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Kaneda's Pinball Podcast Saturday Morning Spectacular May 16

Kaneda Pinball Podcasts YouTube Lives·video·analyzed·May 16, 2026
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Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.033

TL;DR

Transformers exclusives: Optimus won't move, licensing limitations confirmed, Stern's pipeline rumored with Black Sabbath next.

Summary

In this Saturday morning livestream, Kaneda discusses exclusive confirmations about Stern's upcoming Transformers pinball machine, revealing that Optimus Prime will not transform or move (remaining a static sculpture), that Stan Bush's 'You Got the Touch' will not be in the game due to licensing issues, and speculates on Stern's accelerated release schedule including rumored titles like Black Sabbath/Ozzy Osbourne (designed by John Borg) and Fallout. He also comments on secondary market saturation (32 Pokemon LEs for sale) and announces plans to become a pinball machine broker/distributor.

Key Claims

  • Optimus Prime will not transform and will remain a static sculpture in robot form

    high confidence · Host cites direct message from George Gomez explaining technical issues with transformation mechanism interacting with ball physics

  • Stan Bush's 'You Got the Touch' will not be licensed for the Transformers game

    high confidence · Host reports direct confirmation from George Gomez regarding licensing constraints from the movie

  • There are 32 Pokemon Limited Edition machines for sale on Pinside

    high confidence · Host cites direct observation of Pinside marketplace listings

  • John Borg is designing a Black Sabbath/Ozzy Osbourne cornerstone game

    medium confidence · Host reports this as 'strong rumor' circulating in the community, not official confirmation

  • Stern is accelerating its product release schedule with four cornerstone games planned in one year

    medium confidence · Host speculates based on rumored pipeline (Pokemon, Transformers, Fallout, Black Sabbath) and notes this trend is concerning

  • Pokemon LE machines have lost significant secondary market value due to oversupply

    high confidence · Host observes 32 machines for sale and notes that scalping window closed; initial flips commanded $5,000+ markup, now unsellable

  • Transformers LE will not hold $13,000 price point once Sonic and Premium versions launch

    medium confidence · Host's opinion based on market comparison to Pokemon and Beetlejuice pricing patterns

Notable Quotes

  • “I 100% firmly believed that Stern Pinball tried as hard as they could to make an Optimus Prime mech that transforms and interacts with the ball a reality.”

    Kaneda@ 9:52 — Establishes credibility regarding confirmation and suggests Stern's genuine effort despite design failure

  • “Godzilla does nothing. Best game of all time. Jaws does nothing. He's the second best game of all time... So maybe if Optimus does nothing, we've got the third best pinball machine of all time coming.”

    Kaneda@ 16:48 — Makes humorous observation about correlation between inactive main mechs and game quality, suggesting static Optimus might not be a flaw

  • “There is no way games nothing can hold around like 13 to $15,000. It doesn't exist. It doesn't exist.”

    Kaneda@ 17:42 — Strong market sentiment on pricing ceiling for premium games in current environment

  • “You got to give Canada credit. The $23,000 for my poke second Pokemon LE is looking like maybe one of the greatest flips of all time.”

    Kaneda@ 22:59 — Personal market flex suggesting early-window scalping on Pokemon LE was highly profitable

  • “It seems like Stern is accelerating its launch schedule, which is even scarier because what that means is less in these games, less code, less time developing them, less less, less while they charge us more, more more.”

    Kaneda@ 27:38 — Expresses community concern about quality degradation due to compressed development cycles

  • “The constant banging from the ball could damage the intricate internals of the mech. Due to his size, there was a lot of tiny stuff, linkages, and mechanisms inside of him.”

Entities

Stern PinballcompanyGeorge GomezpersonKanedapersonKeith ElwinpersonJohn BorgpersonJack DangerpersonTransformersgame

Signals

  • ?

    design_innovation: Optimus Prime transformation mechanism abandoned due to ball physics conflicts and component fragility; similar to Jaws ball-eating feature reduction

    high · George Gomez detailed explanation of linkage conflicts, damage risks, and gameplay disruption

  • ?

    product_concern: Stan Bush's 'You Got the Touch' unavailable due to movie licensing; host views this as major missed opportunity for thematic completeness

    high · Direct confirmation from George Gomez; host expresses disappointment about licensing constraints

  • $

    market_signal: Pokemon LE machines experiencing severe price deflation with 32 units available on Pinside; scalping window closed within weeks of release

    high · 32 Pokemon LEs listed for sale; host notes initial $5k+ markups now impossible; compares to Beetlejuice (16 units) and other recent releases

  • ?

    product_strategy: Stern appears to be compressing release schedule (Pokemon, Transformers, Fallout, Black Sabbath rumored within 12 months) potentially at cost of development quality

    medium · Host speculates on timeline compression and expresses concern about 'less code, less time developing' games while maintaining premium pricing

  • ~

    sentiment_shift: Community sentiment on Pokemon Pinball declining; host reports gameplay fatigue, unclear code roadmap, and questions about Pokedex implementation

    medium · Host states game 'has been off for weeks,' sees 'everything there,' catching Pokemon feels meaningless without fulfillment mechanics

Transcript

youtube_auto_sub · $0.000

0:05
All right. Nothing. Nothing. There we go. There we go. How's everybody doing?
0:20
All right, we are live. We are here. I've summoned a glass of coffee from the misses. Um, lots to talk about. Obviously love the fact that we've got Optimus. Where should I sit? Wait, Optimus over here? No, Optimus over here. Um, what's everybody doing, baby? It is a beautiful Saturday morning. The sun is coming out. I just mowed the lawn. Looking forward to working out after this. Got a comedy night. We got a big Ronda Rousey fight on Netflix later tonight. It's going to be a bad fight. BJ is arriving in 10 minutes to Fizzy's house. Man, man, man, man, man. I just want to say every day above ground is a good day. Um, you know, really just sitting with a friend last night and one of his best friends just had cough and then went and got screened and then all of a sudden they found cancer in his lungs, in his spine, in his like like like liver, you know? It's just like just like that. guy's like 53, maybe a little bit older, super successful. Crazy, man. We're all going to get to that age where we just got to take care of ourselves, really, you know, focus on living every day, not waiting on code and all this stuff. Good morning, everybody. Good morning, everybody. We've got some people on YouTube, we've got some people on Facebook, and we've got a lot to talk about. I mean, it is going to be a bonkers week in pinball. I have an update for everybody. I was speaking to George Gomez this morning. Are there really 34 Pokemon leaves for sale? You know, it's crazy. We're going to talk about that, Jenis. It's um it's it's happening. K, what's up? I want to give a huge shout out, which I'm going to do every hour or every 30 minutes to Azie, who can't be here. You know, Aussie UFC gym man, a man of fitness, a man of taste, a man after my own sort of lifestyle, probably a lot more successful than me. Azia has already donated $100 via PayPal to Canadas Pinball Podcast, Saturday Morning Spectacular. Thank you, Brenda. $100. The Brenda Sake fund. Um, so want to just, you know, give Azie a huge big shout out for that and his continued support of the show.

George Gomez (quoted by Kaneda)@ 35:05 — Technical explanation for why transformation mechanism was abandoned

  • “If you had sold your Pokemon LE spot right away, right away you were getting $5,000 or more on the table. But now there's 32 dudes who had to pay the full $13 plus maybe tax and shipping.”

    Kaneda@ 29:06 — Market analysis of scalping window closure and secondary market glut

    • Pokemon Pinball
    game
    Sonic the Hedgehoggame
    Falloutgame
    Black Sabbath / Ozzy Osbournegame
    Godzillagame
    Jawsgame
    Winchester Mystery Housegame
    Barrels of Funcompany
    Peter Cullenperson
    Pinsideorganization
    James Bond 007 Goldfingergame
    Beetlejuicegame
    Back to the Futuregame
  • ?

    rumor_hype: Strong community rumor that John Borg (not Keith Elwin) is designing Black Sabbath or Ozzy Osbourne game; neither AC/DC nor Kiss remaster confirmed

    medium · Host calls this 'strong rumor brewing' and 'word on the street' but notes it lacks official confirmation

  • $

    market_signal: Premium/LE games above $13-15k unsustainable in current market; Transformers LE expected to depreciate once Sonic and Premium variants launch

    medium · Host asserts 'there is no way games can hold 13 to 15k' and predicts Transformers LE will slide like Pokemon and Beetlejuice as alternatives emerge

  • ?

    business_signal: Host (Kaneda) announcing plans to act as pinball machine broker/distributor with goal of matching or beating competitor pricing

    medium · Host discusses working with dealers like Coin Taker and Automated Amusements to offer competitive pricing and free shipping strategies

  • ?

    collector_signal: Winchester Mystery House maintaining $18k secondary market value due to extreme rarity (~200 units total) and unique thematic appeal vs competitors

    high · Host compares Winchester rarity favorably to oversupplied Pokemon/Beetlejuice; notes it lacks close thematic alternatives

  • ?

    gameplay_signal: Observation that Stern games with inactive/disabled main mechs (Godzilla, Jaws) received better reception than those with active features

    medium · Host makes humorous but serious observation that disabling mechanics improved game quality; George Gomez notes Optimus transformation 'got old after a few times'

  • ?

    code_update: Pokemon Pinball code development unclear; Pokedex/Insider Connected integration status uncertain; no major progression mechanics beyond catching Pokemon

    medium · Host reports game offline for weeks, no new content discovery, Charizard vs Pikachu as only apparent wizard mode, uncertain if deeper content exists

  • ?

    personnel_signal: Stern's designer roster appearing stretched with four cornerstone games rumored in one year (Keith Elwin, John Borg, George Gomez involvement uncertain)

    low · Host questions feasibility of four cornerstone releases annually and speculates on designer workload/quality impact

    • 2:53
    Man, it's great to have so many amazing people here. I've never heard of Omocassi before hearing it. Spent $800 and it was worth every penny. Drew, you're welcome, man. I I'm telling you, it's it's it's the greatest way to eat food in the history of mankind. And if you haven't had it, you don't know. You just don't know. Right. Right, Drew? It's like, you know, the to me the the Neanderthal way to eat is this big massive steak comes out at a steakhouse and you're already full from the bread and the bacon pieces or and the and the and the crab cake and then the big porter house comes out and you're like shoving all this meat into you while you're already full and you feel terrible and you spend all this money and it's just a barbarian way to eat. Japanese one piece at a time of nigiri. Savor it. Enjoy it. Quality fresh ingredients. The freshest ingredients on the planet. Worth every penny.
    4:02
    Well, Andrew, you had a really great experience because that's how it's supposed to be. The chef is supposed to explain everything he's putting in front of you and it makes the entire experience. I mean, that's what omocas means. It's chef's selection. So, the chef should explain what he has selected for you. The problem with too many omocasi places, you know, when you go cheap like a $100, they're just like bump bump bump. It's just transactional. There's no banter with the chef. Uh, typically you would buy the chef a drink, right? Or give him some omocas from your bottle or not, sorry, sake from your bottle and you'd pour for him as well. Beautiful customs, beautiful people, beautiful food. Um, you know what is not beautiful? And we're going to talk all about this. I've got confirmation on a few things transformer related. Do you want to start there? Let's let some people come in the door a little bit. We've got 20 over here on uh Facebook. Facebook guys, I I would love to see some Facebook stars today. I'm looking at all of you guys on Facebook. Steve Emtt, I'm looking at you, brother. You know, 17 courses, bro. I'm looking at you guys on YouTube. Fizzy with the cause with the dollar. Thank you, Ca. I think Fizzy gave a dollar. Um, I I want to say sorry to Hector, man. I I think I didn't read Hector's posts and he was a little upset that I didn't recognize his call outs on the chat. Now, Hector uh is Mi Homere down in Mexico, down in Texas, I believe. I I love Hector, man. Hector and I have had some amazing amazing times together, especially at the shows. He's he's a well-dressed individual. Uh, and I just want to say like I was a little surprised when he texted me or Facebook messaged me that he was a little upset. And I I I I hate seeing my friends get upset. And And just so Hector knows, and some of you guys know as well, when I'm doing this show and the chats are blowing up and people are donating money, it's not always the easiest for me to see everything happening. Uh, and and so I just want to say like if you ever feel like I've missed your comment, comment again. And if you ever feel like I I ignored you on a show and and and you were disappointed, just text me or call me. Like let's let's just talk it out. I think there's like way too much holding on to stuff and passive aggressive feelings develop because of that. Okay, I just want to just want to say that. Jesus. Oh my god. Get over it, Snowflake Hector. See, this is the problem, man. It's like you guys are ruthless.
    6:37
    Are you coming to media day so I can give you a newie? Jack Danger in the house. Jack, first of all, I would love to. I can't. And the reason why I can't and I and I say this stern, us working Americans, it's it's just this simple, Jack. When you work at a big company where you're responsible for things, I can't just take off like a day or two in the middle of the work week. On a holiday week, it's a short week because of the holiday. I just can't make it. I've got literal deliverables. Like I got deliverables on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, all next week. We're doing a shoot with uh Rob Mack. You know Rob Mack from Always Sunny, part owner of Rexom. Doing a shoot with him in Los Angeles. I don't have to be there, but I have to coordinate everything happening with that shoot and coming up with scripts and creative ideas for it. So, I've got Samsung work. I've got Home Depot work. I've got, you know, work work. And so, when Stern's like, "Hey, come come come to us in the middle of the work week. Burn a vacation day, which I don't get as many. It's hard, man." And I would love to be there. And I think Stern should do it differently. I do. I think Stern should have people over on that Friday before the reveal. I could Friday's the easiest day to get out and then allow us to like play the game, embargo our coverage to next week, but then Wednesday, man, just like ah and the GAME'S LEAKED. THE GAME'S OUT THERE. THAT'S THE other thing is like to pay money to travel to pay money to travel is difficult. Now, look, I also know that um you know, we might see people might be seeing
    8:22
    People might be seeing something that has a main character that's that color. Can't see the finger. That color. What's blue and small and fast? So, it's going to be Look, I'm I that's why I I know next week is going to be bonkers because you're going to get word of mouth on both Transformers and probably Sonic the Hedgehog. And you know, I mean, I I'm I'm just excited to hear what people think. I'm excited to hear what people think. We know that Transformers and Sonic are going to all come out within like three weeks of each other. It It's going to be crazy.
    9:10
    They don't let you leak fake titles anymore, Jack. Okay. So, so gang, I I'll give you guys this update. I I it's kind of exclusive, I guess. I mean, I I first want to say that it's okay to be disappointed when you learn something that you wanted to be in a game. And it's disappointing if something didn't work out. But I will say this, I 100% firmly believed that Stern Pinball tried as hard as they could to make an Optimus Prime mech that transforms and interacts with the ball a reality. I I I 100% have no like they wanted it in the game. They tried it and I I got a very long message from George today explaining you know the issues with it and it makes sense. I mean, if you have that robotics Optimus Prime that transforms you, all the different things that have to be inside that mech to make him transform, you know, arms come out like go back into the truck form. If you're if that thing is going up and down while it's transforming, while balls are in play, you get hang-ups with the balls. And you also you're hitting you're bashing this mech that is really sensitive to any impact. So I think the way they could have done it is if Optimus transformed but was not in the pathway of a ball. You know what I'm saying? Like he he didn't he like he wouldn't interact with the ball. He would just transform. You know all Pikachu back there just turning his head. He's not getting hit. you know, because if Pikachu was a bad toy or something, he would be a, you know, he would turn from yellow to black pretty quickly. So, confirmation confirmation that Optimus Prime does not transform. Now, I have some more confirmations for you. You heard it here first on Canada's Saturday morning spectacular, which I appreciate all the donations that have not come in yet for this incredible information. So, thank you guys for opening up your wallets for the amount of hours the single income household father does up to for each and every one of you. You like that plug? It was Cassian's birthday. Maybe your donation is for a birthday gift for Cassian in the form of sake that Brenda will consume because Mama Bear needs a drink. All right. The other thing is this. The other thing is this. I also got confirmation that Optimus Prime while not transforming will he rise up and down right in like will he like stand up and down and people have been pointing at the image saying it looks like there's um first of all thank you for the thousand stars happy birthday who is this from let me see hold on thank you Facebook for showing up Ted Hower send a thousand stars happy birthday Cassian thank you Ted I really appreciate You know, I'm curious. I'm not calling out more people here on YouTube. We got 104 people. And there we go. Speedraer, I don't even care if you call me out. Love you, brother. I love you, too, Speedraer. One of the most prolific commenters on the Patreon chat, Mr. Speedraer. No, we got to get Where's Where's Andros? Where's Where's Frank Mack with the hundred bucks? Where is my boy Frankie? Anyway, um so I have confirmation that even though it looks like Optimus is on hinges, he will not move at all. He is a static toy. Is that even a thing? He's he's a static sculpt or figure. He will always be standing up in robot form. He will you will not see Optimus in truck form. So this is 100% how Optimus will be in the game. You know when George said like to me that he's like way do you see the these sculpts? They look like toys. They look awesome. I I I I believe that. I believe that they nailed this. These aren't any flat plastic things happening here. Um, I think that uh Megatron firing the ball from his cannon is going to be so cool. George also said there's a very special mode in this game that they can't wait to show everybody. Okay, so that that has me excited. Um, Peter Colin is doing the voices in the game. I'm not sure if they got the original Grimlock actor. doesn't sound like the original Grimlock actor, but um you know, I I saw the the the Stern teaser with the footage from the show and it got me all excited. It got me all excited because I love Transformers. You know, look, when you play those Transformer cartoons, I I mean, it makes me so happy the way it makes Pokemon fans happy for seeing the Pokemon footage, but even more so because remember, Transformers didn't have a lot of series. It only had three seasons, I believe. So everything that you remember, I think it's all going to be in there. So what is the mech we've been hearing about all this time unlike anything out there? I think David, it's probably I Dave it was it was the Optimus Prime that transforms. So Dave, all the all the like way do you see the craziest mechs ever made? Yeah, it didn't make it into the game. Now I do think the Megatron firing the ball is a a cool second. a cool second. How about just mix it up and make fresh term releases pretty okay.
    15:21
    Well, I look I agree. Um, you know, someone just said Dur 13 LX X Durlex um that Jaws doesn't eat the ball and it's incredible. NOT ONLY THAT, GODZILLA DOES NOTHING. Godzilla does nothing and is the greatest pinball machine of all time. You know what I'm saying? It's like it's almost like I I I it's funny to say this, but you want Stern to nerf the main character Mech because when they do, THE GAME'S INCREDIBLE. THINK ABOUT IT. When they don't get it to work, the game is incredible. We got a gift here from from Mr. He sent a balloon. How much is a balloon, Pete? Is Is the balloon like a monetary thing? I It doesn't It doesn't have any number. It just says a balloon. Do you have to buy a balloon? A sun balloon? Pete, let me know if you if you had to pay for that so I can call you out. $100. Mr. Pete Rose in with the $100 sun balloon. See, this is it, guys. This is Pete's always He's like the guy. I think Pete's been my biggest patron since I started. Amazing. Thank you so much, Pete. So, here's the thing. Godzilla does nothing. Best game of all time. Jaws does nothing. He's It's a second best game of all time. You know what I'm saying? ARE ARE YOU CATCHING IT? SO, maybe if Optimus does nothing, we've got the third best pinball machine of all time coming. Have you ever thought about it like that? Should I talk like this? Should I go 67 on you? 67. I usually turn off the moving mechs over time. Transformers Ellie reserved. Okay. Well, Joe, let's talk about Transformer Ellie reserved. Okay. Okay. Does anyone really think it's going to be hard to get a Transformers Ellie? With 32 Pokemon Ellies for sale, there's 16 Beetlejuices for sale on Pinside. Can we just all admit and I mean this I I I pinball over $10,000
    17:39
    I I mean this when I say this. It it there is no way games nothing can hold around like 13 to $15,000. It it's just it is it it doesn't it doesn't exist. It doesn't exist. Even be the great Beetlejuice will slide down to $10,000 when Goonies is revealed, when Sonic is revealed. Harry Potter CES are going to slide down to 12 when Sonic is revealed. And then eventually, you know what I'm saying? Like we we've legitimately Winchester is holding for now for a few reasons. There's like none. There's not even like 200 out there, bro. So, like Winchester is is holding because it again like in in the grand scheme of things, Winchester remains, very rare, got a, you know, Carl's got a great following of fans and it's a unique game. I also think a lot of these other games there's just a lot of uh you've already got something similar that scratches that itch. I don't think anyone has anything similar to Winchester that is scratching that itch. And yeah, Winchester's holding strong around what, like 18. Good morning, Railman. Thank you for the $10. After Transformers talk, any more rumors on the Aussie pin? We're going to get to that. We're going to get to Aussie. Is that another balloon? Oh my gosh, we got another sun balloon. I can't believe you guys. Ms. Oh, that's Mike. Mike, is that you over there in New Cananan with the with the $100 sun balloon? My boy Mike.
    19:25
    500 jewels. Is 500 jewels is 500 jewels $100 or Mike? Was that Did that cost you a 100 bucks or 500 bucks? What's 500 jewels? I don't even know, man. I don't What's a jewel?
    19:52
    Come on, Mike. I know you got 100 bucks. You live in New Canan. You can hit me with 10 bucks. I know you're coming with more, baby. I KNOW YOU ARE. $8, MIKE.
    20:05
    UH, OKAY. SO, here's the deal. Like, okay, we were talking Transformers Elliot. Does anyone out there? Here's my thing. I want to I am gonna get a Transformers eventually. I I you know what I'm saying? Like this is my childhood. This is my childhood. I love Transformers and I think they nailed it minus Optimus. I think they nailed it. I think the shots look great. I think the once you hear the they got the show clips, they got Peter Cullen talking. The call outs are going to be killer. I think they nailed it. I just don't think Transformers LE is going to stay anywhere near $13,000, especially when the premium will be good enough for most people and look very similar. And also because Sonic the Hedgehog is going to just knock it. It's just going to dethrone it like instantly. Can you find out why Barrels of Fun is taking so long on Winchester? Look, we got another gift. Okay, another sun gift. It doesn't tell me how much these sun gifts are, but keep sending them. Thank you, Pete. I appreciate it. I appreciate it. Let's see how many sun gifts we can get for birthday for little Cassian, man. Um, my name is Ed. Oh, nice. Ed from Shelton, Connecticut. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Ed, Ed, how far is Shelton from Rowan? from Norwok. Let's get together. I really need to get together with like Dave Frasier and all the Connecticut crew. Like it's a good good group. We should all be on like the Rouaden seafood boat and just chilling and talking pinball. Um look, the reason why Winchester it's taking a long time. It's just, you know, it's expensive. It It takes a long time to get parts. Thank you, Mike, for some more sun gifts. You guys are the best. Keep them coming. Um this is, you know, here's the thing. Here's the thing. I I want a Transformers le. I don't want to spend 13 and I don't think I'm going to have to. Look at this. What is this thing we're getting here? This gift is amazing. This is like a a tofu.
    22:21
    What is this? This tofu dish. Oh my god, this is awesome. You guys are the best. You guys really are. Pete, thank you so much. Um, all right. Here's the other
    22:39
    here here's um so I I I'm gonna wait on Transformers Ali. I'm not going to run in right away. I and I don't think they're going to flip for over 13. I don't I just don't think you know it's like I I after seeing how Pokemon is a fire sale now. You got to give me credit. You got to give Canada credit. the the $23,000 for my poke second Pokemon LE is looking like maybe one of the greatest flips of all time. Now, I probably lost, you know, half that money sports betting, but I had half that money to sports bet with. And I I probably won it back, too. I had a good sports betting weekend. But you know what? Don't sports bet. You will go up, you will go down. Just don't do it. Trust me. Don't get started. Don't get started. When you're at a table with dudes talking about their parlays that they think they're going to hit, don't do it. That's the disease.
    23:32
    Oh man, the hot pot was 80 bucks. Okay, here's gang. Here's the um here here's the thing. I have another bit of exclusive news that is unfortunately not the news I wanted to say about the game. Uh and I asked directly is is this going to be in the game? And unfortunately, what I'm being told is that Stan Bush's You Got the Touch will not be in this game. That apparently licensing stuff from the movie is a different thing. But again, like this this song was in like Boogie Nights. Like, so no, you Got the Touch song. And you know how I feel like that to me is just it's just heartbreaking because it's just it just would have been the most magical moment of any Transformers pinball machine. And it's also featured in the cartoon series that happened after the movie once Galvatron and you know I don't know if they have I see I don't think this is going to go into the Galvatron like Rodmus Prime series that took place after the movie. Look it it's it's really deflating to hear that. I I I I just, you know, because it's just like when you start down a road of if we're going to make this, like these are the things we need to get in it. I if I were Stern, I would have gone just right for the movie. This is where the to me the door is open. If Unicron, Optimus, Hot Rod, Rodmus, Ultra Magnus, you know what I'm saying? Like I don't see Ultra Magnus art anywhere. To me, the movie is a way better Transformers thing to do because the movie just puts everything in it in the best way ever. And the movie soundtrack is the best soundtrack ever. So, I I don't know. I think the door is wide open for someone like a JJP or a Barrels or an American Pinball to really try to get that Transformers the movie license. Unicron as the main mech. I mean, just think about that.
    25:58
    Um, all right. So, there you go. Take it to pin side. Say Canada is reporting that Optimus does not move, that you Got the Touch is not in the game. Um, here is the here's the the strong rumor that's been brewing is that John Borg is not doing a right now is not doing a remaster or remake of AC/DC or Kiss. It is that John Borg is doing a cornerstone game that will be out at Expo that is Azie Osborne or Black Sabbath. So that is the new like word on the street. Now here's where it gets crazy. I thought Keith Elwin's fallout was after Transformers. So does how can we have four cornerstones in a year? Doesn't seem like I don't know. And we're also going to get the James Bond Goldfinger. So if we think about this, right? So, Pokemon came out in February, March, April, like May, Transformers. Okay. Then I think it's going to be June, July, August, I think it's going to be Fallout. September, October, I think they might show Azie at I think that I I don't know. I don't know. It it does seem like Stern is accelerating its launch schedule, which is even scarier because what that means is less in these games, less code, less time developing them, less less, less while they charge us more, more more. And I and I and until until they prove us wrong, I think the whole entire pinball community is sort of begging Stern to slow down. Slow down. If you treat your customers like this and you keep serving them hamburgers that are not fully cooked, you got to just ask how long before they stop coming back for more. And when I see 32 Pokemon le's for sale, the people are gonna stop coming back for more. And I mean, think about think about if you have a Pokemon le. I mean, the amount of people that clearly bought the game to scalp, too. I I mean, guys, come on. And and and what's with all the amateur hour scalpers out there? Have you not learned a lesson? You I I'll tell you this. The only window to scalp a game, and I mean this, unless it's like, don't look at Winchester, the but the best window to scalp a game is the week it's revealed any longer, you're you're literally losing money, not gaining money. So, if you had sold your Pokemon le spot right away, right away you were getting 5,000 or more on the table. But now there's 32 dudes who had to pay the full 13 plus maybe tax and shipping. 13, not 32, sorry, 32 dudes with a fully paid for inbox built. You can have it tomorrow. Pokemon Ellie. The problem is nobody wants it right now. Why would you want a PokemonL right now? That I I wouldn't like it. It is still very unclear if the Pokedex is even going to be in the game, how it's going to work, how Insider Connected's going to work. This game, as we all know, lives or dies on the code like like going bonkers, but right now my game has been off for like a few weeks. I've seen everything there. I've absolutely seen everything. Not only that, I'm just getting tired of catching the same Pokemon and it means nothing. There's no meaning to it. So until this game has some sense of fulfillment or greater satisfaction and things to achieve, there's nothing else to do. I I and I'm not even sure if there's like more in the game. It's just harder to get to. I don't know. But it just doesn't feel like that. I think Charizard versus Pikachu is the only sort of like wizard mode in the game right now.
    30:41
    Yeah, but they're not going to hire more people to work on the code. I mean, we keep saying that, but they just don't do it.
    30:56
    I I don't know, man. It's like, you know, I I'm looking at the landscape of Stern and I just don't think I don't think can really, you know, release like a single company can release four to five games a year and it works for anyone other than operators.
    31:18
    Um, John Borg would be the designer for Aussie Osborne. If you guys want a TransformersL though, you know, call Coint Taker, call Automated. I know they'll get you one.
    31:40
    Tell them Canada sent you and we might even get you a little deal on it. It's just the way it goes. That's what I'm going to end up being, gang, is like a broker for for some places. So, just so you know, like I want to I want you to guys to feel good that you're ordering your game through Canada and you'll get you'll get the best price and you'll get you you'll you'll absolutely get the fulfillment, right? Or we won't take the order. But what's going to get fun is going to have some Back to the Futures, gonna have some stuff, you know, from other, you know, well, Winchester's too late, but but yeah, you'll see soon. you know, I'm just working out the details. But again, it's just it's not going to change my show. I'm not going to become a shill. It's not going to work like that. It's going to be like, if you want it, I'll get you it. It's not going to change how I feel about the game. I'm not quitting my day job. I'm not stopping what I'm doing. I'm simply going to make it so you're going to feel great that you ordered from Canada and we're going to make we're gonna and you you'll see.
    32:47
    Well, it's interesting when you start to dig into like how certain places can offer free shipping because they have um you know, they have like they have it's all because they have a big deal with like FedEx. They get like they only pay like like $200. They'll pay like $200 a game to ship it, right? So they're they're willing to eat that to get the customer because they're making, you know, that's how it's like ostensibly how you find a little loophole in the in the map pricing.
    33:26
    So it's um look, I I I think any dealer, any DRO needs to do what they can do to to give their customers, you know, the best possible price and the best possible service.
    33:39
    I only order from free shipping distros, right? Yeah. Cool. And Keith, I'm telling you, that's what I'm going to be working on. Whatever that price is, we got to be able to match it or beat it by at least a dollar and that's what I that's what I want to work on and that's what the whole thing's going to be. Derek Musketeer says George is lying to you. Like what? What? George Gomez is not lying to me. Hold on. I want to see what Derek Musket says. Let's see.
    34:13
    Let me want me to read you. Um I want to read to you what George wrote to me because I just think like
    34:25
    I I want you to this is word for word and you know he's not this is not sensitive. He said no he doesn't move. His targets are his legs. Several things forced us to abandon the transformation. There was no practical way of preventing certain ball traps if there happened to be a ball in motion as he was coming down to truck mode or standing up in robot mode. They created havoc. We saw it while playing and as hard as we tried, we couldn't guarantee it couldn't happen. Certain traps could also potentially damage him, and the constant banging from the ball could damage the intricate internals of the mech. Due to his size, there was a lot of tiny stuff, linkages, and mechanisms inside of him. The mech was very intricate, which means if something was damaged, we would need to send a customer a full optimus. There was another issue, a big one in her eyes. It got old after a few times and it really messed with the flow of the game. So honestly, and we heard this on Jaws, right? We heard this. I mean, maybe it's an excuse, but we heard this on Jaws. We heard this that Jaws eating the ball actually made the game play worse, right? We heard that. Whether or not we want to accept that, but you know, we're hearing the same type of thing. He said, "So, honestly, it wasn't that much fun after you saw him do it once or twice. In spite of what people say in the community, we do both a design validation process and a production validation process with the factory team. Both processes were highlighting issues." Okay, so gang like um you know, that to me is a satisfactory
    36:19
    Oh, my my broadcast ended. Let's go back again. I look Yeah. Well, not having Grimlock as a ball lock. You know what I'm saying? Like when when Grimlock's not locking the ball, isn't someone like, "Ah, guys, HIS NAME IS GRIMLOCK." YOU KNOW, IF I'M GEORGE, I walk in. Hey, um, Elliot, um, who locks the balls in Transformers? He's like, well, you know, Soundwave's going to lock them and release them as can. Oh, cool. Um, hey Elliot, you know of A CHARACTER NAMED GRIMLOCK, MOTHER WHAT ABOUT GRIMLOCK ELLIOT? His name is Grimlock. Why do I EMPLOY A BUNCH OF DIP? CAN'T YOU GUYS use your noggin?
    37:33
    Huh?
    37:33
    Huh? >> I don't know.
    37:39
    You know what I'm saying?
    37:39
    You know what I'm saying? It's like first we can't get Jaws to eat the ball. Godzilla doesn't do IT. AND NOW GRIMLOCK DOESN'T even lock the mofo balls. Baby, what? Canad's going to just destroy us.
    38:03
    Grimlock. Now, there's a reason why there's a reason why you guys are members of Canadas Pinball Podcast. The um look, I um I think I I have to say this. I think the Sonic photos I got might have been AI because you know why I know this? Because I have the Sonic Playfield. I've got the Sonic Playfield unpopulated. You want me to You want me to talk about it? You want me to talk about it on this? Can Can I describe it to you? Do you want me to describe the Sonic? You know, I'm gonna have to get all you Facebook guys got to go to YouTube right now because I I will describe for you. Want me to describe for you the Sonic Playfield and the Back to the Future with more detail because, you know, should we do that?
    38:55
    Should we do that? You know, no one else does this. I don't know if anyone else has it. I'm not I'm not seeing How about this? If um if we get, you know me, I'm I'm I'm I'm always busking on this Saturday morning. If we get a hundred bucks more, here it is. It unlocks. Describing the Sonic Playfield. There you go. You know it, Battle Buddy. You know how I DO IT. WHY WOULD I GIVE IT TO YOU FOR FREE? You cheapkate Battle Buddy. And who are you, Battle Buddy? Who is Battle Buddy? Let's see. Man, I you I you know, look, I'm so used to calling out most of these names, but Battle Buddy seems like a new one in here, baby. Welcome to the part of Battle Buddy.
    39:44
    I'm a fan. I'm I'm glad you're a fan, man. Now you're getting a shout out. You guys know me too well. You know me too well.
    39:54
    I mean, how awesome would Grimlock have
    39:54
    I mean, how awesome would Grimlock have been if they just reskinned the T-Rex head? me Grimlock. Like honestly, that's a big miss. They should have reskinned the T-Rex head from Jurassic Park as Grimlock. It would have looked awesome and had him also talk a lot in the game. Me Grimlock want to lock balls in me head. You know what I'm saying? Like they ease like that would have been awesome. Talk more about the combiners. I don't know, man. I mean, they got the combiners. I wonder if they're going to be like uh combo shots to get them to unite and form like Devastator and Menosaur.
    40:38
    Superior. Superon. Superon the plain one, right? I don't know if they have um
    40:48
    I mean not look not having uh Devastator would have been a cool mech.
    40:57
    See, sad boy man comes in with the 100 bucks. All right, so here's the deal. You, if you're on Facebook, got to go to YouTube. I'm going to talk what I'm seeing in Sonic Playfield. Um, it's not populated. Okay, just want to let you guys know this. I have an image of an unpopulated Sonic Playfield. Not going to share it. I'm going to describe what I see. All right. That's I mean I look it's all I can do now. I have a populated Back to the Future playfield. Yeah. Yeah, it is live. Dylan, come on. But I got to stop this because I need to look at the photos. So, I'm going to end I'm going to end this broadcast. I need to look at my phone. I know you guys are going to try to look at the the reflection in my glasses. I I love what people try to do. Yeah, YouTube is way better. Let me see. Let me see if I can um Trying to see if I can like zoom in and maybe not. All right. I'll show you guys this just so you know. I got it.
    42:12
    This isn't giving anything away, but I'll show you that. Okay. just just to validate what I got is real. Okay, so I am looking at the Sonic the Hedgehog Playfield by Jersey Jack Pinball. Exclusive live details on an unpopulated game. It is a standard body game by what I can see and it is very very fun and colorful. There is on the We'll start from the right. We'll start from the right. The right has a shooter lane that has it's like blue with a yellow sort of going through the middle with an red border and it has one, two, three, four, five different skill shot inserts. Okay, now here's the here's the fun part. There there is um this this is a very okay I'm looking it this game is this game is 100% a fan layout. Okay it it is it it is literally as I look at it is like it is as fan layout as it gets. There is one and I'm just going from left to right on shots and they're all just arrows in a fanlike layout which is going to mean speed cuz I think this game is all about speed speed. So I'm not surprised that we're seeing a very very like fan layout um of Sonic the Hedgehog. So, we've got one shot, two shots, three shots, four shots, something really really big up the middle, which I will explain what it is. Also, this confirms for me that the that the image of Dr. Robotnik I had was AI generated. It was not real. So, anyone who has that image floating around, fake, the loop-de-loop image that I saw was fake. Okay. So, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. There's eight shots minus the one up the middle. So, and the one up the middle looks like something big is happening there. And it is definitely I'll tell you what it's going to be. All right. So, just so you know, this is a fan layout game with like and you know, and you know, it's always interesting. Um, how many flippers? That's a good question.
    45:10
    see if you can like I mean it's a Steve Richie game. I mean, the thing is
    45:20
    Wow. Okay. So, something big goes there. I think that's where the um >> Yeah.
    45:25
    Yeah.
    45:25
    Yeah. >> Okay. That's a drop target into
    45:28
    Okay. That's a drop target into
    45:28
    Okay. That's a drop target into something. Another drop target there. Looks like there's two drop targets. Both. Um looks like there's two drop targets as the far left shot and the far right shot. I don't see any um I don't know if this is going to be a three flipper game. I'll tell you why. I don't see I think this might be a two flipper game because I'm I'm just not I'm not seeing um like you know like I'm not seeing any inserts or trajectory or anything going left to right. Everything is going up. Everything every insert every this every that. Now look, there may be an upper playfield, which I think there's going to be. So what I think where I think the third flipper is going to be, let me explain the game. So if we go from far left to right, the far left shot will hit into what looks like a like a a drop target of some sort. The then to the right of that is something that goes into an orbit or something. Okay. But it it literally like the artwork just ends abruptly then. Well, no. So, that that's going to hit something. I don't know what that's going to hit or like a kickback or something. The the the third shot over from the left, I can see the artwork go all the way around like an orbit. So, that's going to be your orbit. Okay. And then to the right of that, the arrows stop at a huge white area of the playfield that has no art on it, which means that is where I believe an upper playfield or some sort of major major major mech will be. Okay. So, there is a and then to the right of that
    47:34
    to the right of that is where that really big sort of like center shot is that is going to have a and there is major major. So, the artwork there is Sonic. It says Sonic the Hedgehog with Sonic Tails and all like all of them all four of his friends. And then above that is a humongous sort of like pentagon shaped pentagon area that has Dr. Robotnik art. So I I think Dr. Robotnik if you were to ask me I think I think there might be Wait, are those Yeah, those are inserts. Okay. It It's crazy. There there's going to be I think there's going to be a Dr. Robotnik like battle area up the middle. And it looks like there's targets all surrounding him. I think that's going to be magnetized. And here's what's crazy. I think this area might play a lot like the battle arena in Pokemon because I I I don't think there's going to be a ramp there. I think the reason why there's arc with targets leads me to believe that that Dr. Robotnik like there's going to be magnetic like action happening.
    48:53
    I'm not showing this. Okay, I'm not showing this. So, look for like I think we're going to get in that like upper play field and then you know there's to the right of that I think there's another like there's like a loop around shot and then to the right of that there's another there's a missing piece with a with a a hole cut out in the playfield. Now, this hole cut out is really where there's going to be probably
    49:25
    something like a loop-de-loop or an upper playfield or something because that, you know, usually when there's a hole in cut out, uh you need, you know, you're having room for some sort of mech to have like, you know, like coils underneath and something. So, something's going to be there. And then there's another orbit shot. And then another shot to the far right with a drop target. Um the the artwork on this edition, there's going to be different editions. See, Dr. Pinball, like honestly, the old Caneda, I never I'm I never burn anybody. Okay? So, if I'm asked not to share the photo, I won't. But I I'm I'm describ describe it because I would just love to know what information you have on Sonic the Hedgehog that we should all um you know, what do what do you got? I'm I'm literally describing for you stuff that's in this game and you're not happy with that. You want me to break my trust with somebody?
    50:29
    Okay. Now, here's here's here's what the artwork the artwork is is awesome in color. Who's like can I ask you because I don't know all the Sonic universe. There's like bright blue Sonic and then there's like a darker darker gray Sonic. What What's his name?
    50:57
    Shadow. Okay, so the artwork on this game is on the left side is Sonic real big. On the right side is Shadow and they're running towards each other really big. really cool. It looks really cool. And in between them are all these really big rectangular inserts leading up to a big jewel. You know, like the the Sonic jewel. Um, very very cool looking. And there's by the flipper gap there's the ring that is the ball save. And then there is 1, two, three, four, five, six, seven of those rectangle inserts stacked on top of each other going up the middle and then on top of them is the big jewel. So very cool. So I think this game is going to have a very like linear like like you know climbing the ladder of the modes is going to be like literal and you know and I'm trying to read what these inserts say and I can't.
    52:04
    But the art is very colorful. It's so sonic. We've got like the brown, you know, the brown checkered pattern and then into the green grass and the blues and it's just super colorful. I mean, it is absolutely Sonic the Hedgehog.
    52:24
    You know what I think they're going to
    52:24
    You know what I think they're going to do? I think there's going to be a lot of like sling action like they they boom boom boom boom boom boom. Um, you know, maybe that's where the pop bumpers go. So, there you have it. Guys want to see what it looks like there. There's what it looks like. AH, I DID IT. I showed you Transformers.
    52:50
    This might this might be the worst leak of all time. like the the the the fat little Ram man Optimus is just, you know, it is what it is. But it is what it is.
    53:19
    let me leak the first ever Back to the Future photo to you guys.
    53:43
    So, I have like I have new and old images of Back to the Future, but this is an old image. But look, you're seeing the first ever here on Saturday morning live. I mean, I just I do what I I do what I do. Not that much, but it just
    54:05
    I was trying to see if there was like something below this that you could have zoomed in on, but there wasn't. I got lucky.
    54:14
    Um, well, here's my take. I mean, after seeing Sonic, I feel like Sonic is going to be like it's it's going to be like Pokemon on crack. I do. I I think Sonic is gonna like Pokemon is a fun shooter, but there's not many shots. I think Sonic is gonna like just be speed speed. I think Sonic might be if it is a three flipper game. The third flipper is on some sort of upper playfield which might go into like a loop-de-loop or something. That's kind of what I'm expecting here. I think the upper left blank area is going to be where the upper flipper I think either catches the ball or fires it into a loop-de-loop. Um, I also would love to see in this game, and I'm not sure if it's going to be there because like again, it's unpopulated. I don't know where like where the wire forms are. I want to see like a ton of wire forms of Sonic charging up and and flying across this game. So, I think we're going to see a lot of that. You know what I'm saying? I think this game is not going to just have like Baron all open. I think there's going to be a lot of Sonic charging up and and and much like the the game itself, like him flying around the game. Look, it it I can tell from this game that Steve Richie is going all all in on Flo.
    55:37
    Now, look, I'm I'm excited. I mean, I'm excited. You got your first details about Sonic. I I I think that um what's really interesting is that upper area is definitely looks like it's gonna play just like the battle the battle arena in Pokemon
    56:04
    look by a month from now basically like a month from now I think you're going to get I think even like a few weeks from now or a week from now you're going to get more word of mouth descriptions on this game. I I don't even think JJP needs to like tell anybody that this game is going to be like more impressive than Transformers, but here's here's the thing, people. And and I mean this when I say this, don't and and and and look, I'm friends with George Gomez. I'm friends with Brett Abbis. I'm friends with, you know, David Vaness. I'm friends with everybody putting putting pinball magic under the glass. I'm bugging Luke and and I mean this when I say this and I'm being very very unbiased. I think Transformers on a mechanical level may have more mechanical wow in it than Sonic the Hedgehog. And I think that while Stern Games might look cheaper than JJP, and they do, don't underestimate like what we're looking at when we look at this Transformer game. There a lot in there. A lot in there. That looks like a lot of fun. A Look, I'm telling you, it's a lot more interesting layout than maybe this Sonic fan layout. Now, look, I think Sonic's going to win on speed and flow, but you know, you know what I'm saying? It's like, but if you want something with more left to right action, you know, more diverse gameplay, it might be Transformers. And so, you know, I I I I really do think like everybody is going to have a a a plethora of amazing pinball options, but I I do think people might prematurely just like write off Transformers and say Sonic's going to be the one. And and and the reason I say this and I've been openly, you know, not critical, but I've been open about this. When I look at Harry Potter,
    58:09
    I think half the game is empty. I do when I when I and I know Potter shoots great and the sales are great and the integration has got so much in it, but I but you're telling me when you look at Harry Potter, everything's the top oneird of the playfield. Everything. There's nothing magical that happens in the lower twothirds of that playfield. Nothing. No mechs, no wow, no nothing. The ball doesn't disappear. The ball doesn't do anything magical really anywhere. It's got good flow. I love the staircase diverter. I think it's super smart. But in terms of wow, did you see the ball do that? Or wow, like it doesn't necessarily, in my honest opinion, have anything happening in it that creates that wow. And you know, I saw it on Avatar, saw it on Potter, saw it in Godfather. I mean, Jersey Jack hasn't really put a blow your mind away stunning mech in a game in a while. And so, I'm curious to see what those mechs will be in Sonic. I don't know. I don't know. I mean, when it comes to Potter, I mean, I think, you know, the staircase diverters the coolest thing for sure. I mean, the upper quiddage, I don't know. You know, nothing else to me fully like wows me. And and again, game is selling great. There's nothing in Pokemon, you know, there's a Meowith balloon that comes down that you bash that's somewhat fun. It's, you know, it's not bad. It's It's not amazing. It's not, you know, it's rewarding to hit, but other than that, nothing. Not a single thing. Not a single thing is in Pokemon. I bought Pokemon for my little boy. He's five years old. I bought it for him. I didn't buy it for me. I've been open about that. You know what I'm saying? It's like, what game would you buy a 5-year-old Cassian? Godzilla. Did I say 5-year-old Cassidy? I always get their names. Killian. You know what I'm saying?
    60:26
    So, I um here's here's what I think is going to happen. And and this is my this is my real belief in this. I think Sonic the Hedgehog Transformers are both going to be amazing.
    60:48
    And I think they're going to be complimentary of each other. I think they're both going to be amazing. I I I I look at both of them. It's like I love the colors. I love the way they are throwback nostalgia to the things we loved when we were kids. I I think they're both going to be amazing. I don't think we have to say that looks like crap and that's cheap and that look like I think they're both going to be amazing. Look, yeah, absolutely. The Stern game is going to be the one that loses more value instantly. Absolutely. The Jersey Jack one though for $15,000 ain't no cheap game. And you know a $15,000 unlimited run game to me. I don't know man. Like that doesn't Maybe on Potter that worked because you made Potter so different. Now look, I know what the Sonic Cabinet looks like and it's going to be the most spectacular pinball cabinet ever. It just is. And and that's the advantage of the Jersey Jack CE. You know what I'm saying? It's like people are willing to pay 15, even if it's not unlimited. It's like you're really giving them something special. And so what I expect in Sonic is not only the coolest cabinet that Pinball has ever seen. I think Sonic C is going to have like an awesome topper probably. Maybe that's where the loop loop is happening. Like a physical pinball doing a loop-de-loop in the topper area would be amazing. But you know what I'm saying is like like is it just glitter rad cows? You'll see.
    62:25
    Am I going to buy both? Probably one day. I I'm not buying both right now. You know, my my wife lost her job. I was on her insurance. Now I'm now I'm everyone's on my insurance. Now I'm paying for life insurance as well. Um, you know, I'm making less and bringing in less as a household than we were a year ago. So, yeah, like I'm probably not buying a lot of pinball machines, gang. Um, you know, I'm still I'm I got new kids, man. I'm in the thick of daycare and just want to get the house paid off and we're going on some very expensive vacations, you know? I mean, just my trip to Italy is going to cost us like 10 to$15,000 easily. to Japan's gonna be 20 grand or more. That's just two vacations in one year, you know? So, it's like just trying to like manage the things that matter most to this family this year and me adding another pinball machine into the house. Like, it just doesn't make any sense. Now, don't get me wrong, I will always have my eye open for a potential scalp or a flip of a game if I think it'll um you know, you can make more money. But there's nothing I don't see Transformers. I don't see Sonic. I don't see Fallout being games where you're going to be able to scalp. I don't I think the po I think Pokemon might might have been the last FOMO burn. We we we we see until Back to the Future and Goonies. Back to the Future is just stupid what people are going to pay over for it. The side cabinet does not have lights on it. No. Come on, guys.
    64:17
    Meowth. Whatever. I You know what? I don't I don't care. The um Well, no. The The 32 Pokemon for sale is is a a big problem, man. I also think the 16 Beetle juices for sale is a big problem for poke for Beetlejuice value. 16 for sale. Just think about that for a minute. And a lot of them are like like physical games. I It's not a great look to only be onethird of the way through production. Not even like a quarter of the way through production and already they're everywhere you can get it.
    65:07
    So it it does beg the question, what's going on with pinball? What's going on? Like did we is has the whole hobby jumped the shark? I think I know exactly what's going on. I think people are are really not wealthy enough to absorb these amount of games at these prices. And I think I think people are feeling
    65:30
    just overwhelmed. I I think the games I I and I and I mean this it's it's easy to try to just compartmentamentalize how we make decisions in life and look at it only through the lens of pinball, but I just mean it over in in general. We're all so overwhelmed. Our money is worth like worth so much less than it was 10 years ago. We have not received wage increases over that 10-year period that have been significant enough to keep up with inflation. Every time you open the news, it's negative. It's terrible. It's like the world is ending. The sky is falling. I don't think it's as bad as the media portrays it. But also, we live in this world now. It's not just the media. It's the overabundance, the neverending just barrage of distractions, of content, of anxieties, of fears, of this, of that, people dying, our friends are getting older, the news is not always good. You add it all up and the answer to happiness seems to be simplicity. like removing these things like too much. We don't need all this stuff. Like the internet flex of owning all these things isn't real. The friendships we've made in this hobby are the only thing that's real. I have more pinball friends and great relationships that are so much more valuable to me than any of these games. And I don't even own many. And without even owning many games or even playing that often,
    67:13
    the number one pinball podcast out there in terms of like consistency, in terms of like community, number one, subscribers number one. Kale number two, and Kale's number one in the Trippy category. But you know what I'm saying? Like but all of us Ralph, Kale, Don, they will all tell you this. Eventually, you reach a point where you you understand the diminishing returns that arrive if you just keep buying every 10 to $15,000 pinball machine that comes out. Just like just like, you know, it's like it's like the newbies are necessary because the newbies when you get bit by the bug, they're not there yet. They will get there. Remember when Don came on the scene like Ellie Ellie Ellie like you know Ralph the same way like you know when you come onto the scene you actually you're so excited because it's all new to you like you didn't realize this you didn't even realize like oh there's all these pinball companies oh like look at this oh pinball is actually way more fun than arcade oneups it's way more fun than vintage like video games and arcade games and and you get bit by the bug and you go in and you go in and you go in and then after a while you're like all right like I've hit max happiness and you know, I don't need anymore. And that's kind of I don't know. I feel like in my life when I when I'm when I'm the most unhappy is when I'm chasing things that I think are going to make me happy and they don't really. And I'm actually the most happy when I'm in shape, shirt off with a cheap beer in my hand and sitting in the backyard, like just enjoying the sun and listening to some good music, you know, with the barbecue on and not going out and spending $200 on lunch, not writing checks for $14,000 for pinball machines, not, you know, fighting my way through airports to get somewhere where when I arrive it's still just going to be me it's just in the backyard cold beer in hand barbecue kids are running around I'm playing some you know stand by me on on the speaker and and just life is good some country music you know like may we all you know something like that that's to me that to me is like peak happiness and look the reason why so many of you subscribe and listen to Canadian pimp podcast cuz to me peak happiness in pinball is having a few games you love 100%. And then just watching and and enjoying the entertainment value of all these newbies running at these games, losing their shirts, buying games to scalp that they waited too long on, seeing all these manufacturers fight for our dollars. That's fun to me, man. these guys, the pressure for these companies to to find buyers. You got to remember how small the audience is. Think about it for a minute. When you make and and and clearly this is so clear that the Pokemon collectors did not migrate over, they don't care. Nonpinball people do not care to own a pinball machine at these prices. It doesn't matter what the theme is. Doesn't matter what the theme is. You know what I'm saying? So, it doesn't matter if it's Star Wars. It doesn't matter. If it's Pokemon, it doesn't matter. If it's transform, it doesn't matter because someone who's a transformer fanatic that is 15 grand or 13 grand, they want to go buy a $13,000 mint and sealed box Optimus Prime to hang on the wall. They don't want to buy the pinball machine for that much money that's going to depreciate and that none of their Transformer collector fans will want to talk about. So, it's just it's us like pinball is for the pinball fanatics. And look, and it's really hard to get new people into pinball at these prices. It's almost it's almost offensive to to release like 15 pinball machines a year at these prices. Who's buying all these games?
    71:33
    You know, it's just it's tough. It's tough. I mean, look, when you think about it, the fact that like, you know, with everything that's in Dune, you couldn't even find more than 700 buyers. They couldn't even find 500 buyers in six months on a global franchise. That's crazy. Now, Dune was $7,500, they would have sold everyone. They would have sold everyone. They can't make it though for $7,500 and stay in business. That's the problem. I mean, look, I I understand that the candle is being burnt on both ends. I understand that you can't make games for cheap anymore, but our money is worth less. If you if you just add those two things up, you're only left with one final scenario. You need to find 750 millionaires that don't care about losing $3,000. And the last time I checked, millionaires became millionaires because they don't like to put their money in depreciating assets. They also like to buy low and sell high in everything they invest their money in. You know what I'm So then there's like a it's almost like you need to find then you need to find stupid millionaires
    72:48
    which normally don't exist. So then you might then you might need to find only trust fund babies who buy pinball machines might be your only option at the current prices with you know this many of of the collectible version of a game which now means nothing. I mean that's really been the to me the takeaway of the last four or five years is anything that is name limited or collectible is anything but that. I mean, if not even a thousand Beetle juices, which I think is still a stunning game, like now they're those things are getting like fire sold in large numbers. The prices are still holding above MSRP because, you know, again, I keep 10,000 is the ceiling, man.
    73:35
    Because look, you got you got to remember like for the longest time $7,500 LE would secondhand trade when they got hot for like around 10 10 to 12 at most. So, you know, it's good. You made like $2 $3,000. So, now you want to start out at 13 or $15,000. Start out there. And not enough new people came into the hobby. And not enough people that were in the hobby double their salaries in that time period.
    74:05
    I don't even know if Pokemon burnt a lot of newbies. I think I think what Pokemon did do was it immediately got everybody to maybe you you're right. I think Pokemon immediately, no matter if you were a spectator like me or you just been watching, immediately you understood in instantly what the reality is of buying a Stern machine that the code's not going to be done and you're going to lose money.
    74:44
    The key is the game was not hot from day
    74:44
    The key is the game was not hot from day one. Yeah. Well, look, Evil Dead I I think Evil Dead 2 just has so much in it and and I think the call outs and the >> I think Evil Dead
    74:57
    I think Evil Dead
    74:57
    I think Evil Dead may be just a better pinball game than Beetlejuice for a lot of people, too. And I and that's >> I just think it's I think it was easier
    75:06
    I just think it's I think it was easier
    75:06
    I just think it's I think it was easier for Spooky to get creative with Evil Dead. I think Beetlejuice was a little bit harder. Um, and and also like because of, you know, I I that's why I think Transformers with all the custom Peter Cullen call outs is gonna really be a gamecher that people don't are underestimating because I think Transformers is going to be a lot like Evil Dead where it's it's going to be a very, you know, customized Transformer experience, you know. We're not really feeling that on Pokemon. We wanted like I thought they had like Gioani. I thought Pikachu said 95 things. I'm not feeling it, you know. you know, Pokemon is still feeling like a little barren on like pulling you into the game. I think when when Optimus Prime talks to you, it's going to like melt our, you know, it's gonna it's going to melt our socks off. I think we're going to like fall in love with Transformers once we see gameplay. I really do. No, but even the different pika pikas, like I I was expecting them to use the Pikachu like pikas in a more comical, funny way. Like there's not even like a pika pika mode. Like couldn't they have just done a fun mode where like every switch is a different pika and he's just going crazy and you have like 30 seconds to get as many pikas out. You know what I'm saying? Like pika madness. I I'm just not feeling any modes in Pokemon that are fun.
    76:34
    I I mean that like right now the most fun is probably the Squirtle and like the music changes, but there's not enough there's not enough Pokemon weirdness happening.
    76:48
    I mean, it's very early on, so hopefully it comes. But again, like, you know, by the time it comes, Pokemon Elise will be 10 grand. I mean, I didn't think they'd seeing all the amount for sale right now. Pokemon Ellie will be, you know, and the only thing that would have saved the price is if there was an Ellie exclusive topper, but there's not.
    77:10
    I mean, this is not good when people say Pokemon is easily the most boring stern I've ever owned. I And JC, like I'm not gonna fight you on that. I I I think your opinion is, you know, what, Brenda? Why do they have to do this right outside the door that we have a whole house? I got you. I GOT YOU A WHOLE house and I'm doing a show. You feel like you feel me people? And I got to have them screaming right outside the door.
    77:50
    I I I'm 49 with a with a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old. So, you you understand my pain. But I literally she knows I'm doing THE SHOW, BUT BRING THEM OUTSIDE. IT'S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DAY OF THE YEAR. Take them to the Home Depot. You know what I'm saying? Like, put a put the sprinkler on. Like, what is this? Like, I literally And I just raised I just raised Brenda $500 for sake. I'm making money, baby. Even when I'm not working. This is not work.
    78:24
    You know, I was talking to a girl at work and she um you know, she wanted a a raise and she's like, you know, I really, you know, Chris, like I I really want a 15% raise. And I was like, well, what are you making? And like, all right. I'm like, that's it? Like that? That's nothing. like and whenever I tell people what I make on the podcast, they they literally can't comprehend it. And and and it's such a tiny amount of subscribers to make that, too. It just goes to show you that the you know, the modern world of content creation is is great for people that can get a decent audience. I mean, I don't even have a decent sized audience, and the pay is not terrible. Like, it's nothing to sneeze at in in corporate America where people are working their asses off all year for like a $10,000 raise. I I don't even know how you like justify like I don't even know how you justify like going to someone with a straight face and saying like we're going to give you 10 grand after a year or two of work. I I I mean you got to get some hustle going. I work look and I do work hard for this all the year like all the years of doing the show for free and all the years of building an audience and all the years of becoming an expert and I would I would argue that whatever money I make every year on this podcast is probably if I spent that time more focused on something else I probably would be making a lot more money in my life. But as I said, as you get older, and this is the hard part, you actually start to value things way differently than just like only money. Because again, it's the friendships, it's the relationships that matter the most. Like I was saying at the beginning of the show, I have a friend who's best friend and mentor. Guys mint it. like, you know, multi-million dollar house, swimming pool, incredible cars, everything, you know, beautiful family, has a cough, gets a scan, he's got cancer in five different parts of his body. He's dying.
    80:39
    Can't take any of it with us. Can't take that non-transforming optimist with us. Can't
    80:51
    Well, connection's everything. You know, the the part that you know, the part that's lost the here's the stupid thing that's happening in the world. And you know me, I get I get on these soap boxes then I'm going to go the dumbest thing ever is that you know when people spend like $50 to $100,000 a year on a college degree, what your parents are really spending that money on is for you to meet people. The people you meet at those universities are who will help you more through life if you if you manage those relationships properly than what you read in the books or what your teachers are telling you. The teachers are actually the ones that are just the the least valuable thing. You know what I'm saying? Like the teachers are the ones that are obsolete especially now. Like a teacher has nothing unless you're like in a very specific like a like a like a like a doctor or like a skill like a trade skill that but for like all these kids getting like liberal art degrees by teachers in their 40s 50s 60s and 70s are being taught what to be to get what job coming from what those people are teaching like nothing.
    82:11
    Brenda, what the why are they outside this hallway? Like I I'm I'm trying to get the rationale. I'm a man of common sense. Common sense says if daddy is in this room doing a live show busking for money, why why would you like have Cassian screaming his head off outside the door when there's a whole house a back garden as they would say in Ireland?
    82:53
    And let me you know what's funny about it and I haven't slept an ounce all night because I go into the bed last night and who's in the bed? Brenda and Cassian and Killian. It's 3:00 in the morning and I'm like, you know, Killian's thrashing every 15 minutes. I I 3 in the morning. I pop my head up and there's Cassian just staring me down. staring me down in my king-size bed staring me down.
    83:24
    It's gonna take a lot more sake. Mike, you're right. Mike, what are you doing, man? You You want to come to the Rowan comedy night tonight? I don't know if there's any extra tickets anywhere. Mike, you want to should we hang a Ukanan today? What should we do? I'm gonna go work out, guys. This has been a fun show.
    83:47
    Ike Turner. Don't yell at the wife. Come on, Doc Mario. I'm being facitious.
    83:54
    Look at these guys. Look at the these these these men. These men who have turned into women who are now like, "Don't yell at your wife." Look, I pay the I pay every bill in this household. I can I can I can raise my voice when I need just 90 minutes of calm. Okay? Every bill. All right. When you pay every bill, you can raise your voice a little bit.
    84:22
    I mean, gang, you know what's going to get crazy is when when Stern burns every James Bond over. Sorry, let me When Stern burns every James Bond owner soon. Hold on. This about to die. Isn't that gonna be like like they're about to burn every single James Bond owner with a with a a gold better version of the game. I mean, you might like if you have a James Bond Ellie Premium where sell it now and welcome to Stern where like they don't care about past customers at all.
    85:11
    Yeah, James Bond Goldfinger is coming out this fall. Anyway, guys, have a great Saturday. Let me let me give a shout out to all of our Let's see if I can find all of our donators here. Uh, let me see. I think fan funding. Let's see what we got here. All right, we're going to go.
    85:37
    The jewels are weird cuz the the the cakes don't come up as money, but I can I can I can I can call them out here. Our top fans today, top fans today. Number one with 5,861 XPs, and this might be of all time is Pete Rosen. Then we've got Sad Boy. Then we've got Mike, my friend in New Cananan. Then we've got Railman, which was it was it Ed Railman? I think it was Ed. Then we've got Speed Racer in I think this is today. Indiana Jones 904 Pinball Z JC Mr. Chris Hughes, Brian Watson, Jeremy Dead Flip. Okay, I think this is all time. Yeah, but it's always the consistent guys here. It's always this. And thank you guys so much for the sake fun. We'll get Brenda all saucied up. Love you guys. This has been a good show. I think was it a good show? Like what do you think? Like you know you know sometimes sometimes I get insecure but what do you think? Was it a good show? Was it worth it? Was it worth your 90 minutes? Did I give you the entertainment value? Did I give you some good details?
    86:51
    Thank you, Rich. I appreciate it. Thank you each and every one of you for taking time out of your days. I don't thank all of you enough. You're giving me your time. In your household, you're dealing with your wives that are like, "Why are you listening to that loser again? I am not going to have sex with you on the same day you listen to Canada's Saturday morning spectacular." You know, that's happening in these households. Like literally, these children are like, "Dad, really, really, Dad? This guy again? Come on. He drives a Kia Carnival and wears Gucci. Who would listen to that clown, right? And then you got the guys like, well, I think he's pretty self-aware and self-deprecating. It's hard to take down a guy that's >> Yes,
    87:32
    Yes,
    87:32
    Yes, >> Cass is only crying.
    87:34
    Cass is only crying.
    87:34
    Cass is only crying. >> Why is Cass crying? Come here. Say hi.
    87:37
    Why is Cass crying? Come here. Say hi.
    87:37
    Why is Cass crying? Come here. Say hi. >> Come here. Say hi. Say hi.
    87:38
    Come here. Say hi. Say hi.
    87:38
    Come here. Say hi. Say hi. >> We're playing the game of college.
    87:40
    We're playing the game of college.
    87:40
    We're playing the game of college. >> Show them your new haircut. Mommy
    87:42
    Show them your new haircut. Mommy
    87:42
    Show them your new haircut. Mommy chopped off my my beautiful boy's hair. But you like it, right? Show them your new haircut. >> You guys see me?
    87:47
    You guys see me?
    87:47
    You guys see me? >> No. No. Get on the bed.
    87:51
    No. No. Get on the bed.
    87:51
    No. No. Get on the bed. >> You have underwear on. See me?
    87:52
    You have underwear on. See me?
    87:52
    You have underwear on. See me? >> No. No. You look. Come on. More.
    87:54
    No. No. You look. Come on. More.
    87:54
    No. No. You look. Come on. More. >> Now.
    87:54
    Now.
    87:54
    Now. >> No. Middle of the bed.
    87:56
    No. Middle of the bed.
    87:56
    No. Middle of the bed. >> Now.
    87:57
    Now.
    87:57
    Now. >> Not now.
    87:57
    Not now.
    87:58
    Not now. >> Do they see me now?
    87:58
    Do they see me now?
    87:58
    Do they see me now? >> Move over here.
    87:59
    Move over here.
    88:00
    Move over here. >> Now.
    88:00
    Now.
    88:00
    Now. >> There. They see you. Come back.
    88:03
    There. They see you. Come back.
    88:03
    There. They see you. Come back. >> Hey.
    88:04
    Hey.
    88:04
    Hey. >> Don't. Killian. Do you have underwear
    88:06
    Don't. Killian. Do you have underwear
    88:06
    Don't. Killian. Do you have underwear on? Don't show. No. Don't. Okay, I got to go, guys. This is going to get inappropriate. Bye. Killian, get underwear on. >> I don't. Mama said I am not a special.