Per my distributor as was noted hear already, the premiums are going into production next week and should start shipping when ready, maybe there is hope yet for me getting my premium for my Birthday this month! I was wondering if you guys think this game needs pinstadiums??? Would see about working OT if possible to save for them. On everyones pics, it doesn't look like you need them at all. Was just wondering, like to have things staged to put in my games ahead of time if possible.

I’ve heard which is one of the reasons I’ve stayed away and haven’t even tried it yet though to look at it sure is a thing of beauty.

Outlanes are closed down from factory, open then up fully and I’m sure AIQ will be a lot more brutal.

The more I think... I think it was probably less than 40min. I had some games early on playing "The Shadow" - +500M....

AIQ seems like the opposite of Houdini...everything is pretty makeable... from everywhere

Edit...

One more thing... nothing feels all that dangerous. On JP2, the C shot and the raptor pit always cause me to hold my breath. I don't see anything like that so far....

PS... it is still an incredibly fun game

Stern does not include toppers with their games. The AIQ topper is supposed to be available next month.

Accessory video for reference:

Nah, it has some neat lighting effects and lights in the apron

Got my LE today great game so far. Flow and combos alone are awesome!

One issue is the black menu button on the coin door does NOT work. No contact and I cannot enter the test menu or update the code.

I have taken it apart and followed the wires and re-seated everything. I have owned lots of NIB sterns and never had an issue with this button not making contact or working. Anyone ever have an issue the menu button.

UPDATE: FIXED loose connector on the cabinet door board CN10 I think. Reseated and works fine.

Game Flows like butter and just got Grand champ, loving it.

LE no. 283 here ..

already have a problem .. dr. stranger disc is stuck up after updating to .91 and i cant find a way to test it .. should i be trying to go back to .90?

balls fall in but no attempt to clear the subway during ball search

edit - i did a pro update .. haha ./.. hope i can fix it

Or make them at home for less than $5.
-3" cool white led strip
-wire
-alligator clips or a bit of solder

Make sure you didn't install Pro code? Weird that there would be no test.

Edit: Just saw your edit. Should be fine after you properly update.

Idk, Jerry didnt sound as optimistic last week.
"Anytime between now and next year"
His truck twonweeks ago came back with two measly pins and a bunch of kiddie casino games. I would LOVE for my premium to be here for Halloween. We arent doing the trick or treating thing obviously so it would be nice for my son to have a small get together, dress as super heroes and play some pinball with his friends (and lame dad)

I’ve had the same issue and tried several things without any luck. I’ll keep you posted if I find something.

Yes! I totally agree! Maybe a nice set of Pinstadiums will suffice?

We could email them and see if they can code it so it syncs with the disc?

Unless you plan on streaming your game from a dark room nobody really NEEDS pinstadiums.

Got my LE today, game is amazing so far. Out of the box though, two cab bolt nuts came completely off, had to fish around in the back of the cab for the nuts and the washers. Another nut was completely missing from holding down one of the ball guides, no marks even on the underside of the playfield, so they never even installed one. Also found a few spots on the playfield where the clearcoat is bubbling because of course they have to keep tightening shit way too much. Ugh. I'm probably just going to dismantle the whole thing and do the vinyl iron fix on them.

I said I'd only go NIB for Keith, and that's it, maybe Stern will eventually get their shit together, but probably not, because we all keep buying them anyway.

I did replace the T-Molding with my leftover yellow from Maiden, looks way better on Avengers.
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Here are the spots so people can check their games.
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I’ll say this and probably catch some flack but that’s what forums are for. Lots of GnR comparison to AIQ etc going on. Licensing and assets are their own topic of discussion but I’m more interested in discussing the effort or lack there of on some low hanging fruit from Stern. You can’t make an LE and put generic white flippers on it. These are the details that are leaving many to say JJP is putting more effort and delivering a complete pin. Love my AIQ LE but white flippers, no topper etc is sophomore effort...Charge me an extra 700$ for a complete machine but make your top end actually top end please.

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Received my LE this am and played 35 games on it. I don't believe I am over hyping it so I will say this game is a home run. I have never played that many games in a row on one machine. I thought it would but this game is really great. I am a comic book collector so that helps but the voices modes are both amazing and the shots are absolutely incredible. Well done stern.

I agree, I’ve put about the same amount of plays. It’s awesome. I like my tmnt le a lot but aiq I think is amazing

...And no more black rubber please!

I updated to LE code , but my spinner (spinning disc) stopped registering .. anyone know what switch registers the spinning ... it sometimes works in test mode and worked for a little while in one game , but stopped registering after raising and going back down.

i did accidentally load pro code before these problems , then updated to .91 after .. maybe its time to flash a new card?

thanks for any help.

Does gnr LE come with a topper or are you comparing to the CE which is $3500 more than the stern le

And no more black rubber please

There is no comparison to GNR and AIQ. AIQ leaves it in the dust (imo), if you’re a true pinball player. It is interesting to download the manuals of both and you’ll see there is not much in GNR, except blinking lights and hype. AIQ has in it’s manual loads of awesome mechs, 5 ramps, interesting shots, etc. GNR has none of that. No mechs, no interesting wires forms, but it does light up ad nauseam to hide all the deficiencies and lack of toys (LEDs are real cheap to add to a game). It also goes from one multiball to another multiball, since there is nothing else to achieve on the PF. AIQ is a real pinball players layout, done by Keith a top player himself. While GNR is for those that like lights and hearing songs, but not much else in the way of interesting game play, imo.

(Of course, this is simply judging the 2 machines, not judging another person’s purchase decision.)

Poor me, I'll just have to put up with having both. Bonus it'll save me having to judge peoples choices like that.

Both great games-pros and cons to each
Ya’ll see Mezels sanctom target plan? Looks good to me maybe

i got it working again .. apparently there is a relationship between 5 (magnetic tip) and the 10 (mag sensor) . The sensor has 2 different led blinking patterns depending on if it can see the magnetic tip , from what i can tell . Anyway, hopefully the sensor isnt flaky.. I was trying for a while to get this working.

Seems like the sensor will activate when the mag tip is close enough (down position) and aligned correctly.

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If you are referring to the right orbit that is intentional.

#169
It’s awesome

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I'll give my first impressions....

- The LE looks much better in person than in the photos. The yellow is less intense in person.

- The combo shots are second to none... so many fun combos to hit.

- The Captain Marvel ramp is probably the most satisfying ramp that I have ever played. All of the ramps are incredibly smooth and fun to shoot at. My success rate on the Captain Marvel ramp is higher than the JP2 Tower.

- I am having some issues with the VUK... the ball is having an issue indexing.

- No problems with balls falling off ramps - other than the VUK everything seems to be working fine

- The game is much more forgiving than JP2.... unless I was just having a serious run of beginers luck. No shot seems especially tight or dangerous. In a previous post I called it the Anti-Houdini

- I have a feeling that better players will have some very ling ball times.

- My whole family really likes it... my 11 YO daughter played more games on it today than other game previously. The game is very approachable for casual players.

- The callouts are fine... nothing too repetitive or annoying (no "where is Nedry?")

Time will tell if we end up enjoying AIQ more than JP2 - JP2 is more of a challenge and can be frustratingly difficult to progress through while AIQ has all of the awesome ramps, but i suspect with longer ball times.

#375 setup and playing great...love these wireforms!!! Lots to do, and the powder is well done. 6.75 pitch for me working well currently.

Very happy w purchase...

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Anyone else think the game is dark? especially in the attract mode not alot of GI going on.

I've played neither game but they both LOOK awesome but for different reasons. GNR looks like it has some of the absolute best theme integration but the rules might be a bit too multiball heavy for my tastes. Avengers looks to have great rules and balance with an interesting layout but is lacking in theme integration.

For me, gameplay (rules and shots) always ends up being the most important thing but, for some, theme and theme integration is going to be the driving factor in buying, keeping and, most importantly, enjoying a game.

Same here... picking up AIQ tomorrow, just sold AC/DC to fund GNR.

It doesn’t but I’m comparing the top end of each company ..the best they offer...AIQ LE way better looking shooter..best shooter I have ever played for sure....I don’t know how a company thinks it’s ok to send out a neon yellow pin as an LE with white flippers that could easily be surplus flippers from an Austin Powers pin on the top of the line they offer..baffling

How good are those new lights in the apron? This will be the first game I’ve had at home/seen with this new apron.

I wouldn’t spend the money on pinstadiums complete waste imo. I usually add a couple spotlights to most of my Sterns that’s it.

I’d just like to see Stern “borrow” that disc light sync from GnR, they wouldn’t be able to speed sync it as GnR has those new sensors for that but they could definitely have the insert and GI spin with a hit on the disc which would be cool.

#431 at Sunshine Laundromat. Likely the only AIQ in NYC.

Me and a couple buddies played for 4 hours straight. Have never played one game that long before.

Yellow armor looks better in person than pictures.

Glove looks better in person, but better when lit than unlit.

Captain Marvel shot is very makeable. Very satisfying.

3 skill shots, super and sneak are also satisfying.

The combos are sick.

The music and voices are dare I say, great.

Hype is real with this one.

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485 arrived yesterday. It’s a blast. The whole family played it a lot last night, which never happens.
I’ve purchased other NIB games with themes that the kids love, like Star Wars, Spiderman, and Jurassic Park, and they couldn’t care less.

Someone earlier asked about the post use on a premium/LE. The only time I’ve seen it used is when you collect a gem. The last shot to collect is the fat ramp. The ball is held there for a few seconds while the screen shows what gem you collected. Changing gem positions happens at the scoop.

I think Avengers will be pin of the year.

GnR who????

Im getting both so itll be interesting to see how I feel. Im guessing Avengers will be the better shooter by far, with GnR being more the spectacle. Light show and theme integration are going to GnR, but game of the year could be kieth again due to how it shoots. well see! Theres going to be lot of people voting without playing either game due to the pandemic...

Okay before I reply I have an AIQLE paid in full and awaiting delivery and I’m super excited to get it, game looks amazing!

Anyway AIQ has loads of mechs? Not just mechs but awesome mechs!?

Magnetic tower
Spinning/Raising disc
Subway
VUK

GnR has none?

Magnet at top lanes
Spinning disc
Ramp diverter to upper playfield
Upper playfield with flipper
Upper playfield Gibson 6 ball lock
VUK on upper playfield to upper upper playfield
Fender playfield with tweeters and ramp return
Scoop
Ramp diverter to 3rd flipper
Stage spotlights

And GnR has no interesting ramps or wireforms? Come on man you don’t believe the stuff you just typed do you?

The right ramp has 2 drum sticks that make up the right ramp return that’s amazing theme integration, the left upper ramp wireform is designed to look like the strings on a bass guitar they are both awesome and amazing use of the theme integrating it into the game physically. Even the spinners are designed as plectrums they are awesome!!

As for gameplay I won’t comment yet as I haven’t had the chance to play either but from streams they both seem to play fantastic in their own ways. GnR gives you the option to make every mode a multiball using that Gibson ball lock very cool and like Aerosmith’s toy box risk reward.

I knew you where a Stern fanboy thunder but I’m starting to wondering is that you Gary?

I just don’t get this constant Stern VS JJP nonsense they are both pumping out amazing games, offering us all something different, we should be happy as hell that the industry is stronger and more unique than ever! Instead people spend their time trying to find faults that really don’t exist in the competition. Pinballs never been stronger and better let’s enjoy it people 2 amazing games released back to back = awesome!!!

Received my AIQ LE a few days ago. I do love the way it shoots, the artwork and flow. But I need to be honest.. the game feels like it needs a soul. The callouts are a bit weak. The good news is.... it can be fixed in the code and updated to become the game it should be.

Cosigned. Opened my pro yesterday and it's dumping at least 90% of full-speed shots off the right inlane return habitrail. Seems to happen just before it makes the last turn. I'm pretty good at tweaking & dialing-in games, but nothing I did seemed to help.

I wouldn't say the machine is unplayable like this, but it's definitely unsatisfying. Hard to get over the hump of a good game with no right inlane feeds, plus the occasional dump straight to a drain. I know it would be less elegant, but I wish that habitrail had all four wires all the way down.

Also wish it was attached at the sling & inlane, like the left return, so that it wasn't just kinda floating. Might hold a corrective bend better that way. There's only one mount point on the right side of the playfield.

Have you (or anyone else) called and talked to Stern - to get this fixed? If not - I would suggest that's the way to go. Otherwise they will never fix the problem (If no one ever complains). Squeaky Wheel and all.

Not yet in my case, didn't play it until after business hours yesterday. I can usually fix anything short of a blown node board, but it might be time to call in the big guns.

How's the subway working for everyone? I've been curious about all the different reports of stuck balls.

Agree with most of what you say, but I must point out that you missed a couple things from AIQ: three-bank drop target and Thor captive ball come to mind, not to mention Capt Marvel ramp (that actually does something cool with the ball not just a clever way to make a return path).

No doubt, these are two different pins, each is great in their own way. I haven’t played either yet (disclaimer) but, here is my feelings on them anyway:

Stern hints at Avengers as their next pin. Me: Avengers again!?!
Stern reveals game play in the promo video. Me: BUY, BUY, BUY!

JJP hints at GnR as next pin. Me: GnR is cool, this could be epic!
JJP releases game play video. Me: looks fantastic, shoots slow. Pass.

I’d love to play it at friends place or on location, just don’t need that type of game flow in my collection. Don’t get me wrong, I love JJP, going to help friends unbox a Dialed-In tonight. I’m pretty manufacturer agnostic at the moment I own: Stern, JJP, Williams, Bally, AP, and Zaccaria. I have a WOZECLE next to my JP2 and guess what gets the most play lately....Hot Wheels!!!

BTW, can’t wait for my AIQ premium to ship. I expect December.