G'day folks,

I'm surprised that there hasn't been any updates to this thread since Newcastle Pinball Association's PINFEST event over the weekend, which hosted seminars from three manufacturers, including Gary Stern (thank you Gary for flying over 20 hours to visit us) and Mike from Homepin.

There were two of Homepin's TB's running solidly all weekend, including throughout two lock out sessions. Game play has much improved since the last prototype which I played exactly 12 months ago at the last Pinfest event.

Mike gave a very professional presentation, at which we were informed that the first run of units had already been exported to Canada and that those with pre-sale orders or deposits would soon be fulfilled.

Apart from being able to demonstrate the incredible difficulties and many hoops that the company has faced during the last 12 months to obtain final CE compliance and certification, I felt the best statement Mike made was as follows;

"Our objectives were to make a pinball that two half pissed guys in a pub could play and have have a bit of fun on. I think we've achieved that".

On Saturday night there were allot more than two half pissed blokes and gals doing exactly that on TB.

So here's a guy that fronted up to the show, in spite of the knockers, wingers, and skeptics to face the music, answer questions, provide assurance with facts and two finished machines, to back Homepin's efforts.

Mike probably wouldn't know me and I couldn't say I know him. But I've been following this saga for several years and feel for those who have held their breath in anticipation and waited very patiently for their machines.

Despite the all the odds, I'd be feeling much more confident after what I've witnessed over the weekend.

Congrats Homepin!

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Arcooda CEO, Steve Josifovski will be a guest speaker at this years Pinfest Newcastle, taking place over September 22-23. Steve will provide a 1-hour seminar from 12.30-1.30pm on the Saturday. A prototype of the Arcooda Pinball Ultra will also be on display for customers to play. Other guest speakers for the event include Gary Stern […]

Anyone can have virtually anything made in China. Arcooda engineer and design high end products, of which VP, VR and combined multi platform gaming are just one component of what they manufacture.

Just because there’s no moving parts, doesn’t mean their product doesn’t undergo design, trial and rigorous testing.

I have little interest in VP personally but appreciate there are other platforms which draw peoples interest into pinball. For anyone who didn’t attend the seminar, it’s unwarrented to think they just slap a cabinet together in China and have it shipped over for sale to the local market.

There’s quite a bit of innovation going on in the VP scene and to discredit them as not being manufacturers is completely unfair and unwarrented.

Agreed, very technical, well balance and unbiased review ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Dangerwil

Hope you ticked insurance with the freighters though...

"Our objectives were to make a pinball that two half pissed guys in a pub could play and have have a bit of fun on. I think we've achieved that".

I think Mike was referring to alcahol, not agro...

I thought the trees are actually one of the most entertaining features about the ball locks. They shudder in way which reminded me of the launch sequence for TB2 taking off.

The entrance of the multiball entering in the top left corner of the PF from beneath the retractable kidney shaped pool. Look out... it’s TB1.

Man, what other things can I geek out about?

Okay maybe the deep rule set just isn’t there yet, maybe it won’t ever get there and maybe it wasn’t suppose to ever be there. But for the average Gerry Anderson collector, or those two half pissed guys in the pub having a bit of fun, or aspiring young n old pinballers, there’s just as many who couldn’t care less.

Heck I know of guys who only had one dedicated pin like Dr Who or STNG cause they are fans of the show more than fans of pinball. Point being, not every pin needs to be complicated and complex to simply enjoy. I know guys who play EM all night long and couldn’t give a shit about deep rules. In fact, deep rules would probably piss them off and effect ball play continuity. TB still requires skill to prolong the ball in play and thats the challenge of what makes pinball fun and luring for more.

If you want deep rule sets, that can get repetitive as well, then maybe this isn’t the pinball for you?

PLAY FOREVER!!

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G’day Jeff,

Welcome to Pinside!

You sure did pick a hum dinger of a thread to first post on.

Lots of Aussie’s here!

Congrats on supplying such wonderful products and offering free advice to enthusiasts as you have to me on the past, with a great attitude that demonstrates “people and passion before profits”.

Enjoy the ride...