest toy line of our childhood. I I I love Transformers.
    49:19
    It I wouldn't have sent the message that Jeremy sent to me. I think that was unfair to say that I'm ruining his like family and his desire to work in pinball. Like that that that's not fair, bro. Like I I I and and it was me. He didn't even do the art on The Walking Dead. I don't know why he took it so personally. It wasn't even him because he is the art director. Like ultimately the buck stops at the top. But man, he should have just called me up. I mean, I would it would have been nicer to just get a phone call be like, "Chris, come on, man. Like, let me explain something to you." Right? And then it would have been cordial.
    50:00
    What do you like about the Star Wars Topper? It's terrible. No, I bet Kelly Daniel was into Gobots. You know, he's one of those kids. You know, you remember those kids who like they they were into Gobots. You're like, "Man, there's like the poor man's Transformers.
    50:24
    Yeah, I was a kid in the 80s. I was a kid when Transformers was hot. I was 10 years old. I loved it, man. There was nothing like walking down that aisle at Toys R Us and seeing just a row of Transformers, G.I. Joe aircraft carrier using our imaginations.
    50:51
    My 27year-old son says Pokemon is a great pinball theme. I still don't think it hits the right demographic, but we will see. I look, it's the biggest IP in the world. It's a great theme. We'll see what they do with it. We'll see what they do with it. I had the best childhood, man. I miss my childhood. I want to give my kids a childhood like mine. I mean, it wasn't without difficulty, but what I loved about my childhood was how much we played outside, how much we used our imagination. And what I love the most about my childhood of the 80s and 90s, besides all the great music and movies and content, I just love that we will always be the last children to ever grow up without technology. Without technology interfering with our lives, we we are the last generation of that. It's so sad to see what we've done to childhoods because of technology. We are the last We we we know what it's like to see the advent of interesting technologies and we got to see video game consoles go from Atari to 8bit to 16bit. Remember the jump? Remember how exciting it was to jump? Remember how exciting that was? How exciting it was to then have Neo Geo hit? going to the arcade every week and there was a new game and how exciting it was to have to go out, socialize, go to an arcade to see graphics you couldn't see at home. It's magical.
    52:40
    You know what I miss too is going to the mall. I I went to the mall this last weekend and I'm like, man, sucks now. These kids like where where where is everybody? We used to go to the mall and get excited, wear our best outfits that we thought were cool, but we look stupid now looking back. Baggy clothes, like those long rope gap belts, just trying to look cool at a young age is part of childhood. And I really miss going to the malls. When when we were in school, we'd go to the mall and then we'd watch a movie all together. And when a movie came out, what I miss about our childhood was how those movies and those films just created an indelible moment, a real sticky moment in culture. Everybody saw the movie. Everybody was excited for like Terminator and Jurassic Park and Back to the Future and Star Wars and and and there was no reserved seats and you you waited online. And I remember waiting online for hours to get tickets to see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and just the excitement of being there. And nowadays, not only do we not have any of that anymore, but nowadays you go on Rotten Tomatoes and you hear people say the movie sucks. And it sucks because all we are now is a as a world and I know we all contribute to it in pinball as well. like we we just become a world where like everyone's opinion now is everywhere. And back then like we just didn't we just enjoyed it. We didn't we didn't complain as much because there wasn't a medium to complain on. And we've simply invited a a cultural shift towards negativity and complaints and really just making money off of unhappiness is everywhere now and and it's it's it's where the big bucks are. And I hope you don't feel that about Canada's pinball podcast. And I hope last night was a good indication of how I really do think there's more good going on than bad in pinball. I think there's a lot of a lot of great stuff in pinball. And I think Stern just has its work cut out for it. And I think if Stern if I'm them and I'm Seth and I'm George, I I see I see what people are saying and I see the opportunity to improve and they need to at these prices. They need to,
    55:27
    you know, when I think about a toy like Teddy Ruxpin, I I always use this analogy. Imagine if Teddy Ruxin came out today. It would get destroyed, but it was magical. You know, we used to see like Saturday morning cartoons and toy commercials and then want the thing and then go go get the thing and drive to the toy store and there was no Amazon. There's no online. And like you just you went you went you went and your world opened up. Absolutely. H and the fact that we as a as a world we decided to close down toy stores in favor of online shopping. We've chosen convenience over culture and community. And this convenient world that we've created has made a generation of kids unhappy, depressed, suicidal, isolated, and lonely. And now you look at what is the trend now with younger kids, Gen Alpha and now al and beta babies. What is the new trend that's sweeping culture? A return to analog, a return to reading. They they are craving simplicity. They are craving being present. and they are craving the ability to focus on something and not be so distracted. They're craving the childhoods we all had. So that's what I hope to to give my children. You know, we only do screen time on the weekends and we live in a very active town. So I'm I'm I'm really looking forward to raising these kids to be miniature versions of Canada with with better haircuts [laughter] and better career choices. Um, anyway, how's everybody? Yeah, I love magazines, man. Well, you know, look, not to get way off topic, but I'll get off topic for you. Imagine when we were kids, and I'm just going to say this is a weird thing to say, but when you're like in your puberty years and your introduction to like sexuality is like a playboy in a penthouse magazine versus the what kids are seeing today, no wonder they're messed up. You know, these kids think that's what intimacy looks like. Whoa, you're in for a rude awakening because ain't no real woman wants that done to her.
    57:52
    I got lucky cuz Brenda is freaking hot. Like whenever I think about Brenda, I mean, she easily could have been in any of those magazines and you'd be like, damn. Like, how did I end up? I I really scored. And it was all random. I just randomly saw her. I don't know if you know this. I randomly saw her on Tinder. She didn't swipe right. And in her photos were a dude I work with who was gay. He's my friend Allan at the time. And I was like, "Allan, I he knew they weren't dating." He's like, "Oh, yeah, Brenda. They're childhood friends from Gway. He's Irish. That's how we met serendipitously. If I didn't even if I didn't even go on Tinder, I don't see her face. I never would have met her. We these kids wouldn't be here." In just one little nanocond, I decided to stop. And also like he wasn't in the photos on Tinder. She she in her Tinder profile she had a link to Instagram and that's where I if I didn't click that link I don't see him in those photos. These kids aren't born today. I'm not here in Rowan with this beautiful Irish wife with this amazing fam. I like talk about like you know you got to make your own luck in life. That that was lucky. And I hit the jackpot because she's amazing. I mean, I we just bought I you know, one of the gifts I gave her for Christmas was a business class ticket to Japan. So, I got her a business class on we're going ANA airlines. The room it's called. It looks so awesome. I am so excited to get to September. The room. And if if you go look on YouTube, like I I love I love traveling when you when you look forward forward to the flight. It's a different world. A different world. Um, each ticket, I'll be transparent, was like 5,500. You know what? It's worth it. Stern Pro or a trip to Japan. You know, because those of you who know Japan, that's just the airline cost. The hotels are not cheap. But you, but the key is don't spend a lot on the hotel room because they're all tiny and you're not going to spend much time in them. But we will splurge in Kyoto. We will stay at a traditional Rioon. We stayed in one last time. Absolutely. Talk about a reset. Talk about a cleansing of your soul and your spirit. Make your way to Ryoto. Rioto Kyoto. Stay in a traditional Rioan with sleep on the floor. Have a bento box in the morning with fish and and some omelette and reset. And that is what Japan it is. To me, it is the only culture left with class. And I mean that they are the only culture left with respect and class. And I I know they went through hell to get there. And they they were they they they had the greatest convolescence in the history of any nation ever. And when you're there ain't no like melting pot. 99% of the population is Japanese in Japan. And and and nobody bumps into each other. 29 million people in Tokyo, bro. 29 million. And they can't sell a thousand dunes.
    61:12
    Yeah. I mean, the food is just they have the most Michelin stars in the world, but everyone also knows you don't need to go to the Michelin star restaurants to have amazing food in Japan. It is. It is the you meander through. Kyoto was my favorite. One of our our most amazing days ever was we're meandering through Kyoto. You see the geishas and we just we walk into this tiny little sake bar and the owner and his daughter, you know, they speak broken English and they realize we're from America and they bring out these two instruments and they start playing like when the Saints come marching in on like a flute and like for us and we spend a bunch of money in there and they just I've never been treated and then one night in Kyo to we were hungry. It was late at night and we see this beautifully dressed couple walk out of this door like no name on it, nothing. And it was a restaurant and we knock on the door and they're like, you know, and we're like, "Well, are are you They're like, "We're we're closed for the tonight." I was like, "Oh, you know, we're just starving. We're on our honeymoon." Like, and and they were like, "Come in." And we had the most amazing meal of our life in this tiny little amazing high-end restaurant hidden in the middle of nowhere. And there was just another Japanese couple celebrating some moment or anniversary, sent a bottle over. We we we spent, you know, a good chunk in there and then and then, you know, I tipped like a lot. And they don't tip in Japan. It's a sign of disrespect, but I tipped a lot, you know, because even though that's your culture, in my culture, Sicilian, we tip. And um I'll never forget it. We walk out and the whole staff comes out. They're like four or five people. They come out and they just are waving to us goodbye, like thanking us. They're probably like the, you know, dumb American, whatever, but whatever. I don't know what they were saying. But would that ever happen in New York City? No. And then you could tell this is why I love my Japanese Jazz bar so much in New York City because it they're like that. They're so nice. Um,
    63:29
    yeah. No, have and and if if you ever go to Piss Alley in in Tokyo, for those of you who know what I'm talking about, Piss Alley is this um it's just this like tiny narrow street and it's filled with tiny bars that have like max capacity, like 10 people, and they're amazing. And there's just like one after another and it's just like you go get drunk and then you eat like Yakuri and you're just like and you piss in the alley. No, I didn't piss in the alley, but that's why they call that because it smells like, you know, piss. But you know, we need more of that in this world and in this culture. And you know, I I mean this when I say this. I I I really don't know what I would do without the pinball community because you guys are the best. and like using pinball as a connection to other people that grew up sort of in a similar time and are are into similar things. I there there's there's no greater value in life. There's no greater value in life than the connections we've made and and the trips we're going to take and the places we're going to see. And I really do encourage each and every one of you to make 2026 a year of adventure. I think it should be for all of us. I don't know what the future holds. I don't I don't know what's going to happen at my company. We just got bought. I plan to go into work on Monday and show up committed, optimistic, and energized. I I am not someone who believes in doom and gloom and worrying about whether or not I'm going to have a job or not because I'm very confident in my skill set. I'm very confident in myself. And I've been let go three times in my career. And it happens. And you also learn that it's never personal.
    65:17
    Because when you have self-confidence, then they can't take it from you. And I always say this to Brenda. I was like, I wish Brenda had more confidence. I probably have too much for one man. But and I'm probably overly confident and then something bad happens and I'm not plann but I'm, you know, I'm not in debt. I'm planning I'm always planning for the future, but I'm also enjoying today as much as I possibly can as much, you know, and I I always say and my old boss Gary Vee says it the best. You measure success by how many days you wake up in a good mood. And if you start to live life like that, how many days do I wake up in a good mood? It it it it will it will lead you on a path of self-improvement. I definitely want to ease off like alcohol for sure because I just too much during these like winter months and you're not out and about and and and and I don't like waking up feeling groggy. I'm I'm not 22 anymore. So, what's hard about socializing for me is I do this, I cleanse, I get in great shape, and then I feel good. they don't want to party. You know, it's like ah, it's like the cycle of contempt continues a little bit. But look, I think um I think we're going to have one of the most exciting pinball years ever. And I've said this for a while, and I'm I mean it. Here is why 2026 is going to be, I think, the best year in pinball since I've been following this hobby. Beetlejuice, Transformers, let me list you. Beetle, Beetlejuice, Transformers, Winchester, the next game from Barrels of Fun. All right. Sonic the Hedgehog, right? The next Keith Owen game, maybe Fallout. I think he's going to I think he's going to stick the landing on Fallout to be honest. And then we're going to get Goonies. And then we're going to get Back to the Future. Now, you tell me it's not going to be the best year in the history of pinball. It is the best year. Save your money. Save your pennies. It's going to be good. And, you know, I can't wait to cover it all. I can't wait to be here with you guys covering it all. Um, I want to thank you guys who are Canada subscribers. We always lose a lot. Not a lot. We always use like on average at the end of every month I lose 10 to 20 subscribers and then on average I gain 10 to 20 subscribers back. So I'm always hovering around the 700 mark. What what I will not do is raise the price. And I've said that and I've stayed true to that. [snorts] Well, I always laugh when people I don't even think like Bill Brandis subscribes. The guy's got millions. Like, you know, Billy, I'm talking to you right now. He's like, I don't have time. Like, dude, you're always hanging out here. Like, what do you don't have time? And Bill, it's not about I don't care if you even listen to the damn shows, bro. Just show some support, man. You were at my wedding. You [laughter] know what I'm saying? Billy Sabrina like Sabrina's one sushi like hand roll cost more than a year of Canadas Pinball Podcast. You can do it, bro. You can do it, Billy. I believe in Billy Brandice. I love Bill Brandice. Never heard of him. That's not exactly true. We were like brothers. Happy New Year, Michael Grant. How you doing, buddy? Michael, how's Stern going, man? What's the vibe over there? Do they have like Canada's face on a dart board? They're like he's ragging on the star the Star Wars topper again. Never got my Alice. Ordered 1024. Getting my deposit back. Dutch needs a US manufacturing. I'm back to the future.
    69:30
    I would give even more if I was at the wedding. Well, maybe I should get married again. I should do a pinball wedding with all you clowns as my guess. Uh, right next to the Franchie dart board. Yeah, they're probably like, "Yo, man, like we don't need Frenchie. We could do it ourselves. Open up a Skittles package. Let's make it look like this. Catch the rainbow." Stern pinball.
    69:57
    You know what's funny is when when we make fun of Stern for looking like a Skittles bag exploded over their games, I mean, it's like it does look like that. [laughter]
    70:11
    Yeah, Bill was on Millionaire Matchmaker. I love it. I should go on there. 100 air matchmaker with Canada. No, Bill's a really good guy. He's um you know, you know what's interesting? when I was talking to someone who has a lot of money, a lot of money. And he was like, you know, when I go to parties and and everyone says like what they're into and when I say pinball, like everyone wants to sit next to me. They want to hear about it. The other stuff is just boring. Everyone has to bring a machine to the wedding. That'd be fun.
    70:55
    Ah, man. Well, I think there's I I look I think Yeti
    71:03
    What are these people doing? I'm like watching these people like I think they're lost. They're trying to find a house or something. Are they going to really park in front of my house? [laughter] This is like, you know, they're just like, I don't know. Might as well just come in, say hi. It's like watching these people like I don't know. They're like, Brenda, they how do people even get lost in 2026? It like doesn't make any sense.
    71:38
    Brennon, are you expecting anybody? There like old I don't even know what these old people are doing. There's like literally the mailboxes have the address. Oh man. So, let's um you guys any what do you guys want to talk about? Look, the Alice refund situation. I I'm worried about I'm worried about Dutch. They they didn't make enough Alice's and and the timing doesn't even make sense. I was I saw Naps Arcade, he had some Dutch exclusive where it was like Raza's might go on the line in like July and I'm like what? This doesn't work. Like, it just doesn't work. And I just feel like if people asked for 100 refunds on Alice, it would just like bankrupt the company and they'd be done. I don't I don't know, man. I
    72:41
    I I you know, I I don't know. We We all know it's Back to the Future. What are these people looking at? Like literally, do they need help? I almost [laughter] feel like I just like there's like these two people, these two old ladies in a car in an SUV just like like I don't know. They're probably looking for five Hunt Street.
    73:08
    But um Goonies, I don't have any Goonies information other than Hi. Yeah, Yeah, I'm going for brunch now. I'm going for brunch now. Is that Who's up front? Is that Who's up front? Yeah. Yeah. Who is that? Who is that? Jordan, Jordan, you're going for brunch? you're going for brunch? Yeah, I text you. Yeah, I text you. What do you mean you texted me? What am What do you mean you texted me? What am I supposed to do? Watch the kids? Oh, yeah. They love you. Bye. Oh, yeah. They love you. Bye. Where you going? Where you going? Sales. Sales. Where's Where's Cass? Where's Where's Cass? Downstairs. Downstairs. All right. All right. All right. Oh, they're waiting for All right. Oh, they're waiting for Brenda. And she deserves it. I mean, she lets me she lets me she lets me go out with my friends here all the time while she watches the kids. So, I know. Do you see that? She's just like, "Peace. Should we go? Um, you want to go see the little ones?" They're they're they're so adorable. Let's go. Let's go walk downstairs and you guys can say hi to Cass and Kill and then we'll we'll call it a day. I'll try not to mess up the sound on this. All right, we're walking. Whenever you contribute to Canadas Pinball Podcast, it goes to the college funds for these little munchkins. Hold up. Trying to open the door.
    74:28
    Oh my god. I'm not ready. I'm not prepared. I'm not like I'm just not mentally prepared for what's about to happen. Uh oh.
    74:45
    You don't want mommy to leave? But daddy's here. Say hi. What do you want? What do you want? Tell them what you want. Tell them what you want. Look at this guy. Where's he going? Look at this guy. Where's he going? Look. Look. Daddy. Look. Look. Daddy. I'm watching Toothless the Dragon fight. Let's get Cass in here. Let's get Cass in here. I'm watching Toothless. I'm watching Toothless. Okay. Okay. Don't touch it. Don't you? Okay. Okay. Don't touch it. Don't you? Yeah. Yeah. Toothless the dragon face. Toothless the dragon face. I I [crying] back up a little bit. Let him see Toothless. Back up. Let him see Toothless. [laughter] And who says Cass? He's He's going up the stairs. Looks like he's in prison. Where you going? Where you going? Where you going? Where you going? A dragon in prison. A dragon in prison. He looks like a Why is he a dragon in He looks like a Why is he a dragon in prison?
    76:15
    Can I have candy cane? Candy cane, please. No, he's at the top of the stairs. Hold No, he's at the top of the stairs. Hold on. Gummy or the candy cane? Gummy or the candy cane? Here, tell them. Here, tell them. What? He's at the top. What? He's at the top. He went He went so fast and heavy.
    76:54
    Come on. Come on. Candy cane. Don't. Don't. Candy cane. Candy cane. You want candy canes? You want candy canes? Yeah. Get me one. Get me one. Yeah. Get me one. Get me one. All right. Should we get kill a candy? All right. Should we get kill a candy? Can you guys say say goodbye? Kill. [crying and screaming] Say thank you. [crying] Yeah. Yeah. Byebye. Byebye. Look at the future. Look at the future. Byebye. Byebye. Byebye. Byebye. Byebye. Say byebye. Byebye. Say byebye. Byebye. Byebye. Byebye. Byebye. Byebye. Byebye. Byebye. Byebye. Byebye. Byebye. Byebye. Byebye. Byebye. Byebye. All right. We're going to end the All right. We're going to end the stream. Okay. Yes.