2017 STERN PINBALL FACTORY TOUR! All Access with Jody Dankberg

[@DangerousOne-HRO]

Couldn't make it past the first 25 minutes with that Neanderthal in plaid eating while giving tour/commentary.

[@Qusin111]

yes the guy is an idiot and obviously the owners kid

[@Thnker100]

I like factory tours, but the Stern employee eating for the first 20 minutes was extremely poor marketing and manners. A complete dolt. Plus, he was the director of marketing and licensing. Gary, please fire this moron.

[@boffin6969]

Couldn't agree more with these comments if I had too. Also, I hate to say it, but I only made it to just past 14:00 because there was simply too much banter and annoying back and fourth nonsense talking going on. Obviously the guy in the plaid shirt wasn't helping matters, but OMG, this whole video is like watching a couple of adult men with major ADHD walking around a factory assembly line. It's too bad that I felt as though I needed to be so critical of a video like this, however, it was particularly difficult to try and get through, and unfortunately, I wasn't able to. I certainly don't think that was the intention of the guy who created the video.

[@ddrusa]

Sounds very rude to eat and talk unreal I know its a 2016 video still

[@TheeBricaine]

Love the vid, been working on pins for a couple years now and just now finding this channel. Very cool to get a deeper look at what goes into making these machines, I only wish more arcade goers would see vids like these to understand the time and effort it takes to not only produce these but keep them maintained for their enjoyment.

[@philspinballgameroom5807]

This is really THE best Factory tour to date in terms of Pinball!! I LOVE it! Thanks a lot

[@techguyml]

Should have waited for him to eat before filming; damn that was irritating.

[@waddledaway6157]

I dont know why but there is some sort of wierd vibe going on with the guy and his work force

[@bobbyjack8033]

Guys thanks so much for sharing and taking the time! Love it!

[@Johnsarcade]

Thanks, Bobby!

[@bneyens]

4:02 - talking with his mouth full while giving a tour to guests and scratching his crotch.... classy

[@Johnsarcade]

+Bob Marley Jody is a cool dude. I like the casual vibe. It fits me. :)

[@delsarcade]

I rest my case.

[@Neffers_UK]

The guy has shit to do. No offence to John but he has better things to be doing than showing a group of guys round his domain. This isn't a corporate visit. Why should he care, why should people be bothered? You know in a few decades time when this is all blown over covered in saw dust and flux fumes, there's gonna be another set of retro guys looking to see how stuff was done. There's scant vids on old places like arcade factories, mebbe a few Pac Man walkthroughs etc. This is a much better archive than what we have to look back on from games of yore.

[@Johnsarcade]

+Neffers I agree. I was not even remotely offended. I thought it was cool and casual which is what I look for. Jody rocks.

[@Neffers_UK]

John's Arcade Game Reviews & Tech *passes tub of Haribo* carry on as you are John.

[@HomeLeisureDirect]

We need to head there and tour...love it

[@HappyAtom]

Another awesome tour! Thanks John.

[@eighties8]

Hey John, love these factory tour videos! I'm about to apply decals to my pin cab and I was hoping that since you missed that on the previous factory tour video, you may be able to capture it on this one but looks like we missed it again. Just really would like to see how the Stern factory workers apply those side vinyl graphics and learn a few tricks from their process. I'm guessing they tape the middle and use the hinge fold method but would love to watch them do it. Thanks again for these videos!

[@LeviDSmith]

Very informational, but the one guy's constant laughing is very annoying!

[@raistraw8629]

There also much tongue play going on, maybe a little bit cocaine, or similar.

[@JimRaptis]

LOL!!!!!!!! He was laughing without laughing!!! It must have been nervous reaction. He should have played the joker in the new movie!!!

[@TheHeadlessHorseman]

@@raistraw8629 What do you mean tongue play? When I hear that I think of someone tongue kissing someone else. Where does that happen

[@theroguecybersoldier2629]

That same year I went on their factory tour during the Pinball Expo, loved every second of seeing pinball machines being built, tested, and box up ready to go. Right at the end they revealed Batman 66 and George Gomez talked to us about it

[@Chuck-RETROGAMECAVE]

Thanks John for taking us all on another tour of Stern! Loved it.

[@Johnsarcade]

Thanks for watching, Chuck!

[@stusux]

I feel alot of the top comments on this video are unnecessary harsh. The camera man did a amazing job with keeping up with the action they were talking about at the time and it was incredibly informative. This is a tour i will most likely never get to experience being in Australia, and i thank you for letting us come along for the ride. Lots of freebies and lots of lols makes a good tour. Thanks for sharing.

[@NipkowDisk]

I just LOVE the 21st century re-engineering of the score reels at 39:47 and the rollover buttons at 44:55- truly brilliant!

[@SummerFunMan]

Heh, these guys ARE really cool! They are SO nice to show not only you, but _us_, around! I mean ya know... there are _so many_ places that are like, "Cameras? NOPE! Unh-uh, NO WAY, no cameras! NO photography or video recording allowed, AT ALL!" But these guys? "Yeah, come right on in with your camera gear; we'll be happy to show you around!" VERY cool!

[@uaps28]

You are sooooo kind sharing all these videos with us :)

[@Riz2336]

Great tour once again. It's cool to hear you chat with the designers and look at all the cool new stuff in there.

[@Johnsarcade]

Thank you for the continuous support, Riz!

[@cardiff623]

Excellent tour John, thanks

[@wildernessgames]

Very extensive walkthrough, cool to see; good commentary throughout Jody is cool. Thanks for filming. -Mitch

[@williammah1605]

super cool tour. never thought of how they make these.

[@randydonley5021]

What did he says. The direction are in Spanish to make things to move smoother. So if you read the fountain drink board, then except to be yelled at when you don't know what a soda drink is. Hey ✋

[@DiogenesNephew]

42:20 Damn...that played out like something from The Office. Very awkward and sad lol.

[@toddament8035]

Nice to see where my Munsters was born. Very cool!

[@geekhype]

Great video! You got some great swag, especially the translites! I didn't think I would sit through the whole video after watching your previous tour, but your new tour guide was great and had some different perspectives. I definitely wanted to see the new Batman pin, but oh well!

[@Johnsarcade]

Thanks, Joe! Jody was cool and def' gave a fresh perspective. I'm bummed we couldn't see the BatMan pin. :(

[@delt35]

john - the stern tours are some of my fav videos of yours. Keep up the great work!

[@bneyens]

42:22 - Armando didn't seem to appreciate the ball busting, he looked sad/triste

[@TheHeadlessHorseman]

Armando was definitely having a bad day. He probably bet all his paycheck on a game

[@xTheShady1x]

Welcome to Chicago! Enjoy your stay.

[@Alpha1545]

I worked in the vending business in the 80's and I worked on Stern games then. They were carbon copies of Bally machines. I don't know for sure but they may have been made at the Bally factory. Been out of it for ever but in my day there was Bally, Williams, Stern, Gottlieb then latter Data east. That is all I can remember. I will say this. My all time favorite machine was made by Bally and it was called Fathom it was a multi ball design. Bally sound systems were top notch then and I am sure many other manufactures tried to copy it. I knew pinball machines very well inside and out. Bonus question - How many tilts are installed in an old machine verses a new machine? I can remember at least 5 in a mid 80's machines and maybe more. I loved the video tour. Lot of work goes into them. One thing that the final testers can't predict is when a ball gets stuck under a certain area.

[@kdwrghtsr]

The More I watch it the More I love It! Stern Is HQ stuff! Onward to arcade Impossible

[@RogersRoyal]

I love how he is showing them quality checking a Ghostbusters play field and it was shipped for how long with a very big typo written on it? ha ha. Yeah great quality check there guys.

[@frstylluvr2567]

It doesn't seem like they were contracting on spelling. More along the lines of play field imperfections.

[@anonymousmc7727]

those line workers are amazing!!!!!!!!

[@bigbusa1]

John is the king of the fake dracula laugh. He's even better at it than jimmy fallon.

[@Johnsarcade]

Ha ha

[@JasonValentineFL]

I recognize that Walking Dead ramp at 15:38 right away. Fun game, also finally got a chance to play Ghost Busters a couple of weeks ago, another great Stern game.

[@Johnsarcade]

I love my Ghostbusters. Great game.

[@chuck12-82]

+John's Arcade Game Reviews & Tech : John, are you going to install any Cliffy protectors on your Ghost Busters?

[@metalandpunksuck]

Wow I never knew there was so much to making a pinball machine. Awesome video.

[@sewashburn0529]

When is Stern going to release the Kill Screens pin?

[@Johnsarcade]

+sewashburn0529 that would be amazing

[@xraykitty]

A brown paint multi ball would be in order :)

[@benoit1335]

a VGOutsider one would be great!

[@Sypthv8]

Pretty awesome. I'm in the Chicago land area, how hard is it to get a tour of the place?

[@anthonygray7012]

What’s great Vid of your tour. Cannot believe how much effort goes in to building these magnificent pins. Thanks for sharing guys :)

[@chuck12-82]

Johnny's Sausage Posse. The tour is Amazing, Brother John!

[@pegasisilver6249]

I think it´s great that the pinball tradition lives on. It looks great and some machines are real art-pieces. What worries me is the issue of replacing broken part, when there are so many crucial details produced uniquely for a specific game.

[@AlexZander688]

Understandable why new Pins cost several thousand $$$. Tons of labor and overhead going on. I played a handful of these machines recently at Pinball Jones and Lyons Pinball, had a great time, very fun!

[@Johnsarcade]

TONS of overheard for sure. Stern is a BIG operation. Very impressive.

[@jimmychoijimmy]

awesome tour! thanks John

[@Johnsarcade]

Thanks, Jimmy!

[@JimRaptis]

Wow thanks for the video. Just purchased Munsters premium and great to see where it came from! As for the guy eating, I didn’t even notice, paying attention to what he was saying as well as checking out everything in the video.

[@kenny9648]

Jody is a really nice guy. Thumbs up!!!

[@33kingnaz]

Another great video john!!!! I am not really a pinball guy but i really enjoyed the tour and now i want a pinball machine.

[@flcl64]

Was that place with the Lincoln statue where the Bluesmobile drove through the plaza and fell apart?

[@Johnsarcade]

No, that was at Daley Center.

[@Lepusrabbit]

Good to see John legendary designer

[@Chudhole]

Wtf with the eating? I'm sure the dude is cool but that was maddening! Big fan!

[@Neffers_UK]

Wtf with the vomiting? Such bile.

[@steve24822]

Talking and eating at the same time is never a pretty sight. He made up for it with the great tour.

[@Chudhole]

Nevets it's such a poor business decision that I marvel at it.

[@SwedishEmpire1700]

You always sell a couple more when eating lunch while doing the tour

[@Chudhole]

Luzur "I'm here to look at a BMW? And I'm going to film it for 2 KZbin channels?" Salesman says "sure". Walks to a car, turns to the camera and jams a banana in his mouth.

[@JasonValentineFL]

John, do you think if the Free Play Florida convention was held ~ November 12 like they did this year, you might be able to attend. I know the year before they were way too close to thanksgiving. But I was legitimately excited when I thought you might make it in 2015.

[@Johnsarcade]

I couldn't make it this year. Maybe next year? :)

[@ninelivecat]

This is awesome another tour of Sterrn

[@sf98]

Excellent video John.....................cant wait for the rest of videos.

[@Johnsarcade]

Thanks! #SOON

[@biffmoorehed7842]

The Stern guy is real professional with a mouthful of candy.

[@Johnsarcade]

Jody is 100% cool

[@frstylluvr2567]

I'm glad he mentioned that they will make it right.

[@johnnelson8956]

I would like to know how much they pay their production employees. It almost looks like this factory is located in Mexico instead of Illinois. I also wonder just how many are illegal.

[@BushidoRX]

I definitely just want that Ghostbusters LED topper just to have on my desk. That Pac-Man clock is cool as well.

[@DiogenesNephew]

I'm kinda curious how it's possible that the Ghostbusters pins shipped with the faulty slimer mech when they not only have guys there to test the switches by hand, but they force people to play their new titles at the factory every day. The only thing I can even imagine is that the game or two they were testing happened to be alright, and the guy testing the switches thought he was hitting slimer when he was really hitting the adjacent stand-up targets. Still seems unlikely though.

[@BeTheBallDanny]

Awesome vid John...You are a blessing for the hobby man...Keep up the great work.

[@thisistheendpt2]

28:45: what business is it of sterns to prevent people from selling a machine from one country to another?

[@rgardiner1982]

Great video John! But no offence to Greg and the other guys, but I wish it was just you and a cameraman doing the tour as they really don't bring much to the table. Greg barely talks and the other guys just seem to hang around and get in the way and it's really distracting when you're filming and another guy filming walks into the shot with his camera. I think the vids would be better if it was just you doing the tour as you ask loads of good questions and genuinely seem more interested in being there than the others.

[@chuck12-82]

Silent Greg is the best!

[@insider1927]

You get the chance to go to Stern and don`t take your Pin Friends? That`s not nice !

[@davidewhite69]

I would have been impressed if they were shown the design room. and what's with interrupting Jody, everytime he started to explain something John yelled over the top of him cutting him off!

[@denimadept]

YOU understand the point. Who is the audience here, the guys in the way, or the camera guy? What's the point of a video if you don't let the camera guy do his job??

[@TortureBot]

Dang that looks like an interesting place to work. I know I would enjoy it more than where I work even if I was just doing one of the mundane steps that go into a build for one of these. Nice work man and it was incredibly interesting.

[@ronalddreimanis8051]

I would like to hear your suggestion for a pinball expo in Lincoln Ne. We have more history than most. Pin. Arcade in mid west need support classic pins for all to play proceeds go to madonna Rehab. Need help to honor what makes a differece.

[@stusux]

You'd think the final testers would be the top dogs in pinball!?! They play all the latest games 8 hours a day before they go out the door.

[@djsquibby]

Man that's one big pin factory, hive of activity. That was cool they gave you all some goodies ;)

[@Johnsarcade]

For sure! Serious operation.

[@socalshutterbug]

Great presentation. Kudos to Stern for being so generous with their time as well as the gifts. 😀

[@donnytucker]

I want that ghost busters light at the end!

[@Bobbydog66]

Hey john, I finally figured out where gene and judes was from the last time you were in chicago, I go to the costco (that use to be kiddy land) near them all the time on the weekends! Gonna have to try it one day.

[@Johnsarcade]

Do it. You will not regret it. Best Hot Dog in the world. NOT KIDDING.

[@shanghaijinks2585]

Did you tell them to get to work on that Pulp Fiction?

[@Johnsarcade]

Pulp Fiction or any Tarantino movie would be amazing.

[@connorminiarcade3258]

I just bought me a Donkey kong and pac man machine how do you save the score on donkey kong

[@theSammyM333]

You need highscore save kit

[@Johnsarcade]

Connor mini arcade ! get a Brasington high score kit or the DK remix kit

[@connorminiarcade3258]

Mac Donalds I doing that wright know thx for asking

[@lionneko]

even Pinball is region locked

[@Neffers_UK]

All they have done is locked the frequency on their switch mode PSU's. Not hard to circumvent one bit, it's not as though they have had it connect to a server to validate it or anything - although it's possible should they so wish. I had better shut my mouth lol.

[@lionneko]

Neffers never said that there weren't lots of ways to get around the region locks

[@Neffers_UK]

I never insinuated that you did.

[@loubilly]

such a fun episode. makes me want to buy a pinball from them

[@Realmasterorder]

Way to go John Love your Vids and especially these outdoor and cool tour ones,just wish i was there with you. When do you think the new album will be comin out ? love the music you guys play as well and would like a hard copy of it when it comes out .

[@Duke_Togo_G13]

Happy Thanksgiving John! Thanks for the upload!

[@Johnsarcade]

Happy Thanksgiving, Duke!

[@Neffers_UK]

Enjoyed the factory. I'd probably learn Spanish to loom wires for days. I wouldn't like to play test the pins all day though, it'd take away the fascination.

[@MagicFerret69]

Can I ask you John . How long did it take for you to fill your home arcade? In the U.K. Getting any games arcade machine is so hard, and when they do show up they are silly money. Love your videos by the way you are teaching me a lot about arcades

[@Johnsarcade]

+MagicFerret69 took awhile. :) Lots of hard work and meeting lots of people.

[@michaell1957]

So good! Thanks for posting.

[@Pinman1973]

Great vid ! Jody is awesome . . .

[@gavincurtis]

57:35 when arcade John replies to pinball engineer John's question about which version of Ghostbusters he bought... now I am not claiming to be a psychic (but I did stay at a motel 8 once)... but pinball engineer John's face seemed to broadcast "oh, you went for the cheap one". His excitement turned sour for a brief moment. I bet he was expecting LE as your answer.

[@bulletpoint728]

Laser War is fantastic!

[@andybaldman]

John, you should have Phet 'customize' Jodi's ArchRivals marquee...

[@Johnsarcade]

Ha. :)

[@jamesguralski5156]

I could work there!

[@kennynvake4hve584]

I see they are using a linear transformer power supply....seems like they would have gone to a switch mode power supply...which would work more efficiently and be lighter and less parts...

[@connorminiarcade3258]

Thx John arcade

[@samuelflipperspassion5094]

you could buy a Stern Pinball kickstarter book commemorating Stern Pinball's 30 incredible years. Only 17 days left. Be ready ! The project is now over $32,600 funded of $50,000 goal. Join in the effort and own a part of history here : www.kickstarter.com/projects/paperflock/keeping-the-ball-alive-30-years-of-stern-pinball

[@Johnsarcade]

The book looks cool!

[@thegreatjonzini]

Tyler looked happy :)

[@mrserv0n18]

Great video, Raw thrills tour sounds awesome

[@Johnsarcade]

#SOON

[@JFD62780]

...Stern Factory Tour '17... Am I sensing a new John's Arcade Tradition? :p

[@Nirotceh1]

That Spider-Man home edition with the color display is awesome

[@damiancordero3193]

And I was in Chicago in October on my way home.

[@Lightblue2222]

Nice . Pinball of this generation

[@zebunker]

30 min break. They really need to give their employees a full hour. People are not animals. Do they have union support? Lost alot of respect for Stern.

[@au009044]

Did she get her coffee?

[@theoneanton]

Did you guys ask "why can't you be as good as Williams/Bally ever was?"?

[@PubeStache]

He never showed you how to dim the LEDs in the backglass.

[@GadgetUK164]

Totally awesome!!

[@Johnsarcade]

For sure!

[@tonebone7053]

Hey.....I have that clock! Love it!!!

[@ChimneyMan27]

Amazing video

[@Johnsarcade]

Thanks!

[@paulsolfelt8452]

I'm playing Tommy right now, one of the best machines made by Data east, lol!!!

[@ronalddreimanis8051]

Stern did a super job for Harley Davidson multiball after sega.

[@brentroth2002]

start video at 3:19

[@SolidSnakeOO1]

18:00 "Bad paint." "Is it brown?" hahahaha