"Pokemon, it's got good flow. It's got great artwork, Pokemon. They did a great job on the art package on the game. There's no code in the game."
Pokemon has good artwork but lacks code depth
"I want to go contrarian and say, you know what? I don't want more Pokemon code. You know what I want? I want less code... What the heck are these guys doing?"
Pokemon needs much more code development
"Another month has gone by. Zero code updates. The last code update was insignificant. The topper, which was supposed to come out right away, is still not out. So what are they doing every day?"
Pokemon pinball code development is unacceptably slow
"after an hour of playing Pokemon, I feel like I'm good for like a week because it's just the same over and over and over again. I don't feel this sense of like other things I want to be doing."
Pokemon gets repetitive after an hour of play
"I still feel unsatisfied and unfulfilled with the $13,000 Stern machine I just bought"
Pokemon LE was overpriced and incomplete, creating fatigue for new purchases
"You've got all these thousands of people that just got burned on a barren Pokemon that are waiting for this game to wake up."
Pokemon buyers are getting burned by rushed releases
"I just don't feel like I'm in a battle is the best way to articulate what I'm saying right now. I just don't feel anything. It's like switches are being hit and you're hitting some lit shots and then you see the health bar."
Pokemon has fundamental design problems with battles lacking drama and emotional engagement
"Pokemon is a great game for beginners. It's a great game for kids. There's just not enough in it... Pokemon is going to be one of the most quickly forgotten games that we've seen in a long time"
Pokemon is mechanically lacking and will be quickly forgotten
"I feel like Pokemon is yesterday's news. Stern Pinball did not do enough in the first four months of Pokemon being out to get people really excited and that is shame on them... my worry is Pokemon is going to be a quickly forgotten game by homeowners"
Pokemon is becoming a quickly forgotten game for homeowners due to Stern's poor execution
"I feel like I just bought Pokemon. It's incomplete. It's got barely anything in it. I wrote a check to Automated Amusements for $14,000."
Pokemon pinball machine is incomplete with barely anything in it despite costing $14,000
"So almost four months later, we go from .81 to .82 and it is like absolutely nothing. There's like barely anything other than they made a game that is already easy. They've made it easier."
Pokemon code update 0.82 is disappointing and lacks significant content
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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