LCD

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One more. Sorry, should have put them all together.

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For a month after expo, this is a lot of change. Very impressive.

Does Smaug still work the same?

Well that looks a hell of a lot better!

Wasn't expecting the LCD to be tucked up in the corner like that. Interdesting.

I just keep hearing the Austin powers voice say "I love Gold!" Lol

Almost always in the field of view.

Yes wire forms are back!!!!

I like what I'm seeing.

Is the 'mountain' behind Smaug gone? Does he still turn and talk?

I'm in for the Smaug edition but think I may like the red Smaug with the newer gold pile from these few photos...gives better contrast at least from this limited view.

I think the playfield looks much better. Also like the placement of the book LCD and being able to see the barrel pops.

That's it for my first impression on a brief view whilst at work.

I'm very excited for my pin. I jumped in a year ago and am excited about the possibilities.

Lots of great changes in such a short time. Way to go Jack. Playfield art and wire forms look awesome. Really happy I didn't pull out before getting to look at the actual production pin. Hopefully will be soon?????

Lots of "Jewish" delis in and around Aventura. I live out west. Mayor's Café has great "New York" bagels (but it's a hole in the wall).

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JJP fought back hard apparantly! and they upped their game in value by atleast 1 grand in visual value well done jack for what i see on the pictures! and the 2nd LCD is lovely eye candy..

Way to listen JJP!

Didn't really need a giant dragon in my face since he's already a 3d model in the back of the PF and if you get the Smaug edition, two giant pictures on the side of the cabinet... but whatever.

The other changes all look great and like they are going in the right direction.

Shit, Im not a big Hobbit fan, but after seeing these pics, I want one lol.

I liked the old art but the new art blows it away. Nicely done. PF LCD placement needs work IMO. Looks shoehorned in.

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Another question: Any specific shots seen for the right upper flipper?

Also...already the sides are begging for either mirror blades or some sort of picture which I think would probably be even better than the mirrors.

i would love to see a video on this can anyone up there at IAAPA arrange that for us

Agree, the gold one is just too much gold IMO! I am correct in stating that one could pick the SE but still get the red Smaug?

Respectfully disagree. You can't see the cabinet artwork when you play and that image is so much better than the original to look at when you are playing.

The housing isn't final. It will look more integrated in production models.

Lots of cool changes. It's great to see that JJP changed a lot of things based on the feedback after expo.

I cancelled my order after expo and at times regretted it. After seeing the updated game it's still not for me. Smaug needed to interact with the ball for me to drop $7500 on a pin. Also, drop targets are fun but there's too many in TH in my opinion and the game would have benefited from other unique toys / shots where the lower drops are.

I wish JJP nothing but the best with this game and will be patiently waiting for Pats game.

I think the warmer tones are better though, I liked the original PF as well.

WOW! You gotta love it when a company actually listens to their customers, makes improvements and gives them what they want. Kudos and thumbs up to JJP!

the gold in front of smaug should be gold.. but smaug himself shouldnt be gold.. but red and red only imo.. period!

This looks fantastic. I feel a lot better.

More to come visually. Games at the show have old art as time was a constraint

I already emailed Jack asking if there is anyway I can get the prototype artwork, although upon close inspection it looks like there are subtle differences in the inserts and one of the roll overs by the pop bumpers so probably a no go.

The new art is definitely more "WOZlike" in that its much more colorful and vibrant, which I like, I just don't like the redundant giant dragon taking up the whole center playfield. But other people didn't like the small dragon, so I guess I am the minority.

Like E3 for arcade/pinball? Because at E3...it got CRAZY.

And also no artwork at the bumpers exit so you likely wouldn't want it. Just whitewood at the exit on the old art.

I thought the ramp diverter was Smaug's tail?

Regardless, this still looks better than the Expo showing. I have no idea why JJP set themselves up for the backlash from Expo but this a great step closer to fixing all that.

I figured as much, Looking forward to the changes being fully integrated. The mock-up has the old pf art, new art will really make it pop. Smaug is not finished, no diverter integration with the tail yet. The brighter colors and the elimination of the "rock" will improve the walk-up appeal tremendously. I see my suggestion of light up eyes was heeded, cool. It's safe to assume Smaug will operate as originally designed but it is much improved cosmetically. JJP gets high grades for listening, the wireforms are much better. Unsure what the blocks around Smaug are but again I'm sure it will make sense once the trim is completed.

The giant diverter on left covered by stone wall is good.

Now that the book has moved to the back, shouldn't that third pop bumper be a barrel as well now? Would give the bumpers a more uniform appearance.

also the Apron artwork looks way better now.. at the prototype at expo and dpo it was just a dull map.. and now it has the characters on it and the color contrast of it better too.. big improvement!

Is the new playfield art for the both models, or just the Smaug edition?

Lots of changes, all for the better I feel

It's likely just wasn't ready by show time. The print out states what has yet to be done

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Or just move the one covered up by the book to the front pop instead? I think the original idea was to have the book lower, in front of the pops, so they only barreled the back two thinkging those would be the visible ones. But with the LCD further back, seems like you could just move the furthest barrel forward.

ok officially excited again. If this is what they could do in a month then one more should get it there!

True. I still like the idea of all three being barrels from an aesthetics point of view.

If JJP doesn't do all three, I'm sure that would be a popular mod.

It's likely going to be a code thing. There's a timing mechanism that you have_ to hit a specific shot from the upper flipper instead of shooting it from the lower ones. Like the skill shots / melting the witch in WoZ.

I wonder if they are still planning on having the interactive apron. Originally it was going to be a map to track progress, correct? I wonder if that's been changed.

Incredible improvement on the playfield artwork - moves it into the same class as WOZ; nicely done JJP!

That's what I was hoping for too.

I like a lot of the changes I see, awesome job guys. Will the LCD have flipping pages animations? That would be pretty sweet if it did.

I am really excited with almost all the changes so far.

I think the LCD (i'm sure that was planned all along) will really be intrigal to many of the game modes. Pages will turn to reveal the next chapter of the story (the next mode) and give hints on what the objective is. This could go a long way to really make the pin feel like you are going on an epic journey.

Also like the new play field colors. The art really pops and gives the different areas of the play field their own distictive feel.

I am very optimistic about the final product now.

When we had it on there, it blocked the back two pretty heavily from a player's perspective. If you guys want to add it on, I'm sure BackAlley will be selling them once the game comes out, but it blocks too much of the action to go out that way in production.