TPA's been on a roll recently, with emulation quality improving and some fantastic choices for new tables (go, Centaur, go!). Still, we have a ways to go before FarSight can consider the work of preserving pinball done, but resources are tight and we may only be getting 3 more seasons, so doing all the tables, though it would be awesome, is probably not an option. What should FarSight's goals for TPA be? Here are some specific tables and broader goals I came up with:
- As many System 11 and WPC tables as can practically be done: There's a reason Williams is still the glamour brand among pinheads, even nearly 14 years after they left the business. With an array of 56 tables not yet emulated to choose from, this should provide at least another 2 years of release material, even accounting for licensing and other issues.
- At least 1 Gottlieb System 3 that doesn't feature Gunther the Gopher: OK, I'll admit that System 3 had a lot more clunkers in its lineup than the WPC MPUs did, but its best tables can go toe-to-toe with 95% of solid-state decks out there. Stargate is the premier (no pun intended) attraction here, but I've also heard from partisans for Class of 1812, Freddy, Lights, Camera, Action! and Street Fighter II. Opinions towards these tables seem to have softened with time, especially given the tanklike durability of System 3, so the time is right to give these underappreciated decks some love.
- At least 2 more Stern v1.0 tables: This is a corner of pinball history that doesn't get much love, so I'm really looking forward to the release of Table Pack #17. However, it would be a crying shame if Flight 2000 were the only Stern v1.0 to make it into TPA. I personally would go for Lightning first, Catacomb second and Nine Ball third, then take it from there (give Freefall & Iron Maiden some love, too, FarSight!), but I'd be happy with almost any 2 FarSight come up with here.
- Hyperball: This one seems to be something of a hate sink amongst pinheads, but bear with me for a moment. Everything I've seen of it so far looks fast, aggressive & unforgiving—classic Steve Ritchie, in other words. Also, if you're going to reject Hyperball for its lack of flippers, then you also have to reject any pinball machine released prior to Humpty Dumpty. Give Hyperball a shot and I'm sure you'll find it to be a grand old time!
- Smaller manufacturers: I know that FarSight are reticent about pursuing emulation of Alvin G., Atari & Capcom because it would be for the sake of perhaps 4 tables people want from each, but I still maintain that TPA is incomplete without those 2-4 tables from each of the aforementioned manufacturers. If it really would be that much of a hassle to do, how about separate apps for each manufacturer, much like A.S.K. Homework's Zaccaria Pinball app? You could charge a bit of a premium (to reflect the fact that these are a bit out of the way) and sell it mainly to the sorts of people who post at places like digitalpinballfans.com. Actually, I think that might be the best solution, since we want as many slots open for hwever many seasons remain as possible.
Does that about cover it or did I leave out something important?
- As many System 11 and WPC tables as can practically be done: There's a reason Williams is still the glamour brand among pinheads, even nearly 14 years after they left the business. With an array of 56 tables not yet emulated to choose from, this should provide at least another 2 years of release material, even accounting for licensing and other issues.
- At least 1 Gottlieb System 3 that doesn't feature Gunther the Gopher: OK, I'll admit that System 3 had a lot more clunkers in its lineup than the WPC MPUs did, but its best tables can go toe-to-toe with 95% of solid-state decks out there. Stargate is the premier (no pun intended) attraction here, but I've also heard from partisans for Class of 1812, Freddy, Lights, Camera, Action! and Street Fighter II. Opinions towards these tables seem to have softened with time, especially given the tanklike durability of System 3, so the time is right to give these underappreciated decks some love.
- At least 2 more Stern v1.0 tables: This is a corner of pinball history that doesn't get much love, so I'm really looking forward to the release of Table Pack #17. However, it would be a crying shame if Flight 2000 were the only Stern v1.0 to make it into TPA. I personally would go for Lightning first, Catacomb second and Nine Ball third, then take it from there (give Freefall & Iron Maiden some love, too, FarSight!), but I'd be happy with almost any 2 FarSight come up with here.
- Hyperball: This one seems to be something of a hate sink amongst pinheads, but bear with me for a moment. Everything I've seen of it so far looks fast, aggressive & unforgiving—classic Steve Ritchie, in other words. Also, if you're going to reject Hyperball for its lack of flippers, then you also have to reject any pinball machine released prior to Humpty Dumpty. Give Hyperball a shot and I'm sure you'll find it to be a grand old time!
- Smaller manufacturers: I know that FarSight are reticent about pursuing emulation of Alvin G., Atari & Capcom because it would be for the sake of perhaps 4 tables people want from each, but I still maintain that TPA is incomplete without those 2-4 tables from each of the aforementioned manufacturers. If it really would be that much of a hassle to do, how about separate apps for each manufacturer, much like A.S.K. Homework's Zaccaria Pinball app? You could charge a bit of a premium (to reflect the fact that these are a bit out of the way) and sell it mainly to the sorts of people who post at places like digitalpinballfans.com. Actually, I think that might be the best solution, since we want as many slots open for hwever many seasons remain as possible.
Does that about cover it or did I leave out something important?
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