Episode 1218: "Stern Already Onto The Next"
Stern's rapid release cycle threatens Pokemon's moment while Kaneda questions industry priorities and defends his critical voice.
With Pokemon still empty, Transformers is just 10 days away.
Synopsis
Kaneda discusses Stern's aggressive release schedule, expressing concern that Pokemon is incomplete and already being overshadowed by Transformers, arriving just 90 days later. He critiques modern consumer culture's constant shift to the next product, argues that FOMO around limited editions is overblown for most upcoming releases, and predicts Back to the Future will command $15,000+ pricing. Kaneda also addresses community criticism of his content, asserting his right to express opinions while reflecting on the broader context of his life priorities.
Highlights
- The next Stern machine (Transformers) is being shown to dealers on May 19th with a media day around May 20th
- Pokemon was released approximately 90 days before Transformers
- Pokemon came out incomplete and lacks code depth compared to Transformers
- Sonic the Hedgehog will be revealed on or around June 20-21
- Back to the Future will be announced in July by Barry at Jersey Jack Pinball
- Back to the Future pricing will start at $15,000 or higher
- Jaws LE has depreciated despite being a Keith Elwin-designed top-tier game
- Betson leaked Pokemon LE details and lost all their Pokemon LE allocations as consequence
Notable quotes
“I just bought Pokemon. It's incomplete. It's got barely anything in it. I wrote a check to Automated Amusements for $14,000. And as I'm looking at this unfinished game in just like 10 days, the next Stern Pinball machine is going to be out.”
“When you buy something new, like a new car, do you go and buy another new car in three to four months? You're supposed to be making money with these things, not buying them for your home every four months and losing thousands of dollars.”
“Pokemon didn't even have a moment to shine and it's going to be old news immediately. The same thing will happen with Transformers. It'll come out, two months go by and then we're all on to Keith Elwin's fallout.”
“I think Pokemon is a game where they really, really, really needed the word of mouth on it to be better than it currently is. And I know Transformers is going to be loaded, but unfortunately they just took a lot of people's money.”
“If the code is not there and the experience is not there and then like four months go by and the same game is selling for three to four thousand less than you paid, you're not going to let yourself be burned by that time and time again.”
“Jaws was designed by Keith Elwin, arguably the best designer in Pinball. And the art package is actually nice. So they've got all of that going for it. And Jaws LE has still lost if you waited.”
“If I've offended you in any way, I am sorry. I'm not trying to hurt anybody, but I also am allowed to not like everything every company is doing.”
“I'm tired of reading about the hurt emotional feelings of 40 to 50 year old men who had their pinball feelings hurt.”
“In a single income household, I'm not staring down the barrel of someone who can buy $45,000 in pinball machines in like three months, which is what these companies are going to ask of the diehards out there that buy everything.”
“If the game reveal is supposed to happen on Back to the Future Day in October, then they've got to get their ducks in a row.”
Entities
- Automated Amusements· company
- Betson· company
- Jersey Jack Pinball· company
- Stern Pinball· company
- Back to the Future (Jersey Jack)· game
- Big Lebowski (Jersey Jack)· game
- Fallout (Stern)· game
- Jaws (Stern)· game
- Pokemon (Stern)· game
- Sonic the Hedgehog (Stern)· game
- Transformers (Stern)· game
- Kaneda's Pinball Podcast· organization
- Pinside· organization
- Barry Price· person
- Chris Turner· person
- Elliott Eismin· person
- Jerry· person
- Kaneda· person
- Keith Elwin· person
More from Kaneda’s Pinball Podcast
→ All content from Kaneda’s Pinball Podcast
Episode 1229: "Something We Can All Agree On"
Kaneda condemns Stern's incomplete game launches and urges community to withhold support until quality improves.
Everyone wants the same thing, but we won't get there if we keep buying right away.
Episode 1228: "The Shills Coming for Kaneda & Everything Happening in Pinball Right Now!"
FRIDAY SHOW SPECTACULAR!