I really hope that there is a typo in this article!!

[Biff]

Oh, I see. So up to this point, all their designers have decided to go down the "very little realism" route.

Jokes aside, I've never understood why they don't offer a "simulation" mode or something. If their engine is capable of it then it seems like a no-brainier.

You know, I'm with you. I'm not a fan of unrealistic pinball but
afterall Pinball FX is designed to be a video game and I guess all the kids out there don't like it to drain balls all the time.
I really think pfx2 mostly attracts younger people .... and the older ones, well they don't have much time to play anyway.

 

[invitro]

Oh, I see. So up to this point, all their designers have decided to go down the "very little realism" route.

Jokes aside, I've never understood why they don't offer a "simulation" mode or something. If their engine is capable of it then it seems like a no-brainier.

+2. It's silly to compare something that is actually in TPA against something that you think might be possible in PFX2.

 

[invitro]

Oh Invitro, do know the publisher of Pinball FX 2? MICROSOFT Studios
btw. zen explained on facebook why they had to change Eula and that they are not collecting private data like passwords.

Given what I've heard about Windows 10, and their general history, I wouldn't be at all surprised if MS were behind the data thing.

Passwords are beyond the pale. Did Zen say they're not collecting (and then selling) any personal data? Like the social-networking page info? And what about the 3rd-party advertisements?

This isn't really a blame game anyway, it's to see if we can account for sources of income that Zen has, but Farsight doesn't (and different rates for expenses, like salaries).

FWIW, when I was on the Steam page for PFX2, I went through the screenshots of their game and they looked plain horrific. Several times worse than TPA. I have a feeling that people who tout PFX2 over TPA are doing so solely for the comic book and Star Wars stuff, and maybe for the animated guys walking around the playfield .

 

[mpad]

Between this and the cab support being "on hold for business purposes", it has been a couple of weeks of bad news.

Perhaps this will maybe change things on the cab support side....

Or this were the exact business reasons that put a hold to cab support.
It's not directly connected, but the money part ties it all together.

 

[chinzman93]

Or this were the exact business reasons that put a hold to cab support.
It's not directly connected, but the money part ties it all together.

That's what I'm thinking....

While Stern may want a digital version of their current games, I doubt they want one with cab support if they are co-releasing. Personally, I really don't think it would impact their sales but I am sure they would be worried that it would. I would bet that the Zen/Stern game will not have cab support. Maybe with this off the table, Farsight will continue with cab support.

 

[mpad]

Hmm not a bad idea. If only somebody who actually knows stuff on the FS end would talk and not be so cryptic about it.

 

[Nightwing]

I doubt that it means anything at all. It's just the kind of semi-cheesy thing you say if you're a social media content generator, wanting to be polite to Stern.

It could be.

But I'd like to think that if Farsight doesn't have the rights to digitize Stern pinball tables anymore,that the social media employee would know.

Personally, I hope FS keeps the Stern license. If it is Zen,then good for them. I like Pinball FX2. But they would need to prove that they can accurately emulate a real table.

And people make mistakes all the time. So I still think the IGN article is a typo. Either way, it's all speculation until someone confesses - either Farsight,Zen, or Stern.

 

[invitro]

I like Pinball FX2. But they would need to prove that they can accurately emulate a real table.

I think someone's already said, but the Stern thing from Zen surely won't be an emulation of a real table, but rather their own design, with the Game of Thrones branding. Like South Park.

 

[Espy]

Hate to add fuel to this rumour, but is it just me or does the LE version of GoT look a lot like the Zen table Excalibur?

 

[Jeff Strong]

I think someone's already said, but the Stern thing from Zen surely won't be an emulation of a real table, but rather their own design, with the Game of Thrones branding. Like South Park.

Check Karl's quote again:

"Game of Thrones pinball will not be available in digital form at launch, but Dankberg says they are working on digitizing Stern games from the past and present with Zen Pinball. The ultimate goal is to one day co-release a digital and physical version of a pinball machine."

That sure sounds like they plan to replicate real pinball machines.

 

[invitro]

That sure sounds like they plan to replicate real pinball machines.

That it does. My bad.

 

[Slam23]

Too bad Farsight isn't involved, maybe they got outbid of even didn't try? Let's hope that Zen will get it right then, tweakable physics and all....

 

[Locksley]

Well, I couldn't find the post by zen explaining anything with a quick search. I did briefly look at what Reddit had to say about it https://www.reddit.com/r/KotakuInAc...ll_fx2_developed_by_zen_studios_published_by/
(rest of the hits was steam related) and yeah you can say it is the new age of surveillance and it goes hand in hand with Win10 but it is worded wrong.
They have apparently changed bits of the eula but it seems like people have had a hard time knowing what changed and when; it is there buried in posts and what not. Some wording changed in July 12 it seems.

If they collect any sort of data it should be FX2 related and clearly state that in the eula. No "collecting password" blanket statement. Just because someone says there not collecting passwords or selling your e-mail to third-party commercial company doesn't make me go "well then it is alright".

No wonder people gets scammed when they don't care

I do the same on my phone for some of the apps "they want control of my camera!? Noway!" Unless there is a need for it like google maps knowing your location I just try to avoid using apps that tries to take over your phone when there is no reason why they should have all those privileges.
Same goes for FX2.

But now it is time to read the 'New' eaula - I only skimmed the one from May (April) and haven't bothered anymore with FX2 after that. I can't find any easy "here is our eula and how/when we changed what", it is all pretty murky and you have to read tons of posts and new repressions if you want a clear picture. I don't wanna spend that time

Zen doing Stern tables? Proof is in the pudding.

 

[karl]

I've gone straight to the FarSight source, I'll let you guys know the response when I get an answer.

Shutyertrap to the rescue! Appreciate it, man!

 

[karl]

I am still thinking that this is a typo. The Rumors started after Zen had visited Stern, but both Fasight and Zen have stated that recreating real tables is Farsight's job, even after that visit.

If it is a typo, I would imagine that Farsight would be all over this, trying to set the record straight as soon as they noticed it.

 

[karl]

To those that says it takes Farsight one month to make a table, you are wrong. It takes closer to 2-3 months from they get the real machines, take it apart, and start the clock.

They can release a table every month because different people are working on different parts of the recreation at the same time, and they plan ahead.

So when Bobby is tuning Getaway, the art department is probably busy trying to get F-14 Tomcat looking good, etc.

 

[Heretic]

I tend to see this as coolspot for 7up, pretty bad analogy but its a gimmick to sell both brand names.

Its no cheatamen!(you got farsight heh) my main gripe is if this a reproduction of pyshical tables with the same layouts but using zens more arcadey playstyle itll be the table in name and gfx only.

I want(at least as done as good as possible farsight arent perfect) the shots and feel to be as the designer wanted them. so for me thats why farsight as the edge.

now if zen up there game and gave a simulation somwhere between ask and propin, ill play

So all in all

These digital recreations will be glorfied demos rulebooks and try before you buys. it would certainly get zen/stern know with say the young wwe crowd or those thrones weirdos

 

[karl]

What I found most strange is not the new tables part but they will also recreate older ones. Kinda leaves Farsight in the dust.

On the huge plus side of things, this whole thing could make a lot of sense since Zen already have a relationship with stuff like Family Guy, Disney, Marvel, Spiderman etc. We might actually get to see a lot of tables that would otherwise be impossible to have with Farsight.

If this whole thing is not a typo, there will be a lot more comparisons on who does the better job recreating a real table. So far I have mostly stayed away from Zen vs Farsight debates because I prefer playing tables based on real machines (or those close to the bone - like pro pinball) but all that will change in a big way if this is all true. Could be exciting. And as kolchak said earlier, Farsight isn't exactly overusing the Stern property, anyway

The more this thing sinks in, the more it makes sense to me.

I will say this though, A few others here will probably disagree with me but even though I find tpa physics much more to my liking than Zen, I prefer Zen over Ask. I never could get used to the way the Zaccaria app handles physics. Graphics and lights are great but they are (even though they have improved along the way) a real bore to play. I can play Zaccaria tables just fine in Visual pinball so it is not the tables themselves. I just can't get the right feel with the Ask physics. Maybe it is just because I suck at it. Can't keep the ball in play for very long

 

[Kaibun]

Well, a lot of licenses are still a tad bit expensive for Farsight, and since Zen can cover 'em so easily, there's probably a ton of tables they're likely to bring. While it saddens me we'll never see 'em on PA, at least we'll finally get to play recreations of those tables.

 

[karl]

Yes. Agreed with that just before you said it, kaibun