"I think the reason why they're holding the code back is not because it's not ready. There's not many Pokemons out there. There has been a big delay on people getting their games, not just the LEs, the pros and the premiums."
Stern Pinball is deliberately holding back Pokemon code not because it's unfinished, but due to manufacturing delays on machines
"I've seen what the game has to offer. I've caught the same damn Pokemon over and over and over again. I can't go look at the ones I've caught. I can't share the ones I've caught on Insider Connected. The game has literally, in my mind, hit a wall."
Pokemon Pinball has hit a wall after three months, code is severely incomplete
"Everyone whose game is playing properly is absolutely loving it... every shot is fun to hit... I don't think it's worth $13,000... this game would have been perfect at the old Stern prices"
Pokemon is the most fun pinball game with perfect shots but overpriced at current Stern pricing
"It's a very very basic simple fun game and I've been saying that's gonna be a little bit of an issue for diehard pinheads that want more from a machine. If you don't like this theme and you don't have kids or you don't have someone in your household that wants a simpler, easier to understand game, I don't think this game is going to find a place in your lineup."
Pokemon is too simple for serious pinheads but good for families
"I am loving Pokemon Pinball... The reason why I love this game is that it's simple. Is that I can walk up to it and I can see, okay, four characters, four shots, two shots per character"
Pokemon Pinball is refreshingly simple and great for home players, despite tournament players' complaints
"when I look at Pokemon, do I see a $13,000 effort? And the answer right now is no... but I can't get one unless I spend at least $13,000"
Pokemon doesn't look like a $13,000 game but worth it for family happiness
"Going from Guns N' Roses all these years to Pokemon is like going from an abusive relationship to a healthy relationship. That is really what it is like. Guns N' Roses just abuses you as a gameplay experience."
Pokemon is like going from an abusive relationship (GNR) to a healthy relationship in terms of gameplay
"These things should be radials for this much money. There is no excuse that a $13,000 Stern machine is showing up with just regular stickers. There's no gloss to them, there's no shine, there's no mirror effect, there's nothing. And compared to what you're getting at Barrel's of Fun and Spooky and everybody else, this is embarrassing."
Pokemon pinball cabinet decals are embarrassing for a $13,000 machine - should be radials not regular stickers
"Name me another game that invites kids to jump on pinball better than Pokemon... It is the first pinball machine that is really perfect for the entire family to jump on."
Pokemon is the perfect pinball machine for families and getting kids into pinball
"And that is why Pokemon, in my honest opinion, is the best looking Stern machine in a really, really long time. Because that looks like Pokemon and thank the pinball gods that the Pokemon company did not allow Stern Pinball to choose its own artist or illustrate Pokemon themselves."
Pokemon is the best looking Stern machine in a long time because Pokemon company controlled the art
"I think it would break up the monotony of people that are tired of the same themes over and over again and it's just a really colorful fun machine."
Pokemon pinball will break up theme monotony and provide nostalgic fun gameplay
"please don't tack on tacky mods to Pokemon. I've seen people adding stuff. There's a new Pokedex thing for 50 bucks here, $50 there. It just blocks the beauty of the game. This game, again, another game where I don't think it needs mods."
Don't add tacky mods to Pokemon, game has enough already
"I am looking at photos of Pokemon L.E. It looks so good! It looks so colorful and beautiful. That Pikachu is huge. The ball is big. Everything about this game still to this day, and I mean this, puts a smile on my face."
Pokemon LE looks beautiful and colorful, puts a smile on his face
"It is bonkers if you were to tell any of your friends that you spend to on a toy that is incomplete you don know when it going to be complete and you don even know what going to be included in the completed toy that you bought"
Pokémon LE pricing and incomplete software
"I was thinking about this today. I was like, what is the point of even buying a Pokemon Premium right now? Just think about it. Why? They're going to make Pokemon Premium for years. The code's not going to be done for a year."
Questioning the value of buying Pokemon Premium at current pricing and timing
"these are 750 LE buyers that are about to drop $13,000 on a product which is already way overpriced, we all know this, the Stern quality, $13,000, it's crazy"
Stern Pokemon LE is overpriced at $13,000
"Operators who sometimes make $100 a week on a game are reporting that this game is making them $100 a day"
Pokemon pinball is earning exceptionally well for operators
"I still think this thing, once it's out there, I think it's going to keep heading to the moon. I do. I think it's going to settle around 20. I do."
Pokémon LE will continue rising in price and settle around $20k
"As I predicted, after so many people were trying to get $20,000, we're gonna take a look at that. They're already now, there's one for $17,000. And here's the other thing. It's unsold. So if you have one and you think you going to get 20, you not."
Pokemon LE prices already dropping from $20k to $17-18k before games ship
"I still think there are a lot of people in the thread that are like, oh, there's nothing in the premium and LE over the pro. The pro is the way to go. I disagree wholeheartedly on this game. This game doesn't have much in it to begin with... If you strip out the magnet, strip out the secret entrance, strip out the ramp, strip out Pikachu moving, then I think you've got the most boring, barren game of all time."
Pokemon Pro is too stripped down - you need Premium/LE unlike other Stern games
"For this game to really do the theme justice, it's not about collecting Pokemon. It's also about upgrading them. It's also about training them. I mean, you're a trainer. That's the whole point. You train them. You go into battles. And then they evolve. Each Pokemon has three different stages of evolution. If that doesn't happen in the game, then you're really leaving behind what people love about Pokemon."
Pokemon needs code depth beyond just collecting - needs training, battling, evolution mechanics
"Watching all these Pokemon scalpers have no chance at moving these games now at $20,000. As a professional scalper myself, I have to tell each and every one of you, you waited too long."
Pokemon scalpers waited too long and won't get $20k
"I think right now, Pokémon, you wanna do a deal right now. Like today, you wanna do a deal. I think 18,000, you get a deal done. I think 20 maybe, but you're gonna wait a few days."
Pokémon is worth $18,000 for a quick deal today, possibly $20,000 but you'll have to wait
"And the word is, and what this game is delivered to pinball, and I'm not sure they were even aiming to do this, but this game is bringing to pinball solidarity... Everyone I talk to who sees this game, who plays this game is really, really enjoying it."
Pokemon brings solidarity to pinball like Godzilla did, making everyone feel like good players
"I think those 750 games are going to go to the moon. And I think we're going to see them easily. I would rather have one Pokemon Avatar Limited Edition for 30, which I can never get again, than two Jersey Jack Pinball CEs where there's an unlimited run of the games."
Pokemon Avatar Limited Edition will reach $25,000-$30,000 because it's better than two Jersey Jack CEs at $30K total
"There is no way that Winchester Mystery House will hold more value than Pokemon Limited Edition by the Stern Pinball Company."
Pokemon LE will hold more long-term value than Winchester Mystery House
"This is maybe the biggest Stern LE launch of all time. It is, I think, going to be maybe the best-selling freaking Stern machine of all time... I think this thing is going to hit around like $30,000, and who knows, man."
Pokemon LE will be Stern's best-selling machine of all time and prices will hit $30,000
"I've heard from dealers that they are expecting delivery of Stern's next cornerstone game, cough cough Pokémon, February 11th"
Pokémon will be Stern's next release, timing predicted for February 11th delivery
"This is the biggest IP that's ever been put in a pinball machine. Pokemon... But are you really going to put it next to your Kiss and your Guns N' Roses and your Harry Potter and all of the more adult themes that you grew up with? And now it's Pokemon."
Pokemon is the biggest IP ever put in a pinball machine but won't connect with pinball collectors
"I keep hearing Transformers is the game I keep hearing Pokemon is going to be mediocre so I'm not expecting a banger in Pokemon I'm expecting Transformers to have a lot more in it"
Stern Pinball's Pokemon game will be mediocre, expects Transformers to be better
"I think it's going to be like another Star Wars. I think Star Wars, huge IP. It's a fun game. I just don't want to buy it. I think the same thing is going to be true with Pokemon."
Pokemon will be like Star Wars - fun game with huge IP but not compelling enough to buy
"I don't think there's the overlap. Enough overlap. Between the Pokemon fans. And the pinball buying demographic"
Pokemon pinball won't be successful - not enough overlap between Pokemon fans and pinball buyers
"99% of us are not really into Pokemon. I think Stern's going to be shocked. I think they're going to be shocked that it's not going to take off like they think."
Pokemon will not be as successful as Stern expects - 99% of pinball community not into Pokemon
"I heard that he sort of was sidelined by Gomez. Who wants to make a much more simple pin. And so now the latest rumors are that this game is going to be more of a reflection of a new Deadpool versus a game. Maybe like X-Men or Foo Fighters."
Jack Danger was sidelined by George Gomez on Pokemon, making it more like Deadpool than X-Men/Foo Fighters
"It is going to be a siloed, bureaucratic, made in a vacuum game. It's going to be soulless to the pinheads. It'll still sell well because of the IP. Mark my words, my belief when we see this game, it's going to be another pretty uninspired, empty, pretty barren game that they're going to blame the cost of the license as the reason why what's under the glass isn't nearly as special"
Prediction: Pokemon will be a soulless, uninspired, barren game made in a bureaucratic vacuum that will blame the license cost for lack of special features under the glass.
"I've heard now from a variety of people that Pokemon Pinball will be the ultimate, and I mean this, the ultimate disappointment in what Stern Pinball has become."
Pokemon Pinball will be the ultimate disappointment showing Stern's fractured, non-collaborative culture
"I'm getting early reports on Pokemon gang that the art isn't good at all that there's not a ton in the game. That it's get ready for Pokemon disappointment is my what I'm hearing"
Pokemon will be a disappointment with poor art and limited content
"So I am hearing that Pokemon is not like spectacular. I'm hearing that it is going to be another underwhelming game a la Star Wars."
Pokemon will be underwhelming like Star Wars
"I'm hearing that Stern's Pokemon is next. I'm also hearing that it is going to be mediocre. I'm hearing this could be another Star Wars game. I hope not. I really hope not. I don't think they rushed this game like they rushed Star Wars."
Stern's Pokemon is next and will be mediocre like Star Wars due to rushing
"I do think they're going to be a little bit shocked how the pinball buying demo doesn't want to catch Jigglypuff"
Pokemon won't resonate with pinball buying demographic unlike nostalgic 80s-90s themes
"I did ask him. Are you telling me George at age 70 you're designing Pokemon and he said Chris who said I'm designing Pokemon. So I think Pokemon is either gonna be Jack Danger or it's going to be Keith Elwin. So I think you heard it here first. I don't think George Gomez is finishing Pokemon"
George Gomez may not be designing Pokemon
"Pokemon, which runs circles around Star Wars and Harry Potter and Hello Kitty and Super Mario and Sonic. You name it. Pokemon is by far the biggest IP in the world"
Pokemon is the biggest IP in the world, bigger than Star Wars and Harry Potter
"Pokemon to me is funny because it is the world's biggest IP. But amongst the Pinball buying demographic, I just don't know... Die Hard. Fifth element. Big trouble in Little China... A tiny little John Carpenter niche movie would have more of you excited than Pokemon."
Pokemon is the biggest IP in pinball history but may not appeal to pinball demographic
"So Pokemon mark my words much like Star Wars will be a day one LE sell out not only that you won't be able to touch the LE's for anywhere near $13,000 it's just the power of IP. If Harry Potter only made a thousand CEs trust me it would have been more fun."
Prediction: Pokemon will be a day one LE sell out like Star Wars, and the LEs won't be available anywhere near $13,000 due to the power of the IP.
"Pokemon has the most valuable thing. And the most valuable thing that usually translates into sales is a really enthusiastic and engaged community"
Pokemon will be successful in pinball due to its massive, engaged fanbase and multi-generational appeal
"Pokemon mark my words much like Star Wars will be a day one LE sell out not only that you won't be able to touch the LE's for anywhere near $13,000 it's just the power of IP"
Pokemon will be a day one LE sellout and won't be available near $13,000 due to IP power
"When I walk around Pinball shows, when I see the people that attend, these are not Pokemon fans. They are not."
Pokemon fans don't match the typical pinball demographic
"I am worried that Pokemon is not this demo at all, at all... people in this community are not into Pokemon, it is just not gonna move like people think"
Pokemon will not move well in the pinball demographic
"They're gonna do a thousand LEs of Pokemon. They're gonna do four different LEs. Each will be a run of 250 that will feature a different Pokemon character on the LE. When you order in LE, you don't know what Pokemon character you're going to get. They need to do it like that. So it's like unwrapping or unboxing a pack of Pokemon cards and you don't know which one you're gonna get."
Pokemon pinball will have four different LE versions with random distribution
"When I walked around pinfest and I looked at everybody there alright these these are the people right for better words this is the clan of people that buy pinball this is the tribe if you will these people are not going to buy Pokemon there is not a sync there's like nobody in the crowd of a pinball show that looks like a Pokemon fan"
Pokemon theme won't sell to pinball demographic