Initial thoughts on machine in late Nov.

REPOSTED

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Picked up my bond pro for location a few days ago and I think I have enough time on it to give a few impressions for anyone that cares.
Visual/art-
Game looks better than in pictures and has a very fluid style that isn't disrupted from the cab to the playfield, it flows very well. They kept the same 60's style and color pallet from the original bond films and did a great job. Those that say this looks like photoshop era stern are way off. It may be clip art but there was direction and most importantly the colors flow very well. This is not early 2000's stern here. The yellow cab looks great and is bold in a subtle way if that makes sense.

Layout

This is where it gets good. THIS GAME HAS FLOW and it shoots VERY well. I am a Gomez fan and this layout doesn't disappoint. His willingness to try a different layout does not disappoint here. This feels unique but not clunky, DP players will like bond and it has "it" when you are making shots. I've noted through the years that his games have a certain easy to pick up and hard to master feeling, usually long playing for a decent player and bond is no different. I still route a sopranos for this same reason, casuals and decent players like it and bond will be no different. For my operators out there, this game will do VERY well on route, at least that's my opinion based on my past and its like, my opinion man!
Left ramp waayyy in the back feeding the left flipper into the right ramp to the horseshoe around the rocket to upper flip side ramp is a VERY satisfying combo! Whew that typed out long but man it shoots well. Hybrid pyramid type ramp reminds me of corvette or Baywatch and works well here. The drops in front of the rocket surprising work very well and there are a few different ways of feeding the upper flipper which is always a huge bonus in a 3 flipper game. Shots are tight but again it feels like a Gomez game and that's a good thing, once you get a feeling for them they aren't impossible and the reward for practice feels great. I'm having some issues with the game registering ball locks on the mini loop but it appears to be a code problem as the switches are fine. Code, ahh we will get to that...Back to the fun, and it really does feel like a refreshing layout. The scoop under the DB7 is just hard enough to hit but not constantly in the way slowing down the flow. It's my one complaint sometimes in a Borg layout and even going back to adams family, but I digress. The kicker to the wireworm from the car is great and makes a good feed to the right. Really great to see the up post in the insane holding a ball before a mode. Keith has been rocking this mech with great success and its nice to see a different designer implement it. The layout looks simple but packs a punch, and I know this is somewhat subjective but I believe this will go down as another home run from stern.

Sound/music

What can I say here, the Bond theme is ALL TIME awesome so let's get that out of the way. Yes at this time its used too much but I anticipate that changing in the future. The songs tied the villains really sound great and puts you in the movie for a brief time. The music feels period correct and that is important in a game like this to keep you in the world. Really love the mellow music in Mr Wint and Mr Kidd. The callouts have a bit to be desired, I really hope there is more to come here. The announcer is perfect however the clips and sounds from the movies are....odd. One that really is misplaced would be the ring mode for Q. People playing the mode all agreed that listening to a women complain to Q about nonsense while you play a mode is just weird. I know some of the sound effects are scheduled to change so I don't think its worth it to grind on what we have so far, but realize the sound, like the code is very basic.

Code

It's basic, as in just enough to be called a pinball machine basic. Modes do in fact stack and this is only brought up as it took us many games to realize this as the insert LEDs really don't alternate colors yet to give the player info. I'm still not sure how multipliers work or the how important the specter weapons are. Honestly there are many questions, too many to list and at this point I put faith that stern will make this complete. It ABSOLUTELY has the bones of a masterpiece and the code will be the key to get there. Those of us that remember ST, DP, and JP when they came out you will have similar vibes here. With the team in place and using the past as any example this one will go down as great.
Final thoughts-
Love it so far. Code is basic as it gets and hopefully improves soon. The layout and theme integration are TOP NOTCH. For those of us dedicated silver ball chronicles listeners :wink:we know that Gomez is a HUGE Bond fan and I truly believe he won't let this one rot away in basic code purgatory. Have faith people! This game is a blast to play and will hopefully earn well. It's sometimes a hard balance to strike but I have a good feeling that Bond will crush it.

No issues here. I dropped the power a bit just because it was so forceful. I’m sure you have messed with the VUK power already though.

I’ll check this weekend, but I think I dropped it like 10 down from the factory number.

Its_me_aj

I did initially. It was the two screws that hold the switch for the spinner going into the lock shot. They were both loose from the factory. Once tightened up it works fine now.

WTF IS THAT.

That looks absolutely terrible.

My first impression mirrors yours. This has to be in licensing hell which would also explain the assets on the screen that are “pending”.

Banner wise, anything from the cab or playfield would have been better than this.

I can’t wait for the owners of the location…”so you need us to hang a picture of the pinball machine over the same pinball machine?”

lol

Sounds fun!

Ahh I’m with you now, and also agree.

Bond is a fantastic layout with Gomez behind it. I’m surprised anyone that’s been in the game longer than a few years is really questioning the positive outcome here.

A spooky huh?

LOL

I have zero doubt this code will be complete and bond will be spectacular.

Original concept art from the movies, I think it looks phenomenal as a backdrop to the saturated cabs and playfield colors.

I love all of the models, but these LE’s are really something though.

Why? Unless rusted which I’ve never had, why wouldn’t you use stern balls?

That’s it. We didn’t even get one for our launch party either. They ran out of them apparently.

One big issues was during our launch tournament that the game doesn’t cycle the drops during a ball search.

Had a stuck ball sitting behind them and it cycled a few coils and put another ball in the lane. Once one ball went in the trough it went to the next player.

We have all of those same games out and I’d say you’re spot on with your assessment, except bond is right there at the top right now.

A lot of that is the newness of the game so we will see where it falls, but it’s promising. Stranger things continues to shatter records and GZ does great. DP still continues to earn great as well.

I will agree, this ball hang-up is pretty big oversight from just a basic mechanics standpoint.

I've thought about putting some kind of filler at the end of that opening for the switch to prevent this. A clear epoxy would work most likely.

I really hoped this one would have been addressed. I’m sure it will soon enough though.

It is pretty hard to pack against a set of forklift blades, to be fair.

I looked at mine with 700+ games on it after reading this thread.

Complete non issue. My balls still looked good as well and are original, playfield looks like glass and I still insist this is the best looking clear on a modern stern I’ve seen.

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It definitely has some wear but I don’t think it’s going to get worse.

I’m sure it could have been protected better but it’s looked like that after a few hundred plays and hasn’t changed since.

I would use that too if I was operating EM’s in the 1960’s.

It will get better. New code drops next week.

It’s an outdated shooting style. In WW2 we taught one handed 1911 shooting.

Then the 80’s happened and nobody taught that hip fire style except Hollywood.

I tried to play rush the other day and my key fab wouldn’t start my game. Almost made a tech post on pinside.

Almost

Thanks for reminding me, I’ve got some ball wear on the side of a metal ramp.

Ticket time!

That or I’m just a shitty hamburger at Wendy’s! Who knows!

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I think you just need to not act like an asshole and be a decent person.

It’s crazy but I’ve found it works.

I know it’s their job but I can’t image the call volume and type of call over the past few years. Has to be a high turnaround!

Anyone that ran a launch party receive their IC kit yet?

Curious as to why it’s a 9mm bullet? Bond used a PPK.

Yea just call or email and you will be put on a list for them.

Correct, it’s a .32 ACP which is very small. Bond giving up his beretta was a bigger deal in the books apparently but they definitely touched on it in the movie. Great scene when he is forced to hand over his old firearm and is not happy about it.

I like the 5.25 Kickers.

KICKER 46CSC54 CS-Series CSC5 5.25-Inch (130mm) Coaxial Speakers, 4-Ohm (Pair) https://a.co/d/6yts4yp

jdoz2

Can you tell me what you are doing to mirror the LCD onto the monitors? I like it.

Thanks monk. I’d like to find a few.

Thank you jdoz2!

Impossible task. It doesn’t exist.

Exactly. Maturing code over time is normal and expected.

Bond has been essentially broken since Nov when most of us placed our bond pros on location.

Hot glue some red LEDs at the tip please.

They will send you a new one. That's not within normal spec at all.

Really kind of the same for me.

There is some justifiable angst toward the team on this game, but knowing its George's game helps to see the forest for the trees.

I believe its a licensing issue with the banners as to why they cannot sell them. PR use only is what I've heard.

I got mine last week but haven't been out to install it yet. Crazy to me that the biggest ball hang-up is the lip around the rocket and there is nothing in the box for that. Looks like its time to break out the mylar and get into arts and crafts mode.

Its a kit put out for all models to address areas of stuck balls that ops were having on locations. Call or email stern if you want one.

This seems to be the best fix for this. I layered Mylar on the top side with the same result.

Question for the bond player. I've got one on location and a guy in our league swears that he will occasionally get a ball to fly back to the left outlane from a direct shot to the scoop area on the left side.

Basically it hits under the flipper area and bounces back over the scoop and right down the left lane. I can't reproduce this when I go out and play it, but I'm also not getting a ton of time on it.

Has this been an issues for anyone else here?

Still making that left orbit after the drop in power?

It sounds like complete ass right now. I'd take about any sound over that bouncy ball sound we have now.

I’m still curious if we will see more of the screen being used for info while playing. It seems odd to me still that the clips and most of the info is in the smaller box on the screen.

It just seems like wasted space and not a complete product yet.

“Design flaw”

GTFO

Yea Gomez doesn’t know what he’s doing but I’m sure the modders know more about playfield design and have fixed his terrible sloppiness.

Riiiiight.