Theories about Stern and Farsight

[karl]

In light of Bobby King talking about a closer relationship between Farsight and Stern, what are your theories about what that could mean for the future of Pinball Arcade?

Would it not be extremely cool if Stern who has a close relationship with big license holders get an option for releasing their tables digital as well when they buy licenses for new tables and hire Farsight to do the digital version of their big license tables. My guess is that this would be far cheaper than Farsight going after Disney etc alone and we could get digital versions of brand new Stern tables.

I think it is fantastic that Stern's view of Farsight is that they are helping Stern sell tables and not the other way round. So many companies would choose to feel threatened instead of seeing possibilities.

 

[Rudy]

As said in the other thread, I think we might see Farsight securing licenses for Stern and Stern considering TPA as an extension of Stern tables in return. Farsight are going up to people who Stern haven't even thought of approaching and not only succeeding... but they seem to be getting more than they bargained for with some contacts. Who would have expected Monster Bash or Ripleys Believe it or Not? Who would have expected Harley Davidson? Who would have expected BOTH ELVIRA TABLES?

Plus, a relationship with Stern makes it possible to get licenses from people who aren't playing nice. I've heard some license holders are only interested in selling rights in packages, and if a result of that is to ensure that a sequel table is in place... then maybe Stern could make that sequel table a possibility so that TPA could end up with both tables?

Stern probably have a Hobbit table in production ready to cash in on the film, but other franchises like Star Wars or Indiana Jones (even Spiderman and co) have progressed a lot since their original tables and could be made into sequels (lets ignore Star Wars Episode 1 as part of Pinball 2000). Spiderman has been REBOOTED since the last table in 2007. It's quite possible that some lesser known licensed tables could end up with sequels if they have the potential to be cult classics.

 

[Carl Spiby]

Won't new Stern tables command silly prices?

 

[Rudy]

I guess it depends on the actual license itself. Unless it's something major, I wouldn't expect they'd cost any more than Ripleys (which is only about £2), and if they packaged it with a cheaper table then they could easily create a table pack at the standard price.

 

[Carl Spiby]

When I say new, I mean AC/DC new.

Like a joint physical/digital release.

 

[karl]

Think on it this way. The main reason CBS was asking for 60 000 (or something like that) for TZ and TNG up front was this: Doing a contract with Farsight cost a lot of money. You need to set up the contracts, hire lawyers etc. and they just would not take a chance on Farsight if they were not sure it would be worth it (cbs also gets a % of their sales). If Stern already is doing a contract you do not need to make another if you write in the possibility of a digital version. This makes it a win/win situation for all parties involved. Stern would probably pay a little bit extra but nothing like what Farsight would have to.

 

[karl]

This is regarding news tables Stern has yet to make, of course.

 

[Rudy]

When I say new, I mean AC/DC new.

Like a joint physical/digital release.

Yes, that's pretty much how it might work. Say Stern decide to make a Dredd 3D table, they'd make the table, presumably either give Farsight the physical table the second it hits production or shortly after and we might even see a simultaneous release in order to bring attention to new pinball tables.

We might even get older newer tables (you know what I mean; Pirates, TRON etc.) when they sell out of a certain table and re-negotiate for an extra batch of tables to be created.

I think AC/DC is completely out of the question unfortunately, not only is it music licenses but this is AC/DC we're talking about. For years they were against the idea of Greatest Hits collections and music downloads because they preferred the album experience. Selling it as a disc might have been possible (and I think that's the only way how AC/DC:LIVE managed to get on Rock Band) but that would raise all sorts of new problems.

So yeah, we might see Pirates/Tron/LOTR soon enough if this Stern deal works. LOTR moreso because I'm fully expecting Stern to make a pinball machine based on The Hobbit.

 

[Matt McIrvin]

Stern probably have a Hobbit table in production ready to cash in on the film, but other franchises like Star Wars or Indiana Jones (even Spiderman and co) have progressed a lot since their original tables and could be made into sequels (lets ignore Star Wars Episode 1 as part of Pinball 2000). Spiderman has been REBOOTED since the last table in 2007. It's quite possible that some lesser known licensed tables could end up with sequels if they have the potential to be cult classics.

Stern already did this with Indiana Jones: there was a 2008 table as a tie-in with Crystal Skull.

 

[esp2000]

That would be really cool if that all did happen. Would love to see tables such a Tron come to TPA.

 

[shutyertrap]

Interesting ideas here of what might be going on. Would be nice to see the two companies mutually benefit from essentially the same thing, trying to please the pinball crowd!

 

[Richard B]

Stern probably have a Hobbit table in production ready to cash in on the film. . .

Nope, last I heard JJ had that particular license.

 

[Gord Lacey]

The main reason CBS was asking for 60 000 (or something like that) for TZ and TNG up front was this: Doing a contract with Farsight cost a lot of money. You need to set up the contracts, hire lawyers etc...

Trust me, CBS has a ton of lawyers that work for the company, they don't need to hire anyone.