JJP "The Hobbit" officially announced!

[REVOLUTION]

ANNOUNCEMENT ON OUR NEXT GAME:
Now that we have produced a game, the natural question we keep being asked is what game is next. I wanted to hold off on talking about the next game until we had real first game - WOZ, which we certainly have. At IAAPA we told some customers that our next game will be The Hobbit Pinball Machine and the excitement was off the charts. International distributors expressed a strong interest and some made place-holder orders on the spot.
With that, we are now accepting pre-orders for the Limited Edition version. The Hobbit Pinball Machine will be released in a timeframe consistent with the third Hobbit movie in mid 2014 as the game will embody all three movies. The first Hobbit movie release date is December 14, 2012, the date of our Open House. All of what we do on this game, as was the case with Wizard of Oz Pinball, will be based on approval of our licensor.
The game will be a full-featured wide body with the "bells and whistles" you have come to expect from a JJP game. Keith will be programming the game as he did with LOTR Pinball as well. More details will follow with the public announcement in a few weeks but it will not disappoint!
As a buyer of ECLEWOZ you now have the opportunity to reserve your same game number(s) as you have now for The Hobbit LE Pinball which will have 1,000 Limited Edition games as before but we added 500 games for the European market. (game numbers 1001-1500). The price for The Hobbit Limited Edition Pinball is $7,500 on a Pre-Order basis and we have a payment plan that spans until mid 2014 as the game ships. We need to start this now to ride the wave of publicity for the first Hobbit movie which opens in a few weeks on December 14th and in order to give everyone enough time with the payment plan.
The Payment Schedule is as follows:
$500 - NOW
$1000 February 15, 2013 - (Price changes to $8000.00)
$1500 May 15, 2013
$1500 September 15, 2013
$1000 January 15, 2014
$1000 April 15, 2014
$1000 July 15, 2014 – Delivery
The price will change on Feb 15th 2013 if LE’s are still available to $8,000.00. We expect The Hobbit Limited Edition Pinball Machine to sell out completely in less time than ECLEWOZ sold out! After all, everyone can now see the type of quality games we are building and our second game will move along much faster than our first game did and we must ship this game as the third movie hits the theaters!
A refundable deposit of $500 placed by December 15, 2012 will secure your Hobbit LE Pinball with the same game number you have now for your ECLEWOZ. Any order paid in full will have their freight charges (up to $400) paid by JJP.
Only paid in full buyers of ECLEWOZ will be able to reserve The Hobbit Limited Edition Pinball Machines at this time.
We have a huge interest from selected distributors we discussed this with at IAAPA to get The Hobbit LE Pinball and certain game numbers. Some of them missed out on ECLEWOZ and don't want to miss this one too. That's why we have this time frame to help you decide before releasing unreserved game numbers to other buyers after December 15, 2012.
This is not a public announcement or press release but rather a courtesy offer to you as a valued and loyal JJP buyer. We will not take orders from the public until all current JJP buyers have had an opportunity to decide on The Hobbit LE Pinball as those people would be asking for game numbers from current JJP buyers and that would not be fair to you. JJP and WOZ Pinball would not be possible without you and we appreciate your loyalty and patience as we created a real pinball manufacturing company!
Remember also that some people did not order ECLEWOZ and are waiting for the long rumored public announcement of The Hobbit Pinball Machine from us to place their orders.
If you would like to place your Pre Order for The Hobbit Limited Edition Pinball Machine, just e mailJen@JerseyJackPinball.com or Katie@JerseyJackPinball.com and they will take your order. You can also call them at (732) 364-9900 ext 203 (Jen) ext 202 (Katie) or call me directly toll free at (800) 473-5225 if you need additional information.
It's a very, very exciting time for all of us at JJP and for Pinball. We are thankful that you had the confidence and belief in our Team to create a wonderful game for you with The Wizard of Oz Pinball. There is so much more to come and soon!
Jack Guarnieri
President & CEO
Jersey Jack Pinball, Inc.

I'm excited to see what they do with this!

 

[Vengeance]

that is still the private announcement for WOZ owners correct?

 

[REVOLUTION]

that is still the private announcement for WOZ owners correct?

No idea.. but it's all over teh webz now, so it's hardly private

 

[Vengeance]

I'm in for one, will look sweet next to LOTR.

 

[Chris Bardon]

Good to know that it's finally confirmed. Did anyone who was in on the original WOZ order get a refund while it was still available? Just wondering how "refundable" the deposits are.

Either way, much more interesting than WOZ as a theme. This one should sell!

 

[SquidVicious]

Good to know that it's finally confirmed. Did anyone who was in on the original WOZ order get a refund while it was still available? Just wondering how "refundable" the deposits are.

Either way, much more interesting than WOZ as a theme. This one should sell!

Multiple people did (not a stampede but at least 4 or 5) .. Jack also let people back out long after the locked in periods ... JJP is built on customer relationships (was as a distributor and has been as a manufacturer).

One of the cooler things is they are now asking for what people want in the game as well as want differences the LE and Reg should have.

 

[Monkeybug]

So tempting.... so expensive.....

 

[Chris Bardon]

Don't forget-you also have to pay for the entire thing before you've seen it!

 

[SquidVicious]

Don't forget-you also have to pay for the entire thing before you've seen it!

Name a LE from Stern where that isn't the case

edit my bad as the Xmen didn't sell out (I guess maybe because of the TF LE's) but tron ac/dc both sold out long before anyone saw one (and you were locked in)

 

[Vengeance]

Actually:

Tron Pro came out before the LE and the only changes between the two are cosmetic so you did get a chance to play it before you bought the LE.

AC/DC Premium is again only cosmetic difference between BIB and LTBR so you can still get a full featured LE and have more then ample opportunity to play it.

Name a LE from Stern where that isn't the case

edit my bad as the Xmen didn't sell out (I guess maybe because of the TF LE's) but tron ac/dc both sold out long before anyone saw one (and you were locked in)

 

[SquidVicious]

Actually:

Tron Pro came out before the LE and the only changes between the two are cosmetic so you did get a chance to play it before you bought the LE.

AC/DC Premium is again only cosmetic difference between BIB and LTBR so you can still get a full featured LE and have more then ample opportunity to play it.

Name a LE from Stern where that isn't the case

edit my bad as the Xmen didn't sell out (I guess maybe because of the TF LE's) but tron ac/dc both sold out long before anyone saw one (and you were locked in)

Right but the BIBLE and LTBR both sold out before anyone saw them the premium came out afterward and is not an LE ... there will be reg version of The hobbit as well (mind you they will sell for the early bird price of the LE) so again if you just want a Hobbit premium then wait and buy that (but it will be out after all the LE's)

I don't believe JJP will do a discount version of the LE just less bling or fewer upgrades (invisi glass .. upgraded armour that kind of thing) the play of the game should be the same .. with tron you are right other than the extra modes which aren't a big deal.

 

[frolic]

We know JJP will produce regular models for as long as anyone wants them, so I'll be waiting till then.

 

[SquidVicious]

We know JJP will produce regular models for as long as anyone wants them, so I'll be waiting till then.

And the good news is that that game will basically be similar(the same) in features and play so that is a decent choice .. it'll probably mean a wait until after the LE's are out but it is sound thinking.

 

[frolic]

I can't help but be a bit suspicious that this $500k cash infusion is coming just as the WOZ production is ramping up. Is the money funding fulfilling the woz orders?

I mean, MOST new companies don't last... so why is JJP any different? Time will tell, but I'm not sure I'd be comfortable making a bet just so i can get one of the first machines in 2 years.

 

[Chris Bardon]

If they stick with the strategy of the regular version basically being a less-accessorized LE, then it's reasonable to wait. What'd be really interesting is if they started offering an upgrade package on standard games (swap out things like the rails/lockdown and invisiglass) to make them into quasi-LEs. Maybe leave one thing (like that signature apron or the topper) as LE only, but having the ability to swap the other things out at the factory (or the distributor) would be a neat touch, and maybe a little cheaper than buying the upgade parts aftermarket.

 

[SquidVicious]

If they stick with the strategy of the regular version basically being a less-accessorized LE, then it's reasonable to wait. What'd be really interesting is if they started offering an upgrade package on standard games (swap out things like the rails/lockdown and invisiglass) to make them into quasi-LEs. Maybe leave one thing (like that signature apron or the topper) as LE only, but having the ability to swap the other things out at the factory (or the distributor) would be a neat touch, and maybe a little cheaper than buying the upgade parts aftermarket.

I think that is a bit pie the sky .. the moment you give people the right to purchase all the upgrades (or pick one that very few people would care about ie the apron) you totally risk pissing off anyone buying the LE ... that doesn't mean you can't try to get close but there will be backglass/toppers etc at a minimum that will remain LE exclusive .. third parties might try to create similar things maybe that would be a way around it

 

[Chris Bardon]

Not necessarily-anyone buying the LE gets the advantage of getting the game first, and probably at a discount. Why should there be a version that's limited at all? Why not just make a quality game, and sell that to everyone? Having a couple of premium options makes it so that people can customize their games, and also have the chance to get in at different price points.

 

[SquidVicious]

Not necessarily-anyone buying the LE gets the advantage of getting the game first, and probably at a discount. Why should there be a version that's limited at all? Why not just make a quality game, and sell that to everyone? Having a couple of premium options makes it so that people can customize their games, and also have the chance to get in at different price points.

Right but then letting anyone that didn't pony up 'upgrade' their purchase into something that it is not doesn't make sense removes most of the incentives to back the machine early. JJP at least is not (or at least has said they will not) change the game play from LE to reg versions .. the more likely choice if you (generic you not specifically yourself Chris) want the bling is to buy one second hand after the non-LE show up .. 10 yrs ago I had a civic .. asked about leather seats unless I took the top model the answer was no ... of course the dealer knew of a third party that could put leather seats in but not the factory leather seats ... I don't think the JJP LE example is that different .. you can buy the invisi glass and you can get body armour that will be similar but probably not the same (hell it might be better)

 

[hippochrome]

Wow.....I WANT!!!!!

But, $7500 grrrrr! This IS a rich man's hobby

 

[Ancient Games]

Wow.....I WANT!!!!!

But, $7500 grrrrr! This IS a rich man's hobby

Yup. Way too much for the average joe.