Have you played either?

When I heard Wonka was a theme I really wasn’t interested. When I played the game, I now want a Wonka.

do u think Im making a mistake not getting one? What did you like about it?

No, going based on videos. I guess another option is just wait till they are in the arcade to play both and make a decision.

I played both.

I was able to play both this weekend. I put in about 6 games on BK3 Pro. The music is pretty grating after a short while. A lot of the games were on loud, and you really have to love heavy metal if you're going to get this game. The music is very repetitive and unnecessarily heavy, imo. The game is pretty easy to shoot. The fan layout is pretty same-same. Shots are where they should be. If you have played any fan Stern in the last few years, you've played BK3 (GOT pro comes to mind). The PRO visually looked very "single level" and flat. There was one shallow ramp on the left that led to a wireform to the right flipper, IIRC, and one VUK on the left also. The tallest thing in the game was the BK toy in the middle. Lots of space between the PF and the glass where you know the upper PF should be, but isnt. I was able to get through 3 bad guys, which was basically shoot the flashing shot. Nothing fancy. The displays are much upgraded and is probably their best to date, Looks like PS3 era graphics, with choppier animations. I didnt feel the urge to play the PREM version. Overall, a pass for me.

Wonka is pretty much the complete opposite of BK3. The layout is very unique, and very colorful. The music was bright and cheery.
Could be bothersome to those thinking (for whatever reason) that pinball should be "manly" and death and, etc. The flippers were powered down, but the shots could still be made. The back third of the playfield felt a little cluttered and a lot of the ball paths were obstructed from view, which may or may not bother some. I did like the layout quite a bit, and the shots were very smooth. The gobstopper toy reminds me of the TOM trunk where you hit it, and then it turns into a scoop/gobble hole. There are several shots from each of the 4 flippers which is refreshing. Overall, a very beautiful game. The Wonkavision screen was well implemented. At a price point of 7500 MSRP for a standard, I felt it offered much more than BK3 Prem.

This game offers more to be explored, but not overly complex. I think the criticism on "kid multiball" being named that is being way overblown. In the end, it doesn't matter what it's called

Wonka was pretty overhyped. Though I was excited to play both I didnt feel compelled to buy either game on-the-spot. Maiden and DP are both better games than Munsters and BK3. Wonka's layout is quite original, nothing like you've shot before. I would be in on a Wonka on the second-hand market.

On Wonka, the shots. There is a ton of shots, presentation is good, Multiballs - goobstopper mech the reveals the scoop is cool, 4 flippers, 3 ramps, magnets. Lot more to discover.

BKSOR what you expect from a Stern. It is fast and brutal.

Wonka feels like a brand new game that doesn’t feel like anything else I have played.

Both

I have a bk prem on order but after watch video from wonka I am going to cancel the bk and get wonka standard I think.

Wonka Standard seems almost like a no brainer from a value perspective, but the themes are so different I am not sure that matters.

Hopefully GnR or whatever JJP does next allows them to capture some of the "manly men" pinball market. Primus pinball at 8K is a ridiculous example of the disparity between products and pricing.

regarding "manly men". I saw a comment about how ridiculous a bunch of middle aged men looked gathered around a wonka game full of candy, toys and children. what the commenter failed to realize was that a bunch middle aged men standing around any pinball machine already gets you 80% of the way to your total quotient of ridiculousness.

Anyone who is worried about what other people do for fun needs to re-evaluate their worldview.

FatPanda ... thanks for the objective, well thought out review/contrast on both machines.

Yea this whole “games must be manly” thing is stupid.

Personal preference. I rather not have Charlie Bucket or Dorothy in my collection. Others obviously think differently and I respect that. My mind might change at some point but probably not. We all do agree on one thing and that is that pinball is fun. I look forward to Black Knight coming home soon! My coworkers think I'm nuts for having any pinball machines at home and I work at a psych hospital! Ha!

is this aimed at me?

The commenter you referenced. My point is that people ought to let people be happy and don't look to judge/mock people for it.

Awesome! I agree I can respect digging BK3 over Wonka, but to me BK3 looks like a 3500 dollar game in comparison... which is why I probably recently bought a No Fear for around a third the price of a BK pro. BK3 doesn't look like a bad game by any means.

Some things that no fear and BK3 both share is the repetitive rock music for the main theme, upper "playfield" with a really small number of shots and a single flipper, packed fan layout with punishing shots, and one big "toy" for the game.

BK3 obviously gets the nod for improved (at least more complicated) rules, lighting/toy and the interactive knight toy.

But given the advances in the last 25 years, they could do more when selling an 8k LE game...

edit: I forgot to mention No Fear brings out my RAGE more than any other game I can think of, including Iron Man. Sword of Rage sounds like a fitting name if BK3 has a similar feel.

Wonka has alot going on with a ton of shots with all 4 flippers.. and the lighting is amazing. Bk looks fine but nothing really different from other stern pins excepr only one ramp... i just think in a home setting wonka will keep you intrigued for a long time discovering everything and where you will c everything bk offers in probably the first day. Both pins are way different so just play before you spend 5500-8k...

I think this summarizes as close as you are going to get to the truth as possible in this thread

Add me to the list of who would like Wonka p/f layout with BK theme.

Wonka has amazing flow.

agreed. if fplaying pinball gets me 80% of the way to dorkhood...count me in!

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I decided to keep my STLE, was on deck to be sold to buy one of these but was not blown away enough that I can not wait 1 year and see whats what.

I envy you guys for the new purchases but can not bring myself to selling a proven winner from my current collection.

I am certain that I will get much chance to play before I buy.

Where’s “Both” on the poll? Both games appear to have lots of potential. I wouldn’t buy either until code is proven and all the issues are worked out. But I can see wonka being the first jjp I’d buy. Reminds me of classic pat design without Jjp forcing him to cram the entire playfield with crap. And the code looks to be nice and not overly complex. Sometimes simpler is better.

Nice gameroom.

You just described Dialed In!

There are more shots and things going on in wonka than di imo. I love my dile but really looking fwd to my wonka le as it has great shots from all 4 flippers and i really like the center ramp that goes behind the backboard . Also love the unique layout that has great flow . Pat sure does know how to design a busy game with tons of shots and flow .

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Buy both

I was able to play about 15 or more games on Wonka today and a few on Friday. Toss in one was two player with jjp Eric Meunier who gave my a quick tutorial. I'm sold.
I'm planning on getting Wonka LE.

I think many of the debbie downers with change their tune once they actually play it also..

Exciting to see people like it the more they play. Eric's doing a great job of selling this one -- he was fun to watch on stream as well.

New game of the year in April? OK.....

Im sure it will win more also..

Wonka is a hit.

BK I’ve been hearing mixed reviews and cancelled orders.

I played both quite a bit, but actually liked (and bought) the bksor more. Nothing against wonka, it’s alright, but didn’t capture the same feelings with WoZ and jjpotc, both of which we now own as well.

To each their own.

BK or Wonka ?

Cool.. remember they.are also prototypes with earlier code... its only gonna get better but it has alot there allready.

Wonka is a hit.
BK I’ve been hearing mixed reviews and cancelled orders.

How much have you played BK? Heard you cancelled your le for a premium. Still liking the upper pf?

Hmm seems like those that actually played Wonka loved it and ordered one. Those of us who just saw the video and already put our negative two cents I guess need to see one in person to make that final call.

smartest person in the room. Then wait until you find a HUO one and you hit a home run...

Ok, I played both this weekend. Exactly three games on wonka, and prob closing in on 100 on bk.

I love bk premium. The pro playfield looks flat as others have stated. Definately looks like it’s missing something....because it is. As for the soundtrack, I couldn’t hear a damn thing, either the sound was low on the machines I was on, or all of the bks were super loud making it all unintelligible, or that damn Star Trek was blaring in my ears. So I literally never heard what it was like. If it sucks turn it off and play whatever you like on your stereo, not sure what to say here. The lcd graphics were improved over Iron Maiden. Love the number of quests. Love the nod to bk2000. Love the flail, and shield Vuk.

Wonka...love the theme, love it’s the wilder version. Could...not...get...into...it. I’m sorry. Maybe I’m just a stern simpleton.

Looks like I’m getting a bk premium this fall, which is how long it’ll take to save up for it. Plus now my youngest wants a bk2000 to go with it.

All fwiw ymmv

What a nice gameroom! On the other hand if you got rid of that big black leather covered coffin in the foreground, you could put a SS, BSD, MSF, AF, MB, TFTC, TWD and Elvira when it comes out! That is 8 coffins for one!

LOL When you need to bring a weak ass private contract game into your argument to build up a game you like then the game you like must be a weak ass game

Game of the year in April is ridicules

Remember if you are going on the fact the game is a prototype then things could still be pulled as with POTC and god knows how long till shipping. I myself think June shipping and no it is not just a prototype

Wow, someone must have literally pissed in your cornflakes this morning!

Fact is, some people chose to spend 8K or so on Primus, even though it was a "weak ass contract game". For $500 less they can now get a JJP new. I find that baffling, but some people saw enough value in Primus to buy one.

Agreed a bit, I would just have left it as "game of the show" or something.