Quoted from Methos:

It was part of who he was in later years. Plus he did co-author a story with HP Lovecraft, so I'm good with it there.

Quoted from rosh:

The build quality is of very high importance to us. No way the company will survive if the quality sucks. From what I have seen so far, the cabinet and playfield quality are excellent, and very much where we want them to be. The prototype playfields are showing more dimpling that i would expect after just a few thousands plays, but that is due to us having to go with a quick cure hard coat, given the time crunch we were under. I've been assured that the final playfields will be superior.

He was very much interested in the afterlife and was very much a believer in contact in the beyond, but he did spend a lot of time debunking and exposing fakes and phonies. The game features a 'seance multiball' that captures his interest in the afterlife, it features his Mother, which is whom he was hoping to connect with. So while the seance mode does not necessarily focus on the debunking aspect, he does fit in with that aspect of his life. With various aspects of his life we are taking some literary license, such as his time as a spy (which is not universally accepted). I'm sure some will find how we treat some aspects of his life, not up to their expectations.

Quoted from xTheBlackKnightx:

I know American Pinball is not taking pre orders directly.
I know you are not "sanctioning" the process.
I never stated this in my explanation.
If this was the case, we might as well start all the way back to 2004.
Upfront, I am not beating on American Pinball, I am explaining the extreme pitfalls and dangers based on experience of allowing distributors to "do what they want." Basically, it is like saying, "the industry is out of control, and we cannot do anything". I already know that after watching the industry for nearly 30 years, and longer than most distributors selling games currently.
Distributor refundable deposits is NOT A LIST.
Distributor Half down at "reveal" (same consumer) is NOT A LIST.
A "reveal" to actual production time lag might be 1 month to 3 years.
Who knows, American Pinball knows currently better than I do, they are producing Houdini, not me.
We are talking about a manufacturer that has never produced a 100% functional game, EVER.
Distributor Final half "30 days prior to shipping" (again same consumer) is NOT A LIST.
Could you (or anybody) please help clarify something however for the benefit of education for everyone?
To a person's knowledge is EVERY distributor currently offering the "pre order program" following these rules?
Are you telling me that ALL "deposit-half-half" money plans is all being held at the distributor level?
Even if this is the case...
THIS IS NOT A LIST, THIS IS A PRE ORDER PLAN!!!
Again, I know American Pinball is not sanctioning this process.
Consumers are paying distributors (potentially non-refundable for the half-and-half) $7K for products they cannot provide or even potentially ever provide if a manufacturer fails to produce the product.
It is simply feeding a promise.
Why is this exactly acceptable to American Pinball to allow them to do this action?
Previous iterations of these tactic in the 1990s were punished very harshly by manufacturers, as it promoted problems between operators, owners, distributors, and manufacturers. Manufacturers BLACKLISTED distributors. A lesson that was removed when "boutique" home brew manufactures came alive.
American Pinball should CONDEMN this practice, just like BLY/WMS, GTB, AGC, DE in the past, and Stern right NOW.
Stern does not advocate distributors to accept half or final payments until games are manufactured for a reason.
It hurts the company itself, as it builds up something (if not delivered promptly) to have a consumer LOSE FAITH in a manufacturer.
It hurts the industry, as people REFUSE TO BUY AT ALL out of loss of trust in the long term.
Why would this method need to be encouraged?
Why is this method even be required or recommended?
These are my grave concerns, which are extremely valid.
This is simply a "preorder of a different color", and I have seen this tactic before in the past decade.
If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and talks like a duck, it most certainly, not "maybe" a duck.

Quoted from OLDPINGUY:

Forgot about that book.....Indeed a very informative read!
Great that you shared!
I have no doubt in my mind he was a "spy", but to the extant.....well, maybe romanced enough today
as the word gives sultry meanings.
I always found his voice interesting.....spaced vocalization, but wonder if people would listen to him today:
» YouTube video
His fathers background and childhood, is familiar to me, growing up with a Matriarchal Rabbi in the family background.
Knowing his religious upbringing, his personal battles with this and his wife, the spirit world had roots prior to the social
phenomena, when with new technology, and social awakening, the public became obsessed talking with the dead.
I wonder if we will see this focus and believe ever come back in mass some day.....can you imagine?
Theres a magic auction this weekend, listed on Ebay, with a few pieces, autographs, assigned to him.
I tried a few times to see Copperfields collection...no luck...anyone here have the pleasure?
In those that played the game, since I havent seen the modes, can you share?
Any that are Magic Trick oriented, or any Video modes?
(More in the line of Pinball Magic, than ESP guessing on GB)