Quoted from Pinstym:Shot this 5 minute video Friday at Allentown. I had my video set to Ultra Hi-def, so kinda disappointed that the vid seems to only have 360p as the highest setting. Advice would be cool if I can fix that.
First time seeing the game in person. Wow. Pretty incredible.
» YouTube video
I know the game isn't final yet (at least code-wise), but after playing a game and taking video of others playing, I don't feel that the playfield is too wide open. It seems to me that depending on which inlane the ball takes to the flippers, there might always be a hurry up with at least one of the 4 characters popping up. You'll want to hit it, or it may block a more important shot. Stand-ups, drops, spinners, 4 pop-ups, newton ball. Plenty to shoot for.
I'm also not against the upper flipper because there isn't a ramp just for it. On woz I'm ok with the upper flipper being used as a "gate" to get back into the shooter lane, and it's cool how it's set up with melting the witch. I don't know if there is an opto up at that flipper on Hobbit so that some shots will only count (or count more) if made from it, but I did notice that at least 2 times I flipped across the pf with that upper flipper, it snuck over a dropped target between raised targets to get in there (to Smaug?) and I was thinking there was no way I could have done that from the lower flippers. Not sure. That might turn out to be something worth more points for sneaking it in from the side. No idea.
I don't see what the small screen/book in the back on the right might be blocking. Maybe when that screen is not showing totally awesome content that helps one's game experience, it could just show a video of the back and side cabinet that it's "blocking."