I think Heighway was simply inviting the people that were "invested" in their Alien Pinball theme. It makes sense to attract the people who put their money where their mouth is to get genuine authentic feedback that would be more useful and constructive for their creative uses on their own forum.

I joined as "Hudson" and started a couple threads on the Heighway forum earlier which I will post over here to attract perhaps a broader scope of perspectives.

Alien Pinball: Movie Quote Call Outs
Alien Pinball: This is What we Want

Lit side box art? I didn't see that on Heighways teaser page:

http://heighwaypinball.com/?page_id=1231

35 years after ‘Alien’ first came to movie theatres around the world, Heighway brings this terrifying title to pinball. With an all-new playfield layout, designed by industry design legend Dennis Nordman, this pinball game focuses on the first two movies, ‘Alien’ and ‘Aliens’. The player is submersed into the depths of outer space to play through multiple modes and stories featuring some of the most iconic storylines from both movies.

The widebody game, currently in development, features

◾4 Flippers
◾Alien Xenomorph Models
◾Facehuggers
◾Chest Bursters
◾Space Jockey
◾Pulse Rifle Gunfights
◾Robot Sentries
◾+ Much Much More!!

’35th Anniversary Edition’

In 1979, the release of ‘Alien’ made movie history and to celebrate 35 years of cinematic terror, Heighway Pinball will be releasing 500 ’35th Anniversary Edition’ games.
Available now for pre-order, and scheduled for production in April 2015, this special ‘Limited Edition’ game will feature:
◾Black Gloss Cabinet Finish, with Bright Lime Green Powder Coated Metal Trim (including legs)
◾Pinball Topper With Yellow Beacons
◾Exclusive ’35th Anniversary Edition’ Backglass And Sideart (+ Standard Edition Artwork Package Also Included)
◾’35th Anniversary Edition’ Game Plaque With Allocated Number (from 001-500)

◾Fibre Optic Ramp Lighting
◾Shaker Motor

◾Exclusive ’35th Anniversary Edition’ Alien Pinball Goodie Bag, With Magnets, T-Shirts, Posters, Badges + Much More!

Hey No worries, but I will admit you had me wishing I missed something for a minute there. I could see side box lighting matching and somehow tying into the Fibre Optic Ramp Lighting on the ’35th Anniversary Edition’ version.

That's a great idea though, submit it to Heighway! Who knows it's still early.

Oh dear Lord I have to go change my pants now!

Thanks for setting us straight

Perhaps because it's supposed to be modular for easy part assembly swap outs. That's kind of Heighways thing.

Thanks for the link to the article.

So dual LCD screens are being looked at that play synchronized clips from the movie plus there will be another LCD screen in the spinning toy that shows an air lock opening clip to reveal what mode you started? Wow. I bet the LCD and zenomorph on the spinning toy will be easy to get to compared to the Queen who will be reserved for something spectacular.

He can't yet comment on using the original actors for call outs. That's probably good, meaning something at least is in the works.

He did say Nordman has been working on Alien for almost a whole year now but when asked if Greg Freres is involved he said "No comment. Take from that what you will." Uh ...ok. I take it as he can't say, but he did?

Their playable virtual version with sounds has a fairly complete rule set already.

Still experimenting with sound cards and bass speakers to make the audio stronger. Sweet! And connecting it to what he calls HiFi which I'm interpreting as a home theater receiver. So will this be the first pin with surround? If only.

Alien will have WiFi connectivity to upload high scores and allow the use of pre-paid credits? I have no idea what pre-paid credits would be for.

Holy Moly! These are some big doings brother! That was more information than I have ever found on what's going on with the Alien machine.
Thanks so much for the post. Any other telling articles out there?

Thanks mfresh, my bad. I'm quite new to the realm of anything Pinball and I don't know enough to make a decision on that subject either way. Don't even know who Greg is yet but from what I have gathered Nordman is quite revered. I bet if I was there when Andrew said that, I could have read his body language and tone and been able to infer.

The pre-paid credits is a pretty cool idea but I won't be able to take advantage of that due to my location. I was originally thinking Heighway was going to bring back gambling. I kid

+1 It's ALIEN!!!

Emailed Andrew Heighway earlier today and he responded right away. He told me they plan on getting their Alien Forum moving in the next few days. Nothing has occurred there yet from their end but sounds like that is about to change. These could be big doings!

AWESOME!!! Thanks for sharing the raw picture Andrew. These little tidbits are exactly what we like to see as things are developing and moving forward. So much potential! That looks like some next level ramp goodness. Can't wait until we get to learn more about what your doing there.

Did you read Andrew's post at all? Are you just making your own stuff up for a controversy?

+1 on not making it family friendly. I guess that could be done easily enough by choices in the menus. Keep the brutal horror from the movies in the pin. The buyers are the ones that want it that way. And players are going to want to find it that way on location.

Just imagining if they do decide to use dual LCD screens (a duplicate backbox LCD mirroring the playfield LCD) what the casual passerby on location will think when it ramps up the audio and goes nuts playing the chestburster clip with all the spraying blood and screaming.

yeah.jpg

Agreed. As long as people are given bits of information on a consistent basis as the expected release date gets closer and closer it is easy to cut them some slack and let them address what needs doing. As long as people can see progress happening and are allowed to follow along it can be a very easy and smooth ride right up until delivery. It's when the communication stops that "issues" arise.

Keep up the good UPDATES! Looks great. Thank You Andrew.

cheers.gif

Pavlov Pinball Article:

http://pavlovpinball.com/alien/

"Heighway says the company is considering putting a screen in the Alien backbox that mirrors the display on the playfield.

Mirroring the playfield display on the backbox would only use one video output for those two screens, and Heighway will make use of the second video output on its hardware in Alien to power another LCD on the playfield, positioned on the airlock toy."

I hope they do use a 2nd LCD display in the back box for this pin. If not perhaps it could at least be incorporated into the Deluxe version?

All smiles here!

bigsmile.gif

Wow! An OFFICIAL open invitation for pinsiders to express what we would really like to see in the upcoming Alien pin! Thank you Russell. I'm sure you will get some interesting ideas!

Next level conceptualization and foresight. Congratulations Heighway Pinball!

In the first 30 seconds of the video above Andrew states the whitewood was just picked up that morning before Holiday break and work will commence after. But I suspect someone won't be able to contain themselves and will be messing with it before break.

Thanks for sharing this video RobT. Among the many things discussed it was interesting learning a little more about the cabinet features and design. Nice to hear the side panel art will be LED lit from both the top and the bottom. Should make for an outstanding presence.

A question about and a thoughtful ambition for the Dual Yellow Beacon Topper...

Looking so forward to the day I get to see and especially hear the sounds of the Alien 35th Anniversary Limited Edition Pin in action.

I always thought the Topper With Yellow Beacons would absolutely Command a room or establishment or home basement full of games as the Beacons are randomly spinning and stopping - simply in the attract mode.

Dualing Beacons.jpg

But you know that's me just assuming the Beacons will be designed to revolve. I've just always assumed they would revolve to create formidable tension in certain modes of beastly chaos. Imagine the beloved Klaxon Alarm unique to the Alien Movie is whaling while a T-Minus Count down is droning and reducing, your desperately trying to hit a target or series of shots to 'survive/kill/escape' while the dual Yellow Beacons are throwing a doomsday revolving flash of panic all over the room surroundings.

Truly the potential for an outstanding experience, but you know I never read anywhere that the Beacons will actually have any kind of Revolving movement capability.

Can anyone tell me if the Yellow Beacons will revolve like the one on the loader in the gif below?
Example of a revolving light.gif

Or will they simply be steady on/off lights under a plastic dome?

I think I read that the Topper Beacons might be an optional accessory that can be added to the standard non LE Pin.
Will the Beacons use modern tech? Halogen... LED ... incandescent bulb/s? Will they be of a largish size? ...please not little 3 inch domes I pray. They should be BIG and cast a far reaching light... after all they are being called "Beacons" right?

I guess if planned and designed early enough the beacons might have the capability to have it both ways!!!!

Imagine the effect of a revolving strobe light in a dark room? Muahahaha! This would be nuts on a Pinball Machine! And I totally want this Pin to have that additional feature capability now.

...and what if the Revolving Beacons had the capability to gradually slow and then reverse and... Ok I'll stop dreaming. But you get the idea... this could be a Highly Interactive Game Topper/Changer. And Heighway has always spoken of pushing Pinball Tech forward... and if this Beacon Topper has a bit of technical sophistication and is integrated in game play to take advantage of that sophistication ... WOW!

For those planning on owning this Pin someday... would you want Revolving Beacons or Fixed on and off Blinkys? Not matter? Revolving Strobe effect? Revolving speed increases as T-Minus count down gets closer to Zero? Run them independently of one another? ...Meaning one starts flashing when you get in a little trouble, then it starts revolving solid when your in a lot of trouble, then it starts to strobe while its revolving when your in big doo doo, then the other side starts escalating through these stages as your situation continues to intensify until both sides are going nuts and your screaming for your mommy.

I Know - I'm dreaming again.

Thank you Andrew. Whew. That's a relief! Glad to hear your stance to remain true to the original source material. Can't wait.

And then BOOM goes the Shaker!

An Administrator on the Heighway forum posted in the Alien thread yesterday:

"We will be posting an update on progress very soon"

We might get telling information on Alien soon but the reality is no matter what we learn about Alien from this next update, Full Throttle has to take precedence on the assembly line and have its day before Alien pins can be born.

Agreed. So FTs will have their run on the assembly line... for how many months? Then Alien. Thus perhaps we can make a more educated 'guess' when Alien might be released. I am looking forward to experiencing the Alien pin more than anything out there now or on the horizon.

If I had to make an uninformed uneducated guess I'd say you have to give FT a couple months taking up the assembly line. So absolute earliest Alien could possibly come along would be June ...or July. And that's if everything goes smoothly. Fingers crossed. I hope that giant thing under the blue tarp is an Alien Pin Hatchery!!!

Boy oh boy wouldn't that be super impressive if Heighway were able to manufacture titles simultaneously this early? But like you said, "when the time comes," I have no doubt they could do this. I don't remember reading anything coming out of the Heighway camp on this subject though.

Or maybe they don't want to risk the FT public attention to drop into the shadows with it being this close to market. You have to believe the Alien reveal reactions are going to hit like a tsunami and encompass the limelight.

Pinball News recently let slip Heighway... "recently concluded a licensing deal with Fox to make a Pinball game based on one of their classic sci-fi titles..."

"Concluded" - that's very telling. Could mean to make a Pin or could mean concluded.

^^^^Agree ^^^^

So no matter what version pin you buy, if you convert it to the next released playfield you either keep the trim you started with or optionally replace with an SE trim. So nice to have options.

What we are told over and over and over is

Your asking about LE VS SE playfield features. Tough for Heighway to address this now since they haven't had the playfield reveals yet. What we do know so far is the LEs will have special trim specific to each title. And the Alien LE will have different commemorative cabinet side art and back glass art.

On the Heighway forum the official response to the question of differences between the SE and LE has been this: "...I can assure you they will be significant and something special for the collector!"

Wouldn't most "collectors" want the Alien LE for what it is and leave it as a dedicated machine? Is it likely to turn into a grail-like "Flagship" Heighway model in the future? Will collectors not mind buying a second complete Heighway SE title unit to swap playfields through just for the sake of the exposure to cycle through multiple games on the cheap?

I think Heighway anticipates selling SEs for commercial venues and recognizes the limited LEs for people that are buying for their home game rooms and personal collections. Am I wrong in thinking the "collectors" who already have multiple pins and plenty of space are going to be the ones buying the LEs? Pure "Players" perhaps will be the ones that only buy a single SE unit and multiple playfield titles (as they become available) to swap through the unit that don't necessarily have the money and space?

^^^^This^^^^

Wow! Now that was an update! 40 minutes, current and thorough, all Heighway. Thanks for posting the link.

Maybe with a little of that color changing RGB technology put behind the translite it can scream Aliens from across the room and mode change to highlight more darker eerie foreboding aspects of the art when your standing right in front of it during play acting like a stealth mode to reduce glare and reflections? Maybe the lighted side art will have color morphing capabilities too? Muahahaha

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/aurich-lawson-joins-heighway-pinball

Aliens is positioning to be ...well I'll just deliberately say it... a Grail Pin.

Ok yes I'm just a bit pumped about this pin.

Dennis Nordman made the initial playfield drawing and created concepts for 4 new playfield toys
Aurich on the art
Harry S. on next level audio (Wow!):

Now combine that passion with the technology of connecting this pin to "sing" through your vibrant flawless expensive Home Theater equipment

"{When it comes to sound, Heighway says the company is experimenting with different sound cards and base speakers to make the audio component stronger, and hints at a few surprise add-ons. “For example, we are looking at ways to connect the sound from Alien to your Hi-Fi system so you can play it through your Hi-Fi speakers,” he reveals.}"

What other surprises are we in store for?
What other goodness did I miss?

I mean just click the link and look at some of this:
http://heighwaypinball.com/about-us/

These are indeed some big doings shaping up! Haven't seen the Alien art or the toys or heard the sounds or experienced the play, but the way Andrew has always spoken so reverently about this title, it seems destined to be something uniquely special.

Even Dennis Nordman said after he left the project: "I've seen the video that Andrew submitted to FOX and if the game turns out anything like this it will be great."

Well it sure seems that the Heighway way has been very careful and methodical in the planning and preparations for this "massive" title.

Can't wait to see, to hear, and to have tactile contact with all the glory of what may well be a Pinnacle Masterpiece of Pinball Entertainment. Fingers crossed.

It has to be impossible, but I'll ask the question... with relevant Global interest in the Alien Franchise going on continuously for the past 35 Years and considering the length of time since the pin was announced, is there a remote chance the 500 ’35th Anniversary Edition’ spots could end up selling out before we even get to see a public picture of this pin?

AlienPin.jpg

Hey, don't laugh/hate - it's a big world out there, people are nuts, ...life is a circle.

Amen brother... I think we are all counting on it!

I think it is wise for Heighway to wait on anything Alien until Full Throttle has made its mark. A showing of Alien might just overshadow Full Throttle a bit.

When Alien gets the green light and Heighway has shown it off and is then tasked on building toward demand I think they are going to have their hands full for some time thereafter. Best to use this time now to get their ducks in a row and learn what they learn from the initial Full Throttle runs because once Alien breaks out... it's all gas ...no brakes!

Why would Heighway want to announce the LE being sold out? (If it were) My take on it: It would only provide some relief to 500 people and a bummer to the rest that are interested... and remember, this is a title with "World Wide" appeal - the Alien franchise is still growing more relevant and stronger after 35 freaking years. And such an announcement sends a big heads up warning sign to competition. No sense to announce "it's over" to the collector community that are on the fence or those just waiting to see the first image of this "sleeping giant" of a title. I bet that announcement comes from the community when people start posting they couldn't buy the LE and instead settled for the SE and have to put a dress on it with the LE accessories.

Sure, you can always throw an Alien playfield in an SE cabinet but it won't be the same as the satisfaction of owning "the real deal" and something original and unique. The Pinball collectors should know what I'm talking about.

And while I'm ranting, I suspect many people that buy the LE aren't going to use that cabinet as "the swap out pin." Face it, if your an Alien fanatic and your buying into the Heighway system, your going to want at least 2 Heighway pins. Am I wrong?

Yeah, I'm asking why would Heighway "want" to announce the LE's are sold out. And yeah, I said I bet that announcement comes from the community when people start posting they couldn't buy the LE. Andrew will of course make that announcement when he has to.

I wouldn't think the LE would sell out before the first pic of the game makes its way into the public eye. But when pics are released, I bet that happens pretty fast. There is a whole big world out there beyond pinside, right?

Pop culture? Uh, I never mentioned that. But I heard Neill Blomkamp enters the iconic Alien franchise to direct a new film set after the events of Alien and Aliens.
http://www.alien5-movie.com/
And there is talk of yet another Prometheus movie being directed by some fellow named Ridley Scott.
http://www.prometheus2-movie.com/

It's been 35 years since the first Alien movie. What does it take to be growing more stronger and relevant than right now?

Haha thanks for the YouTube snippet. I love that line!

This is my understanding as well. I have a 200 gallon aquarium that couldn't be good for. Perhaps this is why you don't often read about home owners messing with fog machines in their homes.

Having one that operates off the dry ice method for parties and such, now that's perhaps a whole other deal. Can anyone expand further on this?

Congratulations on your Super pin. I think you have chosen very wisely and you'll probably never regret going LE on this one.

As a fan myself, I think this title will be best appreciated and enjoyed with the "full treatment" LE Anniversary extras too.

For Aliens? Nothing shown on any posted videos I've seen. The Alien pop bumper caps were going to be egg pods, right?

You guys are freaking awesome! This is fantastic news! You rock Andrew. You're a Rock Star. Thanks for the new bit of news. I've been on pins and needles since the title announcement just relishing every detail I can find.

Glowing...pulsing eggs - ...and faints...

I can see it now. The eggs glowing a dark brown with a slow soft gold pulsing like a sleeping heartbeat and a still darker color that jumps from side to side a bit randomly every now and again to simulate tiny face huggers shifting about in their post larval form... Suddenly a "grenade" comes bouncing in their little chamber area rattling around and Pow... Bang... Splat... bright Green flashes of acid blood blind your eyes, a long high pitched curdling hissed scream of anguish starts rising from some far corner as the unseen Queen reacts in a hot rage. The shaker motor starts tracing the motion trackers' increases in pinging on the playfield LCD grid ...it's showing movement in front AND behind ...and then WHOOOSHHH! ... a cloud of fog eminates from underneath your pin and starts roiling throughout your immediate surroundings. You forget what your supposed to be doing because mother just activated the warning Klaxon and yellow flashes of light from revolving beacons are chasing shadows all around the room causing your throat to constrict because the reflections from those beacons are bouncing back and forth at you from the mirrored translight... and whats this? ...the translight is pulsing and glowing... it's been mimicking what the eggs were doing this whole time...

Or not, ...I'm just thinking that could be cool. Or the pop bumpers could make gun noises. Perhaps different light show and sounds for different modes.

Muahahaha... There really are no limits! Just imagination!

I'm hoping there will be a great surround sound mix to take advantage of the hi-fi hookup capabilities.

On the Alien pre-order page "The widebody game, currently in development, features 4 Flippers"

Are we in for some major changes concerning the reworking of the whitewood? I remember reading there are going to be more shots now. That's a good thing, right?

Completely understand. Glad 4 flippers remain. I hope we get to see a simple rough shot map of the new layout sooner than later. It doesn't have to be too sophisticated or give anything away...the homer.jpg

Just don't do the " IN SPACE NO ONE CAN HEAR YOU TILT" slogan.

Finally, we get to see the first pic of the Alien art!

Seriously though, you made me lol.

Agree, I suspect Andrew will treat this pin with the respect it deserves as he always speaks so reverently about staying close to the source material. Hudson.JPGPaxton (Hudson) is a scene stealer and his lines will provide all the humor this pin will ever need.

On an unrelated note I wonder how these two action figures of Kane and Dallas would look in a dark smokey environment having climbed up between the beacons? Kane and dallas.jpgHa - maybe throw a couple eggs along with them and have a mini scene

...some of the Ripley figures are starting to look downright scary realistic...ripley.jpg

That's already the case with the air-lock LCD and playfield LCD. I remember reading an interview with Andrew and him saying something along the lines that the video output would not support 3 different LCD pov's. 2 LCD pov's plus one duplicated, yes.

http://pavlovpinball.com/alien/

"Mirroring the playfield display on the backbox would only use one video output for those two screens, and Heighway will make use of the second video output on its hardware in Alien to power another LCD on the playfield, positioned on the airlock toy."

Yes quite. Imagining in its most basic function the smaller airlock LCD display represents a transition. Perhaps once activated the airlock LCD may show an animation leaving one mode and entering another? Might it offer 'selectable' modes? Maybe an animation through a long shaft Ash takes to the atmosphere processing plant?atmosphereprocessing plant.jpg
Or which weapon your in control of?flamethrower.jpg
Or how much ammo you have left?Ammo Remaining.gif
Entering or exiting cryochambers for a major location change?cryochambers.jpg
Or, very importantly, while your in a mode - showing what shot progresses you through to the next step in the stage?

Jonsey throwing a hissy fit when danger is near?Jonsey.jpg
What ship or vehicle your in?APC.jpg
It could even show the motion display tracker while it is pinging if other high priority information needs to take over the playfield LCD display.alilens motion tracker.gif Most interesting if information on the large playfield LCD display gets downsized and moved to the smaller LCD display when some higher priority animation/information needs to display on the large playfield display.

As with everything at this point before we have seen anything yet - the sky is the limit and only one's imagination is the limiting factor.

The anticipation of a fancy new toy is often the best of times, especially when you don't feel the need to concern yourself with whether it's going to actually really ship someday. I'd say the anxiety level of people that have pre-ordered an LE from Heighway is quite relaxed compared to recent fiascos.

These are indeed exciting times with talk of a major new toy which interacts with the ball being added recently and Aurich mentioning the changes as, "...more shots and more setups than before, with more flow."

...and shaker motor.

Thanks for posting the updated layout and shot map. Honestly as I try and figure things out it kind of boggles my mind. This is going to be a sophisticated pin with a lot going on. I may get a little brain addled trying to understand what all this means but I'm tremendously impressed, that's for sure. Reading down the key as a big fan of Alien/s I'm noticing...

Space jockey outlanes,
vent scoop,
dropship ramp,
a time target,
hypersleep lock area,
weapon targets,
airlock eject,
rotating queen platform,
xenomorph tongue operation to lock,
LV-426 top lanes,
derelict ship pop bumper egg chamber,
right dropship reverse ramp,
chestburster control drop target,
chestburster magnet,
APC rescue hurry-ups,
...all good stuff referencing Alien/s!

I like how you found more playfield room by moving part of the rear ramp behind the backboard. Nice!

With so much going on, thank goodness there will be a couple LCD displays to help a player out. Man! Keep up the impressive work.

Thanks for this. Looking forward to learning more tidbits about the Alien toys!

There is more in the Alien/s Universe that could ever fit in one pin. We think of the big things but there are lots of rich subtle little things like crew insignias and corporate theme logos and such that will probably never make it on the playfield art as little easter egg gems as I imagine it would add to the licensing hurdles.
dsds.jpg
Weyland-Yutani_Coporation_Logo.jpg
Not that a lot of that little stuff is significant at all... but it would be cool to discover. It's really up to the passion of the Heighway team as to how far and deep they will go, but a pin with this revered theme only comes around every so often and Heighway has to know this will be THE Grail Pin to set them apart from what the industry has been doing for so long. I hope they make it really special. Of course I wouldn't expect to find the Weylan-Yutani Corp's Aspen Beer anywhere...Weyland-Yutani_Beer.jpg

But I digress...
start-your-day-with-an-egg-weyland-yutani-corp.jpg

alienspatchset.jpg
untitled.png
logo.jpg

As a fan, that was a great read. Thanks. Happy to see a tidbit of where you've been researching/preparing. All good.

I found this fact interesting: "Interestingly, the makers of 2014's Alien: Isolation video game actually reverted to 1970's video technology to make the game feel more like the original movie. The game's menu screens were first rendered in software, then recorded on to VHS video tapes, played on a CRT display, filmed, and imported back into the game.)"

That's going the extra mile...ha.

What was in the foreground?

An egg?
The Nostromo?
Jonsey?

That, and this:

"With four LEDs glowing green and changing in intensity and one glowing black it can look like a baby alien (facehugger) is moving around in there. Other colour settings may be used to make the eggs look like they’re burning."

Imagine those little facehuggers happily swimming about in their green lit egg pods when your shots to the pops blows each of them up on cue and leaves each one a burning mess. I can hear the sound of the flame thrower, the subtle popping of each egg through the subwoofer, and imagine the red on yellow flaming aftermath already... MUAHAHAHA

You know what happens next.gif

Am I the only one that really wants the Lime Green Powder coated look? That's a huge part of the reason I want the LE! It sets the Heighway Pin System apart from what the industry has been producing for so many years. Sure it may clash with the other "lesser" pins in a home owners collection - but that's kind of the point, in my opinion.

It's unique and special and to those in the know, instantly recognizable as such. I wouldn't poo poo the bright colors of the Alien LE cabinet with a different playfield in it on location. I would think that would draw more people to it then other pins around it. Yes?

Even if for some impossible reason I put a different Heighway title in the Alien LE cabinet, it's just sitting there in my down stairs play room, not like I'm going to be embarrassed when people come over and see it or anything.

How about art panels on the inside of the cabinet above the playfield for Alien? Is the term Alien "blades"?

Apologies, as this turned out rather long...

OEM Sideboard Art Blades

Seems simple enough for Heighway to do in a modular sense for all their titles. It just has to be incorporated into the cabinet design. (Router) As far as customers purchasing inside art blades, I would think for LE buyers the "extra" bit of atmosphere it creates is a given. SE buyers? Heck yeah, if they're going to purchase the extra playfield and topper bits to enjoy an LE level game experience, what's another optional accoutrement?

Should a manufacturer pass up the extra future $$ potential it could bring in or let the $$ go to the 3rd party aftermarket? Stern made some beautiful art blades for TWD with a simple repeating pattern that looks fantastic on their LE.

It's still so very early in the game, if Heighway starts this with the Alien cabinets (and let's face it, this is the title that's going to put a lot of Heighway cabinets out there) it will become an instant extra revenue source for them.

You swap your playfield - you swap your blades. They don't have to be given away, but come on... When you discover a title you really love, your going to want to "dress it up," isn't that what most pay to do to their favorites?

And the blade artwork doesn't have to be expensive or fancy. Sure, for the LE Alien title I would pay literally anything for original organic Gigeresque blade artwork. But you know what? If I couldn't get that, I would be happy as a clam for custom fitted blades with a simple generic space starfield to fill in this empty blank area (perhaps with a few nebulously placed doodads here and there).

And if your a person that doesn't want art blades? Don't buy them - and don't slip them in. I'm sure without the installation of optional blades the inside cabinet area would still look suspiciously similar to how FTH looks now.

But with all the wonderful potential that Heighway's cool new playfield lighting has, I'll bet even a simple starfield design on the blades with the stars having a "mirror" like reflective aspect something "more" could be born unto the Alien pin experience.

Or not. I'm just rambling.

Nope. Just a 1/8 inch or less removal of inside cabinet wood routed from every single cabinet in the shape of the art blade. An indentation where the art blade is set into. The art blade fills the area so it is flush and doesn't interfere with anything.

Heighway can offer their art blades from that point on for every title they ever make as an option to all 3 buyers: LE, SE, and Playfield buyers.

And if no art blades are offered for a particular title or just never installed, so what, it won't be noticeable anyway.

It shouldn't cost much for a manufacturer such as Heighway to print the art blades in house once they have a pattern and a method. The only thing that changes from one playfield design to the next is a software file.

Yeah I know the FTH people would be out. I don't have an answer for that, just that it's still very early in the Heighway legacy and it could be put in place by the time the next title is built. Lots of future dollars could be captured though if implemented sooner than later.

Congratulations Heighway Team!

Posting a video showing the audacious simplicity of an actual playfield swap demonstrates another milestone in your Company's technological progress and is worthy of celebration. Wow! Most impressive.

Thank you for sharing.

BHill.gif

Hahahahaha ...lol!

Andrew speaking at Pintastic

http://ustre.am/1pF90

Select the 1st Heighway video measured 42:51 in length.

At the very beginning seconds of this video Andrew talks about just receiving a load of new addressable lighting for the back box that they are looking at. I'm unclear if this has been used in FTH. Hoping this gets worked out and can be taken advantage of by the time the Alien title ships.

Yep, and don't forget, Andrew has 2 more major licensed titled themes they are currently working on to showcase after Alien.

If your one to collect the playfields for the sheer breadth of a diverse and perhaps an eclectic degree of play experiences, I would imagine those playfields would quickly grow in number considering Heighway's plans on producing multiple titles per year. ...And why not? ...it would be a fraction of the cost and space needed than buying and housing entire nib cabineted machines.

I imagine buying, selling, trading, swapping, borrowing, and shipping playfields rather than the inconvenience of the same with full size pins can change what people are willing to involve themselves with and make pinball more accessible to more families. Hopefully Heighway can start churning out a multitude of playfield themes once they are really underway.

...and Heighway doesn't necessarily always have to develop a new playfield from the ground up. If they ever decide to "re-theme" an existing playfield platform it could easily be done ...but only if it didn't sell well, was never popular, and didn't wind up in too many collector's basements.

Not that it won't sell well but say years down the road they could re-theme the Full Throttle PF into one of several goofy fun themes just by changing all the art and software. Keeping to a racing or chasing theme, a few examples:

The Dukes of Hazard
Death Race 2000
Knight Rider (Kit)
Smokey and the Bandit
Starsky and Hutch
Cannonball Run
Gone in 60 Seconds
Speed Racer

Imagine having a stack of all these playfields forgotten in a closet. ...Heighway becomes so popular their playfields are a dime a dozen. ...They're making new and old themes left and right. Why not? Each consumer only needs space for one cabinet in their home. I bet some day Heighway has a sale for new customers: Buy 3 playfields get the cabinet free.

I think the next update we are still waiting to see is the newly revised whitewood.

You make excellent points in this post and those following... but reading through some of the valued extras the Heighway LE comes with as standard you may have forgotten a $$ doozey. A shaker motor. Included.

Also, wanted to add I either read or learned by video, all Heighway pinball cabinets regardless of version come with a real knocker, not simulated! It's nice to see a little of the old school pinball essence being preserved and not eliminated for whatever reason on a modern sophisticated machine of today.

There's no denying the extras in the Heighway value you outlined so articulately. Thank you, this was a good read.

From the Alien Shot Map:

A: "Space Jockey outlanes and ball saver feature. Danger zone behind flipper adds extra drain risk for careless player."

Glad to hear the Space Jockey may not be forgotten in the Alien pin. This mysterious set piece can only grow more relevant and fleshed out in films yet to come but did make quite an impression in the original Alien film.

Fact: - The Entire Space Jockey scene in Alien was almost scrapped due to the high price tag. Just the set cost a walloping $500,000 to create. But Scott fought, and the alien pilot stayed.

Fact: - The original Space Jockey piece is 27-feet tall.

Fact: - Geiger himself airbrushed the detail for this enormous set for the Space Jockey scene in Alien. The sculpted walls were later used in the egg chamber scene as well.

space-jockey.jpg

Yep, the cinematographer's son and the other two were Ridley Scott's sons.

...of the Space Jockey? Not even sure there will be a physical representation of it in the pin yet - fingers crossed.
The original...
SJockey.jpg

Indeed it is.

"And what Alien Isolation accomplishes best of all is instilling a persistent sense of dread and tension. Maybe it isn’t the scariest game. Something like Amnesia (or Justine) might have it beat for brief moments of sheer terror. But if you want a game that will gnaw at you, leave you feeling anxious and unsafe, and torment you with quiet, unrelenting dread, Alien: Isolation is the one for you." ...Samantha Lienhard

alien isolation.jpg

Alistair Hope, Creative Assembly...

“Authenticity is an important thing to the studio,” he explains. “Whether that’s Total War and recreation of historical reality or the AI team trying to recreate a feel, look and an immersive experience based on a film, there’s a lot of crossover there.”

After getting the greenlight, Creative Assembly was given unprecedented access to the enormous archives from the original Alien film by 20th Century Fox.

The goldmine included three terabytes of behind the scenes photos, videos and assets of the movie. As a fan, Hope says it was an unbelievable moment, and describes it akin to the suitcase in Pulp Fiction, the contents of which shines a glowing light when opened.

“That was so useful and they were very supportive,” he says. “And it was a real honour to be given the opportunity to create a new story and expand on the original.”

alien-isolation-dlc.jpg

On a pin related note I ran across a warning label for a haunted house that with some minor editing could almost work as a sticker for the Heighway Alien pin aprons.

warning.jpg

Agreed. Not much to discuss as of late. I wish we would be given something to talk about from the Heighway camp, even the teensiest tiddy bit would be appreciated.

Whatever happened with the revised Alien flipping whitewood that was to be shown a few weeks back?

1 Month ago...

Has the LE Fiber Optic ramp lighting on Full Throttle made a public viewing yet?

What has been decided on the addressable LED back box translight lighting? Will it be present in the Alien pin?

What will the LE numbered badges look like and where will they be located on the LE Alien pin? Will it be unique (3D sculpted) in an Alien theme sense or will it look plain as if it were taken off an amateur bowling trophy and stuck on with sticky tape?

How is Emmy Award-Winning Sound Designer Harry Snodgrass doing on the audio side of things? Remember what he said...?

Will the Space Jockey from the first film make an appearance on the playfield or in an animation or clip via the LCD?

Any thoughts on Pin Blades with the artwork following this guy's stylings...?
giger[1].jpg

Anything would be good fodder for some entertaining discussion.

P.S. Will there be an Officially Signed Document of Authenticity suitable for framing included with the LE's? Sorry - couldn't resist.

I'm eager to hear any news on the Alien pin. Looking back through this thread it has been 2 months since the last Alien "update" which was the revised layout and shot map cad drawing. Fingers crossed we might get any recent questions answered or something to keep our Alien pin interests fresh. Obviously Andrew is very busy with showing FT now, but communication has always been one of his strengths.

Yep, the original CAD drawing was 11 months ago. Still as hungry for information since day one!

sneak peek.jpg

Playing devil's advocate...you know if it was just an egg but it had the addressable colored LED stuff in the back box pulsing and creating movement within the egg while in attract mode - who wouldn't dig that?

Atleast we know there are still some of the 500 35th Anniversary LE's available. Wonder what kind of pressure Expo puts on that LE availability this weekend?

Good idea for another alternative option. Whose to say you need to install the backbox at all, save for mounting the speakers some where. All the information you need will be given to you right above the flippers.

[Forgive me as I tend to get long winded when my interest is peaked.]

I agree with you... this would be great. But unfortunately I don't see that happening with what we know so far on the Alien pin. Here is what we know. The Heighway architecture can only support 2 differing video feeds. The Alien pin already has 2 differing LCD video feeds on the playfield - the airlock toy and the playfield LCD. It was mentioned earlier the Heighway Team got a little vague when asked about the subject amongst their presentation.

Any video sent to the backbox LCD is just going to mirror the playfield LCD and not offer anything new or different on this title. A home user is probably going to get used to what comes naturally and get information from the playfield LCD above the flippers where all the action is and not deviate their attention. What would be the point of looking away from the playfield during a game if the backbox LCD is just mirroring the exact same playfield LCD information? It would just be diverting your attention away from the action on the playfield, yes? So the giant LCD for a backbox just doesn't have me too excited right now.

I have mixed feelings for the Big Boy LCD option in the backbox for this title. I personally wanted the small LCD in the backbox for Alien just for family and friendly bystanders and of course simply for the very cool bling factor and in hindsight knowing it will not affect the full artwork presentation. Now the Big Boy LCD option is revealed. There goes the full gorgeous green backbox translight artwork which will probably be beautifully accentuated by the (RGB?) addressable LED lighting features there. And now there is a big weird art free negative empty space there when the machine is not on.

If, and this is a big giant (unlikely) IF, the Heighway Team goes through the effort of creating the extra coding and changing their equipment parameters to allow for a 3rd differing video feed providing the visuals for the backbox LCD for their next title - Alien - WOW! YES! It would be an outstanding additional immersive element and I would definitely want to have the Big Boy LCD option. But will they expend the resources and time and cost to do that? All for a 3rd LCD that doesn't come with the game? That would only benefit just the buyers that purchase the 3rd LCD as an optional accessory? I'm guessing realistically - not on this title.

I hope I'm wrong - I would be all about the Big Boy LCD if it will provide a new and immersive additional visual experience on the Alien pin. The downside of the Big Boy LCD is just too great for me otherwise - losing the full art picture and what it looks like when it's not turned on. Eeeeeek!

It was speculated that maybe an "artificial" 3rd video feed could be implemented readily in the Heighway system for Alien if the airlock toy video feed could be diverted to the backbox LCD when it is turned around revealing the Queen and not in view of the player. That's a neat idea if Heighway could pull that off. But again the question remains if it's worth implementing this sort of "3rd" video feed when the necessity of such is only demanded for the percentage of buyers that go down the road of purchasing an additionally optional extra LCD, not to mention a bit of added licensing hurdling work that might compound $$ and timeframes.

On the other hand, for those in on a Full Throttle that is natively built on only one video feed, I think it may make more sense to seek the Big Boy LCD there. The option is more readily present to code in secondary differing visuals resulting in a more relevant immersive experience and especially since it is an original non-licensed theme that can be changed with out third party involvement.

I'm leaning toward an Alien LE with the glorious Lime Green trim and legs with a small LCD underneath the full translight artwork panel that glows and pulses and has who knows what kind of LED interactivity for the 35th Anniversay Artwork translight. I'm not worried about future titles. I'm only concerned about an Alien pin. If future Heighway titles warrants a must buy from me I'll deal with that then. Haha.

Fortunately I suspect there is still a lot of time for the Heighway Team to figure these things out if they don't already have the whole plan set. Andrew always says Alien is his dream title and he and his Team want to make the best Alien pin possible. Because of that kind of passion, I believe he will.

Now that would be beautiful! Great idea.

Hi Aurich! Pulled some pics from the "artwork" thread.

464300.jpg
This looks great and can't wait to see it with the 35th Anniversary Limited Edition features with the Lime Green trim and legs and those yellow beacons! There is a reflection of an egg on the playfield glass in the corner... that's right I noticed.

What's that little button at the top center of the backbox?

Hmmm... Could you consider some artwork for the front of the cabinet on the metal coin box door? It looks so plain. Perhaps printed via magnetic photo paper or magnetic vinyl? A couple of those slapped on the front would look so kewl. Warning, safety, identification signs? Something from the movies? I'm sure it can be done in the after market but having you design it for the Home bound LE models which won't be on location so much would be neat. This would be fun to discover as the magnets promised in the LE goody bag.

From the Heighway Alien page: "Exclusive ’35th Anniversary Edition’ Alien Pinball Goodie Bag, With Magnets, T-Shirts, Posters, Badges + Much More!"

464298.jpg
Couldn't help but notice the "SPEAKER PANEL ART IN PROGRESS" placeholder. Can you talk about what we are in store for there? I guess it would be absent if one gets the small LCD option?

464299.jpg
The starfield looks cool on the "sidelights." Not that you should change anything but have you ever seen the Nasa Ultra Deep Field high resolution images? Wonder what it might look like to sharpened some of those larger stars on the sidelights (and backpanel?) into spiral galaxies and various nebulous things.

It looks great though... if you consider anymore fiddling with the image I wonder what it would look like with the commercial towing vehicle Nostromo pulling the automated ore refinery opposite the zenomorph head.

Nostromoto with Refinery.jpg

Can't wait to get this pin and hear the blaring audio count down in my basement

Hoping to clear this up.

For full throttle it makes sense to want the big LCD because with a little coding it can display as a different secondary video feed with new different information and different animations made to look right just for the back box location. So that can be a different video feed than what's showing on the playfield LCD above the flippers.

For alien (tell me I'm wrong) the big giant backbox LCD can only be a mirrored feed that duplicates exactly what you're seeing on the playfield LCD (or airlock LCD) with no new or different information capability to be seen at the back box.

There is no such thing as three DIFFERING video feeds in the highway system now. It can only do two. Alien already has two different video feeds: one in the revolving airlock toy and the other in the playfield. Therefore, any LCD put in the backbox be it the big or small screen would be a third video feed and thus can only be capable of being a duplicate feed mirroring exactly either what the airlock toy LCD is showing or what the playfield LCD above the flippers is showing.

I believe this was brought up amongst the Heighway presentation and things got a little vague which makes me think I have it right. Perhaps more than two unique differing video feeds can be added down the road to future titles as the capabilities of Heighway video equipment expands. But if I'm wrong here and now on the video capabilities of how Alien will be released I wait standing to be corrected.

They are not putting a giant screen in Alien. That's totally up to you.

We haven't been given much information on what the airlock toy is going to be displaying. But I believe it is important enough not to get dismissed too easily.

Remember this was all figured out 10 or more months ago when Dennis Nordman was onboard. They had the fully playable digital playfield with basic rule set complete and a video of it to show Fox when they pitched the idea.

The airlock LCD is going to be vital in more ways than we know!

On the giant LCD, speaking as someone that will have the game off more than on in my home, I'd rather have the full artwork panel to notice and appreciate when I walk by than see a turned off monitor screen.

It's great to have so many options to go with. Everyone can be happy.

I imagine the longer the ownership experience with the Heighway playfield LCD the less you divert your attention from the playfield. That can only be good for your gaming successes.

Is it addressable in rgb color or only white?

Couldn't agree with this more.

Just an interesting note:

Sigourney Weaver mentioned her pinball esteem during an interview with Jill Pantozzi a year ago while being interviewed on the Legacy of Ellen Ripley, Women in Games, and Her Return in the game Alien: Isolation.

"It was that long ago, in the middle ages, – there were no video games that I know of. There might have been pinball and you know, those games. …Yeah, there was pinball! Some country – maybe Britain – I saw an Alien pinball game. That sort of – that would have been the biggest kind of success when we made the film, that we would turn into a popular pinball game."

http://www.themarysue.com/the-mary-sue-interview-sigourney-weaver-ripley-alien-isolation/

Agreed. Stick to only the original cute one-liners found in the movies themselves.

One thing is for sure, this pin won't be lacking for atmosphere. If you're looking for sci-fi and horror, we shouldn't be let down

I have the giant Queen bust, #75. One of my favorites in my Aliens collection. Truly excited anticipating the Heighway "Super Pin."

Queeniepie.jpg

Kiss me.jpg

Easter Surprise.jpg

Easter can't get here soon enough!

Evil Bunny.jpg