The GI is just normal bulbs so you can easily swap out, no worries there! I'm slapping a pinstadium setup on my MMR, I kind of dig the warm white and it should brighten things up nicely. Good point re: MB haha.

Agree it was dazzling, but is there a way to adjust the brightness at all?

What happened to Stern making MMR's at their facility?
I still see MMR cabinets sitting around in their walk through the factory vids.
Pretty sure they still had Playfield's in a recent one as well.

I believe those games are the last of the last regarding Stern's obligations to manufacture MMr. No more are planned moving forward coming out of Stern. Probably those last pins that were waiting for parts if I had to guess.

Duplicate...sorry

Sorry, didn't mean to imply you didn't understand. Lordloss seemed upset and I was just trying to clarify. I haven't heard yet so guessing second batch for me as well.

Yes. At TPF the machines were set at different levels of brightness to demonstrate this feature.

I didn't know that. I think that's great. It's like a loyalty program, very cool. I guess I should come clean and tell you that I own MMR LE 851 and have AFMR LE 851 on order. Also I will be loyal and buy MBR LE 851 if MB is the 3rd game (or 4th). 2017 looks great for pinball (from my eyes).

I messaged Doug and he confirmed that classics won't be started until they get to the second run of AFMr (i.e. after the 500 MMr). This means, roughly, a late-September/early-October shipment to Australia... so I'm hoping I'll have my classic by Xmas.

I own a MMr but not an LE, but that doesn't do anything for me. So that kind of blows even though I am a repeat customer.

If I were to guess, I'd guess the main reason they are putting the LE repeat customers first is so they are sure they match serial numbers and don't accidentally sell one to someone else. I'm assuming any LE customer who wants a matching serial number needed to get their order in right away to be guaranteed a match. Plus it is a nice boost for a loyal customer, even if it's just "LE" customers.

!!! Guess that front loads them with more cash to keep things running. On the bright side, if there are any issues that need to be resolved the Classics should be rock solid.

With my luck they'll decide to stop doing the program for MB and I won't be able to snag one haha. If this is the way things work for LE buyers, please keep doing it in the future

It'll be worth the wait. As long as I can get one in 2017 I'll be happy. It's SO tempting to jump on one of those SE's, but the mini saucer LEDs are too appealing to pass up, I'm a big sucker for light shows.

Yup, my thoughts exactly.

FYI Doug confirmed that all machines get the new graphic backboard... I was thinking it might have been an LE thing only. Pretty happy to have that confirmed.

I have to say being in on this LE all
I feel is confidence in the game, quality and special features/value as an LE purchaser. On the fence with my SWLE and feeling no love as an LE purchaser there. When are the LEs gonna start rolling?? So excited!

I agree. These guys really got their shit together. I plan on buying all the remakes they release (pending funds of course).

I thank Jack for starting the model of building preorder and 'for sale' units side by side. Of course its not fair, but I also understand they gotta keep the cash coming in. I preordered, but I live in a hotbed of pinball activity and fully expect someone to have units for sale cash and carry well before I get my unit. Just the nature of such an expensive device. They spend all the preorder money on development and getting the line running and the later sold units finance the earlier units and hopefully it all works out.

Quick view of the production line.
Can't wait to get my LE

https://www.facebook.com/chicagogamingcompany/

I talked with the company I pre-ordered from and it sounds like CGC will be through 100 SE's next week and will begin the LE's shortly after.

I was going to say I think my LE was the third one on the left, but sounds like these are still SEs. Keep'm moving out! We're anxious out here!

So hoping I am in the first batch of LEs.
Very excited to be in on this great remake.

I was told by a distributor yesterday that CGC is finishing up the SEs this week and then onto the LEs. I was also told that CGC is awaiting on parts to finish the toppers and that even though some LEs may be completed that they will not ship until the toppers are completed. Finally, I was told that CGC has not confirmed shipping numbers to any distributors as of yet so that it would be difficult to speculate where anyone falls in line (first or second batch) regarding their preorder.

Thanks for the info.
Hoping that The Game Exchange gets a lot of games.

Yup same info I got, can confirm!

I'm really impressed CGC have managed to set up a fully working and efficient pinball production line relatively quickly (or at least with minimum fuss - I realize this has been in the works for a while and they already produce cabinets, pf's and vids). And they're just about to box the first 100 games!

Everyone talks about competition for Stern, but CGC has really flown under the radar and may end up producing more games than all Sterns competition combined.

Just wish they'd hurry up and make Monster Bash!!

No doubt MB would be a great remake. I do believe there would be more challenges with that title such as licencing and cost. I would expect that MB would cost more to make than the MMr. Still love the new technology compared to WPC 95 and if they could keep the costs for a standard around the 8-9K it would make sense to produce it. I'm also hoping for CC remake as I believe they could make this title for similar cost to AFMr.

Even at 10k they would sell a ton of MBR, especially with the upgraded DMD and sound system.

PinballStar asked for my final payment on my AFM LE #36
Should get it in July

Have you personally confirmed this on production models?

Sure, if MBRLE included that for 10K I sure would consider it; however, your price point is starting to get into a range that some will never even consider.

People keep bringing up licensing. As discussed many times, Universal Monsters are a cheap and easy license, that really shouldn't be an issue (or used as justification for a price bump). Exhibit A: Pinball Arcade was able to make MB without a kickstarter or any other issues.

So no need to beg CGC to raise the price a few grand. If they follow Stern's lead they'll figure that move out on their own!

Also, if CGC wants to be moving 3,000+ games a year, they need to be in the $6k pinball business, not the $10k pinball business.

I have not. Just presuming it's based on the architecture of MMR with the inserts being led strips and not adjustable, and the GI being standard LED bulbs you can replace.

This is great to hear!

I would like to as well, if I can keep up. Planning on buying my first remake Christmas or so

I know this is probably an old topic so excuse the question, but licensing issues aside, what 90s bally/williams machines do they have the info to remake? All of them? Is it just a question of which ones are worth the time and trouble to remake, or are there other factors?

I guess what I am asking is, do they have the rights to the entire line up?

Rick has said that PPS has the right to remake all of them as far as B/W is concerned. Additional "licensing issues" arise where the game itself uses licensed IP, and there's additional opportunity for difficulty and cost if actors are depicted in the art. Pinball Arcade has paved the way with some titles, showing that licensing issues aren't insurmountable (e.g. MB). Some others you could imagine being much more difficult (e.g. TAF, where Pinball Arcade ultimately had to redraw the art b/c they couldn't negotiate likeness rights with Christopher Lloyd and Pugsley). It's also conceivable that some IP holders have exclusive agreements with Stern that could make remakes tricky (e.g. IJ, Star Trek). Most people and all corporations like making money, so most of the classics should be "remakeable" if PPS/CGC are willing to put in the legwork to negotiate licensing.

As for licensing costs, this interview with Roger Sharpe is interesting, he says all the licensing deals he's ever done were for "far less" than $100 per machine.
http://pavlovpinball.com/pinball-licencing-101-how-much-why-and-harry-potter/
If that holds true, licensing costs really shouldn't be a huge factor in deciding which games to remake next. Of course the hassle of working out licensing might be a consideration, and if you run across a Christopher Lloyd that just doesn't want his image used, you're going to have to redesign the art (imagine the blowback on Pinside!) or pick another pin to remake.

And how many years ago was that ? And Raul Julia was still alive, his estate's prices have gone up since then.

I would hope that.

LTG : )

With it being Friday any chance for CGC_DougS to pop in here and give us a small update? I look forward to his posts!

I certainly wouldn't beg to CGC to raise the price. However, I really don't believe 6K is going to be realistic considering all the playfield toys, ramps and components. I could see it comparable to MMr but I will be shocked to see standard at 6K.

I've got my fingers crossed for a White Water remake in the future.

Very awesome and great to hear. Did you grab any unboxing pics? Thanks for sharing.

Not really, but here's a few to prove its unboxed and working.

20170616_111014_resized (resized).jpg

20170616_130716_resized (resized).jpg

20170616_135632_1497643644256_resized (resized).jpg

The first machines off the line may very well have standard (44/47 style)LED bulbs... the ones after that though are likely something you've never seen before...

Whatever is in there I hope it can produce a "cool white" color versus a "warm white" as I'm not a fan of the warm (reminds me of incandescents).

I would be in on one so fast! And I wouldn't care if destroyed the value of my original WH20 afterwards.

I'd buy a Whitewater too. Great game

If they did it. I'd like to see two versions. Original, and one with white mountains and snow monster instead of brown mountains and big foot.

LTG : )