Quoted from iceman44:

I can’t even respond to the Alien comments. I don’t have time to write a book BUT it is coming back out as PB brothers picked up the license again and has been reworked with mechs, etc and will be all Bally parts and cab
It is a phenomenally immersive pin, with great code and totally COMPLETE other than how they over engineered it
My AlienLE plays flawless though. Best sound and video on a pinball machine and it’s not even close
Thank you David Thiel!

Quoted from drfrightner:

Octoberfest: review
This is the most honest review of the game you'll ever get. American Pinball is not going to stay in business if they keep making this odd ball themes because in a pincade, 90% of the players like Ghostbusters, a game here most people hate. People are drawn into the theme, not the features most of the time. A good exception is Dialed In, that game makes money, because from the naked eye its looks like a normal pinball game, but it looks like so much more fun!!!
Octoberfest is the most confusing theme I've ever seen... at first glance it looks like a BEER theme, but no wait its a carnival, its a party, no wait its I have no clue. Who would drink beer and ride a roller coaster? If you're trying to make a BEER themed pinball game, then make it an all out assault on BEER, make the topper something that holds a keg, with lines inside the machine so you can POUR a drink while playing. Make it a game every single bar and man cave would want, and market the game that way.
This is a game I'm thinking might sell 100 to 150 copies because of the theme itself. Now I'm hearing they will consider Robin Hood, NO WAY no ONE wants to play Robin Hood. American Pinball has shown the ability to produce a really beautiful game, they need to re-focus here on CHEAPER licenses like Halloween, Friday the 13th, Bill and Ted, something along those lines, a cheaper license so when they announce 750 copies not a copy more BOOM they sell out in 10 minutes.
How do you market Octoberfest, not to mention you're playing the game in April. Bad name, bad theme, and I think an overall financial disaster. The playfield is a cluttered mess while the game and all the mechs are fun, unique and different.
Now the good... they learned from Houdini, they made a game that is a lot of fun here. If they could step up the CGI graphics, license something interesting, these guys could be real players. These guys have the potential for a breakout but they need some better advice. Whomever is giving these guys advice isn't thinking for the hear and now or the long term.
I don't want to pay 7400 bucks for a confusing theme, a game that won't be collectable long term, just because the game is FUN, INTERESTING, DIFFERENT, because long term all games get boring. People buy and sell these games long term based on the theme.
The game is fun, its different, love what they did with the rails, just overall I think its the second best new game created this year... behind Wonka.
So yeah I think honestly its one of the most original and fun games probably released in several years, but the theme is terrible. Buy today for 7400 and 1 year from now sell for 5800.
I was tempted to buy one, because the game really is that much fun to play, but like all pinballs after a while you get bored of it... then you fall back on the THEME to find a buyer.
American Pinball could be the next BIG PLAYER but they will need to start looking at themes they could produce 500 to 1000 copies not games that might sell 200 copies. I think Octoberfest is a wasted game because at the box office its not going to produce a profit.
With all that being said Octoberfest won't ever sell itself, they will need to show the game to sell any, and most games usually just sell themselves.
American Pinball created one of the most fun games, I've ever seen, but the theme is going to kill them long term. Just my opinion.
I would say at this point American Pinball need to turn the corner, license something that appeals to 500 to 1000 buyers, take what they've learned from these first two games, and go after this industry. Because despite everything I said I think these guys have the most potential for a breakout.
One thing all companies need to understand is you must learn from your competition, and how many original themes have survived? How many times has Stern done an original theme? Jersey Jack a new company has made 5 games, with two more coming... 1 original theme 6 licensed.
Stern like everything is licensed but the new Black Knight.
Alien a company that failed, but people are paying 10k to get that game, not because the game because honestly the game is average its the theme.
American Pinball has the potential for a massive breakout but man they have to license something.

Quoted from drfrightner:

We would disagree, they missed on a lot of stuff. The main Alien head is badly sculpted, a pinball shooter coming out of his mouth with a magnet on the end looks ridiculous. No attempt to add toys to add to the theme such as a couple aliens on the grids, or ripley in her robot mech, there was several opportunities missed there.
The game plays kind of clunky, shooting the ball is pointless.
I do however like the way they incorporated the movie assets, I like the screen in the playfield, I like the side art of the game showing the logo, there are things to like and things not to like.
The game to me seems like we're going for the GOLF but just ran out of money.
I like effort but not the final product.
Alien to me can be drastically improved if someone decided to pick up that license.

Quoted from mthirkell:

No one is debating whether sugar-coating is needed.

Quoted from Psw757:

Funny how opinions vary. I was expecting the worst on the animations after following this thread but walked away neutral at the moment. They could easily be cleaned up a bit but the material in general was fine for me.

Quoted from Roostking:

.. Also cheaper than JJP, so what do you expect!

Quoted from Rarehero:

Ayce will probably get it...I can't imagine anyone here is buying it for their home, though.

Quoted from BMore-Pinball:

.
If they reissue Alien, please let it be with a normal cabinet. That heighway cab bugged the shit out of me

Quoted from benheck:

Root issue with a theme like this: Anyone can go buy beer or attend a festival. Playing a pin is not as much fun as going to a festival.
Almost none of us can visit a magical chocolate factory, quest to beat the Black Knight or explore a nightmare castle. Likewise, flipping a pin is much safer than those activities.
If a theme is set in the real world then it needs to be a power fantasy. You're a famous rock band, or you're saving a city from disasters either as a super hero or with your cell phone and mom jeans.

Quoted from pipes:

That extra $100 sure goes a long way though.

Quoted from pipes:

That extra $100 sure goes a long way though.

Quoted from Roostking:

Which JJP pin is only $100 more?

Quoted from Roostking:

Does it? PoTC has some stunning vid assets, yet its being stopped short of production goals. Guess that hunddy should have gone to a reliable working game.

Quoted from pipes:

Wonka SE is $7500

Quoted from bobukcat:

Let's see who would possibly want to put an Oktoberfest game in their location - how about all the breweries that have popped up all over the place the last 5 years or so (longer in Portland and some other places)?? If you don't understand that Oktoberfest is about a lot more than beer that's fine, but I think most people can at least recognize / relate to the them when they'd see it in a lineup.

Quoted from iceman44:

It will kill it on location. The dopey elitists are clueless as usual!

Quoted from konjurer:

Oktoberfest is the perfect game for a bar or barcade. As a theme, I think it has broad appeal. There are certainly a lot of people that just don't get it as a theme. However there are a lot of people that would walk into a bar and connect with it more than a Marvel super hero game. I think the carnival game aspect is also very clever. Non-pinheads will have fun with those mini games like duck hunting and beer chugging.

It's also a great man-cave theme. I think people in pinside think they are the only ones buying pinball machines. For someone looking for something fun to put in their mancave then Oktoberfest is a great theme. I would also dispel the idea that because it didn't ship in October that API has somehow missed it's sales window. I cringe at the stupidity of comments like that.

Quoted from Roostking:

Oh, so a game , a great game, that is how many years old. Funny, no other JJP game is that cheap. Great answer, but lets talk modern pricing. Soo, which game again?

Quoted from Roostking:

Oh, so a game , a great game, that is how many years old. Funny, no other JJP game is that cheap. Great answer, but lets talk modern pricing. Soo, which game again?

Quoted from drfrightner:

Octoberfest is the most confusing theme I've ever seen... at first glance it looks like a BEER theme, but no wait its a carnival, its a party, no wait its I have no clue. Who would drink beer and ride a roller coaster?

Quoted from drfrightner:

the game and all the mechs are fun, unique and different.

Quoted from drfrightner:

Now the good... they learned from Houdini, they made a game that is a lot of fun here.

Quoted from drfrightner:

The game is fun, its different, love what they did with the rails

Quoted from drfrightner:

So yeah I think honestly its one of the most original and fun games probably released in several years

Quoted from drfrightner:

I was tempted to buy one, because the game really is that much fun to play

Quoted from drfrightner:

American Pinball created one of the most fun games, I've ever seen

Quoted from benheck:

Root issue with a theme like this: Anyone can go buy beer or attend a festival. Playing a pin is not as much fun as going to a festival.
Almost none of us can visit a magical chocolate factory, quest to beat the Black Knight or explore a nightmare castle. Likewise, flipping a pin is much safer than those activities.
If a theme is set in the real world then it needs to be a power fantasy. You're a famous rock band, or you're saving a city from disasters either as a super hero or with your cell phone and mom jeans.

Quoted from drfrightner:

Octoberfest: review
This is the most honest review of the game you'll ever get. American Pinball is not going to stay in business if they keep making this odd ball themes because in a pincade, 90% of the players like Ghostbusters, a game here most people hate. People are drawn into the theme, not the features most of the time. A good exception is Dialed In, that game makes money, because from the naked eye its looks like a normal pinball game, but it looks like so much more fun!!!
Octoberfest is the most confusing theme I've ever seen... at first glance it looks like a BEER theme, but no wait its a carnival, its a party, no wait its I have no clue. Who would drink beer and ride a roller coaster? If you're trying to make a BEER themed pinball game, then make it an all out assault on BEER, make the topper something that holds a keg, with lines inside the machine so you can POUR a drink while playing. Make it a game every single bar and man cave would want, and market the game that way.
This is a game I'm thinking might sell 100 to 150 copies because of the theme itself. Now I'm hearing they will consider Robin Hood, NO WAY no ONE wants to play Robin Hood. American Pinball has shown the ability to produce a really beautiful game, they need to re-focus here on CHEAPER licenses like Halloween, Friday the 13th, Bill and Ted, something along those lines, a cheaper license so when they announce 750 copies not a copy more BOOM they sell out in 10 minutes.
How do you market Octoberfest, not to mention you're playing the game in April. Bad name, bad theme, and I think an overall financial disaster. The playfield is a cluttered mess while the game and all the mechs are fun, unique and different.
Now the good... they learned from Houdini, they made a game that is a lot of fun here. If they could step up the CGI graphics, license something interesting, these guys could be real players. These guys have the potential for a breakout but they need some better advice. Whomever is giving these guys advice isn't thinking for the hear and now or the long term.
I don't want to pay 7400 bucks for a confusing theme, a game that won't be collectable long term, just because the game is FUN, INTERESTING, DIFFERENT, because long term all games get boring. People buy and sell these games long term based on the theme.
The game is fun, its different, love what they did with the rails, just overall I think its the second best new game created this year... behind Wonka.
So yeah I think honestly its one of the most original and fun games probably released in several years, but the theme is terrible. Buy today for 7400 and 1 year from now sell for 5800.
I was tempted to buy one, because the game really is that much fun to play, but like all pinballs after a while you get bored of it... then you fall back on the THEME to find a buyer.
American Pinball could be the next BIG PLAYER but they will need to start looking at themes they could produce 500 to 1000 copies not games that might sell 200 copies. I think Octoberfest is a wasted game because at the box office its not going to produce a profit.
With all that being said Octoberfest won't ever sell itself, they will need to show the game to sell any, and most games usually just sell themselves.
American Pinball created one of the most fun games, I've ever seen, but the theme is going to kill them long term. Just my opinion.
I would say at this point American Pinball need to turn the corner, license something that appeals to 500 to 1000 buyers, take what they've learned from these first two games, and go after this industry. Because despite everything I said I think these guys have the most potential for a breakout.
One thing all companies need to understand is you must learn from your competition, and how many original themes have survived? How many times has Stern done an original theme? Jersey Jack a new company has made 5 games, with two more coming... 1 original theme 6 licensed.
Stern like everything is licensed but the new Black Knight.
Alien a company that failed, but people are paying 10k to get that game, not because the game because honestly the game is average its the theme.
American Pinball has the potential for a massive breakout but man they have to license something.

Quoted from Ferret:

Ummmm... the theme is Oktoberfest. Of course that includes beer, and there's plenty of beer in the game, but it's so much more than that. Yes, rides, games, partying, food, music.
This is Oktoberfest: < (Simply the first hit I got searching YouTube for "Oktoberfest"; feel free to browse the infinite stream of results.) Believe it or not, it's not just oompah music... for whatever weird reason, "Sweet Caroline" is a super popular song there. So are many other pop, rock, and even country songs, both German and American. And keep watching to 8:24 or so to see what kind of carnival it really is.
Really, we didn't just make up a bunch of stuff out of thin air to fill the game. We tried to be faithful to the theme. Even the ducks are absolutely an Oktoberfest tradition.
The original Oktoberfest in Munich Germany is 200 years old and pulls in several million people each year. There are hundreds if not thousands of derivative festivals around the world each year. It's all pretty damn popular and fun.

Quoted from SarcasticHorse:

As a past visitor of Oktoberfest and owner of lederhosen, I think you guys mostly nailed it.

Quoted from acaciolo:

...So while some people don't get it, I do. ... This machine is about a fun party, and kudos to americanpinball for nailing it. The tents..the carnival rides...they get it.
If there were just a few more boobs...
tony c

Quoted from bobukcat:

Let's see who would possibly want to put an Oktoberfest game in their location - how about all the breweries that have popped up all over the place the last 5 years or so (longer in Portland and some other places)?? If you don't understand that Oktoberfest is about a lot more than beer that's fine, but I think most people can at least recognize / relate to the them when they'd see it in a lineup.

Quoted from BMore-Pinball:

If people don't understand it's about a lot more than beer, then that's AP's fault with not correctly conveying the theme
same thing with JJP and DI not being a cell phone game

Quoted from BMore-Pinball:

If people don't understand it's about a lot more than beer, then that's AP's fault with not correctly conveying the theme
same thing with JJP and DI not being a cell phone game

Quoted from BMore-Pinball:

If people don't understand it's about a lot more than beer, then that's AP's fault with not correctly conveying the theme
same thing with JJP and DI not being a cell phone game

Quoted from pipes:

I can’t figure out what the heck you’re trying to say here.
What’s more modern than pricing for a game that was revealed a few days ago? You asked for a game and I gave it to you. What’s the issue?

Quoted from rosh:

with both Houdini and Oktoberfest we have tried to be true to the subject matter, but, yes we will take some literary license. I don't think there are monkeys at Oktoberfest, but then again, would not shock me. And as you indicated and has Ferret posted, there is a lot more than polka and oompah music, I think that ties into the same preconception most of us have that it is just about Beer and beautiful woman.
It is funny how some can some adamant in their position around some aspects of the game, like the music, when in reality they are just totally wrong. Now I get that some would like the whole game to be polka and others would like it to be rock n roll, but we felt variety was both true to Oktoberfest and what would work best in a pinball machine, where you want to set different moods at different times.

Quoted from pinballjj:

I would say it would have been better to take more literary license .

Quoted from rosh:

well, I am pretty confident if made it just about beer, this thread would have hundreds and hundreds of posts complaining about how it is not remotely close to being reflective of Oktoberfest. Especially our German friends. And even with us being as true to it as we could, I've had folks come up to me to point out things that were not quite accurate.
To be honest the game would have also been a lot less interesting to develop and probably a lot less interesting to play, and suspect the sales would have been less as well.

Quoted from acaciolo:

Absolutely agree 100%. I woudln't be buying it if it was just beer. That is kinda boring. And for the boobs...well, I already have an alternative backglass in the works like I did for bm66 https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/nsfw-bm66-batman-alternate-translite-censored

Quoted from pinballjj:

I will look at the backglass at home but will assume "nsfw"

Quoted from acaciolo:

Absolutely agree 100%. I woudln't be buying it if it was just beer. That is kinda boring. And for the boobs...well, I already have an alternative backglass in the works like I did for bm66 https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/nsfw-bm66-batman-alternate-translite-censored

Quoted from rosh:

well, I am pretty confident if made it just about beer, this thread would have hundreds and hundreds of posts complaining about how it is not remotely close to being reflective of Oktoberfest. Especially our German friends. And even with us being as true to it as we could, I've had folks come up to me to point out things that were not quite accurate.
To be honest the game would have also been a lot less interesting to develop and probably a lot less interesting to play, and suspect the sales would have been less as well.