Quoted from take2-take5:Full throttle and Alien was really our introduction to the pinball world... Alien was a dream theme for us and hell it was even a uk company with seemingly great prices at the time compared to other manufacturers, for us it couldn't seem better.... Couldn't have made bigger mistakes...
We'll be lucky to get full throttle working again and even then it is ultimately doomed. And now Alien is also gone for good with our money.
Wish we had a better start in this hobby could have been so different, but you have to live and learn... Thinking if we ever get a proper game to try and put current mess in the past, it will be the hobbit - looks like JJP got everything included with the license looks like a really complete package. The theme is what pulls us towards it- but will do my research first this time though!
I am sorry your intoduction to this hobby was so fraught with difficulty and disappointment, but your positive “live and learn” attitude is definitely worthy of respect!
One consolation is that your Full Throttle is almost certain to increase in value in my opinion. The parts/support issue is a legitimate concern, but there are a lot of tenacious people in this hobby, and I’m certain there will (in time) be solutions for both repair parts and correction of any code or engineering flaws.
Hobbit seems polarizing and you’ll have to decide for yourself after playing it. I don’t own it, but always enjoy playing it on location; it is very deep and well-integrated with the movie and is truly a pinball version of a Fantasy RPG. I think JJP is going be a viable company well into the future, and they have already proven (at least from what I have observed) that they are responsive to customers’ concerns and deliver excellent product support.