I know a guy who was there, but not a media person. He said the game is a blast.

Congratulations to all Pokemon buyers.

Some wild takes. We are living in the golden age of pinball with great theme immersion on massive IPs (Pokemon, Harry Potter, Dune as of recent). Congrats to everyone who purchased Pokemon, those that are excited to play it, and for those that aren’t interested congrats on keeping your money! Everyone wins

Fair point, but I will say that I have evaluated other games based on how someone played them to decide if I wanted one. It's a reasonable way to assess if a game resonates. I really wanted to like "Pokemon by Stern Pinball" but so far, I'm not impressed from the many videos I've checked out.

I'm really hoping that is the case. I will probably end up buying an LE and just putting it into storage until I they fix the gameplay or I get tired of waiting.

Fix the code? It’s at .75 man. LEs are sold out. could be wrong but I don’t see these going down in value anytime soon

When the FOMO wears off they will drop. Don't think it will take very long.

Just finished a game of King Kong. Now that is some epic code and geometry. I don't see how Pokemon can compete here. I was expecting them to put their best foot forward, but instead we got this?!? I will grant that it's better than Venom, but it also has none of the acerbic charm of Venom either.

I don't understand where this game fits in the grand scheme. The license will carry it, without a doubt, but then what? Will any pinheads care about it? Right now, I doubt it, but I hope I'm wrong. Keep in mind, I really wanted this game! I'm a HUGE fan of IC save progression, which is why I have D&D and Venom. As it stands, aside from saved progression, there is NOTHING that moves pinball forward in this machine.

It blows my mind when comparing the Pokemon LE to a Harry Potter Wizard Edition. Pokemon is barely a doormat in comparison. Our money is literally spent better on almost any other game by any other manufacturer. AND THIS IS THE MOST VALUABLE IP IN THE WORLD!!! What utter embarrassment. Nintendo should have gone with JJP, Barrels of Fun, or Spooky. These guys would have bent over backwards to make this a pin for the ages.

Maybe my love for theme blinds me at the potential, but I'm very, very disappointed at what they revealed today (in the extremely unlikely case that hasn't come across yet).

But Stern will make Nintendo much more money than any of these other companies because Stern can produce and sell 100x the amount of machines the others can. Unfortunately that's just how things work with capitalism.

You'll notice I said "most". I've played a lot of Pokemon games on Nintendo Switch 2 and when our regular babysitter went to Japan, she went to a Pokemon plushie store for her and her boyfriend, and brought back some rare plushies for my kids. So, yes, it's a massive IP with lots of fans.

However, if you notice, the actual Pokemon fans on this thread (there's another further up) were excited for this pin and are a bit disappointed so far by the layout and gameplay footage. I had hoped Elwin would be the designer.

The reality is that it looks great for location play (and for very rich people who love Pokemon and haven't bought a pin before) but, if you've played a lot of pinball, you know this has the layout of Junkyard and you're likely to spend most of the game shooting up the middle. Given the theme, I suspect the middle area is the Pokemon Battle Arena and you're going to be hitting the arena walls over and over to battle/catch Pokemon - the amateur Premium footage confirms this is what looks to be happening.

As such, it would need to have absolutely cracking code to maintain home interest. Based on footage so far, you would have to be a n00b, have extreme FOMO or be buying explicitly for young kids to purchase this when King Kong exists.

Sorry for raining on everyone's parade. Unfortunately, the 'criticism' thread seems to be missing in action so the 'hype' thread it is.

I fully agree with your take. Nintendo, and the rest of the stakeholders, would be crazy to roll the dice on anyone else, except maybe JJP. JJP has been crushing it for a while. Not everything resonates with everybody, but none of their games I have is a stinker: Harry Potter, Avatar, Toy Story 4, and even The Hobbit. They are all solid and won't be leaving my collection anytime soon.

It’s more than just about layout. When Jaws released people were complaining the same way on the layout. The reason it has such staying power and rates consistently high is it’s thematic and feels like you’re hunting sharks.

That’s the same reasoning here for Pokémon, it’s simply thematic. You get to discover new Pokémon, hit the Pokédex, hit more shots and then catch that Pokémon on a hurry up. There’s rhyme and reason to each shot of those. When code comes around we’ll be able to evolve and battle more (and love how you can switch Pokémon for a type advantage just like the video games or card game to defeat the Pokémon and gain more points). I think there’s a lot to love here on such early code and looking forward to Stern keeping up and adding more in the coming months/years.

I digress, but anyways, as a pinball player for two years I’m no N00b, have a 4 year old that it’s not explicitly for (but it’s a plus that she can grow into this), and this isn’t FOMO b/c I’ve been on the list since getting into pinball 2 yrs ago. I discovered that theming is important to me, but may not be enough for some.

I LOVE Kong’s layout as the top of the playfield plays literally like a 2nd pinball game and its jampacked with shots that are very satisfying, but thematically it doesn’t really do anything for me, thus I’m buying this instead that I feel will have staying power for years to come.

It does more than a card of paper does and one of those cards sold for almost 6 million. Pokemon people are different (I’m not one. Don’t understand it at all - just offering an alternate opinion).

But that is one very rare card, that will hold value, which pokecollectors have interest in. Pokemon card collectors have zero interest in pinball. It’s not rare at all. $tern will make as many as you like. LE version is not rare ether. Plenty will be for sale all the time after the temporary FOMO wears off.

Has there ever been a good implementation of the toilet bowl? My first encounter with one has been in FOTE. I know it's been around for a while, but that ridiculous bowl is a game killer. I can almost go to the bar, wait in line, order a new beer, chat with the bartender, check on some Slack and email messages, use the bathroom, catch up with some regulars, and then walk back to the pin to finally see the ball drop out of the bowl. It's the worst game mechanism I've ever seen. Not that I have much experience, mind you, but from my limited experience, it's terrible.

That's pretty much the reason I would consider buying an LE and put it into storage for a while. Not because it's a good game, but because there are n00bs who will pay ridiculous money to get one once they find out it exists!

That said, I'd much rather be that guy who holds onto it in his collection and enjoys it. I really, really want to like this pin. Stern is just making it ridiculously hard right now. Hoping that changes quickly.

Gomez spoke at length about the whirlpool plastic. The team heavily modified it after receiving feedback (negative) about FOTE. It has speed bumps around the bowl walls and cut outs around the drain to ensure that the ball will not spin forever. Further, the diverter will only send the ball to the whirlpool on rare mode-based occasions.

The team explained that they were under the directive to make Pokemon “accessible.” In doing so, they modeled much of the fundamental aspects of the gameplay after monster bash, medieval madness, and attack from mars. Then layered additional code depth and complexity—with a lot more to come—for advanced players. If you view Pokemon as a modern, but different, version of those three inspirations, are you still disappointed?

After it's in storage for a couple years pokemon 30th anniversary comes out with even better cabitnet art, foil, and powdercoat.

I was concerned about the layout but after watching some gameplay the game looks like a blast. Really excited to get it hands on

So what is the topper on this? Distributors got to see it

It’s the only shooter lane protector I recommend, based on experience. No affiliation in any way, but I’ll take that as a compliment. Just a fan, and a fan of keeping nice games mint and pristine as much as possible. Don’t tell the newbies mylar works, and promise them their brand new Stern shooter lane won’t chip and crack, when it eventually will without something like this:

https://pinside.com/pinball/shops/shop/1537-volcano-pinball/09650-shootershield-tpu-stern

Protector

Again, my motivation is I genuinely plan on buying a used LE, unless the clear coat is already chipping and cracking on it.

I know most don’t care, but protecting your brand new game is a nice way to keep its resale value up. Just cover the shooter lane and most Sterns won’t have other issues with low plays

Ok I'm in too!

Gotta say based on the initial leaks and reveal video, I was underwhelmed. I think most of us hardcore pinheads just want to see more more more, all the time, and better than last time. But I get that they had to keep this within accessible bounds, as per Nintendos directive but also to reach the biggest possible market, especially on site. Achilles comparisons to AFM makes a lot of sense.

Having said that, it'll almost certainly be super fun to play, for the same reasons - so that it absolutely kills it in the arcades. Reports from distros in the US is that there has been a ton of interest, so like, what do we know?

Business hat on - Mods incoming!

Attack from the Junkyardians of the Galaxy!

Sign me up. HAHA

Where is the Stern gameplay video? Those are usually much better with real-time explanation of rules and shots. Usually those hit by now, at least the pro / premium videos.

I also heard (Gomez on Loserkid I believe) that the LE armor and shooter rod were not final in the trailer video.

OR they just wanted to give the "influencers" some soak time with their content before Stern puts out the videos.

Can’t say yet but it’s done and being approved.

George said the Masterball shooter comes with the LE, and the accessories package shooter will be the poke ball. He also mentioned the LE armor in the videos has decals on it, but in the final product I believe he said it would be painted on.

They showed the longer trailer with George and Jack talking about the game in the seminar, so I suppose it should come out soon enough.

These go hand in hand

Balloon and Sub

I’d wager an LE deposit, if I had one, that we’ll be seeing something fishy

Magikarp

Not a distributor, but makes a lot of sense, to go along with the balloon.

You’ve never played Whitewater? It’s great in that game, and it drains fast. I’m not sure what went wrong with FOTE - but yeah, on the one I’ve played it just hangs…like it just rocks back and forth for 20 seconds or so before finally falling in the hole.

Ss

Are there gym battles that we know of?

anyone complaining about the FOTE bowl needs to just stick a small flap of packing tape inside the bowl slightly to left of the hole on the side closest to the flippers, drains in a quarter of the time… it’s aint rocket science.

Stern mailing anyone with the game a piece of mylar with instructions in a “service kit” feels like it’d buy some good will.

i suppose this have been said more than few times already (didnt read the previous pages), it's GOTG vs JUNKYARD

meanwhile having 0% interest in the POKEMON universe, i'm a pinball enthousiast, than if it's fun playing it, why not ?

If the topper is done already then we are getting accessories fast lol

And this is exactly what I wanted Pokemon to be. I've debated picking up a Cactus Canyon or one of the other CGC games for a long while now. I've wanted a two flipper pin with all the classic features that I could drop new players into and use as my own palette cleanser in between something more complex and challenging. I just wanted something that would resonate with my family a little more, so Pokemon really fits the bill.

I do hope that the team is given the resources they need to bring in some hidden depth to the code for those that look for it, in ways that resonate both with pinball players and Pokemon fans.

The thread has the story arc of every new Stern release thread with the power of Pokémon behind it.

Squirtle Squad?

The topper is one of the first things I dreamt up when concepting the game. It's huge, awesome, and a bit of a callback for pinheads.

Follow Your Heart This Valentine's Day...

pokemon love flip n out pinball ad (resized).png

Thanks Jack, now no one will take my bet

Fish Tales

Again, am guessing, but anxious all the same

Team Rocket

Have any more of them LE’s DeadFlip

Has to be snorlax.

That would be awesome.

I agree 100% he's top 3 favorite Pokémon

Bought pro sight unseen. There are few themes as an operator that require no thought. Toy Story was the same for us and I don’t particularly like playing that game. But kids that visit us sure do and it’s all that matters. Hell I’d probably buy a Taylor Swift game if they ever made one.

that would be so perfect. Combines nostalgia for pinheads and the new ip perfectly.

Not a defense or attack on Stern, but it’s hard to win with everyone with a single machine.

Their runs need to be small enough that everyone has FOMO, but large enough i can get one

They should be cheap today so I can afford one but expensive next year because i think pinball is an investment

I want deep code and tight shots but not TOO hard

I don’t want kids themes like Pokémon that 40 year olds could dig. I want adult themes like… transformers and he-man?… that 50 year olds can dig.

What a great time to be in this hobby! Diverse manufacturers and themes and a new game every few months. Each of us could drop $20k a year on games that we’ll like (if we had the funds).

I have no affinity to Pokémon other than through my kids, but catching 175 of them or whatever on my insider connected sounds fun.

Hopefully it expands the market, further increases the number of manufacturers and diversity of games, keeps arcades open, supports leagues, etc.

It’s a great week for pinball!

I hope a lot of you got a LE that wanted one from the first come first serve on Stern website

Less than 10 seconds. Crazy

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