Lots to like about the art and lots not to like. Overall I find a lack of consistency in the style of the art, seems like three of four different styles combined and that just seems off to me. I think TBL has a little bit of this mixed style as well, but to a far lesser degree, since it seems, based on memory, to be just the characters that were of a different style than the rest.

There other aspects that don't sit right, but really hard to really judge until it is populated. I don't get the closed in feeling of the movies, that added to the intensity.

I like the movies, but I'm not a die hard fan, so this was not a must have theme for me, but one I was open to. However, I will say from what I see right now, this does not make me want to go grab my credit card. I'll hold off on final judgement until I can see the whole package of art, plastics and playfield components.

I have to think Aurich now has a better appreciation for what other artists have done, and the challenges associated with doing art for a pinball machine, especially when a licensed theme is involved. Hard to make everyone happy even when you don't have those types of constraints, and in this case, I don't think he also had the designer putting in his two cents, although I am sure there were plenty of opinions from folks at heighway.

your assumption is that everyone has room for a big collection or multiple machines, what if you only have room for one or two games? Then this model works great, especially since you can keep a second under neath and swap it in. Now, Not sure I see a home user swapping the side art or backglass art when they do that, like an operator would. Also allows selling/trading/loaning a game easier, since a much smaller item to ship. Plus, you can always buy cabinets for each machine your buy.

The P3 is taking this same approach, but with a smaller playfield to swap, in both cases future games are less expensive when you don't need another cabinet, computer, audio system, etc.

I do agree about the bevel, really, really looks off to me. It would be nice if there was an alternative version that just had generic side art of some kind, so it could have a more traditional look on top. I think the P3 is using magnetic art to slap on the side, so it does not have the same challenge with the bevel. As i said, hard to see a home user, who is swapping the playfield frequently, also swapping the side art, but I guess only time will tell.

Look at TBL, it is almost all a hand drawn look, except the actors/characters. I'm sure a lot of that is the challenge of getting approval from the actors on the use of their likeness. You stick to the pre-approved images and that issue is greatly reduced. The reality is the studio is not making any money on a Pinball license, given their legal costs, cost of the staff to handle their reviews/approvals, talking to the actors for their approvals (well, so far that is not the case here, unless the Alien has some legal rights to his likeness), etc. therefore they are going to be restrictive in areas that would increase their costs.

I seriously doubt this is a factor in anyway. Fox has done pinball licensing and tons of other similar licensing in the past. It is not like Kevin was working with them and then doing things outside what they approved, etc. that would make them suddenly concerned.

This type of licensing is of little value to Fox in the big picture of things, they only do this to type of thing to promote the brand. In all likelihood what you guys are paying them for the license does not even cover their costs of working with you, so handling approvals, etc. is certainly not a priority for them.

The value can be so low, that I know at times they will not even look at granting a license for some properties, since the effort to deal with it (e.g. the actors, producers, other rights holders), is just not worth the headache.

Houdini will be at both

I assume by previous lessons you are referring to predator, but I'm confused, don't you have an alien in your possession? How did you get that if you did not pre-order? Can you clarify?

the question is what would it take to do it, what are those costs and when all is said and done and is there enough upside to do it . . .

1) replace electronics, not like any existing company would want to use a different control system then then use and have to maintain it, make the boards, etc. so what does it take to re-engineer and port it over to that companies platform.
2) Code -- this also likely needs to be ported to a different system, what is the time/cost of doing that? Can the original developers do it, or would that require getting them up to speed on the new platform vs re-doing it with one of your own developers. How much re-work to assets is needed, etc.
3) Cabinet -- hard to see anyone keeping the current cabinet design, so what is involved in re-engineering the game for a different cabinet, power supply, etc.
4) its a wide body game (and not sure if it is even standard wide body dimensions) -- so, can this playfield size go down the existing assembly line.
5) Are new vendors going to be needed for the game specific parts, meaning if current vendors are owed money are they going to be willing to be involved. Tooling costs?
6) Are the current unique mechs reliable, or do they also need to be re-engineered, etc.
7) you need to renew the license with fox, and given the issues with this, they may certainly want more money this time and a larger guarantee. They may also decide they just don't want to do it.
8 What do you do with those who paid for machines and never got them, you have no real requirement to make things right but does that leave a cloud handing over this.

So you have all of those costs, all of these downsides, so how much are you now willing to spend to acquire the 'assets'? What are they really worth given how much needs to be done? Probably not enough for this to make this make sense. Not saying it is impossible, but, there are some pretty big hurdles to overcome and very little upside vs doing your own title.

Take your time on the decision, don't let your emotions at this moment drive it. While you have come to grips with with some of them, clearly you have not fully processed and recovered from what has been an in extremely emotional and difficult journey. You can always find someone or some place to store it NIB for you so it is not in your presence, but once you sell it, it is gone.

While Alien and Highway is ultimately a story of 'what could have been', the reality is you were part of some thing special and the machine does represent a lot of hard work and team work from the design team, and having had long talks with two members of the team, I know how proud they are of the work and how fondly they view the design/creative team they worked with -- I have to think there are some very good memories that can be focused on, while forgetting Andrew.

As I said, take your time.