Quoted from toyotaboy:

I thought of this, but decided to search this thread to make sure nobody else mentioned it.. I agree, Tapper video mode is a must. Each flipper button toggles between lanes, start button pours beer (there is no running to pickup empty mugs or money because that would require more buttons).
Sidenote: What if this is all a ruse for the real theme, which of course is strange brew

Quoted from BarryJ:

We are looking into it. This is above my pay grade but I do have an opinion on it, and I will keep it to myself.

Quoted from LTG:

Thursday night's seminar at Expo is looking better and better !
LTG : )

Quoted from vicjw66:

Jeez, enough with your delusions . The Hobbitt objectively sucks. Everyone knows this but you. It's boring as f&$k and easy as f@&k. However, yesterday at the banning show, I played a game that I honestly believe is the worst pinball machine ever made. That would be Thunderbirds. I'm still in shock at just how horrifically bad that thing is. And no, I am not using hyperbole to describe it.

Quoted from PinMonk:

I thought Mafia was $7,500? I wish either or both Thunderbirds or Mafia had been at PAGG. Would have definitely tried a game or two to get an opinion on them.
What's the deal with Thunderbirds? Can software save it, or is the playfield design just too bad?

Quoted from PinMonk:

Wow. The playfield is an OVERLAY? I had no idea! With Mirco and CPR doing pretty much on-demand screening, there's really no excuse for that these days.
How did Mafia flip? It seems very basic...like Jetsons/Dominoes basic.

Quoted from HighVoltage:

Is this much different than other companies offering different models with different art? So much for the one model for all philosophy.
Add-on? Why not just an option at no extra charge? Out-Sterning Stern here? You get to pay for the mediocre art, then pay again for a different art package.
Put me down for I'd -never- pay extra to improve a mediocre art package on a premium-priced machine. But I'm sure a lot of people will.
"We blew it, but we're not going to pay for it, you will." Should really pull a JJP here and do a take-2.

Quoted from adol75:

How much more would you be willing to pay for custom work, say based from an LE model ?

Quoted from jeffspinballpalace:

needs more monkey

Quoted from Platypus:

Loyd, You have developed much better online composure since

Quoted from LTG:

Listen cupcake. I've been called a lot of things. But snarky was never one of them.
LTG : )

Quoted from wesman:

If Mustache Girl gets canned from employment, she might have to upgrade to Bearded Lady status to make ends meet, and that would be an entirely higher level of freaky deeky.
Long live Mustache Girl!

Quoted from wesman:

Regarding the music, having watched a solid hour of streaming throughout the day, it felt like there was one dominant track in particular.
The animations really need fleshed out. I like the ideas, and some of the transitions, but for what's being aspired to on screen, many things appear primitive. With Houdini, it somewhat fit the time period, but seeing one man walk about in the main game area, didn't look good at all, and the animations throughout are stilted.
When a stein is selected, I'd love to see an animation of it quickly flung down a bar, rather than see the weird urine looking gaussian blur blob behind it. The ideas are really sound, they just need executed a few levels higher than they are currently. Being that the screen was so large in the stream, I genuinely couldn't take my eyes off of it, and focus on the gameplay, that's how glaring these issues are to someone with a background in illustration.
I have the least issue with table layout, sans playing it. All of the playfield still looks pleasant and whimsical, which is a nice change up from modern pin aesthetics.
Also, Otto constantly being a static image feels barren and lifeless. If even not just a static image, at least a drop shadow behind him or him cropped in, rather than floating about on the screen.
Purple fonts with black strokes need to really disappear. There were peculiar stroke and font colors in Houdini that often clashed for me or were gaudy and way too vibrant, and lacking any animation or transitions within the coloration of the text. For excellent font usage and animation, refer to JJP with their work on Pirates.
I feel like the playfield art, layout, and many aspects of API's work has been very, very impressive thus far, but to compete toe to toe with JJP, the GUI and animation work needs a much, much higher level. Music has issues, and can be balanced down the road, but the impressions of the backglass graphic work will set an immediate and somewhat unpleasant impression to anyone that plays this pin.
API needs to knock this out of the park, as Houdini was such a fantastic freshman effort, but Oktoberfest needs to take this to another level to compete with JJP. Stern has and will always have their own piece of the pie, and for JJP or API to cut into that, they both need to create solid and consistent games.
Looking forward to seeing more at TPF!

Quoted from LTG:

I'd like to so I can better help with tech support. Time will tell.
LTG : )

Quoted from Aniraf:

I liked those as well. I don't know why, but I thought they were pretty cool. I'd buy them after market assuming there is a way to attach them easily.

Quoted from arcadem:

Lloyd, I understand your point. But, let's wait and see how much they will cost each individual buyer that still wants them. I will hazard a guess that if AP offered them as an add on item for even $50 per set, they would get a high take rate. And, I would also bet that a set as a mod will be at least $50 if not more. I just hope that AP does not nickle and dime other more important features and components. Could this be a harbinger of that? We shall see.

Quoted from arcadem:

Dave, sorry if I touched a nerve by expressing my opinion that AP was cutting something for cost reasons that in my mind is part of the charm of the game. I was not denigrating AP as being a lousy company or dishonest. I simply thought, imho, that it was a poor place to find some savings. I am now informed that their omission had more to do with the figures hitting the wire forms rather than purely a cost issue; that makes sense to me just as the concentric discs for POTC were eliminated because of their design problems. Shi_ happens. But, if the bumper cars figures become available later, via a mod or via AP, yes, I will buy them because they really are part of a theme that makes the game so appealing. I might note that AP has offered other "upgrades" separately such as invisiglass, shaker motors, top signs, side blades, etc. so it is not without precedent that they might do it for the bumper cars as well. I just wish that Rosh's initial explanation of their elimination as being a budget issue was more complete and mentioned the design problem. Have a great day and hope to meet you at TPF.

Quoted from jwilson:

In defense of AP, Stern’s work on Munsters UI is pretty bad too, so even the big boys are struggling.
If you want examples of amazing game UI in a restricted environment, look no further than mobile gaming. A great example is Peggle. It uses a thematically appropriate font and uses it consistently, and makes it very visible by using a black drop shadow and gradient shading.
I suggest all the pinball manufacturers take a look at mobile design for inspiration.

Quoted from BertoDRINK1:

You should try one of Houdinis' tricks and...
Exit Stage Left

Quoted from acaciolo:

thanks. it has some sentimental value as the lights hung in my late dad's beer distributor about 50 years ago.
ps. love this Oktoberfest!