Considering trying to snag a Deadpool Pro sometime in late '22, early '23. Got a Mando Premium on the way in early '22, but considering the long lead times on new machines I figured I might try planning ahead a little.

What are the club's thoughts? Will DP still be in production at that point? Is the Premium worth the extra $$?

I've played a lot of DP on location (most on an LE, actually) and always enjoy it, but can't say I'm a good enough player to actually "miss" the controlled ramp. My understanding is the drop targets on the premium are a little less punishing than the standups on the pro. I do like the art more on the Pro, but in a basement lineup I don't think that really factors in that much for me.

Anyway-- any suggestions? Thanks!

Thanks for the thoughtful response! I think you’ve convinced me on the premium, since I already know I love playing it and I also seem to suffer from the “I know I’m missing out on something, even if it’s potentially trivial” mindset. I will likely ask around to some distributors sometime in ‘22 to see about getting on a list for premiums, and if they stop production before then, I’ll just keep a lookout for used ones.

Agree-- Have to think that if they had the manpower and/or parts they'd be looking at renting more space to build more machines with those people/parts. With a backlog like they have, and demand being what it currently is, they're leaving money on the table by delaying. Leads me to believe delays are entirely supply/manpower based and not motivated by the impending price increase.

I have a feeling (and obviously no numbers to back it up) that the difference in margin on machines made in '22 vs '21 (post price hike) is less of a concern than their ability to churn out more games now. Making more of their backlogged games now (even at a smaller margin) would still equate to more profit for them on any given day/week/month.

Preordered a Deadpool Premium today, estimated production late Summer '22!

Would it be weird to have my employer just deposit a percentage of my paycheck into a Pinball savings account? Looks like I'll basically be doing the same thing by hand each pay period...

Agree with all of this for sure.

This climate of backlogged orders is (to my limited knowledge) a new thing for the industry entirely. Some distributors are handling it well, others not so much. I think the (new) measure of a good distributor is their ability to regularly communicate with and set expectations for their customers.

That said, I do think Stern is doing everyone (distributors and buyers alike) a disservice by not keeping their production schedule posted and periodically updated for all to see. The most frustrating thing about production delays, in my opinion, is how poorly the schedule changes are disseminated by Stern to all the stakeholders (again, distributors and buyers both). Not asking for the moon here, just a weekly update to a (tentative) production schedule posted on their website so that there's a single point of truth regarding delays, production, etc.

Yep, total moving target. I’m just saying if they can send this information to distributors each week (seems like they do), why not just post it somewhere where everyone can see it (understanding that it’s VERY tentative) so that we don’t have people running around with conflicting info.

The other solution would be to rely on distributors to put that info out regularly, but Flip N Out seems like the only distributor that currently does so consistently*. End result is that the buyers with orders in at less proactive/communicative distributors are walking around with outdated/bad info, which only breeds more frustrations when they finally do find about schedule changes.

*maybe other distros do this for their customers privately, but the number of people with pending orders who are asking pinside for production updates (rather than their distributor) seems to suggest otherwise.

Anyway, to keep this club related… I’m looking forward to an August Premium. Will probably get a shaker motor, Cliffy’s, and upgraded speakers for it. Any other “must haves” I should be planning on?

It draws some influences, but largely Stern was allowed to create their own content and "extend" the license as they saw fit. If you check out Episode #30 of "Just Another Pinball Podcast" they talk about the licensing and content quite a bit. It's also a great all around podcast episode, lots of cool details about the making of the machine.

https://www.thepinballnetwork.net/e/just-another-pinball-podcast-ep-30-deadpool-breakdown-wgeorge-gomez-tanio-klyce/

Interested in this, how would one go about getting an “aftermarket” mirrored version of a translite?

For sure a keeper. Normally I'd ask why you're buying an LE if you aren't sure you're going to like it, but it seems like pricing is all over the place right now anyway.. so maybe you're onto something.

I don't think the retrofit kits come with the plastics.

Also, not sure on DP (I assume it's the same situation), but my born on 1/21/22 Mando Premium did not come with the triangular plastic to replace the IC reader. Would have been nice if it did, I like the artwork more and would probably consider moving the reader to the coin door if if they still sent the plastic with the machine.

Anybody in the club have one of the Deadpool banners they’re willing to part with? Need to make the basement stairs more welcoming for the premium we’re expecting this summer.

I have a Jurassic Park banner I would be willing to trade with you, or could buy it off of you outright. Shoot me a pm!

D'oh! I always forget that they've got banners too. I've gotten my others from eBay/pinside in the past and for some reason didn't think about checking with them. Will do, thanks!

Closing this loop, I found a banner at Hemispheres Amusements (https://www.hemispheresamusements.com/) for $125 + shipping. Checked with a few distributors near me but that's the only one that got back to me about it. Just had to call and ask.

Anticipating a Summer Premium, calls for an update to the Gomez Wall(tm)!

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Haha, I'm in the exact same boat. Got the HurryUpPinball diverter/ramp mods in the mail over the weekend.

PM sent, Lucxor . Wasn't sure if you preferred the direct PM instead of buying from your shop (since you said PM here), so went with the PM.

Expecting an early-May Premium as well, pretty stoked at the production being moved up! Never would have expected to get my first and second NIB in less than four months, gonna have to give the wallet a serious break after this one.

Check out the table in PinMonk 's Marketplace listing for the Spike 2 Flipper fans; it shows some data he collected on the different machines. Someone else with experience before/after installing the fans might be able to comment on the perceived difference in play, though-- this just shows you that certain flipper coils on certain games do/don't heat up after extended play.

https://pinside.com/pinball/market/shops/1170-pin-monk/04203-tibetan-breeze-spike2-flipper-coil-cooling-kit
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Also just got the text today that our DP Premium should be shipping in a couple weeks. Lucxor katana handle is on its way from Europe as well!

I would be interested in seeing the right apron plastic inverted so that it could be moved to the left side of the apron, replacing the less pleasing-to-look-at Cable plastic with a Deadpool one. I’m fine with the Insider Connected scanner in the apron, just wish they would have sacrificed Cable instead of Deadpool.

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If you end up doing a bunch of "right" apron plastic with the Deadpool character art and are able to do a few mirrored "left" apron plastics with the same art, I'd be happy to pay you for the trouble/shipping/etc.

I'd guess I'm not the only one who prefers Deadpool over Cable on the Prem/LE IC apron, so it might be worth running a handful?

Clever! Might even be able to find a low profile rubber grommet to "finish" the look. Something like:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-Bender-3-4-in-Grommet-3-Pack-GHG-1575/205861893?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&&mtc=Shopping-CM-F_D27-G-D27-027_011_TOOLS_ACC-NA-NA-NA-SMART-2997116-WF-New_Engen_PL3&cm_mmc=Shopping-CM-F_D27-G-D27-027_011_TOOLS_ACC-NA-NA-NA-SMART-2997116-WF-New_Engen_PL3-71700000082410808-58700006989412257-92700062912530339&gclid=Cj0KCQjwma6TBhDIARIsAOKuANxm8pdRA4aB0uGu01QOAFPAqyjFxtdCN0JfeDu8GCpelajv0ThSO0QaAgDXEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Lot of folks suggest @Pinmonk's colored gels for the 2x/3x/4x/5x, BOOM lanes, and the mode ladders. Also see a lot of suggestions to replace the stock red GI bulbs with Comet 2SMD Frosted Sunlight bulbs, as well as get their additional spotlighting kit for brightening up the middle of the playfield. Check the last page or two of the thread on that last one though, there's a good amount of discussion on alternatives.

EDIT: Shaker motor!

Listening to the backing track on its own, I keep picturing an actual string section playing the main hook. Would be an appropriate amount of overkill for Deadpool.

Sounds like Pros are going out right now, Premiums probably in the next week or so.

"Includes CLASSIFIED file with SECRET code!" -- Nice!! Maybe the missing Kraken mode?!

Joined the club today, thanks ZMeny ! Only got a few games in after setting it up tonight but I’m already loving playing it in a home environment and being able to hear everything.

I’ll also say the premium artwork looks way better in person than in pictures. It was my least favorite of the packages prior to unboxing it and seeing it in person. Could be biased, though!

Bonus dog content included also, since I’m one of those people.

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Anybody in the club have experience with a game that takes what seems like an extra long time to boot up? From power switch to “Stern” logo splash screen, my new Premium seems to take like 45 seconds. My Batman 66 and Mando both get to that splash screen in maybe 10 seconds tops.

Once Deadpool is on it plays just fine, but thought I’d ask. Don’t want to bother stern or Distro with a non-issue just yet. Thanks!

Thanks! Just checked, Standard adjustment #59 is already set to fast boot… weird.

If you're willing to spend $99 on a new lock bar, I'm guessing you probably wouldn't mind dropping $30 on a decent riveter. They're very easy to use, just loosely fit the long end of a rivet in the riveter, push the shorter end of the rivet through the lockdown bar hole, and squeeze the handle of the riveter. That's it, really.

Plus, if you ever have to mess with any of your downspouts or anything similar around your house, now you have the tool you need for it!

Educate me please! Only ever used pop rivets before, so assumed that was fine... adam12hicks would appreciate the wisdom as well, I'm sure!

I think Gomez has said that they chose to leave the hammock plastic in the coin box because they felt like it blocked some of the disco ball... I opted to attach it on my premium as well since I don't think it noticeably blocks the disco ball, and I also think it's a fun "almost interactive" decoration. I did leave the "Pro" team-up characters (plastics) in the coin box.

I think the reason the character plastics (Colossus, Domino, etc) are in the coin box on the premium is just so they aren't mixing figures and plastics on the playfield. It's cool that they included them with the premium though!

Mine takes an arbitrarily long time to boot up, was like that out of the box.. Does it eventually boot up if you give it a couple of minutes?

Advice I got from my distributor was to get a new SD card for it, but it only takes about 60-70 seconds to boot up and after that it works just fine.. so I haven't taken the time to do the new SD card.

Might be possible to more properly diagnose if you can pull the backglass off and share what you see the various LEDs doing.

I ended up turning my Shaker motor on my Mandalorian Premium off entirely last night and to be honest I think I was able to enjoy the game more with it off. That's a game that really hammers the shaker though, so not exactly apples to apples.

On my Batman 66 I feel like the shaker usage is perfect. Just enough tactile feedback when you make a shot or complete a task, usually nothing super prolonged or extreme.

I was about to ask "What happens if a pinball hits the firing pin of one of those casings just right?" but then I looked closer and saw those were dummy rounds. Guess I need more sleep!

Haha, not a gun guy (obviously). You know what I meant, hopefully. Primer was the word I was looking for...

He’s in the Posehn/Duggan (maybe others, not sure) run of the comic, and he’s usually at the beginning and end of an issue to recap what’s going on for the reader. Not really part of the story, but part of the comic book itself.

If you listen to joelbob ’s podcast interview with Gomez/Klyce (Just Another Pinball Podcast), they talk about how Stern basically had to remind Marvel that little Deadpool even existed, which is pretty funny.

Also, that’s just a really great interview in general about the making of the Deadpool pinball machine.. worth a listen!

https://www.thepinballnetwork.net/e/just-another-pinball-podcast-ep-30-deadpool-breakdown-wgeorge-gomez-tanio-klyce/

Man-- is there a more satisfying spinner shot in pinball than the disco spinner? Chaining those together on a premium is just pure pinball bliss.

Looks really nice! Gives me “Twisted Metal” vibes.

What made you pick green for the interior lights, out of curiosity?

Nothing groundbreaking here, just wanted to echo the thoughts of many others and say that the Comet Pinball GI Lighting Kit is objectively the way the game should have shipped. Definitely allows the playfield artwork to pop and you can actually distinguish the artwork on the plastics better when they aren't garishly backlit with the red.

One question for those who have installed this on a premium-- there are one (maybe two?) bayonet style sockets that aren't screwed into the playfield from the bottom but are the staple-in-place style. Their locations are a little difficult to access from the top, so I'm considering pulling the staples rather than removing the stuff above the playfield to get at them from the top. Curious what others have done.

I think the bulbs in question are under the katana handle and adjacent to the disco loop ramp, along the shooter lane.

https://www.cometpinball.com/products/deadpool-general-illumination-upgrade-kit?variant=12493737132076

I only have a handful of games on an AIQ, but I agree it lacks the 'weight' and 'soul' of Deadpool. I get the impression the AIQ rules are there for the deep diver, min/max, tournament player types and aren't quite as approachable as Deadpool, either.

Deadpool has that nice balance between "stuff for the casual player" and "stuff for the competitive player" that makes it a good one to have for friends and family. Similar to Batman 66-- easy to learn, (more) difficult to master.

But if you don't care about the "total package" and just want something deep and chewy to work your way through, I do get the impression that AIQ is a good candidate for that. More shots, upper flipper, complex code, trophies, etc.