Pinball Arcade on the PS4 article.

[kimkom]

Agree Shutyertrap. So far I have been very happy with my 6 year old Sony KDL-46x2000 even though some friends keep telling me how much better the new ones are. This could be the push I need

Just got myself a new Sony KDL-40HX853, well worth the upgrade from my old LG!
http://www.whathifi.com/review/sony-kdl-40hx853

I was already sold on the PS4. This news just cements the deal for me.

 

[karl]

Congrats Kimkom. Looks like smashing tv. I want one

 

[Bowflex]

It's decided. I'm skipping the Wii U version entirely and waiting for PS4... guess I'm sacrificing my Kickstarter tables but whatever.


3D support sounds pretty excellent. The depth really helps pinball tables look great. If that is a feature in the PS4 version, I might have to get some sort of display or headset. Of course, I'm really hoping for some Oculus Rift support at some point.

I have been a pretty staunch supporter of every Nintendo system. Yet I haven't bought the Wii U and only have seen a few games that look interesting. I guess when Zelda, Metroid and the next 3D Mario game come out it may be a different situation but Nintendo has lost touch. They've always had to rely on the strength of first party games but society has become more focused on instant gratification. They are not doing enough to please the people who won't buy unless they get info immediately. While I am not among that crowd, it does make me question the long term prospects of the console.

Sony has really focused on having teasers available and delivering as much info as they can on what to expect without releasing all of it. They are off to a better start than PS3 and the system hasn't even released!

 

[Mark W**a]

I was going to start a thread, and maybe in the future I will, but you know what Farsight needs to do for PS4... Exclusive tables, like Revenge From Mars, or later system Sterns that are too powerful to emulate on the current platforms... Imagine how amazing that would be.

 

[karl]

This I don't agree with Mark. Imagine the storm hitting them from those who choose not to buy a PS4. The later Sterns is probably not to powerful for other systems anyway. I think they just have not put that much effort into emulating those since the licenses are so heavy on most of them. Bobby has said before that later Stern's is a possibility if they find a way around paying big money for licenses.

Regarding TV's: Surprised to hear that PS4 also will be handling 4K as a download platform. Makes me almost want to go for the Sony x9005 55" when it hits later this year. 7000$ is a lot but I almost payed that for my last TV and this is 9" larger and 4 freaking K.

 

[lettuce]

So will they be releasing all the tables currently available aswell for the PS4?

 

[brakel]

So will they be releasing all the tables currently available aswell for the PS4?

I think that is pretty much guaranteed.

 

[Mark W**a]

This I don't agree with Mark. Imagine the storm hitting them from those who choose not to buy a PS4. The later Sterns is probably not to powerful for other systems anyway. I think they just have not put that much effort into emulating those since the licenses are so heavy on most of them. Bobby has said before that later Stern's is a possibility if they find a way around paying big money for licenses.
.

I agree about later Sterns, I would -think- its doable. However, im not a tech guy, and Farsight is on record saying its too powerful for current platforms.

Now they are also on record saying emulation of older games wasnt possible... Yet here we have Black Knight...

So never say never. Newer sterns maybe but pin 2k?

I disagree about a **** storm... people worry too much...i understand some might be upset at the idea of a 720/ps4/pc exclusive table, but keep in mind this isn't unprecedented... The DMD tables were exclusive to Xbox 360 and ps3 versions of the Williams collection so this has happened before.

And that was 3 exclusive tables... Arabian Nights, Medieval Madness, and Gofers.

Hey would you rather Revenge From Mars was a next gen exclusive or simply never made at all?

 

[smooverr]

If I get a PS4 it will be for Pinball Arcade.

SO this ^^^^

 

[Bowflex]

I agree about later Sterns, I would -think- its doable. However, im not a tech guy, and Farsight is on record saying its too powerful for current platforms.

Now they are also on record saying emulation of older games wasnt possible... Yet here we have Black Knight...

So never say never. Newer sterns maybe but pin 2k?

I disagree about a **** storm... people worry too much...i understand some might be upset at the idea of a 720/ps4/pc exclusive table, but keep in mind this isn't unprecedented... The DMD tables were exclusive to Xbox 360 and ps3 versions of the Williams collection so this has happened before.

And that was 3 exclusive tables... Arabian Nights, Medieval Madness, and Gofers.

Hey would you rather Revenge From Mars was a next gen exclusive or simply never made at all?

As much as it would be nice for this to happen, I don't see it. Farsight has mentioned the technology challenge with current gen systems. Next Gen will probably be fine but the lack of titles for that particular piece of tech would not be worthwhile. You'd have Revenge from Mars, probably Wizard Blocks and maybe another prototype. If SW Ep 1 could get licensed that would make a maximum of 4. Most likely 1, maybe 2.

 

[Kevlar]

The biggest problem I see with modern Sterns is not the tech but the licensing, nearly all of them would require a kickstarter!

 

[smbhax]

Hey would you rather Revenge From Mars was a next gen exclusive or simply never made at all?

Yes I would prefer that Revenge from Mars had never been made at all.

Exclusive tables runs entirely against their business plan, which is selling to as broad an audience as possible. It would make no sense for them to spend a lot of time on something they can only sell to a small fraction of their user base.

 

[steven_dutch]

Bobby has just released another post on the EU Playstation blog.

Here's a copy 'n' paste

Hey everyone, Bobby King from FarSight Studios here. We just got back from Dallas and the Texas Pinball Festival. It’s a tremendously fun weekend that includes playing hundreds of classic and rare pinball machines to the latest tables from Stern Pinball, like The Avengers; and Jersey Jack’s first table, Wizard of Oz (which looks and plays great and features the first LCD backbox display in pinball history).

In Dallas, we were lucky enough to get to spend some time with legendary pinball designer, Steve Ritchie. The “King of Flow” even took some time to check out our latest PS3 feature, stereoscopic 3D before heading back to Stern where we know he’s working on his next pinball design destined to be a classic.
This week we’ll be releasing one of his designs – Star Trek: The Next Generation. It’s an amazing table and on pretty much everyone’s top 10 all-time list.

Based on the hit television series, STTNG puts players in the role of an honorary Starfleet Officer serving next to their favorite characters from the show. Features include eight different U.S.S Enterprise missions, many Multi-Ball Modes, Holodeck Video Modes and opportunities to advance in rank.

One unique feature is a patented, below the playfield multiple ball delivery system, which results in continuous gameplay when balls on the playfield fall into a cellar hole. With its amazing feature set, custom speech by eight original cast members and the show’s theme song and music, this table appeals to all players but is a Star Trek fan’s dream come true.

While we were in Texas, we recorded an interview (to be released next year) where Steve shared some stories with us about designing and developing Star Trek: TNG, in addition to his favourite features of the the table.

For example, when they had their first meeting with the Star Trek licensing executives, they were first told that photon torpedoes could not be in the design. With the help of Roger Sharpe’s diplomatic rhetoric and Steve’s insistence that he was not about to design a “mamby pamby” game – they were able to come up with compromises that led to a deep and compelling rule set.

During gameplay, the player gets to choose missions that change up the objectives on the table. All of these missions are fun and make every game different. Steve and I share the same favourite mission, Battle Simulation. In this mode, the two probes are loaded with pinballs and given targets to fire at and hit. The satisfaction of getting on a roll hitting the targets is a blast. Once the player gets through all of the missions, they can earn Final Frontier multi-ball – one of the most intense and spectacular pinball experiences ever created.

For those who don’t know, we owe a huge amount of thanks to the generosity and dedication of our backers on Kickstarter. Without them, the Star Trek: The Next Generation pinball project would not have been funded. We continue to be amazed and humbled by the tremendous outpouring of support that our game has received from all of our fans.

On behalf of the entire team here at FarSight Studios, we are very proud and excited to be releasing Williams’ Star Trek: The Next Generation table into The Pinball Arcade! Backers can expect vouchers for both the Pro Version of the table and the custom balls over the next couple days.

 

[Tabe]

They recorded an interview in Feb/March that they plan to release next YEAR? Why the 10 month wait?

 

[SKILL_SHOT]

Good catch Tabe. I think its a typo they probably meant next week...for mobiles and 3 months for PS3.

 

[smbhax]

The article is currently front page on the US PSN blog, here's the link. It includes a new Star Trek TNG video:

The lighting in the video is pretty heavy on their ol' pink and orange colored lighting scheme that I had hoped was no more... It isn't colored like that in the screenshots, for instance. Possibly those are from the 360 version...but I'm hoping the video is from eh an old lighting pass or something. > _> *crosses fingers*

EDIT: Hm I guess the screenshots do have the pink-n-orange treatment, it just isn't as obvious since the gamma is lighter than in the video.

EDIT 2: Yeah in the actual table the colored lighting isn't nearly as bad as as it looks in the video, whew!

 

[smbhax]

Yes I would prefer that Revenge from Mars had never been made at all.

Exclusive tables runs entirely against their business plan, which is selling to as broad an audience as possible. It would make no sense for them to spend a lot of time on something they can only sell to a small fraction of their user base.

Having said all that...I *would* like to see Wizard of Oz ; )

 

[PiN WiZ]

Here's some interesting and welcome news concerning indie developers on the PS4.

 

[shutyertrap]

Here's some interesting and welcome news concerning indie developers on the PS4.

Good find. Doesn't sound like it will help speed up the amount of time it takes a table release to get into the PSN store, but at least there won't be a patch fee.

 

[pseudokings]

Here's some interesting and welcome news concerning indie developers on the PS4.

Doesn't this article make it seem a lot more likely that if say, FS, wanted to offer a transfer (of same quality tables) and upgrade path for TPA from PS3-to-PS4 via PSN accounts that Sony might just let them, instead of being the evil/greedy bastards many have assumed, to anyone other than me?