One of my favorite features is that the drops reset if you hit the stand up before they're all down. You get it down to 1 drop and you better not miss.

That’s tomorrows job. Cutting acrylic smoked clear and cutting the radio needle and numbers.

Got the temp testing done for Foo Fighters Pro. This was on 0.92 code.

The game is pretty heavily reliant on the right flipper, so the peak temps are quite a bit higher on the right than the left. I don't know if future code will move some of the shots more to the left flipper to even out the load, but as it stands, it's moderately unbalanced.

For comparison, Elwin's designs average a peak temp L/R flipper coil spread of 5F (as low as 1F, as high as 8F, depending on game). Foo is 17F. This doesn't mean it isn't fun - I had a blast with the Pro and am looking forward to the LE next week (which I will also temp test just to see if there's an appreciable temp difference). It just means the game relies on the right flipper quite a bit right now. I just hope Tanio and crew find more stuff for the left flipper to do to balance out the usage.
Foo Fighters Temp Test 2023-04-20_sml (resized).jpg

So here's what I do...All my Stern LE's and Premiums have the Kenwood 5 1/4 save for my GZ which I used the smaller 4 1/2" Kickers since they're hiding behind the flame panels.

Anyways, you start off setting the Ohm's to 8 regardless of speaker type for both the Cab and Backbox (there are tons of threads explaining this and the reasoning). Next set the EQ for the Backbox to your liking...I prefer a scalloped scooped midrange, bringing up the BASS a little above 0, and a little Sharp on the high end. Adjust the cab as well...this isn't a sub really, moreso a cheap midrange speaker...don't try to squeeze the bass here with the factory speaker. Just raise the low end to your liking and and leave the highs and lows fairly close to default...again this is by ear. (There are some curves in the DIY sound thread for setting specific number for both if you're inclined to set something exact)

That should balance you out better than factory.

Then I add the Pinwoofer DIY system to my setups, not the full kit. I use External Klipsch 12" Subs (Overkill but awesome) plus the Pinwoofer DIY kit in the backbox along with the upgraded Pinwoofer cabinet speaker and mounting ring , and then set the amp controls per the Blog settings for speaker and amp / game recommendations on the Pinwoofer site. I usually cut off at 80hz on the sub crossover and run the gain about 12 to 1 o'clock then all the volume and gain is adjusted at the amp and then finally the main system volume controls

This setup sounds absolutely phenomenal and I don't dare turn my volume past 16 for long periods of time ....20 will rattle the walls and floors

Damn !! Count me in

#166 is officially in! My son and the dog helped unbox...
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If you gave us a cheaper alternative to your awesome cooling mod, maybe more folks would chime in? I don’t need chrome-plated mounts and fancy boxes to get the nob done. Just being honest here. I bought your $200 kit for MM but I doubt I’ll do that again. This is maybe just me but when I can do the same effect for 6 other machines for a lot less, it makes me really wonder where my money is going. Not hating..actually trying to help.

Awesome efforts as always Vic, Well done !

Brilliant !

Sweet line up.

Great to see the sub locked and loaded for FF.

Enjoy !

The standard Tibetan Breeze kits also work on Spike machines, so stainless steel ZEN kits aren't the only choice. Since the main heat issues for Foo are on the lower flippers, you could just do a 2 flipper standard kit for $130 instead of a ZEN for $210. There's always DIY if you don't want a plug and play solution. I'm working on an even more basic entry level kit, but it's not ready yet. The goal is to have a range of price points depending on performance, appearance, noise and warranty length someone wants.

Also, it's unlikely all 7 of your machines need active cooling. That's why I post the test results. Makes it a lot easier to see which ones you should consider it for. There are some where there's no doubt they DON'T need cooling, like Star Wars, for example. Then a bunch in the middle where it's maybe/maybe not, then some where they clearly need it.

That looks super impressive.

Same and they are amazing.

for some odd reason, I appreciate T2 in the mix with FOO, more than ever..And I've owned a few T2's..retro throwback cyborg bliss-camp here!

One important thing for new Stern owners (especially the LE guys). Protect your shooter lane before anything else you do ; It WILL crack and get dented at stock. lower the trough ball eject coil to almost minimum while putting mylar (at minimum) cliffy, or pindefender ‘s in the lane. I have 3 newer sterns Gotg cracked and mared up in less than 150 plays. Same (but less) with DP and GZ. All within 200 plays.

Who was the distributor if you don’t mind sharing? Can’t wait for ours

The way I personally view it is that the Zen is like doing a case mod on your gaming PC or getting your engine detailed. At this point, for the majority of users, it’s less about how it works than how it looks. It’s a purely ascetic thing. This is not going to be worth it for a good chunk of owners, but to a small OCD percentage of them, it will (I do count myself in that number).

If you’re just looking for the cooling effect, the breezes seem to do the same job, as well as zip ties and laptop fans. Its what I have on an old em (not sure if it does anything but it was cheap enough for me to do for voodoo reasons and I already had all the parts laying around).

My LE arrives on Monday from FedEx freight, I used Zach at Flip N Out.

Anyone hear anything or receive any notification from Paradise Pinball?

I used Greater Southern in GA for my LE, sounds like it will be another week or two due to the delays at the factory.

I find it interesting that a lot of the music in the game is programmed to quiet itself as if sounds are coming through, but don't yet. For instance, when putting yourself on the high score list for multiple items you can hear the music quiet a smidge with each score shown. You can hear this through out the game too. I haven't been this early into playing a game where I've seen this before. Is this normal?

I guess I got in an Iron Maiden early, and I feel all their sounds and voices were already established, even in super early code.

Does anybody know if the rules sheets on the stern website get updated as the code gets updated??

Jason @ Classic Gamerooms

This game, especially the pro model, with be right flipper dominant because of the spinner shot to upper right flipper combos and the upper flipper ramp returning to the right flipper. There is plenty to do with the left flipper, but the right will always be more. Just the design.

The premium/LE will see more left flipper usage because of the upper PF.

Excited to hear they have come in. Hopefully I will get my call soon.

Same!

My R&M had horrible flipper fade when I first received it. I decided on a simple solution...plugged a mini/retro fan into the R&M service outlet (https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/aw-jeez-official-rick-and-morty-club/page/237#post-6185294). It not only cools the flippers, but the boards underneath the PF that run hot. Even though people made fun of the adhoc solution, it's worked great for me for 2 years now. The only downside is it replaces the coin box, so it only works for home use games. In other games that I've installed PinWoofer amps, the coin box is using replaced by the amp.

Yeah, I get that. But on an Elwin design, for example, a "dominant" flipper spread is less than half the peak temp of FF (8F vs 17F). I'm sure software rules can be adjusted to bring that spread down a fair amount into a more "normal" range. There's dominant, and then there's DOMINANT.

But then again, Tanio's other software on Deadpool is LEFT flipper dominant with a huge 27F spread. So...

------------
Here's the 5 most balanced, based on peak temps:
Avengers (+1L)
Bond (+1R) - early code, though
RUSH (+2R)
Jurassic Park (+2R)
Led Zeppelin (+4R)
TMNT (+6L)

----------
And here's the 5 with a heavy dominant flipper:
Mandalorian (+31L)
Stranger Things (+28R)
Deadpool (+27L)
Foo Fighters (+17R)
Elvira (+16R)

I figured out why my right flipper wasn't working. I really don't mind the price increases but this level of QA is disappointing on a $13,000 machine. I found most of the missing pieces in the cabinet, but not all of them. Luckily I keep Stern rebuild kits and the TBL parts bags on hand.

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Since it's the Left flipper that's going to be the concern, having to make the steep right ramp, wouldn't this be the perfect scenario that likely doesn't need fans?

Just installed the 0.93 code and after it copied all the code to the "node boards" and finished up, the game is DOA. LCD is working fine, but none of the lights go on and you can't start a game. I also used a USB stick that has worked on many other recent Sterns (so I doubt it's the USB stick).

Has anyone successfully loaded the new code on an LE? Since not many have been unboxed, maybe it's an update problem?

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Same exact thing happened to me. I fixed it by rebuilding an SD card. Looks like the post above has a simpler fix.

They're just making it easier for you to replace the lousy coil stop.

So the coil stop fell off and everything came apart?

Left is still way past the fade zone once you're over an hour in. The steep ramp gets very hard to make in long sessions, especially towards the 2 hour mark of play. You can see it late in Joel's FlipnOut stream and I experienced it, too.

Replace the SD card with a new imaged one of better quality, or rebuild the trash SD card Stern provided. It's likely the issue.

Try this first. I wasn’t getting any lights after the update either. Power cycle the game. Leave the coin door closed so everything can update the node boards.

Correct. I think they forgot one of the screws that holds the coil stop on since I never found the second screw. Yes, I had PBL coil stops on hand to go ahead and replace it. I just think about the people who are buying their first machine. This wouldn't have been repairable for anyone who isn't a big pinball nerd and this is a theme that is selling to a lot of FF fans who have never bought a pinball machine before. I also think they should have a 10 minute setup video via QR code on the outside of the box instead of that crappy black and white legal size sheet of paper, but what do I know?

Thanks!! That worked. So weird...if there is/was a mechanical problem with the voltage switch, it's odd that it would be effected/triggered by a software update! No problems before the update.

Bizarre that the SD card rebuild fixed it, but glad it's working for you.

I'm glad my laziness paid off for someone else.

The simpler the fix, the better (lazy or not I don't keep SD cards in stock, so I'm really glad I didn't have to go that route (for now, at least).

Thanks! Wondering why sounded bad switched to 8 too

Suspect the issue was that the game was updated via USB stick and the coin door was left open with the interlock switch not pulled out to so the node did not have power to update their code.

Stern sd cards are the new coil stops.

I'll keypost the lazy fix.

I can say for 100% certainty that the coin door was open.

Candidly I'm glad I wasn't alone in this issue with this update. Makes me feel like I didn't do something stupidly wrong, download the wrong file, etc.

Nope, mine updated via Wifi with the door closed.

Just rocking out to the Foo Fighter pinball playlist I created on Spotify, making Foo Fighters mods until I go to my friends house tonight to play Foo Fighters while I wait for my Foo Fighters machine to arrive hopefully next week.

So good!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6OOf1ssLMVBoyJ8irddNX9?si=o83A1xfcRW-8RYAdWrXB4w

Man, this is a fast and brutal game (which is my preference I've only played about 12 games, but they've been very short! My angle might be a little on the steep side @ 7, so I guess I could bring it down a bit if necessary.

Big relief, since I find both GZ and Rush to be very long playing games (and I was in the mood for something more brutal). Very uncommon for me to play more than 1 or 2 games of GZ/Rush.

Game is beating my ass at 7 degrees, I love it.