Honestly, I think this is a game where the difference in home environment vs. location environment is huge. Simple as that.

I don't know man. For good players, there really isn't that much difference between home and location providing you have a good location that takes care of their games. Some of us spend a LOT of our time out there playing the games.

Have you spoken with everyone who has played the Hobbit?

I don't own Hobbit, but I wish that I did. I think it's a fun game for a lot of reasons, but it's pretty easy to see why it's not a game that everyone would like. I think that JJP is trying to do things a bit differently in a lot of areas so that they can carve out their niche within this niche and have a nice business doing it. Kudos to them (and Heighway for that matter) for doing things in a different way than Stern.

Yes, I have spoken with everyone who has played the hobbit.

The only people who are in love with it are those who own one or who are selling one.

I do as well, just don't make many tournaments. And my experience with location vs. home environment is much different than yours I guess. Seems like anywhere I try going, the games just don't play as well. WOZ and Hobbit were probably the biggest difference I noticed.

This conversation on TH reminds me of my TSPP experience. Everyone was talking about how great a game it was. I finally got to play on location and thought 'bleh', not a lot of flow, odd shots, so much going on, etc. and I just did not get why it was so highly thought of. Then I read up on the rules and it totally changed my perspective of the game, and then I started to really enjoy it.

Some games can be fun just given the layouts without knowing the rules (e.g. many fan games), others you need to understand the rules to enjoy it.

With JJP selling likely around $15-20 million worth of these and those people being in love with it, still many on back order ... is that a problem for the pinball industry? Quite a few of those Hobbit owners are repeat customers that love WOZ. Good for JJP. If you don't love it, don't buy it. I love it, don't have it ... yet.

Soooo.... When is JJP going to reveal pin #3?

Rules and code have nothing to do with it. I don't find the shots interesting. I don't find the playfield interesting. Code does not change that.

I'm so glad there are several companies that make pinballs. Williams/Bally to me were the best. Since they are not around, I have to rely on new companies. If Stern was the only company, I would be out of the hobby. Thank you JJP and Spooky.

Relax...I was just trying to reply to CrazyLevi with the tired old argument that it has to be in ideal settings or modes understood to enjoy it. Truth is, I like it more the more I play it.

Here is the news flash - it isn't for everyone. Some will not like it (regardless of what other's say to try to convince him to like it). And in a similar fashion, people that like the hobbit (like me) don't understand why people don't have the fun we experience when playing it.

The best thing to do is play before buy - so you will find out if you like it or not - or if you love it enough to own it. Simple as that?

my personal experience is that my perspective of if a playfield is interesting, has changed, once I understood the rules. But I certainly understand if you have never experienced that kind of a epiphany where your perspective of the playfield changed.

I am still very interested in JJP, and what Lawlor can cook up. I'm not here to trash the company. I'm glad they are in the business.

These are from the only game I played that night because the machine was packed the entire time.

I had fun. It's a bit multiball heavy, honestly. Into the Fire was way cool.

High ScoreWoo!

If people don't like it, it's because haven't played it enough, or dialed it in, or played it in the home; it's as simple as that.
-Pinside

LOL, that's what I am sayin'

I find this post amusing because I was accused of being a fanboy when WOZ came out. So it's lose/lose, especially with JJP. Love the game and you're a fanboy. Dislike the game and you're "stalking" the threads.

In case you forgot, this is a JJP #3 thread, which I'm interested in, but the Hobbit fans all started acting like there's something wrong with people that don't like it (including you) and that's where I step in. We've all got opinions, and I don't disrespect anybody else's, and there's certainly nothing "up with" me because I add my two cents.

RobT even commented recently that I don't shit on Hobbit threads, and he knows I had it on order twice and cancelled it.

So...you know...you're wrong here. You can apologize anytime you're ready.

Oh! And PS - didn't you notice that I wasn't entirely disparaging about TH? I did say it's a beauty... That's not exactly a disparaging remark.

Whaaaaaa.... Original thread topic?! Blasphemy I say!

I find it hard to believe that The Hobbit can teach Lawlor anything he doesn't already know.

???

I would say the opposite is true; a kick-ass ruleset is the only thing that can save a fan layout.

Are jpp games for location? I doubt it.

First price is too high to profitable it imo

Yes. And when WOZ started bill validators were given to those going on location. To encourage operating them.

LTG : )

Hi, Ladyslingshot.

You forgot to survey me levi. I don't own it and I am a big fan. Still learning stuff, but so far I think it is way better than woz and enjoying playing it when i get a chance.

The idea of JJP #3 with PL is super exciting to me. If they manage to get it out the door within 6 weeks of announcement that would be the ideal scenario. I also like how Jack is proactively addressing issues with the previous games and is communicating well. That's refreshing compared to what we are seeing out of Stern currently. Hobbit is more interesting to me now than the first time a played it a few months ago. Can't say that I am at the point where I will make room for one yet.

Widebody?

Nope. She's a skinny-miny.

You're right, poor example, only true for a novice.

I'm pretty sure he didn't "forget."

I have not heard that in the 10 times i got Smaug Multiball so i guess you were playing a game with old code. I think he says one of those two and some other stuff but its not repetative like the game i played at shows.

I think TSPP sucks balls so to each his own but i can also say when i played the Hobbit at Allentown this year i was concerned i would hate it but when i got it the game felt 100% opposite.. pretty clear what you need to do and when and also very diverse with many goals you can go for that makes every game different. Shot selection is awesome despite what it looks like at first glance.

I don't think Smaug says that as often anymore. My understanding is that they are going to put more Smaug dialog in the game.

You do realize that people say stuff like that about the WOZ music driving them nuts. I am surprised to see you comment about JJP sounds...being such a huge WOZ fan (like me)

EDIT: Nevermind, you do seem to dislike hobbit quite a bit (but you say at least it looks good)

Actually, I'm not trying to convince anyone to like or dislike it. I simply said don't form your opinion on a game with limited code/sound/callouts and with a 4% pitch. I would say that about any title, but Stern/Heighway doesn't show their games until they are much further along.

I can say with certainty that the game is not floaty, slow or have a lack of things to shoot at. It's a keeper for me and I feel like it's one of the best titles made to date.

I love JJP threads, the fanboys are good for some entertaining reading, by the way I find TH to be slow and floaty, go.

You have to own it to understand and enjoy it.
And after a few hour long games, the quest for perfection will be realized (And operators will probably pull it from their locations).

That sucks

Last time I played it was at Pintastic last month. Early in the morning before the hall opened, so I could experience it in more of a faux-HUO environment.

Looks good and sounds great. The physical gameplay just seems half developed. After having the munchkin huts on WOZ, would it have been too much to ask to have a little hobbit house just in front of the pops? I'm betting there were plans to have one there before the budget started getting cut. Of course, I wouldn't want JJP to go out of business to make that happen because I AM a huge fan.

If you play it right after playing some of the modern Sterns, you see how floaty it is. It's an open playfield widebody, so that really lends a lot to the floaty feel.

If you mean the stern fanboys and JJP haters, then yeah, they do seem to

I don't think anyone who here who has stated their like for JJP games has sounded like a fanboy to me.

Myself for instance, my next new game while leaning towards JJP may very well be a Stern. If there weren't current playfield issues, might have already bought it.

Thanks but they are fan boys, thats ok I didn't mean that in a bad way, I'm a Gottlieb System 80 fanboy.

I think it will do very well on location. My WOZ has been my top earning pin on location by a good margin (against B/W Stern). Hobbit is going in probably next March and I think it will do as well or better. Most location players are not very good so very few will have long games like that.

Funny you mention volume. I never used the headphone jack on WOZ but people on location have really taken to it and use it all the time. The bar has a pair of headphones they will loan out to people if they ask.

My memory must have been playing tricks on me. Revisited some of the other Hobbit threads and no stalking involved just well stated opinions.

Apologies Beelzeboob.

Wow. I can't believe you did that. You do know you're on Pinside, right? That, like, never happens...

+1000. Thanks, buddy.

cff_(resized).jpg

Do we know If JPP#3 will work with preorders?
Thanks

JJP has stated several times that there will be no pre-orders. Their goal seems to be to release the game when ready to ship.

I wouldn't be surprised if JJP goes with a deposit method, something like $1000 or $1500. Of course, no up-front monies is the best for customers, but a *smallish* deposit seems to be a reasonable compromise.

How long ago was the announcement for the announcement for game three?

I could see a small deposit as I doubt they will have the assembly line ramped up when the game gets announced so back orders seem likely. But my guess would be that those deposits won't be taken until production starts.

All I can say is that JJP#3 better rock my world or I am getting a WOZ. WOZ is really really good