Straight Down the Middle

"No, they didn't have Zach, and they didn't have straight down the middle in like certain categories. I agree with Zach."

Kaneda agrees with Zach's complaint about Straight Down the Middle being excluded from certain TWIPY award categories

"No, they didn't have Zach, and they didn't have straight down the middle in like certain categories. I agree with Zach. I agree with Zach."

Kaneda agrees with Zach that Straight Down the Middle was unfairly excluded from certain TWIPY award categories

"A lot more outlane drains on my machine than straight down the middle."

Kaneda notes that his machine has more outlane drains compared to straight down the middle drains

"I even said to him, you should do Knapp's Arcade, right? Straight down the middle, you should get the folks over there, Joel and team over there, Zach and Greg."

Kaneda recommends that Stern should invite Straight Down the Middle to their embargoed game reveal event.

"And when we saw that 20 minute featurette that straight down the middle did in an instant in 20 minutes, like 20 months of us being skeptical got erased by a 20 minute video in which we saw one of the coolest approaches to making a modern pin."

Kaneda praises Straight Down the Middle's 20-minute Pulp Fiction featurette for completely changing his skeptical opinion about the game.

"once that straight down the middle video showed us how cool the game was, I knew that thing was going to sell out and it sold out in 48 hours."

Kaneda credits Straight Down the Middle's video coverage with demonstrating how appealing Pulp Fiction LE was, which helped him predict it would sell out quickly.

"I saw the unboxing by straight down the middle. There's like a two minute video, and I'm just gonna say this right now. This is one of the most beautiful pinball machines I have ever seen."

Kaneda references watching Straight Down the Middle's unboxing video of the Elvira Blood Red Kiss Edition as his source for seeing the machine.

"Like where was the straight down the middle video that gets people excited to order the game? Where was it? Where was it? Usually that follows like a day or two after the reveal of the game. We saw it with Godfather. We saw it with Toy Story. Those are great videos. They were nowhere to be found. Look what that video did for Pulp Fiction. I mean, that is the single reason Pulp Fiction sold so many games was because of that video."

Kaneda praises Straight Down the Middle's videos as essential marketing tools that drive game sales and criticizes their absence for the Elton John reveal.

"If you really want to win people over with this new title, why not do like a 20 minute straight down the middle video like they did with Pulp Fiction and just release that into the world? I mean, that's all they did to get all those orders of Pulp Fiction."

Kaneda suggests Jersey Jack should use Straight Down the Middle's effective video format like they did for Pulp Fiction, which successfully generated orders.

"They should have given the game to Greg and Zach to do a straight down the middle like overview of the game."

Kaneda suggests American Pinball should have given Greg and Zach from Straight Down the Middle the game to do an overview instead of their own marketing approach

"Look what happened when straight down the middle did a 20 minute video on Pulp Fiction. Look at the response to that game. Look at what happened when David Fix didn't give straight down the middle of the game to do a vignette on and they instead gave it to one of their fanboys who made their own video and look at how it tanked the sales of the game"

Kaneda argues that Straight Down the Middle's coverage has significant impact on game sales, contrasting Pulp Fiction's success with their video versus another game's poor sales when they weren't given access

"you're not going to see an extended gameplay video, not going to see like a great 20 minutes straight down the middle pulp fiction kind of video"

Kaneda references Straight Down the Middle's Pulp Fiction video as an example of quality extended gameplay content that won't be available for the new game reveal

"I know they're going to give this game to Zach Meny and straight down the middle. That's not going to solve the problem."

Kaneda dismisses the idea that having Straight Down the Middle cover Galactic Tank Force will help the struggling game succeed.

"So I was just watching this Top or Fort Godzilla. Zach put up a straight down the middle video showcasing the RGB LED lights, which are very cheap ladies and gentlemen."

Kaneda references watching a Straight Down the Middle video by Zach about Godzilla topper lighting

"We've got that great 20 minute sizzle reel video that Straight Down the Middle did which made everybody want to buy one."

Kaneda praises Straight Down the Middle's promotional video for Pulp Fiction pinball, saying it was effective at creating demand for the game

"Everybody saw, I think enough information from the streams to the the the featurettes that Zach and Greg did for straight down the middle. I mean Pulp Fiction just won the best launch of the year easily hands down."

Kaneda praises Straight Down the Middle's coverage of the Pulp Fiction pinball launch, saying their featurettes helped make it the best launch of the year.

"I'm hoping straight down the middle has a video associated with this game."

Kaneda hopes Straight Down the Middle will cover the Galactic Tank Force game with a video.

"we're getting great content from straight down the middle that featurette was the best thing they've ever done"

Kaneda reiterates that the Straight Down the Middle featurette was their best content ever

"if you have not watched the straight down the middle like featurette on this game, it is Greg and Zach's greatest video to date. I don't think I've seen a video that gets me more excited about a pinball machine than this video did for Pulp Fiction"

Kaneda praises Straight Down the Middle's Pulp Fiction featurette as their greatest video ever and the most exciting pinball video he's seen

"Well, I expect straight down the middle to have videos for everything it's what they do Carrie. It's what you do. It's like that's it makes sense. You know, they're selling pinball machines"

Kaneda explains that Straight Down the Middle making videos for everything makes sense because they're selling pinball machines

"We know I think straight down the middle has been over there to film a video. Just get it all out now."

Kaneda mentions that Straight Down the Middle has been to American Pinball to film content and suggests they should release it since the game has already leaked

"Like I could do a straight down the middle impressions video. I think they nailed. Oh my god when you see this game. Oh my you know shots are the new toys. Like it's it's incredible like the Creative geniuses that came together took this difficult drama and turned it into such a fun exciting colorful pen"

Kaneda mocks Straight Down the Middle's overly positive style by doing an exaggerated impression of how they would praise Godfather

"Straight down the middle has already shot their video. So you're going to see Greg and Zach analyze the game probably next week. You're going to get one of those like good 10, usually 20 minute deep dive videos into the game."

Kaneda describes Straight Down the Middle's upcoming Godfather pinball analysis video positively, noting their typical format of good 10-20 minute deep dive videos.

"we all know that when straight down the middle went to see this game Greg and Zach are really smart guys they know a lot about pinball they've seen a lot of pinball machines they walked into that room just like you and I are watching the stream right now and they saw the rainbow explosion and they saw the music that sounds like it's coming from a Willy Wonka freaking Wizard of Oz had a baby slot machine [...] and so what did they do did they show us that did they film that no they selectively put together their video to show this game in the best light"

Kaneda criticizes Straight Down the Middle for selectively editing their video coverage to hide negative aspects of a pinball game despite knowing better.

"Straight down the middle, when they sell a game, they're going to make $2,000 to $3,000 for every CE they sell you, ladies and gentlemen. So of course they want to sell the game in the highest possible light."

Kaneda criticizes Straight Down the Middle for having financial incentives to promote games positively due to their sales commissions.

"looking at the game in motion, and the gameplay video of the game from the straight down the middle video, the gameplay doesn't look that fast, it doesn't, and maybe it's fast for Jersey Jack pinball, but then you go put it next to a game like Foo Fighters, and it still seems pretty slow"

Kaneda criticizes the Godfather's slow gameplay based on footage from Straight Down the Middle's video

"after watching the straight down the middle video, it's clear what they had to do, right, to make a slow Italian drama, mobster movie that's really about family, they had to sort of create their own Godfather adventure"

Kaneda credits Straight Down the Middle's video with helping him understand Jersey Jack's approach to adapting the Godfather theme

"I encourage everybody to watch the straight down the middle video, you'll get a lot more in-depth knowledge of this game"

Kaneda recommends viewers watch Straight Down the Middle's Godfather coverage for detailed information about the game

"I saw the 28 minute like straight down the middle video where Keith and Eric are interviewed about the game, and I'm looking at the game itself, and it's really really hard for me to get excited about the Godfather"

Kaneda references watching Straight Down the Middle's 28-minute Godfather video but remains unexcited about the game after viewing it

"And I already know that straight down the middle, film their video, they went over there."

Kaneda mentions that Straight Down the Middle filmed a video at Jersey Jack's location

"And I'm going to say it, like the best sort of reveal videos tend to be the videos that like Greg and Zach do at straight down the middle because it's like a 20 minute video. Everything is packaged nicely and you see everything you want to see. [...] Like I'd rather have something like that than watch for two to three hours."

Kaneda praises Straight Down the Middle's reveal videos as the best format, noting they're well-packaged 20-minute videos that show everything efficiently.

"I know there's a lot of debate on whether or not there's church and state and conflict of interest if someone's going to hype a game and then sell it right away, but that's just where the market is on the game. It doesn't change his enthusiasm for the game."

Kaneda defends Greg from Straight Down the Middle against criticism about potential conflicts of interest when reviewing games and then selling them.

"You're not a better marketer David than Jack Danger. You're not a better marketer than Ken Cromwell. The videos made by Straight Down the Middle are better than just dropping a game in five arcades and having people stream it."

Kaneda praises Straight Down the Middle's videos as superior marketing compared to David Fix's arcade launch strategy

"I think you're going to get a straight down the middle video like Zach did with Willy Wonka but then you're going to have to pull the trigger."

Kaneda characterizes Straight Down the Middle's coverage as middle-of-the-road, using their Willy Wonka video as an example of predictable coverage.

"There's a really good video of this topper by straight down the middle. Zack and Greg did a great job sort of hyping this thing"

Kaneda praises Straight Down the Middle's video coverage of the topper, saying Zack and Greg did a great job hyping the product

"For me, the hardest one is the favorite pinball YouTube channel because I love so many of these. TNT, you got Cary Hardy flipping out straight down the middle, Marv Loco. [...] So on my top three, I definitely have straight down the middle."

Kaneda says choosing favorite pinball YouTube channel is hard because he loves so many including Straight Down the Middle, which he definitely includes in his top three favorites.

"i like him a lot and things straight down the middle is great but give me a break man [...] zack zack zack zack man i mean there's a reason why is that has a big following too i mean i i think there's a lot of personalities in this hobby and and you know people people do their shows their ways and i think it's great"

Kaneda says Straight Down the Middle is great and acknowledges Zack has a big following, while defending different show personalities and approaches in the hobby

"zack zack zack zack man i mean there's a reason why is that has a big following too i mean i i think there's a lot of personalities in this hobby and and you know people people do their shows their ways and i think it's great i actually i it would be boring if we all tried to sort of copycat each other"

Kaneda defends Zack and Straight Down the Middle's style, saying there's a reason they have a big following and it would be boring if all shows were the same

"You know I do you know I do. I just wish you would say my name sometimes. You know, my favorite show special one led straight down the middle this week in Pymball."

Kaneda says Straight Down the Middle is his favorite show but wishes they would mention his name sometimes

"I was really excited to see straight down the middle season three teaser in which they pulled up clips of all the people complaining about previous seasons. Those guys Zach and Greg, they make some of the most entertaining pinball videos that are out there between them and Jack danger."

Kaneda expresses excitement about Straight Down the Middle's season three teaser and calls Zach and Greg among the most entertaining pinball video creators.

"Always enjoy listening and watching Jack's streams. I think he does the best job in the entire industry of streaming videos him and straight down the middle to me. There are different types of shows. I don't even consider them to be competing shows at all."

Kaneda praises Straight Down the Middle as one of the best in the industry alongside Jack Danger, noting they're different types of shows that don't compete.

"They understand the very simple principle. Same thing we do on this show you have to be entertaining you have to have a magnetic personality to make these things interesting."

Kaneda compliments Straight Down the Middle for understanding that entertainment and magnetic personality are essential for successful pinball content.

"I'll give you straight down the middle a lot of credit for that. [...] They might reveal, talk about a game that they first seen and they're kind of always cautious about to what degree and then they make sure they actually get a chance to really play it and get to know the game. And before they critique it and they don't like every game, they love certain things they don't. But I give them a lot of credit that they kind of try to hold back a little bit on their commentary until they've actually chance to play the game in a proper environment, get to experience the game."

Kaneda praises Straight Down the Middle for being responsible reviewers who properly play games before critiquing them.

"You know, I'll give you straight down the middle a lot of credit for that. [...] They might reveal, talk about a game that they first seen and they're kind of always cautious about to what degree and then they make sure they actually get a chance to really play it and get to know the game. And before they critique it and they don't like every game, they love certain things they don't. But I give them a lot of credit that they kind of try to hold back a little bit on their commentary until they've actually chance to play the game in a proper environment, get to experience the game."

Kaneda praises Straight Down the Middle for being cautious and thorough in their game reviews, making sure they properly play games before critiquing them.

"I think the best video, the way they should reveal it, is the way straight down the middle did their Wonka reveal. I saw that video was great."

Kaneda praises Straight Down the Middle's Wonka reveal video as the best way to reveal a pinball game.

"You know him from straight down the middle. He's coming back on the show soon."

Kaneda mentions Greg Bone is known from Straight Down the Middle when announcing his upcoming return to the podcast

"Now, one person listed the game for sale yesterday, and it is kind of funny to see our friend Greg Bone from straight down the middle who just reviewed this game and just unboxed it like two weeks ago and gave it a really good score. For him to list it for sale immediately."

Kaneda finds it funny that Greg from Straight Down the Middle listed Monsters for sale immediately after giving it a good review score.

"So if you're going to get a review on Oktoberfest from the same people that also want to sell you the game what type of review do you think you're going to get it's almost impossible to be fair and objective and I don't hold it against them I mean you're you're naturally going to be a salesman for something that you're trying to sell"

Kaneda questions how Straight Down the Middle can give fair and objective reviews when they're also selling the games they review.

"straight down the middle there's a great job of buying the games they buy the games these guys buy the games to review them you think Stern and Jersey Jack and other people would just send send Greg and Zach these games for free to do their great reviews and then they just send it back"

Kaneda praises Straight Down the Middle for buying games themselves to review and suggests manufacturers should send them games for free given their great review quality

"I also think all of you out there should check out is Greg and Zach did a straight down the middle review of the monsters pinball really awesome show love those guys reviews [...] but great show those guys just continue to make I think the best YouTube"

Kaneda recommends Straight Down the Middle's review of Monsters pinball, praising it as an awesome show and saying he loves their reviews, calling it the best YouTube content.