DI is a standard body.

Idk if it's been mentioned, but I just noticed on the order sheet from my distro that the LE has a Laser-cut Topper. (CE has the moving ship in a bottle topper).

Other LE features: 72-light Starfield on back panel, invisiglass, shaker motor, powder coated armor and legs
Interesting that the LE won't get a printed manual (DI buyers should get them, once available).

Not that I want to compare JJP to the other manufacturers, but I just have to say, "to each their own." My collection is limited by space and not $$. The value is there when comparing a $7,000 premium stern to a $9,000 JJP pin.

I like that this game has something for the competitive player, collector, and operator in mind. I wasn't high on the theme, but they executed it wonderfully (and Keith said at the end of the Buffalo stream that it's only 20% done). Shipping 1Q (3 monhs up from last year). Well done.

Of the 1,100 lines of script, a lot of them are lines from the movies, just re-done by the actor. Not having Jack Sparrow's "character" is a setback. I'm sure the royalties for Hans Zimmer's music or any of the "talent" voices were too much for JJP to negotiate into the license and be profitable.

Why are people getting bent about something being called limited? You can buy a “Limited edition” model vehicle and nobody gripes over production numbers. You get the Limited because it has better features, not because it’s rare.

Limited IS limited. Even if it takes 5 years to make and sell 1,500 games, they will only make 1,500 that way. It sounds silly, but you could call it a limited run of 10,000 games and maybe you never sell them all. Who cares? LE# is like a serial #.

It doesn't hurt sales for them to show the game earlier. When something costs $9,500 it's good to give people a chance to reserve their money for it instead of buying the 3 other games that come out from other manufacturers during that time. It also helps the manufacturer know what to expect as far as sales when you have some time to generate excitement.

Movies have trailers more than 6 months in advance. Pinside is going to speculate all day whether you have 8 months or 2 weeks before a game comes out. It sucks to wait, but we can always get off the internet and actually just play pinball until it's time to get your new game.

Jack didn't say early summer. He said they will ship some time during the summer, but no later.

I was talking with Butch Peel, who is working a lot with the production parts suppliers and he thinks it will be August. The slowdown is 2 things: the chest and the spinning concentric discs (map). The chest ball lock was re-designed, and the discs are not yet where they want them to be.

He also said once that is figured out they will make 20 games using the production parts and put those games on route to see how they do. THEN they will make the mass order of parts. Production can not start if 1 part is not in stock. JJP doesn't want a massive recall and they also want this game to be amazing right out of the box.

Butch said JJP strongly considered not unveiling Pirates until TPF, and now think they probably should have waited. I asked since this game won't come out until late summer, is it likely JJP5 will be announced at TPF next year. The answer I got was that it hasn't been decided, but that is likely what is to happen. Pat Lawlor is designing JJP5 (lots of toys) and Eric Meunier is on JJP6.

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That's understandable. But this is speculation and it may still come earlier.

A movie trailer comes out a year in advance and people still go see it. You can have an itch to buy something else, but there isn't a game out there that's in the same league with this one, imo (except Dialed In). It's worth the wait and it won't be a disappointment when you get it.

I agree. The communication and transparency has been good, as have the streams from Eric, Keefer, and Joe.

I don't fault JJP a bit for how they are approaching this. I'm glad they made a fantastic game that's worth buying. It will get here when it gets here.

I wouldn't really worry about it. This one looks great, and if you feel the same way you should get it. They will sell a lot of these games and I can definitely see a separate premium edition once the LE run has been exhausted. I think Hobbit LE looks better than Black Arrow or Smaug. Pirates is fitting to come in Black. IDK what other powder coated color you would change it to. I don't think they'll have more toys in a future version. This game is already packed.

One thing we have confirmation that won't change is the number of Collector's Edition machines. Besides the CE topper, I prefer the LE look.

The LE run on Dialed in is 2,500. The comparison sheet between the 3 models states the number. On the comparison sheet for Pirates, it says numbered, but doesn't show a limit.

Nothing has been released on the topper. I asked about the topper and the answer of, "It's going to be laser-etched," instead of, "It is laser-etched" with no other details makes you think that it hasn't been finished yet.

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This thread is POTC. Take it to the Hobbit forum.

I made that suggestion after launch, at least in regards to the spinners. I'm interested to see what they do here and very excited for this game.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/jjpotc-suggestions-thread-attitude-pls#post-4026648

meh. that upper pf can get pretty close to the pf on the right, so i don't think a trough of some kind would really benefit it. Mylar on the area and it's a done deal. production model might even have that.

Yeah, but my point isn't how low it is to the playfield, but that a trough would have to stay clear of the rocking pf's movement. Which would put it right up against the right edge. You couldn't put it under because it rocks too low. I think it would look awful.

Deciding to buy a pin this good shouldn’t hinge on a potentially 3-5 month swing in estimated delivery. This is the best game (soon to be) out there right now. Buy Dialed In if you want something that rivals the fun of JJPOTC and want it now.

I thought we were playing pinball, not watching a screen. Do you want a longer animation when there's mutliple balls on the pf?

I think the animations, sound, and lights on this game are stellar.

These multiballs are SUPER EASY to get to and there are FIVE of them, plus mini wizard modes, wiz mode, and more. Do you want an "animation cookie?" This isn't Valinor.

It's a subjective opinion, but I think the entire presentation on the backglass in regards to modes, progress, et all is fantastic. The sound and lights are as well.

It was me that factually stated a conversation that I had with Butch. He was super gracious to talk with me for a while. I hope I didn't ruffle any feathers at JJP by sharing it. I wasn't trying to break a story, but just help people with their expectations. The truth is that Jack said at TPF that it would ship by the end of summer. So it's not like this was a big secret. The reason JJP hasn't given another update is because it appears that is still the timeframe they are operating in.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/jjp-4/page/70#post-4290782

If you click the post I linked, you'll see that we were told about the chest and discs being an issue before Eric announced the removal. After the initial announcement of Q1 shipping at expo last year, Jack said in March that games would ship before end of summer and Butch guessed August for production. Nobody cared to pay attention. Everybody said JJP wasn't being transparent, but they didn't have anything to announce because nothing had changed. My game was manufactured on August 14th and I got it in early September. The devs continued to show game progress with the streams, and I thought that was great, even though it made waiting more difficult.

For everyone that's gone through the whole spectrum of emotion while waiting and have considered or did cancel their deposit, you may want to jump back in. This game is feature-packed, gorgeous, deep, and most of all a lot of fun to play. My early production game has had 0 issues out-of-box (had to bend a rollover switch) and it's super obvious that the production wait afforded time for more complete code at launch.

For some perspective, You are getting a game in Pirates that is much more complete than a pin from some other manufacturers that have been out for a year or more. It was worth the wait.