Quoted from solarvalue:Yes, Gerry, can you speak a little about any plans for physical features which are located in the mid-playfield area over the LCD in future games. Are there any plans for a mid-playfield module which slides over (or can be attached over) the LCD much like the flipper/slingshot module does?
There are two ways P3 games will get developed:
a) We (Multimorphic) will make P3 games
b) Others (3rd parties) will make P3 games
We (Multimorphic) have been brainstorming additional 'floating' features to work above portions of the LCD. We've thought through designs for floating pop bumpers, ramps, upwards latching gates, etc. When such features fit into a new game concept, we'll put them in. It doesn't make sense to design in features just to check off a bullet. They have to make sense within the specific game.
We certainly hope other people and companies will be building P3 games too. Video game consoles thrive because there are 3rd parties developing games in addition to those created by the console manufacture (ie. Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony, etc). The P3 follows the same model. Some of our pre-order customers plan to develop new games, and once the P3 ecosystem is established, other manufacturers will likely want to as well. Future P3 features, therefore, aren't limited to what we design. That's the beauty of the open-platform model.
Quoted from solarvalue:
I think a major concern for people will be that the P3 is more open in the mid-playfield area than traditional games and you will need to have a plan in place for this (but you have probably already thought of it).
This is one of those "you just have to play it" things. As Zitt referenced, I've been saying publicly that probably 75% of existing games have all of their interactive features in the same region as the P3 upper playfields. Dennis Nordman, when designing the Lexy Lightspeed playfield, overlayed our p/f layout on top other games he's designed. He picked 3 (maybe his 3 most recent) and all of the features for all 3 games were beyond the region of the walls/scoops.
Our big playfield LCD drives an impression that our p/f is more open than most others. It's not true. Ours is just dynamic whereas others are painted pieces of wood. Other games have what 20-30 insert lamps in the lower part of the p/f? The P3 has 2 million. Other games have maybe 15-20 switches in the lower part of the playfield? The P3 has essentially thousands.
Yes, there are machines here and there that have lower features, but the majority do not. Regardless, I can say this all day long on a message forum, but I probably won't alter your impression. You simply have to play it for yourself.
Also important: the interactive virtual features we put in LCD give you (the player) game objectives in the lower portion of the playfield. The result is that P3 games are MORE engaging in the lower p/f than most traditional games. Again, I'm sure you'll need to experience it yourself before you believe me. There's still time to hop on a plane for a vacation in Texas. 
That's the plan... p/f art, plastic set, etc. I realize there are a lot of people urging us on from the finish line, but it's a long race, and sprinting through it would be a big mistake.
Quoted from Plungemaster:
I think when you have normal flippers. Move the screen a little upwards just above the flippers and slingshots i might like it more.
I'll be curious to get your opinion after you play it (you're flying in too, right? . There are so many cool things we're doing with the display under the flippers, slings, and even in the apron area that simply can't be done with other machines. Floating the flippers and slings over the large 'touchscreen' display is a choice I would make over and over again.
Where do most people look the majority of time they're playing a game? At and around the flippers. That's exactly where the display belongs.
- Gerry
http://www.multimorphic.com
Round Rock, TX
Kamloops, BC
Boronia
Leicester
Breda, Holland
