I want to state again that I'm totally in on this game and altough I'm also in on TNA and Star Wars (last one allready ordered) I really dig Houdinis overall 'package' the greatest. (I like the art, the playfield layout & toys, the steampunk art composition - altough hand drawn would be better - , the sound - about everything.)

Only thing I'm still waiting for is a suggested retail price for europe -> germany.
(And that's the reason I got a Star Wars for the moment; I'm sure I'll have to whit for still quite a while for that to happen, whereas I allready have a date & a price for my SW.)

But I'll be there when you are (and exchange rates won't kill me)!

"Unnatural" is that it doesn't 'wave' or 'swing', but if it's opening sideways or up depends on the theatre (most have both). XD

I have a question rosh!

I've just seen the panel with Joe Balcer and noticed in the early skethces that there's a magnet area marked at Houdinis hands on the playfield.

Is that in the game? - That'd be awesome but didn't see it yet in the gameplay video snippets.

Yes, that was what I wanted to know, thanks.

Game continuously gets more awesome!

Thx.

Is there an european distributor for any pinball machine/ company?

As far as I know RS Pinball from Austria got in touch with them,... but then again: Austria
(For our US-Friends: Austria != Australia)

I'm from neither. XD

Cab is now Cardboard.

More, we want to see MORE!!!

Since they can't use lead, wich would be appropriate, they just take led as the next best thing.

Seminar stream today?

275 cookies, kilograms, vagina?

While this may not be the most proper place to brag about this...

...isn't the expo coverage in genaral serverly lacking?

Pinballnews wrote what they could but other then a a walk trough the floor and 2 1/2 YT-Vids of POTC there's about nothing to find.

No Houdini, no Thunderbirds, nothing...

I want to watch the American Pinball Seminar (and most of the others as well).

Meh!

Seriously I'm really, really looking forward to Houdini, hoping it will be a success for you guys!

This Expo may be all about JJP but (as stated elsewhere) they're not in the same league (wich goes two ways). That is a good thing for variety but I don't see the POTC pricetag anywhere feasible for 'real' location gaming. (Honestly I don't know of any non-pinball location having anything else then stern around here.)

Looking at Houdini I see a game wich isn't tied to one main toy (Tie Fighter on a Spring, Toy Box, Slimer on a fishing rod) that ensures the most competitive pricing possible, but on the other hand not going all overboard (and tehrefore expensive and hard to earn it's own revenue on location) as well.
Houdini has a stringent look, 'molded' decoration and more then one toy and is STILL competitively priced. The gap between a Stern Pro and Houdini is not that wide and since the gap of Sterns Pro to Premium in terms of extra features vs. money seems to get wider as well, Houdini seems a very good deal all around.
(That doesn't mean there aren't things I'd like better another way, like Sterns backbox layout. Not only the strange shape but Houdini -the character- is lacking a "Face" on the Backglass,... wich is hardly doable given the position & size of the display. People like to see "people"... about every movie poster has them.)

Long things short:
I hope you get a foot on the ground not only by home-buyers but on location as well and am thankful for some 'middleground' between the other two (where my wallet still can compete).

Answered in the product Flyer. See AP's Facebook page!

Hmmm,... you're right. In my head I matched that up with "all LED lighting", but I still think it's all inserts.

That said I still like the otiginal art better... but this has way more steampunk vibe to it so I guess I like both.

In the revised playfield Houdini looks a bit more 'drawn' an less photoshoppy, pops out more due to the lighting/ contoures in in Face & Hands so I that's becoming really nice.

Not a Fan of the colored photoshopped-shadowed/contoured insert outlines but I won't give a F*** as soon as I'd be playing it instead of starring at the new screenshots.

Rosh, one serious question.

Are there, some security measures programmed in for when the servos on the stage 'block' so they wont get power the whole time and eventually blow up? (Would'nt ask if that wouldn't have happend elsewhere. )

I think it's great.

Yeah! If you bring the game I'm coming over!

Put an existing one in a suitcase and fly over.

You can stay at my place and I'll drive you and the game over.

(Ok, maybe your legs would fall of after a 2 hour drive in a Wagon R with a pinball machine in the back but it fits.)

It's seriously sad that you can't make it.

Since now first retailers list the Euro price on Houdine it's getting even more attractive with being exactly the same as a Stern Pro machine.

Edit: Writing BS here. It's 1000€ more then a Pro but still 1500€ less then a Premium.

Can't wait to see it for real.

Whatever happened to the seminar video of American Pinball? Still coming?

Of course you take a loss, at least when you sell something that you can buy new.

I bought a SW Pro, and put it on for sale after one week. Lost about 400€.

You can pick up and save yourself 6999$. Thats called theft.

More "about to" roll, with still some hickups I'd assume but nontheless loads of work.

I have faith. I can wait. (And I have to, since my TNA will hit soon and I'm broke for the time beeing after that.)

Lol. - Sad thing is I seriously doubt I'll be able to afford both... at the same time.

So let the spotlight search for a numer before you write "fin".

Nah, you're alone.

But on the other hand it can't possibly be a 'home run' based on the license alone, so you have to work even harder to make a great game and take more risk sales projectionwise. - At least that's what I suspect, wich is why I wish you best of luck!

Congrats from my side too!

I'm hopefull it'll make it to europe soon.

Oh, American Pinball has it's own category on Pinside now! Gz!

It's got so silent...

...Calm before the storm?

The "D".

Finally was able to play Houdini today. Drove about 7 hours today to do so (well Houdini and other new stuff they had there).

First off, I'm astonished how different people can view one and the same thing.

Playfield looks incredibly rich, meaning it is full and kinda looks like jewelery-ish... with it's gold tones reflecting everywhere. If Houdinis Playfield was a clock, I would wear it, it's so sparkling. I had (and have) an issue with the used Photoshop effects and partial Clipartyness, but that is about non existant in person. Houdini was Set up next to a Star Trek and Game of Thrones, and compared to that games it looks like pure gold.
Only thing looking cheap (plastic) was that chain hanging on the right ramp,... and *cough* the LCD animations at times.
(Personally I'd prefer good stills over mediocre animation. Magic Girl did that if I remember correctly.)

Next up was playing it of course an altough I'm not a good player I didn't have any problems with bricked shots.
It played perfectly well, so I put some games on it.

Did like the idea for the card trick video mode, didn't like the contextless 'first shoot here then here' type of missions.

Lighting is kinda awesome, like when you hit the stage all the GI turns off, except the one sourrounding the stage.
(Adds to that world under glass feel.)

One big bummer:
Catapult shot was not working. Ball was shot a bit diagonally and hit the left cabinet wall, ricocheting one time in the trunk by accident.
Trunk not fully closing as well, the lid kinda set loosely on the assembly.

So my first impressions compressed is that I absolutely like what I'm seeing but am not 100% sold yet.
Have to play it again with all mechs working and with sound (didn't really hear a thing, wich is sad because I like the sound package).
But seeing it I'm really happy with that spot that AP is setting themselfes in, between Stern and JJP, with a game that is rich but not overly convoluted and expensive. Compared to what's in there Houdini feels like a bargain.

I think the cold white with the gold colored sideblades, locks, Pop Caps and stuff are a very pretty contrast.