No one knows but it was mentioned that some kind of protector will be on at least the front of the scoop on the le. If i were a afmr preorder buyer i wld go ahead and order the motorized drop target bank protector and the mothership drop target /scoop protector as that area gets beat up even on originals. I cld see the new thick clearcoat just chipping away in them areas rather quickly.

This one?

http://cliffysprotectors.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=11&zenid=3u2jpa5h938oau0eaavaocc5d6

Exactly. This is what I've been saying all along. If you have a fully restored game...and I mean FULLY restored to a "better than factory" state, I'm not sure how that's not more desirable to people who value originals over remakes. And there's not many that are that nice out there.

Earlier this year, a BK full restore AFM with lots of mods was up for sale here asking $11k, for two weeks.

10k by Christmas

I'm pretty sure it sold for around 9k when it did.

If we are talking about Bronco's game I'm pretty sure it sold for more that 9k.

Yea that thing was amazing to say the least....

By "In the old days" did you mean back before one idiot sold his machine for 3 times what it was worth. And someone else saw an idiot buy and so that idiot did the same thing and baited another idiot and eventually the entire market overpriced their old pins to a point to where they are the same price as a brand new car?

Those old days?

I hope they remake every single pin in existence and flood the market. So maybe eventually people will stop thinking they own gold bars and then some of us can actually get some pins in our collections without selling our kids and organs to afford them. It has gotten rather ridiculous in the last decade. Inflation is one thing... but pinball inflation jumped 100 years worth.

And I get supply and demand, but I assure you eventually the demand will slow. All hobbies have periods where they are hot commodities. I just wouldn't want to be the one who bought that 10k machine right before they start plummeting in price.

Nope, Those "old days" was when no one wanted a pinball machine(2000-2010) and you could go buy a pinball of your local operator, they were giving them away.... WH2O $1.5k, JY $1.8k TOM $2.4k ToTAN $1k ect..ect

That's just supply and demand at work. Willing buyers and willing sellers create the "market price." "Overpriced" just means you disagree with the current price consensus, which is fair enough. If another other potential buyers join you on the sidelines, prices will come down. If not, at least you'll keep your kids and organs intact.

The good old days

I got IJ & CFTBL for $3,800. $1,100 JP. $2,000 TZ and not one but two TAF for under $2k

That is actually around the time I originally wanted one and saw those prices. Then I got older, finally had some means to buy one and came back to notice the insane price change.

I feel bad for those holding a 7k pin when the demand drops and the trend dies down.

I've always seen "market" price and "hype" price as seperate. I buy and sell old retro consoles. It seems every 5 years or so original Nes's go from 30 bucks to 150. Sometimes trends pick up and create "artificial" prices. I personally believe these high prices will scare a lot of new pinheads from even getting into the hobby.

Then demand will fall and the more realistic "market" price will return. That is the reason I can't buy anything at the moment. One I can't afford them and two if I could I wouldn't. I don't want a pin I have to take a loss on later to flip.

I just hope it drops soon so I can enjoy the hobby like those who got in early get to enjoy.

Pinball for financial investment purposes is not a good idea.
Pinball as an investment in an amazing hobby, and in fun is where its at, IMHO...

Still just seems like simple supply and demand to me, I'm not sure what "artificial/hype" prices mean other than prices higher than what they were at some arbitrary point in the past that you're thinking back to. Isn't it more accurate to say that "market" prices fluctuate in any market, and pinball is in an extended upswing now, which you believe is unsustainable? It could be a result of many more people getting interested in pinball ownership over the past few years (count me among them), or maybe it's the same old buyers engaging in speculation buying, but either way prices are up because demand is up. If you're right and higher prices drive people away from the hobby, that should self correct and prices should come down as demand falls.

Until then, pinball ownership remains a relatively rich man's game. Luckily, unlike with stamps or bottle caps, you can fully enjoy pinball at the local arcade or a fellow pinhead's house for a handful of quarters or a six pack of beer. What a great hobby!

off subject, but what does a new in package Bill Ung mod kit go for? Are they still avail?

http://www.ufopinball.com/

Looks like he's still selling them. 205 shipped to the US.

Does anyone have an idea as to when CGC might be fulfilling orders? My local shop said that they're expecting shipment this summer, but I'm highly doubting that. Just curious if anyone has a rough idea.

CGC posted an update:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/cgc-pinball-production-update

So CGC will be giving reseller an estimated date come June, but from there, how long do you guys think it will take to actually start shipping them out to the shops? I'm actually hoping that this is further out, as I have a pin to sell before acquiring AFM that I'm in no rush to do that.

I'm guessing you will be very happy with the delivery date then. With setting up a new line from scratch folks are going to be expecting the same delivery timetables that they saw with MMr and I'm doubtful that will happen, at least at the beginning.

Good, this will give you time to keep saving toward the $20 you'll owe me when they actually start shipping this baby!

They'll be rolling by then, as in games coming down the line. So they'll be able to let resellers know when they games they ordered will arrive.

If you looked at the pictures, you saw games on the line. It takes a little bit to train new people, check every part and be sure it is assembled right. They'll be picking up speed as they go.

LTG : )

Sweet! As I mentioned to you in my PM, you've definitely got my attention with these awesome remakes

really hoping to see CGC hit the ground running on their own assembly line showing that it can be done with the right organisation and leadership

So what exactly was our bet? I will pay up if I made one, I don't think I remember saying AFMr wouldn't happen. I just don't believe they are going to roll as quickly as people will expect them to. But I would love to be wrong, maybe setting up a pinball factory is easier now than it has been in the past?

I look forward to the day that Chicago Gaming gets all these A List titles out of the way, and can then lower their price and build me my FHr for about $4500.

A FHr with super size color DMD!!!! I'd like that.

We bet on MSRP (no payment due unless/until games actually ship): https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/any-update-on-mmr-production/page/52#post-2133981

Yep, that appears to be my fumbling fingers. Well as soon as these ship which I'm sure they will I will take care of you. You'll have to at least let me know what you did with your winnings.

The results of the bet are a little ambiguous though...

- I'm in for $20 for MSRP for XXrLE #2 being at least $7995!

AFMrLE MSRP is $7999 isn't it? The classic and SE are below $7995 though.

I have to say that the green trim in person looks great. I have to eat crow as the reveal I was like "What are they thinking?". Everything about the remake is awesome to me! The large Screen, the lighted speaker panels. WOW! I wish the machine at PAGG had the topper on it as I wish to see that in person. My only little tiny complaint is strobe multi ball but I am sure this could be fixed.

Fair point!

Can you elaborate? This may have been discussed, so apologies...

Is it just a white, bright, LED flasher?

So am I off the hook? If so I plan on going nuts with that $20 windfall on this holiday weekend...

Yes - in the original it's an actual strobe light flasher. But a mod could be made to improve this, and make it more of a true strobe light (extra bright) flash.

Yep, looking back at the posts we were clearly talking about different things, so the bet's off! With beer prices these days that $20 should be good for a six pack and a bag of chips.

Ok. I used to have an AFM - the pinbits strobe was awesome! Spent 3yrs restoring that one - then sold it for TWDLE...

Its very dim and looks to just b a 3 led strip facing down under the ship area. Its has very little light spead past the mother ship area.

Doug from CGC did state in the other thread that they've added to the software which now allows the backbox lighting to be turned off during strobe multiball. That may help a bit?

Screenshot_20170525-132527 (resized).png

Not the issue as the one i saw/ played it on had backbox lights off and it was still very dim and almost unnoticeable. Im sure it will be easily modded to make it better but man the high voltage strobe on the original is pretty sweet especially in a dark room.

The flashing is not bright which is surprising as some of the LED's in some games blind you. If I recall they were not white but amber also.

I'm really suprised that they let this through. I would think the folks that are testing these would have taken notice to the strobe light being inadequate and made some adjustments. Either way, if mine sucks, I will be putting in a better flasher.

Maybe it will be fixed on production pins. I think just mounting it differently cld make a big difference.

True. However, I would rather the strobe light be cool vs warm. I get they are trying to emulate the original flasher. But for the LE, what's the point of keeping to the original since we have an extra large color display, color changing saucer LED's, topper. It's not really going to be like the stock original anyway.

The one i saw was more cool white than warm but just not intense and not spreading the light well.