Not that it really matters but how many people would you estimate are on the floor working on the line?

Did anyone that upgraded to the playfield protector get theirs yet?

Any pics to show?

I don't understand licenses, but why wouldn't they want gandolf to sound exactly like gandolf?

Does that mean impersonators can be sued?

What are the voices in LOTR? Original or voice over? It's hard to tell because of the quality

Keith commented on the code on the JJP forums. There is nothing to worry about it almost completed. Wouldn't give a date but said it would not be years or months.

Yes

Congrats
Wish I could get 24 hour shipment!

I think super Spinner is classed as a mini wizard. I wonder if feast/beast frenzy is the other 2?

3x major = movie multiball inserts.
Final wizard =?
Does the end of smaug multiball entail killing smaug?

Would be great if a smaug battle with win lance arrow on kids shoulder was a mini wizard mode after entering the 3 x movie multiball. Like destroy the ring... And like killing the witch. Something achievable for the mortals. And the final wizard being the end of the movie..
But doesn't seem like it's organises like that. Can someone take glass off and check the end of smaug multiball? For science.

Ok. Looks like you DO kill smaug in smaug multiball.

So I guess there is no mini wizard equivalent like destroy the ring, and the arkenstone modes are just going to have to be super epic

Screenshot_2016-05-22-12-07-49~01_(resized).png

Is that about 1 week after it was announced?

Has anyone changed their flipper button colors?
What color looks best?

Mate, I think all of us waiting for their games need some new video footage of 1.20 software version

Geez, wonder why they taking so long to fix simple things like this.

Do your beasts have the beast fix?

A gift from the Elves.

Any chance you can post a picture of all the stuff you have and where to plug it in so I can buy it now and its ready to go when the Hobbit comes in?

Thanks so much.

I tapped directly into sub for Tron and was told I had to use a filter (high pass I think). Us they only because sterns are 2.0. JJP having a dedicated sub channel means no need right?

Are you using antirattle tape for glass?
Does woz have this amp setting as well?

Yes I'm pretty sure you will. Only need to complete 1 mode and enter the other 4 modes so doesnt seem too bad.

I real question is if you don't complete into the fire will you get to play the other 2 or is it mandatory that you finish.

You hit the ramp. It loads the ball in the winlance. You hit the ring button. It fires the ball into the right orbit Spinner. It will dribble out and you have one shot to hit the smaug drops from the upper right flipper.

I've seen a lot of footage where the ball do not go in the orbit!! Can't finish the mode in that case. I'm guessing the strength of coil needs to be adjusted for the angle of the PF.
B9 has his set up right

Are they on a boat yet?
Pretty sure they just got packed from JJP factory on Thursday our time. Then has to get on a boat. So I think it would actually arrive with you in August anyways, but that's just a guess.

Hey mark. Do you have access to a 3d printer? You can print the fix for this

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1575390

Just that picture in the link.
And this one
Think you need to remove the mechs to install. No idea how hard that is as I don't have my TH yet. 6 weeks and counting

hobbitFix_(resized).jpg

Nope. The tester scanned the object and made the 3d file himself

Does anyone have issues with the lock 2 LED not flashing the correct color in attract mode? Its only off or green during the game so it works fine.but during attract thr entire PF would be pink and that 1 led is blue.
The board revision is 1.1

Yeah I think you are right. Its not mine. Just one of the early prototype ones on display at a distro.

So what's the target in the right outlanes for? I've asked before and everyone said it's gollum ball save thing if active but it seem that activates on the outline switch.

Is it for a multiball ball save like woz?

Hey. What screw size did you use?

Is it confirmed this the lights sequence score more?

I think it might be that if you complete a skill shot it's worth more the 2nd and 3rd time?

Will you have a new firmware to play with?

I watched another video on Youtube of TH. During into the fire between every scene you have to get the super jackpot (captive ball) to advance.
I heard Gandolf say "SUPER JACKPOT!!" and then thorin say 'READY'
It sounds so weird.
Do you think they forgot to get the Gandolf voice over guy to say "the super jackpot is ready"? Why would they hack 2 voices together

Edit: This is the video

Its 16 mins and 57 seconds in.
I think it might be Gandolf saying ready - but its still kinda hacked together.

Haha, I think that's gollum screaming Noooo.

Yeah, even if they trimmed it together closer it still would sound weird, because the same call out for when you get the super jackpot and the tone of his voice is different.

Yeah they haven't changed the woz design which was pretty horrible. Gotta bend the guide a little as above. If you google it there is a guide on how to do it but pretty self explanatory

To start a mode shoot the right ramp the one that is flashing RED with 'MODE'

If you have lock lit, it will lock the ball instead. However you can usually press the RING button on the lock down back and it will delay the lock shot and make the ramp a mode shot

Looks like 1.3x is coming out very soon

Lots and lots of stuff added in changelog, one of them being "+ Barrel Escape." and seems like they have another type of Multiball in there as well

I believe you need 6 or so jackpot, then a super to advance to the next level/scene. There are 4 levels
After that you load the winlance and kill smaug with the upper flipper

I dont have the game.

But from examples like this video red is jackpot, blue is super.

Looks liek the first level you can just get 6 x of any jackpot but after that you need to get the 2 x orbit shots, 2 x ramps, and 2 x holes for each level before the ARF targets activate for supers.
Not sure if level 3/4 is even harder than that

What Flipper rubber colors are people changing too? What looks best?

Yeah its a switch adjustment
Check in tests that the head is not hitting the PF on the way up. If it does it goes back and forward really fast and registers a hit
I am pretty sure that every single time a beast goes up it registered a switch hit, but it is ignored for xx milliseconds.

Looks like 1.30 firmware has book mode multiball.
Looks like before you shoot a mode start you can shoot either orbit and virtual lock a ball. Then when you start the mode instead of being 1 ball, it's 2 or 3 depending on how many balls you lock

No. Check jjp Facebook for a link to a 2 hour twitch stream of it. Haven't watched much of it yet
Also Steve bowmen has some cool videos on his Facebook page too.
Seems like early adopters can get a kit, comes with the troll fix and new stronger Springs for the drop targets. Have people been having drop target issues?

Since there are some 1.30 videos on youtube already i dont think its meant to be a secret.

==============================================================================
== Version 1.30 ==
==============================================================================

=== Game Code

* More Into the Fire choreography.
* Improved Windlance choreography.
* Added Windlance awards 2x mode scoring, 2x playfield scoring, add-a-ball.
+ Barrel Escape.
* Arkenstone modes now properly restart after an add-a-ball event.
* REALLY scaled back Beast jackpot callouts.
* Mode won/ending fanfares unified.
* Fix Into the Fire stage 4 and victory lap lamps.
* Fix won modes not registering properly towards Arkenstone modes.
* Into the Fire scoring nerfed.
* Correct some stale blinking lamps.
* Defeat of Azog made a bit easier and higher scoring.
* Update mode hexicons.
* Ring Button can now be used during initial entry.
+ Book Mode Multiball. Adjustments control how many "easy" locks player
gets (light when Smaug locks light), and how hard it is to win points
and extra balls during Treasure Hunt.
* Fix drop targets popping back up after being hit during skill shot.
* Poppers hold off during extra ball and replay animations now.

=== Core Code

* Start button only shows Credits 0 if in attract mode now (not in-game).
* With SLOW restart set, game can be restarted on ball 1 with max players.
* Match awards credits now if interrupted by start.

Who is going to be the first person that gets into Barrel Escape!

So just to confirm since barrel escape wasn't in there before... You must COMPLETE into the fire before you can start barrel escape?
Of youbdont complete into the fire you have to qualify the mode again and start from the start?

So you can get into the Fire - drain the balls, and qualify for Barrel escape by doing those 5 things? makes sense I guess...wonder if there is a reward for completing the Arkenstone modes (towards another wizard mode).....Or if the Final wizard mode will be...complete all 3 arkenstone modes, and all 31 normal modes. That would be like....a 2 hour game

Not saying you would want to drain the ball, im just saying that im a little surprised that you don't need to complete it to move on. But yeah, i guess they don't want people stuck in a loop playing the same Arkenstone mode over and over again.

I am pretty sure that Keith said that the final wizard will require all 31 modes, and without getting into details the ORDER in which you complete the modes would affect (possibly make easier) the final mode? I cannot find the post so I might talking BS.

Hey Rob, after starting a mode with 2 balls, the mode finsihes and there is a 'treasure hunt?' can you start another mode while you still have 2 balls or do you need 1 ball to drain to start the next?

I guess that will make the modes a bit easier and quicker to go through!

i found the post. Only took me 20 minutes. Off the JJP forums. Was in April last year

-----------

Similar to how you can do the 6 LOTR Ring modes in any order, and start the Movie MBs in any order, all of the top-end stuff can be done in any order as well. The 31 modes can be started in any order (provided you have the requisite qualifiers), but there will be reason to play them in certain orders should you choose to try to do so.

The 3 "arkenstone" modes will be played in order.

Then there will be the mode for finishing all 31 modes.

The the final final mode.

So, in some ways linear, others not so much. Maybe better to think of it as a whirlpool.

keith

Smaug MB....
You get a certain amount of jackpots, and then the Super is lit
get Super and it advances to the next stage.

I think there are 4 stages
After that you are in Laketown and Smaug is f**king up the town
The Insert (load windlance) will be flashing purple i think.
you shot right ramp, it load winlance (you should be cradeling the ball on the left flipper if you can.
Press button and it chucks the ball int the right orbit
then it rolls down and you have to hit 1 (pretty sure its 1) Dwarf drop. That finishes it.
Its a special mode. You feel like the instructions on what to do towards the end of the MB should be in the middle of the screen.
I did it yesterday for the first time but only knew after watching lots of footage online.

Massive score.

Did you finish any arkenstone modes those 3 times each? I got into the part of barrel escape yesterday that you need to shoot 10 or so pics. And the way you do it is to shoot the ramp.. The divertor goes down and the ball doss a uturn ans you need to smash the orc. So doing that 10 times during multiball is just 1 stage! I got down to 2 more hits and lost the ball.

Wonder if people cannot progress and when code is done if Keith will allow people to continue like in LOTR.
Would almost be like cheating.

Has anyone finished either mode yet?

Is the wire form the same as the previous one just with that little rail there on the left?

edit: as in, did they change anything else to affect the ball bouncing? If so, then what would be the issue with the post? The bouce of the rubber versus the metal rail?

Or getting the left wireform coded out in the next update

Exactly
arent there heaps of people that bought it for $500 ~$1000 less and weeks away from shipping that are offering their spot at the original price?

How many games do owners play in a row before moving to another pin or switching it off?

With the new multiball in modes do people feel fatigued after a long game?

Arkenstone modes are isolated. Cannot do anything but those modes while in it.
Cannot start them when in a mode or multiball either.

AFIAK you don't get any points for starting an arkenstone mode. And you don't need to do well in beast/feast frenzy or smaug multiball to qualify. So you can get into an arkenstone mode with a really low score as long as you are doing the 5 things required.

Didn't realise the reference! So good

Pretty sure they are making up to 1500 SEs even though they said there was 2 months or so to order, distributors can order them now still I believe.
Can't blame them...

Keith already posted about considering this. Possibly though ring button

Got my hobbit finally. Yay.

Came in really good condition. Hardly anything needing attention. Was surprised that the caution writing on back box was NOT a sticker. Was like woz, printed on the wood.

Ok. So I need help dialling it in.

The winlance kickback. In test mode I put a rubber and staged the ball manually. about 1 in 5 times it hit the black rubber instead of the orbit. It's this acceptable? Anyone got it working 100 percent of the time?

The ball spin off the ramps left and right is causing the ball to spin to the right on exit. On the left ramp the ball will jump over the sling shot rubber ans got to left flipper. The right ramp will go straight down the right outlane! Little annoying to get the cheap drain. How do you fix and eliminate the spin?

Found these after 1 day of use on bottom of pin . Easily found where the plastic screws went. The other one was on the sub magnet. Anyone know where it goes?

20160824_175018 (resized).jpg

Not concerned about the plastic screws. As you mentioned they go on drop target banks. The other one.....

Another screw found on top of pc chassis.
I thought it might comes from the beast mech but it seems that all 4 x beach mechanical have 1 screw missing and doesn't look like the wood has ever been threaded. Is this normal?

Also missing is 1 x screw hole for 2 x VUKs. Is this normal?

And 1 x beast mech flasher screw was also never put in. Not a biggy on this one.

So.... No idea where it goes

20160825_145059 (resized).jpg
20160825_144811 (resized).jpg
20160825_144755 (resized).jpg
20160825_144742 (resized).jpg

Software question. What's the deal with the mode 'the bait'
It asks you to hit the right ramp or right orbit. But it keep the 2 x beasts up so you can't hit make the shot. If you hit the beats it makes a sound but nothing happens. I think I hit the beasts 3 times each. At some point when there is 5 seconds left 1 of them went down but don't know what triggers it.

Left ramp then right ramp should be easy enough. I can't hit the orbits or holes to save my life so this mode will never be complete for me!

Also noticed that visually there is no difference between an attempted mode and a completed mode. They both have the yellow Border. Wonder if that means that for the final mode you just need to attempt 31 modes... And maybe complete the 3 x Arkenstone modes..... And not actually complete all 31

Does anyone know what the ring button does during Arkenstone modes?

Try traping ball and backhanding.

Normal

Question on daily high scores.

Are they on a daily 24 hour rolling bases? or do they reset at at midnight?

Is there anyway to temporarily make the daily high score list 10 players instead of 3?

I moved the wire form over to the right a couple of Mil so it doesn't grip the rubber as much. Made it 1/50 instead of 1/10. Still annoying

Well worth it. Enjoy

Hows everyone going with Arkenstone modes?

I've almost finished both (last stage).
I find it a LOT easier when there are 2~3 balls.
5 balls is good for the first stage of into the fire, but after that, or even to hit the SJ to advance to the next its quite hard.
I think after the initial ball saver has expired there is a ball save down the right outlane which lasts about 5 seconds each time.

Would be nice if that ball save was maybe activated in stage 3 since it doesn't make that much difference atm.

Or....maybe I just need to get better at playing

I remember this being an issue with earlier firmwares, but never happened to be on 1.31 for me
I think it might have happened to Steve bowden on the live stream at the JJP factory

I've seen the 'LOAD ARROW' insert lit and the ball draining. Not sure why it was lit - feast frenzy was going and it was Purple.

Its been 1 month since 1.31, and 6 weeks since 1.30P
So 1.40 shouldn't be too far off if previous update lengths are anything to go by.

For those that have installed the beast fix:
All 4 of my beasts had to be adjusted as they where registering false hits due to a tiny bit of the beasts hitting the edge of the beast fix.
So i moved the switch back a little to allow a tiny bit of vibration.
However now its not registered backstabs at all.
Before I spend some time playing with this - have people got backstabs working with the beast fix THEY installed?

Yeah as long as it registers proper backstabs I guess thats ok. There is a mode where you have to hit the right orbit and as soon as you hit it the spider pops up.... and the ball smashes into the back of it and completes the mode. Really satisfying for some reason so gotta get that working again.

Which Bracket are you bending exactly? I have a little issue with the back of the Spider hitting the edge of the wood slightly. The Mech is designed a bit weird that the 2 x shafts wobble a little, so not sure what I should be bending or if it is just sitting on the wrong end of the wobble if that makes sense.

Great ideamaybe disable beast multiball in last stage. Make the qualifier to hit the orbit Shot and maybe temp hold the ball while you load the win lance. Only issues is the more balls you have the harder it is.

I've finished the mode twice. Once was on purpose. 1 was completely by accident.

Which cable controls the entire GI?

I've been lifting up my pf a lot for tweaks. Today the GI went off. Ans then on again a second later.
Happened everytime I lowered and raised the pin.
Is it that mini USB cable?

Check AA thread. Your playfield Is sitting a little bit to the right and the plunger is hitting the auto plunger on the way through.

It will be hard to get the balance right with multiballs. Right now I feel like the best way to qualify for an arkenstone mode is just to keep Smaug multiball going for as long as I can and almost everything will automatically qualify. Obviously its a shooter game with the detailed modes it feels like too many things can happen on their own.

Keiths idea was to be able to end beast multiball after a certain amount of time, or after cashing in some super SJs?

I think in its current mode state MODE multiballs are needed, because some modes are just too hard. Sometimes I have 1 ball, and the mode tells me to hit 4 different things. When I hit the 4th I think I'm done with 15 seconds on the clock, and then it tells you to hit the yellow targets. I cannot make 9 shots in that time. especially when 6 are on the edge of a flipper.

I know i will memorize all 31 modes over time, but it would be nice to be able to see maybe a difficulty rating on the book before the mode starts so I know if i should be concentrating on bringing in a mode lock, or if I should just start the mode.

Most of the time during the mode you don't need to real the screen. Just shoot the flashing SCROLL insert. I guess it gets confusing when you need to shoot a ramp and all targets are flashing to add value. Maybe Keith can change the color to flash white instead of the orange color.

For smaug. They cannot give instructions on the little screen as you can stack a mode with smaug.
You just keep shooting the arrows until the SJ is ready. I agree that it needs more verbal instructions.

For Arkenstone Modes instructions are in bottom right of screen. I am guessing they might add more instructions on the little screen but remember that arkenstone modes are still 'new' and maybe a little unrefined.
Barrel escape is the same as ITF

1.35p firmware to be shown at open house tomorrow

That's the arkenstone. Could be wrong but doesn't have a real function yet. Possibly could be the indicator for the final mode when it's in there. Right now I think it's just for lighting effects.

There is no Battle of the 5 armies in 1.35.
1.35 is an update that concentrates on Mode scoring. You can chain modes together that are related to each other, get bonus for finishing them early, and also for being on the map (spinner map) at the same place or furthur then where the scene takes place.

How is the right VUK acting for people? Whenever an Arkenstone mode is light i really struggle to get the shot. The ball usually gets there by accident. This is because if i actually shoot for it, a perfect shot seems to pop out. im at pitch 7.5 so I cannot really dial down the flipper strength as its already lower than default. The left VUK metal is just metal. The right VUK has the Blue rubber on it. Has anyone taken this off of modified it?

Mode instructions. If a mode isn't active its just a book and each page is the mode that will start when you shoot mode ramp

Wonder if anything can be done about failed kick backs. The switch is super close to the coil. So a fast ball has no chance of being there when the coil shoots.
If it happens during multiball... It's no big deal... There are plenty of add-a-balls. But when it happens when there is only 1 ball in play it's quite Annoying.

Maybe if there is only one ball in play. If the ball drains when kick back is active then

1. if there are no switch hits before the ball through opto is hit
2. within a certain time like 2 seconds

Then
it should kick out another ball

It's a beast mech flap spring
If all 8 are there, it might be a spare. I found one near to the right of the Balin hole when I opened my machine, just randomly there

The goal at the moment is to get into arkenstone modes. There are 2. Will be 3 soon.

I posted this video a couple of days ago but here it is again. I think it's fun Aiming to complete these 5 objectives ad it gives a good mix of what to shoot for

Correct. And you don't get credit for finishing an objective twice if you haven't started an arkenstone mode. But it will of course save your progress of the 5 objectives so in the past I have started barrel escape about 1 minute after finishing into the fire because I was so close to completing the objectives a 2nd time.

If you are struggling with modes just try and choose 'one ring'
Its the hexagon with a picture of someone holding a ring zoomed in so you can only see a bit of his fingers. Top middle.

People asked Keith and his response was that he wouldn't put a date on it and updates would come out quickly (like they have been)

I'm guessing we are 2 big updates away. 1.40 for battle of the 5 armies. 1.50 for 1 for super wizard mode. And then after that it's just polish

1.35 might have just been an update for the stream....might only be internal and be bundled with 1.40

At one point I wasn't liking playing the game without knowing what the end goal was. Even if I didn't have a chance to get there it still feels good on LoTR when I get 4+ gifts of the elves.
But now I just concentrate on trying to finish arkenstone modes which is bloody hard.

I hope the had some more shaker stuff. I was just playing my Star Trek and when you hit a shot in a mode it gives a quick strong shake. It feels so damn good. In the hobbit the shaker is there, but it only shakes when multiball is starting and possibly in some other areas....but its so weak that you forget its even in there.
If they don't want to shake the game too much maybe they should make it optional?

It was happening to me every game. Sooooo annoying. I tried bending it in so many ways but it still happened once in a while. I just gave up in the end an put a tiny tiny bit of blu-tac (not sure what's it's called in the US) on the end of loop. The ball hits it and goes straight down. Hasn't gone to out lane once in 2 weeks.

1. Its coming. I think Keith something like, finish Smaug, play all modes, and finish all 3 wizard modes. Wizard modes will also have save states
2. David Theil said there might not be more call out as the other stuff he says is unrelated to the pin
3. ...
4. I believe Keith said the whole purpose of the layout of the screen is that there will be no status screen. No if they where to add a super wizard mode with say, 6 qualifiers, they will have to somehow fit it on the screen.

So does anyone have a machine with a number less than 10?

Me too! The jackpot call outs are important in smaug and when beast starts you cannot really differentiate the two.
Keith said he might add a way to stop beast after you hit a super.

The colour is brown. I suites the pinball but it doesn't stand out.
Not every single mode has the call outs on what to shoot for.

Don't forget

5. Checkpoints for Arkenstone modes so you continue if you play it again.

Bone flippers looks weird but that's just my taste.

Doubt that will get changed. Needs to be easily enough to get into them multiple times because because Keith said he will add checkpoints so you can continue them like in lotr.
Hopefully the final wizard mode qualifiers will add enough rules to change the you play.

light boards are RBG, so if 1 of the 3 signals is flakey it will change colour. My Star trek did this and it was just a loose connector

if that doesnt work press down a little on the LED a little and have a look to see if it changes above the pf,
as it might be a cold solder joint

I think they don't want to release the update with the sound pop issue fixed.
Thats what they mentioned anyway.

I'm sure there will be other stuff in there as well.

Yep. Its hard to hit shots when 5 balls are flying around but BE and BOTFA are just beast hit frenzies.. Hit 5 beasts, now 10! now 15! now 20!

Wish it was a little more like the 3 x LOTR movie multiballs. Not sure if its possible with the playfield layout.

Anyways, what this game really really needs is a final goal. Kill Smaug, super JP in Beast frenzy, finish xx amount of modes, finish all 3 arkenstone modes. At least it will be something to aim for.

How do you properly test it though without starting a game? Since the post needs to be up so its in the exact position

Hey awesome video
There is another one on how to get into arkenstone modes.

I wish. But with JJP wanting to impress with JJP4 I am guessing its been all hands on deck with that as a priority, a then Hobbit final code will come after that.

Yeah, confirmed reveal in 2 weeks
I believe in the same fashion as dialed in.
Why do you think Keith has finsihed up Hobbit?

Yes, we talked about the Hobbit code a decent amount. Whats changing, what is being redone, wizard mode, etc.
Interview is almost 2 hours because we talk ALOT. It will be up on http://head2headpinball.com on Monday morning/afternoon US time