Quoted from PanzerFreak:It sounds like Ted and the team really want to have them played in order and I can understand that. Playing the Arkenstone modes in order follows the trilogies story. However, should the modes be played in order? Do we have to play the book modes in order from movie 1 to movie 3? Do you have to play the mini wizard modes in POTC in order? Do you have to play Return of the King, Fellowship of the Ring, and Two Towers muiltiball in LOTR in order? No, you have a choice in all 3 of those situations. It would be nice to have the option to select a mini wizard mode when one has reached.
When an Arkenstone mode is lit it could be really cool to have a large animation appear on the main LCD showing the icons of the 3 Arkenstone modes with the text "Choose an Arkenstone Mode". When you press the flippers it selects between them giving off a lit insert affect as each one is selected.
Right On! Right On! Right On! Guys that's moving things in a righteous direction. And if you don't finish, the insert becomes unlit and progress is saved for next attempt. If you don't want to be able to replay mini-wizard modes, select no wizard replay in the menu and the insert would stay lit solid after draining to a single ball. It is really an important change too, because now it opens up having a strategy where there wasn't one before. There is no thinking involved with playing the 3 mini-wizard modes in order. Especially if you find yourself playing ITF 80% of the time BE 15% of the time and Bot5A 5% of the time when you want to play more of the others. Doing these take code into a new dimension and separate JJP from its peers. Come on JJP make TH legendary ...
Think about this. Player starts game. He decides which targets to drop and to qualify which modes. He decides how many balls to lock for modes. He decides which mode to start and He starts the mode. He decides when to lock balls and He decides when to start Smaug multiball. He decides whether to complete all arkenstones. His mini-wizard mode is ready to start. Should he now play the next mini-wizard mode in sequential order? HE!! NO! Rather he should make his own selection and follow his own destiny, as he has in every step of the game. In light of the fact there is no super wizard mode, it makes this issue more important that the player be able to create his own way ... and to have that promised adventure.
What JJP, American Pinball, CGC and Stern are doing in pinball programming these days is making software and game code and now videos the best they have ever been. They are breaking new ground weekly and setting the bar higher. Who has the top programmers? I'll sit back and watch and quarterback.
When I look at game specific settings in TH (assuming they add the last three changes) and look at the level of their general game settings and my understanding that playing TH is entirely my prerogative.... I see "JJP has created the World's First - 100% User Controllable Pinball Experience Under Glass (assuming player has access to coindoor). Why this is so important is that it signals the World's First Mass Produced Customized Pinball Game that is 100% Configurable to User Settings. When I plunge the ball I also make all my choices. Now that kind of stuff is scary good!
When JJP 1) adds a camera option 2) connects TH to online and 3) adds rules like for Dialed-In to allow one to start and play TH remotely ... theyll will have created something.