thinking of getting a NIB premium, any premium owners here? is the premium worth it if you had to do it again?

do you guys know if they are making more premiums?

I was told November for Premium stock at P1

I am not sure about the pro but I asked for premium 2 days ago, if the new title is not something I want I will get a premium.

PRO or Premium?

I am really having a hard time justifying the premium

yeah, I am a sucker for a good orbit.

I am not sure if I had posted this here or not, but came in and noticed people asking the same question I had asked : pro vs prem.

I did play the pro a few times and enjoyed it a lot both times, great callouts and a great fun pinball experience... so I ordered a Premium because I love orbits that come back to the flippers either by ramp or just on the pf.

Looking forward to it!

Not what I heard in my side of town, so watch out for distros trying to get you thinking otherwise maybe? holding off delivery to gauge you the extra cost in Jan.

yeah, it might be far fetched. I think that in reality the simply do not know. I suspect the only title coming out next in GZ PREM and Deadpool as originally scheduled. They just made Iron Maiden, which I believe was Sept and I got one and it is home already so deadpool in dec is not unrealistic.

beyond this point, gotta check continuity at the board maybe? perhaps the opto is bad or another component on the board failed. I guess all of this would be rare.

First, as it was said already, check all the connections at the bank and also check in the manual to check the corresponding connector at the node.

Next run is premium and is scheduled for December, so it might be, maybe a chance for pros... but Premiums are scheduled for Dec as per my last comms with my dsitro.

I am hoping to get my DP as promised in Dec.
Wondering if the issues of the first runs are resolved? Ball guides digging up the artwork and the snikt shot bending over?...
Are these things still around or a thing of the past now?

I did notice that Stern is using a new ball guide design in games as of this year (cut outs in specific sections to prevent damage) but since I have not seen a newer DP... just wondering.

the middle one looks awesome. how much?

I agree with this.
I had Aiq and Elvira, both long gone now and in my opinionc aiq is Elwin’s worst.
Elvira is overhyped and a ver easy pin to beat, in a small collection like mine it got old very quick, a lot of stop and go and the movie scenes get very repetitive after a few hundred games. Avengers is a good shooter with terribly awful callouts and music, the rules feel like homework, lacks personality.
Happy to have owned, but happier that they are gone.

any word on December delivery yet? has anybody reached out to their distros in the last few days?

thanks everyone.

This is incorrect. Games produced this year, - after the IC announcement - are being built without, unless they are delivered in 2022.
Games delivered in 2022 will have IC and the price increase seen in GZ
Godzilla is the exemption for games produced this year with IC.

Recently produced Iron Maiden, in Sept this year, does not have IC, for example.

It has been confirmed in multiple threads, and with multiple distros including here in CA, not just this one, the price increase affects games made and delivered in 2022. Anything else will have the old pricing except GZ.

Same here. I have one coming, supposedly next month. I am hoping it materializes.
Mine without IC though, but if it has it, at the old price, then sure.

we are all hoping for the best, I hope it happens!

These partial updates are buggy. Never work well even when they are completed, missing features, bad audits, lots of bugs.

I just flash the card, takes 1/4 of the time and it is bullet proof

keeping your scores is as easy as dumping your audits into a USB before flashing the card.
It is part of the utilities within the service menu and takes a second.

those are rookie numbers. lol
lol add a couple pulleys on the ceiling and do a 90 degree pitch!

add a washer!

following and thinking: could this be related to a grounding issue?
My first test would be to make sure the board is grounded, and so is the DC power supply. I would check that that ground is connected securely from the DC to the board on the lower right corner of the head, then make sure the power supply is properly grounded at the AC connection. Removing the cover is necessary to check this (2 screws), make sure you unplug the game off the wall socket.

that sounds like intermittent contact/continuity. I have that happen in the GI often in my iron maiden, but often replacing the bulbs for a better one solves the issue. In your case, if it is not the GI then one of the cables that drives the power to the boards is getting loose/vibrating when you use the flippers. Maybe just replacing the connector that drivers power, literally replacing the molex connector, might solve your issue. If it persist maybe the soldering the point at the connector/board is fractures (this is common in a 90s game for example). To fix those I vacuum the old solder off and redo all the connector to make them look factory again (no hacks, no bad reflowing, no flux mess).

definitely always keep the actuator. do not throw it out, desolder and solder on the new one. Also buy yourself a few switches when ordering the new one. You can also try DigiKey or mouser to get the part rather than a pinball store.... maybe.

a 0.05 cent washer does the job just as well and it is not as ugly nor oversized.

Incredible how we continue to get screwed by distributors and Stern changing pricing after putting a deposit 8+ months ago.
Here I am like a sucker will most likely bend over.
Strange times really! This is a weird hobby to be in, I got into it 1 year ago and holly cow, I dont think I would ever consider it if I was just starting now.
Soon to be a rich person hobby. It is a bit sad.

They have had my money hostage for over 8 months now. No interest on it.
I will be complaining over the phone lately with my distro, they need some true soup for lunch.

No sorry, you are looking at it the wrong way.
If I buy a vehicle I dont go screaming at the factory. I can only complain with the person I am doing business with. This middleman can then suffer with me so it can pass on the message accoordingly.
The middleman choses to make $ by reselling a product, where it comes from and the intricacies of their contracts in between the manufacturer and the middleman are not a concern to me. The fact that we know, as the consumer, too much about it it is just a nuance of the hobby.
Why do I have to think about the distro? This aint a pro bono organization, they are making money through me.
Respect your clientele.

Price gouging. What parts in the pinball machine have increased in cost?
Yes microchips have, but spike ii is cheap to make. Probably less than $50 per board.

Spike II was designed to reduce wiring and the overall cost , instead of being cheaper from Sam—>Spike1–>2 the machines got more expensive.
More price gouging.

The cabinets are subpar, no silkscreen pf or cabinets. Nothing. Poor build quality although faithful to the williams design unlike spooky that uses pocket holes to build cabs (yuk!)

But we continue to throw money at Stern. They do make the most fun pinball machines! They have a formula and they are lining their pockets.

CGC build quality is better, their games are cheaper and have more and better toys. Stern gives you flat plastics but better flippers and code.

Weird hobby this one.
The party will end eventually but for now seems like the only way is $ up

I noticed this first thing. Getting dp next in a premium and will try to ignore the vagichanga

This is from the last run in December?...

What is up with people receiving their premium when some of us had deposits since March and we were told it was cancelled?
Looks like I really need a new distro.... ???

Very strange. I am not impressed by my distributor at the moment. I Hope I get good news soon... otherwise I will be pissed.

the orbit shot was enough for me to justify it. I am typically not keen on a premium unless it makes the game more fun (not slower or stop and go like some premiums do). I think this game is a premium

I like to dial in games before anything. Some times you find big issues in nib games so spending hours adding mods makes no sense to me.
A friend just got a nib rush and all flipper assys were overtorqued, assys came off with chunks of wood and needs a pf swap.
Distro is taking care of it.

All that to say I am not doing anything on a game until about it is 200+ plays on it

Happy to see the changes. I have noticed this on a lot of games.
I have also submitted a lot of info and pictures to them directly when my games had issues with this and they mentioned they were looking into it - not obviously because of me - all that to say I qm glad to see it.

good to know, thanks. pro or premium?

This is a much nicer solution than actually what Stern did by putting on the top. Get that shite off the apron Stern please!

Gotta admit the ruin the aprons in the games. Nobody wants to stare at that poece of crap insider connect.
Defeats the purpose of the upgraded metal apron in the case of a premium game.
Horrible design choice

when I get mine, I am willing to trade for a regular APRON without insider connect. Yes you heard me right, if you want insider connect and I will give you mine.
I dont give one crap about it and prefer the game to not have it.

Getting my DP tomorrow after the longest wait!

ok, I just got my machine and going to add mylar here, could you add a picture showing exactly where is the correct location. I do not do well with instructions written like this. If you could please and thanks.
Is this the ramp that goes up/down? is this what you are referring to?

thank you. will do.

How are the rest of the ball guides holding up for the new owners? mine got the updated PF with no art under any guide so wonderig if it is worth adding washers.
It will require a lot of disassembly and if it can be avoided, it would be nice.

Can someone confirm please where exactly on the wolverine guide u put the washer in?

The guide has 3 points there? Should I put washers on all points or is there a particular one?

Very common.
Just add the washers anyway is my opinion. Better to remove contact than to leave it.

I played a few games in my DP premium. Plays perfect out of the box. Good job Stern.
The PF, have a few flaws on the clear, i have noticed in a lot of games, it looks like little bumps trapped under the PF.
Nothing major.

Great game, I can see how this fits into any collection, simple rules and fun shots. Great for novices and more advanced players.
I can see why people like it. Music and callouts, all superb.

I can see DP staying here a long time.

What pitch are you guy setting the table at. It does not seem to follow the usual angle I set up all my other ones. I have a system that consists of turning the back levelers about 14 full revolutions and that gives always 6.8 degrees, but here I am getting 7.4.

The bubble is al the way up, so something is different about this one.

What do you guys have it at?

Are there any issues with the left ramp ramp under the katana ramp? anything to address there by means of washers, etc?
haha
I am obsessed !!

You got me all confusee with the former ans the later.
Referring to the one that feeds the flipper. No issues there??

I have played close to 50 games now and see a little little dust at the guide that feeds the katana. Noting at wolverine.

Might try the plastic washer approach but looking good so far

Hey everyone,
Anybody with pics showing where the washers for the wolverine guide go?
Or is it everywhere on the guide?

I have also had a chance to inspect 2 other dps and they all show slight wear by the base of the ramp that feeds the flipper.
Just a bit of clear coat dust along the base is visible on all.
I am sure the frame just vibrates enough to grind/sand the clear a bit.
Wondering if anybody put washers here to?

As for the washers on the katana ramp? Are we talking the actual katana ramp or just the guide that feeds the katana ramp?

Ok I did this thanks for the heads up again.

I have also added mylar underneath the flap, i do this to all my games. It makes mylar to mylar contact and in this case seems to work great as it glide over the piece on the pf.

I noticed my machine bracket is leaving a little tiny mark on here anyways, but not by the flap but instead is the actual ramp, that makes contact witj the pf when it is pulled down by the coil.

You have to look in between the ramp abe the pf to find it as it is back a behind the flap.

Wondering if you guys noticed this too in yours or simply ignored it.

I have tried reducing the coil power in the option - but not sure it that coil has a setting or not - the setup/option isn't descriptive enough.

Just curious if anybody here noticed this too?

this is the situation for most if not all depots throughout North America, will not get better until more staff is added, restrictions are lifted, mandates removed, etc etc etc. Lots of people either died, got fired or refuse to work. No man power, things are getting delivered.
Last year one of my games sat in a depot somewhere for 5 WEEKS!

I got to Sauron MB yesterday, I have the game setup quite hard at 7.5 degrees and it is not easy to get there. lol.
I put 100 plays in it in one week, the rules are easy to digest and the shots are obtainable and fast so it has a quick risk/reward feel to it and the one more game feels never seem to go away. I can't be pissed at the game for very long, the music and the DP voice is great.
Great game overall and I can see it kill it on location. easy to understand, fun to shoot and just keeps you coming back. I will never put mine on location but I can see how/why people like it so much.

I am mastering the scoring and the rules and you can get a high score even before coming into the battles. lots of points to be racked up just on the sidelines. If you focus on just battles you are leaving money on the table sort of speak and the game is quite boring this way. lots to do and build up and then go into battle if you manage to team up, the battles are short. which is the point I think.

Great overal, I am not sure how long it will stay in my collection but I like it for the humour and the easy to understand flow, which is great for the casual type players, who are often at my place.

Yeah it is pretty awesome

Well nobody answered my previous posts, let’s see if I have better luck now…

What do you guys have the scoop power set to? 255 or less?

What is a good foam to add by the diverter/katana? I am getting a lot of balls bouncing off onto the playfield after climbing the diverter. Annoying.
I want this fix to look good so if there is a proper foam to put it that looks stock it would be great.

The backstop on the diverter/katana has no adjustment, it is just a black rubber.
The ball comes flying fast bounces off the stop and hops over the ramp.
It happens almost every shot of the time.
It is annoying.

Wil call Stern and see what they say.

this is a much better idea.
Will need to go out and buy a post, what kind of post did you use, there are so many different ones I am not sure what to get.

If uneven on the top position your flipper assy is off spec, this makes the coil stop sit a little bit weird and give the bat a little more travel.

I like simple logic and only do 1 adjustment at a time or things get wacky and out of spec.

The way I see it, If they were even at rest then the problem was on the coil stop/upper position only, by either the flipper assy being bent or the coil stop being out of spec.
Solution: replace coil stop.
If not fixed,
Straighten the flipper assy to increase coil stop contact.

Flippers must sit even both at rest and up as far I am concerned

Wanted to thank you both for this amazing idea.
I ended up adding a slingshot post in the same color, no more flyers!!!

I like the slim post because it doesnt choke the ball up much to interrupt flow, i am actually considering having a custom post in metal done that is slimmer. Alternatively a hex post might work as well but not sure what size thread those are as it needs to be a 6-32.

For now this works quite well but would like a thinner post so the ball can maintain most of its speed.

Thanks for sharing the idea!

Yeah had this issue on a diff game (williams) flippers were off at the top, my ocd could not handle it.
Upon inspection one of the assys was arched, very slightly.
If you put the assy on a flat surface and it wiggles like a table with uneven legs, that sort of thing.
Anyway, it made the coil to sit at an angle so it had more space for the plunger to travel.
I straighten the assy and the issue was fixed.

The joys of pinball tolerances or lack thereof. Lol

A friend had all his flippers fall off a NIB Rush (overtorqued at factory and wood stripped out)
Only fix was to re attach in a different location by just rotating it slightly, works well. He is waiting for a new pf I believe.

All that to say, rotating the assy makes no difference after you adjust the bat.

The first layer on these cabs is very soft, it is some paper type material, I believe to save on the painting process.

Fill it will Fiber glass infused filler (mask up to save your lungs) sand and paint that section black.

Alternatively, you can glue this part back if it sits down nice and flush. Glue, clamp, fill the gaps.

It is a easy repair really. If you need a hand let me know I can guide you.

Came in with my prem. I forget to use half the time, it is really not impressive in any way - yet - the software is in its infancy ans it will take Stern a huge injection of time and money to make the platform really take it to the next level.
Time will tell but I predict this fading away soon.

If the piece isnt fitting well trim the ends a bit, as long as it sits flush it will glue down well, if it does not fit well - do not glue it - becauee it will make a bump on the top and it will be a lot of work to make it look right, not to mention the head will not sit on properly.

Do a dry test, if it is hard to lay down it will be harder when you add glue. When you clamp it make sure it does not want to slide out, you might need extra clamps or better, if it lays down well, you can use a couple finishing nails to hold it.

so what si the trick to keep the Snkt target from moving, I have already adjusted it twice in 100 games, I think I will leave it as it really, currently leaning over the ball guide...

thanks, but my machine is brand new, I presume this is already installed on that target... or am I wrong?

edit: I am wrong and Stern is cheap AF!!! can't believe they do not include this with the game.
thanks again for the link

Who makes a really nice disco ball to replace the really low quality included in the prem/le? The mirrors in mine will fall off any time soon. It is really a joke of a toy.

Not looking for the actual disco ball mod but wondering if there is a reallt nice disco ball I could replace it with?

Snikt question.
I added the anti sway bracket. It still sways, maybe not as much as before but the bracket has enough tolerance (or lack thereof) to allow for some sway still. Annoying.
Am I doing something wrong here?

Thanks!
Yeah I adjusted it twice tonight… I center it, and 10 plays later, this…

6DE481C4-E2B4-4DE1-B8DC-4754C39BE566 (resized).jpeg

Such an important target that has been so poorly implemented.
This is the only way to get X multipliers correct?
It is kind of silly but this is a deal breaker for me, dont have time to constantly adjust a target and it is a bit demoralizing that the target I need for a high score doesnt work well….
Might just sell the game because of this…lol

thanks everyone. will consider all these suggestions! appreciate the messages.

I was thinking about that last night, just need to find a shim small enough to fit there, what kind of material did you find worked better? a small piece of wood?

100% my thoughts on this. Will try the shim.
Was just worried that a washer will might short the target up and be close the entire time...

Great idea, will try this.

Another reason to get a printer! These are phenomenal, thanks for sharing…
Anybody in Ottawa willing to print me a few
Pleeeeeease (in dp voice)

thanks, this is what mine looks like as well, they are very precise at being imprecise, lol. cheers.

Lol

Been trying really hard to connect with this game and can’t.
Find it forces me to throw shots on the fly often and it is MB intensive sometimes.
Ugh. I am trying really to enjoy playing it but it is just not happening.
There are only 2 games that did this to me so quickly and I currently own them both, the other one is GB.
I cant enjoy them, they are just not what I like.

Do I need to see a dr? Lol

curious, what kind of maintenance did you need to do over the course of these?

That is likely a 6-32 machine screw. Go to the hardware store with the post, add the thickness of the pf, plus nut plus washer.
Some of these post also have attach to a nut type bracker that is attached to the pf underbeath, like the slingshot posts. Dod you check?

Another solution, use the post on the opposite side of yhe drop target and ge tyhr same hardware.

You will wait for a week or more for a nut and screw that can easily be acquired in minutes if you have a store near by…