That third bumper will most probable be hidden under the "Bag End" toy...

There is not so much of a "club" but I do keep track of a list of pre-orders (https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/the-hobbit-list-by-numbers) and put you on...

The count is now 174 pinsiders who have stated they are on pre-order for THLE...

A lot of good things have been said about the updated pf design. I have to agree it looks very promising but there keeps a 'thing' with those scrolls... Why have those three centered ones been angled 90 degrees over the rest? IMO it looks like a "shortage of space" solution, which bothers me a bit.

Or could there be a fundamental reason for doing so which I have missed?

CURRENT:
TH_pf_scrolls_curr.png

NEW:
TH_pf_scrolls_new.jpg

There are at least a bit too much of the same scrolls in that area...

Maybe the ones underneath the popups could have been differentiated to distinguish themselves and prevent an overkill effect?

I really hope for just the opposite -> Like Smaug will actually interact with the player by speech (and synchronized mouth movement) Imagine he's challenging you constantly with the deep voice, probably even a shaker motor to increase the drama...

That would make it like a living creature inside the machine instead of 'just' a toy.

If The Hobbit really ups over WOZ like Jack intended that momentum will come. On the other hand... I believe there will be a demand for pre-order always. Watch what will happen now with TWD LE... Weren't there boatloads of pinballers who swore never to pre-order a STERN because of the lack of complete coding (and other issues)?!?
- Well, don't expect those TWD's to sit and wait till the day Gary puts the first into the real world to "see and play before you buy".

Oh oh... Brace yourself... All JJP haters are united as we speak.

You guys really act like children bitching each other off! Stop the nonsense and keep the line open in case of emergency (WOZ/THLE updates).

Step away from your computer for a sec to start your next best game of pinball instead.