Saddle River, NJ
Ohhh!...the BFB's! (Big Fuckin' Boards) Expensive, I've heard.
(Topic ID: 201079)
Linked Games
Alien (Heighway Pinball)
Heighway Pinball, 2017-
Full Throttle
Heighway Pinball, 2015
Topic Gallery
Quoted from rubberducks:I'm referring to these light boards. Highlighted with red.
All the light boards have serviceable replacement leds that are through hole soldered. No biggie.
Quoted from mnpinball:All the light boards have serviceable replacement leds that are through hole soldered. No biggie.
AFAIK so did earlier LED boards. They failed quickly. Not saying they will be prone to failure, but if you have to replace them for any reason, and it's not covered by MFW, then I think you should expect them to be (very) expensive.
Quoted from rubberducks:I'm referring to these light boards. Highlighted with red.
I sure the new owners are grateful for Andrew poking the stick into the wasps nest and rebirthing Rubberducks.
Thought I would close out my open issue with HP. They ended up sending me the PF monitor replacement in 3 days (super quick) and I just installed it. Works great. Machine is 100% - even have the beacons installed. Great customer support from HP and CT.....
Quoted from delt31:even have the beacons installed
I forgot. Are these the beacons from Heighway, or did you find your own and hook them up...They look great!
Quoted from spfxted:I forgot. Are these the beacons from Heighway, or did you find your own and hook them up...They look great!
Thanks! I bought and installed myself (they are not from HP). They are the same ones Heighway buys and sells though. Mine weren't done at the factory so I didn't have a choice.
Shepparton
Quoted from cfh:More emails to Heighway over the last 2 weeks, all ignored, no response...
Are you aware of this thread...
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/ok-an-alien-refund-request-for-clarity-thread#post-4072279
1 week later
I received an email from Helmut. I wanted to note - this was the first time Heighway emailed ME - as opposed to replying to one of my emails. I also saw in the official thread Helmut called another owner today and worked through some issues, so kudo's to Heighway in attempting to address customer support.
As far as the content of my email ....stay tuned.
Happy to say I was sent some more parts, so both my aliens and full throttle are working 100% now, glad to see communication in other threads on a path forward for machine production, and first hand focus on support of already produced games!
Quoted from SunKing:As far as the content of my email ....stay tuned
In the email I received, Heighway's proposed solution was for me to pallet/pack up my game, and Heighway would pay to have it shipped back overseas to the UK. There, in their factory, they would repair it, then ship it back to me. At a minimum, this process would take about three months. ...not to mention the risk of perhaps never getting my game back. So thanks, but no thanks.
I am currently working with Melissa and Heighway on a better solution that we can all be happy with.... and so the saga continues.
Quoted from SunKing:In the email I received, Heighway's proposed solution was for me to pallet/pack up my game, and Heighway would pay to have it shipped back overseas to the UK. There, in their factory, they would repair it, then ship it back to me. At a minimum, this process would take about three months. ...not to mention the risk of perhaps never getting my game back. So thanks, but no thanks.
I am currently working with Melissa and Heighway on a better solution that we can all be happy with.... and so the saga continues.
That seems totally non-nonsensical for both CT & HW, hugely uneconomical for HW, as well as completely inadequate for you, the customer.
Why on earth, if they're now shipping half container loads to the US, do they not earmark a new one for you, and then CT can re-purpose the old one with new parts, and sell it for a lowered, 'reconditioned' price ... or just add a populated pf and new PC to the container, in a crate, and send that on to you.
I receive the same offer and felt it was risky on a lot of levels and not very economical. So I made a proposal to them. Send me the stuff and I will upgrade mine. I will document the whole procedure and, if they are happy, become their North American customer service center. That is, you can send your game to me and I will do the upgrades here in Michigan. Opposed to sending a game back to the UK. They are thinking about it. I hope they take me up on the offer.
Quoted from cfh:I receive the same offer and felt it was risky on a lot of levels and not very economical. So I made a proposal to them. Send me the stuff and I will upgrade mine. I will document the whole procedure and, if they are happy, become their North American customer service center. That is, you can send your game to me and I will do the upgrades here in Michigan. Opposed to sending a game back to the UK. They are thinking about it. I hope they take me up on the offer.
That is a fantastic idea!
Sending a game back to the UK seems incredibly risky. Not so much because of Heighway themselves, but just the risk of bad things happening in shipping. Not to mention potential customs issues, etc etc. And it seems incredibly expensive too. I think they are wanting their games into the best possible shape, and letting someone (me) do an upgrade, they loose some control. But i'm offering to do it for free, and i think it's hard to argue with that approach...
Quoted from cfh:I receive the same offer and felt it was risky on a lot of levels and not very economical. So I made a proposal to them.
I offered up three proposals:
1. I would be happy to pay a reasonable price for a new/populated playfield and PC (assuming this is under $2,000).
2. I bring my game to the Texas Pinball Festival in March, and Heighway / Cointaker swap out for a working one.
3. Heighway send me the parts I need. I’m handy, and have restored many old games to like new condition….so I’d be willing to take on the task.
...but have not heard back yet.
Quoted from SunKing:I offered up three proposals:
1. I would be happy to pay a reasonable price for a new/populated playfield and PC (assuming this is under $2,000).
2. I bring my game to the Texas Pinball Festival in March, and Heighway / Cointaker swap out for a working one.
3. Heighway send me the parts I need. I’m handy, and have restored many old games to like new condition….so I’d be willing to take on the task.
...but have not heard back yet.
1) shouldn't even be a consideration, for you or for them. Andrew sold you (and others) those cobbled together, partially functioning prototypes through the company. They chose to take over the business as a going concern, so unfortunately it is now the new owners' job to make it right, not his, however unfair that may be.
Given that the biggest facilitator for all the BS that happened with HW was people's willingness to advance money when it was totally mad to do so (I was also guilty of that), it's just a generally bad idea. If so many people hadn't done that for so long, the mess would have been much smaller and fewer people would have been hurt. For other examples see Kulek & JPop. If people continue to do that, it will happen again and again.
Yeah, I know it should be covered. But I offered to pay because (1) I'd finally get my game working and (2) I'm assuming I'd keep the old playfield/parts as spares. I would pay through Cointaker only when the parts were available, so no risk there IMHO.
But honestly, I'd prefer to just swap out games at TPF and be done with it.
I'd be cool leaving my machine with Shaggy from this old Pinball. He's the reason I've been able to fix pretty much anything [Pinball]
1 week later
Are you guys putting Mylar in the pf screen? Or Around the edges? Is it only touching the pf screen or does it extend out onto the pf? Please advise. 
Quoted from VividPsychosis:Are you guys putting Mylar in the pf screen? Or Around the edges? Is it only touching the pf screen or does it extend out onto the pf? Please advise.
I did not have it on my Full Throttle, but I believe on Full Trottle someone used mylar to protect the screen and edges of the playfield. So the mylar should extend out onto the playfield a bit.
Quoted from cfh:We put removable mylar over our PF video screen, and overlapped it about an inch to the playfield.
Would you mind linking me to this removable Mylar?
Quoted from VividPsychosis:Would you mind linking me to this removable Mylar?
Just Google, clear static cling vinyl. Comes in rolls or sheets but I prefer the 9 x 12 sheets. Most any office supply store carries it if you want it right away or search Amazon.
There's also a thread somewhere here on Pinside about personal preferences if you want to search for that also. I've been using it for a decade now and love the stuff.
Edit for Pinside Link: https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/cling-mylar-sources#post-3999740
1 week later
I don't think this has been posted here yet... there is now a service bulletin for Alien, written by the brilliant David Thiel, that gives guidance on how to adjust your Alien's amplifier settings to get the best results from the audio system, and also ensure that the coin door volume controls have a reasonable range.
http://www.heighwaypinball.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/AlienAmplifierSettings.pdf
Quoted from Ferret:I don't think this has been posted here yet... there is now a service bulletin for Alien, written by the brilliant David Thiel, that gives guidance on how to adjust your Alien's amplifier settings to get the best results from the audio system, and also ensure that the coin door volume controls have a reasonable range.
http://www.heighwaypinball.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/AlienAmplifierSettings.pdf
You guys are great! Ferret
daudioguy Heighway should be proud (and I think they are) to have you in the team.
Yep, I have completely given up hope that Heighway will address any of my issues. Their last 'offer' was to have my game shipped back overseas, where they will fix it in the factory and then ship it back someday. Yeah, I don't think so. Thankfully, I purchased my game from CoinTaker and Melissa has been a GREAT help. I can't say enough good things about
CoinTaker customer support - like polar opposite from Heighway.
Quoted from SunKing:Yep, I have completely given up hope that Heighway will address any of my issues. Their last 'offer' was to have my game shipped back overseas, where they will fix it in the factory and then ship it back someday. Yeah, I don't think so. Thankfully, I purchased my game from cointaker and Melissa has been a GREAT help. I can't say enough good things about cointaker customer support - like polar opposite from Heighway.
They can't pay people refunds, but will pay to ship your game overseas and back? Crazy. They should ship Cointaker the parts and have them fix issues in the states. They are also spending funds on a NEW game to be released, but can't even fulfill FT and Alien orders? This entire business model is crazy and unacceptable. What a mess!
These stories about Heighway support are very concerning and will prevent new sales as they are scaring potential buyers away. Alien looks very cool but I wouldn't even considering buying one when they are not supporting the games properly, and not replying to customer emails in a reasonable (or never) amount of time.
Quoted from PanzerFreak:These stories about Heighway support are very concerning and will prevent new sales as they are scaring potential buyers away. Alien looks very cool but I wouldn't even considering buying one when they are not supporting the games properly, and not replying to customer emails in a reasonable (or never) amount of time.
I have always liked FT and there is a nice one at a good price near me, but the fact there will be no code and part support is just killing it for me.
2 weeks later
Since it's been a few months since I started this tread, figured I'd give everyone a quick update. The poll results are interesting. Honestly, I expected them to show that Heighway is terrible at support - but that's obviously not the case for everyone.
18% said support was great
32% said it was good.
...so that's exactly half of those who responded who think Heighway support is good or better.
29% said support was bad
21% said it was terrible.
I suppose my situation is much different than most, as I have a (pre)early production Alien machine that needs a ton of hardware replaced just to be able to update the code. After many months of back and forth with Heighway, they finally offered to pick up my machine and ship it back to the UK where they would eventually repair it and ship it back to me. ...hmmm - not a very good solution IMHO. I know Clay 
cfh is in the same boat - curious if Heighway ever responded to your offer of being US support?
Thankfully, I purchased my machine through CoinTaker and they have been VERY responsive. I am working with them on a solution, and hope to report back with good news soon.
Quoted from SunKing:Thankfully, I purchased my machine through cointaker and they have been VERY responsive. I am working with them on a solution, and hope to report back with good news soon.
So, even Cointaker is having a hard time getting parts from them? 
I just opened a new alien from the shipment that arrived a few days ago to ct,I have to admit I was nervous about the game but I decided to go for it,I own a ft and it has been very fun and solid,good news is alien is working 100% working after a few loose wires were corrected and the game is fantastic but very very dark,it makes a stock Woz look like a new crazy bright stern,I hope everybody gets there games sorted and others get a chance to play this pin.
Quoted from rockrand:I Question about the game,mine does not have the pop bumper mag,it is gone,is this new
Glad to hear you have been problem free. Not sure I understand the question though. I can check my pops to see if I see a diff.
I wonder if CT has extras and anyone can get one. Would be great to see. This game will turn heads especially after all the stern recycles.
Quoted from spfxted:So, even Cointaker is having a hard time getting parts from them?
I need more than just a few parts...all the GI has to be replaced, the drop target mech, the xeno mech, the playfield LCD, the main PC - did I forget anything? ...it would be SO MUCH easier if I could just swap out my hobbled together pre-prod machine for a real 'yes you can update code' machine.
I suspect I won't be getting anyone in trouble if I quote this email from Heighway:
"Your game is a first-generation game which means it is very difficult to
update your game. The reason for this is your game is more a prototype and was sold from Andrew as a fully
working production game. He sold the games because he was desperate for money and lied to Customers.
Now we have to fix this to make all Customers with prototype games happy. We can't just send parts out and
let the Customer do all the work because there are so many changes to the game"
Saskatoon, SK
Full Throttle audio issues ..
Turned it on one day and all you could hear was bass, and it was super loud. Drowned out everything. I have the volume now at 1, and it's still pretty loud. I had to basically turn the bass completely off. It was way to 'bassy '.
Plus a high pitch tone. Barely audible, but really bothersome. It would probably be louder if I turned the volume past 1.
Any help is appreciated.
I heard from Helmut just before the holidays. he said after the 1st of the year he would be in touch. So far, nothing. I would really like to do that support (upgrades) here in Michigan for anyone in North America. I'm not sure why they are so hesitant to do that with me. I told them i would do it for FREE. i just don't get it...
Quoted from rockrand:the game is... very very dark, it makes a stock Woz look like a new crazy bright stern
whos laughing now at those 'dark shadows'?
barnabis collins, perhaps.
nick lane, for sure.
''ridiculous... night vision goggles don't come with this game"
during the stream, even with what appears to be a couple extra external lighting fixtures turned on, the upper right fipper can hardly be seen - even when it is moving.
Quoted from greenhornet:the upper right fipper can hardly be seen - even when it is moving.
» YouTube video
Uh oh, greenhornet is onto the upper right flipper again.
Quoted from spfxted:So, even Cointaker is having a hard time getting parts from them?
I think we have very similar concerns... I'm less concerned about getting the pin (I think that's going to happen), I'm worried if I received a compromised creation that will have ongoing problems that will be difficult to service. Are you still in @spfxted?
Promoted items from Pinside Marketplace and Pinside Shops!
Reply
Wanna join the discussion? Please sign in to reply to this topic.
Hey there! Welcome to Pinside!
Donate to PinsideGreat to see you're enjoying Pinside! Did you know Pinside is able to run without any 3rd-party banners or ads, thanks to the support from our visitors? Please consider a donation to Pinside and get anext to your username to show for it! Or better yet, subscribe to Pinside+!
