I picked up a well modded SE at a very reasonable price - $7,200 - and so glad I did. I don’t care if it goes up or down. And I don’t care that there’s a small amount of pooling and a tiny chip on the playfield that isn’t viewable by the player.

What I DO care about is the outstanding, unique, euphoric gameplay. Im just in awe of this gorgeous game. A veritable feast for the senses.

Totally disagree. I like the custom callouts on non CE’s and think the “old man” narrator fits the theme perfectly. And Wonka’s music and sound effects are terrific.

Cue Rarehero to shit all over the voice work on TF. Lol. I thought TF music and callouts were also awesome.

I disagree here. I think it’s more that this hobby is full of sheep and macho dudes that want macho themes. As soon as there was a whiff of doubt and displeasure with Wonka (about theme, rules, whatever) a lot of people tuned out immediately (OMG, they changed brat Multiball to kid! I’ll NEVER buy this!! Nobodies lips are moving! Nothing is in sync! Aarrggghhj!!).

It also takes time to get familiar with a complex game with a deep, well integrated ruleset, and few people bothered to take the time or couldn’t. I shake my head at owners that give up on a game like Wonka after a couple hundred plays (or less). You don’t know shit after 200 plays. Strategy options on Wonka are off the charts. Im still learning after 4 months of constant play.

Factor in playfield issues (and the attendant self righteous factor) and it snowballs. And with so many other games to choose from, it makes sense Wonka slid.

But now people have played it, experienced the theme integration and understand the rules. People realize it’s a great freaking game, and they want it. Duh. Compared to what other machines cost and deliver, Wonka is a no brainer.

There are more “pinball moments” in Wonka than any game I can think of. And it’s definitely a world under glass. Isn’t that what everyone wants? It also might be Lawlor’s best flowing game. In history. The positives outweighs the negatives by an order of magnitude.

Jjp’s laughing all the way to the bank I guess. Not sure what’s so humorous about it. What was humorous is all the people buying Zep LE unseen and without playing it. And justifying $5,600 for the barren Zep pro. That’s downright hysterical.

And so are all the people coming in here questioning - or even caring - that Wonka’s are selling out, let alone finding it amusing.

What hype? Is the creation of this thread “the hype”? Where is this hype of which you speak?

Slowly, over the course of 2 years people have come around to the fact that Wonka is good. That it’s bad reputation was overblown and undeserved. I did so myself 4 months ago. I was negatively influenced and got over it. Thank goodness, or I wouldn’t own one of the most enjoyable pinball machines I’ve ever played.

In the last month, it’s become obvious that pinball production is behind (or non-existent cough, cough) for all manufacturers. People want games. Wonka’s were available so people bought them. And now they’re almost all sold. Same with DI. I’m sure a bunch of crappy Stern games (that distros have in inventory) are selling too. Lol. The market is hot and there’s limited supply. People are even blowing up Kiss! (Note: I like Kiss).

I’m not seeing hype, but if people want to hype Wonka, go for it! It totally deserves it. It’s earned it.

If only there were a more innovative - and protective! - way to ship a machine!

It’s a miracle these games get anywhere in one piece!

Where is the backglass available? That is sweet.

Kid MB is such a great mode. Haterz don’t get it, and I couldn’t care less.

The factory layout is hard because the game can drain a lot when it’s in the mood to. Still, long games can and do happen.

The main reason the game is so challenging - and maddening! And FUN! - is because there are a million ways to play it, and a zillion strategies, and trying to stick to one is practically impossible because you have so many choices and it’s so easy to get caught up in the moment and totally abandon your strategy. I feel like Sybil playing this game.

To really succeed in this game you need to be disciplined. Otherwise, just hope you get one of those mayhem balls where a bunch of things are happening at once - stacked- and all hell is breaking loose and your score goes through the roof!

If loving WW is crazy I don’t want to be sane!