Ferret was the lead coder. Quite frankly it was Ferret, David Thiel, Kelly the animator and the rest of the American side of the team that really saved the game, because they were too close-knit and too far away from Andrew that he couldn't push them around. The software and audio-visuals couldn't have been in better hands. And frankly that's another reason I'm glad the refined design appears to have changed comparatively little, because naturally PB would want to keep and reuse as much of that sterling work as possible.

Please do not discount Brian Dominy’s programming. That man is fantastic.

Nice teaser!

Ready in 2 weeks from now?

Changed the theme to Monty Python?

Just kidding: I think it's great they're trying to get this game back in production and I hope they'll succeed.

Heh, even I'm getting the two of you mixed up into one entity, it's been that long.

Brian and I are each other’s evil twins.

It definitely needs to be remade, one of the best themes I can think of and more people need to be able to enjoy it. Never played one but from videos I have seen it looks to be an amazing game. DO IT!!

Wish they werent dropping the LCD though.

For owners, does the LCD provide much?

Played one with both a playfield and backglass LCD. The backglass LCD was memorable with all the movie clips, etc. The playfield screen not so much, more of a gimic in my eyes. Also not easy to focus on when you are watching the ball.

I hope they find a way to make the beacon lights look more natural, they always looked like a bad add-on in the Heighway cab. Finally I think everyone will be glad to see the back of that cartridge style pf glass.

If you really resurrect the ALIEN Pinball, please contact me to write the new operator manual for the upgraded machine.

Here's hoping Shadow Force Nova can see reality in some form, I'd still be pushing for that one.

F ing finally!!

Such an awesome game

Yeah not important to me, I would rather a good price with the core game. The Alien grabbing the ball and the center screen and the face huggers on the slings all that can go. Then again if its there I won't complain. Damn it this news has me all a twitter, might an Alien pin actually be on the horizon? Sweet Mary.

The pf Alien screen was not on the version before

Maybe they added it but I doubt it

Yep I'm with you, especially liked it for the motion tracker - makes more sense being on the PF.

Anyway I'm really excited that this might get up, as it is a grail theme for me - I really liked what the development team had created, the code, integration of the movie clips and callouts, great sound package all just came together. Look forward to seeing what they come out with.

are ppl scrambling to buy Alien before they take out the screen on the playfield? seems like if they just pump them back out without improving much the old Aliens will jump in value and rarity because of having the screen.

Absolutely! ... that playfield display, and not having to look up at all while you're playing, and the atmosphere added... without the display half of the games special appeal is gone. That is my humble opinion. We all love it!

There are several ways Some owners might be able to go (to get a new playfield display game together) depending what is eventuating, if there is similarity enough that code being used, back porting, same code for both versions just with settings or options... so then being able to fit a playfield display and mirco playfield to the new game (perhaps updated old game hardware too, non USB still with the same old PF display and boards)... and run it on the same code as an old machine would. Depends if they turn out with common code. Still makes no sense to remove the smaller cheap display that is amazing and keep the big display that you need to look up at and costs heaps.

No Playfield display... that would be a big bummer. Old games could hold more value then though too... we'll see I guess.

From my experience, not really. Even though the screen was right there, the focus on the ball mostly prevented utilizing the playfield screen. Habit from playing all other machines made glancing up at the main screen much more common than getting info from the playfield screen. I think removing it is a good move as it was more of a distraction. But it did provide much needed light to the area. Replacing it with something other than just dark art will be a challenge though.

I agree, playfield screens add nothing. They are a nice novelty, but become wallpaper after a few hundred games.

But David Thiel's soundscape... now you're talking, there is your immersion

Totally disagree. Not only does it look cool but really functional. I use it all the time.

I agree with your opinion that the playfield screen may be damaged after a few games... but not the screen is the problem.
My experience is, that the edges of the coating may break, so I decided to use a sheet of mylar over there - and it works very well.
I saw this issue on Heighways' Full Throttle first.
So after this easy improvement no problem at all.

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Same for me, I use the small display on the playfield only. It is closer to the focus so easy to follow instructions.

I’ve only had Alien for a week, and was surprised how much I love the LCD in the playfield. The smaller screen is actually nicer to look at in person, imo, and strategically very helpful. The two together just take things to another level.

Ran into this myself with a friends game. PF protector (properly installed) is fantastic.

Mate is pissed with himself that he did not get me to put one on as soon as it came out of the box.

I'd recomend never running an Alien without one.

The playfield display, only useless if you don't know about weapons or where/what to glance at for various critical information on that display. Once you know the familiar information you need to glance for, the dplayfield display becomes integral and essential to the game that is Heighway Alien.

I did find it non essential initially... before I knew how to play the game properly, learned what its about a few hundred games later... now realiae the game doesn't work fully without it. So I get that alot of people don't appear to comprehend its reason.

Deleting the PF screen would be a really bad decision for them, and lessen the games value way more than what the playfield display would actually cost. If a screen needs to be deleted the most sensible to get rid of is the expensive underutilised backbox display (which is really just for spectators, low res on high def display too?). The graphics look great, and apropriately sized, on the little playfield display because the graphics were designed For the 10" display and Not the backbox display which was optional.

Actually, the backbox display doesn't really need to be bigger than about 17" or so, realistically. That would be a big saving in and of itself.

I did pitch the game to the Pinball Bros when they offered me a job, that never materalised, but it will probably only ever exist in virtual pinball.

I have a question to the community: and that is your views on Pinball Brothers and how they handle this re-release.

From my side, I didn't appreciate very much how they handled the 'purchase' of Heighway (on purpose letting it go bankrupt, taking out all IP and assets).
I'm not saying there was another choice than bankruptcy maybe, but it is the way maybe how this was presented and communicated: a group of investors that was going to save the pinball, but in the end in a sort of devious way relaunch the pin now leaving all customers who down paid with nothing at all. on top of that in the last 2 years they made a lot of money with all the spares and selling existing NIB games at elevated prices. those games were meant for those who actually paid for it, if you ask me!

So i would be surprised if people are lining up to buy the remake with this history.

I haven't lost any money on the pin and I paid a normal price for my game by the way; so I'm a bit biased but not that much (I hope).

Really good point!

I was always in the assumption that people who paid HP and did not get their machine eventually got one by PB? Is that not true?

Never heard that before, and if that was the case then those people could confirm it; there are plenty on the forum.
Let's see....

Nope.

I eventually got a refund for my paid in full Alien kit, but I think I was among the lucky ones in that respect.

I was about $4000 in on the Limited Edition version. I was SO in love and enamored by the theme that I just couldn't say no. I lost all of that money and never heard a thing. It was a gamble for sure. I lost. Sucks.

I hope it gets remade.
I got a refund on my deposit when things got delayed.
I played it at the Allentown show but the flippers were so weak It was hard to form a opinion of gameplay.

Picked up this beer last week.
pretty cool label art.

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Negative, except a few very early refund requesrs. Lost my deposit ... sheer luck that Kenneth was close when the final container never was filled .. he was owed games and hooked me up for a second time Probably a free for all w very, very, very few of those ever finding their way to the states. Grateful to him for his efforts.

Had an old thread w how much $$$ Pinsiders had lost...ended up around $38k, but obviously alot more was lost.

I think it is not luck that Kenneth got a final container load of pinballs (including this special 426); the owner of Free-play is one of the owners of pinball brothers and is connected to him; don't know the details however.
This story from Kenneth that he was grateful to Andrew Heighwway for giving him the games I'm not buying personally; I think it was the PB management that decided he got the games (my feeling; I have no facts on this).

Anyway, in the end it is good for the community in general that more games are finding their way to new owners; may result in some more members in the club, which is good!!

My understanding is that Kenneth was one of the larger buyers of Alien, lost a ton of games, and was given some of the last games to honor his commitments. He has broken even from what he told me.

Agreed...the " luck" part was for us across the pond, who were destined to never get one of those games directly from the HW factory as that was the end.

The more that have them, the better!!

How many are there about around in the US? 50-60? Any numbers on that?
In Europe they are pretty easy to find, but mostly LE's, the SE is more rare.

I think of that container ( bound for CT) less than a dozen to start...over time, more have migrated...just a guess -around 25 LE's and 50 or so of the early standards.. only the shadow would know I suppose...but have heard the whole lot was around 200 for everyone...PB surely made some "NIB" LE's after HW was done w all the parts that were around for $$$. No company to really document anything, so we can only guess. ...

That what I was told...

Nearly 200 machines around the world at all.

Wrong thread

Levi seems to have caught a bad case of FOOT IN MOUTH! Iceman was right again!!
Alien is coming baby.
Love when pinball comes together and exceeds my expectations.

That is most definitely not true. I have no refund and nothing else to show for it... They asked for more money for the game to ship and I told them I would be happy to, using an escrow service. I never heard from them again. This was towards the end after the "partnership".

I won a $100 bet and it’s pretty clear the original hypothesis- that Chicago gaming, stern, or some other real pinball company was gonna get into the Alien business - was bullshit, just as I said it was.

So how bout ya kiss my ass!

Some new scam company rising from the ashes of the old scam company to once again fleece you suckers with preorders for a shitty game That breaks like that’s its job was not the fantasy you guys were putting forth back then!!!

Also, why talk shit when 2 years later these STILL aren’t actually a real thing you can buy. Why not
Wait it out till you actually have something to talk shit about? That kind of nonsense is why Ice had to buy me $100 worth of booze.

Definitely not the case. I still have room for my paid-in-full LE #18 when it shows up one day - NOT!

Who is building bladerunner? What a theme!

Last update from PB ....any changes here in the Layout?

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He is Probably referring to his future pinball version (virtual).

Yeah that's why there's a wink. He knows as well as the rest of us it hasn't been done. I wouldn't mind that version done with a real machine. Jesus its a fucking crime that this theme isn't made into a pin but TMNT and Wonka and Hotwheels are.

I see opto ramps, but that's about it.