Arcade Collecting > Pinball
Steve Ritchie Speaks (again)
Xiaou2:
Steve Ritchie Speaks (again)
Full Interview:
http://www.vpforums.org/index.php?s=6d012356f0bf96c206c43741e614b456&showtopic=6775
Highlights: :)
===
(Noah Fentz): Personally I feel the only chance the industry has involves you. If Vegas were to set the odds of you getting back to doing what you do best, what do you think they would be?
(Steve Ritchie): I don't know the odds. Stern doesn't want me there. I buck his whole system of cheating customers of rich pinball play.
===
(Theguyoverthere): Do you think Stern would be better off focusing on the home market?
(Steve Ritchie): Pretty much supporting the business.
(Steve Ritchie): I think that Stern is focusing on the home market, but in the wrong manner,
(Joe): In what way?
(Steve Ritchie): One ramp games don't get it, and other cost reductions mean 1 toy per game at Stern.
===
The Hermit) : As your Avatar pinball was canceled will you use that layout again in the future or maybe sell it for use on a virtual machine?
(Steve Ritchie) : I have other layouts in mind now that I don't have to live with Gary Stern's ridiculous requirements and limitations.
(The Hermit) : smile.gif Do you have an ideal number of ramps/loops/targets/etc. that you like to use?
(Steve Ritchie) : No ideal number. The game gets drawn and massaged until it becomes a good fun working system....
(Steve Ritchie) : I let games evolve.
===
(Noah Fentz) : Do you think a license is all that important, or can games like Medieval Madness still cut it on the market?
(Steve Ritchie) : A game can be GREAT with or without a great license.
===
Steve Ritchie) : (joke) My favorite rule is one flip from each flipper then game over
(Noah Fentz) : lol
(Noah Fentz) : That must get expensive to play
(Shooby Doo) : Or you're really good!
(Steve Ritchie) : machine with my new rule would work perfectly with the new Stern earning model....
===
(Steve Ritchie) : I don't know what will happen at Stern. They have a new investor that has bought into Gary's scheme. It too bad really
===
(Steve Ritchie) : I think that the loss of P2K playfield space to the virtual features was not appreciated by many.
-----
Great minds think alike. Stern Sucks ;D
Jeff AMN:
Well, Spider-Man is only 3 years old, and that's fantastic.
Anyway, I think as Steve is getting older, and he's getting more removed from his time working with Stern, he's getting more and more bitter over the situation. I do think he got screwed over, but there comes a time when you need to buck up and move on. Steve isn't the only one to be outspoken about Gary's hardheaded approach to running his business, so it's not like Steve is wrong here, but he's definitely embellishing things a bit. Pat Lawlor doesn't want to work with Stern at this time either, so that says a lot (Pat just loves to pump out games).
I think Gary is smart to cut costs where he can, but he's silly for his hard and fast rules that he sets in the design process. Games like Simpsons Pinball Party and Spider-Man have been great in spite of his limitations, not because of them. But still, people are all enthused by Big Buck Hunter over at RGP, so at least they're still putting out enjoyable games. If Batman ever gets that update, it could really help that game out too.
Jeff AMN:
The only thing it really shares in common is the 3 bank target in the middle and the W-E-B placements. The third flipper and a few other shots really change it up. It's more a spiritual successor than it is a remake or revisit.
The thing about Steve is that he's probably the most stubborn man in the industry. It's worked for him in the past, but the industry is much different today, and he's unwilling to adapt. I like his games, for the most part, but I've never held onto them because it seems that once you get the shots down that they turn into endless loop fests. The Getaway was a lot of fun while I had it, until I realized I was getting to 5th gear on the first ball every game within the first few minutes.
I hope he can keep designing games, but I wish he'd be a little more humble in his approach.
Xiaou2:
BBH - HOT?!! Your out of your mind. If anyone is talking, its merely that the
game isnt AS BAD as the other Nightmare Piles that Stern has released.
Its far from Good. And Lightyears from Great.
Stern has limited all the designers to his way of cutting costs, and his cheap
approach is why you dont see a much more complex game like LOTR... which ALSO
had him cutting corners on it.
Sterns approach, IS shooting itself in the foot.
Steve is Correct, that the only reason Pinball is alive, is because of the home
buyers. Either directly, or used off the remaining Ops.
It wont continue to work, when Sterns pins are so lackluster that they dont
even compare to even the most basic games of the 80s... let alone touch
anything made in the 90s.
Nobody can judge anything Steve made for Stern, because Stern made him
change his design process. Completely destroying what Could have been
decent Playing machines. Id be bitter too, if I had to work for that Jackass.
And I disagree. Steve has made some great pins. Yes, they have easy
smooth flow to them... however, they are fast and fun because of it.
Stop-n-shoot games are slow, clunky, and plain Suck imop.
--- Quote ---Well, Spider-Man is only 3 years old, and that's fantastic.
--- End quote ---
No. Its not even close to Fantastic. Its boring. Its gets old in 3 minutes of
play. Just like Iron Man will prove to be exactly the same. You cant remove
half a game, and expect it to be enticing. LOTR Crushes either of those two
games... and LOTR isnt even that good.
Sterns new games are getting to such a low level, as to where they will be
about the same compelxity as a Zizzle maching! :laugh2:
What a Joke.
Malenko:
--- Quote from: pinballjim on April 14, 2010, 09:40:32 am ---Fact - Steve's a bitter jackass that hasn't had a good playfield in 30 years.
--- End quote ---
thats an actually opinion......
--- Quote from: pinballjim on April 14, 2010, 12:24:39 pm ---Fact - he's been fired from three pinball companies
--- End quote ---
but that is a fact.
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