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Stern's New Website

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Jeff AMN:
The networking would be cool for location-based play, but people at home would just pull the glass off in order to get their names on the top of the leaderboards. All that would also further drive up the cost of the machines, which only compounds one of the biggest issues with pinball today.

As much as we love pins, it's time to admit that pinball is on it's last leg, and that leg isn't looking too healthy.

Xiaou2:
The Comp thing was for monitored locations only.

 However, there is nothing to stop home users from individual comps.

 As for cheating, a small live video cam stream could solve that as well.

 As for costs, its not really a factor.  They are using 20yr old technology in
Sterns pins today.  

 A soundcard with surround sound might have cost $3000 20yrs ago. However,
today, the card costs about a dollar in mass purchase.  $10 retail.

 The increased costs of features that would actually add to the pinball experience,
would not cost too much more.  And when you want to make money, you have
to Spend money. Put out crap, and thats exactly what its worth.. crap.

 Your $4000 quote is nothing for an Op.  Have you ever looked at the prices of
NEW games?   They are Not cheap.. especially the larger sitdowns.  Sure, an
Op could throw a cheap USED game in there... but most old video games dont make
crap.   A new video, such as a fighting game, will make a lot of money for the
first 6 to 8 months... and then, make almost nothing after that period.
Side scrollers?  Once you beat them, you dont feel the need or desire to do so again.


 Edit:

 And Yes, Jim is correct, Software can be intelligent enough to track problems.
For example, if only one ball was in play, and two targets were struck at the same
time (or too far apart for the ball to have hit them both), then it would register
as a problem, and log it.  Logs would be compared, and excessive problems would
easily be identified as cheating.

 The same kind of software, that should be in play to intelligently figure out when
a ball is stuck somewhere (too allow tilt to shake machine without player loss),
to detect when assemblies are not working (adjusting software rules to compensate),
and much more.

Xiaou2:
I want to also state, that Designing and Developing a hit video game isnt cheap
either.

 Good games can cost Millions to produce.  Traditional artists, 3d modelers,
programmers, designers, administrators, electronic & mechanical engineers, and much
more.

 Pinball design is actually far easier and less costly, even when ALL the bells and
whistles are put into factor.   Especially in these times, where video game creation
is so much more costly.

 Just as if you cut corners and costs on video game creation, you will lose
sales...  Pinball is exactly the same.

 In fact, Arcade video games are in exactly the same type of situation as pinball...except
much worse.  Arcade machines are not as desired in the home as Pinball machines.
They cost boatloads to develop, and there isnt many places to put them anymore.
Mostly due to how Generic and boring that started making games... to the point where
nobody cared to even play them.

RayB:
How long has Batman Dark Knight been out? They just now perfected the software:  :dizzy:
http://www.sternpinball.com/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=5


PS: Hey Xiau2, Stern is hiring. Check their forum.

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