I'm really excited that all the people who say they want unlicensed themes will soon have another chance to not buy one again.

It doesn't really make a lot of sense to reveal your game the same week somebody else does.

The Stones and Beatles communicated and timed their releases to not step on each other.

Doesn't help anybody to be fighting for attention at the same time.

Everybody wants to have something at TPF so they'll announce.

I'm sure we'll get a smattering of "I'm out on Foos/Godfather and I'm IN ON A GALACTIC!" but I think the lack of a license (once again) is gonna hurt them badly. Everybody wants unlicensed themes but they don't buy them.

Holy Jesus

If this game drives AP out of business, will we send the remaining stock to the US Army or Ukraine for use as training exercise targets?

Some fears I have:

Will this become sentient and destroy the rest of my collection?

Will it be kidnapped by a group of Shriners for use in their fleet?

If my floor is not level, will it roll into the kitchen?

If I attempt a death save, will it fire back?

It’s all very unsettling.

I think I’m too old and I’d never pass the piss test.

Galactic tank forcing is a young person’s game.

The box is a good place to be. Especially in pinball.

I mean, it’s literally a box.

Hey if someone could photoshop gif me a bunch of 60 year old Shriners driving around in these things during a parade with those fez on their heads I’d appreciate it.

That’ll do pickle. That’ll do.

All you “I’m so exited to see something different!” People better speak with your wallets or this is the last time we are ever going to see anything “different” in the industry for the foreseeable future.

This game appears to be the kind of “car built for homer” monstrosity I’m always telling you folks pinball companies can’t afford to build.

So prove me wrong!

No, I’m saving my Pennies and support for homepin’s spinal tap CE released in a giant Stonehenge cabinet.

Big dumb target bank in the middle

Posts between the flippers

It’s a 1965 gottlieb throwback

Could be cool to play for sure but people should know what they are Getting with this one. If you are into modern style games might not be for you.

Also, you better like purple.

No. They don’t still do the Oscar’s.

This new wave are like Benny blanco from the Bronx. No respect for the street code.

Yes dialed in. And also BKSOR (a license on an unlicensed).

Jjp and stern’s worst-selling games of the Pinside era.

Time to step up folks.

It’s pinball. It’s outer space. It’s babes. It’s space lasers. This is what you want. Buy it!

Settle down Beavis!

If the Godfather thread was big enough for 96 "It's Godfather 3 only!" jokes, we can handle two ice cream references!

No. Clearly nobody can.

Why does every old guy in pinball think he's funny?

This is embarrassing and sad.

Stop calling this "camp."

Camp is supposed to have humorous qualities.

This is definitely going to finish off not only Nordman's career, but most likely American Pinball.

No you don't.

Not like this!

Yes, it definitely brings to mind one of the worst qualities of Rush, which is wall to wall Canadian Dad Jokes.

Still, while they have a lot of groaners, I'd say the Rush guys somehow escaped with their dignity intact, which is a lot more than you can say for the professor and captain fantasy or what have you

Do you really think that's a concern?

This is the end of the line.

Does it look like blast to pay $10K for and display in your home? Where other people will see it? Where you may have to explain it to your friends and loved ones?

Your distributor is lying.

Well today is your lucky day!

You are REALLY buying one of these things?

I watched the trailer 17 more times!

And you know what?

It’s still horrible and embarrassing. And outrageous!

So you think I’m overreacting?

I honestly can’t see how AP survives this. I mean how do they sell more than a handful of these things?

Maybe in a couple years we’ll look back on this and see how off I was!

Hey if you guys think this is super goofy fun and the kind of innovative outside the box pinball you've been clamoring for since the last Cactus Canyon rolled off the line, good for you. Enjoy!

Your support can help get more games like this made, and more fiftysomething former playmates gigs in the burgeoning field of original LCD screen content that this movement is fueling.

I'm not gonna get angry that this humor is landing with some of you, even if I don't wholly understand it. I hope you enjoy your long and winding journey with the Queen, the Professor, and all of these other quirky, funny-bone tickling inhabitants of this hilarious world under glass!

TO THE LAB! May your days be filled with the childlike wonder of giggle-inducing sprinkles!

I know we can't help but discuss price with everything these days, but for me it's not really too interesting in this case. I mean, this is just what most pinball machines cost these days.

It's not about the price. It's about buying into this whimsical world of the The Boss, Panther, the Queen, and the Professor.

Either you are buying in, or you aren't. The price, a few thousands in either direction, really isn't gonna sway you if you aren't willing to welcome these characters into your home and into your life.

I guess I just don't have the imagination and sense of humor required to take that leap. But I don't want your pity! Just your understanding.

You think they hired actors and spent almost $200 on costumes, lighting, and sets to NOT have hours of this stuff in the game?

I think some of you guys may be in denial. If you buy this game, these characters are going to become a huge part of your lives.

TO THE LAB!

Once a generation, a game comes along that completely moves the needle. Shifts the Paradigm. CHanges the game. Causes you to completely blow up your Id and ego, and build yourself back up from the level of infancy, and radically alters the way your neurons fire, and your thinking progresses.

Galactic Tank Force is such a game. I will never again say that what's on the screen doesn't matter. Not as long as the Galactic Tank Force is on patrol!

Everything is different now.

TO THE LAB!

Stern lacks the imagination and wit to ever come up with original content as compelling, ingenious, and hilarious as what we are being served up with Galactic Tank Force.

It's a dark day for Stern. They've lost the battle. Can they come back from this and win the war?!

It's your move, Stern. Hold my scepter.

The humor of Whoa Nellie Big Juicy Melons was simply the appetizer, the amuse bouche.

The pinball community, industry, and players lapped it up, and demanded more!

Are you ready to gorge on the trough of hilarious delights that is the main course?

Here it is. Nordman unchained!!!

If you can handle it.

Williams was a public company and was therefore obligated to release production numbers.

Stern (and all the other current companies) isn't and is not.

No secret. That's how it works. Williams wasn't releasing those numbers to appease hobbyists or just for fun.

I think most of us are just tired of talking about prices. Finally.

This costs what a bunch of other games cost now. This is the standard premium / LE / sucker fish model that everybody in the industry but Stern has adopted (they also have a pro).

We can really just judge these releases and our initial reaction without considering price. All these games are more or less priced the same so why continue bloviating about it?

Nothing has changed for me in weeks -

Most excited to play

Pulp
Foo
Godfather
Tank Farce

I’ll probably never get around to playing the latest p3

Galactic Tank Force won TPF?!

I just can’t imagine having one of these in my house.

Your mileage may vary!

The humor is off the charts!!!!

Has there ever been a funnier game?!

This is like whoa Nellie, but turned up to 11!!!!!!!

Everybody fussing about some dumb game play video we’ll have all forgotten about in a week, and zero fucks given about the real, dare I say only, concern of note:

Does this game feature more tit jokes or more dick jokes?

I’m guessing in the end, tit jokes takes it by a boob or so. But we’ll see!

He rules the Queen thread!

That toy space shuttle caused quite a stir, as did the constant multiball, cool sound, and return of speech after a few years.

Right game at the right time.

What does this even mean?

One of their designers/faces of the company routinely does high profile streams highlighting the work and helping sell games for their major competitors.

What could possibly be more "friendly" than that?

It is a true tragedy that the pinball industry is now focused on making a profit rather than the old days, when it was all about losing money to put smiles on kids' faces.

But let's face it...while the non-profit pinball industry succeeded without profits for 80 years or so, the time has come for them to keep up with the times and finally come up with a way to pay for all of it and even make some money.

it couldn't last forever! Which leads us to the tragedy of today's 3D-printed toys.

Huh.

Unlike the 600 Gottlieb EMs are that are all basically identical.

The pinball hobby continues to be a magnet for insane, extremely verbose people who do not understand how business works, have zero understanding or knowledge of pinball history, and think pinball companies should not be allowed to make money.

Is this Ice "Flow Monster" thing catching on?

Or is like the old "white butthole" insider connect light slam that failed to stick?

A "toy" is just something that looks cool on a pinball machine. That's what the space shuttle is. That's what the Thing Hand is. That's what this thing is on 1975 Blue Max.

Some toys are cool, some are stupid, some look great, some are shitty, some touch the ball, some don't. Carry on.
blue (resized).jpg

It's not exactly on ice. Could re-emerge at any moment!!

I do like the latest code update. 12 more like that and we should be in good shape!

This has got to be one of those Chat bots right?

Pinmeister typed it 45 times in 3 days and finally gave up on it, after it was pointed out many times that buttocks are not convex, and that buttholes are not white, but actually the absence of light.

That original Insider Connect thread is pretty hilarious. It was never going to catch on and in fact represented a sign of the end of the world.

As an aside, Christie Brinkley is 70 years old.

The inmates are running the asylum!!!

And they all think you settled for less hot wives than you should have!!

Does this game really taunt players by repeatedly saying "Miss me miss me now you gotta kiss me?" or was that just a weird fever dream I had during the TPF coverage?

Same question posed for the "fudge packing mode."

Yeah nobody gives a shit about the "bond reveal shitshow" besides the verbose pinside historians - today, the game is fine and is getting better with every belated code update, and there don't seem to be any 3D printed crap on the playfield and the code also isn't a depository for groan-inducing grandpa jokes.

And the Bond crew has been subjected to far more abuse and scorn from "the fans" than anybody involved in GTF, yet they've managed to keep their shit together and not come in here picking fights by comparing pinball machines to aging supermodels and peoples' wives.

"Why isn't Stern nicer to the little guy! Competition is good for everybody!"

One of their highest-profile employees is streaming GTF tonight.

"I was thinking more like they should share their profits with their competitors and ask them permission before they buy licenses."

LMAO....MAN people wanted that pointless 3 way spinning disc. For some reason.

Like everything else with this game if you buy in to the entire concept, you'll love shit like this. And the tit jokes. And dick jokes. And everything else about it.

The more Hawaiian shirts you have in your closet, the more likely you are to embrace the humor. It's not for everybody, and I can respect that.

If you are the kind of guy who was annoyed that Elvira 3 was "too PC" despite the fact that it had pinball's first explicit anal sex joke, this game is for you.

If you watch those progessive "turn into your dad" commercials and say "I don't get the joke," this game is for you.

If you are one of the 45 people who bought Whoa Nellie Giant Juicy Tits, this game is for you.

If you've branded everything you don't like as "woke," this is the game for you!

It really is a "lifestyle game," and in some small way, I respect that. It's "Nordman unchained." It's a perfectly distilled vision of what a certain segment of the population, and a large segment of the pinball hobby, are gonna find absolutely fucking hilarious. If this tickles your funny bone and checks all the boxes, and makes pinball great again for you, BUY THIS GAME. Show it's what you want, support it with your wallet, and maybe you'll get more games like these.

There's really something for everybody with all the new releases.

Sorry dude the statue of limitations is up on this one!

I don't think anybody is calling for the game to be banned or "canceled" so put away your wokeforks.

Some people just think it's stupid and/or offensive and won't buy it. Nothing wrong with that right? Everybody is entitled to their opinion.

I mean, the game ain't for me, and I decided that long before seeing the game had hilarious jokes about fudge packing. But if you want to buy it and proudly display it next to your signed Larry the Cable guy poster, hey I'm all for it. Go for it!

See? This guy should DEFINTELY buy this game, once he is able to compose himself and recover from the fits of uranus/fudge induced laughter.

There's something for everybody. GTF isn't just a game; it's a true lifestyle brand.

I have a feeling Ice is gonna end up buying a GTF for every room in his house!

Ummm clearly you didn't read the last 5 posts of page 97?

If true, that's an awful lot of fudge packed and ice cream licked!!!

Seems like a lot of people think "campy" is supposed to mean "corny and not funny." I can assure you that isn't the case!!

Check out a John Waters movie sometime!

Pretty sure that's never happened?

The hype thread is for general chitchat, criticism, and woke debates.

Owner's threads are for jerking each other off about how awesome the game is, and pitchfork mobs when code updates slow.

This is the established order of things around here! If one of the threads isn't to your liking perhaps the other one will prove to be.

That's not true!

You can literally buy a pinball machine with a "fudge packing mode" and doubtless countless dick jokes, today.

Speak with your wallet! If you want more chocolate and rebellious from here on out, BUY GALACTIC TANK FORCE! This is the game you've been waiting for, and your support is important.

Nobody bought Whoa Nellie, and that fiasco set back junvenille pinball humor by a decade. Now's your chance to help rectify this injustice!

It's unseemly!!!

Warning...sprinkles may cause giggles!!!!

Damn Trey I thought you were in!

This!

Or they'll be out of business in a year.

It's a lot like placing a big horizontal wall of targets in the center of a playfield on a modern pinball machine; what else do you expect besides unbridled chaos (and countless airballs?)

Dead serious on that one.

Can't imagine they are going to do anything but lose a ton of money on Galactic Ice Cream Squad.

The “they” I was referring to you wasn’t you. It was AP.

These all get a pass!!

I don’t know if you are trying to turn me on…but don’t stop!!

So you can have sex with it!

It's on there already!

bingo (resized).jpg

Until I hear publicly from some higher ups at Stern that they are just delighted that deadflip continues to feature other companies' products I'm not going to assume that they are.

It seems a little odd to me!

Depends upon the arrangement.

Dirty Donnie decided to take a (probably paltry) check from Suncoast for that Cosmic Carnival fiasco and was never heard from again in the industry (to the detriment of pinball; nobody does rock-themed games like he does).

Nordman seems to be working for 6 different pinball companies at a time, all the time, and nobody seems to bat an eye.

People have been saying this forever and it never makes any sense to me. It's complete bollocks.

NIB prices began to "pinflate" when JJP entered the game 10 years ago. Before JJP came on the scene, the idea of an NIB game going for over $4500 was considered laughable. JJP made this acceptable and everybody else followed suit.

Stern STILL sells the cheapest commercial pinball machines with their pros.

Every other pinball company charges more for their regular production games.

Stern has ALWAYS been playing catch up in the "who can charge the most" for their machines game, excluding low-production one-offs. Yet there are still people who blame them the most for rising NIB costs.

Color me befuddled as to why people (and not just noobs like Flipperworks) continue to push this narrative.

This isn’t rocket science dude. They didn’t undercut anybody before JJp showed up - they were literally the only Company in business for 10 years.

Other companies showed up, charged much higher prices, and “pinflation” was on.

But for a decade people have been whining about Stern raising prices and being responsible for “pinflation.”

Makes zero sense to me.

There ain’t gonna be no “$8k classic” version of this shit heap.

You’d rather have this thing and $500 than a stern premium? That’s the choice.

Hey good luck with that.

Pointless aside on Congo;

The stupid monkey game thing isn’t the amy toy, it’s just a dumb monkey game.

The actual “amy” toy is the monkey at the top left of the playfield, and I consider it quite clever actually! She “holds” the ball and then releases it into play back to the upper left flipper for another shot during the Amy hurry up.

This thread just ain't right without SLAMTILT telling us he invented airballs and bad live LCD scenes, and "fudge packing" jokes in pinball. Hope he's ok!

The easiest way to settle this dumb and never ending argument is to buy a galactic tank force. Or don’t. And let the crumbs fall where they may!!

I’m no expert, but I just don’t understand how Ap can remain in business putting out the likes of Oktoberfest and GTF. Who the Hell is buying this nonsense?

Is AP a loss-leader tax shelter for some govt contractor? Is it some rich guy losing millions a year just to give his kids something to run and keep them off the streets?

Are they actually somehow selling these gaudy paperweights?

We may never know. But clearly, if you think unlicensed is the way to go, speak with your wallet and keep this river of wacky themes nobody is asking for flowing!

We may even finally get to see Food Truck in all its glory!

Sounds like a job for Homepin!

At the very least, I hope AP has finally figured out that “comedy pins” are way too had to pull off for a mass audience. It’s simply way too easy to fall flat on your face (especially with a “original” joke theme) which is why you don’t see smart pinball companies building their games around fart, dick, and gay sex jokes.

Well, at least going back to family guy. But let’s at least acknowledge that family guy had legitimate professional comedic talent behind it, and had a built in following.

If this game were just another Afm concept ripoff it would at least have a chance. GTF and Oktoberfest are what happens when people who think they are funny are allowed to completely run the show and drive the Concept.

It’s painful to watch unfold.

Since we are taking a trip down memory lane I’ll tell you what I always heard from the old timers -

MM and AFM were both very good earners and they could have sold a ton more to operators at the time but that’s just not how Williams did things. Pinball was on the decline and those were the production runs and that was it. They didn’t “vault” games like stern or have any kind of flexibility.

It’s all moot anyway. Comparing these ancient games to modern unlicensed themes built around aging boomer humor is a complete joke. We all know it makes zero sense to claim the popularity of a 25 year old game has any relevance to marketing new games.

See, with a cutting edge wit and fresh original jokes like that in your arsenal, why aren’t YOU writing scripts for AP?

Unlike sprinkles and 7th grade in 1985 fudge-packing jokes, this banal discussion of Pinside collection ratings technicalities does not give me the giggles!

In fact it's introducing serious airballs into this conversation!

Pintastic.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/official-pintastic-new-england-2023-show-and-hotel-discussion

Compare to this sample description on the stern web site:

“James bond.”

Are all Pinsiders with Roger Daltrey avatars insane?

You have to build zero games a day to obtain the kind of care and quality that Stern simply can't match with their rushed "high capacity" production line.

It was my understanding that dimples may cause giggles.

And not a single person who demands "innovation" or "mechs" was satisfied with it, or even bothered to take note of it.

I thought it was about stern’s quality control.

I heard they considered hiring Christie for the live action but her acting was deemed not “campy” enough.

People continuing to say that when it’s apples and oranges.

Lower the AFM bank a few inches and make it twice as wide and let’s talk.

And if my basset Hound had wheels he’d be a Wagon.

Ok. Galaxtic tank force is exactly the same as AFM.

Now that this is established, sales should really pick up!

Now you guys are just picking on me.

I’ve already conceded that this game is exactly like AFM In every way.

What more do you want?! It’s just getting cruel.

GTF is one of the best layouts in pinball history. And the humor?

Chef’s kiss!

If you like AFM, you simply MUST buy Galactic tank force or you are nothing but a hypocrite of low Character!!! (Maybe buy two of them just to be safe)

I have a personal vendetta against stupid arguments such as “GTF remotely resembles AFM in a kind of esoteric way therefore if you like AFM you need to like GTF.”

And hey, child abuse jokes are hilarious. Really jibes with the whole vibe of this project so keep ‘em coming! Maybe they can work some of that into a future code update.

Careful dude. Your causal observation of the painfully obvious truth that GTF and AFM have different playfield layouts and that it’s possible to like one and not the other might lead to accusations of bias or being abused by an ice cream man in your youth!

I think once it was established that GTF is exactly the same gene in every conceivable way as AFM, the thread simply had nowhere to go.

The haters have all been owned!