Did they check with you if you were OK with the decals? Were you given the option to wait and get a direct-printed one later? Just wondering if standard buyers will be able to choose the finish once they have the direct printed cabinets again.

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I think at this point, only EEWOZLE gets direct print cabs, NOT regular or 75LEs. So I think the resupply of direct print cabs are only enough to fulfill the EE orders (and later LE Hobbits).

Funny, you would think at we would have seen and/or heard of this by now. Anyone? BS flag is in my hand, but holding off on throwing it for now. Those cleared cabinets are awesomely nice and I have a hard time believing they are not more durable than decals. Seems like cost cutting is a factor here.

I would have tended to agree, but a friend of mine who operates put a standard WOZ on location with the direct print/ clear coated cabinet, and within a couple of weeks, it got badly gouged by one of the flipper buttons, he doesn't think there is much he will ever be able to do to fix it. The DP/CC cabinets are beautiful and I'm very happy to have it on my WOZECLE, but because of how nice it is, I really worry about it getting damaged, I've had to move mine a few times since I got it, but luckily it's still perfect.

Some times when you try something new it works, sometimes it doesn't, I think this is a case of JJP wanted to push the envelope on cabinet art, but maybe finding the challenges too great, and yes maybe cost figures into it. Doesn't bother me though that The Hobbit will have decals, as long as the artwork is crisp and un-pixelated,

Congrats on the new game! It's a beauty. My wife helped convince me as well to get one, haha.

Nice comparison with STLE. I think you hit the nail on the head by saying ST is more about flow and WOZ is more stop and go like TZ but both games are fun. There's definitely room for both types of games. It's a good thing in my mind that WOZ is so packed with stuff as that type of game had stopped being produced in recent years. It had been nearly 20 years since a wide body feature loaded game was produced and JJP has brought that back with modern tech. Should be interesting to see how The Hobbit turns out.

Enjoy the game!

Pictures my good man!

I second the pic request.

congrats and sound like people are getting games again; which is a good thing

Definitely... its cost cutting all the way. Can't blame them though. I think for their survival they will have to continue to raise some prices and cut some costs... manufacturing in the US is a bitch.

Yeah appears too on the whitewood of Hobbit there is no more drops on the bottom half of the playfield either and there are now stand ups; I am sure now that there are investors and money needs to be made that we will start to see cost cutting.

I thought the same thing about the drops not being there but if you look closely there's a big gap between the playfield and the stand up targets. I just don't think the drops were put in yet. If that's not the case the gap would not be so big in those locations. The gaps are so big it looks like a ball could fall through. I'm still thinking there are drops on the lower playefield area. For $7.5k-$8k there should be after seeing what we got with WOZ.

The Hobbit whitewood also looks to be a work in progress as there are not the column of playfield inserts in the lower playfield area.

I have one of the numbered WOZ Standard's ( #650 ) and it has the direct print cab. Maybe only the first 1000 standards were to have the direct printed cabs and then all after that were to be decals.

I have a feeling that the remaining LE's will have direct print cabs and that will be it. Even the 75th Anniversary edition has vinyl decals according to the brochure. Again, this is just MY speculation.

I am not sure about Hobbit LE, but a direct print cab is not mentioned within the brochure.

I am wondering which version will be more desirable down the road? Like Lola and Marilyn, Diamondplate - non DP, etc.

My WOZ LE is on location and I started getting damage at the front of the cabinet edges near the lockdown bar. The clear started chipping off and taking the artwork underneath with it. I then wrapped Mylar around the front edge and to the flipper buttons as I didn't want the same thing happening to the sides. So based on what I've seen I'd believe what the OP is saying.

There will be drops in front of the standups like many games had in the past. Different objectives completed by the drops then the standups. Good way to add more room for depth in the game.

Tom

When I picked up my game we got to see the decaled cabinets. They look as good as any modern cabinet. Doesn't have the cool factor of the cleared cabinet but you would never complain if the clear cabinet was never available. That being said I would have bitched if my LE was decaled, being that is was advertised as direct print. Being home use only I am not too worried. But who knows maybe in 6 or 7 years everyone with an LE cabinet will be looking for replacement vinyl decals Then you will need new green side rails........

WoZ Standard arrived at my friend Rod's and yes issue w/ the decals right out of the box (ripped by the Lion's tail). I wrote Jen that day in December for him but no reply so Rod has a scratched cab on his WoZ and decided not to make it a federal case (although I offered him some options). He's happy overall but there were things promised on Rod's game that did not show up in the box and when I wrote Jen on the decal and the misisng items, she just ignored us. I did skinny down the issue list and wrote Jack directly and he addressed the revised list immediately so that was good of Jack. He does try so hard to make everyone happy and is just a good guy I wish want to see do well in this business

I appreciate your unbiased review. Also, the reports of damage to the direct print cabinets have been out there for a couple of months.

How about direct printed cabinets with a clear vinyl protective layer?

Agree with your assessment of WOZ and ST. I am very fortunate to have both, and they complement each other perfectly. I get bored with any one style of play, so I want to have as much variety as possible. It's great that there are now two companies making such different pins, and I am happy to be able to support them both (and perhaps others in the future).

As for the cabinet, well, I paid more for my STLE than for my WOZECLE, so I can hardly complain if future JJP pins come with decals. The direct printing is beautiful, but I can appreciate the fact that it might not be cost effective. I'd rather make a compromise there than on the playfield.

Can you clear over a decal-ed cab?

I doubt Jen ing more anyone and perhaps passed that to me. She may have been out a few days too as she had the flu. We do try to please everyone so we all know how that goes. Glad you love the game OP!

Can you share photos of the decals? I questioned this move when JJP first mentioned it. I'm a big fan of JJP, but he wasn't happy with my note. Oh well...

There is certainly nothing wrong with decals when done right. For home use, I would hold out for the clear direct print cab and be very careful with it. Those cleared cabinets are crazy nice! To me this is a perfectly logical thing to only have on the high end (LE) games and not on the standards.

Just take a pic of the decaled cab next to a LOTR cab and you'll appreciate the improvements that have been made more.

Awesome that the OP is thrilled. One day, however, he will probably want to sell. Most people tend to move their machines at some point no matter how much they're in love with it. The first question that the OP will be asked when he goes to sell is, "Direct print or decaled cabinet?" It's going to be kind of like, "Clear or cloudy lower playfield window?" on AC/DC. No matter how much you spin it, everyone knows which one will be better for resale.

Everyone expects the value of their NIB pin to go down when opened, and it should. However, it is reasonable to HOPE that it goes down as little as possible. Decaled pins will struggle in this regard compared to the direct print ones, I think.

Good to see you post Jack, I hope everyone is getting over the Flu and you feel better too!

Its hard, because if someone like myself makes a post on how amazingly entertaining and loved WOZ is here,
the thread takes on its on life. A post to the negative side sometimes looks like a feeding frenzy.
Rest assured, there is a silent majority out there with a very big smile about WOZ, and it often goes unnoticed.
We are very grateful for your hard work.

Art

WOZLE is without question the higest quality pin that I own. My STLE with Cointakers back box led kit is my best
Stern. I actually have a higher cost in ST . Both are great and I look forward to all future improvements in new releases.

Great review, enjoy the both.

Those with an LE made after oct with those 7.5V boards AND a printed cab will be looking at the most sought after if the rest of the pins will have decals.

Those WOZ decals look like they're really well done.

The ST decals look good but wow those WOZ decals look really good with very little pixelation. Nice job JJP. Thanks for posting the pics.

Man, didn't see this one coming!

Star Treks decals do look good I just said that the WOZ ones look really good as it's hard to see any pixelation that close up. I doubt from 3 feet that anyone can see any pixelation on either.

Panzer, don't Freak out… get it? Just mess'n with ya. The WoZ decals look terrific for sure. I think we would all prefer direct print but as long as the decals are high quality they will be fine.

Yeah, good point. I'm glad the decals turned out well. I'm still hoping The Hobbit LE is direct print.

At least now that decals are available, anyone with a damaged direct print cabinet can install the decals over the damaged areas.

I'm going to clearcoat over my decals

might be hard to blend that in unless you cut the old printed part off.