Glad you found out the game is very fun when setup and massaged,like other stern game that really benefit from tweeting,avle also comes to mind

+1
this is true for lots of games
as owning (and enjoying) an Avengers home, its even more true

Hi John

I experienced this same thing with TWD. Unless you play a game set up right you will pass on it every time. I just swapped my GB playfield and it's not the same as my old one. So I'm still tweaking trying to get it back to what I had before which was great now not so much. Heck when I got my MMR I changed the flipper and post rubbers and it killed the game, so I put the old black ones back on and it came back to life and played night and day. So many things can change a game like just moving your flippers a hair now you can cradle a ball. It's just lots of small things it's crazy.

I have a new Premium that I have unboxed but not set up yet. Has anyone documented what the optimal settings are for this machine? I would like to dial mine in so that I have the best experience right from the get go.

Move lane posts in, set ball saves high, get an airball plastic for ramp, tweak flippers and switches for best performance. And don't give up this game is a real ass kicker. Best of luck

Happens to all of us in Pinball....early judgement, hate, and then with a little time and effort, turns out nothing to hate!

I like setting the left scoop to eject to the right flipper, instead of a droopy drop to the left. That means full power, but might also need a shim placed in the scoop to help the aim.

I also reset the primary flipper return lane guide higher than the way they are when shipped (using a nail set). Conversely, I push the inner guide most of the way down. This reduces bounce-out. As originally configured the ball would almost never travel through the lanes, but now it shoots shockingly fast through them all the time. It will occasionally launch over the guide if it hits the inner rail dead-on, so it helps to have the Mezel mod rail extender created by Cliffy, and for total protection, those plastic extenders to cover the lanes.

The airball plastic for the ramp stand-up targets is a must, though you can also pad those targets from behind to control airballs. With the plastic in place, I have installed a homebrew mod to reduce STDM from the Gozer target area: a spring from a ball point pen precisely centered hanging down, which lets the ball shoot through from the flippers, but usually diverts it a little when coming back down.

I can provide pics/video if anyone is interested.

I loosened my VUK just enough to create a Random throw.

about 70% left flipper, 10% SDTM, 10% right Flipper, 10% dribble to bounce around outlanes.

Keeps me on my toes!

I'm in the same boat. Unboxed my premium and did not like it at first. Now that I've gotten better at it, I absolutely love it. It's hard, but it's the game that provides me the most satisfaction of any that I have.

Took the time to lock mine in and absolutely love it. I've said it before and I'll say it again, those playing a game on route or straight out of the box will not enjoy it. But, take the time to tailor it to your liking and you'll really have something.
Bustin' makes me feel good!!

Agree, great gameplay, artwork, mods, etc. You can dial-in and mod to your satisfaction. Then enjoy it !

+1234, I hated this too and still hate some on location but definitely enjoy the rare ones that are set up well. Magnetic slings are a very cool feature but drive me nuts when playing in tournaments

Amen. I got my premium NIB and dialed it in and have been blown away for a year, I didn't get all the hate, then I played a couple on location that were absolute shit and I got it. It's a really tough game set up properly, absolutely unfair if not dialed in. Like I've said before though, I've been playing pinball for 40 yrs and a great game on GB is unlike any other. Such a rush.

All the hate comes from the Stern haters club here on Pinside, pay no attention to them. GB is a great game and a masterpiece IMO. Are there things I'd change about it? Yep sure is but it's still full of greatness overall!

I would diffantly be interested in seeing how you did that.

Still love our GB!

It's just a matter of taking the time to set it up right. Great game.

Totally - the setup will make all the difference on GB...
- Get a airball protector for slimer area
- Switch to Carrot flippers, or add the drop down center post
- Add better lane guides (stock ones are too short)
- shorten the hex post on the right ramp, otherwise it rejects too many balls
- tighten the Scoleri Brother target springs (attach 30% shorter)

All the above can be done for approximately $65 - not very expensive to COMPLETELY TURN AROUND THE GAME!!!

GB, more than any other game I can think of, requires a lot of tweaks out of the box to make it play like it should. Once dialed in, however, I think it's one of the most fun and immersive games out there. Yes, it's very hard, but that's part of the appeal. Not every game should be easy.

Most of the important tweaks have been mentioned already. One that hasn't is removing the mylar in the right orbit if your game has it. It makes a huge difference and makes the right orbit shot smooth as butter.

Just buy a shorter hex post and swap it. The ramp will be less steep, and rejects far fewer balls (Premium/LE).

Nothing. It just lowers the ramp ever-so-slightly. It's an absolute MUST, in my opinion. It makes the game play so much better.

HMMM,well ,ok,I'll try it! Thanks!!

Well after giving my advice and still being sober so far I attacked mine again. I got a playfield swap from Stern and that was easy. It's the playfield down playfield up the this and that. Oh pop bumper adjustment almost took me, but I feel I got it. Time for some test play. This really is one of the most packed games.

Ok, attaching a couple pics and links to short vids. Totally agree about the hex post mod for the right ramp, that indeed helps for better flow. I also put stronger springs on the ball launch to curb overshooting when auto launching.

STDM mod vid:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/n6pktrjjmkw9wt0/GB-STDMmod.mov?dl=0

Lanes mod:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/a0ehuiz8v3csj0q/GB-Lanesmod.mov?dl=0

GB-STDMmod (resized).jpg

GB-Lanesmod (resized).jpg

one is missing : remove the small "one way" gate from the right inlane, at the bumpers exit
this is causing too easy "balls stop" falling slowly on the right flipper... its more fun & sexy to have some balls falling from there with some (high) speed

Clever!! I like the spring redirecting the ball out of the pops. That is really the main STDM drain for me now since I added the carrot flipper bats and got rid of the droopy angle.

As others have said, GB is bad ass if you put in a little work to tweak and set things up. Sucks that you have to do it, but once you do, the game is just awesome.