I/O board USB 2 mini socket replacement procedure.
Note this board is in a FT but the same cheap-arse crap sockets are used on all the HP I/O's.
Obtain quality replacements.
Mask surrounding areas with kapton tape. I used 2 layers where smd's were close.
Remove crap original sockets with a good quality hot air re-work station. I profiled the area to 160, 240 then 320 deg C at 120L air p/m at which point they floated off.
Clean up pads & land with 2mm pre-fluxed braid then isopropyl and isopropyl also on new socket.
Apply paste using pre-cut screen - I couldn't find mine so a needle was used.
Press new socket into alignment holes, ensure no excess paste has drifted, apply air at 320 deg C at 80 L/pm.
I applied an iron and a tiny amount of 63/37 on the tabs/land for strength.
Remove kapton, clean with isopropyl, buzz out pins, inspect area under scope, re-install & crank out a high score.

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That sounds fantastic. I hope you -- or someone -- offers a service to do that, for those who aren't capable of doing so.

I found 2 new original HW Alien facehugger for the slingshots.
What is the best way to swap them ??

Mhhh ... the Alien remake folks get pretty new software.
Any chance to make this available for the original Alien keepers ?

It would be awesome, and they have added Ellen in some scenes, finally

I asked Brian for any information... unfortunately he's too busy with other PB projects.

It's relatively easy to change the audio/video assets, just by booting with a Linux USB thumb drive and swapping the files with your own. I'm planning to have a proper go at it some time...

But will this change also the gameplay and new modes ??!!
I know from TBL that it is easily possible to swap video and audio but the corresponding gameplay ?! Mhhh ...

As I said, it's very easy to change audio and video files, but the coding isn't.

When PB phoenixed Aliens they said they'd support the original games too so I really hope they follow through with that re this new code!

Curious where you heard that? I spoke with them on the phone when they first announced their return and they flat out told me it's not their game and have nothing to do with it and their game will be completely different. That's when I went on a rampage all over social media and harassed them to the point where they offered those coupons for us owners who got screwed by them.

The only way is to get in contact with Brian Dominy again and again.
He's the only one person who's able to breakdown the latest code from PB to the HW machine.

I don’t think that harassing Brian is the right approach.

It was a while ago now but I'm sure it was part of the original announcement when they launched, but judging by what you're saying I may be totally incorrect with my recollection, which is a shame.

I wouldn't want to harass anyone but let's be fair, without the OG game the PB one wouldn't exist so it's a bit shit if we don't get the same treatment on a code update if it's possible to make it happen.

Of course, we shouldn't harass Brian in any way.
We have to be patience and hope that someday we will get a final code for HW ALIEN.

Sorry for the jumbly ass posts!

whats the topper look like?

RIPLEY HAS JOINED THE PARTY!
Now Available To Order From Flip N Out Pinball

flipnoutpinball.com
email: [email protected]
text: 812.457.9711

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Dammit. Would love to at least have the topper and new models to put on my OLD Aliens pin. Lol

I believe the models will be believe separately they are made by art of pinball

That would be fantastic. I'd buy everything. Just checked, I don't see any word on their site yet.

That’s a crazy competitive price!

OG HW Alien still wins, regardless new artwork/toys whatnot. However, many here including myself would love to have the new code with Ripley included one day

Great the pinball gods are at it again going to take my money!

Yup......we've all seen this before! (Predator, Big Lebowski)

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“Pending licensor approval”

Do u think us heighway owners are done getting updates ? This is it for us ? Farewell ?

Zach, is there more info IE: topper pics? Some gameplay footage maybe? Beacons included or optional?

DAMMIT MAN! Expo is SOOOO far away!!! Awwww!?!?!

From day 1 they told us OG owners to pound sand. The only reason they'd change their mind now would be money in parts to sell to us, but they've made that clear they don't want to sell key components to us by making them specific to their pin only....so....seems pretty cut and dry, but here's hoping

I accepted for me that I have a very unique ALIEN with a big story in the background. My Alien looks great, it has a lot of innovations, it has a monitor in the playfield. It has a fully playable software. I can make a topper myself (if I want to).
I am a happy HW ALIEN owner and there is no need for any update or help from PB.

It was nice that they allowed the 1.4 software. Thats it.

I understand fully that they will not support a game they did not sell and did not make any money on, nor will they earn money in the future from us HW owners.
Everything is fine, it is 2 different machines. I am happy to have the original in outstanding quality. My 2 Cents.

Thank you PB for copying all our ideas we made come true the last years... airbushed Xeno head, Airlock frame, Apron made of steel.
Do they have their own ideas?
For the brazen theft, PB should give us a software update!

Yup, they've stolen everything.

I just find it ironic that PB Brothers stated they wanted to appease ALL of the original buyers of the Heighway version who was screwed out of getting their order(s) filled when they decided to take over the license and property from Heighway and decided to manufacture this pin again.

Now they won't even assist the original owners of Alien who, by lesser words were just plain "lucky" to get one before the ship sunk, free updates to our software as well. It just feels like I'm getting screwed because for once I was able to get a pin I ordered over a year ago, even though I had to settle for the regular version besides the LE version I originally ordered (with no goodie bag and t-shirt as promised).

I love my Alien pin, but who can say no to some updates that would include more movie scenes and Ripley involved.

Okay, I'm off my soap box. BTW, what is the newest code version for the Heighway version of Alien?? I'm sure mine is outdate and I'm not sure where and how would I install the newest code update. Maybe Averell could chime in and help a fellow Alien brother out?

Its been "it" for us since day 1. PB would say/ do anything, selling cobbled OG machines, parts etc. " pretending " they gave a shit...why? Still needed OG $$$ to fund the gutted remake.
PB is not a pinball company, merely brokers, who are as guilty as Andrew for not jumping in, finishing the OG, and have a true cornerstone, making peolpe that lost their ass whole, and everything else a legit company would do. DP had similiar problems, but never abandoned the original, and slowly turning a corner...you know why? DP is a Pinball company, PB is not!!

Are the new production machines still a buggy broken mess?

Did not care for the geomery on the OG machines i played (brick city), is this still the case on the new machines or was it altered?

Love the ip and the look of the game so really want to like this but heighway certainly made it hard.. no diss to those who own and like the game, diffrent strokes and all that.

Pinball Brothers was involved when Highway was still in business as we could see with their name everywhere on boards.

They took over the business and.... pretty much 95% of the design and engineering dev which was the main cost of this pin.
I understand why they consider that the old Alien is not theirs but at the end, they don't stand behind their old association and work.

It should cost them not much to share even small code updates and they could compensate with selling extra mods or parts.

There are some minor tweaks - for example a new switch which triggers a magnet to catch the ball momentarily and allow the upper left ramp shot to be at least plausible. Overall the geometry is the same

The PB version of the game is substantially different from the original Heighway games. If the original Heighway design worked, they would have stayed with it. It absolutely WOULD cost them a lot to reopen that code, and for what? Heighway owners already have a game. PB makes no new sales from it.

It might be a good idea for them to offer a paid upgrade - maybe if they offer the code for say, $800, it might be possible. But then people would complain about that. I DO think they should release the code as open source, and let the community handle updates themselves. I'm not sure of the legal ramifications of doing so - maybe they are prevented from releasing the code, or there's some liability concern.

If the new code is good, I’m okay with $800 personally.

My only real issue to date is flipper springs breaking. Simple fix, cheap part. Magnet for the left upper ramp shot is working and has always worked, I did have a loose cable on the small monitor and it took longer to take the glass off than to fix it. Xeno grabs the ball most of the time, when it doesn't it is because the shot traveled too fast across the magnet.

Btw, I think the springs break because the spring catch is just a sharp metal edge, like a knife. I plan on putting some padding or a drop of epoxy in the groove so it does not rub across the spring like a little saw. In the meantime just bought a bunch of .60 cent springs.

So um....is this game a hot mess that should be avoided? Kind of been out of the loop on this situation for awhile.

Like any game, there’s some people who are fanatics, some hate it, some take it or leave it.

I’ve had some issues with mine and I do NOT think it shoots well, but also I think most of that is the dialing in factor; just tiny adjustments. (I’ve had it for 4 or 5 months but don’t have a lot of time right now). There is definitely a clatter/clunk factor - but some of that is being addressed by mods tightening up the shots in certain places so they go where they’re supposed to go.

The reverse outlane gate ejects drive me CRAZY, and there’s a couple small things I still need to adjust - but the modes and the sound package are amazing. I wouldn’t characterize it as a hot mess, and while my personal experience hasn’t been flawless, it’s still one of two games I go for first most days.

Yea, no 27" BB acreen, no PF screen, oh but a magnet and physical lock. The OG DID/DOES work by design. PB DID make substantial $$$ selling cobbled OG's, stamping their name on boards, etc.

The point is missed by a mile here. PB Aliens look and feel flimsy fit/ finish to an OG. Period. PF layout, shots "flow" whatever, pretty much identical.

PB did not WANT to finish the original, though it was so close, to avoid any sort of accountability to the countless pinsiders that lost thousands on games that were never built. They chose to whore the theme ( along with Queen which HW owned) distance themselves just enough to get what they needed to make $$$. One of the biggest travesties/ shameless blows to the hobby.

OG owners will get the same thing we've always gotten.....nothing..

Huh? You ok bro?

I'm good, lol...PB is such a sore spot w me...drags alot of bad memories back out on occasion..apologies....

Well, I've never seen an og Aliens. But I've played the new one and I like it and the price is very attractive.

Than you cant compare.
I played a new one , it was 1 day out of the box:
1. It did not boot all the time.
2. After 2 balls the left flipper finger got stuck and I switched it off.

The 2 balls were spooky, the machnics sounded like a old Stern Whitestar, very "clicky" and cheap. Nothing to compare with WMS, DP, AP or JJP. Just cheapish.

Would like to play the new code just to know what changed ... but I never want a repro from PB.
I might have a chance to play a Queen tomorrow. Will see how it feels and plays.

This is somewhat reassuring...!

What's the other game?

Meanwhile, this definitely isn't..!

Let me throw a bit of levity to the grumpy asses in this thread. Remove all the BS regarding the HWY version, overall the PB version plays better and is more stable. PB has worked out most of the issues they had. I have a very early ones and have had hardly any issues with mine. Would I trust it on a route? Nope, but I wouldn't trust a HWY on route either. I haven't ever found one that played correctly for very long.

For overall appearance, stock HWY wins. There are some unique things on the HWY version that just cannot be topped from an aesthetics perspective since PB removed them. With mods, PB is pretty good, just in different areas. I am not a fan of the Ripley version art, but that's because it matches the LV art which I didn't care for either.

For what they are asking at current prices for other games, if you are remotely interested in an Alien, Ripley version is a no brainer, but at the same time you get used right now for less - probably with mods as well. The one thing most of the HWY and PB Alien owners do agree on is that it's a great game overall.

A few points of clarity too. It is just new video (and maybe some callouts from video). There are no new modes or gameplay changes.

Is this conjecture or in the know type stuff?

Thank you for the thorough and objective review on both!

Quick question. Who makes their playfields currently?