was playing an LE yesterday at a friend's home and we noticed that the car started moving back and forth 4x (like an opto issue) between each ball start.

the car appears to work as expected after this repeated (swing out-swing back-repeat 3 more times) action occurs, and we are not seeing anything block either of the 2 optos near the car.

has anyone else experienced this, and if so what was the root cause/fix?


also noticed that stern's site was down to register the IC for his game and/or to download any updates.

The hype thread is for two purposes: 1) people that would never own the game anyway to complain about the game and 2) early-wave owners that must fiercely defend the value of their game at all costs. You'll want the owner's thread for game-specific issues/fixes/etc.

Played my first games of Wick on a premium at my local spot. While I agree the code feels a little repetitive at the moment, I really enjoyed the layout. I was able to get it to flow without too much trouble, but the punishment for missing a shot during comboing ramps can be pretty extreme so that feels like a good balance.

The center ramp is both easier and harder to hit than I expected, if that makes any sense. The aim is tight, but the amount of speed the ball needs to complete the ramp is fairly low. The overhead shots from streams make the ramp look steeper than it actually is.

The multiballs I experienced were interesting and a lot of fun, though it seemed like add-a-balls were almost too easy and I'd just get them without focusing on them at all. I really like the build-up phase with the ball locked in the red circle club, it feels like good theme integration in the rules where Winston gives Wick time to get a head start before being excommunicado.

I was a little confused by the job modes, it seems like regardless of what faction the job is for, the job itself is one of a few modes just with different colored arrows. I like hitting the crate and then entering the VUK behind it. It's a satisfying set of shots integrating the toy.

I didn't get to any adversary modes, the number of enemies required to qualify them seems a little high, but maybe that's fair if they're meant to be like mini-wizard modes.

Looking forward to future code updates. I do feel like this is a game I'd like to own one day, between the layout, art package, and overall theme integration. I'm glad there's a premium at the freeplay arcade near me

Same. Give us a little more peek behind where code is going Stern, enjoying this pin

Probably because the game ranks right up there with venom as the worst stern to come out since maybe 24.

Goddamn it, venom is good (not great)! Wick is a stink fest. The newest update made the game even worse somehow. Stern really needs to get the ball rolling on a meaningful code update for this game or its really gonna fall off a cliff.

Venom sucks. That is all.

Went to get some games on a LE. I really am digging this layout and it is stunning but the game is not clicking with me. Is it the atmosphere? Wick should have a High Octane Audio package but it lulls me to sleep. Is Kerry King providing music for this pin?

All a operator has to do is space the games a couple feet apart and turn them up. It blows my mind how nearly all pincades have the volume way too low. The Audio Package is just as important as the Theme and Layout imo.

Charlie Benante of Anthrax. When I first played Wick it put me to sleep too, BUT we realized the music was way too quiet relative to sound effects, and cranked it up in the mix (actually turned the music attenuation down, such a dumb user-unfriendly setting).

Anyway, it was instantly twice as fun, I'm not exaggerating. Gave it that pumping TNA vibe, felt like stuff was happening.

No kidding, this is such a barrier to people on the fence with buying a pinball machine. We had a camper at a park for the summer months and they had 2 pins. A HD and a SP. Both were worn with lights out and barely any volume but how were we to know? We played them one time and just thougt that was pinball and it sucks. Im glad I came across a Wonka Trailer on Youtube. Thats when I had the “they still make these” moment. Right after found there was a place called Wizzard World 20 min from the camper. This experience was much better but stilo the sound was meh. Made a deal to go look at a pin and this person had 7 pins in his basement. What a sight. Then it happened, he turned on AfMrLE and that was it. With the sound turned up we could hear everything loud and clear. Man I’ll never forget that moment and neither will my wallet .

Theres just no life in the droning generi-techno tune they came up with though. TNA actually does have music that pumps you up, its got drive and beat and progression, and substance to it. I'm hoping and even assuming there is more music coming for Wick in future updates because it needs it bad imo.

as much shit as I talk about Wick, I haven't fully condemned it yet. I understand its still young. There is hope for the game. Regarding the music, it isn't "bad" per se, its a mostly adequate base tune, but thats basically all you hear for the majority of the game and theres really just no pinache to it, its just like....very bland. I wouldn't get into my car and put on the John Wick pinball soundtrack. TNA I absolutely would. Like I said, it works as the base tune, but there really needs to be some other things going on in the music of the game to add some variety or to get more blood pumping. I'm sure its coming

Yeah, but even when Bond had no code and I didn’t like playing it, I could see some interesting shots there. I see nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing that I like about the Wick layout/toys.

It's a classic fan, fast accurate play. It's more a players pin like iron man. Lot of ball control needed... drop catches live catches and loop passes a plenty there for practice (which I need).

From what you said and the modern elwins in your collection, modern fans may not be your thing. I have a bond LE and wick is a great player just in a fan layout way. Excellent change up in a 3+ pin collection. Give it a chance and its also great opportunity to refine some skills that arnt necessarily pressed with games like Godzilla which if im being honest is a long playing piss easy game in comparison.

If I want fast accurate play I'll stick with foo fighters myself. Nothing about Wick's layout does a whole lot for me. Its going to be mostly up to the code to draw me in eventually. Plenty of modern fan games out there and all of them I enjoy shooting much more than Wick so far, and I've played Wick a lot

I have a wick coming to my dealer NIB I can’t decide to have him try to sell it and take a 1,000 hit or keep the game ; I’ve played it 100 times I personally like the layout and shots but the code is meh…

Anyone have any advice what I should do ? I mean my dealers thinks he can’t even sell it …

I’ve had my Wick Premium for two months now. Honestly, I don’t get the hate. I’ve been in the hobby over twenty years, currently own 12 games and have sold or traded many others…so I’m not some newb who’s trying to justify my purchase. I legitimately enjoy this game. It’s fast, fun and constantly improving. I remember when I bought my Bond Premium all kinds of Pinsiders were shitting on it. But I knew it would be good and as the code improved, lo and behold, my faith was rewarded. Now people are saying Bond is a great game. I get the same vibes with Wick. It’s already a blast to play and it’s only getting better. So..my advice to you (since you asked for it) is to go ahead and get the game. You won’t be disappointed!

Sell it and wait until it’s much cheaper.

Make the Distro take the hit. wtf.

Why would you guarantee a purchase?

I agree. I like the game too but not enough people like it.

I've had foo twice, liked the pro more the second time around but it is long player and multiball heavy. There's a reason there's so many for sale all the time. Shoots great but I find it very repetitive, and no real risk reward. The left ramp is the worst ramp stern has put on a game in a long while.... granted the Wick left ramp isn't much better. I would rate that the worst shot on the game.

Code gets better with time. The Code is early, only at 0.86.
I would suggest buying it, especially if you like the layout and shots.
It is a fun game with satisfying (but difficult) shots. The rules right now seem pretty complex now as it is
I just don't get the hate. If you don't care for the game, just move on. Stop dumping.
I suppose haters gotta hate.

No risk/reward in Foo? There’s many levels of van upgrades (risky to hit the drops though), plus 2x/4x shatzing if you want to try for a big mode finish. Not to mention complaining about the left ramp and no risk/reward seems a bit weird…it’s elementary to hit from a trap on the left flipper backhanded, but a little risky from a slow roll on the right. But if your flipper skills are good, you can get it over to that left flipper, right? Also, Combotron risk/reward of collecting small combos to get to the mode vs longer combos to actually score well in the mode.

If you've already purchased it effectively, to where you'll lose $1000 passing, you might as well take it and keep it for a year through finished code and sell then it's is still not your thing, or you're ready for another game anyway - IMO.

Even if you lose a little more resale value overall you'll at least have gotten some use out of it for a year. Any NIB will be similar currently i think.
Losing $1000 for nothing is BS.

I don't find foo to be multiball heavy myself, but I guess I see what you mean. I would argue no game out there has more risk vs reward than foo though. Do you build up your van to make cities easier/much more lucrative but with a somewhat dangerous series of shots, or do you just qualify and take the city? Then you have the option to alley pass to make your final city shot 2x or 4x or even up to 12x with the PF multiplier going. Are you risking the alley pass(es) to GREATLY increase your city bonus? I find that aspect of the game to be exhilarating.

Theres a lot of foos for sale because they made a lot of them. Theres been more godzilla premiums listed for sale than all models of Foo combined, by a huge margin (admittedly the game has been out longer). Foo seems to be a well loved game in general, I don't think its for sale listings mean much of anything. I also remember lots of people complaining foo was a brutal game, so its interesting that you find it to be a long player. I thought the cries of it being brutal were a little overblown personally but I would maybe call it a medium player if anything, not like Zilla or Bond or Jaws that play forrreevvverrr. Granted, pretty much anything is a long player compared to Wick lol.

When you say the left ramp on foo, which one are you talking about? The crossover "ramp", the van ramp, or the side ramp (the one where you start combotron)? I think in game the van ramp is called left ramp, but I just want to make sure I'm on the same page with you. I don't have issues with any of the ramps myself. Crossover ramp can be kinda clunky though. If anything the right ramp is the one I take the most umbrage with. That mfer is STEEP.

Last weekend I played a Wick LE on location at Atomic pinball. That game is an ass kicker, way faster than ANY Richie designed title with tons of flow. I liked it so much that I am trying have my Distro get one for me. He has agreed to do a deal for my BOND LE if he can get his hands on one. This game is far better of a shooter than Bond imo. I know the code is deep in BOND but it is such a wood chopper, I get tired of the 45 minute game. I probably put 12 or so game on it and only two of those games were over 65,000,000 points. I am hopeful to get the deal done. The game is beautiful in person and totally caught me off guard. I had written it off, but I think (just like Bond), the coding will indeed come around, it's just a matter of time. Under the glass...there are more shots than I originally thought. Been in this hobby for so long, I am tired of the slow playing games. Give me a good ass kicker of a game that makes me defend and gets the heart racing while playing it. Such a sleeper of a release.

-over and out

Keanu Reeves wore a 'Canadian tuxedo' and signed one-day contract with Windsor Spitfires

The 59-year-old, who is likely the club’s oldest-ever player, signed the contract roughly four decades after an injury prevented him from trying out for the club as a teen

https://nationalpost.com/news/local-news/keanu-reeves-signs-one-day-contract-with-windsor-spitfires/wcm/ba338560-76ab-47c9-901d-8c57832becac

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finally put my hands on a JW PREM, played ony 1 big hour on it, and for now its... meh :/ (code in it was 0.83 i think)
but ok, i know, let's judge it when finished or close to be

anyway, i really like the hi speed of the game, as the inner loop, but also the 3 ramps, very satisfaying to shoot in combos (due to the speed/metal sound, remind me T3)

what i didnt understand is the 2 bash toys being right at same zone (captive ball & the car)

and really didnt like the crate situation (when its closed), taking to much place/blocking the ball at right in/outlanes (btw, shoot in it is nice when opened)

I got to play an LE last week, its gorgeous in person.
Fun layout, didn't think it had tight shots at all.

Some good points there. Not the cross over ramp, the mode start ramp. Cross over is a nice shot.

In older code maybe more single ball play. Newer code is a mb fest and you juice up the van then. Rarely any risk in single play and not my idea of true risk reward. Mostly what your talking about is building phases to me, and generally the risk of losing a ball or getting more points for making shots... not really my idea of risk reward but everyone is different and approaches games differently. It all tends to happen in multiball in the newer code like getting pf x and the doubler off the gun targets. and particularly now with super van building mode.
Foo is great I've owned it twice, but only for about a month the 2nd time. It was a mb fest and everything going on like pf x just happens incidentally.

Agreed. I love Charlie Benante and was excited to see what he would do with Wick, but like the rest of the machine, it’s just a big bag of disappointment.

I can see that to some degree. The mode finish shatzing & risk reward of stringing long combos for a better combotron are probably best saved for single ball (though even good combotrons aren’t very score lucrative so it’s not really worth the risk of keeping combo strings going). I’d say while bashing the drops/paddle is probably advised to save for MBs / let it happen incidentally (due to risk), in single ball you can target your upgrade intentionally. The PF multiplier is tough for me to control intentionally single ball or otherwise.

It IS kind of MB heavy in general, yeah.

Yeah, that stuck out to me as well.

I've played the pro. I'm still trying to find a premium to flip. Anyone know of one on route in CT or in NY close to CT?

got my premium yesterday. really I do not understand the hate, this game is amazing! beautiful, great shots, superb music. I would really miss the crate and moving car, ball lock, they are the cherry on the cake. my friends love it too. there are some flaws, but this is just 0.88. can't wait 1.0, this.game will absolutely rock!!

The car moves on the pro too, and in a more fun way.

What I really don't understand is people who spend 10's of thousands of dollars and have the game for literal hours who go on and on about how amazing a machine is. Like...yeah man its a brand new super expensive toy, of course you're going to think its awesome. Maybe you will continue to feel the same way in the future, but it always reminds me of the weird guy who finally gets laid then thinks he's in love with the girl.

of course there is the thrill of a new game, but Im not a teenager and this is not my first game. actually I was quite afraid how it will be and it was a total surprise how it is good. maybe Im more lucky in the EU that the game shipped quite late and at least 0.88 is the code which I start with. I think the layout is superb, but requires a lot of skill - really not for beginners. The theme integration is great and the rules system is very good for a fast game like this - although here and there something could be - and possibly will be - added. If today I would have to chose to sell my GZ prem or this one, I would keep JW without thinking - inspite I think GZ is the ultimate design masterpiece at the moment. But somehow the mix of JW is just feels better for me.
When I got SW and Mando I had to put 100 game before buyers remorse disappeared - and now I love them a lot.

Played some last night. I enjoyed it. The fast shooting and angles are more fun than most pins.

I finally got to play a Wick Pro today. I didn't expect much out of and in all honestly, it didn't do much at all for me. A few games were enough to make me glad I didn't preemptively order one when they came out. It just didn't have anything to hold my interest. The art is really kind of cheap looking in the flesh too. I wanted to like it when it came out as I rate the theme, but it really didn't capture my imagination playing it, no exciting mechs or anything.

try the premium

You mean like new Xmen? Funny stuff...some people actually LIKE games that others don't...Even if I was heavy in the hobby like prior, I would never buy an EJ...does this make me " wrong"...oh, Pinside...

I played the Pro, really like how it shoots, would consider one in the future if the code gets on track. They really need to drop an impressive code update soon.

Played a handful of games today,
Still absolutely love this gem.

Shoots like a dream.

I figured it out today.

TSX is a master of rules and code.
I love the way the rules are tough, You really have to play well to get a great score and unlock cool modes.

There is no gifting hundreds of millions and billions of points in John Wick.
You have to earn the big points.
The thing is, they, "the big points" are actually there.
So strategy and good play is certainly a part of the big picture.

Thank you Elliot for such a smooth shooter and to TSX and team for making such an excellent challenge.
I appreciate that you are not gifting the rewards.

Had my pro for a couple of weeks. I think most people just dismiss it because its a level harder than most games. Its in the realm of Iron Man, F14 Tomcat & Flash Gordon. If you don't get on with those, this isn't going to gel.
This is on 0.88 code and i honestly don't think its lacking. It shoots and flows like a dream and whilst Jobs are fairly easy to start, Adversaries aren't. You need to stack multiballs with jobs and I love how you don't need to start one before the other. i can't think of another game where you can continue to progress towards multiball and start it whilst in a mode.
This is going to be a massive tournament game and a future sleeper hit.

When this game first showed up at Einsteins I was excited to play and more excited to hear the sound (love the club scene in 1 and 2). Huge JW fan. Gave it a go, played about 7 games with some free and I couldn’t believe I was board with a dream theme. Moved on to others, went home early to play my pins. This game is just a low fidelity attempt of creating the dark JW universe. No guns on the pin should have been the first clue. I hope focused code from the perspective of someone who has actually watched the films will help.

Wow currently ranked at 181. Makes my purchase of the equally doomed out of the gate X-Men LE at 76 look like a brilliant purchase.

I was thinking of swapping my venom Le for wick Le. Now not so sure. Venom is fun to shoot.

I own a Wick Premium and I’ve played Venom a lot. In my opinion it’d be a good move to trade for a Wick. The game is a ton of fun now and the code is only going to make it better. I like Venom, but I find myself getting a bit bored with it after playing for a while…not so with Wick.