Request No more Gottlieb tables

[Mark W**a]

Hmm, that's really interesting to know, actually. I believe the development cycle at Stern is currently 12 months (though it was 4 to 6 months in the late 00s).

Oh yeah, I played Freddy. I liked it, but I didn't know the rules, just that I was advancing nightmares oddly rapidly.

What is it about the artwork that irks you guys? The Pinball Arcade stuff seems fine to me, though Gunther in Tee'd Off looks off in perspective and disconnected from the rest of the artwork. I do like the artwork for Cue Ball Wizard and Class of 1812. Freddy is a licensed theme and thus HAS to look accurate to the source material, though I notice Williams and Bally will sometimes be a bit hasty in licensed property artwork too. (Not to knock on Python Anghelo, but his playfield artwork for Bugs Bunny's Birthday Bash has some rough linework, indicating a rush job, and has far too much white, causing certain things to blend in with the background.)

The background I've had for the longest amount of time is art and illustration, so it leaves me truly confused why the pinball enthusiasts seem annoyed at the artwork on stuff like Cue Ball Wizard when it looks fine to me. Then again, maybe I'm seeing low-resolution textures on Pinball Arcade, and it's not apparent until you see the real thing.

You do?

That's the worst to me, with Victory and T'eed Off close behind.

Mainly the backglass of CBW is the biggest offender. The artwork on the playfield isn't bad. Uninspired, but nothing eye-raping. However that backglass, good lord. It's just embarassing. Makes me wanna vomit thinking of it and yes, I consider it worse than the Gofer in T'eed Off who is himself the stuff of nightmares.

Rescue 911 is the only Premiere game that I could tolerate going forward. When I say tolerate I do not mean I want it in any shape or form, just that it wouldn't be the end of the world if it came out. I mean, it's got a helicopter that flys around. That's neato, right?

I would like to see an EM packed with every table in season 4. I forget which thread I wanted to make this suggestion. And there's a ton of amazing Gottlieb EM's.

What do the Alvin G games fall under? Are those considered Gottlieb? Are they any good? I'm only familar with Al's Garage Band and it looks pretty cool to me.

 

[Zombie Aladdin]

Yeah, I think it is the low resolution of the virtual one. I took a look at the real one, and it looks a lot worse. I guess bloom does wonders to hide imperfections.

The single EM Gottlieb I'd like to see the most is Card Whiz, by the way. I played it at Pins and Needles and really enjoyed it. Unlike other EMs, it seems to have rather long ball times, and there's a lot of variety of different shots. I'd like to see Jack in the Box too, as it has interesting bumper placements and an unusual playfield design at the top, above the row of drop targets.

 

[DokkenRokken]

You do?

That's the worst to me, with Victory and T'eed Off close behind.

Mainly the backglass of CBW is the biggest offender. The artwork on the playfield isn't bad. Uninspired, but nothing eye-raping. However that backglass, good lord. It's just embarassing. Makes me wanna vomit thinking of it and yes, I consider it worse than the Gofer in T'eed Off who is himself the stuff of nightmares.

Rescue 911 is the only Premiere game that I could tolerate going forward. When I say tolerate I do not mean I want it in any shape or form, just that it wouldn't be the end of the world if it came out. I mean, it's got a helicopter that flys around. That's neato, right?

I would like to see an EM packed with every table in season 4. I forget which thread I wanted to make this suggestion. And there's a ton of amazing Gottlieb EM's.

What do the Alvin G games fall under? Are those considered Gottlieb? Are they any good? I'm only familar with Al's Garage Band and it looks pretty cool to me.

Yes, because jet bumpers and bells are so much more fun and amazing than a flying helicopter...lol

I don't think there's anything wrong with CBW's backglass. I play it all the time at a local arcade, and it looks just fine to me. It's in no way, shape or form better or worse than the ever so popular "Eight Ball Deluxe". (Which pretty much has the same type of backglass)

As for EM's, well, you can keep on dreaming, cause 'dreams' are about all you're gonna get. I've noticed than whenever anyone asks about an EM, Farsight employees usually shoot it down quick, followed by "Not popular, not very requested, and not worth the costs." I highly doubt we'll be seeing one anytime soon.

 

[Kratos3]

At the end of the day, it's about selling tables. EMs don't sell very well outside of people on here who really want them.

 

[DokkenRokken]

At the end of the day, it's about selling tables. EMs don't sell very well outside of people on here who really want them.

Bingo.

 

[vikingerik]

Almost everybody wants EMs... but everybody wants a *different* EM, whatever they happen to remember from their local childhood diner or whatever. There's no consensus. EMs as a general class do have broad appeal, but any particular EM has far too narrow an audience.

 

[Kolchak357]

TX-Sector and Devil's Dare would be great additions.

 

[DokkenRokken]

Almost everybody wants EMs... but everybody wants a *different* EM, whatever they happen to remember from their local childhood diner or whatever. There's no consensus. EMs as a general class do have broad appeal, but any particular EM has far too narrow an audience.

If almost "everybody" wanted EMs, then we'd have more than 2-3 in TPA.

The truth is, those tables are the least requested and least popular among the general pinball fan. Again, don't take my word for it, just ask Farsight.

 

[Jeff Strong]

It seems that EM's are requested almost every day on their Facebook page. I understand that they don't sell well though. Thank God for Visual Pinball.

 

[Bowflex]

It seems that EM's are requested almost every day on their Facebook page. I understand that they don't sell well though. Thank God for Visual Pinball.

I might have to get on that visual pinball thing. I would love to see them make slick chick and a couple other gottliebs and Williams em's at some point. Wizard and centigrade 37 would be especially cool.

 

[Jeff Strong]

I might have to get on that visual pinball thing. I would love to see them make slick chick and a couple other gottliebs and Williams em's at some point. Wizard and centigrade 37 would be especially cool.

Yeah you should. The physics are better than TPA on most tables as well.

 

[Bowflex]

Yeah you should. The physics are better than TPA on most tables as well.

I just need a new PC. I only have an old MacBook. I don't believe Mac is compatible with visual pinball. Plus I do want to be able the tables that won't ever come out for tpa (license issues or popularity challenges)

 

[netizen]

I just need a new PC. I only have an old MacBook. I don't believe Mac is compatible with visual pinball. Plus I do want to be able the tables that won't ever come out for tpa (license issues or popularity challenges)

So long as it's not a PPC macbook you should be able to run windows on it too. You may not get the best performance, but it's a start for getting into VP. My POS laptop plays most desktop versions of VP tables pretty good.

 

[Zombie Aladdin]

If almost "everybody" wanted EMs, then we'd have more than 2-3 in TPA.

The truth is, those tables are the least requested and least popular among the general pinball fan. Again, don't take my word for it, just ask Farsight.

Definitely. The solid-states and especially DMD games are the ones that have had the greatest lasting impact on the mainstream, most notably Terminator 2 and The Addams Family (and to a smaller extent, The Simpsons Pinball Party, The Twilight Zone, and Funhouse).

The EMs are the ones with the iconic sounds and playfield designs, but NOBODY seems able to recall any in particular if they're not a pinball fan. They all blend together in their memories. Big Shot and Central Park seem to fulfill that EM fix.

 

[DokkenRokken]

It seems that EM's are requested almost every day on their Facebook page. I understand that they don't sell well though. Thank God for Visual Pinball.

Not really.

I'm on there every day, and I'll see a request for something like "Wizard" every now and then, but that's about it. I'm not sure where you're seeing EM requests "almost every day"? If that were true, Farsight wouldn't give the same response to EM's as I just did here. I almost feel bad because on the rare occasion someone DOES ask for an EM, like "KISS" or "Playboy", it's always the same response: "Too expensive, not highly requested, not worth it."

The company is always going to go with what the fans want and what sells.

Definitely. The solid-states and especially DMD games are the ones that have had the greatest lasting impact on the mainstream, most notably Terminator 2 and The Addams Family (and to a smaller extent, The Simpsons Pinball Party, The Twilight Zone, and Funhouse).

The EMs are the ones with the iconic sounds and playfield designs, but NOBODY seems able to recall any in particular if they're not a pinball fan. They all blend together in their memories. Big Shot and Central Park seem to fulfill that EM fix.

I've played a lot of EM's throughout my life, and I've rarely felt like one was any different than the other.

Of course, there are stand outs like "Big Shot", but they are few and far between. The issue is that the standard pinball fan wants the toys, the videos, and cool lights. They don't really care for a few bumpers and a bell.

Like I said, I'd be all for 1 EM a season, just to show a little variety, whet the old schooler's appetites, and more importantly, to get them to stop going on and on about EM tables that barely anyone wants or cares for. I know one of the basic defense arguments is that "Well, you had to be there" or "You're too young", but that's garbage. I'm 28, and grew up on Atari, and I STILL own and play the thing today. I actually prefer the older systems like the 2600, NES, Genesis, etc over the stuff that's out today, because those are my preferences. However, I wouldn't even begin to try to defend those systems over the systems that are out now because they're more advance, better graphics, etc.

The same can be said for SS and DMD tables, and you can't blame the general public for wanting the better tables, the more fascinating tables.

That's just the way it is.

 

[Jeff Strong]

Well, if you combine the early SS requests then it's practically everyday, but yes you're right about what Farsight says about them. Ahh well. Like I said, I can just play them on VP for free anyway.

 

[Jeff Strong]

Just checked, and there have been over 7 EM and early SS requests just in the last week...

But yeah, obviously not as many as DMDs and money talks.

 

[DokkenRokken]

You said EM tables, not a combo of both.

Now, if you strictly look at SS tables, than yes, there's requests for those on a daily basis, including from myself.

 

[Jeff Strong]

Well, yeah, but I count at least 10 pins from the 70's requested in the last week, and 3-4 of thoe are EM, but the thing is the other late 70’s pins are early SS, but are truly not much different gameplay-wise from EM machines since EM's were still being made into the late 70’s, so it's kinda splitting hairs to differentiate the two at that point in time (a lot of people don't even realize those 70’s pins are SS), but yeah it's a moot point anyhow since it's not gonna happen. I think that's clear so, we might as well move on.

 

[neglectoid]

i think big shot is one of the best machines ever made. almost every time i shoot that ball i have almost zero clue where it will end up at. its pure frantic fun for me. em's are about survival, and if that's not fun for you, well... well i dunno what is fun for you.