Avatar (LE)
Stern, 2010I recently picked up an Avatar LE. The game wasn't on my wish list, but one popped up close to me, and the price was right. I have to say, I'm finding the game to be very fun. I know it doesn't get a lot of love, but I truly think it's underrated. I had played the game before and always found it interesting, but it has really started to grow on me now that I fully understand the rules. Heck, I'm even kind of digging the powerball. 
Lets see pics please, like to see your topper as I want one for Avatar. I think its great fun have it right beside Tron LE until NAVL comes to pick up Tron. How does your LED look on the playfield? Sounds good with a FF speaker upgrade and looks even better with LED backbox kit.
Agreed, had a pro for about a year and had to sell to fund something else. I miss it at times, and you don't see them come up FS too often, especially the LE's. I thought it was a nice flowing game with great sound and music. I always loved the call out when you drained to quickly. "Yeah, you can have it back". Enjoy it!
Quoted from perryd:I never liked the pro that much, but a month ago I put 30 or so games on the LE and I found it much quicker and fun.
The LE and pro have identical game play. So likely the pro was just not set up / waxed properly.
Avatar is a great game. One of my 10 favorite in my collection. I haven't idea why it gets so dissed. It's really undeserved.
I recently removed the one way gate to the left of the pop bumpers and like the result. Right orbit shots flow now rather than hit the pops. The skill hit requires some actual skill. Ball is still in the pops plenty. I recommend the change.
Quoted from markmon:The LE and pro have identical game play.
With the exception of the powerball. When it's in play, it definitely speeds up the game and keeps you on your toes.
Quoted from markmon:I recently removed the one way gate to the left of the pop bumpers and like the result. Right orbit shots flow now rather than hit the pops. The skill hit requires some actual skill. Ball is still in the pops plenty. I recommend the change.
Interesting. I may try this. I disabled the post at the top of IM, and I much prefer the way the game flows. I can see Avatar similarly benefiting by removing the gate.
I actually recommend removing the navi ball. It ruins the game. Once you experience the 2x stacked multiball scoring, you noonget are satisfied by hitting mb on a standard ball. It also ruins two player games. I think the games better without the navi ball.
Quoted from doughslingers:How does your LED look on the playfield? Sounds good with a FF speaker upgrade and looks even better with LED backbox kit.
Mine was fully converted to LEDs before I got it. They look nice, but I plan on tweaking them. They are a bit too bright for my taste, particularly with the mirror blades. I really like the blue DMD, which I added.
Quoted from cleland:I thought it was a nice flowing game with great sound and music.
Agreed. The sound is very well done. It really helps to get you involved in the game. I also think it's one of the most visually stunning pins ever made, with great artwork everywhere you look. The 3D translite is particularly effective. It's much better than the one on Tron, IMHO.
I love the power ball! It does really speed things up and makes things more challenging. Yes, for multi-player games it adds a certain randomness that may not always balance fairly between players, but it really pushes you to maximize your time on any given powerball because you never know if you are going to get it back!
Bottom line though is I think Avatar LE is a great pin and very underrated.
Quoted from VegasAlleycat:I love the power ball! It does really speed things up and makes things more challenging. Yes, for multi-player games it adds a certain randomness that may not always balance fairly between players, but it really pushes you to maximize your time on any given powerball because you never know if you are going to get it back!
I'd not heard of this... is it like the powerball in TZ? If so, does the game recognise it like TZ does so that the game is somehow adjusted when it's in play, or is it just that Stern bunged a powerball in there and is has not actual effect on the game?
Not played this game, so don't know if magnets are used...
I enjoyed the film and think this game is beautiful (especially the backglass!) so I can imagine picking one up at some point, so am trying to get a feel for what the LE has to offer over the pro...
Definitely a great game and approachable for non-pin player as well.
I think it has the best integration of music, call-outs and shaker motor of any title (although haven't played AC/DC with a shaker motor yet).
Congrats on the new addition!
One of my gf's favorite games, and she doesn't like the normal version, that powerball addition and pretty lights gets her every time.
Or as I've seen in another thread, 'make it more expensive and the women will flock to it.'
The "Navi" ball used in the LE is the same lighter ceramic style ball as the one used in TZ. The game does recognize when it is put into the trough, as it starts "Navi scoring", which I think is 2X. The most interesting aspect to me is when you get a good multi-ball going and you have both the normal steel balls and the ceramic ball going at the same time. It really messes with you (in a good way)...
Later,
EV
Quoted from EchoVictor:The "Navi" ball used in the LE is the same lighter ceramic style ball as the one used in TZ. The game does recognize when it is put into the trough, as it starts "Navi scoring", which I think is 2X. The most interesting aspect to me is when you get a good multi-ball going and you have both the normal steel balls and the ceramic ball going at the same time. It really messes with you (in a good way)... [
Thanks... I assume you mean 'shooter lane' and not trough
>>AVATAR LE - I LIKE IT
I do too......unfortunately I preordered my Avatar to get one from the first day of domestic made, and they hadn't announced there would be an LE version. I could have swapped it out (the distributor and Stern would have worked with me on it), but by then I had already tweaked mine to play perfectly and didn't want to bother switching them (plus mine was featured in a Pingame Journal article so it was "famous")
Someday I may sell my pro to get an LE (very underrated game)
Quoted from pinballslave:I assume you mean 'shooter lane' and not trough?
It's actually very cool the way the game knows the Na'vi ball is in play. There is a small metal plate on each side of the shooter lane. When a normal ball is resting in the shooter lane, it completes the circuit. Since the Na'vi ball is ceramic, it doesn't conduct electricity.
Quoted from VegasAlleycat:I love the power ball! It does really speed things up and makes things more challenging.
I agree. Not only does it force you to adjust your shots, but I also really like the strategy involved in trying to maximize the 2X scoring. I understand the argument that the Na'vi ball introduces an element of luck into multi-player games, but that doesn't bother me. Most of the time I'm playing by myself anyway.
Quoted from pinballslave:I enjoyed the film and think this game is beautiful (especially the backglass!) so I can imagine picking one up at some point, so am trying to get a feel for what the LE has to offer over the pro...
Here's a great rundown of what is different on the LE:
Quoted from gweempose:Here's a great rundown of what is different on the LE:
I should have known to go to Pinball News 
In addition to the 2X scoring strategy having the Navi ball in play allows you to make multiple head-on shots at the amp suit without the magnet throwing it STDM. You then have amp suit multiball with the Navi ball in play (as well as 2X scoring).
Quoted from PluffMudPinball:In addition to the 2X scoring strategy having the Navi ball in play allows you to make multiple head-on shots at the amp suit without the magnet throwing it STDM.
Absolutely. You can attack the AMP suit using the Na'vi ball with much less risk.
Quoted from PluffMudPinball:In addition to the 2X scoring strategy having the Navi ball in play allows you to make multiple head-on shots at the amp suit without the magnet throwing it STDM. You then have amp suit multiball with the Navi ball in play (as well as 2X scoring).
That makes the LE sound even more attractive since it intruduces some strategy...
Dumb question, but you can't just bung a powerball in a pro and change the code to the LE and get it to work... I'm pretty sure the pro won't have the sensor in the shooter lane for the metal ball, but just thought I'd ask 'just in case' 
Quoted from gweempose:Mine was fully converted to LEDs before I got it. They look nice, but I plan on tweaking them. They are a bit too bright for my taste, particularly with the mirror blades. I really like the blue DMD, which I added.
Avatar LE was the first game I totally converted to LED...and I started with Cointaker Premium 2-LEDs which are great, but too bright in most of the inserts. So - for most of the white, yellow ,and green inserts I changed to Pinball Life's single LED Ghostbuster and those look great and non-blinding now. I used CT Pinks in Eywa & Valkyrie. I used CT cool white frosteds in the GI and those look great....less "spotty" than the clear dome type, and they "blend" the plastics art nicely - you don't see the "Stern pixels" as much. I used blue Retros under the Link Pod (there are blue regular bulbs there from the factory)...a blue PBL flasher under the Link insert...white PBL flashers for the other playfield flashers....warm white LEDs in the pops (cuz of the explosion artwork on the pop caps). Game looks beautiful w/ these combinations & brings out the natural colors.
I also recommend putting stronger coils in the game. I upgraded mine to the same ones that are in Ironman (but opposite) ...I forget the #'s offhand but I can post them later. With stronger coils the game jams SO FAST. I felt like my timing was off a bit w/ the stock coils ,but w/ the IM coils - it feels so perfect.
I recently got an avatar LE and its certainly getting a lot of attention at my house.
Th navi ball is awesome and I really enjoy the strategy and speed that it adds to the game.
As for removing the top gate it makes the game much faster and harder... Harder because it is harder to get the x2 RNA lanes active hence the lower scores.
I switch my gate back and noticed my scores improve again.
Quoted from gweempose:Great paint job on that AMP suit!
Thanks!! ....full thread here: http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/avatar-mods-take-another-look
And a ton more pics and commentary on my website: http://www.bradberryman.com/Pinball_Avatar.htm
Enjoy!
You obviously have an artistic background. Have you ever thought about having people send you their AMP suit and charging them for the custom paint job? I'd be very tempted to do it if you were game.
Quoted from Pdxmonkey:I recently got an Avatar LE and its certainly getting a lot of attention at my house.
Th navi ball is awesome and I really enjoy the strategy and speed that it adds to the game.
As for removing the top gate it makes the game much faster and harder... Harder because it is harder to get the x2 RNA lanes active hence the lower scores.
I switch my gate back and noticed my scores improve again.
I'd like to add that if you have the Pro the game is better with the Navi ball and with the LE it's better if you disable it, but still have it active. The game is easier with the Navi ball and the risk reward is completely FUBARed when you add 2X scoring to the mix.
Interesting thought about the gate. It got me thinking that it might be more interesting to switch the gate from the left to the right. That way there is more of a true skill shot--a full plunge will go all the way around the left orbit. Not only does this improve the skill shot, but it also improves the complaint that many have when they are served a house ball off the plunge when it goes STDM.
Quoted from Casey_Bryson:I'd like to add that if you have the Pro the game is better with the Navi ball and with the LE it's better if you disable it, but still have it active. The game is easier with the Navi ball and the risk reward is completely FUBARed when you add 2X scoring to the mix.
Two things to note
-The LE apron windows only glow when you're in 2x scoring. Disabling it will disable a visual feature I enjoy.
-There are quotes for 2x scoring that I believe are only on the LE like "You science pukes started double scoring!"and "Na'vi Ball!"
So - I would never change the Na'vi Ball settings on my LE. I like the Na'vi ball, the 2x scoring, and the features that come with it. It's my house, not a Tournament...so, whatever.
Hard as hell game. The link lock is fun. Ramp is unsatisfying to hit, though. And if the ball starts side to side motion, you're effed. Keep away from the outlanes is the name of the game. And every so often the ball will drain after hitting the pops. Brutal game. But I put a lot of tokens in it at Pinball Wizard.
Quoted from Richthofen:And every so often the ball will drain after hitting the pops.
Not if it's got the modded spring mod. 
(Factory exit spring but relocated to the post below the factory post) ...then it's VEEERRRRY rare that the ball will drain from the pops.
Quoted from Rarehero:Not if it's got the modded spring mod. (Factory exit spring but relocated to the post below the factory post) ...then it's VEEERRRRY rare that the ball will drain from the pops.
+1
I still hear quite often about the "SDTM problem" from the Avatar pops. It really seems that there must be quite a few Avatars out there that never received the spring fix. Same for the left side drain fix. I guess Stern didn't contact owners to let them know the fixes were available?
Quoted from Max_Badazz:>>Avatar LE - I LIKE IT
I
Someday I may sell my pro to get an LE (very underrated game)
There is a HUO Avatar LE, "maybe 150 plays, mint" for sale in Tampa for 4k, according to thread I saw yesterday by sepins.
Quoted from pinstor12:There is a HUO Avatar LE, "maybe 150 plays, mint" for sale in Tampa for 4k, according to thread I saw yesterday by sepins.
The fact that you can get mint ones in the $4K range makes Avatar the best LE bang for the buck out there.
Wanna join the discussion? Please sign in to reply to this topic.
Great to see you're enjoying Pinside! Did you know Pinside is able to run without any 3rd-party banners or ads, thanks to the support from our visitors? Please consider a donation to Pinside and get anext to your username to show for it! Or better yet, subscribe to Pinside+!
This page was printed from https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/avatar-le-i-like-it and we tried optimising it for printing. Some page elements may have been deliberately hidden.
Scan the QR code on the left to jump to the URL this document was printed from.
Norton, VA
Litvinov
Calais
