Anyone here played Labyrinth yet? Table seriously wowed me for being the first table by a brand new startup company, and I'm not even the biggest fan of the film it's based on. Great, deep modes, the sound design is incredible (and includes all of the Bowie songs from the film implemented quite tastefully), and overall it feels a lot like a 90s table brought into the modern day. Included a link to gameplay of it here.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmMP15de7y4
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmMP15de7y4
I want to try P3. It seems INCREDIBLY divisive, so I want to develop my own opinion.
Anyone get some time on a Jaws yet? I haven't been out to play on location for a while, so not myself. I have to go to the main HQ in Louisville for work soon, and there's a location down there that may have a Jaws. But I'm curious what the general consensus on the game is. Stern's best modern game still seems to be Godzilla. I ended up selling my Bond...Game is good, but I just wanted to change things up.
Alien has been great. But I'm hoping to trade it for a LOTR. That is, honestly, my favorite game in all pinball history. It's just SO good. But until that happens, my Alien is very dialed in and plays awesome.
Has digital pinball made any advancements lately??
I've put about a dozen or so games into a pro. I like it.
Well integrated theme, fun shots, skill shot is kind of hard to reliably hit. My oldest - who isn't usually into pinball - has asked to play it with me a couple of times, so I think it's really accessible compared to other recent releases.
It reminds me a lot of Jurassic Park with some of the modes, which is good. I haven't quite gotten a grasp on all the modes, but the moving fin target is fun and pretty unique.
I'm bored of jaws already…my location just got an LE so I'll try that, but I can't really put my finger on why it hasn't hooked me. I'd rather play Godzilla or JP still.
I've played a handful of games on Labyrinth. I've never seen the movie so a lot of the assets are lost on me, I like the little whacky guys that pop out and laugh at you. Seems like a much better home game than location. I'm impressed but can definitely tell it's their first game. It's a very brown game.
I've been loving Pulp Fiction. I'm totally hooked on it. It's straight forward and intuitive with lots of satisfying audio feedback. The sound package is one of the best ever. I think this style of licensed game is a much better use of assets than the more cinematic approach. I just want to hear cool shit from the licenses I love while doing pinball stuff over cool artwork.
I've also been playing a bunch of Williams Fire! What a unique and fun game. It often had some of the local killers camped out on it, and now I finally get it. It's turned up super loud so it's really satisfying when the sirens are blaring and the bell is ringing and normies are turning their heads. Sets the pinball mood for sure.
I've played a handful of games on Labyrinth. I've never seen the movie so a lot of the assets are lost on me, I like the little whacky guys that pop out and laugh at you. Seems like a much better home game than location. I'm impressed but can definitely tell it's their first game. It's a very brown game.
I've been loving Pulp Fiction. I'm totally hooked on it. It's straight forward and intuitive with lots of satisfying audio feedback. The sound package is one of the best ever. I think this style of licensed game is a much better use of assets than the more cinematic approach. I just want to hear cool shit from the licenses I love while doing pinball stuff over cool artwork.
I've also been playing a bunch of Williams Fire! What a unique and fun game. It often had some of the local killers camped out on it, and now I finally get it. It's turned up super loud so it's really satisfying when the sirens are blaring and the bell is ringing and normies are turning their heads. Sets the pinball mood for sure.
Got to play Pulp Fiction today, fun game but I honestly think the audio package on it is the best part and really helps elevate what's otherwise a pretty good table. I can definitely see people new to the hobby getting into this game something fierce, very minimal rules knowledge is needed compared to stuff like Venom or Jaws. I found it to be a little on the easy side but just challenging enough to keep my interest, and find cashing out scenes to be really addicting and stressful.
As for this game vs. Jaws... I dunno, I'd prefer owning a cinematic style game where you advance through a story over a classic throwback, so I'm more of a Jaws fan than a PF fan, but I think PF knocked it out of the park overall and I think both games are very good.
As for this game vs. Jaws... I dunno, I'd prefer owning a cinematic style game where you advance through a story over a classic throwback, so I'm more of a Jaws fan than a PF fan, but I think PF knocked it out of the park overall and I think both games are very good.
Got to go visit Next Level Pinball in Hillsboro, OR today - hundreds and hundreds of machines on free play for a $22 entry fee. Totally reignited my love for it and I'm gonna be going much more often now! With all the new stuff, I'm surprised what kept me and my friends playing and competing was Black Knight 2000. Not a lot has hit the hype levels quite like the music kicking in when you're doing well in that game and the table there played perfectly.
Im not big into older games, but Black Knight 2000 is always hype and I would love to have one. It's a game known for it's many reliability issues and so many of them are beat up, if you see a nice one, it's almost certainly been restored as so much on them just doesn't last. Have you tried the new Black Knight? Has lot of riffs from 2000 in it's music while also being much heavier.
Next Level is amazing, from everything I've seen it's the top of the pinball museums out there, everyone praises the collection and it's amazing quality of tech support they got going.
Yeah - I loved seeing so many techs on the floor working on machines while we were there. I'm not a huge old machine person either, but getting to just walk up and check them out free play made me much more apt to dig through them. With a group who was down to do four player competitive games, we actually got stuck on the more luck-based older tables quite a bit.
I got to check out the new one too! Really hard and quick, but that feeling of getting the loops just right on the upper field is really great. It's on my shortlist of ones to get to know better along with Foo Fighters and Jurassic Park.
Podcast:
The Steve Ritchie interview. Probably the world's best pinball table designer.
Steve Ritchie is one of the most important pinball machine designers in the world. In this show you'll hear about his background, his career and the remarkable stories behind some of the best pinball tables in history.
The Steve Ritchie interview. Probably the world's best pinball table designer.
Steve Ritchie is one of the most important pinball machine designers in the world. In this show you'll hear about his background, his career and the remarkable stories behind some of the best pinball tables in history.
HatchetJob.com: The Steve Ritchie interview. Probably the world's best pinball table designer.
Steve Ritchie is one of the most important pinball machine designers in the world. In this show you’ll hear about his background, his career and the remarkable stories behind some of the best pinball tables in history.
hatchetjob.libsyn.com
OP
OP
Ooh, thanks for the heads-up! I'm yet to listen to it, but I'd also like to offer a VERY different Steve Ritchie interview that was conducted in peak "pinball is dead" panic:Podcast:
The Steve Ritchie interview. Probably the world's best pinball table designer.
Steve Ritchie is one of the most important pinball machine designers in the world. In this show you'll hear about his background, his career and the remarkable stories behind some of the best pinball tables in history.
HatchetJob.com: The Steve Ritchie interview. Probably the world's best pinball table designer.
Steve Ritchie is one of the most important pinball machine designers in the world. In this show you’ll hear about his background, his career and the remarkable stories behind some of the best pinball tables in history.hatchetjob.libsyn.com
‎A Life Well Wasted: Help on Apple Podcasts
‎Show A Life Well Wasted, Ep Help - Nov 25, 2009
podcasts.apple.com
It's from 2009, and I believe it's the last interview in the episode. Amazing to hear his thoughts while the industry was in such trouble. For reference, this is while he was still subcontracting to Stern under Steve Ritchie Productions, had completed Spider-Man two years earlier and just released 24 (which I had no idea he designed!).
Oh, and about 2-3 years off designing a little-known masterpiece known as AC/DC.
Ooh, thanks for the heads-up! I'm yet to listen to it, but I'd also like to offer a VERY different Steve Ritchie interview that was conducted in peak "pinball is dead" panic:
‎A Life Well Wasted: Help on Apple Podcasts
‎Show A Life Well Wasted, Ep Help - Nov 25, 2009podcasts.apple.com
It's from 2009, and I believe it's the last interview in the episode. Amazing to hear his thoughts while the industry was in such trouble. For reference, this is while he was still subcontracting to Stern under Steve Ritchie Productions, had completed Spider-Man two years earlier and just released 24 (which I had no idea he designed!).
Oh, and about 2-3 years off designing a little-known masterpiece known as AC/DC.
He seems quite positive about the industry now, especially new tables he's working on.
Looks like tomorrow I'm getting in an Iron Maiden. Couldn't pass up the great local deals going on, prices are nuts right now. This will be pin #7 and well, this should be the last one lol. I mean it this time.
Great game. It's spent more time in my game room than anything else, and I don't see it leaving anytime soon.
Finally got to try out some more games thanks to a new place we tried, free play unlimited play arcade bar, has all the latest sterns and well maintained with stern leaderboards too, very nice. Jaws Premium, it's fun, but it also just didn't really grab me, so I haven't been drawn into the hype.
Ironically I had more fun and ended up putting a bunch more time on Venom Premium, which is tons of fun and great presentation. The pro model for Venom really hurt that game I feel, folks were so so already on the theme idea and then the Pro came out looking so barren. Unfortunate as the game is fast and fun.
Ironically I had more fun and ended up putting a bunch more time on Venom Premium, which is tons of fun and great presentation. The pro model for Venom really hurt that game I feel, folks were so so already on the theme idea and then the Pro came out looking so barren. Unfortunate as the game is fast and fun.
Venom Pro is an example of why I hate the Pro/Prem model that Stern has sunk it's hooks into.
Yea I wish they would go with merely cosmetic differences like other companies do. But stern does big business with location sales which tend to prefer Pro models for cost and less need for repairs.
OP
OP
Having said that, and I know I've said this before, but there are some Pros I prefer over their more expensive counterparts. Namely, AC/DC, Black Knight SoR and to lesser extent Star Trek. Metallica isn't all that different either.
It feels like some games the pro model is close to what the game was designed around, while prem extras just end up feeling like stuff tagged on to create value. On older games I think this is more apparent, whereas newer sterns have been feeling like they are taking out too much to push prem sales
This was going to be my exact statement.
I vastly prefer the way Spooky and JJP are doing their Pro/Prem equivalent models. Gameplay is the same but the look and vibe is all that's different. It lets the players enjoy the game as it was designed and the collectors can splurge for bling.
I love my Foo Fighter Pro, but really to not have the dead over drive post in the pro model is just silly. It's literally $35 retail worth of parts to add it to the game, what does stern pay wholesale to add that feature? The playfield has the hole for it even so it's not even a new playfield on the pro vs prem. But they took out a simple up post mech to add value to their 2k extra Prem model? Stuff like that is just petty.
I forgot that they left the hole in the playfield haha. That's so good.
Just watched the reveal for Wick.
I'm not feeling the layout, but of course I need to play it before I fully judge it. I also am not a fan of the artwork.
I'm not feeling the layout, but of course I need to play it before I fully judge it. I also am not a fan of the artwork.
It's probably part of the terms of the license. Which is weird when there are a tons of different pinball machines with guns. Dirty Harry (which this game reminds me of), Lethal Weapon, Deadpool all have guns in some form so and with Deadpool being a Stern game I'd be surprised if it was Stern's choice here.
The no guns thing is weird, and Stern has had guns in it's art many times, Bond which is currently recent and in production features a bunch of guns on the artwork, also the Bond 60th also features guns. Lionsgate has no issue advertising the film with public ads featuring guns. Gomez said that it was up the licensor. It's really a weird choice, it's a franchise all about gun fights.....
The game looks good I think, I like how they use the lighting and plastic protectors to create the neon city vibes. From the few videos out, there does appear to be gun fights still being shown on the LCD while you play, so again it's just odd the decision to make the game all martial arts
The game looks good I think, I like how they use the lighting and plastic protectors to create the neon city vibes. From the few videos out, there does appear to be gun fights still being shown on the LCD while you play, so again it's just odd the decision to make the game all martial arts
Yeah, the no guns thing is super weird. I don't think Gomez is lying, but I imagine he's not telling the whole truth.
The plastics look like that material with such a high index of refraction that it has total internal reflection. I wonder if that's what they're using...It captures light but only disperses it out the sides giving the impression of glowing. Could be a cool way to light the game up.
I'm still lukewarm on it overall, but I will reserve final judgement for when I flip one.
Some folks in my weekly league last night were having some fun with it though, complaining about how Wick doesn't eat the ball.
Eh I think it's more on point than the shark eating a ball. John Wick is a franchise that's primarily all about guns, all it's marketing is guns, it's shootouts out number every hand to hand fight, it's plastered on every public advertisement for the film yet now it's a no no for the art on a pinball machine to have it when your billboards for your movie featured John Wick surrounded by 40+ guns. And some of the art on the PF even looks like it was made with Wick holding a gun in mind and was changed to katanas in several instances. Bond pro model literally has a big gun front and center, no one cared. And then the screen of the game is playing clips of violence and gun fights on it, so what was the point to change one of the defining factors of the series?
Some folks clearly are upset and screaming liberal woke nonsense, which is what is annoying. But really it's a weird all around way to approach this IPs artwork.
It seems they simply are using plastic protectors on almost all the playfield plastics, even on the pro models which is giving it the neon vibe.
This also boiled down to licensing restrictions, the licensor forced them to use exclusively movie poster art for the backglasses on all their models for whatever reason. Licensors can just be silly sometimes, between this and the gun restrictions on JW. I never found licensor restrictions to be a dealbreaker personally, I'll still play it anyway.
I think the game looks fun, so want to play it, and a friend who are getting rid of their Alien is looking at another stern and were interested in Wick now. I personally don't care about the gun thing, it's strange choice all around for the art package, but if the game is good who cares.
And it's crazy already how many mods and alternate translites are already being put out there covered in guns.
I got to put in a bunch of time on Jaws recently and was all around eh on it, it's fine, but I didn't love it. I actually had more fun with Venom on the same day. So looking to see if Wick is the next big Stern that I really like
Funhouse is getting a remake? I've actually never gotten to play this so will be interesting to see if one pops up nearby.
www.youtube.com
Funhouse Pinball Remake Teaser Trailer
#pinball Pinball.com - https://www.pinball.comThe Pinball Company - https://www.thepinballcompany.com/Pedretti Gaming - https://www.pinballremakes.com/Planet...
www.youtube.com
Funhouse is getting a remake? I've actually never gotten to play this so will be interesting to see if one pops up nearby.
Funhouse Pinball Remake Teaser Trailer
#pinball Pinball.com - https://www.pinball.comThe Pinball Company - https://www.thepinballcompany.com/Pedretti Gaming - https://www.pinballremakes.com/Planet...
I kinda wished they chose a different game to start with. The problem is you can get an original Funhouse often for not much more, and seen em go for less. Feel they should have gone for something that commands a higher resale value as to really give it some value. This was a problem with Centaur that Haggis tried to push, you could get originals for less, why pay a bunch more for a remake?
Their preview image showing other games in the background now, there is some titles back there that if they can price em right, I think would be more attractive to buyers. Decent priced Creatures? Can you give us lower priced Twilight Zones?
I'm more curious if this means that Chicago Gaming has lost the license to Williams. I know more remakes of Medieval Madness had been rumored for a long time but it's been so long and they seem to be focused on Pulp Fiction, I wonder if that's just "done".
They had put out a letter when these remakes were announced while ago saying the partnership with CGC is still going on. It sounds like CGC is still gonna at some point remake more of what they have already, but whether they do anything new remake wise is unknown, but that they still can make more Cactus Canyons, MM, etc that they already have made
The only remake I'd really be interested in would be a Medieval Madness, so that sounds good if true.
Update re: John Wick, I've put some time in on it on location. I'll save my thoughts for when the game reaches 1.0 (or a few code updates prior most likely), but I think there's potential for a seriously great machine here as more polish gets added. The battles are a ton of fun and comparable to Crank it Ups in Metallica (which I already really enjoy), the enemy behavior is legit clever especially with how it purposely blocks shots you need to complete jobs, and there are aspects of the layout like the ramps that I really enjoy. Right now my only major gripe is that the red circle feeds can result in SDTMs and even then that's kind of a skill issue. Good start, hopefully new code improves it.