I sincerely wish the guys the best of success on this game, but the artwork would have been a deal breaker for me. I was already worried about the lack of shots on the game (and that's what kept me from preordering), but like RAI said above, I would've expected the artwork to be darker and less like a Data East style. The technology was cool when the game was being announced, but the big manufacturers have stepped things up in the last year. The things they are doing now and are rumored to be doing have already surpassed the coolness factor of Predator. I have hopes for SkitB and all of the other boutique guys, but I fear they will all have a hard time innovating beyond the big companies. They are in competition and each has made great hires in recent months. Like a lot of Kickstarters are finding, it's hard to get things manufactured in smaller quantities with good enough quality in a timely fashion. I want them all to succeed; they are all working very hard. However, I'm glad I didn't bite on the announcements of any of the boutiques. I just had a feeling that we were on the verge of some major pinball innovation at the big manufacturers. That's coming. With the hire of guys like John Trudeau, it may be coming even sooner than I thought. I'm holding out for a few more designs to come onto the scene. Now if only Stern will give them as much freedom as they need to make something special. I think they will.

For the record, the Predator theme was one of my grail themes. I own and display many of the Sideshow 12in Predator figures in my basement/gameroom. If the art had a darker tone and feel to it, it probably would've tipped me to the point of buying or trading for one. Alien and Predator just cannot be presented with a "too cartoony" style. I have a hard time going for any artwork for those 2 themes that stray too far from a Giger-like style. I used to buy all of the Alien and Predator toys years ago, but I always skipped the ones that veered too far from the darkness and edginess. I may be totally wrong in what limited exposure I've had to the artwork for the game. Maybe it will be spot on when the game actually goes into production and I see it in person. I still want a Predator game very badly; perhaps this one will be that game when it's all said and done. If that's the case then I will gladly give it a glowing review as I stand over one in my gameroom.

I like the SkitB guys too, and ultimately all that matters is that you like your game. It doesn't matter what I feel about the artwork. I was just voicing my opinion as a Predator (franchise) fanboy from way back. I have the same complaint about Jurassic Park, which I own and love playing. The theme is great; the play is great; the sounds are good; the toys are good; however, the artwork is too cartoon-like to fit the gritty theme. It's ok on a game like TFTC, because that theme is kinda based on a comic. In the end, the artwork chosen for Predator may be fitting in its final form. Toys and artwork are going to be tricky for all of these smaller production machines. Some will work and some won't. The toys can be altered after-market; the artwork on the playfield is permanent. For a theme like Predator, the artwork and toys are important to me. They may not be as important for you.

I have 40 machines and have never sold one, so I wouldn't know what it's like selling one for profit. There are only a few that I own that would definitely go for more than I paid for them. CC, AFM, QQ, Cyclopes, and Shadow would net me big gains. I paid more than great money for my games just so I could get great examples of the games I liked. As the new games get released in the next few years, I may begin to sell some just because I'm the only one in the house that plays them now. Some games are sitting turned off, so it would probably be good to stir up some more excitement. Seeing John Trudeau and some of the other pinball gods getting new work makes me excited about what could be coming. Maybe one of them will finally make the Jaws pin I've always wanted. Jaws was on the list with Alien, Predator, Pink Floyd, a decent Star Wars, and a few other games like that.

When it's all finished and out in the wild and I see that I'm wrong about the artwork, I'm sure I'll overpay for one so I can add to my Predator collection and my pinball collection.

When I said "in the Wild", I really didn't mean on route. I just meant completed and in owners' possession.