Episode 1193: "TGIF Happy & Hungover Live Show"

Pokémon launch dominates secondary market; Stern LE strategy criticized; major parts supplier shutdown looms.

Synopsis

Kaneda hosts a live, unedited episode covering Pokémon's 30th anniversary and its launch impact on the pinball secondary market. He discusses upcoming 2025-2026 games (Sonic, Transformers, Back to the Future, Goonies), criticizes Stern's Limited Edition differentiation strategy and art direction under Zombie Yeti, warns of a critical parts supplier (Savoy/Hap) shutting down their pinball division, and advocates for free-market pricing against Pinside marketplace gatekeeping. The episode includes personal anecdotes about vacation policy changes and philosophical commentary on wealth and community values.

Entities

• American Pinball· company
• Automate It· company
• Barrels of Fun· company
• Savoy/Hap· company
• Stern Pinball· company
• Pinball Expo· event
• Texas Pinball Festival· event
• Back to the Future· game
• Beetlejuice· game
• Fallout· game
• Goonies· game
• Harry Potter· game
• Pokémon (Stern)· game
• Sonic the Hedgehog· game
• Transformers· game
• Winchester Mystery House· game
• Chris and Melissa· person
• Chris L· person
• Donald Garrison· person
• Frank D'Angelo· person
• Jeremy Packer· person
• Kaneda· person
• Robin· person
• Troy· person
• Zombie Yeti· person