#YES

So it looks like they're onto something with releasing "LED" versions of their best-sellers. I know that compared to Star Trek, Metallica Pro looks extremely dim. Hopefully this will make the game more attractive!

Curious to see the speaker panel decal. Iron Man VE showed they can do more than the lame Star Trek and Mustang ones.

Looks like I don't have anymore reasons on why not to buy a Metallica Pro. Distributors, start contacting me on the prices!

Steve

I wonder if this will have the metallic cabinet decals like IM Vault. I mean..Metallica…metallic decals…c'mon!

Would be nice to see pics

Like Star Trek Pro & Prem?

LED just makes sense in so many ways. The game is brighter, looks better and the lights should last a lot longer.

Rob

In! Here's to hoping for metallic decals, but I'm guessing that's just a VE thing.

Did anybody else wince at the random collection of apostrophes in Mr. Stern's message to the people?

LEDs doesn't take an apostrophe. Nor does 'LEs'.

Argh.

I am really glad to see that they are going to use nothing but LEDs from now on. I just hope they aren't killing the Premium model. No announced Premium for TWD has me worried.

The color changing LEDs and other toys on the premium make it worth the extra cost to me.

It just hit me. Just take a look at those titles! Stern has really been hitting it out if the park lately. Actually, I just bought my first NIB last week. Keep up the good work!

LEDs out of the box big thumbs up
Taking away the coffin lock big thumbs down

IMO of course

Eh? The coffin lock was never on the Pro...only on the Premium & LE. Pro has the white coffin insert w/ 3 lights under it.

Yeah, those decals are pretty blah. Greyscale pattern, wheeeeee. I'll hopefully have a solution to fix that to show very shortly though, so hey, boring just means more fun to upgrade!

I think he's talking about the backbox lock.

Are the LEDs on these things socketed bulbs that you can change? or small PCBs with just a white lED on them? If the latter seems like a prime opportunity for comet or cointaker to come up with a PCB that you can jumper/solder to be any color that combines R/G/B to swap out with.

/stock metallica has FAR too much white light

Edit. Hah. whoops. I meant to edit, not quote. OH WELL.

Yeah these are also called coffin locks.

Chris

I am all about LEDs as long as they are programmed for. If Stern is just replacing the incandescent with LEDs and leaving the light shows untouched, then LEDs are ugly. I realize that the light shows were "updated" for LEDs in the IMVE, but by updated, all they mean is that they removed any dimming effects. Until games are programmed to correctly use the LEDs, I won't buy them, or put them in my existing games. Full disclosure, just ordered one of Trent's last NIB incandescent METs, and specifically did it now, because I didn't want the LED Met.

I would expect Metallica LED version to get the exact same code "update" as Iron Man.

IMve has an option for incandescent or LED…I'm sure they'll do the same for Met….so - you COULD replace them if you wanted.

LOL…weird…in the context of Metallica, you could see how that would be confusing. Why is it called a coffin lock? Do actual coffins have a hex key lock?

My point is, if you select the LED option, all it does is remove all dimming effects from the light shows. I like the dimming effects.

Right, but his point was if there's a switch in the software you could actually put incandescents back in the sockets. So if Trent was sold out and you really felt strongly about it you would have an option.

I was really hoping they'd put spinners in Met Pro LED. After all, they put the swinging bell in ACDC Pro LED. Oh well.

I get that bright shiny lights help a pin do better on location but at home I like tweaking bulbs myself so in the minority who prefers incandescent and then add my own led's.

Playing Mustang there was one white led that was totally blinding! But most people prefer led's so good decision.

They didn't have to change the code to put a bell on ACDC Pro…it just hits the standard Pro target. Spinners would require a 3rd code variation for Met….things are confusing enough as it is. If you want properly coded spinners, get a Premium or LE.

webfart?

Does anyone with a new AC/DC Led or IM VE know if Cointaker bulbs are still being used by Stern?

I think they always nail the coffin shut.

Yup! IMve uses the same CT 2-LED bulbs in the GI & inserts. 44's in GI, 555's under inserts. Flat-top multi-LED flashers.

Good point. Not worth the extra $2-3k to me. I'll manage.

You get more than spinners, but yeah…whatever floats your boat.

I like having the 44/47 and 555 sockets in the game. Much easier to customize. Those little circuit boards are too limiting.

So are they not going to continue making premium Metallica's & premium ACDC?

That's what it sounded like, only Pro versions to be built.

I heard about this a while ago when I was contemplating buying mine. I like 'roll your own' leds, so I specifically grabbed mine when I did.

Great for those that like leds, I'm really happy I got mine and did it myself.

I heard about it after I got mine, but I wouldn't want to pay the 300 extra that the price has gone up since I bought mine.

I like LEDs in the feature lamps - but I like to pick the color and intensity myself. Socketed LEDs are fine, but if the LED PCBs are here to stay, I'll stick to older Sterns from now on...like Trident.

The one thing Gary Stern didn't mention is how much LEDs love to jump out of their sockets. But maybe they've solved this with their GI LED vendor.

It sort of is sounding like the Premium model isn't working out so well for Stern? This, the rumor of TWD not even having one ...

I guess we'll find out soon, no point in speculating, but it is curious.

I was in the same boat as you. I wanted to grab one as I wasn't for sure if they would be socketed or mounted to the little boards. Does anybody know if they are socketed? I thought I heard that they were?

They've sold a ton of ACDC and Met Premiums. If they haven't sold many of other Premiums, it's purely due to code/reputation. People will buy LEs early - cuz they're LEs....get 'em before they're gone! Then if the game is popular and the LE is gone, people buy the Premiums. However, if the early reviews aren't stellar, potential Premium buyers will wait it out.

Stern hasn't officially announced anything, so who knows if there will be a Premium or not...If there isn't, it will spur quicker LE sales...which is perhaps what they want.

IMVE and AC/DC came with the LEDs in the socket so I assume all of them will be the same. Only bad thing is the decals, I have mixed feelings about that. Also now that coffin locks are gone how do you latch the new back boxes?

One more question how much for the vault editions? IMVE was listed as $5195, is that the actual price or more like $4700?

More like 4700 from the distributor if you are in the USA

The IMve decals are amazing. Met Pro came with decals, so there's nothing to be mixed about. It'll either have the same decals it always had (which look great) or the super bad-ass metallic ones that IMve has.

The backbox is secured by two bolts (similar to leg bolts but shorter)

Or maybe it is the LE's that are not doing so well? Mustang LE was a bust. You can still buy STLE. If Stern ditch the premium they know LE sales will rise.

The risk of offering both LE and premium is that people can sit back and wait and after a while the 'gotta have this new shiny toy feeling' vaporizes.

Wouldn't surprise me to see just pro and LE for WD. Then if the LE sells out Stern can introduce a premium AFTER the LE has sold out.