After almost pulling the trigger on a TNA I went with Houdini. Just paid my dealer in full.

Factors:
Depth and breadth in code. It’s doing some fun things in code that I haven’t seen before like after drain, 2nd chance modes

Theme integration is excellent and Houdini is a dream theme

Unique toys and a lot of them. Stage, catapult, underground subway, magnets, etc.

Value! For $7,000 that playfield is packed.

Backglass LCD integration is very creative. Love that the game explains the rules to you on the small LCD.

Art package is cool. I love it. Incredible detail on the playfield.

Music is important and from what I hear it is very well done.

Full RGB LEDs throughout. I hate that Stern cheaps out on color RGBs on the Pros.

That’s my reasons for Houdini. I like POTC but the price was pushing my budget a bit too far and I’m a magic buff.

American Pinball is not taking pre-orders. I had a deposit with my distributor and he told me that they’re very close to shipping so I locked in my order with him - not AP. He holds the money until the game ships.

My distributor didn’t demand I pay up front. He told me I was in the first batch he was receiving. He indicated that he spoke to API and had good reason to believe they would ship in the next week or two.

I just wanted to get my payment in so I would be sure to get it ASAP. I’m just being a little impatient child waiting for his new toy.

O-din, If I understand you correctly... I think there's a big difference. I don't recall people getting screwed by their distributors. People were pre-paying, up-front to up-start manufacturers that were taking pre-order dollars to fund development. I'm confident that my distributor is going to either give me my money back or credit towards something else if, for some reason, AP fails to deliver Houdini.

In addition, AP seems to be doing this all with investor money and actually has produced a machine in a very short period of time. Additionally, the communication has been honest and realistic. Unlike Dutch or Heighway. I understand your concern but I'm not worried. I feel like I did my homework and my money is in good hands.

The first Houdini's are leaving the factory! A new pinball machine is built and shipped in 14 months. That is quite an accomplishment. Hopefully mine is in that first batch.