Stern Pinball Stranger Things Topper Revealed!

Cary Hardy·video·9m 28s·analyzed·Mar 22, 2021

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.018

TL;DR

Stern releases $650 Stranger Things topper with color-changing infinity mirror effects

Summary

Cary Hardy reviews Stern Pinball's newly announced Stranger Things topper accessory, priced at $650. The topper features color-changing infinity mirror effects and reactive lighting tied to gameplay modes. Hardy praises the pricing as reasonable compared to expectations and appreciates the thematic connection to the show's mirror/Upside Down motif, but criticizes the visible plastic seams on the layered artwork.

Key Claims

Stranger Things machines have been removed from most local arcades due to lack of player interest and mechanical issues with the ball locking mechanism
medium confidence · Hardy states 'every location has had that machine removed' due to 'lack of playing from the public' and 'a lot of downtime' from 'ball locking mechanism rod popping out due to poor mechanical engineering'
Code updates have significantly improved the Stranger Things game since initial release over a year ago
medium confidence · Hardy mentions 'the code is evidently much well improved, making the game evidently more enjoyable' but notes this is 'subjective' and expresses doubt without having played updated version
The Stranger Things topper is priced at $650
high confidence · Hardy directly cites pricing 'according to the Stern store' as '$650'
The infinity mirror design on the topper references the mirror motif from Stranger Things Season 3, particularly the 'Never Ending Story' song reference and scenes where characters see the Upside Down through mirrors
medium confidence · Hardy explains the thematic connection: 'the upside down is a mirror of the real world' and references 'that one portion where it talks about mirror of your dreams' from the song
The Stranger Things topper must be purchased through a Stern distributor, not directly from Stern
high confidence · Hardy states 'I don't believe you can purchase it directly from stern because i want to say on their YouTube video, it says to contact your local Stern distributor'

Notable Quotes

“I mean it was inevitable that they were going to make one. It's been over a year now since the machine was initially released.”
Cary Hardy@ 0:39 — Establishes timeline and expectation that Stern would release topper accessories
“From what I'm told, the code is evidently much well improved, making the game evidently more enjoyable. That's subjective. I doubt it.”
Cary Hardy@ 0:50 — Hardy expresses skepticism about code improvement claims despite hearing them secondhand
“The reason behind that is due to lack of playing from the public, as well as the fact that there was a lot of downtime on that due to all the issues with the ball locking mechanism rod popping out due to poor mechanical engineering.”
Cary Hardy@ 1:13 — Details mechanical reliability issues cited as reason for location removal
“I still think that's a little overpriced, but I'm just glad it's not the $1K plus mark. that's what I was anticipating it to be was over a thousand dollars for this thing”
Cary Hardy@ 3:02 — Hardy's pricing expectations vs. reality assessment
“It's not horrible, and it's one of those things where I think initially at first I was like, okay, well, what does the Infinity Mirror look thing have to do with this theme?”
Cary Hardy@ 4:04 — Initial skepticism about thematic coherence of infinity mirror design
“I wish that the art expanded all the way out to where the plexi or the glass or the plastics were cut so that way you wouldn't have the art and then more plastic and then you can see where it's been cut”

Entities

Cary HardypersonStern PinballcompanyStranger Things PinballgameStranger Thingsproduct

Signals

?
design_philosophy: Visible plastic seam edges on layered topper artwork detract from visual presentation in close-up views
medium · Hardy criticizes: 'the layered plastics just look so horrible... you wouldn't have the art and then more plastic and then you can see where it's been cut it just looks very off to me'
$
market_signal: Stranger Things machines removed from local arcades due to low player engagement and mechanical reliability issues
medium · Hardy states 'every location has had that machine removed' due to 'lack of playing from the public' and mechanical issues with 'ball locking mechanism rod popping out'
$
market_signal: Stern prices Stranger Things topper at $650, which Hardy views as reasonable middle-ground pricing for aftermarket accessories
high · Hardy states pricing is 'in the midpoint' and 'a somewhat fair price' compared to expectations of $1,000+ and notes 'I'm just glad it's not the $1K plus mark'
?
announcement: Stern announces official Stranger Things topper accessory with color-changing infinity mirror effects and reactive lighting
high · Hardy reviews official announcement from Stern store: 'Step into the world of the upside down with this officially licensed Stranger Things topper... featuring everyone's favorites Demi dogs and demo Gorgons this color changing topper changes colors throughout gameplay'
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sentiment_shift: Renewed interest in Stranger Things pinball games attributed to code improvements, prompting renewed purchasing activity
low · Hardy notes 'more people have been buying it recently, and that is allegedly due to the code improvement' but expresses personal skepticism

Topics

Stern Pinball accessory announcementsprimaryStranger Things Pinball machine reliability and gameplayprimaryPricing of pinball aftermarket productsprimaryThematic design and IP coherence in pinballsecondaryLocation/arcade operator decisions on machine removalsecondaryCode updates and game improvementsecondary

Sentiment

mixed(0.55)— Hardy expresses cautious approval of the topper's pricing and eventual thematic coherence, but criticizes mechanical issues with the base machine, location removal due to poor performance, and aesthetic details (plastic seams) on the topper itself. The tone is more critical than positive overall, but stops short of strong condemnation.

Transcript

youtube_groq_whisper · $0.028

Turn around, look at what John Youssi in her face, the mirror of your dreams. what's up guys welcome back to my channel where i talk and do everything pinball so if that sounds interesting to you then hit the subscribe button down below well just when you thought that stern couldn't pump out another product for their stranger things pinball machine they went ahead and dropped the topper news today i mean it was inevitable that they were going to make one It's been over a year now since the machine was initially released. From what I'm told, the code is evidently much well improved, making the game evidently more enjoyable. That's subjective. I doubt it. I haven't got a chance to play it since the code's been updated. Why, you may ask? Because every location has had that machine removed. And let's answer that a little further. The reason behind that is due to lack of playing from the public, as well as the fact that there was a lot of downtime on that due to all the issues with the ball locking mechanism rod popping out due to poor, I don't want to say design, but mechanical engineering on that part. Whatever, there are a lot of mechanical issues with that game. So therefore, at least the locations around me have pulled that game. So here it is. The Stranger Things topper, this is all via Stern's store on their website. Step into the world of the upside down with this officially licensed Stranger Things topper. Fits all three models, pro, premium, and limited edition. Stern pinball machines. I like how they had to specify what machine it's going to be going on. I mean, okay. featuring everyone's favorites Demi dogs and demo Gorgons this color changing topper changes colors throughout gameplay for an eerie hypnotic effect the toppers features are infinity mirror effect custom lighting effect that react to modes during gameplay attract mode light shows when game is not played players are rewarded with unique light shows for completing objectives scoring jackpots and more now i know there's a lot of you out there that were anticipating me just to just tear this up just to like rip on Stern for putting out another product that is like crap and way overpriced or whatever. And that only part of that's going to be correct, I guess. But I mean, luckily, according to the Stern store, they've got it priced at $650. Now, honestly, I still think that's a little overpriced, but I'm just glad it's not the $1K plus mark. that's what I was anticipating it to be was over a thousand dollars for this thing so they've got it priced right there in the midpoint so I can't harp on that too much kind of thing so it's like all right it's a somewhat fair price for a product that is not needed on a pinball machine I mean it's up there so it's definitely an accessory so I can't harp on the fact of the price so price I'm going to leave that alone. It is what it is. It's right there in the sweet spot, I believe. I think Stern will catch a lot more flack from people, including myself. Not like they care or anything, but if they keep their toppers priced around that range, that'll be a little more acceptable, I think, to the public. So aside from that, we can take a look at the video footage and just get an idea of what it looks like. Now, honestly, it's not horrible, and it's one of those things where I think initially at first I was like, okay, well, what does the Infinity Mirror look thing have to do with this theme? I think that's what initially threw me off was that I was like, what does this have to do with Stranger Things? And then so it's been a while since I've seen – I haven't rewatched the series. so I haven't seen anything since season 3 obviously and honestly I think season 3 was probably the worst season it is what it is but there a limit to how far I can suspend my disbelief on certain things And I find it very difficult to believe that an entire Russian base was built under this town and no one was aware of it. I was much more on the believing side of having that site, that building that was conducting all the experiments. But then you go and put this mile long tunnel as well as all the other stuff that's being built underneath this town and just no one's aware of it. Whatever kind of thing. But anyways, going back to the topper in general. So when it comes to mirrors, I had to like do a little bit of Googling just to see if, in fact, this kind of coincides with the show. And sure enough, I mean, starting out with the mirror motif, and that is, you know, taking it from season three where they're singing the never ending story song. There is that one portion where it talks about mirror of your dreams. I don't think that's why they decided to do this. There are there. There are a lot of other things. I say a lot. There's at least two or three scenes for sure where the characters are looking into the mirror. and that's typically when they see the upside down and that's when I started thinking about well you know the upside down is a mirror of the real world so that's where I believe they're going with this is the fact that you know if you look into this it's like a mirroring effect of the world around us kind of thing but it's you know whatever but my only big gripe about this guys like yes you've got your layered plastics but i think it's because the layered plastics just look so horrible that's a strong word here but i wish that the art expanded all the way out to where the plexi or the glass or the plastics were cut so that way you wouldn't have the art and then more plastic and then you can see where it's been cut it just looks very off to me and this is a very small detail and probably won't notice it while you standing in front of the machine as much maybe but whenever they go into close viewpoints like they do in this trailer and it all all in its glory and everything i felt that i did not care for the way the plastics looked i i mean i'm willing to bet i'm willing to bet and i cannot wait for it guys someone's going to get this topper they're going to take out those crummy plastics that are in there and they're going to redo them. They're going to make them look better than what they currently do right there, and I think it's going to improve the way this topper looks. For the person that decides to do that first, please contact me, and by all means, we can work together to get out a video showing off your improved Stranger Things topper. But overall, I don't hate this. I don't hate it. it's it's up there where it's like okay that's fine you priced it right enough to where um don't feel like i'm gonna have to do a skit about it stern but uh yeah that's so there it is if you want to i guess get this topper for your stranger things machine then by all means you need to contact your distributor and do so i don't believe you can purchase it directly from stern because i want to say on their YouTube video, it says to contact your local Stern distributor. Chances are this thing's going to sell out, without a doubt. I know that for whatever reason, more people have been buying it recently, and that is allegedly due to the code improvement. All right. Will you be getting this topper for your pinball machine? And when I say pinball machine, I want to specify it's for the Stranger Things pinball machine, like they do on their website. Anyways, guys, so by all means, give me the thumbs up, and if you haven't already, subscribe button down below. That way you can be notified of whenever I upload something for your viewing pleasure. And until next time, peace out. Thank you.