Quoted from rai:I’d very like to own a premium or LE because I think without a projector is a awesome.
Is this your first time in America? 
(Topic ID: 300926)
Nashville, TN
Quoted from Isochronic_Frost:Mando shoulda been the blockbuster instead of Godzilla
Mando likely is a blockbuster. Always remember how far theme goes with casuals, and many buyers aren’t on Pinside discussing nuance if design and code. Mando is prob still selling great and will continue to do so.
I'd just like to say I'm glad that Stern's price increases did NOT drive the OP from the hobby, as he's obviously still concerned about the greedy company's future output and stable and designers.
It's a Happy day!!!!
Quoted from KingVidiot:Here’s my opinion. Take it for what it’s worth.
To me, Stranger Things is the best pinball machine ever made. It has all of that easy-to-learn, difficult-to-master magic of AFM and MM, but with way more modes and depth.
I recently went to play an AFM remake, and an OG Medieval Madness, and they simply don’t come close to Stranger Things for me. Amazing for their time, no doubt, but super shallow and too easy for home ownership by comparison. Not nearly as many “pinball moments” either.
But if I’m gonna claim this is the best machine ever, I had better have some good reasons. Let’s talk about Stranger Things’ list of unique features.
1. Demogorgan bash toy w mouth shot. Both gives you a big target to shoot, but also a skill shot in the mouth. Best bash toy in pinball IMHO. We like ramps because they are satisfying to shoot. Same with spinners and pops. This toy is an air ball shot into a tiny hole - risk, precision, patience, skill. it’s essentially everything great about a pinball target.
2. Projector. How hasn’t this been copied already? The effect is fantastic, and makes every single mode feel unique and engaging. You simply can’t do that on other pinball tables because the table art is static. It’s such a great feature. Easily one of the top 3 “gimmicks” in pinball history.
3. Drop target central. Those 4 drop target are such a brilliant, simple, central design to the game. The feeling of skill, knocking 1 target down and shooting through that hole you just punched, through to the back to spell the rest of the word? Bliss. It’s the best drop target bank in pinball. I’ll die on that hill. Add in the projector feature that projects each letter you need to spell directly on the targets? Forget about it. No other drop target modes on any machine comes close.
4. Telekinesis ball lock. Locking 3 balls magnetically to the back wall of a pinball machine is such an outstanding feeling. Again, I’ve yet to play or hear about another ball lock system that is this damn cool or satisfying. Admittedly, I had problems with the locking mechanism, but Stern sent me a free ramp cover which has fixed the problem completely.
5. UV kit. It’s the most dramatic pinball moment in pinball. Maybe not if you’re playing outside, or in a bright room, but in a low light setting, or in the dark? It’s impossible to watch a video or see a picture and get an idea of how cool it is. My only complaint is how short the mode is! I’ve been playing this game for months at home now, and it does not get old! Like the projector, this feature transforms the entire table in an instant. Play it in the dark, and it almost feels like you’re playing a completely different machine for the brief moment it’s on. It’s blows away anyone I’ve had over - both pinball noobs and veterans who think they’ve seen it all. MM castle blowing up is like “oh cool!” Stranger Thing UV light show is like “holy $#!%!!”
6. Perfect fan layout. It is the most symmetrical, simple layout of any modern machine. No fancy 180 ramps or upper flippers, just a solid, simple, classic pinball layout, but the central focus on spelling words to drop down the central bash toy is that perfect example of “easy to understand, difficult to master”. For all of its awesome gimmicks and toys, Stranger Things still boils down to the best iteration of the fan layout. If Mario Bros. is the simple joy of video games, Stranger Things is the simple joy of pinball. I own a premium Jurassic Park, and I love that table, but if I had to pick only one, I wouldn’t even have to think about it. I simply have more fun playing Stranger Things.
Got a premium a few months ago with all the bells and whistles - topper, uv kit, art blades, projector, shooter rod, headphone jack, shaker, and I’ve also done some custom uv art on the art blades and other surfaces. Added a mirror above the pops as well, since they’re hidden.
This game is my grail pin. I honestly think it’s the most underrated table out there, but I think most ppl have played the pro without the uv kit. A pro vs premium w uv kit isn’t even the same machine to me, because what makes this table magic, isn’t just the gimmicks, and it isn’t just the classic layout - it’s the combination of some of the very best gimmicks in all of pinball + the simple elegance of a solid fan layout. It’s both modern and classic at the same time.
The projected show clips onto the the closed Demo ramp looks like a misplaced drive-in theater to me. I would really love to play an example where the telekinesis lock works 100% of the time. I haven't yet. The ones I've played work about 50% of the time when you first turn the machine on and 0% after a few games and the flippers get tired.
Quoted from nicoy3k:Defend the first demodog mode, please. I'd love to hear it.
Eh I guess it would be better if it timed out? I dunno. I always try to carry something else into it. I find if I just keep the ball alive I will get the majority of the shots and then just pick up the ones I need. I am not sure how it is a deal breaker or a negative ding on the game. Is it really that hard for you? Being honest because I have non pinball people play and they are able to complete it and they aren't really aiming for shots the whole time.
I get when people dog the game because of the fiddly-ness of some of the mechs like the TK lock and the demogorgan mouth shot. And I can understand some people thinking the layout is a bit recycled or they don't enjoy hitting the same shot multiple times to start a mode. But all of the modes to me are unique. There is a lot going on and having a bunch of modes that are randomly assigned makes for a different play each time. As far as the add time mystery award...it will definitely show up more if you are in a timed mode.
I do think the game is amazing. But I think a lot of games are. Maybe I should improve my vocabulary when describing games I like. I will say one thing I love about the game is that it is very approachable.
Quoted from Palmer:Eh I guess it would be better if it timed out? I dunno. I always try to carry something else into it. I find if I just keep the ball alive I will get the majority of the shots and then just pick up the ones I need. I am not sure how it is a deal breaker or a negative ding on the game. Is it really that hard for you? Being honest because I have non pinball people play and they are able to complete it and they aren't really aiming for shots the whole time.
I get when people dog the game because of the fiddly-ness of some of the mechs like the TK lock and the demogorgan mouth shot. And I can understand some people thinking the layout is a bit recycled or they don't enjoy hitting the same shot multiple times to start a mode. But all of the modes to me are unique. There is a lot going on and having a bunch of modes that are randomly assigned makes for a different play each time. As far as the add time mystery award...it will definitely show up more if you are in a timed mode.
I do think the game is amazing. But I think a lot of games are. Maybe I should improve my vocabulary when describing games I like. I will say one thing I love about the game is that it is very approachable.
Having to hide the mode behind a multi ball tells you all you need to know about how shitty and uninspired it is. Yes I can complete it, but there is no incentive to, the risk is not lethal the reward. It’s a main mode that is in your face every time you play pretty early on in the game. It’s a major flaw in its design. Not a deal beaker still a good game
Quoted from Doctor6:My opinion was wrong? I DID like it? I DID think the art and sound was good? Jesus, thank you. I had no idea.
Yes, your opinion was wrong.
I think he's a great designer....stern is a completely different animal as they spit out games quick typically at the expense of code development...like most Stern games u have to be patient (sometimes years) with the hope they actually finish/fine tune the code
Quoted from nicoy3k:Having to hide the mode behind a multi ball tells you all you need to know about how shitty and uninspired it is.
Pretty much every good game has shots that you need to strategically avoid until the right time. I kind of like that the DD1 mode cock-blocks your progress if you stupidly stumble into it. The Mystery shot is another example. If you don’t want “Add Time”, don’t shoot it while you’re in a mode. If you just want to smack the ball around, I can see where you may not like that style of playing.
Quoted from nicoy3k:Stranger things is good. I think calling it amazing is a stretch.
The first demodog mode is one of the worst modes I’ve ever played. You can’t skip it, you can’t progress with it, you need to let it time out (and it’s LONG). Why they didn’t turn this into a version of Martian multi ball boggles my mind.
It has two, flat out bad shots with the right orbit and the extra ball shot.
The UV kit is awesome, but the upside down world being random repetitive modes that you are almost incentivized to let time out is not good. They should have integrated the UV/upside down world more into modes and game progression.
The modes themselves are kind of very same same with not a lot of shot variety or creativeness.
The mystery award is broken and gives you add time 80% of the time
Call outs are bad and it lacks humor
The Cleland code is an absolute must have and with insider connect coming I am not sure how that will work…
The above are the things that I don’t like about the game. There is plenty of good and I do recommend it, but it isn’t “amazing” or even close to a masterpiece
What I find odd is that your avatar is Rufio, but you don't own a Hook or even have it on your wishlist. 
Stranger Things is either a great or horrible game depending on your opinion. Maybe just ok too.
Disclaimer: I've never played it but I think it's a game
I think Keith’s designs are making the other layouts look less inspired. Game play is subjective and I don’t mind either of Brian’s newer titles but prefer more unique play fields. KME has raised the bar.
Quoted from swampfire:Pretty much every good game has shots that you need to strategically avoid until the right time. I kind of like that the DD1 mode cock-blocks your progress if you stupidly stumble into it. The Mystery shot is another example. If you don’t want “Add Time”, don’t shoot it while you’re in a mode. If you just want to smack the ball around, I can see where you may not like that style of playing.
There is a difference between strategically stacking a mode/shot and avoiding a mode because it is absolutely painful and useless to play on its own. The mystery algorithm is broken, it awards time added way too often ignores the other awards.
Quoted from nicoy3k:I like the movie, game looks like a turd
It's bad. One of the worst.
Quoted from CrazyLevi:It's bad. One of the worst.
I have played worse, its just.. meh. Lot of mechs there too.
Quoted from gdonovan:I have played worse, its just.. meh. Lot of mechs there too.
The layout is pretty bad, and every freaking mode seems to be a hurry up!
I just really dislike this one!
Quoted from CrazyLevi:The layout is pretty bad, and every freaking mode seems to be a hurry up!
I just really dislike this one!
One of the weakest Data East, up there with Star Trek.
Quoted from swampfire:jorant you should add a poll so we can vote there instead of downvoting your opinion.
If you think the demogorgan looks like a vag, I’d suggest finding better porn.
Mutant angry vag.
Yeah, I didnt expect the downvotes. Was just trying to be thought provoking. Turned into a bunch of hurt feelings from game owners.
Quoted from Doctor6:Mutant angry vag.
Yeah, I didnt expect the downvotes. Was just trying to be thought provoking. Turned into a bunch of hurt feelings from game owners.
Hey I gotta point this out, it's "used to think," not "use to think."
Your 
welcome!
Quoted from Doctor6:Mutant angry vag.
Yeah, I didnt expect the downvotes. Was just trying to be thought provoking. Turned into a bunch of hurt feelings from game owners.
What do you expect with a title like "Is Brian Eddy as awesome as we use to think he was?". Is thought-provoking code for trolling? You had quite a few people say they like Stranger Things and think it is one of Eddy's better games. But since it doesn't align with your opinion, they are now just a bunch of butt hurt game owners?
Quoted from Palmer:What do you expect with a title like "Is Brian Eddy as awesome as we use to think he was?". Is thought-provoking code for trolling? You had quite a few people say they like Stranger Things and think it is one of Eddy's better games. But since it doesn't align with your opinion, they are now just a bunch of butt hurt game owners?
I didn't bother engaging earlier because I have read enough from the OP to know it isn't about conversation or opinions.
Quoted from swampfire:Let’s talk about Shadow. The ramps with the Phurba diverters are cool, and the lock shot is awesome. But playing Breakout with the flipper buttons is the least amount of fun I’ve had playing pinball. Overall I’d rank Shadow at the bottom of Eddy’s efforts.
Disagree 100% - Shadow is Eddy's perfect game, way better than AFM or MM. It's a flow beast and theme integration is spot on.
I’d say Brian Eddy has continued and even grown his legacy coming back.
For the 2 flipper fan lovers - MM, AFM and STh. All are good and have the same multi-stage, central bash toy concept and features 3 variations of rules. STh also features mapping technology and it it is a worthy game to complete the series.
For others - TS and Mando are 3+ flippers with upper playfield games. Mando has new core coding elements, reminiscent of computer gaming.
If nothing else look at the top 100. Both Mando and STh are under top 30 games. So I’d say Eddy has picked up right where he left off.
Quoted from Doctor6:Mutant angry vag.
Yeah, I didnt expect the downvotes. Was just trying to be thought provoking. Turned into a bunch of hurt feelings from game owners.
Yeah, No. You were just hoping people would agree with your lousy hot takes on modern Brian Eddy.
Quoted from Doctor6:Did he sorta ruin his legacy by coming back?
I think stranger things and mando sorta suck.
the art and callouts in stranger things are just one step above hot garbage
angry mutant vagina that is hard to get a ball into.
I just sorta feel his legacy is diminished, for me, now.
Is that how one sparks "thought provoking" dialog where you're from? 
It's really not fair to judge these guys by their old work. It's decades later and everything is different.
I remember when Pat came back to make Monopoly, and in a preceding interview he flat out said that anybody expecting another TZ was in for a disappointment. And he was right.
You don't like Stranger Things? Great, you are entitled to your opinion. If that somehow sullies your feelings about MM or Shadow, I really don't know what to tell ya. Sorry? Pat's made a ton of underwhelming to bad games since coming back 20 years ago, it doesn't make me enjoy Addams or Whirlwind any less.
I guess it's just another disappointment that will further drive you away from the hobby, like increasing prices.
Quoted from usandthem:The projected show clips onto the the closed Demo ramp looks like a misplaced drive-in theater to me. I would really love to play an example where the telekinesis lock works 100% of the time. I haven't yet. The ones I've played work about 50% of the time when you first turn the machine on and 0% after a few games and the flippers get tired.
Did you mean to type "well-placed"? Drive-ins were big in the 80s. Seems like the perfect fit for an 80s retro-themed show and pinball tie-in 
I just searched to see if there were any drive-in shots from the show, but it looks like Netflix actually built a drive-in experience in LA
https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/a33660152/netflix-stranger-things-drive-thru/
But yeah, when I first got my machine, the ball-lock didn't work half the time or more. The new ramp cover Stern made fixes it 100% for me. If the ball has enough juice to get that high on the wall, it will stick every time.
Haven't experienced "tired" flappers, so I'm not sure I follow.
Quoted from KingVidiot:Haven't experienced "tired" flappers, so I'm not sure I follow.
I noticed it. The flipper coils get hotter than on most pins, because it’s faster than most. I used PinMonk’s fans and it solved the problem for me.
It’s more noticeable on STH because of the Demogorgan ramp.
Quoted from Doctor6:Mutant angry vag.
Yeah, I didnt expect the downvotes. Was just trying to be thought provoking. Turned into a bunch of hurt feelings from game owners.
Downvote just means “I disagree” in my case, I’m fine with what you said. I just disagree. Same thing with previous owners who came here to vent. It would be nice if people could say what they disliked without using words like “shitty” and “turd” though.
As an aside, my friend has a Hook and I think it’s lots of fun. I’m a glass-half-full kinda guy though.
Yes, Brian Eddy is as awesome as we use to think he was.
I look at every new pin from a certain designer with fresh eyes. Do I have an idea of what sort of spirit the game will have? Most definitely. If I step up to a new Ritchie game, I’d expect it to be fast and maybe (probably) have a third flipper. If I step up to an Eddy game, I expect a bash toy maybe (probably) somewheres in the middle or an interesting upper playfield with some quirky stuff around the rest of the playfield to make it distinctive and fun. I don’t really ever think “oh, this is like AFM” or “oh, this is like The Shadow” or whatever. To me there are elements that are the signature of the designer, which might seem repetitive or recycled from their past games…but really those are the things that make their games “their” games. Maybe Keith Elwin will be different, but he hasn’t had that many games yet and he seems to like doing something completely different every time. Right now his signature is having the same artist and team of coders and whatnot. There are certain elements in a specific designer’s bag of tricks that are like comfort food to me. So to say that Brian Eddy is not the same Brian Eddy of old? Well, that just doesn’t register with me when I see his new games. His secret sauce is in these new titles, so maybe some of his customers’ tastes have changed but there are old and new customers alike who enjoy the original recipe.
After designing three stone cold classics and then leaving the biz for 20 years, I thought Stranger Things was a fine re-entry into the industry. Sure the mechs are a bitch to get dialed in, but skanky vag or not, the game has a ton of cool mechs and atmosphere. And the shots and layout are an improvement for me vs AFM. Of course the callouts aren’t anywhere near AFM, I prefer 90s silliness, but I think they capture the theme well. I’ve only played a handful of games on Mando so I’ll only add that it seems like it shoots well, not sure on the code. Come down and flip sometime, always welcome. I have a bunch of games that nobody likes haha.
There are 2 kinds of players in pinball. The first walks up to a game and after shooting it a few times, tries to learn how to get the most out of it. “Is this shot better backhand or forehand? If I rip the left orbit, can I backhand the rebound to make the eject shot?” This kind of player tends to like most pins. Instead of bringing their biases to the game, they try to meet the designer where he lives.
The second kind of player mostly wants to be entertained. When a shot makes them feel bad, they blame the designer. This type of player tends to focus on how many toys are on the game, things they don’t like about the art, etc., instead of figuring out what they need to do to get into the flow that the design team intended.
I feel like almost any game can be great if you try to be the first kind of player. I’ve had a lot of fun playing Munsters, Wheel of Fortune, CSI, and other games that some people write off. The only truly “bad” game I’ve ever played was Thunderbirds.
Quoted from Doctor6:an angry mutant vagina that is hard to get a ball into.
I'm able to slide mine in every time? Have you tried widening it using your fingers or a tool handle? I'm not sure if anyone has tried using grease or something but I can see that helping. Sometimes they come from the factory loose, what you want is for it to be nice and tight, if its wobbly give it a good screw.
Quoted from Viggin900:I'm able to slide mine in every time? Have you tried widening it using your fingers or a tool handle? I'm not sure if anyone has tried using grease or something but I can see that helping. Sometimes they come from the factory loose, what you want is for it to be nice and tight, if its rejecting give it a good screw.
Quoted from RatShack:Depends on if you consider truck-nuts a gameplay innovation.
I’m in what kinda awesome game has that!
Almere
Quoted from AJB4:Eddy is a great designer. His tables are unique
I don't think that you can say AFM, MM & STh are unique - they are way too similar for that
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