Let me preface by saying I understand AP isn't a huge manufacturer, I assume this is their first pin and for all intents it is a very nice game. I found it lacking in some areas and, as you can tell by my forum name, I have some interest in the topic. To say that I wouldn't want the pin in my collection is a pretty big statement.. already have a Theater of Magic and Houdini would be a nice addition. One thing I can't get away from is the hokey, low quality, poorly designed animations and voice overs. They all seem like someone did them with the built in mic on their computer and powerpoint. The colors, the images, just.. bad.

Another gripe I have is the overall concept implementation. There are some pretty iconic Houdini escapes and feats that should have been more prominent. The ball shooting out of the crate seems like a big "miss" in terms of featured functionality. I mean, how about a water torture cell where the ball disappears? It feels like there were no Houdini historians or magic consultants used in designing the game.

My overarching question is, for anyone who has seen Octoberfest in person or in more detail online, does this game fix those issues? Is it more professional looking?

I just acquired a WOZ and really, really appreciate the kind of quality and time the JJP put in to this game. I am hoping Octoberfest is going to follow along those same lines and it will be another option for me to add to my lineup. I would want to play it first, so not going to pre-order and I may just wait for used ones to hit the market first. I picked up a 2013 WOZ and it was about $3k cheaper but needed a bit of work, not sure how long or possible that is going to be with Octoberfest.

Heh... being a programmer I almost want to see if it is possible to change the artwork on the game and then I can own one!

Damn. Well, I'm interested in Dialed In and POTC from JJP so maybe that's where I'll focus. I still want to play Octoberfest when it becomes available, who knows maybe it will be that much better.

Without mentioning it in this thread, my wife and both really agree with the "sharp shooter" aspect of Houdini. I'm sure if I spent hours on the game i'd get good enough to hit those lanes but damn it makes the enjoyment of the game go down when everything relies so heavily on that skill.

Yeah, I don't know the QC issues between the two but it sounds like WOZ had more than Houdini. Luckily, the game I bought has the v3 light boards so I'm good there and it sounds like JJP is pretty good about having parts available and doing swaps at a decent price. That being said, my support requests to them online and voicemail are going unanswered so far. All of my other games are old so I've never dealt with a manufacturer before.. going to have to call them again and see if I can get someone who answers. I have two small issues I can repair but I have some playfield wear they are supposed to have an overlay for, trying to get my hands on that. WOZ is pretty complex, I'd say... so maybe some QC issues are acceptable.

Thanks to you both for clarifying. I believe I have the 7.5v boards, not sure buffered or not.

I guess I stated what I was thinking incorrectly.. I think the theming didn't showcase his best known feats in the kind of light/exposure/essence that other games have really done, like WOZ. Just underwhelming, combined with the horrible animation makes it feel cheap.

Guess I can't? Error! You (1000) have insufficient user level for this call (Y:0, R: 10).

HAH.. thanks for the detail. Certainly helps me understand where it is at better.

Good perspective for sure

Are there actual resources out there to do this?

Thanks!

Interesting.. thanks for that. Personally, the thing is I would love to own one and get in on that gameplay but I think it'd grate on me the horrible voiceover and animation each time I play it. I mean, WOZ has some video/audio mishaps perhaps but overall it's a masterpiece combining the old and new. Houdini just did a big ol belly flop there and it makes me sad.

HA! I have to really disagree there... as an example, the art uses "chiller" font in some instances... it couldn't be less period if they tried. I think that goes for the whole thing.. the colors.. I mean, I have the visual (it's been a while) of some almost fluorescent (green, purple) colors being used for fonts or background during the animations. There are plenty of sources to draw from of recent design concepts using vintage, infact more of a steampunk look would have done wonders, but really it's a travesty.

In what regard? I thought we were talking "computer" setup.. what exactly isn't being done properly?

It's like using Comic Sans. It's just a big indicator that someone didn't know what they were doing.

Geesh this thread got out of hand, way beyond my level of discussion. Thanks everyone for the feedback, gave me a lot more appreciation for the game.