Jack Guarnieri emailed me - thought I'd share

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I had expressed my reservations about JJP's WOZ pin on RGP. Jack emailed me and I have to say there is no doubt that Jack has soooo much energy and faith in his product. Heck his enthusiasm by itself damn near sold me. Truly refreshing to see a "big wig" personally respond to a nobody instead of just posting a blanket statement on RGP. His email was relatively long describing a few things about the machine itself and the team he has hired to pull this off.

The one thing I would like to share is this:
"We are all working very hard so that you will like what you see and even more, love what you are playing for a long time. I'm a Pinball NUT and this game better be what I expect it to be for sure!"

The WOZ theme is timeless and universally recognized. I can certainly understand why he chose that "I'm sure already owning rights helps make that decision too :) " But I'm also still highly reserved about the asking price and am very curious about the original themed pin they plan on producing next.
I love original themes and I hate to even admit this but waiting another year or so will also give Stern enough time to either confirm or deny a Muppets themed pin. Something a can totally relate to. I think the real problem will be too many great pins coming out and not enough money on my end ;)

FWIW: Can't say Gary Stern has ever dropped me an email before. :D
 
thats awsome! i cant wait to see/play the finished product.and its very cool jack took the time to shoot you an e mail.
 
I had expressed my reservations about JJP's WOZ pin on RGP. Jack emailed me and I have to say there is no doubt that Jack has soooo much energy and faith in his product. Heck his enthusiasm by itself damn near sold me. Truly refreshing to see a "big wig" personally respond to a nobody instead of just posting a blanket statement on RGP. His email was relatively long describing a few things about the machine itself and the team he has hired to pull this off.

The one thing I would like to share is this:
"We are all working very hard so that you will like what you see and even more, love what you are playing for a long time. I'm a Pinball NUT and this game better be what I expect it to be for sure!"

The WOZ theme is timeless and universally recognized. I can certainly understand why he chose that "I'm sure already owning rights helps make that decision too :) " But I'm also still highly reserved about the asking price and am very curious about the original themed pin they plan on producing next.
I love original themes and I hate to even admit this but waiting another year or so will also give Stern enough time to either confirm or deny a Muppets themed pin. Something a can totally relate to. I think the real problem will be too many great pins coming out and not enough money on my end ;)

FWIW: Can't say Gary Stern has ever dropped me an email before. :D

So do we know what the asking price for the WOZ pin will be? I havent seen that posted anywhere yet.
 
$6500 if you put down a deposit now and make payments. $7500 at release.
 
i know we have the approx price for this pin.............but there's little to no info about the pin itself, right? i mean, other than the theme.....

is there any info on art, sounds, playfield, etc? i haven't seen anything at all.
 
i know we have the approx price for this pin.............but there's little to no info about the pin itself, right? i mean, other than the theme.....

is there any info on art, sounds, playfield, etc? i haven't seen anything at all.

The main info that has been released is the design and artwork team members as well as the fact that it will have an LCD in the backbox.
 
Pretty impressive for him to take the time to do that. You could tell he has the passion from his podcast interviews.
 
Jack has contacted many people individually as well as by the mass emails for all depositors. I put my deposit down, and plan on staying with this project. I think this may turn out to be one killer pin!

FYI, the deposit plan for WOZ is: a $250 deposit back in Feb, $1000 deposits due 3/15, 6/15, and 9/15. All deposits until the 9/15 one are fully refundable. The last 9/15 deposit turns your deposits ($3250 total) into an order for the limited edition WOZ, with the other half due upon shipment (currently slated for the end of 2011).

JJP has an ace team assembled. Keith Johnson on software sold me. Joe Balcer and Dennis Nordman for the pf design. Greg Freres for the pf artwork. And Matt Reisterer of Back Alley Creations will be doing the OEM pf toys.

Although it will be a bit pricey for a pin (not *that* much more than a Stern LE), Jack appears to be going all-out for this game, and not skimping on the toys, features, technology. I'm hoping for a deep, full-featured game that represents the "next generation" of pinball. (Think about it, the current Sterns are still using the same basic technology, like DMDs, that appeared in pins 20 years ago! And the last few releases have been 'me too' relatively shallow games, given Stern's current cost-cutting mindset.)

I suspect that there may be an announcement/update or 2 this week, before the next deposit is due on 3/15. No real news in a while but I'm told the team is hard at work and making significant progress.
 
I've thought long and hard about this pin and honestly, I do believe I'm going to pass on WOZ.
I have nothing negative to say about the theme but honestly I was never a huge fan of the movie. I had my heart set on TRON and it appears TRON is not looking very promising (I heard from an inside source) which saddens me deeply but why should I be surprised that Stern let me down again?

Since JJP is going to release an original themed machine next year that has me excited. In fact much more excited than I am about WOZ. The rumor mill also has it the Stern will be releasing the Muppets pinball around Christmas. In fact I'm going to find out for sure. I have a deep connection with the Muppets and if SR has anything to do with that - yep I've got my hopes up again ;)

I'll post back when I find out about the Muppets being a reality or not.
 
bad thing is a WOZ theme might sell nicely to the home market but there is no dealer pricing. You sell alot more when people can see it. But I guess this one is directed at pin heads in general. Maybe if it sells the operation will grow.
 
Aren't those estimated prices though? Last I heard there is no set price for the game, it could be $8K or $9K. I'm not sure, someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

$6500 if you put down a deposit now and make payments. $7500 at release.
 
Aren't those estimated prices though? Last I heard there is no set price for the game, it could be $8K or $9K. I'm not sure, someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

No, they are the prices he has laid out in the emails to people with deposits. There hasn't been any contract signed or anything like that, but Jack has sent this pricing information to everyone with a deposit along with with the payment details given by stevenp61.

It is also on the web page:
http://pinballsales.com/asp/default.asp
 
I see now that the original pinballnews article has been updated. Interesting $1K price break for pre-orders.
 
Was Tron ever a possibility? If it was, you'd think it would have come out with the movie. I've heard about a possible squeal, but the film didn't do as well as it could have.
 
Was Tron ever a possibility? If it was, you'd think it would have come out with the movie. I've heard about a possible squeal, but the film didn't do as well as it could have.

-Tron is coming out in April/May when the DVD/Blu-Ray comes out.

-Releasing a pin to coincide w/ the movie means Stern doesn't have all access to the movie to create the pin.....this way they have all art/audio/video available.

-Stern only does movie pins based on franchises....and Tron is now in full-on franchise mode - Animated series comes out this year, movie sequel is being worked on right now.
 
bad thing is a WOZ theme might sell nicely to the home market but there is no dealer pricing. You sell alot more when people can see it. But I guess this one is directed at pin heads in general. Maybe if it sells the operation will grow.

Jack already has a network of pin operators, having been a Stern distributor for many years. And he's already well-entrenched in the coin-op/redemption market. I think he'll be marketing to both operators and collectors. And he might give a price break to existing ops, who knows? Being the mfr, he'll do his own distribution, cutting out a middleman, which could be a flexible arrangement. This situation is unique in modern times because it is a new pinball co. starting from scratch (as opposed to merging or being re-badged or making a one-off repro game).

I'm excited because he really seems to be intent on raising the bar on pinball. A more modern game (with big lcd screen and feature-rich playfield) could attract more ops and players. This year should be very interesting as things develop and we get more details.
 
Was Tron ever a possibility? If it was, you'd think it would have come out with the movie. I've heard about a possible squeal, but the film didn't do as well as it could have.

Absolutely it was/is a possibility. Timing of it can be arguable of course but none the less that's what's up next.

Pudluther - time will tell the tale. Like everything else in life my cup of tea might not be yours.

Muppets - rumor only. Damn.

The rumor has it the release after TRON being worked on by SR is ............ take a guess :p . Let's play a game shall we?
First hint - metal
 
A more modern game (with big lcd screen and feature-rich playfield) could attract more ops and players.

Actually, one could argue that "feature rich" is what drove players and ops away. New players feel overwhelmed when they see a modern pin - they don't know what to do. Operators can barely be bothered to clean a playfield, let alone fix complex games. Ever shop out a routed 90's game? They're often in shambles....and these days, even less people in the arcade biz know how to fix pins.

I think WOZ will appeal to hardcore pin collectors w/ $$$.

Jack already has a network of pin operators, having been a Stern distributor for many years. And he's already well-entrenched in the coin-op/redemption market.

Jack mentioned something on RGP about a leasing program ....which could actually be brilliant for location pinball. Operators don't have to put up much (or anything) up front, and then Jack gets the game back to refurbish & sell.
 
Pudluther - time will tell the tale. Like everything else in life my cup of tea might not be yours.


so you're saying the layout/playfield/rule set/flow/etc is what you were referring to? in other words, you were excited but you heard something that made you change your mind and you now think it's gonna be a stinker of a pin?

is that right? i'm just trying to figure out exactly what you were saying.

thanks.
 
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