Derry, NH
Quoted from Roostking:I would have bet $$$ AP would have integrated them. Something is amiss over there, hope they survive..
Where there is smoke there is fire and a particular someone has been blowing a lot of it…
(Topic ID: 331848)
Linked Games
Galactic Tank Force (DE)
American Pinball, 2023-
Galactic Tank Force (LE)
American Pinball, 2023
Topic Gallery
Quoted from TreyBo69:be right back, going to ebay to buy a bunch of tin tanks to put LEDs in the barrel of to sell for 10x
The way toppers are priced today, you're selling yourself short at only a 10X markup.
Quoted from Tommy-dog:The LE tank side tracks are not integrated into the game. They actually use a wall power brink for power so your game has 2 power cords now.
Bush league.
Quoted from Roostking:Something is amiss over there, hope they survive..
or someone.....
Quoted from Tommy-dog:It would be easy to integrate the tank thread lamps since the AP version of Pin-Stadium lights are software controlled. All they had to do was to piggyback off the strip lights.
And they could even just mirror the light show of the arena lights so they don't have to create a lot of new light shows. Then the outside of the cabinet has a soft glow that matches what's going on inside the cabinet. Isn't that what JJP CE's with cab lighting do?
Perhaps it was an intentional decision to not integrate the LED track lighting with the in game lighting.
Quoted from Roostking:I would have bet $$$ AP would have integrated them. Something is amiss over there, hope they survive..
Quoted from luvthatapex2:Perhaps it was an intentional decision to not integrate the LED track lighting with the in game lighting.
They should have probably messaged it considering matching light shows is the expectation on cabinet lighting based on what others have been doing (JJP, Multimorphic, maybe some others)
Quoted from luvthatapex2:Perhaps it was an intentional decision to not integrate the LED track lighting with the in game lighting.
Intentional or not whats the point of the deluxe and the extra money if anybody can just staple the lights to some wood. Either a HUGE oversight or a stupid decision.
Quoted from luvthatapex2:Perhaps it was an intentional decision to not integrate the LED track lighting with the in game lighting.
I'm sure it was very intentional... Save a shitload of time and $$$$$... 
Quoted from luvthatapex2:Perhaps it was an intentional decision to not integrate the LED track lighting with the in game lighting.
Most likely. If the game was turned off, you can still have the tank threads lit up so it was intentional to keep them separate.
Quoted from Tommy-dog:Most likely. If the game was turned off, you can still have the tank threads lit up so it was intentional to keep them separate.
I can sorta see that logic. The weird decisions made because the designer wanted the cab to look like a tank when not in play...
A proximity sensor when the dust cap is over could have told the game to turn off the interior lights and go into low power mode. Bonus, the game is ready right away when you lift up the head
I mean the game looks great with the head folded down in tank mode but how many people fold their heads down when not playing….. ZERO. They should have focused more of the R&D into something you’ll experience every game.
I’m not a buyer for this game. The theme is just too weird for me. I keep checking in on this thread and the other, though, because I hope GTF will sell well and AP will continue to offer us new, original games. That having been said…holy shit, you guys are brutal in your criticisms. I know it’s Pinside where keyboard jockeys love to attack the hobby they claim to love, but damn! How about some appreciation for AP’s willingness to take risks and offer us pins that aren’t your typical Marvel, Star Wars or old band themes!
Quoted from Charlemagne1987:I’m not a buyer for this game. The theme is just too weird for me. I keep checking in on this thread and the other, though, because I hope GTF will sell well and AP will continue to offer us new, original games. That having been said…holy shit, you guys are brutal in your criticisms. I know it’s Pinside where keyboard jockeys love to attack the hobby they claim to love, but damn! How about some appreciation for AP’s willingness to take risks and offer us pins that aren’t your typical Marvel, Star Wars or old band themes!
I want AP around for decades to come. Please do better
Quoted from Tommy-dog:Most likely. If the game was turned off, you can still have the tank threads lit up so it was intentional to keep them separate.
Sure that is understandable, but you still route the wires into the game for power rather than having two plugs and one being a wall wart!
Quoted from John_I:Sure that is understandable, but you still route the wires into the game for power rather than having two plugs and one being a wall wart!
if the game has a service outlet, it seems real simple to just use that...
The overhead LED strips are not individually addressable, meaning the entire strip is one color, it can be any color, but it is just one color. So connection the treads to those would not really have been viable as it would have not provided any movement.
The original design had a much wider tank tread, as was seen in Dennis' presentation at TPF, however, making those for production turned out to be problematic given the size and weight of them. Accordingly the treads were not even figured out before I was gone, so we had not even talked about lighting beyond some concepts. I have to assume they talked about developing a solution that would integrate, but the EE and I, who developed the current LED system were gone, and that system was not designed for 'serial LEDs', only direct, and not sure they have replaced the EE. So given how late in the process the treads were figured out, I suspect given everything else on the plate, and limited resources to develop and integrate it into the platform, they decided, not surprisingly, it was more prudent to go with an off shelf solution. I know I would have been pushing for full control of those LEDs to tie them to game play, and I'm confident the design team was pushing for that and there is no way Ferret did not push back on it. Unfortunately the design team never gets everything it wants. I could not get RGB GI on Houdini, but we did on Oktoberfest, but there we could not get the multiple LEDs per arrow that we wanted, but we did get those for Hot Wheels and GTF. Possible if AP develops serial LED support later they can do an upgrade for the treads.
Quoted from rosh:The overhead LED strips are not individually addressable, meaning the entire strip is one color, it can be any color, but it is just one color. So connection the treads to those would not really have been viable as it would have not provided any movement.
The original design had a much wider tank tread, as was seen in Dennis' presentation at TPF, however, making those for production turned out to be problematic given the size and weight of them. Accordingly the treads were not even figured out before I was gone, so we had not even talked about lighting beyond some concepts. I have to assume they talked about developing a solution that would integrate, but the EE and I, who developed the current LED system were gone, and that system was not designed for 'serial LEDs', only direct, and not sure they have replaced the EE. So given how late in the process the treads were figured out, I suspect given everything else on the plate, and limited resources to develop and integrate it into the platform, they decided, not surprisingly, it was more prudent to go with an off shelf solution. I know I would have been pushing for full control of those LEDs to tie them to game play, and I'm confident the design team was pushing for that and there is no way Ferret did not push back on it. Unfortunately the design team never gets everything it wants. I could not get RGB GI on Houdini, but we did on Oktoberfest, but there we could not get the multiple LEDs per arrow that we wanted, but we did get those for Hot Wheels and GTF. Possible if AP develops serial LED support later they can do an upgrade for the treads.
Aren't the games built on P3's? The PD-LED supports serial lighting. Or did AP move off P3 for GTF? (I'll admit to only being a weekend homebrew warrior)
Quoted from TreyBo69:if the game has a service outlet, it seems real simple to just use that...
They could have had some sort of switch. Game turned on? Drive it from that. Game turned off. Drive it from the external controller. Definitely only need one plug to the machine.
It's a few extra bucks in parts, a few engineer days to figure out , and maybe a few minutes of work per machine.. I guess they didn't have enough room in the bom for the $2000 upgrade to do it though.
Quoted from TreyBo69:Aren't the games built on P3's? The PD-LED supports serial lighting. Or did AP move off P3 for GTF?
AP still uses P3-roc, but only used PD-LEDs on Houdini, after that an AP LED system was developed so electronics could be embedded into the light boards to reduce wiring, assembly time, costs, etc. Other than the occasional stuck LED, which we finally solved, the system has worked quite well. We never added serial support since I am not fan of using that inside a machine, but for the treads that would have been fine.
Quoted from TreyBo69:Aren't the games built on P3's? The PD-LED supports serial lighting. Or did AP move off P3 for GTF? (I'll admit to only being a weekend homebrew warrior)
They use procs and their driver boards - but not for lighting.
Quoted from LORDDREK:Imagine how little we would know without this guy…
Yup. Josh is a freaking awesome guy. I hope everything turned out well for him.
His game at expo (in like 2013) was the best. We played the hell out of that thing. I just remember "angel in crazy mode". The game was the highlight of our show that year. And Josh couldn't have possibly been nicer, even back then..
Quoted from Charlemagne1987:The theme is just too weird for me.
Fair enough, but a lot of people really like it.
GTF (resized).jpgI should add, I did not even know they were not controlled by the game software, until I read it here, so what I wrote above is pure conjecture.
Quoted from LORDDREK:Imagine how little we would know without this guy…
Imagine AP letting him go...
-
However, I think he got the better end of the deal. Can’t wait to publicly hear where he landed.
Quoted from TreyBo69:I really want a Godzilla topper with a Barney on it now
Hold my beer
20230531_142939 (resized).jpgQuoted from Sly_Old_Devil:Hold my beer[quoted image]
He's the Microsoft Interactive Barney and 25ish years old...in pinball marketing terms "fully interactive, articulated, rampaging monster, who loves everybody"
Merthyr Tydfil
Quoted from Sly_Old_Devil:Hold my beer[quoted image]
Actually looks meaner than the new topper Zilla. Thats bad.
That was the intended theme, but the license holder was a pita, so they went with Plan B, or should have, with this pin.
Quoted from TreyBo69:FTFY[quoted image]
Oops I forgot the camera hole!
So does anyone have one on location in New England, preferably in the Maine area?
I still really want to love this game but need to put $20 in it or so first and see if I want to get one for home.
As an aside, American Pinball should consider having a map of where people can play their games. They have a distributor link, but maybe they could partner with Pinball Map to help highlight places to try games on location? Stern keeps the Stern Army location map on their site.
Quoted from TreyBo69:As an aside, American Pinball should consider having a map of where people can play their games. They have a distributor link, but maybe they could partner with Pinball Map to help highlight places to try games on location?
Dude. Come on…
Quoted from TreyBo69:So does anyone have one on location in New England, preferably in the Maine area?
I still really want to love this game but need to put $20 in it or so first and see if I want to get one for home.
As an aside, American Pinball should consider having a map of where people can play their games. They have a distributor link, but maybe they could partner with Pinball Map to help highlight places to try games on location? Stern keeps the Stern Army location map on their site.
Call Maine Home Recreation they are a distro. They will have them first and in their booth at pintastic on September.
Quoted from calprog:New code tonight.
I am finding the newest code more buggy than the prior code. My game locks up and the end of most games in the point standing screen.
I tried to have an open mind and be positive .... but the pinball machine converting to a tank has got to be one of the dumbest things I have seen in pinball. I hope the game plays better than the ridiculous cabinet looks.
Deluxe model doesn’t look like a tank and has the exact same gameplay. You might like that one.
blockquote cite="#7621842">I tried to have an open mind and be positive .... but the pinball machine converting to a tank has got to be one of the dumbest things I have seen in pinball. I hope the game plays better than the ridiculous cabinet looks.
Dumbest thing in pinball...probably Orbitor 1
The tank folding down is superfluous, but it at least doesn't ruin the pinball
Quoted from BMore-Pinball:I tried to have an open mind and be positive .... but the pinball machine converting to a tank has got to be one of the dumbest things I have seen in pinball. I hope the game plays better than the ridiculous cabinet looks.
To me, its kind of like Stepbrothers tuxedo scene. GTF is going for silly stupid campy and I get it and I love it.
...but if you fart up another aspect, then the whole thing just seems off.
Quoted from Tommy-dog:I am finding the newest code more buggy than the prior code. My game locks up and the end of most games in the point standing screen.
Hey, Tommy-dog, if you (or anyone else) are having any lockups or serious bugs, please capture logs and send them to me at ferret <at> americanpinball.com. I don't believe anyone else has reported what you describe, so we need to figure out what's going on with your game.
Sorry for the inconvenience!
My deluxe is on a truck from LA to the local distribution center. Should arrive there today.
So I should get my game later this week. Looking forward to getting and playing this.
Robert
Quoted from Tommy-dog:I am finding the newest code more buggy than the prior code. My game locks up and the end of most games in the point standing screen.
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