The timer expires when the ball hits the inlane switch. If it ran beyond that, then you'd end up switching the lit mode when flipping at the ball. Not too much can be done there.
--Ted

May be somewheres else, but what will the 3.0 ISO image release do? Will the player see a difference?

no but he should have a Scoregasm.

Not much but Ted has added so many new features he wants to make sure there's no new bugs before 3.00 is released. He and his team have been working long and hard on this update, really dedicating a lot of time and energy. They could have just fixed the bugs from 2.95 and released 3.00 but they added all kinds of new features and those may present new bugs.

I still don't like the fact that you can't choose which mini wizard mode to play. I really wish this was a menu setting for the player to decide. In addition, I agree with zmeny on progress. You could then choose to play the same wizard mode for a completion reward before moving on to the next one. None of the modes are played in the order of the movies so I'm not sure why the mini wizard modes have to be.

What's the difference between 2.95 & 2.96? I have 2.95. Would one recommend up grading to 2.96, or just wait for 3.00?

2.96 has some bug fixes and removed the big dwarf horn sounds. Much more polished. Do it!

I was sort of hoping to get a release out a couple of days ago, but some other urgent things came up. I'm on vacation until the 30th. Maybe I'll be able to have something posted around Aug 2-3.
--Ted

I don't think there is a mad rush to get 3.0 out in my opinion. We, as Hobbit owners, are glad that JJP is still working on improving the code - and the last few releases lately prove that.

Enjoy your vacation!

If any owners have ever experienced unexplained flaky triggering on the bag end shot (opto #32), read on for the issue I was experiencing.

ISSUE: The bag end shot (opto #32) would not always register when the ball passed through the area.
ROOT CAUSE: The opto's beam was reflecting off the transparent plastic trim piece directly above the area. When a ball passed through the area, the reflected beam would often still remain connected, and the opto would not trigger.
MY SOLUTION: I cut out a piece of non-reflective dark paper matching the size of the plastic trim piece and attached it to the underside of the trim piece to eliminate the opto beam's reflection. No reoccurrences since.

I experienced a very similar issue on The Shadow with the mini-playfield opto beam reflecting off the playfield glass. So before I ever assume an opto is bad, I always check first to see if the beam is reflecting off of something. I hope this helps anyone who is experiencing this same issue!

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The new code pushed me over the edge. I have joined the club! My NIB Black Arrow shall be delivered tomorrow. Huzzah!

Played a black arrow recently. Love the all around look of it.

Yeh the pics look great. I looked images up on JJP site. Haven't seen one in person but hope to some day. I've got the LE and the cabinet artwork is just right for me.

Loved the black flipper bats too. Not sure if there were any other playfield differences though.

Different cabinet art
Black armor
Black flipper bats
Black rubbers
One "black arrow" ball (normally installed behind the captive ball)
Black arrow splash screen

Has all other le/smaug features

I sold my personal le and picked up an black arrow. I really like the overall package.

This is a great generalized tip! Thanks for posting that and in such detail.

Does the black arrow have any special video or animation on the screen, like the LE does?

LE doesn't have any special animation. Black Arrow does, similar to Smaug and RR WOZ. Just a little extra animation. Personally, I prefer the LE hammered bronze armor and art better than the black armor and BA art package. And don't really care for the black captive ball (hard to see). That is why I went with the LE. But it's nice to have options because we all like what we like.

correct. I like that there are different choices for everyone.

I also have some in stock and ready to ship if anyone is looking to get a new machine with the new code!

Sorry, Smaug is what I meant - is it the same video on BA or something new?

yes, they are different

Smaug

Black Arrow

Both are amazing!

Hope that helps

What are some of the most satisfying shots or scoring in the Hobbit?

BA edition has the best cabinet art by a country mile. LE has scrotum chin and the SE has the same Smaug image that's on the playfield.

Hitting one of the holes to start an Arkenstone wizard mode.

"Out of the frying pan, AND INTO THE FIRE!!!!!"

The action of the Arkenstones merging on the screen is just too cool! Also, killing Smaug by hitting a single downed standup without hitting the raised standups in the time allotted is awesome. Lastly, the spinners are not an easy shot and it feels great to just rip the spinner and watch your map progress fly forward. Even better when you can hit that same spinner two or three times in a row.

The wave of the battle of the five armies where you have to go back and forth hitting the dwarf targets in order and hitting beasts is awesome too.

Playing Runes mode is nice. White flasher strobes during entire mode and ramp shots turn and u-turn back. If you get multiball going with it ... kaboom!

Game has lots of multiballs, so you can learn to cradle two balls while flipping other balls feels fantastic!

How do you reinstall a update if the first one fails and is stuck in the file download loop? Tried to update from 2.1 to 2.96 and crash

If you turn the game off, turn the game back on ( with no usb stick in the game ) and it doesn't come up. You'll have to reload the operating system.

LTG : )

Load 2.0 and then delta 2.96 after?

Yes. Full install first then the delta. Instructions how to do this are in the manual. Use formatted usb sticks with nothing else on them.

LTG : )

Thanks for the response and your time.

Still haven't loaded new code. Waiting for 3.0 with bugs worked out. glad to hear all the positive reviews so far though.

It’s worth the minute to download 2.96 and the 45 seconds to install the delta on the game. Why wait?

Had my Ax on the right slingshot literally break off at the metal below the plastic piece that hits the rubber. If you have to replace this, jump uff a cliff and pray there are rocks at the bottom instead. Actually didn’t take all thatllng but very tight under the playfield to get it changed.

Same here. By a lot. That's why I got a LE.

Smaug FTW
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Nah, I like the LE Art with all the characters better. Plus all kinds of little stuff in the background, like the trolls roasting the dwarves near the flippers. Plus have Bilbo and Gandalf on the head. If I want to see Smaug, he's in the center of the playfield. Plus, I prefer Red Smaug toy to Gold Smaug. But I will say the Smaug LE custom animation in attract mode is pretty sweet.

Good to see everyone got the one they wanted
Good point about the gold vs red Smaug. I wanted the SE and the red Smuag so I ordered an extra red. But JJP called me and said they had no extra red (they were having a hard time with supply at that time in the first year of Hobbit production). I later just cancelled my red Smaug order because I now feel that the gold is a bit better looking in the SE pin than the red one (in my opinion).

The BA has the gold Smaug toy as well. https://primetimeamusements.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/BA-playfield.jpg

Smaug SE has the same pin cab head as the LE (Bilbo on the left side and Gandalf on the right). However the BA edition does have different head decals.

I prefer Smaug Special Edition too! - but the LE is a very close second and looks fantastic.

Best part #goronic is that they have the SAME playfield, SAME toys, SAME code, and SAME gameplay. So, get whatever aesthetic cabinet art you like but don't miss out on any features. Even the standard guys (are there any out there) get everything except shaker, glass, armor, and barrels. Plus, built like a tank. JJP for the win!

never mind I was incorrect. Deleted post.

This new 2.96 code is unbelievable, WOW! It takes the game to another frickin level. I just played a 45 minute game on the new code and exhausted. Got my second highest score ever at 3.6B behind GC of 4.4B and got Barrel Escape and Into the Fire arkenstone modes. Also killed Smaug which is incredibly satisfying. This game is so damn deep and polished, it’s now my favorite pin. Amazing job on this game JJP.

Wow you got your score up to billions in 45min that’s pretty amazing, it took me about 55min to get close to 6 million, how did you get such a high score?

I haven't installed the new code as I want to play a couple of games on the old code to see what has changed. I don't play this game that much, I only have 86 games and half of those I never finished.

So with that being said, what's a good video to watch that shows gameplay? The problem I had with this game is that I didn't know what to do. Other games I can figure out like GB.

thanks

Shameless plug. We talk about various strategies and how to play modes. Also we get to most everything in the game.

JJP also has their own YT channel with prior live streams of hobbit that are great as well.

The first few games I didn’t even break 500M as I hadn’t played in months, but the third game I started getting into the zone and kept getting extra balls and mulitballs keeping the game going. That Smaug kill sequence is so bad ass, gives me chills. I noticed quite a few new callouts and animations in this code update and the book, insert lights and status reports really help to understand what to do to progress through the game. Going to play more Hobbit tonight and give Iron Maiden LE the cold shoulder lol

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But that score is only in the millions.

I can’t tell if you’re kidding, or meant to write (m) millions instead of (b) billions. But then i saw the picture you posted of your score and now I’m worried you actually can’t read numbers?

Millions, billions, it's still a great score!

One's great ...the other is Forrest Gump kind of good!