Quoted from Aurich:Okay, and? So they're just like regular lights, but brighter because they draw more power. Just like ... flashers? I don't understand the problem. Seems like people thought GOT was too bright, so it can't be that they're not bright enough. How else are they deficient?
I don't get it either. The simplified wiring, "sparse" underplayfield appearance, and homogenized parts (like using the same LED boards throughout) are all features, not bugs. This stuff all contributes to making the games lighter, less likely to suffer shipping damage, easier to service, and almost certainly more reliable.
The SAM system had a good run, but modern high speed/bandwidth digital circuits render the old point-to-point matrix-based approach largely obsolete. Pinball has used the same basic architecture for nearly 40 years, time to move forward.
Yes, it might also boost Stern's margins a bit, but that just makes their long-term outlook brighter, which is good for all of us!
Personally, my speculation is that Stern is taking a conservative approach to rolling out the new system and is simply waiting for it to prove itself reliable in games of the same caliber as SAM titles before they stretch it to its fullest capabilities. (Actually the first application for Spike was The Pin, simpler than a normal game.)
Highland, UT
