Best way to level a machine using your phone is to open up your Amazon app and order a real digital level.
At least remember it will only be as good as whatever you are calibrating it on. So if that countertop or bar isn't perfectly level, neither is your app.
And never trust the damn bubble. Why Stern still wastes their time and money on those after cost reducing everything else possible is beyond me. I have seen machines where the bubble centers at 4 deg and machines where the bubble centers at 8. It's ridiculous.

LOL...hell if I know. But they are often out of wack. If the rail they are on isn't perfectly flat and parallel to the playfield that will cause an issue too. I was exaggerating with 4-8, but for sure easily a degree out either direction, and that can make a big difference in how a game plays and proper mech performance.

Never measure anything on the glass. Measure directly on the playfield. I do not use the phone app levels, but if you calibrate with the case on, you would leave the case on. A real digital level will measure both. Place it side-to-side to measure level, flip it to front-to-back to measure pitch. Measure at multiple places around your playfield. Nearly all playfields have minor warp, slightly raised inserts, etc that will lead to different measurements at different spots. I usually measure as far up the pf as I can, near the middle, and right above the flippers then use a rough average between them.

I have found Comet 2-smd to give a very similar look to what Stern uses. I change any visible to frosted which is easier on the eyes, but keeps a consistent look. Most Sterns seem to come with cool/natural white, and some machines I will warm up a bit with Sunlight color depending on the art. Games like GoT, SM, TWD look so much better with slightly warmer light. Sunlight is great as it's half way between cool and warm and looks great. Some machines look great in the standard natural though. For Avengers, I would probably lean towards keeping the cooler natural white due to all the blues on the pf. Either way, I think you'll be happy with Comet 2-smd frosted.

I would check your plunger alignment before changing the spring. If it isn't hitting right smack in the middle (left/right and up/down), it will likely have troubles. Unfortunately that is a common problem. It's usually fixable, but can be a bit of a pain and take some trial and error. If it's reasonably well centered and still too weak, then yeah...a stronger spring is a cheap and easy fix.

No kidding? That's fantastic news! The clear are just fine most places, but there are always a few exposed enough to be obnoxious. Really glad to hear they are using frosted now! Stranger Things is my newest and that is still all clear. Bummer as now I need to remember to order a few purple frosteds!

Yeah...for Iron Man I would stick with natural (cool). Just seems to fit the theme better, although I have a buddy with one done in warm colors and it looks very nice that way too. No wrong answer on that machine. As for visual difference clear vs frosted...I haven't really seen much difference in output. Frosted might disperse a little better. They are certainly easier on the eyes not seeing the direct light glare. I honestly can't think of a disadvantage to frosted, other than where you need a directional bulb (and then you probably wouldn't use a dome style anyway).

I bet your distributor is looking at that pic trying to figure out why you want him to replace your scratched Tron coindoor.

Disney Infinity characters? I have all of them...really too bad the game "died". Great figures though. I've used them as toppers on a few games.

I know many opinions differ, but I personally LOVE the motion comic style, and I think it works perfectly with the theme and game style. I love every animation I have seen. I think the team responsible for the art style and animation absolutely nailed it. My only (minor) complaint is the trophy room default screen. That, I will agree should be something more exciting and theme appropriate. Go ahead and show the trophy room when a trophy is earned, and maybe during the bonus countdown or end of the game so you can admire what you have earned, but it is out of place as the default screen. Even something as simple as a swirling vortex/portal, exterior shots of The Sanctum, Avengers Tower, Wakanda, etc...or even something like a quinjet or helicarrier flying around would work better. But again, that's just a minor complaint about an otherwise stellar A/V package in my opinion.

Avengers Assembled! Or “Yo Dawg I heard you like Avengers so I put an Avengers next to your Avengers”
4DC2FE8C-D372-41CF-8580-E4A383B0B813 (resized).jpeg56A736BE-008B-43AC-9644-8E868C424D36 (resized).jpeg30217164-E91F-4E1E-B79A-5026D8A1017D (resized).jpeg48461FB6-1592-441D-947F-172B4301B02A (resized).jpeg232AAA61-2C1D-4264-9475-77191408DDFA (resized).jpeg5DBFDFA6-8966-4348-855C-5E0C4F3D01AD (resized).jpeg

Got my Stern art blades installed. Love them! Also changed the white flipper bats to yellow. Not sure why they went with white on this one...
1B7D7BDB-DFF8-4122-9D22-372034C4A845 (resized).jpeg52C4CA69-B2CE-4062-9D5D-4F1C5983D06A (resized).jpegA5A8B5D9-6719-4316-8C71-4B2FDEFBDDAF (resized).jpeg

Thanks! I really love the original TAV, though I know I am one of it's few big fans. It took a heck of a lot of tweaking and adjusting to play right, but it's really a fun machine when done. I am very happy to have them together.

They are the official Stern ones. I got mine from Pinball Life, but I'm pretty sure Marco and the other usual places would have them.

I just got to and finished Battle Royale for the first time. That was intense! What a cool mode. Glad this was chosen as the challenge mode. I was staying away from it until hitting it "in game", but it's a great fit for a challenge mode.

I'm definitely looking forward to Thanos being back. I can only assume he was taken out to tweak the mode further, but it seemed to be pretty fleshed out in the early builds from watching Jack play it. Either way, it will be a nice treat when he's back. Really surprised (and excited) that we are only at 0.95. Can't wait to see how it ends up, but no rush from my end. Game is awesome as-is.

AIQ is one of those great games with VERY deep, complex rules, but with an extremely straightforward "first layer" that allows newer players to make cool stuff happen. Hit the cool spinning disc a few times to make it raise up, then shoot under it to start your choice of modes. Bash the Thor captive ball a few times to start a nice, exciting multiball. That's enough to keep most people happy right there. Then dig as deep as you want from there. Want a little more...try to hit each of the major shots multiple times to collect all the Avengers which starts the super unique Soul Gem mode. And there is tons more where that came from...

No problem. I actually just kind of answered this in a TMNT thread comparing the three machines, so I'm just going to copy/paste the JP part of that here (check the TMNT thread if you want the whole comparison)...

"JP...eh. I had a super strong honeymoon period with it, but once that was over it was REALLY over. I have had very little urge to play it again. Good game, but it just didn't pull me in and I didn't find the shots or most of the modes all that satisfying (except T-Rex modes...those rock. Paddocks are a boring slog.). I freely admit I'm the oddball on that one though, and it's a well loved game for a reason."

I would say depth and complexity is fairly similar between AIQ and JP. As for that "first layer", I think AIQ has an advantage here, but JP is not terrible in that regard. It's just not quite as intuitive for first timers. Both are loaded with unique shots and rules, but for me personally AIQ is much more satisfying in both regards. The bulk of JP is playing the paddock modes, which I found to feel very repetitive and kind of a slog to get through. The bulk of AIQ is in the gem quests, and I found them all to be completely unique with a feel of their own. I will give JP props on the T-Rex modes though...those are awesome and unique and I can't really correlate anything in AIQ to them. At the moment, JP probably wins for better/more late game content, but AIQ is still a work in progress and once Thanos is back in the code, that could swing the other direction.

Both are great games. In the end, JP just wasn't a keeper for me, but I'm glad I had it for awhile. I could see having a change of heart with it someday and owning another, but for now I have had my fill and I do not really miss it much. AIQ I am still in the honeymoon with, but I would be very surprised if it wasn't a long term keeper here. I really love everything about it from the layout, to the rules, to the A/V assets, to the art. It's a total package for me.

Best of luck...you can't really go wrong!

I do not currently own a DP, but I did in the past and hope to again. Awesome game. I do not see any reason they wouldn't work well together in a collection. There is very little overlap between them other than both being Marvel properties with amazing ZY art. I do not really see any gameplay similarities at all, other than neither game is a cookie-cutter layout. I think they would be a great compliment to each other (and each a nice compliment to STh for that matter).

Was the coin door open when you booted it? That can confuse it. Could have also been a loose connection or something. If it hasn't happened since, I wouldn't stress too much about it. If it happens again, reseat the node connectors.

Yeah...it definitely adds difficulty putting the ball on the wrong flipper for a shot I already have trouble with. All part of the fun. Since my machine rarely has the momentum to transfer cleanly over from either ball launch or upkicker, I usually use my first flip to hit the Black Widow ramp on the fly which gets me to the left flipper. I have better luck with that than fumbling around trying to post pass.

My wife getting fancy with her new Cricut.

5DBFF8F0-E863-4B70-BFA2-1F8A4875CD39 (resized).jpeg

AAA1E7B7-16DF-4E4E-AC07-4FD3851E4C82 (resized).jpeg

Honestly, it looks like it was a bit sloppy of a shot (too far left), and it is bouncing off of your added plastic and thrown to the right. I think at least on this shot, you would have been better off without the fix. Hard to say for sure though. I definitely find that a shot a bit further right, so it hugs the right side of the ramp, is more successful.

I love the CM ramp. Mine is stock, and I would say 90% of SOLID shots make it. Almost all misses or rejects are my own fault. Yes, there is an occasional reject, but they were either bad shots, or an on the fly shot that really rocketed in, and I can't blame the machine there either. I have thought about trying to add a plastic to see if it helps that last 10%, but so far I'm pretty happy with it as-is. It is definitely not a gimme shot like most modern ramps. It feels much more "old school" when a ramp was meant to be a tough shot.

Even though I was 90% happy with my CM ramp, I figured I would try adding the plastic to see how it went. I had an old inlane/outlane divider plastic protector laying around that was the perfect width, just needed to be cut to length. Attached with a piece of double sided tape, and it's wedged in place nicely so I do not think it will move. I have to admit, I am impressed. Not only does it allow a slightly sloppier shot to make it, it also smoothed out good shots. It's smooth as butter now. No, it is not a miracle worker that will allow a sloppy shot, but I'd say it took me from 90% of good shots making it to 99%. And I also like that it will keep the occasional ball from flying out the back of the wireform (only had this happen 2-3 times, but it was annoying).

I do not see this as a "cheat" at all. More like how we sometimes have to tweak the height of a ramp cover (original Avengers Black Widow ramp) or add a cover to help keep the ball down where it belongs (X-Men Rogue shot). It's more of a tweak then a mod in my mind. Not at all necessary for the shot to function, but it helps make it a bit more consistent. You have to remember this ramp and wireform are dealing with some pretty complex geometry with compound bends and angles. Once you take into account necessary manufacturing tolerances on both the ramp itself, the playfield attachment, hardware, etc, it's hard to expect 100% perfection for something this complex. It's way different than your typical ramp if you really think about it. I'm impressed it works as well as it does to be honest. And I'm pleasantly surprised how much of an improvement this super simple tweak made.

CF6F732D-2B51-49CC-AD31-442174BB88DA (resized).jpeg

Ha...yeah. I have one of those, but thankfully (?) I bought a pro, so no issues for me other than removing the chin spacer to make shoving a ball down stinky's throat easier.

That said, I just played a few more games on AIQ, and honestly I'm not sure how much difference the plastic is really making. I still had a handful of shots that seemed good get rejected. I think that's just going to be the nature of this ramp. It's going to be a tough shot no matter what. And it's fast enough that shots that looked good while playing could easily be just a bit too sloppy. I do not mind having a tough shot...reminds me of some of the classics when making a shot up a ramp was actually a big deal. I'd probably be a bit more worried about it if it were one of the main ramps that are needed more often. Sure, CM is important, but not as important as the other two. Thankfully she isn't one of the collectible Avengers for Soul Gem/BO/Battle Royale....then it would be much more annoying when rejected.

Oh for sure...don't get me wrong. I haven't regretted the decision to go premium on this title even for a second. It sounds like a few people are struggling more with their ramp, but thankfully mine isn't at all what I would call a problem. I have dealt with problem shots on games (including one with the same theme as this one, LOL), and trust me, this isn't one of them. It's a hard shot, and needs to be perfect. The plastic is just to help along the imperfect shots a bit. Do I wish it would flow like a sloppy Steve Ritchie ramp? Sure. But I'm ok with it being a tough one and requiring precision.

For anyone still having problems with the fingers getting stuck, try sanding down the slot on the side the fingers rub against. The mech is super easy to remove and easy to sand. It doesn't take much, just a little off will do. My machine only had the problem very rarely, but hasn't gotten stuck since.

In fact I have only had one subway glitch since doing it ~100 plays ago, and that was from a fast moving ball that snuck around the first finger before it settled in. There is still just a little too much slop in the assembly to keep that from happening 100%. That led to two balls next to each other rather than between the fingers. Surprisingly, in that case the "walking" motion was able to separate them next time they moved, but otherwise it would have led to an unexpected multiball at the next kick-out (probably Soul Gem just to be annoying).

I just got it for the first time. I believe you have to have won the soul gem, and played two other gems (win or lose). Then the next gem mode you start will be Thanos attack instead. So I'm pretty sure you should have gotten it on your second game as you described.

I haven't had a decent game since the update. I finally got Thanos Attack just now, hit one shot and then the ball jumped over my flipper and out. Ugg!

Since you are now risking your Soul gem during Black Order Multiball if you use it to restart the multiball, I do hope there is a way to decline the restart (but I do not think there is a way right now).

I THINK if you lost the other two, you for sure defend Soul. I'm pretty sure on mine I won one gem (mind), lost the other, and of course had Soul. So I could choose between Mind and Soul in my case. But I'm not 100% positive.

Thanos Attack is a cruel, cruel thing. But it is so PERFECTLY thematic that I can't even be all that mad about it! I do think it would balance it nicely if winning meant we got a gem from Thanos.

I would be more upset if losing a gem crippled the game progression, but it doesn't. I can still progress to the final wizard mode even if I do not have ANY of the gems. Really, they are just perks. Sure, losing them is cruel, but Thanos is cruel.

I don't know what it was about this update, but I can't put a decent game together to save my life since putting it in! I have still only seen Thanos Attack once, and it was extremely short lived.

Thanos can inhale an entire satchel of Richards.

Finally a good game and a successful fending off of Thanos Attack! I had no idea you had to defend each of your gems! I had two of them plus soul. I celebrated after successfully defending the first one, only to have it ask me to pick another one, and then the third! Managed to defend all three, and got a nice juicy victory multiball after. Must have been pretty good scoring as Thanos Attack ended up being about 1/4 of my entire score (I didn't do much after that mode).

So, theoretically, if you managed to win all five gems and THEN win the soul gem, would you have to defend all six during this mode???

Wow...what an awesome mode! Feels like a true wizard mode. Can't wait to get to the real one now.

Downloading now. Love that we can now win a gem back! Only slight bummer is it sounds like if you go into Thanos Attack with a lost gem, you earn it back but you no longer get Victory multiball? Victory is only for if you went in with no lost gems and win the mode? Unless I'm reading that wrong.

The only other thing I can think of is I wish the soul gem wasn't always at risk in Black Order MB. I have a really hard time hitting that super jackpot shot, so I would rather have the choice of using the multiball restart or not. If I choose yes, then risk it. But more than likely I would rather end the multiball than risk my soul gem. High stakes for sure...and very thematic though, so it's not a big complaint, and if it doesn't change, I'm not mad.

Thinking about it more, that would be a great use of the action button. Light it up green when you drain down to 1 ball in BO MB. You have 2-3 seconds to use the gem to restart your MB. If you use it, MB restarts, but the gem is now at risk. If you do not use it, no MB restart, but the gem is safe. That would be fantastic.

Hmm...I think you can still get the secret skill shot as I did something similar the other day. I'm not sure what I bounced off of, but I think it was the post above the drops. I am pretty sure actually hitting the top drop target (or any other switch for that matter) cancels all skill shots. Keep in mind the drop target skill shot is only awarded from the center drop, not the others alone. So in your scenario above, hitting the top drop target would have cancelled all skill shots, which is why you weren't awarded the secret.

It's definitely possible that I'm wrong and the secret skill shot doesn't cancel out after the first switch hit like I thought. It just always seems for me that if I miss my first try, it's over. So yeah...I could be wrong.

Yeah...sorry the outlanes are a bit tough, but not unfairly so and certainly not a "design flaw". That is kind of a ridiculous statement. Overall it's a fairly safe shooter with pretty long ball times compared to something like a TMNT or Iron Man or something.

Only one thing to do at that point...Battle Royale (third Avengers Assemble). Then you would have had Thanos Battle. Getting close!

Yeah. I have rarely been screwed by the portal, but it can happen. Cap Marvel reject drains are definitely real, but usually that's my own fault for not hitting the ramp cleanly enough. The only other drain that really feels unfair to me is a ball coming down the right side (to the right of Thor) hugs the lane guide and would feed cleanly to the right flipper...until it hits the freaking rubber rings on the posts just left of the Ant-Man wire-form. That rubber is just enough to bounce most balls perfectly into the center drain instead of my flipper. I need to pull mine apart and see if there is any room for adjustment on those posts, otherwise I might need to replace them with the cliffy/post rubber style posts instead of rings. The way that lane guide is shaped, it seems clear that they should be feeding clean to the right flipper, but those rubbers peak out JUST enough to screw you over. Anyone else with the same issue, or is it just me?

Ahh...interesting. I hadn't thought of the intent might have been to return to the left. I will have to give that a shot. I was just assuming right as the guide seems to the guiding it there before the bounce. Thanks!

Doh! Of course! As one of the most vocal people about Stern's terrible loose post issues, you would think I would have thought of that. Just took a look and sure enough. These are sure annoying ones to get to, but after tightening them down, all balls seem to bounce happily to the left flipper. Way better. Thank much!

Thanks for the confirmation. After tightening the post, mine does just that. Good stuff.

You do not need to have won 2 other gems, just have played for them. Soul Gem is the only one you have to have won, so you are locked out of that mode if you do not get it.

I believe with the latest code now if you go into the Attack with having lost one or both of the other gem fights, you can win one back. If you go in with both gems (plus Soul), you get to a victory multiball if you win.

Yeah...I'll be honest...it sounds like he has a set-up issue or a problem with his game. It's tough, but it isn't that order of magnitude harder than IMDN or JP. I would put it pretty much on par with JP actually. I don't have enough experience with IMDN to say for sure, but that struck me as about the same difficulty too. The TMNT I bought at about the same time is significantly meaner, as are a few others in my collection. I would say AIQ's playfield and code depth are pretty perfectly matched. It's a deep challenging game, but a good player will see Thanos Battle eventually, and an average player should be able to get to Thanos Attack and Black Order Multiball without too much trouble. It's not a gimme, but not impossible, KME only level either. If you can get to the Visitor Center on JP, you can get to Thanos. Escape Nublar is harder to get to in my opinion.

I hope it helps you! I hate seeing someone struggle so much to enjoy this game. The outlanes are very hungry for sure, but I guess I do not find it terribly hard to keep them away from the area. Once it gets in the danger zone, it's a fight for sure. But it shouldn't be unfair, like say ST:TNG. Good luck!

As others said, check the coil stops, but first make sure that the flipper bat isn't tight against the bushing. There should be a tiny bit of up and down play between the flipper and the playfield bushing. If too tight, it could be dragging against the bushing. If so, easy fix. Just lossen the flipper bat, give it a tiny bit of clearance (about the thickness of a credit card) and tighten back down. I've seen this straight from the factory, and I have also seen them creep down against the bushing if not tightened down properly.

30 year old games that weren't protected in the same way have blown out scoops and shooter lanes if they have seen any amount of plays. Doing this stuff upfront helps avoid that.

There have been a few instances recently of Sterns coming with "Cliffy" style protectors in places. If I remember right the Deadpool Hellhouse scoop is an example of one being protected from the factory. I could be wrong there though. I do wish they would do it more though. At least they changed their magnet design to have the large surround which minimizes the wear that used to be possible around the small exposed cores.

On the premium, it comes up to catch the ball after hitting the gauntlet ramp when you collect a gem. That is the only time I can think of, but there might be more.

On the pro it will come up more often as I believe that is where it stops the ball to select your gem quest. Pretty much any time the premium would put a ball into the subway, the pro stops it there ( I think!).

Does anyone know if the Stern lit shooter rod came and went already, or has it still not been made available? I have only seen a quick flash of it, but is it basically the JP rod in clear without the mosquito in it? RGB lighting then?

Just watched the video again. Definitely looks like a clear version of the JP shooter. That's not a bad thing, but they only showed white light, and that would be a bummer. It should cycle between the six gem colors. Maybe that is why there is such a delay. Probably wishful thinking on my part.

I'm sorry, but anyone who says AIQ has no depth and is one dimensional simply does not understand the rules. This guy is obviously unhappy with his game and posts negative comments about it all the time saying it is poorly designed, unfairly difficult, and now shallow. I get it, we all have our opinions, but he keeps slamming the game and posting this stuff as fact when pretty much everyone that has actually played the game would say the opposite. I honestly think the dude needs to sell the game and buy something that he will enjoy. It's obviously not for him, and that's ok. Not every game is going to please everyone.

AIQ is very deep, has TONS of strategy, and has multiple paths to play. You could literally ignore the gem quests and still have a ton to do between the multiballs, grid rewards, and the three deep progression of collecting the Avengers for Soul Gem, Black Order, and Battle Royale. The gem quests add so many layers. You can choose to ignore the placement and use strategy and still have fun with them as they are such varied and unique modes in themselves. Or you can take the strategy as deep as you want it. I thought I had a decent handle on the basics of the game, but first today watched Karl DeAngelo's 2 flip Soul Gem and had my mind blown. I knew there were some differences in the gem powers based on where they were placed and the level of the Avengers, but man...I had no idea it could be THAT strategic. Then there are so many minor side things like shield bonus, combo bonus, arc reactor bonus, Captain Marvel awards, Hawkeye Challenges (and combos), Gamma Ray, Hulk Rampage, etc. Sure, there are longer games with even more breadth of things to do, but there is no shortage here, and the depth of what is here is huge.

Keep practicing, it will come! Two gems means you are close to seeing Thanos for the first time!

For Shield Bonus, here is a cut/paste from the Tilt Forums wiki:

"Shield Bonus:
Pop bumpers increase your current Shield Bonus based on how high of a level Captain America is, and also increases the base value of it by a much smaller amount. Shooting the upper loop lights Captain America for 15 seconds to collect the Shield Bonus. Once collected, the value resets to the base value (which will be higher than before, as pop bumpers both raise the current shield value, and the “reset” value). Each time you collect a Shield Bonus it will collect or upgrade a trophy. Completing the drop targets while the Shield Bonus is lit will double its value."

Hey man, whatever. I'm not debating anything with you, just calling out blatant inaccuracies when you claim the game is poorly designed, unfairly difficult, and has shallow code. Your definition of depth is WAY different than most if you think games like DP are deeper than AIQ just because it took you longer to beat. I honestly do not care if you like the game or not. I love it as is. I think the code is awesome and the playfield is relatively safe and a long player compared to many games. You think the opposite. We are all entitled to our opinion. I just do not think it's right to tell people asking about the code that it is shallow and one dimensional, when it literally is not.

No ill will intended. It's just pinball.

I don't mind it changing, but it would be nice if the grid info screen was a part of the default screen instead of having to trap up and wait to see what is what. They have so much real estate on the LCD screens now that I think could be used more efficiently while still being entertaining. That's not just an AIQ thing, I think most Sterns could be a bit better at this. Hard to balance getting the info on there without being cluttered though.

If it makes you feel better (it won't, but... ), the autoplunger isn't an AIQ problem, it's a Stern problem, and it's been one for a very, very long time. It stems from the nature of the design. There is simply too much slop when you take into account the tolerance stack on all of the pivot points and moving parts. Most games it doesn't matter if you get the occasional (or often) weak plunge because the design isn't demanding. Unfortunately games like AIQ, JP, BK:SoR (prem/LE), and even as far back as the original Avengers struggle. Pretty much anything that needs to go up some sort of ramp or major incline during it's launch is going to have potential issues, while games with a nice flat, simple plunger lane likely will not (since a weak plunge will still make it).

Making sure the forks are aligned, adding washers or e-clips (or felt bumpers, misc other things people have tried) to take up slop in the assembly, putting washers or spacers under a portion of the shooter lane to help guide the ball, etc can help give it a better fighting chance, but the odds of ever getting 100% are low. The entire mechanism would have to be redesigned or manufactured to WAY higher tolerances to perform consistently at full power. Everything else is a band-aid. Sure, some people will get lucky with parts on the right side of the tolerance band, but some will not.

I am pretty lucky with my AIQ, it performs at about 80%. I still need to tweak my forks and I can probably bring that up a little. But I feel for those that have it worse. I have fought with other games, and it isn't fun when there is really nothing you can do about the root problem. But you can minimize it as best as you can and try not to let it ruin the game.

As was mentioned, Soul Gem is the place it can really hurt you most. For that you can try manual plunging before the auto plunges. Not ideal, but it might help in a critical moment.

Been there done that! I feel for you. I hope you can find the magic bullet that brings up your chances of making it! If you do some searching, you will find a ton of discussion of people fighting this issue on many other games and you might find some other ideas. Good luck!

It should come apart pretty easily. I would look to see if there are any burrs or if maybe the spring isn't sitting right. It's always something!

Take a look at the wiki rulesheet here (based on slightly older code, so Thanos is not covered):
http://tiltforums.com/t/avengers-infinity-quest-rulesheet/6740

Yes, at the absolute most basic level, spin the disc, play a mode. But only doing this will not get you to the end of the game. The strategy of how you play the modes as well as all of the other side goals is where the real depth comes in. Easy for beginners to understand, but tons of strategy, depth, and scoring nuance for any level player.

Yeah, I personally think that's part of the fun. Avoid spinning until you are ready to go with your portal locks. And if you do accidentally raise it, it's even harder to avoid!

That said, it never hurts to add an option if enough people want it, but I would hope the default stays the same.

You do not need to hit the shot to activate the action button. If you have a use remaining, it doesn't need to be qualified first. If you are out of uses, then the gem needs to be moved or re-placed (or the Avenger who has it leveled up) to recharge/qualify it. You cannot do that during Soul Gem mode.

During Soul Gem mode, if the Mind Gem is placed on a non-powered up, uncollected or collected Avenger, it can only spot a hit to the Avenger that has it. If that shot isn't the lit one, nothing will happen since the shot where the gem is placed isn't lit for anything. Otherwise it would just be a waste of a gem use. For example, if the Mind Gem is placed on a collected or uncollected Black Widow, you can only use it when the Black Widow shot is lit (the second shot of the Soul Gem mode).

If you want to be able to use the button to spot ANY lit shot, the Avenger who has the Mind Gem needs to be leveled up to level 1. That allows the button to collect ANY lit shot as many times as you have usages left. For example, if the Mind Gem is placed on a Level 1 Black Widow, and you have three uses remaining, you could use it once to spot Black Panther when lit, then once on Black Widow when lit, then once on the Gauntlet ramp when lit. Or any three shots that you choose, but only while that shot is lit. They do not have to be three in a row. In my case, I struggle most with Black Panther, the drop targets, and Captain Marvel during this mode, so those are the three I would hit the button for in this situation.

Having the Mind Gem on a Level 2 Avenger is not great for Soul Gem mode. At level 2 the button will collect ALL lit shots at the same time, which for Soul Gem means one shot only since only one lights at a time. In some modes where there are a bunch of shots lit, this is awesome, but in Soul Gem it's a waste, unless you really need it to hit that one shot. For example if the Mind Gem is placed on a Level 2 Black Widow, and you hit the button right away when the first shot, Black Panther, is lit, it will collect only Black Panther, since that is the only lit shot. One use only, so if you have to use it, use it on a shot you struggle most with.

Bottom line, if you want to use Mind Gem during Soul Gem mode, you need to wait for the Avenger who holds it to be the active shot, or you need to level up the Avenger who holds it to Level 1 (or Level 2, but the "collect everything lit" ability will be wasted).

That would be slick. At least then leveling up to level 2 wouldn't actually be a disadvantage for Soul Gem like it is now. Maybe a 3-to-1 ratio? That way if you want individual hits, it is exactly the same as level 1. Good idea.

Physical glitch (meaning not code related). Odds are the second ball in the lock jumped past the stopper tooth, so was sitting right next to the first ball. After the game kicks out the first ball, it then sees the second ball sitting at the kick-out and it has to clear it (the game probably thinks you shot Ant Man with the first ball). It's probably one of those glitches that are just going to happen every once in a great while. If it happens with any regularity, I would take a look at your lock mech and make sure it's working properly and the teeth can move freely without hanging up against the side of the slot that they go through. I had to take mine apart and sand down the slot slightly. That was enough to keep the teeth moving happily for me. Even if that is perfect, a fast ball that comes in at just the right angle could likely jump over/around the first tooth, which could throw off the lock timing. It's a clever, but somewhat strangely designed mechanism. It's definitely the result of trying to handle too many moving parts with only one solenoid. That and sloppy part tolerances lead to the occasional failure.

Mostly loving the new code so far. Marvel hurry-ups are awesome. Soul Gem hard mode is a great addition, but not one I will personally use much as I struggle enough with normal some days. Very happy about the Soul Gem "decline" for Black Order multiball. Again, not one I will use much since I do not get there all that often, but I love that I have a choice to risk it now. Hawkeye now has some major strategy...I really need to get better at that. Just a ton of awesome, deeper inclusions that will add longevity to the game as I get better at it.

I really like the disc RPM, but what is with the sound effect it adds when it reports the RPM? It seems random...must be based on what else is going on with low priority. At first I thought it only made the sound when you hit a new RPM record, but then I noticed it happening multiple times on a couple balls, for RPMs that were definitely not records. It's such an odd sound and really doesn't seem to fit the theme at all. I do not mind it for a new record, but I hope I do not have to hear it every time I hit the disc.

My only other concern so far is the "trailer" video. It's super cool, and I love that they added it, but there seems to be a few awkward transitions when it plays and ends. Seems like that could use a little clean-up. Minor complaint, but it's a little jarring at times when it starts and stops.

More leaderboards are always welcome. KME and team have really spoiled us with so many of them. I get annoyed when most games have very few. I would definitely like to see other coders embrace them the way these guys have.

Lots of other nice polish here. The new gauntlet animation and light shows are great. I haven't played enough to get a feel for everything, but I'm happy with what I've seen so far! Great game, keeps getting better!

I wonder if a part of the higher percentage of side drains on Elwin games is how much more they encourage/require side-to-side motion with important shots in far outside corners. JP is especially noticeable with the Control Room and Helipad both causing a ton of sideways motion, especially if you miss. AIQ's outer orbit shots are really hard (for me at least), with the same result...not to mention the drops putting you out of control very close to the sling area, and Ant Man being a far edge shot. Lots more opportunity for major side-to-side motion than the average game. I am less familiar with IMDN since I haven't owned one, but the left side having the pops right there would seem to have the same result. So yeah...it kind of makes sense that Elwin's design style lends itself to a higher percentage of side drains than most games. To me the percentage split doesn't feel off though...if half are going SDTM and a quarter to each outlane, that seems well balanced to me. I prefer that to any one "exit" having 80% of all drains. That's just me though...I can see why some prefer SDTM over side drains.

I have not collected Black Widow and I place the Mind Gem on her.
* Because she is not collected, I can use the Mind Gem to collect 1 shot on Black Widow. - Yup
* I can collect her while the Mind Gem is there and am now able to use it twice on the Black Widow shot. - Yup
* If I use the Mind Gem while she's uncollected, does collecting her recharge it? - Yup, any level up will recharge, including uncollected to collected
* Once I've used a level 2 Mind Gem boom, I must MOVE the Mind Gem to use it again. Can it be moved to Hulk and then moved back to Black Widow for another level 2 boom? - Yup, but you do not have to do it this way. While you must go through the "change gems" action, you can just place it right back on BW and be good to go again. No need to actually move it.

Change Gems is lit by collecting all Avengers and also from a grid award. When you hit change gems, you have to watch the gem inserts in front of the shots. One will light at a time, move it to the Avenger you want to have it with your flipper buttons, lock it in with the action button. Then the next one will light, etc. You get very little time to do this, and they will be assigned randomly if you do not get it done in time.

The Space Gem (purple) also has the power to move the gems. After hitting the shot it is placed on, you have three seconds to hit the action button. One hit shifts all gems over one place to the right. If the Space Gem is on a level 1 Avenger, you can hit the button twice for two moves. On a level 2 Avenger, you can move three.

I understand what you are saying to a point. But think of it this way. Who cares if you lose (or don't win) a gem? The gems do not block you from the wizard mode. The only thing in the game I can think of that you can get locked out of is you will not get Thanos Attacks if you do not win the Soul Gem (and I suppose you do not get the victory multiball for winning Thanos Attacks if you do not go in with all the gems you fought for to that point...you win a gem back instead). You still get Black Order Multiball and Battle Royale completely independent of any gems. You still get the final Thanos Battle even if you have zero gems...you just have to have fought for them all (plus Battle Royale) (full disclosure, I've never done it, but this is how I interpret the rules...I could be wrong, so please correct me if so). You still can get Super Computer Frenzy and the ultimate wizard mode, Trophy Mania. The gems give great perks and huge scoring, but they aren't needed in your possession to progress in the game. Is it a bummer to lose them? Yup. Does it block your progress and make the game a throw-away? Not in my opinion.

Good luck with your auto-plunger. I feel for you there. I have fought that fight on many machines. It's just a poor design and has been for decades. Some games you won't notice, some like this one, JP, etc, you will, and it sucks. Hope you can make it better, but I wouldn't ever expect it to be 100% without a complete redesign and/or much tighter tolerances in all the parts.

I did the same, hoping to get mine from 75% or so to 100%. I would say it got me to about 85%. Good improvement, but not a sure thing. I might try adding a second to see what happens. Definitely worth a try though...good call.

Ha! That's awesome. Hope Rayday didn't accidentally reveal something we weren't supposed to see yet. HUGE improvement though!

There must be something wrong with the ramps that are letting a ball fall out. There is no way one is getting out of mine without prying it out. The only way I would be able to get a ball up where yours are getting stuck is from an airball. I would look at the area on yours that is allowing the ball to fall out and try to bend the wires closer together. Not sure if that will be possible or not with how they are assembled. I'd also consider getting ahold of Stern and asking for a new wireform as something is definitely out of tolerance.

Mine will not let the ball out anywhere after the plastic guard ends. I can pull it out from under the guard if I flex the guard, but it always holds the ball in during play.

I was just going to post this. The flicker is very hard to see, but a slow pulse over a larger range of brightness would be perfect.

I have the Stern blades on my premium and absolutely love them. Yeah, it's a little Thanosy, but the rest of the Black Order are there too, which is cool. I really like how it's the good guys on one side, the bad guys on the other. The art style and colors are a perfect match, obviously being done by ZY. They have a very cohesive feel, and look like they came with the machine. I am not personally a fan of the other options I have seen, but that's just my preference.

If the fingers are sticking up (even a little until vibration wiggles them loose can throw off the timing of the ball movement), you can sand the inside of the slot on the plastic trough. Mine was hanging just a bit once in awhile against one side of the slot. Didn't take much sanding to allow them to move freely up and down. A little lube on the joints of the mech doesn't hurt either. It's a sloppy mech with a lot of moving parts and tolerances too loose to keep everything perfect. A little tweaking should help though if you can figure out where it is hanging up. Good luck!

No, two portal locks per quest only, for a 3 ball multi max (unless you stack on IM or Thor).

Leveling up the Avenger they are on also works, and usually "upgrades" the power of the gem as well. So ApplePie is kind of right there too.

It doesn't magically turn it into a gimme shot. It's a hard shot that needs to be strong and precise, like the good old days, LOL. It definitely isn't a Steve Ritchie ramp where any sloppy shot near the opening will find it's way up. This mod (either the fancy one being sold, or the DIY chunk of plastic), will help a slightly sloppier shot stay aligned, and will keep a very stray ball from flying out the side, but that's about it. This isn't a slam on the product...there is only so much that can be done, and it helps as much as possible. If your ramp is tweaked or bent funny, like some seem to be, that will still need to be addressed.

If it helps, my machine rejected less than 10% of CLEAN shots right out of the box. Adding the DIY mod cut from an old plastic protector put that at 5%, maybe less. Almost every time mine rejects, I know it was my own fault.

I'm sure the pro is still a damn fine machine, but the premium upgrades on this one are HUGE, and having lived with them awhile, I really can't imagine not having them. It isn't eye-candy like Stranger Things...these are real game changers for the better.

That's a bummer. Did you try placing a washer under the left fork on the metal "ramp" at the end of the shooter lane (similar to what many people do on JP)? My shooter lane was at about 75% out of the box. I first tried a very thin washer and that didn't change much, but a slightly thicker washer worked great. I have played probably 20-30 games since doing that and haven't had a bad plunge yet. That's not to say it won't happen...the auto plunger mech on these simply aren't capable of being perfect, but I was surprised how much of a difference it made on mine.

I would also make sure your mech is tight and not binding up on anything. If it's failing 80% of the time, that seems like a bigger issue than the typical Stern plunger. Maybe it is slightly misaligned? I would try loosening the mounting screws on the whole mech and see if there is any slop or if it can be shifted slightly. Maybe it's aligned when at rest, but is actually pushing the ball at a slight angle? Donno...just throwing out ideas. Best of luck!

Under the left "fork", under the screw (between the fork and the playfield).

EDE48393-3061-4A29-8DF2-D7CE3E49A896 (resized).jpeg

That sucks. Sorry to hear that. I was surprised how much difference it made on mine, but I was lucky that it wasn't that bad to begin with. On the other hand most people seemed to have success with this method on JP, yet it had almost no effect on either of the two JPs I did it to. Go figure.

There is now a setting to stop the instant info screen from auto-scrolling. Really nice for examining the grid. And the new main screen is fantastic!

I did turn off the combo limiter for BW-CM combos. I rarely hit more than two in a row anyway, but if I do I damn well better get credit for it, LOL. Seems like it makes sense for the pro, but it isn't an easy combo on the prem/LE.

Lots of nice little tweaks in this one. Good stuff.

If you aren’t happy with the change, thankfully it’s a setting so you can change it back! I know some people get hung up on factory settings, but the options were given to us so why not use them to make the game more enjoyable.

A couple quick thoughts, and my apologies if you thought of these already....just the first things to come to mind.

Are you sure you collected the Super Jackpot on Black Order and not just a Jackpot? This one definitely confused me at first. I finally managed to hit the upper loop shoot and thought I had it. Nope, that's just the jackpot. After that you have to spell strange, PLUS hit the Captain America shot to get the Super Jackpot. I find this sequence almost impossible to do during a multiball as it requires either dumb luck, or some really good flipper staging skills to pull off. I'm sure better players than me can do it regularly, but I think I have only gotten an actual Super once in all the time I have owned it, and I'd like to think I'm not a completely terrible player.

As for the Time Gem, it sounds like you might have found a bug (edited my reply about this after re-reading your post and realizing you had 2 available placement spaces on your last gem...weird).

Co-op could be implemented in some interesting ways. I know it's more Dwight's style than Keith's, but a character selection could add an interesting twist, even if only in a co-op mode. Have the collectible Avengers be the character choices. Maybe have the one you picked start automatically leveled up to "collected" (or some different minor perk each). Other players would have to pick different characters. Would add some different strategy to what gems you go after when, and how to place them.

As for the complaint of too much freedom of choice and placement, I respect your opinion, but personally disagree. I love trying out different strategies and the intricate ways the gems can work together and with different Avenger levels. That said, you can absolutely play the game the way you describe. The first gem that comes up in the selection screen is always random. Just hit the button and play that one without choosing. That way you can get the randomness you desire. Heck, when I'm just playing around, I end up doing that a lot and it keeps me from always playing a certain order. Placement is still your choice, but if you just go with the flow and let it hit whatever it's going to hit, you can get the randomness you desire. Just a thought! That said, every game isn't for everyone, and if the more randomness of Stranger Things is more your style, that's totally understandable. I love that game too. Maybe check out BK:SoR...that has a similar randomness to which monster you will battle each mode. Good stuff.

One of the major differences between the really high level players and the just good players is strategy and rules knowledge. The top tier guys take the time to learn the rules inside and out. That is one of the things that separates them. If you want that "advantage", you have to put in the work, whether that be deep gem placement knowledge, or knowing how to max out a spinner and up your bonus on an EM. That has always been a part of being competitive. If you do not care about competition, then the "advantage" aspect is moot...just have fun.

Again, all different strokes for different folks. This game is a bit unique that you aren't just stuck with either random or select. Most games it's one or the other. If you still aren't cool with that...maybe this just isn't the game for you. Nothing wrong with that...tons of great options are out there for all play styles!

That is one of my favorite sound effects! Not one I would want used all the time, but for just those moments, it's awesome!

The Tilt Forum wiki rulesheet is also fantastic...

http://tiltforums.com/t/avengers-infinity-quest-rulesheet/6740

Probably magnetized balls. The flip is just enough vibration to shake it loose. Try new balls.

Games with an upper flipper (generally) have two switches stacked which the flipper button hits. That way you can "stage flip" and actually control the flippers independently (though it's not easy and takes some practice). Pushing the button in just a tiny bit activates the lower flipper, pushing in further activates the upper also. It sounds like your outer switch to control the upper flipper needs to be adjusted tighter. It might take a little trial and error, but you shouldn't have to press it hard...it should feel like any other flipper actuation.

You are missing the plastic "guard" that covers the first half of the loop. Mine will not let a ball out after the point the plastic covers.

3A047FB9-9EF4-4A4A-9DAB-090581071854 (resized).jpeg

I get you...losing a gem can be a bummer. Look at it from this perspective though...so what? You do not need any gems at all to progress in the game. You can make it all the way through Battle Royale and even the final Thanos Battle without having a single gem. Sure, they give you nice perks, and obviously if you are interested in max score, you want those gems. But if game progression is what you play for, winning/keeping them is completely optional. So yes...it may feel like it's a major punishment and killing your game, but really it's not.

Nice. Yeah the machine definitely needs to be nudged to keep out of the outlane area as much as possible, and to save a failed Captain Marvel shot which usually heads straight down the middle.

Obviously play it first if you haven't, but JP is excellent. As good as AIQ is, I think JP is even better. You can tell they share some DNA, but they are not at all redundant or too similar to each other like some designers tend to do.

I love how the balls look locked down there and spaced apart. It would definitely loose some impact if they were lumped together. Then again I am one of the lucky ones and my subway works perfectly after a little tweaking. My biggest complaint is I wish I were a couple inches taller so I could see them better without tip-toeing.

This is the correct position for lock 1, on the second finger. When a second is locked, it will first briefly stop on the first finger, then the fingers will drop to allow both ball to travel to the next position. So the first locked will be on the third finger, the second will be on the second finger. When you drop in another to start the mode it will briefly stop at the first finger, then they will drop to allow the balls to move to the VUK one position at a time.

As awesome1 said, make sure you are running the correct code. Then make sure no connections worked themselves loose in shipping. That isn't uncommon. Check and reseat any connectors you trace to that area. If that didn't help, check any solder joints connected to those areas. If not any of those things, I would reinstall the latest code (even if it's already correct) just to make sure that's all good.