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.

Wrong! I'm not trashing the game, I said clear as day if you read it, this game is FUN, its a lot of fun. I think everyone agrees the playfield is a cluttered mess but the rest of the game is SUPER FUN! I want these guys to succeed and I think I mentioned that multiple times. In order for them to do that they need to start getting themes that will SELL.

When this game ends up selling about 150 to 200 copies will you say that is a success of failure. How do you judge that? Was Big Lebowski a success or failure if they only sold 17 games. Its both...

Its a success because I think they made one of the best 10 pinball games in history. On the other hand its a failure because they took orders, didn't deliver, and went out of business. So which is it to you?

American Pinball made a really fun game, but if it doesn't sell is it a failure or a success? The only real success is making money or selling games.

People hate Ghostbusters for some reason, but that game is probably the biggest selling game in Stern history.

So success or failure... it made them a lot of money so its a SUCCESS!

When Octoberfest doesn't sell but people like the game, success or failure? American Pinball has the tools to be successful they need to license something that is my main point. I wouldn't call that trashing them I'd call that being honest.

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.