Hello there.

I've been working for a while now trying to get started on a project I've wanted to do forever. Since Attack from mars is most certainly always going to be out of my price range...I decided that I'd just have to build one. I've been measuring, planning and preparing to put this all into a forum post for some time. So here we go.........

First thing I did was to get some of the plastics that are used in the game. I bought these 2nd hand.

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Secondly...I was able to find a set of ramps here on pinside. ordered those as well.

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Then I was able to pick up all the plastic playfield inserts from pinball life along with the flipper buttons, start button and launch button.

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After I was able to secure what I thought at the time to be the hardest to procure items, I went to my local hardware store and bought my nice Plywood 4x8 blank. This was going to be my cabinet and back box.

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Got another order in from pinball life for some other items, and got my corner braces in as well.

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Then I started working on my playfield in fusion 360. This is probably going to be one of the hardest things (other than programming from scratch in MPF (Mission Pinball Framework) the coding for the game). So far I have some of the simple holes and the major openings for the larger playfield pieces cut out. One of the pictures shows the blank field with the holes cut and the other shows the same with the playfield overlayed on top of it. This will take some time for me as I am new to fusion 360 as well. It's a lot of fun though, just time consuming.

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Recently I received my 4 aliens in the mail, again from a user here on pinside!

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I've also started work on the prototype rails out of brass rod.

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So far that's it. I'm hoping to attach the leg brackets to the inside of the cabinet and get the legs attached tomorrow. I'm also beginning the programming portion for the game tonight as well. using the P3-ROC and MPF (Mission Pinball Framework) for the hardware and software of the game.

One last thing...I am actually going to be making 2 games at the same time. This AFM homebrew and another homebrew project that's been in development here for 4 + years. This is an original game that has not been made as of yet. Super excited to announce it hopefully before the end of the month.

Thanks to everyone who reads this and I hope that you enjoy the ride as I hope I do!

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Isochronic_Frost I thought about it.....but trying to make all of the pieces that I can to keep cost down and make this even more super awesomer!!!!!!!!!! Hahahaha! I have not looked up wallybgood.....I'll definitely do that though. Thanks!

Bowman9 Thanks! I've really been enjoying it......as well as spreading the time between my other one as well. can't wait to release that one to the public here soon.

jbovenzi Thanks. I'll not be using the standard boards and PSU's etc....so it might be a bit lighter! ha! And awesome about the spares.....I'll for sure hit you up!

sk8ersublime Thanks. I'm looking forward to it as well!

Dallas_Pin Hahahahahahahahaha! I hope I can deliver awesomeness.....but if not....please tell me I'm being dumb and tell me to fix something!

Zitt DO IT!!!!! Hahahahaha.

hoby1 ......."That I can answer in one word.........Trad--"........money......it's money. And I love making things. Lol! (Sorry for the classic musical plug......sigh....couldn't help it).

Chisox thanks. I'm getting pupmped up for both. It's a lot of work but....over time...more and more will get done.

Chosen_S I hear ya. But I've been keeping cost way low and have been getting really great deals online and with people on pinside here (which I'm very grateful for). So far it's been very inexpensive (for pinball).with everything needed to control it, solenoids and bumpers, legs, etc... I'm an art major and love a challenge......I should be able to make the playfield for a lot less than what they run new. +.....Learning lots.......will everything be perfect........(I hope so......but no).....will I have fun and have a cool game to show for it.....heck yeah!

EJS HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! For sure you can help beta test my other one too. I'll upload info about that later this week or next. This game really started just as my wife really wanting one and us not having 6-8k laying around.

EJS Thanks a bunch!

tilted81 I am excited. Yeah...and if it ends up being more (which I hopefully will not have happen) At least its over a period of time and not all at once.

Mbecker yeah, It's kinda scary....but.....I'm not planning on making them both all the time. I'm going to switch off. I will be doing everything hardware and software new using a P3ROC and their boards, and reprogramming the game basically from nothing but maybe try to just use the original code as a guide. wiring will be done myself as well. I like CAD and it's not that bad.....you just need a micrometer to get exact measurements, I have a full size playfield scan for placement and then I just have to indent the depth of the plunge cut a bit to grab the inserts so they can have a small ledge to rest on. Bevel the edges of where the scoops and such are and boom! I like metal work and soldering, welding, etc. So.....this should be fun. the only part I'm dreading is the programming which I've never done. However....my father is a systems analyst so....hopefully I can just annoy him! HA!

mgpasman yup! I may try to rip the animations from the visual pinball version but if not...I'll have to put that animation art major to use!

Zitt that would be awesome.....but .....it's my wife's grail game and so she wants to keep it stock 1995 version. I love the idea of a re-remake though!

BazilBLast hahahaha....that's a no go. I asked her again and mentioned that movie (which I love)...and all I got was an "eeeww". Hahahahaha!

Lhyrgoif Luckydogg420 the wire harness is all new. I'll be wiring it up as a homebrew from scratch game. I've been following along with deadflips game and pinball mayhem's game and wanna do it. And if theres a game you wanna make, just go and do it! Why not......I obviously love real pinball, but thought it would be a great fun project and a learning experience for the game I've wanted to make for years.

BorgDog exactly. That's basically the reason for me to do this. So I can learn more for my next one. Out working on the brackets now for the legs! Post later hopefully.

rockrand I hope so. Having fun with it at the very least!

@pinballew I am for sure. So far I'm on track to save quite a bit.....time will tell. Hahahahaha! And not all my parts are new.....we just love the game and I'm ok with getting used older parts as long as they are nice and functional.

Was able to get the legs brackets installed today...however found out the old legs I was going to use until later on to save some $$$ won't work as the front and backs are 2 different heights. Pinball life here I come. Hahahahaha