Lexy lightspeed escape from earth

AFM

MM is a close second, but I don't think it has the replayability of AFM, which is pinball perfection, IMO.

Alien is too new to judge against these two, but chances are, while it's a great game, it's not in the same league.

I haven't played Alien yet, so I offer this suggestion with a bit of reservation, but I say Attack From Mars. I think it's better than MM, and as good as Alien might be, it's going to be real tough for it to run down AFM.

AFM > MM, but I'd choose Alien as it'll have better code and a more unique layout

None of the three. I only use my valuable space for games that would actually get played.

No bash toy on your TZ and you like that well enough probably?

Anyway, AFM>MM>Alien just for me in my current state. Wait time might be awHile for Alien I'm not sure, looks fun though.
Don;t know if you've ever had the "pleasure" of buying NIB and waiting , sometimes very, long time for updates.

I vote alien

MM -> AFM -> Alien

Alien still needs to prove itself - more time on it, more use in tournaments, etc.
MM and AFM are both great, but IMO MM is more fun -> better toys, better risk reward and better modes.

It's just very unlikely that Aliens is more fun than either AFM or MM. However, it would at least be something different. In a small collection, Id go with a known.

Ignoring which pin is best - and using a criteria of cool toys and having a fun experience, Brian Eddy's games never fail to deliver. I'd say : (AFM > Shadow > MM) > Alien.

I'd definitely give Alien a year or two before considering it, let alone comparing to available pins. Alien is over hyped at this time and especially for still being pre-production and from a newer manufacturer. LE artwork hasn't even been released. It will be a year or two (and the associated slow roll-out, problems, fixes, refinements and finally reasonably-immediate availability) and at that point one can observe it impartially for what it is. Not even part of the thread conversation imo as it is a ways off time-wise.

MMR > AFMR for me at this time (and made the decision with a recent buy). Both are known as great games. Though interestingly for me, I have no real memories of any game play on the originals so they are literally new games to me.

When comparing pin preferences, previous experience is an input often forgotten. Some people have played enough MM / MMR and/or AFM / AFMR to not want to add one their collection any longer. Without accounting for the difference in playing history it is hard to put much merit in these pin comparison threads.

It was my understanding that AFMR will be available in a few months. It "should be" a lot faster than MMR production, though that could change.

Frankly, I'd be in no rush to buy a new pin early (and especially an all-new pin). Get in for a later production unit and issues will be fixed plus refinements made.

If you look at AFM, it's not exactly filled with toys in comparison to Alien. You have the mother ship that shakes and bouncy aliens....I'm counting interactive toys only. It does have the smaller flasher ships that are non-interactive. Alien has an alien that eats the balls, which is the only technically interactive toy and then the sling facehuggers, popper eggs, rotating beacons, and mini lcd in the non-interactive category. I won't count the playfield and backbox lcd since you mentioned there are too many screens. So close on interactive toys with alien having far more non-interactive toys. Alien will probably have much deeper code like most modern games. It likely already does.

I could get both honestly. It just depends on pricing for AFMR.

I'm in on Alien,
#1 it's new
#2 it's packed with shots
#3 from the looks of it they've got something really special going with visuals, modes, sounds and theme integration.
Added bonus: it looks like Alien will be the least expensive of the three.

"I'm thinking of long term keeper on the value of replay and nothing else."

- Think WOZ, Dialed In or if it ever gets built, Total Annihilation.

So helpful. As always.

AFM also has strobe multiball, which is one of the best features on the game. Granted it is a multiball mode, but it is triggered during play so it is like a toy. And a cool one at that.

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MM and AFM are both classics that have stood the test of time. With that being said they are both 20+ years old and I've played the crap out of them over the years and I'm kind of over them. Plus everyone seems to own them so they aren't hard to find if you want to play one. My choice is Alien just because it's new and shows a ton of promise. Love the layout and the theme integration is top notch.

That's not really an interactive toy in my book (its really just some flashers). If so then we have to possibly include the lit ramps (once they are finished and depending on how they are implemented) and the beacons on alien.

"I'm thinking of long term keeper on the value of replay and nothing else."

That statement above makes me say Alien. Alien is going to have 15+ objective based modes in it that work the entire playfield. Both AFM and MM are awesome games but the main modes on both are all about hitting the same shot 5x, then 10x, then 15x, etc. AFM and MM gameplay is fun but I'm not sure if the rulesets for both would keep me interested after a year. I think that MM has the deeper and more engaging ruleset compared to AFM.

From the videos I've seen of Alien I can tell it's a game where the modes are unique and ones that work the entire playfield in interesting ways. Also, Alien has 4 flippers all with unique shots, color GI + color inserts, 3 ramps, Alien toy that eats pinballs, mutiple LCD screens, etc. Overall Alien seems like a very packed game.

Best way to make a final decision would be to get some gameplay on all 3, will need to wait for Alien since they are just starting to be shipped, and go with the one you like best.

Afm and mm are both awesome and my favorite pins to play . Not super deep but deep enough and very hard to master if set up correctly. Both have easy objectives and both have not so easy objectives. Afm has the better code imo over mm but both are very similar. Afm is faster , has more flow and is also more difficult imo. I have yet to beat mars and rule the universe after tons of games on it. I think alien will be a cool game but im gonna wait a bit while things get worked out and it becones a proven title. It has potential but still needs alot of things fixed imo. Put some time on afm and mm and i think u will see y they are so popular.

IMHO you really have to own a MM or AFM to really appreciate them. You have to get deeply into the rule set and have that experience. For me the sounds a game makes is above almost everything except for game play. I have never played an Alien so I will have to wait for the Showdown to see if one shows up. Looks Fun. I would recommend before making a definitive decision to put in some good time on an Alien.

I'd have to try Alien, even though I agree its light on toys. MM and AFM are everywhere... you probably have a half dozen friends that have these games as they are prerequisite to cookie cutter collections. Hell I have a MM that can't make it out of my garage into the gameroom. Just so bored to death with both MM and AFM. At least Alien is bringing a new experience to the table.

IMG_5645 (resized).JPG

If you have owned any pin for a while they can get boring after years of play . Has op owned eaither mm or afm before? If not than both wld be great choices to have in a collection and wld be new to him? . Ive played afm more than any other game since ive got it and its still my my favorite . Got mm few months ago and its great also . Brand new pins are great also but still have alot of unknowns and things that need worked out.

The only one that is still unknown is Alien. We all KNOW that AFM and MM kick ass. I personally like the medieval theme over the 50/60's alien theme...and I don't like the unavoidable video mode on AFM and SOL gobble hole. But it's still a fantastic top tier game. I don't know if I'd own both AFM and MM at the same time, but you can't go wrong with either.

I love that Alien is already being faced off against two of the greatest pins of all time.....and winning!

I recently had to make this decision....I put money down on an Alien. Love the layout and the theme integration....and deeper code. Not to mention the ability to swap in other games down the road with kits.

I was also considering selling my IMVE for a AFMr but have decided to hang on to IM....I just love that game.

Will see if it stands test of time..... of course anything new(with good theme) is gonna be popular against 20 year old stuff that many have allready owned. But if you have never owned some of the 20 year old stuff the feeling can be just as awesome bc its new to that person. I like alot about the alien pin but it definitely needs some work imo particularly the lack of action with the pops and slings and some other things need worked on also to make it play alot smoother. Ill wait for a bit untill all the bugs get worked out but the basis for a good game is there.

MM takes this easily in my opinion. My MMr is on the way.

Alien would be second. I might purchase this pin as I love the theme and I might give Heighway a chance.

I just don't like AFM but apparently I am in the minority. It is a boring layout. If you like AFM, The Hobbit is similar but better. I will never own AFM or AFMr.

Not to argue with your opinion but afm and mm nearly have the exact same layouts.....and definitely isnt anything like hobbit? First ive ever heard of any of this.....

Thank you. That started my morning out right.

I put my $$ on Alien.

OK...I've been sick and took 50 mg of Benadryl last night before bed and I don't know what in the hell I was talking about. It would have been 1 AM when I typed that so I'm not sure how I was even awake. Perhaps I was trying to say that my initial impression of both AFM and TH was that they were boring games but I've come around on TH?

It's probably best if there's no more benadryl and pinside for me.

-- clear headed TRAMD

Lmao! That's hilarious! Dude I don't even take cold medicine anymore it makes me feel so disconnected...

I am not sure what you consider toys, but Aliens has a few pretty cool toys compared to MM and AFM

Aliens > 1 big toy > xeno head
AFM > 1 toy? > Martian ship (I dont really think of this as a toy since the ball never interacts with it
MM > 1 awesome toy > the interaction of the castle is probably 1 of the best toys ever

other toys?:
Aliens: face hugger slings, upper ramp lock mech
AFM: jumping martians
MM: Catapult

I guess when I think of feature of a game I think of the interaction feature.
Aliens: 4 flippers, 2 slings, magnet, xeno, drop bank, 3 ramps, 2 spinners, 2 diverter posts, airsleep lock, 3 pops, scoop, subway
AFM: 2 flippers, 2 slings, 3 pops, stand up dropping bank, 2 ramps martian ship, jumping aliens, scoop, vuk and diverter
MM: 2 flippers, 2 slings, 3 pops, catapult, Castle (really 3 things hear with drawbridge, moat kicker, and explosion), 2 ramps, scoop, ramp diverter

They are pretty comparable in 'toys'

Then I count unique shots form flippers
Aliens: 31 specific shots from 4 flippers
AFM:23 specific shots from 2 flippers
MM:18 specific shots from 2 flippers

Madness.

So Alien has better gameplay than AFM or MM, really? Where did you play Alien? I watched the videos of Dial-In, Alien and Aerosmith. To me DI seems to be more fun than the other 2 simply judging by what I saw on youtube for what little it is worth. I got to play 3 games on DI at a show, which confirms my personal suspicion that it is on par with AFM & MM as far as layout and fun to play goes. Maybe I change my mind on Alien or Aerosmith once I actually get to play them, but before that it seems silly to judge those games against well established titles like AFM or MM.

AFM.

All time classic.

If the overall layout sucks the specific shots mean nothing.

Easily Alien. Support the NEW machines coming out, not the old, rehashed stuff.

Except that the layout for Alien is exceptional! I'm fortunate to be able to play Alien on route and have logged a good number of games and would say without a doubt that Alien has a better layout than MM or AFM. MM and AFM are basic fan layout games and Alien is truly unique and has four flippers with unique shots and a non-Italian bottom. Alien also has more immersive modes.-to be fair MM and AFM aren't really mode based games. Alien also has far better light show (full color changing leds), sounds, and display effects.-Of course it is also 20 years newer so it should! I do think MM and AFM have better humor and are likely to draw in new players since Alien is more challenging and isn't as approachable for beginners. I think what makes MM and AFM great is that someone that doesn't know pinball can walk up and play them and know exactly what to do. Alien has a steeper learning curve. I think all the games are great, it's just a matter of which type of game you're looking for. Personally, I have a hard time spending that much money on a 20+ year old game with older technology. I think you get more for your money on a game like Alien which has more state of the art features for the money.

luckily, the layout is GREAT!

If you like the layout of other games being discussed, I am not sure how you dont like Aliens layout?

Aliens is basically 3 fan layouts laid on top of each other.

alien fans (resized).jpg

Are the flippers really shifted to the right of center on Alien? I've never noticed that until I looked at the pic above.

Hmmm...that is odd.