Godzilla Pinball by Stern - First Impressions

My thoughts and reactions to watching Stern's new Godzilla pinball preview video. Let's dive in and talk about each shot and all the crazy mechs just for the premium and LE versions - Could this be just the machine that Stern needs to get people over their new price hike?

[@kolchak3578]

I love the look of the premium. Those extra toys and movement really draw you into the game experience. I think it’s worth it.

[@sonhuynh8222]

More moving parts = more maintenance and breaking ?

[@jonyboyishere]

@@sonhuynh8222 would love feedback on this

[@TampaTec]

I bought the pro, and added LED Mechagodzilla, led Godzilla, LED bridge mods. Premium too expensive but toys look cool

[@Pinball_Jurist]

Looks great. Can’t wait to try it. Bridge and building look awesome

[@alexhetherington8028]

The artwork is absolutely beautiful on that table. One of the best I've seen. Yes I absolutely think it's worth getting it. It looks so much fun to play. It's crazy it has that many shots to it.

[@thepinballroom]

Yeah Keith does a great job at coming up with awesome layouts imho

[@kenswift12345]

Dude you hit the nail on the head. I ordered a premium too. I’m not a Godzilla fan but elwin is genius

[@Retrosys]

Premium over pro all day on this machine.

[@SG25]

Keith is hands down the best designer in all of pinball at the moment. No doubt. Good choice on the premium. Looks so good.

[@veniregina8071]

I also ordered the Premium. The extra mechs are definitely worth it. Looks awesome! Good overview.

[@thepinballroom]

Thanks!! I’m excited, wish we didn’t have to wait so long!!

[@kenswift12345]

@@thepinballroom when is it supposed to ship?

[@thepinballroom]

@@kenswift12345 from what I’ve heard, a round of pros sometime October and then premiums in November- operators will get theirs first

[@entrthedragon]

Played it at Pintastic yesterday. You made the right choice. The machine plays so nice. Very well thought out & the vids are super clear, fun & nostalgic. Infinity Quest, TMNT, Star Wars home edition, Mandalorian, Jurassic Park, some of my favs there.

[@thepinballroom]

Whew! Yeah I’m super excited to get mine 🤞 hopefully I’ll get it in the next couple of weeks

[@PiN_MiKE]

Great video. Love your enthusiasm! I can feel your excitement. And don’t apologize! I’m excited too! Never bought a game site unseen either. I got on the list today for a premium! Haha! Can’t wait for the stream now.

[@thepinballroom]

hahah! yeah, i know the feeling - but tell me, not that you've slept on it , any regrets? have you changed your mind? At the new price, I'd be lying if I didn't admit that there's this itch in the back of my brain wondering if it'll really be worth that much, haha

[@PiN_MiKE]

@@thepinballroom nah I mean the price is crazy, but everything is going up. Not sure about the rest of the world, but we are getting a cost of living raise so that helps…not much…but a little. I wouldn’t have regrets. It’s pinball. It’s an investment if nothing else. If you decide it’s not your jam, there will always be someone waiting to buy it from you. Since your an early buyer, you can decide if you like it, and if not you should be able to get most of your money back if not all of it, since others will be on a wait list. I’m on the list for early next year as of now, and I only waited a few hours to get on the list. Trust me people will buy it if you have buyers remorse. Hehe. Enjoy it. These times who knows if we’ll be here tomorrow.

[@thepinballroom]

@@PiN_MiKE true that

[@mattburgardt1669]

Completely agree with the pinball moments comments! Ordering a premium tonight!

[@TiltingT]

Looks like the Premium and LE versions are a must! I think you made the right decision.. the bridge, building , mechagodzilla, and the sculpts make the game .. am happy they used wireforms on the pro... that left outlane will be a drain monster if the post is removed .. thats the only thing I didn't care for on the machine

[@thepinballroom]

Yeah I think you’re right- at least I hope so, I’ve never bought a game without playing it first l 😂

[@TiltingT]

@@thepinballroom I've never bought a NiB, but I think you would miss all of that stuff if you got a pro. The premium and LEs give that true "world under glass" feel woth their interaction.. and even if you don't like it, im willing to bet you would be able to sell it rather quickly.. its an Elwin game and most people love all of his games

[@nickatmacomb8965]

Nice Video. Thanks! This Looks like a great game

[@doktorsmirnoff2484]

I've already secured a LE. I'm looking forward to it. :)

[@edwardqueen1559]

Great call! Agree with the decision.

[@tyarnold4088]

I was never a big Godzilla fan either, but this is looking good. I have also always got pro, but considering a premium for this one. Good choice going premium for this one, I bet you will love it.

[@thepinballroom]

I hope so! 😅

[@michaelj.kastner5165]

LE is Life !!! Can’t take it with you!!!! Give it to Gary!!!

[@thepinballroom]

😂😂😂

[@sadboi7537]

Huuuuuge difference between Pro and Premium. If I had some extra cash right now, it’d be a Premium without question. This layout looks amazing.

[@holdem5180]

if you have an ABT store near you they are doing free delivery and 24 months with zero interest , that might help you out.....

[@andysodyssey8174]

This one I have to own the premium! It’s just all the extras that the pro is missing. The premium gives you that Godzilla feel as you can crash a building and smash the bridge apart. I was exited when mando came out as a Star Wars fan but after playing it I just can’t love it like the previous Star Wars pin . So I never pulled the trigger on buying it . I’m sooooo glad I waited to see what was coming because this one is the one all day over the last release

[@thepinballroom]

I couldn't agree more! This is probably the biggest gap between pro and premium in a very long time - I've been enjoying my mando pro, but tbh, I'm way more excited to get my godzilla premium now - but Mando's been performing great on location, so that at least works for me as an operator.

[@andysodyssey8174]

@@thepinballroom yeah I’m collecting because I love pinball but the whole reason Is because I’m trying to start routing games myself so every purchase right now needs to be a winner so starting I can at least try and get the most out of my routes. I figure if I’m making a side income this way then I can buy more and play more myself lol oh the kid in me. I’d love to build a barcade someday if my collection gets there

[@thepinballroom]

@@andysodyssey8174 haha that’s exactly what I started doing a couple of years ago 😄 has worked out good so far but things are so slow for my route too rn due to Covid

[@andysodyssey8174]

@@thepinballroom yep covid has really destroyed this industry although it is surviving and with things popular now in pinball I have no worries that the business is there and waiting

[@andysodyssey8174]

I’ve been loving your videos ! I am trying to put a pinball machine together but still designing everything on paper. I have this cool idea AC/DC by stern gave me with the cannon. I want to do an original pirate battles type theme. I have this crazy Multi ball mode idea where the machine would have two pirate ships across from each other or maybe one ship and a land scene on the other side. Either way there would be three cannons on the ship and this mech would lock balls in each cannon on the ship then when multi ball starts they fire one by one onto the field from each cannon and the multi ball is like a pirate battle mode with both sides at war. Also like in Aerosmith I want the cannons angled so they launch up and over to the other side. More like a real cannon fire effect

[@getreal3336]

Thanks for doing this full comparison video between the 2. I've played both, and the the premium is definitely more fun. That collapsing building seals the deal. Now... Give us the answer to the million dollar question you been asking in this whole video. It's been 8 months since you did the vid, was it worth it and has it earned well for you? Would you buy the premium again? 😉 Thanks brother. 👍

[@thepinballroom]

100% I'd buy the premium all over again - I ended up getting a pro also for my route tho, so premium is in my home collection and pro is on location - pro has been popular with my clients

[@getreal3336]

@@thepinballroom Awesome! Good for you. I'm glad you kept the Premium at home and tossed the pro on route. I'd be too afraid of the wear and tear and things breaking down on a preme as well. Good for for you brother, and I hope that pro is earning well for you. 😊

[@HeyTimLo]

Does the extra money for the machine affect what you think you'll charge per play ?

[@thepinballroom]

That's a really good question - the short answers is YES - the increased pricing of all games (not just GZ) means I'm going to raise my prices come January in order to still recoup my investment in an appropriate amount of time. My route is a little unique compared to most, I don't do per game coinage, it's a flat monthly rate that the locations pay me.

[@HeyTimLo]

@@thepinballroom i purchased a new machine for a taproom, we've got a pretty good following from pinheads and casual players - any advice what I should charge per game?

[@thepinballroom]

@@HeyTimLo I really can’t speak to your geo/region etc, seems like around here (Utah) lots of places charge $1 per single game and sometimes with the option of 4 games for $3 for new games - I’d check other locations in your area and see what the going rate is too maybe?

[@neilkrenos3609]

You 2 shot to conclude the left target next to the left spinners and the tail whip shot

[@findvoltage]

Man, we have to pay $8k AUD. If we could get them for $2k i have 10 of them, dont feel bad. only for us here in Oz

[@afattori316]

I can’t justify $8899 for a premium. I am a huge Godzilla fan and I just can’t bring myself to swallow that big pill. I am out for NIB with these new prices.

[@thepinballroom]

I hear ya, the prices are getting out of control :(

[@philthompson2239]

@@thepinballroom you should see UK prices, premium is £9,995 which is about $13,600

[@thepinballroom]

@@philthompson2239 oh dang!! Holy crap that’s a lot!!

[@memyopinionsche6610]

If I could afford it I would get one. I mean with all the magnets and it looks like about three or four spots that becomes magnetized. But those twisty Turney and loopy metal wire ramps. Kind of remind me of that pinball machine python Angelo made before he died. Godzilla looks dope as hell.

[@thepinballroom]

yeah, the prices are getting out of control for the masses - more and more geared towards the high-end collectors :/

[@memyopinionsche6610]

I know.. I kind of have a feeling a bubble is forming especially during the last auctions for the pinball museum in California.. People are paying bigger prices for sub Park games.. my hunch feeling speculators are getting involved.. They buy a game up and sell it for bigger prices.. and when that happens. Bubbles form. I mean I understand what stern is doing. But with the pro lacking more than what the premium is doing.. But who's willing to pay that price that the premium or LE gets. For not much of a bang for the pro. With bigger prices there's not much people willing to pay for those prices. Stern might be shooting themselves in the foot.. As well as American pinball and Chicago gaming company.. When they cater to niche groups they're only going to sell less games.. and the overhead might be bigger than we think or know. Not being paranoid but we've been through this before as hobbyist or even during the early days of arcades. Jack up the prices too big no one's willing to buy. And when the speculators tap out.. Because the bubble Burst.. Bankruptcy happens.

[@memyopinionsche6610]

The other pinball machine I want to see that's soon to be released.. SPINAL TAP! Just for the sure curiosity.

[@thepinballroom]

yeah, I'm very curious to see what that group can do - big doubts after Thunderbirds, but here's hoping!

[@pinballshenanigans]

Premium!!! Niiiiice! Me want!!!

[@BoogalooBeet]

Premium is a no brainer on this machine in my opinion. I'm not crazy about these price increases though. $1200 more for the LE is outrageous!

[@thepinballroom]

Totally agree.

[@memyopinionsche6610]

And what are the chances stern gets blue oyster cult song Godzilla in the game.

[@thepinballroom]

Kaneda said he thinks the song is in the game...?? I haven't heard anything either way, so here's hoping!

[@memyopinionsche6610]

I know it's a good song.. And it just makes perfect sense. I mean twilight zone pinball machine Had twilight zone by Golden earring.

[@tyarnold4088]

I could be wrong, but I did hear it had that in it.

[@entrthedragon]

Yes on BOC, played it yesterday. It’s in the game.

[@nicholasstone7038]

I think the premium is worth it, but I am biased I think every premium is worth it. Only pro I think is a solid choice is TMNT. Godzilla premium gives you a bunch of extras. Kudos to stern for not pulling a Mando on the trails/ramps.

[@thepinballroom]

Haha, yeah, I was really glad they didn't have the plastic guides covering the playfield, I can't wait to get my metal guides to replace the plastic ones on my mando pro

[@stephenh.3527]

It looks solid, but the Stern price hikes have turned me off from buying anymore. I'm going to have to drive a considerable distance to play it. My local arcades have said they won't be buying any new Sterns, due to the insane price increase.

[@thepinballroom]

oh really? wow, that is bad when even operators are saying they can't handle the prices, but I don't blame them

[@stephenh.3527]

@@thepinballroom Yeah, attendance is still nowhere near like it was pre-covid. They just can't justify the extra cost, especially when for the most part, the older 50 cent games perform many times better than most of the $1 games.

[@bakbruce]

Premium all day long on this game!

[@scottlarmore5038]

Premium, obviously. But goddamn that price!

[@thepinballroom]

ugh, ikr?!?

[@09marathon]

Will have to shoot it Mechs are fun but AIQ his the best shooter I’ve ever played

[@thepinballroom]

Agreed! Can’t wait to play this one!!!!

[@afattori316]

My AIQ pro was delivered yesterday and I am not a big marvel fan and I love it. Best pin I have ever played

[@King_Henry]

@@afattori316 the premium AIQ is even better 😎

[@Mysda_]

The mechs do feel important, I would go with the Premium too. Just not too fan of the art sadly. Godzilla toy is ugly and it's a bit too colorful in general. I would love a night theme.

[@thepinballroom]

Ooh! A night/dark theme would be killer you’re right!!

[@JV-in9kk]

I’m a huge Godzilla fan but good lord that Godzilla toy is as ugly as it gets

[@thepinballroom]

😂🤣 yep definitely need to replace that right away once it arrives

[@eddiethepizzahero]

Mind blown? It looks like shit.

[@eddiethepizzahero]

And yes, you are wasting 2k.

[@moobutt]

Opinions are like assholes.

[@eddiethepizzahero]

@@moobutt Waaaaah.

[@moobutt]

@@eddiethepizzahero - LOL, you were the one crying.

[@entrthedragon]

It’s a fantastic game. Loved the premium backglass with King Ghidra. People stood in line to play the Godzilla’s all day at Pintastic yesterday, there were 6 or 7 machines there. People loved it.