Deadline is here, but will it be extended til after studio pics?

jjp is pretty strict on deadlines...for customers.

That SE looks sweet!

Right side of the cabinet will be the first thing you'll see when you round the corner to my game room! (Although Alien with the side cabinet lighting *might* take it's place.)

We have had most of our customers that had LEs switch to Smaug. Most just feel that the smaller run more limited game is the way to go, right or wrong. I don't think many just like Smaug better. Both trim colors, LE bronze or SE gold look great, both Smaug toys look good in red or gold... It's just personal preference. Me, I kinda like seeing all the characters and having different artwork on two sides of the cabinet. And let's face it, Smaug is now all over the PF, the toy and revised PF artwork, so the earlier, where's Smaug concerns aren't really valid anymore. Buy what you like, both are great looking. But from me and what I see, decisions to switch to or buy Smaug were more made from the limited nature factor and not so much what people thought looked better.

We are JJP distributors and taking orders on both LEs and Smaug SEs... We have plenty left of both in our original allotment that are day 1 orders. Shoot us an email for your BEST price if interested in getting a Hobbit.

Also PinballSTAR will be having the next Hobbit reveal party on Sat 2/7 in Harrisburg PA at a really cool location... Details being announced shortly on that ! Mark your calanders : )

Joe Newhart
PinballSTAR Amusements
[email protected]
570-357-0042

I decided to go with the SE. I love the earth tones of the LE and the multitude of characters is great, but it is missing a few of my favorites (I originally thought the second wizard on the green side was Radagast, but realized it was another Gandalf). The SE side looks like an action scene and the front with Thorin and (what I can make out to be) Bilbo turned out really well.

It makes for a tough call when both look great.

As did I, Just looks slicker with the full dragon shot, smaller hobbit logo on the side, and the gold trim.
You get the main characters on the backbox, translite, and apron.

I think everyone going with the SE should switch to the LE.

(because I'd like to have the only one in North America )

And I feel exactly the opposite...and judging by all the SE buyers, I may get my wish!

Anybody successful in getting a hold of Abel Electronics today? Making my last minute decision, but haven't had any luck in getting a hold of them.

Scott

Except they are making 1500 LE's and an unknown amount of SE's, the smaug edition could be more rare but to me none of that really matters, it's just personal preference on looks. If the SE sells the same as the LE then there really is no limited edition because those are too high in numbers produced to be a limited edition of a pinball machine.

Just email directly to Jen at JJP with your decision.

Last minute change of heart in our house.... I just asked the nipper's opinion before they went to bed, and was fairly sure they would go with Smaug (dragon fans). However after showing them the playfield they both chose the character art. I was in the SE camp but now agree that having the same image 3 times on the machine is Smaug overload so we're back with the LE.

I plan to fit gold mirror blades and can now see that that the Smaug, Smaug, Smaug, gold armour, gold wireforms, gold blades, etc. would all be too much. So for the me the darkened LE will work out better and the kids will be happy.

Will be taking the gold Smaug option though as that thing looks gorgeous...

STill have 2 Hobbit left # 21 and #24
As for the guy asking about Abel, Gary is a A plus fellow Dist. to deal with.
Remember out of state orders save tax!!!

Pincades
Chicagoland JJP Dist.
219-924-PINS (7467)

JT

He has never released production figures before. I doubt he will start now. Why give Stern that info when they don't release it either?

The whole thing is stupid. At the end of the day, you can change out the side decals, have somebody powdercoat new armor and habitrails for you, and change out the dragon's head. The only thing you can't get is the Smaug attract mode. Period. Being able to mod your LE to look like an SE shouldn't be so easy. (Still glad I got the LE, though!)

I predict someone will figure out how to add the extra attract mode to the LE, which is the one I picked.

This is true, but the SE will allow it to come they way you want day 1. For that matter an SE owner can just switch out to an LE when they wanted and have the SE attract mode - same cost as the LE either way.

Heck if it is easy to switch out the decals I may get the LE's and change it from time to time.

You don't have enough of the f-ing dragon with the gameplay? When I saw the proto at Automated, that's all it was...dragondragondragon. And a big ol' dragon staring at me from the playfield. Can't believe they were charging $500 extra for that. (I say this respectfully to you, BTW...we've always agreed on almost everything. This is just a taste thing!)

I totally get what you are saying, I guess the $500 is for the gold trim (which apparently has an added production cost to the LE coating) more exclusive?, an exclusive attract mode (who care's?), and an option for those that complained about the standard/LE cab. Besides, the SE was of no additional cost for pre order, so it really boils down to preference.

I think people should just pick the one they liked most, and don't worry too much about making the other guy feel like their option was wrong.

Agreed. We will all be playing the same awesome game. I wonder if the SE or LE is being made first. I can't wait to get my game so I hope either way manufacturing will start soon.

SE and LE will be made at the same time. You will not lose your place in the line when upgrading to SE

Using gold like that it's a fine line between classy and tacky. For example I cannot see my LOTR with that powdered gold armour, it would look naff. Brass effect yes.

Smaug with the grey/black would have been cool but this was denied.

We'll see how it turns out. I think antique gold (what it appears to be like in the pics/videos) would be ideal.

Am not trolling, I really hope it looks nice for the SE folks.

I asked Jack this and he answered that the numbers will not be made public

So does this mean that you really didn't need to have your SE selection in by yesterday because distributors will have extras available within their allotted orders?

If you have the resources you can adjust any pin.

Glad to hear you like the LE version, didn't notice that before

SE won't ever match because like the RR woz many have tried to copy the color. All have failed.

If a distrib bought an SE to resell within the SE window and they have it available they can sell it whenever but yes no more SE orders will be taken.

But you've made the colors (and where they're available) public.

Again...just playing devil's advocate. I really love the look of the LE. Did I say that before? Take THAT, PinballRulez!

Gold isn't available public.

Damn.

Of course, I meant "Take THAT"...I had a blonde moment there.

I can't decide between them, both look great.

That's what the quote says too

Ha ha! Thanks for getting my back. Now if Alex just changes his quote, I won't look like an idiot anymore!

What do you mean Alex?

The formula for the golden powder coat is not public. So it will be difficult or maybe not possible to reproduce the golden powder coat.

...unless you are able to buy a set of hardware directly from, oh I don't know..., the guy who developed and provides the coating service for JJP games .....

This. It's not cots.

I am so disappointed in the Hobbit movies, I don't see myself owning one...

You do not have to own the movie to get this fantastic pin

There are many bad movies that have made great pins.

I enjoyed the Hobbit films.

This

And this

This too

My thought is, peoples main problem with the Hobbit movies is that they were too long and drawn out, should have been done in 2 or maybe 1 movie.

All that storyline will be compressed into the pinball machine. I doubt to get the full story you will have to play for 9+ hours.

So it will actually make the story work better than the movies did.

I thought the LOTR license was better for pinball than the movies, and I feel the same about Hobbit. The movies are long and drawn out, but the story concepts are cool. The adventure aspects as presented in the pinball machines is great. I was thoroughly MEH on the Hobbit movies, but I am in on the game and looking forward to getting it.

I'm not so sure about that. You may need 9+ hours to get through the 30 modes.

I still can't decide.
Arrrrgh!!!