Episode 1198: "What Did I Miss?"

PodcastAnalysis updated 3d agoMar 16, 202624 min listen

TL;DR

Kaneda reflects on perspective post-Ireland trip; discusses Pokemon's operator success, manufacturing fixes, and speculates on Godzilla Gold and Ghostbusters rumors.

From the creator

Kaneda is back from Ireland, talks about what happened in Pinball while he was gone.

Listen on Kaneda’s Pinball Podcast

Synopsis

Kaneda returns from a personal trip to Ireland and reflects on perspective, balance, and the pinball community's tendency toward negativity and infighting. He discusses Pokemon pinball's strong location performance despite early manufacturing issues with Stern, secondary market pricing volatility, and upcoming rumors including Godzilla Gold, James Bond Goldfinger Spike 3, and Jersey Jack Ghostbusters. He emphasizes the importance of theme/IP quality for future game success and concerns about used machine pricing remaining sustainable below $10,000.

Highlights

Pokemon pinball is earning operators $100+ per day on location versus typical $100 per week on other games
Pokemon LE machines are shipping out next week (from mid-March timeframe)
Stern had a manufacturing defect on early Pokemon builds where orbit guide holes were drilled in wrong location
Pokemon LE secondary market prices are volatile, ranging from $3,000 to $9,000+ over retail
Stern is likely making a Godzilla Gold version on Spike 3 platform
Jersey Jack Ghostbusters is a recurring rumor in the pinball community
Stern's communication about the Pokemon manufacturing issue was poor, creating unnecessary panic among LE buyers
Used pinball machines will not sustain pricing above $10,000 in secondary market long-term

Notable quotes

“Operators who sometimes make $100 a week on a game are reporting that this game is making them $100 a day.”

Kaneda

“Who would you rather be in life? Someone who is confident in their enjoyment of Pokemon pinball... or the person in life that's angry?”

Kaneda

“The way they get sales now is with FOMO and the way to get FOMO is to keep everything a secret.”

Kaneda

“We're not sure we're going to be able to fix it in time. Come on. Come on, you can't say that.”

Kaneda (paraphrasing Stern official communication)

“It's like everybody knows now that the only way you're ever going to get sales in a world of Harry Potter and Pokemons and games like Back to the Future and games like Sonic the Hedgehog, it's like great theme or you're done.”

Kaneda

“The problem is they need to make so many games and when they have some of these dud games like The Walking Dead and Star Wars and games that don't hit, the easiest way to make money is go back to where there's demand.”

Kaneda

“I'm not paying anywhere near $13,000 for my Pokemon LE, and that's how you do it. And that's how the smart people do it.”

Kaneda

“You need something with a theme. You need something people want. You need something that's like an itch that is dying to be scratched in the world of pinball.”

Kaneda