Sorry but rumors on Pinside is a pet peeve with me and this is exactly how they begin. All it takes is a casual comment and the next thing you know it's preached as gospel. I'm sometimes amazed at how out of control Pinside can be with misinformation.

Can anyone verify this please. Maybe it's true but it seems absurd to me.

All good my friend. I'm just looking for a little clarity in the Pinside jungle.

Works for me. Thank you for the clarity. I guess I overreacted and I apologize to all.

You should run for Congress.

Sorry but this is incorrect. The AP Popadiuk design was completely discarded and Balcer began from scratch.

Here's Popdiuk's layout if you want to put a mock up together.

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Kevin and Russell

I'll be at the One Up around three today if you two knuckleheads can make it.

I got over to the One Up today and played the same machine that Russell and Caucasian2step did. First let me say that both of these guys are far superior players than I am and I have mad respect for them both and their opinions. I'm more of a banger and these two are artisans with finesse.
But what I lack in playing skill, I can make up for in other areas like tweaking a machine.

My first game and half was brick, brick, brick on the right inner loop shot. It was so frustrating that I think it ruined any of my other shots and I did not enjoy myself. I stopped and leaned over close to the glass and by sight, I determined that the opening was barely wide enough for a ball to pass and near impossible. Lucky for me the operator (Dan G) was there and I know him.

I asked Dan if we could slide the glass and bend both of those targets slightly outward to open up the entrance. Dan is one of the best operators around and he knew what I was talking about. He reached in (big guy with meat paws) and using his thumb, bent each of them as I had asked. Visually I could see immediately it was an improvement and I muttered that I could drive a truck through that.

My very first shot I nailed it and like an awestruck small child, I turned to let Dan know. I went on to making a high percentage of those shots after that and I really began to enjoy it. It's still a challenging shot but very makeable now. I played seven games, which I don't consider enough to fully critique it nor do I consider myself gifted enough to do so. But I think I'd agree with most of Ezeltmann's review in comment 53 of this thread.

Bad news is the catapult only made one of about seven shots into the box and needs adjusting. The playfield is stunning and Houdini is still on my list of possible purchases. I wanna play it more before I pull the trigger but I found it unique and interesting on my first outing.

And I'll want to consult further with both Russell and Kevin (Caucasian2Step) as I do value their opinions.

Edit/Add: For clarity, it was more of a straightening of the targets rather than bending. They looked very natural at the entrance afterward, where before they looked bent in some.

It was the most fun I've ever had without getting naked.

(yes, it was fun)

^^ This, well done Hilton.

Kevin, I only played it once but now I'm really anxious to meet you guys there and compare notes. And I did have some backhanding issues I'd like to explore with you. Like I said, not enough experience for me yet. - Let's find some time.

Thank you very much. I'm flattered you would include me and I would love to be there. Thanks!