Normally I'd make a comment along the lines that, "she's got to go". But my wife did some pretty serious damage to my Audi and didn't tell me about it and I'm blowing it off as no big deal so this would be no big deal as well.

I'm sure AP will sell you another with the proper SN to make sure it belongs.

Ack!

I don't actually know this answer, but I'd suggest that you file a ticket at <https://www.american-pinball.com/support/service/> describing your problem. I would not be surprised if Service asks you to purchase the replacement part, but hopefully they can get you hooked up so your machine is back to 100% soon.

Just got my LE. Deluxe what ever they call it now. Only issues out of the box. The god of thunder magnetic plug was too high on the playfield. Easy fix. Amp was set a little wrong. And not like in the manual. I did not get the light bar for the topper only the two acrylic parts and no screws. But everything else is fine. I did not have any powdercoat issues. I did notice that my lockdown bar had clear coat where the ones affected seemed to be missing that. There very flat and satin looking. Where mine is very glossy. Love the shots rules and theme of this one. Anyone know what version of the rasberry pi this is using?

Welcome to the club! Whatever you are missing please contact support so you can get shipped the parts.

As per the computer, it uses a raspberry pi 4 with a clock module add-on. Enjoy!

Thanks for the info. I really like the build quality. Thinking I might need to find a Houdini next. My first impressions should be up on Youtube this week.

Well while my lockdown bar is good. The rails are 100% darkening on the powdercoat

Yep same here, I got a replacement lockdown bar, but have noticed my rails getting the same problem.

Has anyone here removed the side rails on this game? I was going to take them off to clearcoat them, but, I can see they seem to be screwed/bolted on at both ends - however the locking nut on the rail at the back of the game seems to be unreachable (it seems to be covered by some of the cabinet)? So I'm not sure I can actually remove it?

Would be grateful if someone here who has actually removed them could give some pointers so I don't destroy the cabinet taking them off.

First off, they have tape. I used a scraper to slide underneath the rails and cut it. Go slow and careful and you shouldn't scratch anything.

For the screw it was annoying but I essentially disconnected the head to get access to that back screw.

After I had the rail off I used some adhesive remover to get the left over tape off the cabinet.

I had some dark spots on my rails so they sent me new ones and I sprayed clearcoat on them before installing and also waxed them.

Hey guys, just got my LOV new in box a few days ago. Quick question, when you boot up do you get a second where there is loud electrical hum then the machine comes on and plays fine. Is this normal? Thanks for your time.

Yup. I think it’s test firing a coil…not sure which one. Last only a second and then all it good.

Yes, the ship post fires when you start up the game to ensure there are no balls in the ship. For home owners you can turn this option off in the service menu. Standard settings, dump ship at power on.

Thanks guys!

I am going to make a recommendation to American Pinball.
First, I love this game. Built like a tank , great rules, excellent background music, once dialed in great shots, non linear, etc.

Yet, despite all the positives it struggles in the market. There are still
NIB with distributors and the secondary market requires a significant discount for sales.. This is not good for AP or the original buyers. Tough to buy a NIB game, if one is taking a 1500 dollar bath. I am not one that buys as an investment, but still it must be considered..

If I was AP management, I would make a small investment in paying the game software engineers to go over the top in developing more special effects for the game . The rules seem fine to me , but the effects in the game could be amped up to make the game standout. An example is when the ship multiball is achieved. It could be more dramatic.
I am not the most creative person, so I am sure others have better ideas. You can see the improvement in sales Stern achieves when it makes dramatic improvements in code to struggling games.

Just a thought. Again I really like this game!

Ah ok so it is a bit of a pain...

So to get access to that back screw you have to take the backbox off?

Maybe if you had the right tool you could avoid the removal. I didn't but it was only a few minutes anyway.

I just made a similar comment in the Houdini thread - but man, all this game is missing are some cool animations. Everything else on it is so great (artwork, sound, shots, layout, rules/code), that it makes a bit glaring that the screens are so static.

Don't get me wrong, I still think the static art looks fantastic - but if it was animated a little (in the same graphical style), I think it would elevate the game considerably. The music is done so well - with that extra bit of animation added, the battles/multiballs could be truly epic...

I thought a missed opportunity was also the background music. The music score is superb throughout the game, with different tracks for each battle, but I couldn't hear it well over the sound effects. I wish there was an option to adjust the background music so I could have heard it better, separating it from the sound effects. As it is, you can only turn up the volume.

Have you hooked up an external subwoofer to the game? This greatly enhances the midrange and bass. The stock system is a bit treble high and you can turn down the treble a bit on the amp. If both of these things are done the soundtrack will be louder.

Lightly considering buying a used deluxe version (I have no idea what versions are available). I have read about the powder coating getting worn off of the lockdown bars. I'm assuming that's what I see in these photos and they are not shadows.

https://pinside.com/pinball/market/classifieds/ad/159130

Anything else to be aware of when looking to purchase this game?

Yeah that's the deluxe version. Nice price although extra 300 for the normally included invisiglass.

Ship locking can take a lot of work to get it tuned. But it's not overly technical.

Trough launcher may also need adjustment. I bent back the flange, removed the rubber grommet and ball flap. Still get occasional retries.

Apron flap behind trough may need to be bent forward to prevent balls from going into it. Easy fix.

Check the hammer. Those break sometimes.

Solid machine otherwise.

Added some skulls on the overly long exposed screws.

La4s

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Got to Valhalla for the first time today. Cool sound on the mode. Such a great game

My drop target won't raise, I don't think it's a coil issue.

Any ideas?

Check that the cable to the coil is still plugged in. Mine got pulled out at one point.

Ok, will do and will report back...Thx man

Cables were connected, it turned out to be the leaf switch not getting hit because the little plastic piece connected to it got bent the wrong way...Got it fixed and back at it...This game is sooo good.

Anyone else having some buggy software issues this update. I am having some buggy ball tracking. And audio seems to bug out. I redid the update last night.

Also some thoughts on the game. Its hard to hit the roll overs. So would be nice to have more ways to use the upper magnet. Would also like the double scoring to have adjustment in the options.

Also noticed the knocker select for Replay and High score or full does not work. Its just full all the time no matter what you set.
And as someone that lives in a small apartment. Would be nice to have a off option.

Ball tracking issue? Is your ship working properly? Got a video or reproducible issue? If you have an issue please report to american pinball support for resolution.

Rollovers can be challenging so there are ways to use the magnet to direct the ball in the current software.
If no battle is running or sea multiball, every 5 combos lights white arrows in the left and right orbit. Shoot either orbit to bring the ball to the top and magnet will grab it and you can quickly lane change with your flippers. This requires COMBOS FIRES THORS HAMMER to be "Enabled" in service mode/Features.
Many times you can also get the rollovers during one of the 7 multiball modes in the game.

DOUBLE SCORING has been enhanced in the next release. Currently DOUBLE SCORING is 7 hits to the right ramp when locks are not lit. There is also no saved progress. In the next release DOUBLE SCORING is 4 hits to the right ramp and progress is saved so the game will remember each players DOUBLE SCORING qualification. So if you hit 2 right ramps first ball without the locks lit and you drain, the next ball you need just 2 right ramps to start DOUBLE SCORING. If you light the ship locks the game will register right ramp hits toward DOUBLE SCORING after the sea multiball. Currently DOUBLE SCORING is 30 seconds and available in select modes in the game. In the next release DOUBLE SCORING will be 45 seconds and available in all 22 modes.

KNOCKER. Yes there is no way to turn it off in the service menu. Since every LOV Deluxe comes standard with a knocker installed, it was assumed people would use it, but good point. For now, you can simply unplug the 2 wire connector at the knocker coil. I'll add OFF to the choices in the next version of game code.

Wait, are you saying the knocker is supposed to trigger when you get a top score? Mine doesn't do anything when I have a high score, but does go off during the game. And that's sad, because I upgrade my Stern machines with knockers because I love it.

Knocker fires when you get a replay, ie. beat the replay score (whatever it is and it increments/decrements), not a top score.

The knocker fires on these events:

Replay
Special
Combos fire Thors hammer
Full charged hammer hit action button
Match
Mystery award special
Beat Ragnarok

I'm still having issues with the game getting confused when we play a multi player game.

Without any info, try this. Disable physical locks at the ship (service menu/features/physical ball locks). Report back after playing a multiplayer game.
This is a quick test to determine if your ball tracking issue is due to one of the parts in the ship failing (post, opto, etc).

Well I'm now having a bit of trouble with the ship lock post. It's binding up for sure, because when it lowers, I can see it raises up again veeeeeery slooooooowly...

Besides the spring (which i think is ok - the extra washer is installed) is there any known issue with it rubbing against the collar or the ship that would cause this behaviour?

Yes. You can fiddle underneath with the alignment by bending the mounting bracket to try and free it up. I ended up taking a drill and reaming out the collar some by using the side of the bit. That worked for me.

Thanks for the info. Its just after a few restarts the software just goes eh I am going to loose track of balls and modes. I think the improvements on double scoring are good and much needed. So thanks for changing that. As for the knocker I agree on the deluxe. And I like using it during the day. But later on at night. My playing does not bother anyone except for the knocker. I live in a apartment complex. So to effectively have a knocker off would be great. And other games like hot wheels have this. Would like a double knock for GC scores. But pick plus on the shaker motor code you guys have going on.

I saw this recent stream on YouTube of the game in an arcade. The streaming rig setup was fantastic at showing off the lighting and audio. Thanks to the streamer and location!

I think I'm playing this game more than anything else at the moment - it's bloody great. I have 2 minor things though I wonder if they are common problems:

1) The mechanisms are quite loud - especially compared to my other machines - it almost sounds as if I have the glass off (it's not that bad though), has anyone else found this?
2) I have a veeeerrryyy annoying squeak that comes from the machine every time the shaker goes off (which is often). It doesn't seem to be the shaker itself and I'm having a hard time tracking down where it's coming from. Anyone else ever get this issue?

Again, very minor things and doesn't really affect my enjoyment of the game - but would be great to know if there are a couple of simple things to try.

Hey Monkey feel the same way. Raiding party gets me pumped. No squeaks on mine. But I run the shaker only mid day and on low intensity. I have down stairs neighbors so only run it mid day. The table is a bit louder on mechanics don't know why. But comparing to other machines I have had. Its not much louder than a stern corner stone. My JP Home edition was really loud. My Cactus Canyon Remake seems to be the most quiet. Only thing I tell you is the ones that are quiet have a lot of seal around the lock down bars. So the glass corners of the lock down all have seals. And the stern corner stones have seal along the whole glass with latches putting pressure on the glass. Also I noticed if you have games in a corner that will make the sound bounce weird.

Just submitted a bug report for latest code. Have about 500 games on this so far

Noticed name entry gets all messed up on deleting the last letter. Suggestion. Having the current letter up for selection blinking would help rather than have all letters solid.

I gotten rare but random ball searches holding the ball in a flipper.

Think this is a bug but maybe someone can correct me. Apron lights are set to 25 percent brightness. But go in and out of 25% to 100% and I can't find a reason for this. Maybe its part of the interactive light show. But does not seems to be connected to anything I am doing. Seems to happen most during battles. It will be a dim so the color of the battle shows. Then in the middle of the battle Apron lights are back up to 100%

Anyway all I can find.

Also add the bug report just now.

Curious. Did this happen when you did force restarts by holding in the start button? This is Dearg due mode still running during attract mode which isn’t possible if the mode ended normally. Try waiting until the ball is over and bonus is counted before force restarting (new ball). This will ensure a clean exit of anything that could possibly be running.

Yep, on further investigation, I found that the glass was a bit loose inside the cabinet channels, so I added a bit of anti-rattle tape to the glass and that most certainly fixed the squeaking. There still seems to be a bit of a visible gap at the back of the glass where it slots into the plastic guide so that will probably be letting some of the noise out too.

Anyway, I had my best game on this tonight getting to Valhalla again (but then failing miserably), plus getting super jackpots on War at Sea and Viking Raid and defeating about 6 legends in a row. Awesome game!

Hum sounds like a bug that needs to be fixed. I will keep this in mind.

Yes already put in one fix but the logs would help if you could attach them to your ticket

I have been having issues in my tournaments where the game occasionally fires a second ball after a player drains. This has also triggered ball search and emptied the ship. I haven’t seen it happen unfortunately, just a lot of player information. Can anyone suggest things for me to diagnose (besides the ship which works properly).

Take all six balls out of the game. Ensure they are not magnetized.

Go into service menu/switch test and ensure the trough shows as empty as well as the 3 ship locks(right ramp enter, ship lock 1 and ship lock 2). Trough and lock switches should display in Dark Green (inactive).

Add each ball back to the trough and see if all 6 balls register on screen. The trough switches change from dark green (inactive) to light green (active) as balls are loaded and depress the switches.

Edit: Never mind. Found the bank of "flasher" headers.

While disassembling the ship a while ago, I apparently forgot to note where the ship flasher connects. Can anybody tell me where the connector goes? I can't seem to find the empty header for it.

Joined the club today. Truly impressed with this machine. Looking forward to putting many plays on it. One of the best I've played in a long while.

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Happens to me as well, and I mentioned it a bunch of pages back and didn't get much of an answer ('it happens in modes") and I didn't follow up further. My apron lights just get brighter and darker at random times regardless of modes or settings or anything happening in the game. I've been meaning to take a video of it and have been forgetting.

Ya my apron light do weird stuff also!