Needs a different spinner sound. That's the annoying clickitty-clack you constantly hear during the game.

It IS odd they don't put up a reasonably professional minute or two long video showing off the sounds, features and shots.
And the nice light show.

I don't think these fuzzy phone videos in a loud environment benefit ANY manufacturer. Maybe it wasn't ready in time for this trade show and we'll see one soon. But "first impressions... etc etc"...

This always baffles me. My phone is nothing special but takes excellent HD video and amazing pictures. Are only flip phones allowed at these reveals?

Thankfully I was not.

Fixed. Thank you!

Be thankful they are nice enough to at least try to show you new games.

picture quality between phone models varies greatly.

I think Shrek was a Chuck-E-Cheese only game...but I don't know much more about it other than it sharing a layout with Avatar(?).

I’ve seen the phones most pinheads carry... clam-shelled, huge keyed, antiques that they have been buying replacement batteries for for the last 20 years, and has a 640x480 pixel camera whose lens looks like it went through WWIII.

Family Guy

Bingo...thank you.

The photos suffer because it's someone uploading a compressed version of the photo to somewhere like Facebook, which recompresses it, which is downloaded and reuploaded to pinside while being recompressed yet again.

And ideally....that's what they're targeting.

I really don't understand why they didn't innovate here. Imagine actual Hot Wheels collectors entering the fray, in a system where for a higher price tier of $3, you're guaranteed a 50/50 shot at an exclusive Hot Wheels car that either is dispensed on site or is printed out/scanned one time use code for online redemption.

Exactly! Was just going to write the same thing!

I havent watched much of the video but is that a vari-target in front of the loop?

Can you show us your math on that?

So umm...one day later, and STILL no official announcement, photos or video from API?!?!

Guys, get your shit together over there.... Ugh.

Hell, even Stern plugged away with their Stranger Things clip a day or so after a leak.

And its been a day or So, so what are you saying. lol

Maybe this is the promo video

Drop target

Search "hot wheels cartoon" on Youtube. There's some weird ass Hot Wheels cartoons and a couple of movies too. Hot Wheels really went off into a odd direction with dinos, sharks and other crazy stuff.

Well, we know API isn't pumping press out today....

And Stern acted as if that Stranger Things leak didn't exist. Which to a large part of their target market it didn't, and another large part of it, it did. So Stern isn't necessarily the high water mark for brand execution, but in pinball they sure are. Marketing in general for pinball is so sporadic, and not really great at engendering new customers.

Interesting. It's the exact same dino in that promo as in this photo of the LCD screen https://i.imgur.com/XCe0YLs.jpg

Here is the full version. I skimmed it a bit. I couldn't find the exact scene from that photo in this, but I'm sure it's in there. Same dino and building models

So I imagine the game is going to look and sound a lot like this. Definitely a game for kids, not that there is anything wrong with that. But I'm sure it'll turn off a lot of regular pinball collectors. Could be very popular with the grandkids though.

Now you've got me stuck watching the TV show and movies now!

Yeah I wonder how many kids came out and played pinball the first time because of Stranger Things. If this is a new trend, then expect Legos, Minecraft, and Roblox next

It didn't seem god awful from the little bits I watched. It reminded me a lot of Kablam and Action League Now! when I was a kid. I like how they lean into how cheap and crummy the animation is

Search Hot Wheels Cartoon 1969 and that's what I'm talkin' bout.

This theme is right up there with 'Bob the Builder' and 'Thomas the Tank Engine'. How does AP keep getting this so wrong?

eh?

Shrek was a retheme of Family Guy... and if I recall... an idea lobbied for and pitched by Jersey Jack.

Exactly. My son used to play with and watch a Hot Wheels show called Hot Wheels Battle Force 5. Toys Reminded me of M.A.S.K. from when I was a kid

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Just like Kaneda called it, they don't do any market research and instead is something that sounded appealing to AP and the pin team there.

Not to say that is always a bad strategy, I'm sure some of the best machines came from a designer whim, but it's a bit different these days with quite a bit more $ on the table. You can certainly reduce your business risks with the right license that people want.

Target on the left, kickback on the right.

Your takin it the wrong way? I cant believe I got a moderater notice? I love hockey pins,the few there are out there. Thought you might too? Wouldn't you agree AP would be the one company to make one. I dont think you should be representing the thoughts of your entire league anyway.

A lot of this thread is as cringy as watching all the medical professionals and stock traders on facebook go back and forth.

You don't even need to count it out. Use your eyes. That's an awfully bare playfield compared to Houdini.

My brother and I had those action figures!

The cool toy licenses and content we grew up with (turtles too) have down shifted big time to market 6 yo and under.

Unfortunately beyond that it’s online gaming and phones.

Its definitely baffling at this point. Hell even the rumored public-domain "Sherlock Holmes" theme would have been a better idea for the demographic that is actually playing/buying pins these days.

Seems like the only things they have going their way is the general build quality of their product and the (seemingly) endless reservoir of private capital fueling their business.

The last few titles that have come out and now this, Turtles and GNR
on the way have caused me to go old school and opt for a couple of restored System 11’s...
Taxi and Whirlwind.

TSPP and Nascar too. There was also an EM at one near us.

Ours had Stern PotC. It was usually pretty broken. But you could get a TON of tickets on it because the high scores were usually so low.

Here are a few better photos my distributor sent me from the AMOA floor yesterday. I think you can see a little more detail in the upper playfield area without as much of a glare.

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They better get selling them before there is no more money left to buy them.

From some stream they are doing now off FB..$6300 MSRP confirmed with no shaker motor. The spinning car doesn't interactive with anything, but more of an indicator.

I imagine their thought process was Hot Wheels likely isn't a very expensive license or difficult licensor, "cars" is a very safe bet* with a lot of freedom to make a game around the theme, and Mattel gave them a ton of art and video as part of the license which has been one of AP's most glaring weaknesses.

They should be swinging for the fences, and this feels more like bunt. But I understand the logic of wanting to play it safe. I don't think they'll have much issue outselling their other games, but it'll be tough for them to crack the 1,000 unit mark in the next two or three years. They cut the BOM, but they probably should have gotten it to below Stern Pro pricing. Maybe a few less RGB LEDs and toss the silly car on a stick.

* People can point out that there have been bad car games like Mustang, but there's also been High Speed and Getaway which are two of the most popular and mass produced games of all time.

I cant get past the off center display. pin could be the best ever and that would keep me from buying.

I agree. Really poorly managed.

Probably the best time in Pinball theme wise. Love it. Not this theme of course but tmnt, GnR, JP, Wonka, TBL, alien, RaM, potentially bttf, TS, - enough with the old man themes like Munsters, Elvira, etc. Boring.

Lots of different multiballs on the rules card. Seems like a straightforward game, with easy to explain objectives and some kinda playfield multiplier rules for competitive players

I am normally pretty OCD but the off center display doesn't bother me YET.
I'm not a NIB person but this one could be one for me this year.
I like HW and VW's and HW VW even more. This is on my desk.
I will be modding a second one of these HW Type 2T's to match the 1/24 model that I built from one in VW mag afew years ago.

Nice looking game AP.

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That's seriously debatable. Worst ever IMO.

It's probably all coming to an end soon anyway, so the industry will be able to pack it up with at least a little dignity left.