To be fair JJP released updates, substantial updates, for WOZ once and even twice a month for nearly 6 months and were open about the updates. Myself and many other ACDC owners have been waiting nearly two years for an update to the game that will add it's advertised cannon modes. That's ridiculous. It's also ridiculous that months go by without a word from Stern regarding updates for their other games. They are happy to plaster images and articles about their games on their Facebook page but rarely post anything about code updates.

Stern has made it clear that their focus is on getting three new games out a year and selling as many as they can to distributors early on while code takes a back seat. Releasing 3 games a year doesn't mean squat when owners are left with an incomplete game for years and being left in the dark regarding future updates. People are fed up and its reached a boiling point.

At least JJP finished the games code in a reasonable amount of time and were open about the entire process. That sounds way better then the way Stern has been handling code updates. Stern is producing some great looking games but its a shame that it takes years (sometimes never) for them to reach their potential due to the way code updates are handled.

That's probably the best strategy at this point.

Wrong. In those three years JJP had to design a complete system from scratch for their games to run on before coding for WOZ even began. There was also the need to design and build parts, setup the factory, establish vendor relationships and probably a thousand other things before WOZ coding could even begin. Doesn't sound bad at all for 3 years!

Gary has some great programmers on his staff and should give them more dedicated time to complete code for existing games before pushing out the next title. Imagine if Ford took Sterns approach to code updates with their cars. Oh your transmission needs a code update as it's having shifting problems? Interior lighting isn't working correctly as code to control it doesn't exist in the computer? Too bad, we have next years car model to work on and will develop an update for the issue and non functioning features 6+ months down the road. That would never fly.

In!

Thank you for continuing this effort! Hopefully Stern is reading the comments in this thread.

Overall Stern needs to change the way they handle code updates. Taking months upon months to release code updates for in production games in unacceptable. Staying quiet and telling owners nothing about code progress is also unacceptable.

Code brings games alive and is ultimately what gets myself and many others to drop big bucks on a NIB game. Releasing 3-4 titles a year doesn't mean squat if it then takes 3 years to "complete" the code. The word complete was in quotes in my last sentence as unfortunately some Stern games are far shallower rules wise then others.

No code and shallow code = less bucks Stern.

That sucks and is BS on Stern's part. That type of approach by Stern makes every new pin they manufacture a risk to buyers as no one really knows how much a game will be supported code wise.

Delete

Lol, that may be the best one yet!

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I was told by John Borg that there will be no more code updates for XMEN The code on the game is very deep but if bugs do exist they should be fixed. I appreciate John replying to my email and being open about code status for XMEN.

ACDC is long overdue for another code update. If Tron and XMEN were both given a substantial code update after a year wait then ACDC more then deserves one as well. The last large ACDC update was 1.65 and that came out March 22nd 2013... Also, the cannon modes need to get in the game as they are an advertised feature.

It's been two years since the last ACDC update to add anything...come on Stern.

I fear the ACDC update will be little more then bug fixes I hope I'm wrong.

It's now been nearly 2 years since the last substantial ACDC update. Stern, please give us the cannon modes, incorporate the lower playfield in some other unique ways (maybe add a mini loop champion high score!) and increase the use of the swinging bell and the shot behind it.

Stern,

Tron and XMEN both got a final substantial update a year after their previous update...why not one of your best selling games ever as well?

Haha, that's awesome. Unfortunately it looks like no more updates for XMEN. I emailed John Borg about a month or so ago about XMEN code and he said there will be no more XMEN updates as they have other things to work on. It's a bummer for sure but I'm thankful he replied to me about the question. XMEN does have very deep code but it does need a final update to polish off the game.

I just realized that by Stern releasing 3 titles a year and then releasing code updates every 6 months that they now release new games quicker then substantial code updates...That's ridiculous. Like others have said I wonder if the issue is Stern programmers not receiving enough time to work on code before being moved to new projects.

Also, March 22nd marked 2 years since the last substantial ACDC code update.

It's a miracle...only 5 months since the last TWD update. Hopefully its a large update. Sadly no news about ACDC code...Games that are no longer in production appear to be left on the sidelines sadly.

Good to hear!

I agree that ACDC is not broken. However, cannon modes don't exist in the same and are advertised features. Other features such as the shot behind the bell are used rarely. It's simply wrong to advertise features and then not include them in the game.

I'm glad Stern is slowly becoming more open about code development. This thread has gotten their attention.

They should add #UpdateAfter6months to their Facebook page. Seriously how does it take Stern 5, 6+ months to release most code updates? I bet the programmers are simply not given enough time to work on a games code before being shifted to work on a new game. Personally I rather see Stern release two titles a year with deep and complete code within 6 months to 1 year of release rather then 3 games a year and code maybe being completed in 2 years.

How well a game is supported code wise by Stern appears to be tied directly to a games sales numbers. That's bad business in my opinion. If you are going to charge people $5k-$8k for a pinball machine of all things then guarantee a deep and complete ruleset regardless of a games sale numbers.

Also, the games that are not supported as well code wise appear to be those that lack a licensed themes original voices and music. Stern should not make a game where they cannot get the themes original voices, sound, music, etc. If I'm going to drop $5k-$8k on a licensed theme pinball machine I want to feel like I'm in the themes world while playing the game...random voice actors that don't sound like the themes characters don't do that. Sound a like actors that match an original characters voice are rare in pinball and the only one that stands out is the voice actor in POTC which does a spot on Johnny Depp.

A big reason why LOTR, MET, ACDC, TSPP and ST are so well liked is because they feature the actual sounds from the license. Take that away and none of those games wouldn't have sold nearly as well or be ranked where they are today.

They definitely are. Lets see now if they update games that are out of production. If they truly care about their customers they will go back to older games and apply some more polish. XMEN, The The Avengers and ACDC all need a final code update to polish them off. Make it happen Stern!

Personally I don't think we will see the code for Game of Thrones or Ghostbusters expand much beyond bug fixes and minor tweaks. Why? Stern said they want to release games that are more software complete at launch going forward and that started with GOT. 6 months went by without a code update for Ghostbusters and then one was released with some bug fixes and another video mode...

I think Stern's new direction with code means that games won't be as deep, won't have as many unique rules and that they won't envelop the player as well as previous games have in the themes world. Expect to see more "super loops", "super ramps" and "super bumpers" type modes versus modes that are layered with multiple stages and work the entire playfield. I hope I'm wrong but its just the feeling I have with how Stern has handled code support recently.

Stern has talented programmers but they are simply not given enough time to work on games before they are rushed off to the next project. Sadly Stern management doesn't realize that better code support to create a deep and unique gameplay experience can result in more sales for a title and for future titles down the road.

The only time Stern seems to put emphasis on getting a code update out is when one is needed to enable support for their $400-$500 toppers...

Stern, it's time to...

lol

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I think a new thread would help, something along the lines of "Where's the Code, Part 2" with new details regarding the games needing code updates and new campaign pictures to go along with it.