Speaking of gameplay, anyone posted a video this weekend? That would be cool.

I didn't mean it in a bad way or to get your goat. Some of us won't be able to play it so we have to go with our gut about the look and play. If yours is telling you it isn't for you then you may not want someone to talk you out of it that is all I meant.

Text conversations are sometimes very easy to misinterpret.

I like the coloring, the artwork, and would also like to see a bit of the gameplay and dmd stuff.

The bad: sent entire payment and haven't had a return email yet Skitbpinball! Wtheck??

You are teases with emails still Kevin. Send me a confirmation of $4500 received please!

Rick. " I'm gonna have me some fun." #190

Rick! They're at a show this weekend bud!

The game play was great very fun. I was hoping the game would be further along with the mechanical parts. It still looked like a raw game. Lots of work still needs to be done. Hope the boys have a more completed game in hiding.

I'm hoping this is the same thing that happened with WOZ. Designing a machine while everyone looks on during the design process leaves you open to people critiquing an incomplete machine. With WOZ people argued endlessly about the incomplete code, the repetitive sound, the weak flippers etc, but now that it's close to finished most of those things worked themselves out. While I heard some negative feedback from some friends who played it, I'm still hoping it's just growing pains and I'll hang in there, for now.

Movie studios like to show test prints of movies to gauge the audience feedback and make tweaks to it. Things started getting difficult for them with the internet when people would start to review these unfinished movies.

So, I get that what we're looking at is a work in progress, what we see today is not the finished game.

Can skit-b tell us what is going on with the translite and cabinet art? What are your plans?

{but it was two weeks ago} said in a hushed whisper.

I have a couple of buds at the show this weekend. I'll see if they can get a sneak peek.

Rick. " I'm gonna have me some fun." #190

BILLY! Come on , Billy!

Seriously, you can't really get a NIB pin for that price that is called Predator anywhere else. It will fit nicely in a large/medium collection. It's a good risk according to houseofpin and his sidekick junior. What more do you want?

back away from the ledge, head for the cake.

I agree that the blues in the playfield should be the same as the blues in the translite and the colors should be muted somewhat. It would tie the whole thing together so much better. From what I can tell looking at the pics, the playfield artwork at the show is an overlay. I hope they are still planning to do a printed and cleared playfield for the final product. Glad to hear the gameplay is fun!

We're just driving home from the show.
Predator was a highlight and it was awesome to finally meet the guys.

The toll of rushing to get this latest playfield into the game and making the long drive from northern Michigan was all over their faces on Friday morning, so a huge applause and thanks for making the effort guys!

I had the pleasure to also watch Kevin reach Showdown wizard mode and kick the tar out of the game It was awesome to see it being played well (after my weak performance).

The audio package is unreal and the FF kit almost had me wondering if the game had a shaker at times.
The playfield art looked good in game. Once the inserts get printed and the black key lining is added, it'll look as good as any production game.
Ramps were original and you can still see the plywood imprint from the vacuum forming. I have faith the production ones will be much nicer.
Remember that the game does not yet have plastics. Its gonna look a whole lot cooler once plastic art is layered over the playfield and toys/figures are added.

With my game being one of the first made, I will definitely be sending some money soon (while I have it )

JETZXI, I didn't talk to the guys about mirror blades but I guess black would look badass!
I could router out a channel for the uv lighting.
Once I take possession ill measure it up and give it a shot.

Thanks again to Kevin and Aaron

Adriano
#3

Talking with Kevin he said mirror blades are going to be a big no no on this with the UV lighting and everything. There really won't be a need for them. It may have jungle decals on the walls to blend the theme together. They are looking into it still.

Thanks Drano!

I would like to see the blue gone all together. The translite and cabinet art is mostly black, so I think keeping with the dark theme, maybe start green at the bottom of the playfield and slowly fade to a dark green until you eventually reach the black at the top of the playfield. But I agree if the blue is there darken/mute it up a bit to coincide with the dark theme of translite and cabinet art.

Just my opinion and give the guys something to think about. Love what I saw and played last weekend!

Agreed, I was so psyched when I saw the playfield in the game! Great job!

They have to know if they don't give us inside cab art a third party will.

Are y'all putting the metal leg mounting brackets like the new Sterns ? Please do Stop decal wrinkle before it starts!

I'm not convinced any side art or blades would be advisable as it'll really bring attention to the two long black L-bracket strips that run along the inside to hide the uv lighting.
Black blades is the most I would attempt, unless someone can come up with a decal strip for the L-bracket as well.

Right now it blends in nicely and you don't notice it.

We're good The_Dude_abides. Appreciate your clarification. That's why I'm hoping for some more live video to further review "the gut".

All good points Rommy. Cake sounds like a good idea right now. Yummy.

What about respect? If your collection does not include Predator ... fuhgetaboutit

As mentioned...when i played the game I asked Kevin if they put a shaker motor in there. When he said no, it's just the sub woofer thingy, I suggested to use it with some low tones AS a shaker motor.
...the ramps are still proto and the real ones will be better. Someone at the show even said they would look into a metal ramp mod.
....and, yes, there will STILL be some surprises in store..
I personally thought the game played great. The Toys and Plastics Art will really bump it up a notch. Sounds were fantastic!

Billy >> something to talk you off of the ledge.

We have a amazing sub community in the predator crew and this will likely be one of the most tweaked and moded games in the future which in itself will be a blast. The ruleset is great and the shot layout feels good even on the proto games with proto parts. Everything else is merely cosmetic and we will all have a blast making improvements as the 250 lucky ones actually get them in our grubby mitts.

Also, if you bow out now there is a chance you will never be able to get one in the future.

I still love the idea that for a relatively cheap amount (compared to other games) I get to be along for this ride and support some guys like me (albeit with way more skill and knowledge) as they follow a dream.

Kevin, I'd love to know if you guys looked into the cost difference between plastic and metal ramps/habitrails? Was it ultimately just a design and cosmetic decision to go with plastic ramps, or was it a cost based decision?

Metal vs plastic has GOT to be a big difference....right?

Got to play the game a bunch and had a nice chat with Kevin.

I think the pics that were posted do as much justice as a video would have because there's not much extra to see right now, and you would've seen the flippers not making the ramp shots consistently and then everyone would've been in a huff about that. Kevin told me they turned the flipper strength down so that nothing broke and made the game unplayable during the show.

They got that playfield 2 days before and were able to assemble the game for the show, so it wasnt PERFECT, but the game still played great.

The modes and hunt buttons are integrated nicely into the game, in one mode you use the hunt buttons to pick the lit shot and going for hunt kills is great. Each of the six modes is challenging and fun.

The FF speakers were awesome and made me think they had put a shaker in the game like some other people have mentioned. So explosions and other sound effects were rumbling through your hands it was pretty cool. The other call outs, sounds, and music was cool, it really "immersed" you in the game and the speakers werent even cranked up very high at the show.

The game was has a simple layout, which we all know, but it was still very fun and lots to do between going for modes, multiball, hunts and hunt multiball, killing spree (shooting each shot 3 times), and ultimately showdown mode. Kevin said they are working on a way of tracking how many of each shot you have and how many hunts you have left, they are possibly going to be putting something for this on the back wall of the game. Even with the weaker flippers I was able to make a bunch of ramp/orbit combos which was great. They changed the middle targets so there is more cushion now and actually deadens the balls momentum so there was no air balls and less SDTM drains so they are safer to shoot for, but part of the strategy was to start hit the center targets during one of the multiball style modes so you didnt risk ending your ball as much.

The DMD did a great job of explaining what to do for each mode and the text is now in the classic Predator font which was cool.

If the UV paint works the way they want it to it is going to be awesome! There will be UV elements over some of the current artwork (like the characters being orange and blue like the predators heat vision) and there will be UV elements we have not seen yet, neon yellow blood splatter going up the shot lines and ramps, along with some possible other surprises.

They're planning on adding jungle foliage plastics which I think will be awesome once in place with the hanging body and predator claw.

I think that's about everything we talked about. At least all I can remember for now.

The game definitely had a "proto" type feel, but it was great to be able to play the game with the artwork, so I appreciate them getting it together in time for the show.

I didnt ask about potential art changes to the playfield or translite. I'll admit it doesnt match incredibly well but its definitely not a deal breaker for me.

So great to be hearing all this news. If I don't go hop in the pool right now my sons are going to kill me. Everything sounds great, but man, what happened to that great bone colored skull they showed us and who put strawberry jelly all over my wintergreen skull? Ha. Damn!

Apparently, BackAlley Matt only made one prototype which was shown at the Michigan Expo. He had to take it back with him to make more / do some modifications. That's why it wasn't at Allentown. I think the blood on the skull on the playfield looks fine in person.

did somebody saw or know what the apron will look like?

MmMmMMMmm.... Jam.....

simpHomerDrool_2006f.jpg

No, just a plain black one for now.

I think the art is starting to come together. I do hope they end up with darker shade of white on the big skull (use same white as on smaller skulls just below the inserts) and go with the same blood style/look that is currently on the left outlane on the skull. That would look great IMO. A darker shade of blue would also be a welcome change to the lower playfield.

image.jpg

I would've took video, but I am terrible at pinball.

I really like the way they went with the artwork, but they need to fix Arnold's shoulder, and the skull could use some yellowing instead of being so white.

I agree with the skull blood suggestion. Blood does NOT bead up like it is currently on the skull. I think that is what makes the current itteration so much more 'comic comic' and less 'comic gore'

why didn't they use this one?

V_5180.jpg

That skull looks good.

I Love the blood dripping down the outlane look

I'm too lazy to go back and look but wasn't it mentioned they were supposed to resemble maggot's or leaches or something?

Me too. I was looking at it earlier thinking that was my favorite part of the playfield art thus far...I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing.

My only critiques are to keep this skull. V_5180.jpg

Lastly, take one of the "Predators" off of the translite or speaker panel. It probably only needs to be there once.

Cant wait to see the whole pin put together now. At the Michigan show it was the whitewood with some of the toys. PA show now has the playfield. When the plastics, inserts, toys and final art its going to look friggen incredible.

A first and I think this is going to turn out to be a neat surprise when it's finished!

I cant wait!

It's coming off of Speaker Panel.

Everyone seems to be concerned about the center targets, but I guess between that darn triceratops on JP plus RFM and Spiderman, I'm used to shooting things that cause the ball to go straight down the middle... so bring it on! I'm excited to see possible stacked plastics though, because I think a jungle canopy look would be cool.

I played a bunch of games and hitting the center targets never sent the ball down the middle.

Yep, me neither. Not a concern. The ball lock (claw) on the left was really different. I like it.

Yeah! Can't wait to see that all done...

The game looks terrible, abandon all hope now, 1k by Christmas......just doing what I can, I'm still on the waiting list.

Edit: Let me add that IMHO the sounds, lights and rules are really what bring a game to life. If they are good the game will be good, as long as the playfield offers enough satisfying shots and doesn't have any really bad playing aspects. Predator looks like it will be fun.

Agreed, the stacked plastics was mentioned earlier in the thread when I posted the special forces pinball pic...I'm glad Kevin and Co listened because it will make the game stand out form the other machines...very few pinballs have the stacked plastics.

Kevin, you are the best, really.

So is the playfield artwork still being tweaked? My only big problems with it are the blood on the Predator skull looking like jam, and Arnold's odd pose/shoulder. Other than that, I'm really digging it.