Holy cow ... if I noted just one of these concerns I would be blown out of the water for being an epic troll. But all true sadly ...

^ This. This is all I've been saying all along. I noted many things I really liked but those posts were always ignored. One thing in particular I wish JJP would have done is tried using a new artist for the toys ... and for stating that I get bashed to no end now.

I do find it particularly ironic that for all of Jack's talk about the competition stealing their ideas (which apparently has been his reason for not showing much on Hobbit) JJP now has a button in the middle of the lockdown bar. Hmm, I wonder where that idea came from.

One little touch I noticed ... there appears to be some decorative border around the LCD now (although it's hard to tell for certain if it's part of the backglass itself or simply part of the LCD animation.) But I like that they tried to frame the LCD with a decorative border (at least something.) I never cared for that on WOZ ... that the LCD just seemed floating there. Nice little touch!

I actually do not understand this strategy at all. I think it hurts sales to not better differentiate the LE from a standard. Invisiglass and shaker can easily be added to a standard. Powdercoating could be too, but it's not as easily added and the quality is hard to match. So powdercoating is really the only differentiator on the LE?? That's crazy IMO. People want something really unique on an LE to make it worth paying that little extra and collecting ... different cabinet artwork, a topper, additional toy figures (that does not change game play), etc. Why would anyone rush to throw money at this game? They can just as easily sit back and see what used prices are on the LE in a year. Or wait and see how cheap they can get a regular (and forgo the powdercoating.) We're seeing people selling NIB standard WOZ's with shaker and Invisiglass on here in the $6500 range? Will it be the same with Hobbit? Why not?

What does Stern have to do with anything? I'm not saying JJP games aren't great bang for your buck. I'm saying I don't see any reason to rush to get your hands on an LE. I'm simply comparing a regular edition JJP game to their LE version of the game. Period. Relax.

Hobbit LE is 8k right now. The point is ... if I'm understanding Jack correctly .. the only really unique feature of the Hobbit LE that might be tough to duplicate is the powder coating (and presumably a unique "LE number" somewhere on the apron.) Well whoopty doo. Yes, you get the shaker and Invisiglass thrown in. BUT ... if WOZ is any indication of what's to come, we will probably see some Hobbit regular editions, with Invisiglass and shaker thrown in, selling for around $6500 a year from now (like we've seen recently with WOZ). Who the heck feels the need to get in now at 8k just for the powder coating??? That's crazy. I don't mean for this to come across simply as a slam on JJP ... but doesn't this thought go through other consumer's minds too?

The game may very well be incredibly fun (I'm confident it will be). But JJP's strategy for maximizing sales (profits) is ludicrous in my mind. They are not making the most of the effort put into making this game. Why do I care? Because I really do care about the future of pinball. The only reason I'm not in on the LE right now is because of my point above.

I've never used the headphone jack on my WOZ even one time. BUT .. if this is the one additional extra in addition to the powder coating at least it's something. It's certainly worth pointing out. But still not enough in my mind to differentiate the LE.

I think the headphone jack may be nice in a noisy environment where you want to hear the game sound. But it's not what I originally thought the intent was ... which was to keep the game quiet when you want to play late at night (and may have kids.) It turns out, the game music/sounds are not the issue. It's the ball smacking around the game and me smacking the flippers and bumping the game that makes the most sound. Thus, once the kids go down for bed ... my wife does not want me playing, period. So if anything, the headphone jack may make more sense for the 'standard' edition where games go on location and there is a ton of noise (and harder to hear the game sounds.)

Wow, yes! Smaug still appears missing ... but that upkicker trough (with a decal on it?) appears to drop into the right wireform? That's kind of interesting.

I don't know ... I keep looking at this playfield and I'm definitely not feeling the "WOW" factor. Just meh. I'm confident the ruleset will be amazing .. but visually ... meh. That tiny Smaug on the middle playfield artwork drives me nuts. And considering the blah pop-up toys, the middle pf is lacking. There has to be something under the playfield there, no? Some surprise there must be coming. Why else would it be so wide open there with no inserts? My favorite part of the pf are the crossover ramps at the top ... I really like how those are laid out and looking forward to how the software (and diverter) control the ball flow there. I think that will be a really fun aspect of the game!

I also keep thinking that 5" lcd on the playfield must be coming too. But I think the only place it would fit would be above the red targets to the right of the right ramp entrance, no? And if it does go there, how much will it block the view of the bumpers/toppers? It will be interesting to see how everything fits in there.

This goes back to a comment I've made a few times. There is simply a lack of artistic cohesiveness across WOZ and Hobbit (so far). As if everyone works in a silo. The cabinet graphics artist creates art without considerations of the playfield/game. The playfield artist works separate from him, etc. etc. I think Hobbit (so far) seems a little more cohesive than WOZ ... but we'll know more next week with the game reveal. A very BIG factor that we are yet to see/experience is the game lighting itself. Game lighting can change the mood and fun factor of a game tremendously. Next to seeing what Smaug looks like, game lighting is THE next biggest element I'm looking forward to seeing. I really hope a lot of thought was put into the GI, the lighting of toys, and the playfield itself. Can't wait.

I am not sure I understand your point. The LE price "will eventually be less than the standard price"? I expect when the Hobbit LE's sell out (from distributors, not JJP), that the price of the regular edition will be advertised around 8K MSRP, same as WOZ. BUT ... the LE price is firm at 8K. There is no wiggle room. When the 'regular' edition becomes listed at 8k MSRP ... I suspect we'll see games actually selling for around $6500 similar to what WOZ is doing right now. Soooo ... don't you have to stop and think, hmmm, why pay 8k to simply have the powder coating (and headphone jack?) when i could wait 6-12 months and basically get the exact same fun game (minus the powder coating and headphone jack) for around $6500?? There isn't much incentive to rush to get in on the LE is my point. Especially since history tells us LE prices are very likely to drop significantly and you can pick up a used Hobbit LE for much less within a year.

I'm only pointing out that I think a much more strategic line of thinking could greatly increase sales for JJP. They may be making an awesome game ... but their marketing strategy is way off right now and costing them $$$. Not only could it cost them sales on this game ... but if I'm right, I believe it will really impact future sales as well unfortunately.

I've already suggested this exact same point elsewhere previously. That upkicker on the left could possibly (likely?) be Smaug's neck/head there. AND ... if you look at the upkicker on the right of the playfield, possibly that is his tail?? (as if his whole body is under the playfield.) So, perhaps behind the drop targets is just a pile of Gold or some other molded figure?? We've been mislead for a while I think. I'm really thinking that is the case now!

There appears to be a loop (trough) behind those 3 drop targets on the left (where we were speculating Smaug would be) that may only be made (or best made) by the upper right flipper specifically. That's what it looks like to me.

Given that latest playfield picture ... I just cannot see ANY way there will be a full body molded Smaug figure in that small upper area on the left there (it would just be too small or certainly only part of Smaug.) I really think that VUK there will be Smaug's neck/head and behind the drop targets a different type of toy (maybe just a pile of Gold but possibly something else.)

I think folks who were hoping for a full body Smaug figure/toy (like me) in that area will be disappointed. But I'm sure it will be something innovative.

Yes, so cabinet art aside, let's get back to that playfield picture! If the VUK on the left is in fact Smaug's neck and head sticking up there (and possibly his tail on the other VUK on the right side of the playfield) what could the toy/figure behind the drop targets be? Just a pile of shimmering Gold? Maybe some sort of castle figure/walls with Gold in it? Thoughts? I never read the books so I don't know if there is some significant scene/setting in the 3rd movie that could be represented there?

Also, if Smaug is not an actual toy (modeled figure) does anyone care? I was personally looking forward to an animated/moving Smaug figure but quite possibly they have somthing even more cool in mind? I can't see how a sufficiently large Smaug toy could fit back there now.

Oh, one last thought on the cabinet artwork ... I think the "nutsack chin" is a great nod to the LOTR LE Gandalf "beard penis"!

You know a thread has run its' course when all we're left with are the usual JJP pumpers and the "JJP can do no wrong" folks.

Right, everyone is just wrong for thinking Aurich's 10 minute mock-up looks awesome. I wonder what he could do if he was given 2 years.

1) While you may care about thumbs up or thumbs down to boost your ego, I could care less.
2) As I've stated before, the overwhelming majority of the thumbs down come from the same handful of people (and only in a JJP thread, odd) ... if it makes them feel better then great. But it certainly doesn't bother me.
3) Why do you continue to make every JJP discussion that is negative about me? As if I'm the reason a lot of folks expressed that they don't like the cabinet artwork? Or I'm the reason so many people expressed negative opinions about the 4 pop-up toys?

P.S - You need to contact Robin and explain that the "Ignore" functionality on this site is apparently not working properly. It's bizarre that despite you stating I'm "literally the only person on this site you have on ignore", you keep seeing my posts. Weird.

Please show me my post(s) in this thread that you deem to be "trite, comical, and pedantic"

I dont have to look any further back then your post above for an example of you acting jeuvenile, condescending, and egotistical.

While obviously true I'm pretty sure there is good reason why arcade video game manufacturers are creating ever more impressive cabinets, signage, light shows, etc. It simply adds to the "cool factor" of the game.

Really? Thats it?