I have a 65" 4K Ultra HD OLED TV on my wall at home, but I still look at the art I have on the walls in my house

However Alien is a theme that needs the big screen in the back box as the motion and lighting and atmosphere in the films plays such a huge part of the immersion of the world we are going to be playing in, but I wouldn't say no to a kick ass Alien LE translite to hang on my wall next to my pin, I know I would look at it.

These heighway games have been stroked into American standards peice by piece. Their original concept was swappable everything, widebody, in playfield lcd, no backbox at all.

Now we have an afterthought-ish looking backbox (because it is), an indecisive push for a backbox screen (big one, small one), and now this new mini screen.

Will Andrews vision be continually filtered out over the next few titles?

HEIGHWAY PINBALL MISSION STATEMENT
"Our goal is to make pinball mainstream again, by producing fun, innovative, reliable and affordable pinball machines, packed with the latest technology."

Best to give the people what they want... right?

Innovative yes, but they are going in a traditional path.

Give people what they want? Absolutely!

There is a huge untapped traditionalist market which have posted many comments on pinside about such things as deletion of the in pf screen and having regular decal artwork.

Since these games are evolving more and more into jjp territory, then why not take it all the way?

Or create a line of standalone non-swappable pins and see which sells better.

Edit. I posted this before reading andrews...sorry

-

I like the Alien machine concept including the mandatory Xenomorph head. I think the playfield and back box Video screens are a great and and evolving feature that could stand alone in either implementation. However.....the 3rd screen in place of the airlock chamber is just not a good change in my opinion. It has nothing to do with the bezel or physical placement...it's just not a feature at this point...it's a duplicate or tertiary item depending on the model. Pinball is a physical, visual, and auditory experience. A great machine has a great balance of presentation and player interaction of all of these elements. Im sure most pinball folks would agree there can never be enough physical interactions on a playfield. In my opinion some other ball interactive playfield item would have been a better choice as simple or complex as it could have been.

I agree but also think that theres multiple options with the mini screen and only one action with a toy for the most part, a jumping plastic Alien Queen would become boring real fast, its all going to come down to how its implemented, I think using it as a light source with the Xeno head is a smart move.

Plus, the Alien playfield already has, at last count, six dedicated models from three unique toy moulds, even without the physical Queen.

At this point its likely too late for any major changes, but someone mentioned a lab tube with a face hugger inside. That would be a great idea and may actually fit nicely next to the Xeno head. I suppose the only issue there is that the scoop is related to the queen shot, so that sort of makes it have to be directly queen related, in which case perspective is going to be an issue in almost any case. I think the airlock idea could have worked if executed differently. Instead of a spinning can that looks like the airlock, it could have been a dark covered area that would be made to look like part of the ship that's not scaled down so it could match the xeno head. It would have a door slide up or down that would reveal the queen during certain modes (add flashing lights). I probably did a crappy job of explaining this, but I can see it in my head real well. Basically what was wrong with the original queen can is simply that it was a miniaturized airlock next to the Xeno, just forget that and make it look like part of the ship with a hidden sliding door.

All I'm reading here lately are criticisms from a bunch of armchair quarterbacks. As stated countless times before, you can't please everyone.

They know exactly how the 3rd screen will be utilized better than any of us. If it makes the game more immersive & easier to convey important information to the player, then it's going to work very well. Virtual airlock doors sliding open to reveal videos of the Queen, CRT graphics, timer countdowns, shot callouts, etc sounds pretty damn cool to me. My resounding faith in Heighway remains unwavered.

Looking forward to January

I'm curious about a Hypersleep chamber toy (similar to the beds from the Nostromo). Was it ever considered to place a toy in ball lock area on the upper left ramp, where you could see the locked balls inside? I'm not even sure if it would be possible with the new ramp, but might be something to consider to design & make available as an aftermarket mod. I mean isn't the ball lock area referred to as the Hypersleep chamber on the ball save area of the playfield?

Just curious

=pinsiders

I'm more of a love seat full back but I get ur point, I love the screen and mods will be a plenty for this theme.

That's exactly how it's supposed to work.

I mean, I haven't seen the final version with all the changes, but I know I laid out a plastic with a window in it so you can see the locked balls.

= Customers

It's the holidays.

alien (resized).jpg

I honestly feel like people are just posting now without stopping to actually look at the game first. Or maybe without playing it first, not everyone made it to Expo, and that's fine. But turning the queen into a facehugger in a tube? WTF? Why??

There are already two leaping facehuggers on the slings. This game, after removing the queen sculpt, still has 6 sculpted toys on it, all of which move or light up and all interact with the ball.

Another facehugger? And in a tube, that sits there, and what? Wiggles a little? What would be the point of that? How does it fit in with any of the modes? How does it further the game? How would a third facehugger make sense? What mode does that work with? And now there's no queen at all?

Or we have the guy telling us that pinball is about visual and auditory experiences, complaining about the LCD screen that will feature ... visual and auditory experiences! You want it to interact with the ball? It's sitting over a scoop! One of the most important shots in the whole game for that matter. And it will interact with that scoop of course. But it's not like you can stick a target there or something. This is literally more interactive than what it's replacing.

How about when you shoot that scoop the LCD flashes a warning to let you know the ball is being ejected? Or it displays some useful information letting you know the scoop is ready for a mode, or a mode instruction, or a timer. The doors slide open to reveal the snarling queen, instead of a dinky static toy. (Matt did a great sculpt, to be clear, not his fault the scale just wasn't there.)

We have some other ideas, but they need play testing, so we'll see how they work first. The beauty of it is it's all software, so we can keep improving it independent of Wales building and shipping games. Because whoever said it was a last minute change did have a point, even if I was defensive about it. It's not a random change, it's not a change for the sake of change, but it is the final hour, and the advantage of being able to develop it further is definitely a factor in our favor.

I know I'm sounding grumpy here, but come on, work with us. We're right here, developing the game and interacting with everyone in real time. It's been a long ass journey, you're tired of it, I'm tired of it, I get it. But the negative energy and garbage is just a real drag. I didn't even see what the mods removed that was apparently way personally over the line, and great, glad to miss some asshole taking shots at me. But everything we're doing here has a whole team of people thinking about it, arguing about it, collaborating. I guess I just would hope there's a little faith that we're not f—king it all up.

Do I sound like a crazy person here?

I think the extra screen is going to be really cool once refined and sized w bezel correctly.

If anyone here wants to stand up and claim that Andrew doesn't listen to his customers please feel free.

You don't make a good game by asking everyone what they want, and then trying to make them all happy.

homer2 (resized).jpg

He's not returning my email and i'm a customer, not sure for how much longer.

Pretty sure you live in australia? Andrew has posted NUMEROUS times that they are working out logistics to aus shipping and distributor so just sit tight.

Gary Stern has never Skyped me. Andrew has. Just sayin'...

nothing to do with logistics of shipping or distributors.
more to do with VAT being charged on exported pins.

Maybe I missed the original context. Lots of people telling other people to STFU for their opinions on games, and then using "Pinsiders" as a pejorative, as though Pinsiders are something other than pinball lovers/players/buyers.

I agree that it's time for Heighway to stop listening to Pinsider feedback on this game's design at this point...box it. Ship it.

Agreed. It's been a long 2+ years.

No f—king s#!t, I will drink to that.

your in Australia brah, no VAT. whats happening ?

It's not.

I know it's off topic but you guys should make a Lord of the Rings Pinball machine I think you could do some amazing things with a Lotr Pinball machine.

First post ever? Welcome to pinside!

Yes it is figured I would make it count and ask for the machine I would love to see remade I don't like the hobbit it was a horrible movie so cheesy and Lotr Pinball was great but I think this company could make another great Lotr Pinball game

it is on my invoice

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year, Andrew!

Im afraid, youll need to post everyday! Lets see if it gets read or within 24 hours, another 6 people will design the
game for you!

Doesnt make me miss the non stop emails on how to redesign a Light Bulb!

Details of the invoice were emailed to you on the 7th of December.
recieved your PM and returned a PM.
if you could look into it please.

I said it seemed like a last minute change and yes, immediately you got defensive.

Here's my point. One guy says "hey what about a third face hugger" and boom you tear his idea apart. He could be a potential customer. His idea/opinion is his own but as soon as it conflicts with your own you get defensive. The way you react contradicts your post "work with us" why would one give his opinion when this is your reaction?

I'm that as$#h%=e

I will give it another attempt so you don't miss out.

I said the artwork reminds me of Sega art, copy and paste, done! It tends to float on the playfield and is far from seamless.

I then said the 3rd lcd is uninspiring and far from innovative.

This is just my thoughts, some will agree and others won't but who cares, it's just an opinion and we're posting in a forum for pinball discussion.

All I can do is think of a comparison. You might hate my car, the color, wheels, tyres, style etc but to me your opinion doesn't worry me as I like my vehicle. Now, if you gave your opinion regarding my vehicle to the manufacture, then yes they may get offended. The difference, Chrysler, Bentley, Ferrari or for motorcycle lovers, Harley, Yamaha, Ducati etc will never! Post in a public forum.

Yes, yes you do

They can be that AND other things...it's not one or the other. You can be a pinball player AND have terrible ideas. You can be a pinball lover(?!) AND be a bit of a whiner, you can be a pinball buyer AND create straw man arguments...

Happy Holidays and may 2017 bring more LCD screens to make "pinsiders" heads explode

Lies, mods had to remove your burger king rant and you know it and so does everyone else that read it. It was so distasteful and uncalled for, surprised you're still here. Sorry, can't take anything you say seriously after you showed the hate.

I'm far from denying my burger King rant. I'm just showing restraint not to be moderated. No personal attacks, so my new post has none.

Can't wait to get the game!!!! The changes sound great. I'm paid and ready to go!!! Happy holidays to Andrew and all the heighway pinball employees!!! Tony USA!!

Certainly you are entitled to your opinion, but your opinion is gone.
All that remains is you stating you will never buy a Heighway Pinball...Is this not correct?

As you state....we are posting in a forum for discussion......The Playfield criticism has been noted and hashed through,
Im not sure if youve read the thread, and issues over the last 2 years.
However, since you will never be a customer, do you think that the creator of this work, might possibly be offended?

Many good people have left the forum, or others simply dont post because people believe that "discussion" can be "ruined"
with things like, incomplete information, trolling.....you are not buying, or negative criticism.

Especially since a decision was made to put an LCD in. Your Opinion came in seemingly late.

Please also understand, that with 34 posts, and to be here on a reasonably positive thread, with excited buying customers,
the negative perspective is viewed as trolling by some. Generally people prefer to hear criticism, but can sense a negative
tone.

Perhaps not your intent, but in General, no Aurich is not crazy, and a positive contributor to the hobby.

Sorry sir, Just my opinion, and I happen to disagree with yours.

Toy or a plastic, just super stoked to hear it might be in the cards. Would be a really nice touch

Good response. Very well written.

I like few, really wanted Full Throttle. Read my posts. I tried numerous times to purchase without success due to no reply. Many seem to have the same problem. No, I'm not in on Alien but I enjoy reading the threads, opinions, pictures, videos. Still allowed to have an opinion as you have clearly stated.

Apart from posting here regarding my failed purchase re full throttle, my only other post was regarding the 3rd lcd. Instantly I was told from Aurich I was wrong. Seems as per his latest post he recognisers he was defensive and I had a point. He reacted quickly and harshly so I returned the favor.

So no, I'm not disgruntled, I'm not trolling, I just gave my opinion on the 3rd lcd.

I understand your frustration.

Sometimes, and this is just a friendly suggestion, because I screw up too,
type your post, walk away, and reread before you send.
Perhaps your message can be conveyed in a slightly different manner.

Negative criticism need not hurt.

Nothing wrong...each thread takes a life of its own, and we jump around.

Well meaning people can miss a post, read something incorrectly, or simply have had
a shitty day.

Im only saying all this, because other threads seem to be broken, and this one is now
bubbling over with excitement.

But Ive met Andrew on many occasions, and while his business model at the time of getting a game to where
you are may have failed, he's a Gentlemans, Gentleman, who pours his heart and soul into this project.

Aurich, is a mate youd give the keys to your house and car without concern.

Look myself and many others simply stated the bezel on the "Queen LCD" screen was to large and jammed right next to the centerpiece of the game.

Andrew read these posts and nicely commented that they now have an option for a screen with a smaller (hopefully black) bezel and it will be as far away from the xeno head as possible. Done.

Issue commented on and apparently issue solved... now let's get them rolling off the line. Good job Andrew.

You hit the nail on the head. My greatest flaw is reacting too quickly, I know as the little lady tells me this all the time.

I guess I look at it as a business point of view. I've been in the media game for years and work for the largest media company in the world. I understand marketing corporates in an extensive way. My only advice would be responding to people as an employee and not a personality. He's representing a company. Don't tell people they are wrong, don't respond to people with WTF? It's just not good business. 9,000 posts and over 600 by aurich, how many of these post show any form of professionalism. There is a vast difference with how Andrew replies.

I get how the pinball community loves speaking with the manufacturer. They feel ownership, like their thoughts or opinions count towards the end goal. Hell they cant ring Chevy and discuss their design plans for the new Camaro..........Hmmmm but maybe this is my point.

Thanks for the tip.  Time to watch some batman 66 gameplay videos.

Apparently you're the guy who wrote something about me that was so offensive the moderators had to delete it, I didn't realize that until now. I don't know you, you sure as hell don't know me, and I don't know what your problem is, but I'm not going to waste my time engaging with someone who would do that (and then try and lecture about behavior lol), and I couldn't care less what you think of the game, how I post, or just about anything else.

The crazy personal nonsense people think is okay to just spew on the internet because they're anonymous, or on the other side of the planet, it's just beyond me. Cheers to the mods who have to put up with all of it, it's a pain I'm sure, but I appreciate it.