An original theme usually offers more creativity to the design team. I agree with your DI comments.

Your Metallica comments are bizarre. All Stern music pins feature the bands music...the music is Metallica, no? The caricatures are of the band members...no? The band was also involved in the pins development and did the callouts...no?

Since Metallica is your favorite band, what would you do differently?

Dialed in is way too campy. I find it borderline insulting as a grown man. If it had a more serious tone, it would have been fine, even with the mom jeans and flip phone. Pat has always been about campy humor, which is why I hate his games. He has incredible layouts, but the worst themes.

Uh oh.
Look Romulusk another one of those "too cool for school" fellas. Listen DarkKnight ur to manly for this game, god damn you.

I really enjoy playing Dialed In, its my favorite of the JJP tables but yeah the theme. Anyway I just can't resist torturing the JJP fanboys, they make it so easy.

Wow Dialed In insulted his manhood what the hell does that say about him?

He probably secretly dresses up in mom jeans.

I don't care what anyone thinks, having a pin in your house regardless of theme does not make you look like a grown man to the average person -period.
In fact, it makes you look like a man child whether it's MET or Wonka. That hot friend of your wife who comes over- yeah she thinks you're a creep and she's not flooding her basement when she sees IM or BSD if you get my drift so put the crocs away.

If you can't get over the theme with DI hey that's your prerogative, but the game is easily one of the best playing pins out there so your loss if you can't get past it.

It's like a supermodel underneath the librarian facade, Just get a bag over it's head, take it to bed and you'll see.

CELL PHONE, THE PIN.

That’s the way I see it.
Played it. Was ok. Just cannot get immersed into this game. Should have titled more on genetic city destruction/rescue.

Could’ve named it, RESCUE 911! That name alone sells. Already done?

Then how about ATTACK FROM MARS! That’s better.

This pretty much hits the nail on the head.

I agree, the band call-outs are one of the more endearing features of the game. And I assume the band was somehow involved, not sure how much. And it’s one of the more attractive Stern pins, for sure. And I’ve come close to getting one a few times - maybe I will still. But where did this Sparky figure come from and why all this focus on tombstones and coffins (just because of the cover of MoP - which is about war and/or drug addiction)? And what’s with the snake - from Don’t Tread on Me ? I guess I would try to make the imagery of the pin fit better to the songs - with the possible danger that the pin would become too dark.

But back to DI...

Ride the Lightening
Master of puppets
Death magnetic
Black album/dont tread on me

It literally has a bunch of modes named after songs and everything is taken from albums...I don't know how much "better" it could go together.

Right on brother!

Are you saying it's weird that people are calling a pinball machine too campy and not manly enough they own a fucking Kiss?!?

You talking to me?

I'm agreeing with your post and referencing darknight

Cool,more power to ya!

Oh come on! You gotta do better than that. If you want to be convincing you need song titles and either relevant passages from said songs or your interpretation of the song.

I try not to listen to any of the lyrics or their music in general, because I find it horrible.
But for sure it all looks very "Metallica-ish" to me.

good answer - I’m convinced!

I just wonder if this had a second skin of "Quantum City", new backglass, cab decals, how many more would sell?

Get rid of that phone...probably more. A lot more. But, never know.

Yes, get rid of the coolest toy on there.

These are great ideas. No, really. Let's change JP2 by removing the trex and calling it "fat guy goes to an island." Stern would sell millions of that machine. Millions.

OH NO THE PHONE! How dare JJP base a toy on a device that has changed communication and the way we get information more than any other electronic in history. All those custom character animations for every mode that are displayed on it? They have gone too far, a cheap toy non interactive toy with thin plastics attached to a chunk of metal that I can then spend $200 for a cheap looking 3D printed mod to replace it would be so much better. If JJP isn't careful people are going to question why other games don't have as many features, 3D molded toys, and as much code work going into the games toys.

Reaction to the phone toy in Dialed In by some Pinsiders lol.

munch_the_scream_invitations-rc6c699e07c1746f7be1f1ca8e7dd7027_zk91q_704 (resized).jpg

Couldn't agree more. Pinball collectors were hungry for "original themes". Pinball over the years has paid homage to cultural elements. Paying homage to smart phones in this "disaster theme" pinball works. I don't love the emoji mode, but it fits with theme and smart phone. I don't love everything about my DILE, but it's still one of the coolest games in my collection (and JJP's best effort IMHO).

Let me start by saying I'm a HUGE Pat Lawlor fan. I own 5 of his pins: TAF / FH / TZ / ES / WW. I've had all these games since the mid 90's.

I've tried to give DI some serious love, just can't get into it. It's partially bcuz of the cell phone theme, blue jeans, emojis and self pictures.

With that said: I initially didn't like White Water... now that's an awesome game. It too has been in my collection for 20+ years.

Someday I'll revisit DI and see if I can rekindle the relationship.

Ok, so that’s plus one on the phone.

Yep, reaction is right. And I DIDN’T buy it, so lost sale there. Phone, oversized dolls on pf. Nope.

Same reason I didn’t buy Fat Guy goes to an island pin. Minor character, can’t get past Nedry on PF. I have ZERO illusions how they got him for callouts.
And I wouldn’t buy a JAWS pin from Stern if it only had callouts and art of this guy from the movie:
26BB7308-A618-4CD2-AD33-18B8265E5538 (resized).jpeg

How about plus two on the phone,
You and Hazoff need to have a good old fashion circle jerk

Ok, RomulusX is in. Now it’s a party.

Oooh! I love that guy! The beach reporter in Jaws! Ol’ whatshisname? Forget Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfus! Build a pin around that dude and Lorraine Gary and I’m Dialed In! Maybe a cameo by Nedry?

I love the callouts and theme of dialed in. A day in quantum city works, and Mike Banter is perfectly integrated. I also went out of my way to support an original theme from Pat.

That said, the game was supposed to be called Killer App, and the art was going to be different. That would have sold them a lot more games, but Jack wants family friendly, which isn't too popular these days.

As for people hating the phone and camera, the same number would have hated any alternatives. When I have tournaments, everyone loves these features, and the shots are balanced enough for newbs and pros to enjoy. People seem to forget that Elwin's games do not possess this balance. Pat Lawler is the greatest pinball designer of all time because he understands and executes this balance better than anyone in the industry.

I’m not a big fan of how the phone looks, mainly the lights. But I’m not sure how else to bring attention to it when a mode is qualified. I suppose an insert? I really like the feature allows you to select the mode, useful depending on your progress towards Big Bang. It gives immediate status towards your game progress in and out of modes, no way I’d replace it.
The things people are saying they hate in this game also seem to be “hated” by the designer if you pay attention.

Interesting, Killer App would have been a great title also. This is a JJP masterpiece! The team nailed this including the art, music, code and theme. So glad we got an original theme in this day and age. I love all the Easter eggs that pay homage to Pats previous games. Wish they would due one more update and leave something to hint the brain behind DIE was Rudy from Funhouse on the Showdown mode! The humor makes me laugh everytime I play it, makes me feel good. Isn't that what pinballs all about?

“Dialed In is not awesome”..........Tell that to my grandmother!! It’s her favorite game!!!

Your grandma has good taste in pinball machines,to bad you didn't take after her?

The existence of this game seems to really upset you and several others. Maybe you should talk to someone.

She can come over and play mine.
#DTF

All JJP machines don't have a simple way to get a high score. No just start this mode or multi ball. You have to actually have to play the machine. Pat lawlor designs got harder and harder over the years. Risk vs reward. JJP machines are better in every way than stern. Cabinet, lights, sound, LCD. You can go play a out dated 90s and stern one trip pony machines. I like a challenge.