From "This Week In Pinball" interview with Eric.
http://thisweekinpinball.com/twip-interview-with-eric-meunier-on-jjp-changes-heighway-pinball-unsettling-info-alice-coopers-sounds-and-callouts-more/
The three spinning discs were a very cool feature and it was easy to see you (and JJP) were excited about them. How difficult of a decision was it to remove them?
Removing them from the game was a very difficult decision. Hardest thing I’ve ever had to do at JJP. I am very passionate about the design, and have poured my heart and soul into this game. The triple spinning disk is the first ever mechansim for which I have my name on the patent. When push comes to shove though, the game has to be reliable first and foremost. Our testing proceedure here at JJP proved that it wasn’t, and unfortunately we are out of time.
Can you explain more about why the three discs were removed? Was it failing in long-term tests?
As was seen at several shows around the world, and in the shops of several of our distributors, the disks were not living long-term. It was not a cost issue and it was not code/programming.
Is it set in stone that it will now include just the one disc?
It is set in stone.
Is the design of new disc the same artwork that was in the movie?
It is the exact artwork out of the movie series.
You mentioned the colors will be changed to match the playfield better. Do you know how they will be changed?
Colors of the disk are going to be lightened up a bit. Looked like the red was coming through stronger than anything else, so it’s been pulled back a bit to better blend in and resemble the older color pallet of the original disk.
Will the colors on the CE be different than the LE and Standard?
Disk colors are the same on all 3 models.
Did coding the discs and rewards play into the decision at all?
We still want to and are going to display the random generated awards on the screen. It was an interesting feature that we definitely want.
Will the new disc spin in both directions or at different speeds?
The new disk will spin in both directions and at variable speeds. Hitting the map targets is what starts and changes the speed/direction of the map.
Will the late changes cause any delays in production?
The changes will not cause delays in production.
When can we expect these machines to start shipping?
Machines are shipping this summer. I am flying to NJ next month to help train the factory on how to assemble my game.
What month during the summer can we expect these to ship?
I don’t want to go on record with a firm date, but I plan on showing Jack how to actually do a cartwheel when my first game ships while I’m out there…