I'm going to go with "no".

Bad news is that anyone expecting their game by Thanksgiving (and probably Christmas) is going to be disappointed.

Good news is that you are apparently getting a better quality translite than originally planned.

Better news is that the UL approval is hopefully just a one time pain that won't be an issue for future titles.

Look at the bright side - PPS has had all this extra time to work on the software to colorize the display, so maybe there will be a surprise when the game ships.

If they are not legally required to get UL testing, I'm sure they have a requirement from their insurance company. If they sell them without the UL testing and there is a problem, it would be a huge liability.

Most states and local municipalities have some requirement that products are tested before they can be sold. While it isn't necessary to get UL specifically to test your product, you do need some nationally/internationally recognized laboratory to do this testing.

In another MMR thread, someone thought that UL approval was sought that MMR was going to be classified a consumer product rather than a commercial one. That was also one line of thought as to why the coin mech were actually dropped (no mechs = not designed to be operated commercially). Of all the wild theories about their removal, this one sounds reasonable on the surface.

It would be interesting to know what the reasoning was behind getting UL approval.

_{Post edited by jfh: Stern does get UL approval}

Obviously.

image.jpg

You wont see any modern device that plugs into the wall without UL.

uh yes they do

No not at all. I think it's great that Rick is doing the UL. I guess after the whole WoZ saga of the countless delays and reasons for the delays it just seems like deja vu! Although I dropped out of MMr I am hoping this is a success as I will like to have a MM some day! Just disappointing to see yet another pinball manufacturer miss their commitment but I guess this is the norm these days.

Different topic/question....we have all seen that MMr was on the assembly line at Stern so I wonder what they're doing at this point. Are they continuing production and stock piling the machines and once the transformer passes the UL tests do they just put them in the waiting machines and box them up or has production been put on hold awaiting the testing to complete??

I don't want a pinball machine that doesn't have UL approval.

Good for you! I go into shock every time I see these horrible grammar errors! That goes for the 'their' and 'there' too!

MMR is not on the assembly line at Stern. What was demo'd during Expo was the MMR assembly line, the game was not being run. The line has produced test games and will be ready to be run 2-3 weeks after UL approval is reached.

Does Spooky have it?

I think the answer is yes.
There is a quick glimpse of the machine in the stern factory in this news video.
http://abc7chicago.com/hobbies/made-in-chicagoland-stern-pinball/383772/

Capture.PNG

I can only see Stern in UL online database, so maybe not?

Well that's a good question and I don't have the answer. But, I am not buying a spooky game at the moment and only concerned about a game I am buying from PPS.

Again it must be understood UL does NOT provide approval on anything, they will "LIST" items that meet or exceed their standards, so the label states "UL LISTED" and will never say "UL APPROVED" The term "approved" is not in their vocabulary.

UL will only add items to their list that meet their approval

Check...
Semantics....?

I want any electrical device that gets plugged into my house to be UL Listed...

Sorry, didn't realize Stern machines got UL approval. I didn't see the sticker on my STLE.

The funny part was when you said "obviously".

Yeah, my bad. But I went downstairs just now to look for a UL sticker and didn't see one. But nice to know there is supposed to be one.

My optimistic perspective is PPS is waiting to have all LE deliveries by Christmas. Merry Christmas everyone.....Merry Christmas!!!!!

Its a Wonderful Life.........................

BTW: Christmas is already UL Listed and FM Approved.

The picture I took was from my STLE. Yours is gonna blow up!

Not anytime soon. I have no power on that wall of my gameroom at the moment ...

Would be happy to hear things are UL listed and production has started. So far we have not heard much.

New update on the ops forum. Transformer testing done, still waiting on final UL.

Also according to PPS latest post on the PPS forum Rick said..."next couple of days"... hmmm.....

But then recognizes his optimism... with the harsh current repetitive reality "but i've been saying that for awhile ;-("

I hope it happens sooner than later ! we all know it's on the cusp. I'm thinking production will start officially Monday November 17th.

UL sucks. Christ, this not a fancy new coffee maker. It's an effin pinball transformer that's been the same for 20 years.

This only makes sense since Stern just finished all TWDLE's.

I'll go with not UL Listed for $500.00 Alex.....

Except that would assume PPS/CG already has UL approval and has ordered the parts.

Don't see how they start MMR on Monday otherwise.

I see light at the end of the tunnel...

Sounds like aproval ,cough factory move is coming up soon.

Funny as hell! And Odin, you never cease to amaze me with the pictures and 'info' you post! You are one of my favorite people to follow. I read all your posts on the EM threads.

I can't even see the tunnel!

I am still in, but now after a foot of snow I will have no way of getting the game into my lower level until spring. I do not want to store in the garage until april or may. I paid in full in July because production was going to start. But as we all know, it never did. Please give us in Minnesota a heat wave and a delivery before the end of November!!!

Interesting ...Stern hasn't moved into their new facility yet correct ? I don't know if it would make sense to move all of the parts / inventory over specifically for MMRLE, they probably just want to pump them out and be done with it. I think they have most if not all parts on hand and already did test runs of MMR in their current facility.

If not November 17th for production to start I'm going to say indefinitely December 1st at the latest for them to at least start. That way I would guess they would want to avoid being closed during thanksgiving during the 24th-28th... Perhaps that would be the prep week. I'm also guessing that if the latest production start is Dec. 1st MOST would get their games before the year ends.

A heat wave in Minnesota in January is 1 week in which the temperature does not dip below 0.

Yeah! I already have 4+ inches or so. Luckily, I have a tuck under so I can load it in there, then bring it in. Well if you need help, I'll bring the snow blower, we'll blow you a big ass path. May take a few hours if we have feet of snow...but we have team work on our side

north-dakota-jan2011.jpg

I don't know anything about the UL process, I'm not going to pretend I do like some other people. But I do know there are going to be 1,001 really happy people when this thing finally starts shipping. Nobody will be happier than Rick.

Planned for February if I recall

I don't think I can be patient that long IF that's when MMRLE's get pumped out (Feb)... Hopefully well before that. I think MMRLE will be the last games run at the old Stern Factory... which would make TWD the last actual STERN title and rather fitting because the old factory will be dead.

Chicago Gaming is building all the cabinets and playfields at their facility and transporting them over to Stern for assembly. Neither of those two components would be impacted by UL issues and I have to believe there is a fair amount of lead time on each one. If they are shooting for 2014 shouldn't there be pictures of that production process already cranking those out?

GAHHHHH hurry spill test!!!!

There has been nothing to say that MMR has to wait for the factory move and can't fit on the current lines. Stern's ability to actually build and schedule them has not been the hold up as it's been communicated by PPS or Stern.