Stern has sent out a press release today announcing the “immediate availability” of their newest table, the tongue-in-cheek Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons. That theme has rustled the feathers of some out there in social media, to which I am guessing they never have seen a pinball machine from the 70s and prior, which this machine alludes to in style as well as the theme.
That said from looking around at reactions online to the press release, I think more people are balking at the MSRP than anything else – $6499. While an original theme, the playfield is very classic (EM-style) in nature so understandably, that seems to be a bit hefty for something that does not have ramps, playfield toys and some of those other things modern players usually expect:
Among collectors the expectation was that it would be in the $4k area and where it is outside of that area, then that has resulted in many saying they will not order. Then again, if there is a limited run on this, that could drive the value even higher a few years down the road. Perhaps this is an experiment to see where a game like this will sell, its going to be a smaller market with any sort of game in this class.
Here is the press release, what are your thoughts on it?
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Stern Pinball Announces Immediate Availability of Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons™ Pinball Machine
World’s Leading Maker of Arcade-Quality Pinball Games and Whizbang Pinball Announce It’s Melon Season!
MELROSE PARK, Ill., March 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Stern Pinball, Inc., the world’s oldest and largest producer of arcade-quality pinball games, and Whizbang Pinball LLC officially announced the availability of their Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons™ pinball machine.
Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons™ pinball takes players on a journey through the Mellon Family farm renowned for abundant produce. Players score points on the farm operated by the lovely Melony Mellon and her twin sisters while avoiding the wrath of their over-protective shotgun-wielding father. The colorful easy-to-learn game features a fun classically styled pinball playfield tuned for a balance of randomness and skilled shooting challenges. The game rewards players of all skill levels.
“Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons™ offers an entertaining classic pinball experience,” said Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball. “We’re excited to work with Whizbang Pinball to provide players and operators with a unique pinball game and a fun playing experience.”
“I love the combination of designing a retro-style playfield powered by today’s latest technology,” said Dennis Nordman, Whizbang Pinball co-founder.
This unique blend of classic and modern technologies creates a new breed of pinball machine that presents pinball as an art form while maintaining the reliability and serviceability of modern commercial pinball machines. The playfield, backglass, and cabinet art and styling, central to the game’s unique visual quality, feature detailed original characters and fresh hand-drawn artwork that blend elements of mid-century pin-up art and classic pinball themes.
Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons™ offers many unique features including:
Original retro-style playfield designed by Dennis Nordman
Original retro-style hand-drawn graphics by Greg Freres featuring fresh fruit, a cool truck and the ever popular Mellon family
A unique, durable, weathered fruit crate cabinet design
A supplemental set of powder-coated legs for ease of operation and transportation
A standard coin-door for location play
Illuminated mechanical score reels
Retro-style bumper caps and flipper bats
Dual-action bullseye melon targets
A retro mechanical Knocker
Space for crushed beer cans to set the perfect playfield angle (players can choose their own brand or use Whoa Nellie! branded cans)
Pricing and Availability:
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (“MSRP”) for the United States: US$6,499
Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons™ is available through authorized Stern Pinball distributors and dealers around the world.
Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons™ merchandise and accessories are now available through the Stern Shop:http://costore.com/sternpinball/welcome.asp and select authorized distributors and dealers around the world.
About Whizbang Pinball LLC
Founded in 2009 by Greg Freres and Dennis Nordman, Whizbang Pinball LLC is a design studio that presents boutique pinball as a new art form by integrating its extensive pinball industry experience with its artistic vision for a unique combination of art and technology.
About Stern Pinball, Inc.
Stern Pinball, Inc., headquartered just outside Chicago, Illinois, is the oldest and largest producer of arcade-quality pinball games in the world. Stern Pinball’s highly talented creative and technical teams design, engineer and manufacture a full line of popular pinball games, merchandise and accessories. Recent Stern Pinball titles include WWE WrestleMania, The Walking Dead, Ford Mustang, Star Trek,Metallica, The Avengers, X-Men, AC/DC, Tron, Transformers, Avatar, Iron Man, Batman, and spiderman. A broad range of players enjoy Stern Pinball’s games from professional pinball players who compete in high-stakes international competitions around the globe to novice players who are discovering the allure of the silver ball for the first time. To join the fun and learn more, please visit http://www.sternpinball.com.
All trademarks and product names are the property of their respective companies
