I'm on the same page. If the LEs are spoken for by the time there is a real working prototype, then there is still the standard version you can pickup for cheaper. If the game sells enough units, you can bet that the beacons and fiber optic lamp lights will come out as a aftermarket mod.

I'm certainly interested and have some cash and space for it, but I'm waiting for sure. I'm not worried at all about availability. I would want the silver trim and am certain that the beacons and fiber optics could be added later either through a Heighway offering or another source (if the game is truly a hit and many units are sold). I like keeping my powder dry until a real game is about ready to ship. No worries here.

I like this approach and well. I've always hated selling games and the pain of moving them. With this we can keep our old games and swap out at a fraction of the cost with a new game, keeping the cabinet and then swap back when we are ready get that old game back in the lineup again. More games with less space and money.

That one you have with Vader on Mustafar (I'm assuming) is pretty cool.

Go with bigger beacons. It will look more authentic. Besides, bigger is better! Right?

The more I look at that shot layout, the more interesting it appears. That upper left flipper to the ball lock looks like a tight shot, that would have to be dropped first from the ramp or out from the right loop. Then it VUKs up to the upper right flipper. I'll bet it will be a key shot. Dennis did a good job on this. I wish he could have stayed on board.

Its hard not to get excited over this game. My only continued concern at this point, is the loss of Nordman. I hope they have some good talent to see this through.

Very good! This is currently a distant number 1 as my next purchase at this point. Keep it coming.

The piece that I'm still curious about is that if you purchase an LE and the cabinet/trim is specific to a certain game, how is that going to impact future add-on games you purchase? I mean the black glossy cabinet with green trim for an Alien LE may not look right with whatever the next game is. Maybe getting an LE is more for those that just plan to buy the whole units everytime? This is one of the big reasons I'm leaning more towards the standards.

If you cannot add the beacons and ramp lights, there is no way I would be purchasing a standard either. What a tightrope these guys have to walk with these limited editions. I'm not going to preorder, yet I require a full featured game when I do purchase. So, you impact LE sales or standards either way.

I'm totally for choices, I just don't like being forced to pre-order to get a full featured game (not saying that is the case here). I would like to have the choice of the games, once I've seen the fully populated playing game. If the beacons and ramp lights are addable, then I'll make the choice of an LE or standard once the full games have been released. That is if LEs are still available.

Seriously looking forward to some updates.

As long as this game is hardcore when its finished, all will be well in Pinside land.

I always hate losing money, even in smaller amounts. It's really hard to make a purchase decision or cash reservation at this point, at least to me it is. We really only know the theme here. It's a cool theme for sure, but without a visual of the playfield layout (since its changed we cannot use the old one as reference), art, and pricing for standard add-ons, its really hard to commit for me. I know it's supposedly refundable and so far Heighway is doing everything right, but how many people have a FT sitting in their game rooms? It wouldn't take too much in the way of wrong moves for the general sentiment to make a hard turn on Heighway, we've seen it before with other companies.

On another note, I'm not one to drop 8k on a game (not that I can't afford it, just a personal limit), so the LE is likely going to be a pass for me either way. I can't imagine how special it would have to be to get me to change that position, though I suppose its not impossible.

One other thing worth mentioning here. I have found almost without exception, that anytime I make a decision based on emotions, it's pretty much always a bad one. I make better decisions when I settle down and gather all the facts first.

Called first world problems. It's kind of like forgetting your smart phone when you go to take a crap. Ohh the humanity!! Ten minutes with no entertainment just likely ruined my day.

I like how these used a picture of the eagle nebula in the background. That one always had a somewhat creepy look to it anyway.

Love this game so far. Standard for me. I have no doubt that Aurich is going to put together a crazy good art package for both. LE buyers of course get both art packages.

The yellow beacons where used in the self destuct scenes one the first movie. That's going to be a cool part of the game. Escape the Nestromo before it's explodes and without getting eaten, all the while you hear that omomious alarm and the computers voice counting down, while the beacons are active. Cool stuff there.

Yah that playfield swap is some crazy good stuff there.

Hey Aurich, there has been some mentioning of an extra large LCD display option in the backbox (similar to JJP), if that's the case, would there be a different version of the translite that would fit this? I apologize if you already answered this somewhere else.

Same here. If its going to show real movie clips and some bad ass animations, then I'm going to insist on the large screen. In that case I would really see the standard as the way to go for me personally. I may go that way either way, since an alternative translite can always be added later and I feel pretty neutral about the standard art (don't love it but don't hate it either).

I couldn't disagree more here. LE should be for cosmetics only, playfield features should be across all editions. Heighway is doing it right.

You are correct if the lighted ramps are 500 and the beacons are 500 and then shaker is 300. May as well just get the LE. Unfortunately we have no idea what the additions will cost. I was thinking more lighted ramps 200 beacons 300 and shaker 200. I want to save every cent I can for the screen upgrade. I'm not interested in being in 9k for a single pin (with whatever the screen upgrade costs), so I'm looking at a standard.

I think you guys are selling short what this is going to add. Yes it will be on a small screen in the center of the playfield, but having the clips/animations large and on that backbox is going to something special. Too me, its going to put you into the movies or a let give you that feeling more so. Besides I'm used to looking up for DMD animations and will be looking up for them anyway regardless if there is nothing there. Every game has pauses that allow you to take these animations or movie clips in and I want to see that large and in my face for this game. Also, who's to say that they don't have that give a separate feed at some point? How cool could that be? At least that's my 2 cents here.

That is correct.

For me, I'm getting a standard with the large screen, I will be framing my translite and hanging it next to my Alien pin. Best of both worlds.

LE owners can frame both and I'm sure Aurich's LE art will be something to behold. Even better for those guys.

Does that make you feel like you could have pushed the envelope a little bit more? Not that you didn't, its just one of those things that would be going through my mind, that is if I had held back a little in fear of them being too strict. I always hate it when someone jumps on an item I have for sale or in this case fails to push back at all, it makes me think I left something on the table.

Yah, you're right on that. My wife paints and she has always had trouble with getting to that sweet spot where she wants to make it perfect, but its only gets worse as she continues to make changes. Its an art in itself to know when its good enough or as good as its going to get.

I just would like to know how much the add-on options are going to be. Also to note is that the prices have been creeping up on both models. Last April the Standard was 6150 now 6300 and the LE was 7850 no 8050. I'm guessing this is Heighway adjusting for inflation.

I must have missed that announcement, but that's good to know. So its not going to be a Stern type of model where the higher cost LE gains you a different art package and trim, with the lower cost premium having all the same game play components. It sounds more like the PPS model where they cost the same and the LE gets some extra blings. I may have to change to an LE then, since the standard is zero gain in savings and simply serves to fill the demand once the LEs are gone. Its a bit more than I am comfortable on spending on a game though.

You guys that have ordered an LE, are you ordering from Cointaker or direct from the website? Or is there another preferred method?

Are you guys going CC and eating the surcharge or bank wire transfer?

Its always hard to live up to the type of expectations you have on a high priced game that everyone has been looking forward to see for over a year. Having said that, I really like the bottom half with the motion tracker look and the aliens behind it. I also like the subtle grid that covers it, giving it that vintage computer appearance that lends to the era and feel of these films. I think once populated it will look fantastic. I will say that I'm not sure how the green armor is going to compliment the artwork we see so far, but there may be another color option before its all said and/or the plastics may handle that.

I'm not upset about the art as much as some are, I think it will look good once populated and then we can see what the vision was when it was created. However, the possibility of no actor callouts and not no video clips of the actors on the display, is a huge disappointment for me. I'm actually rethinking the large display option now. Suddenly it doesn't sound as appealing. This has to be once of the best films ever for callouts possibilities, it would be a shame not to use them.

I may even be able to get over the actor video clips, but must have some of these callouts, they are just too good and I just can't see voice actors filling in for these. At the very least Ripley and Hudson (Hicks would be great) are absolute musts haves. Hopefully if they can't be added in production, then they can be added later. These quotes would really add to the fun factor immensely.

“We’re on an express elevator to hell, going down!”

“Get away from her, you bitch.”

“I say we take off, nuke the site from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.”

“MARINES. We are LEAVING.”

“That’s inside the room.”

“Oh, great. Wonderful. SHIT!”

"Game over man game over!"

"Eat This!"

"Think of what? We're f**ked!"

EDIT - Another good one from Vasquez "Lets Rock!!" At the start of a multiball.

If that's so, then it would seem to me that they could also use their voices from the film as well.

I can pretty much bet that there aren't too many guys that would have kicked her out of bed back when she was younger. Sure she's old now, but just look at her in Galaxy Quest, she was 50 back then and still hot.

Is that the LE?

You must be in your 20s? I know as I'm getting older, that I'm finding that many women that are in their 40s are now looking pretty damn good.

Anytime a company starts collecting preorder deposits well in advance of a games completion, there will be pressure from many (not all) of those people that have deposits or paid in full cash down. The longer it takes, the more pressure and BS you're going to get from people. We've seen this time and again now. This is where Stern's method shines. Its simple, don't collect pre-order payments until the game is basically ready to ship.

I finally broke down and went in for an LE. Thank you Cointaker for making it super easy! I'll find out my # on Monday.

My thoughts exactly. Its a dark theme, so lets keep it that way.

That's what I was thinking as well, but I think it can be cool as long as they don't cheap out like TDK and put some $5 action figure in there. That's the main issue I always had with TDK.

This is great to hear as it seems to be one of the main complaints on Full Throttle. Having the lights more evenly distributed vs mostly from the back will allow all the playfield/plastics art and toys to really pop instead of being shadowed or washed out. If we can control the brightness, then even better yet. Adjust to taste.

That is pretty cool. I'm thinking of a topper that going to really pop in between those lit up beacons.

We are here! It should be any day now.

I believe they were targeting October for the date when production was to begin. I'm hoping we see something before that time. Once the game is complete and final approval is given from Fox, which should be before production would start.

Its not blank, blow the image up a bit. In fact you can see that he's working on possibly adding some of that hive look across the sling plastics to the inlane guide plastics.

The trim ends up being a wash between the 2 editions as I'm betting most LE buyers will select chrome for extra anyway. I guess we'll see what the green trim looks like, but its going to be hard to beat chrome I would imagine. What you're really getting is the LE art package, since that's the only part that I don't think you will be able to add for additional cash (oh and gloss cabinet :shrug. Speculation has been that the cost of the LE additions is going to put the standard in line with the LE, but we haven't seen any pricing as of yet to substantiate this claim. I'm in for an LE, but I'm not against downgrading if the costs and extras don't make sense to stick with the LE. For me that would have to be saving at least a grand over the LE and not really feeling love for the LE art once its revealed.

Interesting point, though the bright lime green never made any sense to me either. Dark green I could see. Still, people really love the look of chrome. Black may make the most sense from the theme perspective and the choices provided.

Its extra for the LE as well.

It was the video of his work that pushed me into placing a deposit down on this game. I think once they show the video of the full game, the rest of the LEs will be spoken for. That would be a nice place for heighway to be in before the expo and right before production is to start.

Well this is good. If the delay is adding features, then I'm fine with that.

Sounds like a troll to me.

I was curious about that as well. I even recall seeing pictures of it early on.

Where did this go? Did they decide to remove it? I'm referring to the space jockey ball saver.

alienpinrender (resized).jpg

Just curious. Thanks for explaining. I thought it looked like a cool idea and that's why I was disappointed to see it go.

I think there are some people that have already done that with Full Throttle and an Alien kit on order. I'm not sure it was a bundle, but there are those that were certainly purchased at the same time.

BTW - You need to get one of these so you can put together some killer mods for us.

Looks like it has potential. Great audio and video clips. We need to see it in the dark for the full effect. This game is going to be all about the lights and sounds.

Heighway's website

Has there been a price drop? That's like 1k off the last price listed.

If not I'll cancel my order and re-purchase at the new price.

Looking at the details, it appears the 7100 is GBP. The $7100 is an error. Looks like you save only about $200 taking a standard up to LE. You're getting the additional art and green trim for $200.

Good point. I'm in lower as well, but my numbers were using the current site prices.

This is from the price details. Its hard for me to believe they are giving 1k off for paid in full.

Aprices (resized).JPG

Plus decals to cover the white spots under the flippers.

I agree its more of a distraction than anything. I'm surprised they used that concept, given that it was not highly regarded in BDK and Stern removed it from BM66 likely for that reason. I think just some hive/ship components that added to the alien head may have been better added back there. Similar to how Smaug was setup on Hobbit.

Bright green never made much sense to me anyway. I mean the aliens are grey. I suppose the eggs have some green in them, but they are a dark green. You could go a really dark green and they would play into the eggs and the colonial marines armor. I'll bet that would look nice and if its not as bright, it may swap better with other games.

Yes

Exactly how I would rank them, though Aliens and Alien are very close. I just really love the horror and suspense the first one has, especially if you remember back to the first time you watched it. With Alien 3 I do need to be drinking some coffee to stay awake. 4 was kinda silly, but at least it had Ron Perlman.

I went through Cointaker and can tell you my price shipped with the large screen was cheaper than that.

I think the key is to remove the roundish appearance that it has which allows it to rotate. Instead of a scoop, have the ball VUK up into a full square shaped air lock, that will have a yellow flasher inside and a coil that will blast the ball back out at you (similar to the Borg ship). It will give the appearance of something getting blown out of the air lock and will fit the scene in both movies where this takes place, instead of just the queen in the second movie. If its not a main air lock sequence, then it can just quickly eject it out without any drama, otherwise give the whole flasher/cut scene/sound effect. Maybe that's too much?

This happens with every game as it approaches time to pony up the full amount. I did the same thing with MMR. Once it's time to drop the remaining 7k, you start asking yourself just how bad you really want this game.

Correct. No one is getting an Alien this year. That is really my one ding for Andrew is that he tends to overpromise on dates. Why not just say its going to be at a generously realistic date and then knock our socks off when its ready early? I say take the time needed to make it as great as it can be, but lets not overpromise and continuously disappoint the base of supporters here with nonsense delivery and production dates.

Total BS! If we have deposits down and are paid in full, they 100% owe us updates for the good faith we placed with our cash. If we were just on a list with no money down, then that would be correct. I'm generally a patient guy and you'll hear few complaints from me, but please don't say we are not owed anything when many of us have had cash down on this for many months.

They gave these numbers around the time of the expo release and I recall doing the math which came to about a $200 difference getting the standard to LE (minus the LE art package). So you were basically paying $200 for the numbered plaque and LE art. There has been several price increases since they first started taking deposits and I think the LE is up $100 since the expo, so that math is a moving target.

Maybe so, but to me, keeping us up to date on progress/changes/delivery is implied. Fortunately, Andrew and the Heighway team has done that. If they had the sort of mindset you're explaining, then I would imaging that many people including myself would have given them the finger and jumped ship a long time ago. I don't like dealing with anyone that has the f-you I don't owe you a damn thing mentality. Call me crazy, but I'm just not comfortable giving cash to someone that won't a least offer an occasional reach around.

No worries. The most important thing above all is to ship us some solidly built games that are a blast to play. Send those crappy playfields and PCBs back and make them get it right. That's what I like to hear.

I prefer the screen over the queen airlock, though a 3rd LCD does seem a bit overuse. I don't even mind the bezel around it and would reserve judgement until I see it in person. As some others have mentioned, I would reserve the use of it to key points only. To further this I would do the same with the playfield LCD. Keep it for things like the motion sensor, computer displays, cads, ect and not so much with movie clips. Use the larger LCD for those. The 3rd smallet LCD use only for mode specific shots, otherwise keep it dark.

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.

I just want my beacons to look like they did in the films. I think these are close to that, though large for HP's thin backbox. I also don't recall any major complaints about them from the release party last fall. I'm afraid any changes with them could be worse and would rather them focus on polishing the game play and rules at this point.

I think this is the way they could improve them if they were to. Recess the lower portion into the BB. This would also save them from scrapping the parts they already have for new. I think what looks off is that you can see the bases and we only want to see the globes.

Or maybe instead of holes in the bb, add a cover that matches the size of the bb top, which essentially raises it to the height of the globe bases. It is a topper after all.

beacons (resized).jpg

Yep, I've began feeling the early signs of apprehension as well. We need a bone thrown our way (video or solid release dates) or at least signs that people are getting supported when refunds are requested.

Rob's been around here for a while and knows the drill with this sort of thing. Hold every proposed title to a high degree of skepticism and then believe only half of what you see and none of what you hear. Anyone that has been around here long enough knows that. Lets face it, even Stern drops the ball these days. Once the title is shipping and you've had a chance to play one, only then is it safe (mostly) to put you cash down. For some crazy reason I put cash on this one without the benefit of playing it, and that is a first for me. I guess the theme and what I had seen up to that point was enough to take a risk, though I should certainly know better.

Why would someone sell theirs when they could just get a refund at this point?

I'm sure he's enjoying his game for a bit before he gets to posting up pictures. I know I would. Besides, he'll have more to tell us that way.

Thanks for this

The playfield art works really well once the game is all lit up. Its also nice seeing someone play that can make shots, proving that it has some pretty good flow. One of the things that needs to be done is come up with something to replace those posts in the left outlane. They seem add very little to the game visually. I realize there was a toy there in the original design that was scrapped due to fit. I wonder what could mount over them or in their place?

Ok. I seen that mentioned, but didn't realize that you had some control over it. Makes more sense now. Still the posts are a bit ugly in that spot. At least posts that fit the theme visually? Black? Probably easy enough for someone to alter. I'm just nit picking really.

I'm hoping the green is a darker shade of green. If the LE art is more blue in tone, then that to me would be the way to go. I still would want it to be a darker military blue, not a bright super hero blue. The game is a dark theme, so if the color options are bright, I'll just go black.

Exactly another reason the colors need to be darker. Bright green or blue is going to be a huge visual distraction while playing, due to the large bezel.

I actually don't mind the "You Failed" message, just mix it up so I'm not seeing it constantly. I suck and will see it a whole more that I'd like to admit. How about adding "you suck" "you fucken suck" "you worthless POS" "please die" "you're dead" "Alien dinner" "facehuggin sperm bank" (does that last one make any sense??

I'm good with a variety and I can handle the insults.

I do like the theme, I just didn't like the layout.

Thankfully they are keeping them metal.

Not a problem with the LE. You get both, so install the one you prefer. The thing that a lesser LE art package will do is steer people away from the blue armor.

I'm starting to think that LEs are looking at late summer for shipping now? So I'm looking at a possible Christmas delivery on mine. I would love to at least see the fiber optic ramps in action, even if the artwork is held up at Fox. Has there been any tangible movement on getting those working?