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Stern's New Website

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Pinball Wizard:
Well sternpinball.com recently got a major revamp and I'm wondering how everyone likes it. They have started adopting new features and making improvements like the where to play section is now on their website, each game page is actually informative, they now have a forum, running contests, and even started to help you out on buying machines by locating local sellers. Gary Stern also stated on a BLOG post (didn't think Stern knew what that was) that by 2011 you will be able to order a machine straight from their website and have it delivered straight to your home. What's your final verdict?

RayB:

--- Quote from: Pinball Wizard on June 12, 2010, 09:31:19 am --- they now have a forum,
--- End quote ---
Here's your big chance, Xiau2.

lilshawn:
i was kinda used to the other site....

i do like the new logo though.

the thought of the forum made me shudder. i can imagine all the stupid assed things that will be spewed on the walls.

lilshawn:
It's time the manufacturer listen to the people and give them what they want, regardless of cost.

if you don't make something people want to play, they won't play it...Vendors won't buy it... Stern won't sell them...Stern goes out of business. end of story, and it's sad it has to be that way.

so far all i see is stern:

1- Dumping old ideas as "new" stock
2- Giving the site a good ---meecrob--- try spiff it up
3- Sucker some investor to keeping them afloat
4- Tried licencing names to drum up sales

now all i can see happening is:

1- Nobody is fooled by the "new" stock and they loose their shirts in the process
2- The site being designed to try and increase sales, fails in respect that if you don't already have a contact for machines, and you can't google in the first place you shouldn't buy a pinball machine to begin with.
3- The investor money will allow stern to dump out maybe 1 more good pin or 2-3 lousy ones...which do you think they will do?
4- Licencing only adds additional and unnecessary cost to a machine, resulting in cheap assed cost cutting moves to get the bottom line down. Ultimately producing a pin that people dislike playing. how long before we see ANOTHER "Family Guy/Shreck" table? I'll call it now and say it's going to be the "Iron man" table but it will be plastered with whatever Gary Stern happens to get as results when he googles "new movie"


At the end of the day Stern needs to be in the positive with regards to their cash flow and I'm not entirely convinced they have both hands on the wheel when all you see is weeds.

Jeff AMN:
I'm glad most people that whine about Stern don't run Stern. They would have gone bankrupt and shut their operation down a decade ago. It sucks, but licensing is a must. People won't walk up to Generic Pinball Machine A anymore. They need to see something to have them walk over and take a look. Licensing is really cheap, and I'm sure it more than makes up for it in sales. I know many distributors and they have flat out told Stern that they will not stock anything unless it's a recognizable license. Big Buck Hunter was confusing to many pinheads, but the distributors loved the idea. Iron Man was a massive hit with distributors as the license is white hot right now.

The Shrek redesign was not a cash in. It was an instance where operators complained that the game wasn't family friendly enough and Stern decided to offer an alternative theme to a great design. And yes, the design that Lawlor put together for that game is fantastic and the rules are very sophisticated.

If you don't like Iron Man or Big Buck Hunter, that's fine, but to just sit there and make up crap about what's going on is just dumb.

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