Quoted from jarjarisgod:

More importantly... Any Full Throttle news?

Quoted from Aurich:

Just cosmetics. No deleted spinners, or removed drop targets or any nonsense like that.

The LE option is really for people who intend to keep the game whole I guess? Obviously you can do whatever you want, but that's what makes sense to me.
However, to your other question, you can actually add the cosmetic LE options to a Standard. The only things you can't add are the powder coat, which you didn't want, and the LE-exclusive art package. That you'd just have to live without I guess. It's what sets the LE apart and is actually truly limited.

Quoted from underlord:

Chrome trim, black gloss cab, Aurich artwork. Yep.

Quoted from dannunz:

Have the ball interactive toys been approved by the license yet? I know that smog in the hobbit was supposed to interact with the ball but the licence would not allow it.
I hope this does not happen with Aliens.

Quoted from zeddex:

Entitled much?
The game is being designed. We will see it when its ready to be shown, both from a practical and licensee standpoint.

Quoted from iceman44:

I don't believe that story with TH and JJP. Makes zero sense.
I'm excited as well for the UK reveal!

Quoted from Aurich:

1 and 2 are awesome. 3 is pretty good too, but that's not universal. You can skip 4.

Quoted from accidental:

Oh yes:

Quoted from Aurich:

I'm sure the beacons aren't glued down or anything. All I know is what Andrew has publicly discussed. And that's that new games will ship in some kind of box/crate, and you can put the playfield you don't want in it and store it under the game if you like. I think all the games are on full rails that stand up on their own on the floor. Keep in mind that my involvement is from across the pond, so I haven't actually touched or seen any of this stuff, just repeating what I've heard. People like frolic know more than I do, he's got a game he can touch!
I'm sure you can just take the beacons off and put them in a drawer or whatever, no big deal. It's a topper, it's not anything gnarly.

I have no clue at this stage what the plan is for the trim. But I've seen a lot of people express concern that the green was a little too specific for something that's being sold as a modular system. Maybe since it's the LE it doesn't matter. But when the time grows closer I'll make sure Andrew and I have a discussion about what makes sense. He's a sharp guy, and he reads all the feedback too, I'm sure we'll sort out what's best. And if that means the green stays then so be it, not promising anything! But I can promise that we'll talk about it.

Quoted from Aurich:

Haha. Well since this is the Alien thread, and I can be partisan without being dickish, I'll try and sell you on Alien over GOT. They don't really compete, GoT will be shipping first, but it's the flavor of the moment, so why not?
Here's where I think Stern's strategy is a real failure: the Pro/Premium thing lets them offer a cheaper price, but it bifurcates their games in a way that holds them back. Let me explain.
Alien has 4 flippers. You can't buy a version of the game without 4, they're built into the basic shot strategy. GOT only has 4 flippers sometimes. You can use them for the miniplayfield, but you can't make that central to the rules (like say TSPP does). Since the Pro doesn't have them you have to make the upper playfield secondary. Or make the rules just utterly different from Pro to PremLE. Which is weird, and more work, and isn't going to help with code updates being timely.
Alien has full RGB lighting, every single light. GOT has RGB (inserts, pops, and maybe spots?), and only a handful of inserts on the Pro. So you can't rely on the colored lighting for the rules on every shot. You have to hold back on creativity. And I'm betting the Pro can only do 6 colors. I once asked Dwight Sullivan to make the Klingon Multiball insert color orange instead of red, so it wouldn't be confusing when you stack it with Klingon Battle. He replied that he couldn't, because the Pro can't do orange. Just the 6 colors of the main inserts.
If we want a mode on Alien where the GI dims, and then parts of the GI flare up orange, and the inserts around them go orange, and we simulate that part of the playfield being on fire? Can do it. And we can make that a part of the rules, because every model will have that feature.
GOT can't do that. GI can't go orange. Pro doesn't have enough RGB lights to do that (and probably can't do orange anyways).
I can tell you right now there's a mode in Alien that uses the color changing lights that couldn't be done without them. It's really cool to have them on every shipping game, you don't have to hold back.
Alien display: High rez LCD screen. Movie clips, instructions, scores and stats? No problem. GOT: Low rez dots. We haven't seen them yet. We know that if they try to use clips from the show they're going to be a smeary mess though.
Alien Standard is more feature equipped than the Stern Premium, for the same price.
LE is price competitive too (not sure exactly how close, have to see latest quotes, Stern just raised prices) but comes with the interactive topper, no $400 extra charge from the store. Comes with fiberoptic lighting, ala Tron. Exclusive LE art package.
Right now Heighway is simply offering more for your money than Stern. They don't have a cheaper Pro option, it's true. If that's your price point go Stern. But look at the GOT Pro. It's pretty sad without that upper playfield, it's like a whole different game. How is the code going to work across these two models? The Pro doesn't feel like the one to pick here.
Heighway is new, still lots to prove, and Alien is still being worked on and GOT is close to shipping. You have to make your own calls. But I think we're going to deliver a killer game, I'm really looking forward to the first time I get to flip it.
Also, if you're still reading this long ass post, you did ask for a tease. Hmm. Let's just say that I hope you like multiballs ...

Quoted from Colsond3:

Hopefully Alien will also have the backlit side cabinet cut outs / artwork that Full Throttle has. I'm imagining it will, or Andrew and his team have come up with something similar.

Quoted from Aurich:

All I'm going to say is that if anyone was hoping for a backglass full of actor head shots they're going to be disappointed.

Quoted from Elwood_BE:

Maximum 494 as the five numbers I requested originally were already attributed .

Quoted from kaneda:

Selling the LE parts is the worst move ever. Andrew listen to me bro. Either make your LE's truly LE's and charge accordingly or just make one game. Defeats the point of going LE if you can just upgrade a regular with cash.

Quoted from MK6PIN:

Direct for me too.....agree on the plus side of locking in your price.....I was in early @ $7850.00....extra saved will be going towards the large monitor.....

Quoted from MikeS:

Just curious for those that are ordering the LE if the lime green trim would end up being a detriment in the future if you ended up buying future "kits" for it to swap in? I would think that a black cabinet with black nickel or chrome trim would be a safer option as it wouldn't clash with future titles.-I suppose trim can always be swapped out later though.

Quoted from Whridlsoncestood:

Ted if they aren't there maybe I can bring mine for freeplay... Full throttle that is. At least let you see and feel what awesome things Heighway is doing.
-Jim

Quoted from rubberducks:

GB won't be at TPF apparently.

Quoted from rubberducks:

Either here or pinballinfo. Supposedly it'll be at the Vegas expo, and one in Italy, but not TPF.

Quoted from mufcmufc:

I met up with Andrew today he showed me the motorised Alien head mechanism on video, rest assured if that is approved and in the game it's a truly awesome toy

Quoted from paul_8788:

From the Heighway site:
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!

Quoted from snakesnsparklers:

Doesn't the LE have the huge additional LCD?

Quoted from bigdaddy07:

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.

Quoted from Aurich:

I'd say Stern has lost their goddamn minds, but people are apparently happy to line up and pay those prices.
If Andrew's not an idiot he's going to raise his prices too. Why not? The frog is perfectly happy in the bubbling water.
This is me just talking personally, I have zero insight into Alien prices or plans. And I'm not trying to push anyone into pre-ordering just to lock in a price point. But if the street price on the base Batman 66 game is around $7700 and people are opening their wallets? Andrew would be a fool to leave money on the table he could use to grow his company.
Expect a price increase, that's my prediction. Up up up, that's the trend.

Quoted from focusmediagroup:

At what point do we see the big players financing (through partners) like the recreational vehicle market. For only $199 a month for three years you can own a pinball machine!

Quoted from luvthatapex2:

Whats happening Thursday night in regards to Alien?
According to the expo schedule Alien reveal is on Friday at 4pm
http://www.pinballexpo.net/seminar.pdf
4:00 p.m. "Alien Pinball:
The Official North American Launch"
Guest Moderator: Gary Flower
Speakers: Andrew Heighway, Brian
Dominy, Joe Schober, David Thiel, Barry
Oursler, Kelly Mazurowski, Garret Popek,
Matt Riesterer

Quoted from Aurich:

If something breaks it's not likely to be a ramp, they're all metal.

Quoted from Mfsrc791:

Will there be an alien at pintastic this year?

Quoted from spfxted:

Allentown?