Monrovia, MD
Quoted from Homepin:There is only a need for 'regular' software updates when products are released BEFORE they should be. We have been testing, and adjusting, the software (and dozens of other things) for a very long time and we are now happy with the overall performance. The software, and the machine in general, is performing exactly to our original intentions. How often does your new TV set, air conditioner or WMS pinball machine require a software update?
However, should it be necessary to update for some currently unknown reason, it is a simple plug in board about 50mm x 50mm - 30 seconds work and hardly a big deal. No downloads and no chance of bricking your machine.
We believe that we have achieved our aim of building a fun game that is easy to understand and play whilst NOT being 10 deep with the ruleset. Thunderbirds Pinball is a machine that "two half pissed guys in a pub" can bang the ball around and have a bit of fun. NOT something that requires Einstein to dissect each and every ball movement and calculate the exact trajectory for each shot. That was never our intention.
It is also well built using almost all stainless steel parts, mostly through hole, standard electronics and competitively priced in most markets (please note that Homepin does not set the sell price nor do we have anything to do with sales or promotions).
Those that know Thunderbirds (the TV show) will appreciate the lowering ramp, The Mole toy mechanism, falling trees and pool action of Tracy Island as being true to the original show. They will also know and recognise the original theme music and the dozens of callouts from the original characters in the show. Those that don't know Thunderbirds won't fully understand or appreciate why these features are built in. This is one reason TAG was always targeted at markets outside the USA. Sure, there are people in the USA that certainly do know and understand Thunderbirds but no where near as many as in other countries.
A couple of USA buyers have contacted me saying how happy they are with the machine and that is satisfying.
It is also our first machine built using all our own designed and manufactured parts and that has taken a staggering amount of time, effort and money, far more than originally anticipated.
We look forward to when we will be able to develop a machine that might be more appealing to the USA market but that time isn't right now. For now our sales agents efforts are concentrated on markets that already know and love Thunderbirds (as was our intention right from the start of this project). This doesn't mean that they WON'T be selling to the USA, it just means it isn't the ONLY place sales efforts are being concentrated.
By all means have your say on the machine, positive AND negative but please remember, we are not trying to compete with high end machines that are currently available from other manufacturers or anything from the past and also please consider the build quality and what you get for your lower purchase price.
Comparing TAG with PotC or Deadpool (as two examples) is plain silly. There is no comparison as TAG was never intended to compete with high end machines like these.
Mike I think the game is in excellent taste and meets the goals you set ,I see people continually bashing the game and have no interest in buying it .I personally would love to see them just move on ,I find it funny when I read there responses to your posts defending your company and quite frankly tired of the childish crap but have to wonder if they were in your position would they respond the same , I am sure they would ,they may say they would not but they would ,they like to be part of the problem or they would move on , I did buy a game and want to thank you for producing a affordable nib game ,the cost of games now are making them conversation trophy's and not good ole fun .Please try to not defend yourself on these forums , if you do not give the haters attention they will go away, good luck !!
