The first game up on docket is Ben Heck's Zombie Adventureland, with hand-drawn artwork and hand-assembled machinery. Pre-orders open in January, though the two have offered no pricing info or word on how many machines will be produced.
The first game up on docket is Ben Heck's Zombie Adventureland, with hand-drawn artwork and hand-assembled machinery. Pre-orders open in January, though the two have offered no pricing info or word on how many machines will be produced.
Reader Comments (16)
Posted: Oct 27th 2011 4:02AM Drakkenfyre said
As in full-sized pinball machines?
I see them selling maybe a handful, and never making another one ever again. I am sorry to say, this is doomed to fail.
To put this into perspective, commercially-manufactured pinballs could start at $5000 15 years ago. Making one by hand? And with hand-drawn artwork? This is going to be one of those "only one or two people ever buy one" things.
I see them selling maybe a handful, and never making another one ever again. I am sorry to say, this is doomed to fail.
To put this into perspective, commercially-manufactured pinballs could start at $5000 15 years ago. Making one by hand? And with hand-drawn artwork? This is going to be one of those "only one or two people ever buy one" things.
Posted: Oct 27th 2011 10:51AM Drakkenfyre said
The point is, it sounds like they (remember, it's two people here, not just him) are trying to make a business out of this, and it sounds like it's going to be a minimum of $10,000 for one.
At that point, if even one gets sold they will be lucky. I know who Ben Heck is and am fully aware of what he does. But extremely expensive pinball machines aren't exactly going to be a giant market.
Pinball parts aren't cheap. This isn't hacking apart another product and making another one. This would be invested a ton of cash for potentially not even one to sell. So if you invest $3000 in parts, and sell them for $10,000, and no one buys one, you are going to be making any money.
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At that point, if even one gets sold they will be lucky. I know who Ben Heck is and am fully aware of what he does. But extremely expensive pinball machines aren't exactly going to be a giant market.
Pinball parts aren't cheap. This isn't hacking apart another product and making another one. This would be invested a ton of cash for potentially not even one to sell. So if you invest $3000 in parts, and sell them for $10,000, and no one buys one, you are going to be making any money.
Posted: Oct 27th 2011 3:44PM (Unverified) said
@Drakkenfyre John Popadiuk already took orders for a "boutique" game called Magic Girl at around 16k per game and limited to 13 machines. They sold out in a couple days. Though the market for boutique games is quite small, there are people out there sitting on a pile of money who will pay for extremely rare or one-of-a-kind games.
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Posted: Oct 27th 2011 6:25AM Oobgarm said
Well, he certainly has been able to make a living for himself making odd one-off portable consoles that cost a considerable amount, so I have no doubt this will be a good venture for him.
The man's passionate about his work, so while this might not be a huge moneymaker, it's going to be awesome. I can't wait.
The man's passionate about his work, so while this might not be a huge moneymaker, it's going to be awesome. I can't wait.
Posted: Oct 27th 2011 7:15AM foxhound said
Honestly, I wish him the best with this project. I always have a soft spot(I should get it checked out by a doctor)for arcade, cocktail, & pinball games due to childhood memories of the sort. Granted, it'll probably be out of my price range, but it still would be pretty slick to see its progress/finish.
BTW, Instructables.com has a pretty cool DIY cocktail top arcade cabinet available for viewing:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Furniture-grade-cocktail-arcade-cabinet/
BTW, Instructables.com has a pretty cool DIY cocktail top arcade cabinet available for viewing:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Furniture-grade-cocktail-arcade-cabinet/
Posted: Oct 27th 2011 8:15AM Gooblechev said
Shoulda been the Pinball Wizard.
Also, I love Ben Heck and all, but is this really video game related?
Also, I love Ben Heck and all, but is this really video game related?
Posted: Oct 27th 2011 9:39AM darkinchworm said
OK, this is probably so obvious:
What is the thing in the culture tag supposed to be?
What is the thing in the culture tag supposed to be?
Posted: Oct 27th 2011 10:00AM Prince David said
I am dead tired of zombies
Posted: Oct 27th 2011 10:21AM Timerider said
I thought he was going to be working on Tesla vs. Edison after Lost pinball.
Posted: Oct 27th 2011 12:55PM Fire Walk With Me said
I wish Ben success.
Posted: Oct 27th 2011 1:42PM Walter White said
He's working with John Popaduik (Cirquis Voltaire, Tales Of The Arabian Nights, and Theater Of Magic) so it's probably gonna be awesome.
