How much in NZ shekels?

It’ll be the battle villain code / video game vibe. I’ve been thinking the same since launch. I’m sure deeper down the code is completely different, but on the surface it’s a similar concept.

How steep have you got yours? Too shallow and gravity may not be doing it’s job.

Nice game. You are officially GOAT.

So over Stern toppers. If anything has jumped the shark in this hobby, it’s Stern toppers.

You should be.

Just jk, I’m happy if others are looking forward to it.

How many games have 2 wireform returns to one flipper. Can’t think of any without trawling through ipdb?

Incredible layout.

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Topper is the same as Jp topper - the gems accumulate across games and lead to a multiball (it was goat multiball in JP) so it’s kind of a random reward - good for location play.

Design wise AIQ is a masterpiece. AIQ just tops JP followed by DP a long way behind.

It’s just a dream to shoot regardless of code.

Code isn’t complete on AIQ so hard to judge at the moment. DP may have the edge on code as it stands now.

But the layout is so special that AIQ easily wins even before code is complete.

Yeh, I honestly don’t understand the fascination with DP.

Can’t speak for TMNT having only played it once, but the theme is a turnoff for me. My first impression was that it was a great Borg design though.

What’s everyone’s solution for this mega obvious ball trap???? Can’t believe they haven’t picked up on this at the factory. Happening almost every multiball with me.

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Might try and lower the whole glove.

Is everyone’s Sanctum target plastic bent on a weird angle like this? Seems like it should be straight but can’t see how.
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That looks pretty cool. Does it have its own install bracket?

The tower mod looks pretty good also.

Not sure if that’s going to fix my problem though.

The plastic over the pop that supports the vertical plastic/sanctum building is severely bent downwards - almost like it was delve bent.

No idea why this plastic doesn’t have another brace point onto the one way gate immediately to the left.

Just ordered.

https://mezelmods.com/collections/avengers-infinity-quest-pinball

My worry with the Mezel Sanctum is that it still sits on top of that floppy pop plastic. It's just going to wobble around there. We need someone to design a replacement pop plastic, or just a piece that sits between the one way gate on the left and the post on the rigt - then the plastic can sit on top of that.

The pop bumper plastic is so thin and soft that the existing vertical plastic with the lights on it just bounces around. And mine actually droops down to the left. I’m assuming with the Mezel building it’ll do the same, maybe even worse.

Someone needs to make a clear plastic piece that is the same shape as the pop plastic, but also anchors on the left gate and right post. I mocked up a small piece using an old Indy500 plastic (which incidentally is about 4* as thick as the Stern piece) and it works perfectly and it only anchors on the left gate and lhs screw on the pop.

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This is what it looked like before....

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No, completely clear of everything underneath.

Admittedly the plastic was even more bent when I got it - took it off completely and straightened as much as I could using a hair dryer, but that photo is even after the straightening. The plastic is so thin it’s ridiculous. Every time The ball is in the pops It bounces around.

It definitely had been warped and I’ll probably hit up my distro for a replacement, but won’t fix the inherent problem that the plastic is too thin, the whole construction on top is too heavy and it’s not supported by anything underneath.

Is there any talk of a completely re-sculpted gauntlet?

It’s these sort of comments from Stern staff that make me think the whole EULA is just paying lip service to the paranoid licensors.

This game is crazy good.

And hard.

Why do you need this? Didn’t one come installed on that ramp?

Edit: Is it just to give it some more rigidity?

Smart dog with good taste.

The code definitely needs an injection of personality. I have it sitting in between Rick and Morty and Elvira House of Horrors and the difference is night and day. Layout wise nothing comes close to AIQ, but i really hope they’re working on making the game come to life like it deserves.

I have no rejects on the Marvel shot, but sometimes it doesn’t register the shot. Anyone else?

I thought it was an opto set at the entrance to that ramp?

Ive had luck on other Stern games re-soldering the wires that connect directly to the optos if you could be bothered.

It's a brilliant game - congrats.

In your video, if you look closely as it goes over the flap, it is getting airbourne before hitting the stainless ramp. Not sure how you can adjust for that? Im gueesing the stainless ramp has a couple of bolts that go through the PF and are fixed underneath. Maybe you can put a couple of washers in between the ramp and the topside of the PF - that will change the angle of the flap so it doesnt bounce? Just an idea.

This game is pure genius.

Would be nice to have a few more of those mini “side modes” like Hawkeye challenge and the Hulk spinner rip thing. That Hulk spinner rip gets me every time - one of the most satisfying mini modes in pinball.

Something like hit the captive ball then spinner or hit the captive ball as many times as possible in 15s or hit the drops etc etc.

Definitely missing personality and there are almost no Avengers assets in the game. But the rule structure is great (tho needs some more). For me the genius is the layout - completely new yet perfect. And hard.

I have Elvira sitting next to it, and whilst the code is brilliant, I find it boring to shoot. I’ll play one game of Elvira (that goes on forever), and not want to play it again for a week, but I’ll play AIQ 20 times a day and still have to force myself to stop playing.

Looks like a pretty solid update - cant wait to get it installed.

Havent played the new code yet, but getting gems is hard enough on my game....to have one stolen would severely suck.

If anything I need a chance to be given a "free" gem, not to have one stolen.

Great idea sk8ball ??

Literally had the same thing happen 20 minutes ago. Just used keys from another Stern - not sure if they’re all keyed the same but the 3 Spike ones I have here are. Since they all come with doubles, I’m not going to bother ordering another set.

The Sam games I have are keyed differently to the Spike ones.

Got my Mezel Mods installed today - tower and Sanctum. Very nice must have improvements. It’s impressive how far 3D printing has come - wasn’t a fan in the past because you could clearly see the ridges and it was obvious it was 3D printed. With these mods it’s very hard to tell.

The one thing I was hesitant about with the Sanctum replacement was losing the downward spot light onto the spinner. And I was correct - it made it very dull and dark in that area, which is disappointing since it’s such an important part of the game:

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So I installed a stand up Spot light on the post to the left of the ramp - was a perfect fit - screwed straight on to the post. Will run the cable back under the ramp and behind the backbox and splice into the same wires as the original spot. Easy and worthwhile mod IMO. After:
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I had a few of these lying around:
https://www.pinballbulbs.com/products/universal-double-pinball-spotlight-kit
So I just removed one of the cones. Had to extend the wire to reach under the ramp and back through the backboard.

Comet sells single bayonet ones also which look like a good value kit :

https://www.cometpinball.com/products/spotlight-kit

The Pinball Bulbs one has a nice thin translucent wire and the actual reflector cone is one piece and metallic black on the outside. The Comet one is just a clip on cone which don’t look as good imo.

.

Do you ever get the chance to replay for Gems?

Ok, the Soul Gem putting the first shot on the right loop is starting to piss me off. If you don’t nail that first shot on first attempt it’s very difficult to retain control quickly enough without losing too many shots. What’s everyone’s strategy getting the ball to the left flipper from the lockout?

How do Pro’s start Soul Gem if it’s not through the subway?

Yeh, I’ve been trying to do that out of the scoop, but it’s tough to get enough power since it’s such an early shot and a steep ramp. I’ll keep trying.

Other shots aren’t a problem - once I get that first right loop shot, I complete Soul most attempts.

I’m also playing Blue gem first every game to give me a “free” shot on that loop.

In the end I couldnt use the aligator clips so I had to splice into wires that power the top Sanctum light. A little bit fiddly - would be easiest to use some of those instant splice connector things. I just cut and soldered the wires. The light does exactly what the original Sanctum one did.

Ill take a few photos when I get a chance.

This would be the best way to go (i dont know if these particular ones are the best, but thats the general idea):

https://www.amazon.com/Nilight-Terminals-Self-stripping-Insulated-Disconnects/dp/B07CP987BN/ref=sr_1_17_sspa
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Just had Gamma spinner thing start, immediately before Hawkeye, and Gamma timed out because of Hawkeye. That sucked. Gamma should be put on hold for Hawkeye.

HULK MAD.

What are default outlane settings?

Woah, settle petal .

In that case gamma should stop if any other switch is hit other than the spinner.

But it's not do it or lose it - I can miss the first shot to the spinner from the RHS lane switch for Gamma in any other circumstance, including multiballs and Gems, and still have a good chance at Gamma. Just not if I happen to start Hawkeye.

Anyway, maybe it's just becuase im not a fan of Hawkeye in general - that feed from the tower is all over the place on my game - its a complete crapshot. And not a fan of how it interrupts the game in general.

It's a tough game - or at least I find it to be (and you also apparantely), but I find everything else boring after playing this. Ive got the crowd favorite EHOH next to it, and i dont play it because i find it too easy and long playing compared to this. If anything ill be trading EHOH, not AIQ.

Hey, sent you a pm but haven’t had a reply. Just checking you got it and I’m on the list?

Or you could just have them switch on when a game starts, though I’m guessing that’s easier said than done.

The portal spinner can be dangerous, and Captain Marvel ramp rejects. And once you get an out of control ball, then the outlanes are assholes. But I never feel the game is unfair or cheap.

I bent the glove bracket down so it sits much closer to the plastic now - stopped most of the stick balls, but still happens occasionally. Don’t understand why there is no Stern fix for this.

THe outlanes are hungry, no question. Try increasing the pitch to 6.8-7.0 - that will reduce the side to side action and therefore the side drains. Might also help with Marvel ramp.

This.

I have EHOH right next to AIQ, and I find EHOH boring. I play 10 games AIQ to 1 game EHOH. But EHOH is ranked in the top 10 and AIQ isn’t.

I think most people value emotive theme integration over layout and good rule sets.

Edit: just noticed EHOH is 8 and AIQ is 10. Tbh, anything top 10 is an impressive score. Personally I’d have AIQ a bit higher, but all top 10 games are candidates for no.1 depending on your preferences.

Same here - completely normal. In those positions you have to try to “graze” it, not hit it head on. Or, particularly in the 6 o-clock position, you can hit it from the upper flipper so it’s less dangerous and actually gives you a huge spin.

The portal can be a dangerous shot or a really safe one depending on the position- makes it a great toy. I love the way it can also block other shots - ads a whole level to the game. Then on the PreLe it raises and becomes a completely different shot again.

It’s actually a testament to how freakin good this game is - it’s universally agreed to have really crap theme integration on all levels (“animations”, call outs, music) yet even with that it’s still in the Top 10.

Not a big fan - they are sesiously lazy and little more than placeholders, but yes, at a minimum, more are needed.

Have to admit that you dont get a lot of time to watch them in theis game. Sounds and music though are really important.

Yeh, those are for the handle - not sure why they omitted it in AIQ given the ramps go through the backboard. It was stated earlier that the handle is not for ease of lifting. Apparently it is only to protect ramps/components that sit behind the backboard. So why was it not installed on AIQ?

I call bs on the “protection” theory. I think it was an Elwin addition to help operators and owners with servicing. I also think it was removed by Stern’s Scrooge bean counters because it cost $1 extra.

Allowed a bit of labor for the install, but yeh, maybe a bit generous.

It really isnt.

Funny, I find the exact opposite. But i generally like punishing games.

Try increasing the pitch to 6.8-7.0.

It really is.

Great to see lots of Premiums getting out into the world so more people can experience this masterpiece.

Metallica, ACDC Pre, IMDN? (Would say JP but a little bit similar to AIQ). Would take all of those over DP. Personally I’d go Met - great combo with AIQ.

Brilliant photo - what’s not to like about that scene! Love it.

This game really is on another level.

If I was a coder/designer I would get the rules/mode/gameplay completely fleshed out before adding too much polish. You don’t want to put all this work into lights/sound/video etc only to completely change a mode or rule and then have to re-do it all again.

Also, from a players perspective it’s better to have well balanced, well playing rules/mode/gameplay whilst waiting for all the polish. At least AIQ is a great game to play while we wait for it to be finished.

I completely agree the game needs personality, but I’m hoping/assuming these will come once Elwin is happy with everything else. This game has the bones of a classic, I’m sure the flesh will come.

The glove setup on the PreLe on all levels is pretty lame . I think most of us can agree with that.

Still a freak'n awesome game.

IMO the ramp is not an issue for most games - it’s just a shot that has to be accurate.

My son is just an average player, and he has always complained about that shot rejecting yet I’ve never had an issue with it.

The fix just means the shot can it be slightly less accurate since if it hits the side it won’t rattle as much and reject.

It’s nothing like the ST Demi if that’s what you’re referring to.

Just circling back to a mod I did and posted about earlier in this thread. It was installing a spot light over the disc after you have installed the Mezel Sanctorum Building. Since the Sanctorum Building mod means you lose the spot light that lights up the disc, I found it became really dark and dull. I wired the spot to the same light that originally lit up the disc before the Sanctorum mod.

Anyway, I was originally using the post that sat directly in front of the ramp to mount the spot on. But I found it was prone to breaking the spot light post since they are made of cheap metal. It would also come loose eventually because that post cops a beating.

The solution was to swap the lowest of the small spike posts in the lower pop area, just to the left of the ramp, with a metal post up the back behind the pops, and put the light post in that.

The new location is actually much better as it’s a little bit further back and the spot light is not so obstructive.

Also re- designed the whole light post using a long screw instead of the standard spot light hex raiser stands and it’s now much stronger and looks better. The light throw from that location is also better.

Highly recommend doing this if you’ve installed the Sanctorum Building.

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That’s the best part of pinball!!!!!

Used to get a lot of hang ups there….ended up bending down the whole bracket that supports the glove so there’s only a small gap. Haven’t had one since.

Can honestly not understand the excessive love for DP - DP no.6 and AIQ no. 13 on Pinside top100! Should be reversed IMO. In fact AIQ should be easily within the top 5 imo.

Only place Dp wins (and wins easily) is personality and music. The rest is not even close.

Sweeeeet!!

This would be one of the top 3 for me:

https://mezelmods.com/products/avengers-infinity-quest-pinball-avengers-tower

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When I first got the game I was the same. But I think the game is so good the glove has been forgotten.

On the other hand, if someone makes a nice replacement I’ll buy one.

Iron Man is a great game and one of the best simple fan layouts. You definitely need to complete the collection.

F*ck this game is good.

Has anyone had experience with this?

https://pinside.com/pinball/market/shops/1341-precision-pinball-prod/05285-dr-strange-disc-mod-kit

Im sure its been spoken about in here somewhere but cant find it.

Perfect - thanks - ordered!

BTW - do you still need th Stern fix with this kit?

That looks great. Have you checked the opto's aren't confused by the mirror at all? I guess if the cutout is far enough away from the beam it will be fine.

Wow, they must have hammered that on to do that much damage.

From the man himself:

https://www.passionforpinball.com/wip.htm

Scroll about half way down for avengers. Email address up top - email him direct.

Look what turned up today. It’s a piece of art in itself - very impressed with the quality. I can tell just by holding it how well this thing will spin. Can’t wait to install this bad boy this weekend.

Thanks 1956PINHEAD !
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Has anyone looked into ordering the og Stern one? Or is that no better?

Plus one to what paul_8788 said ^^ . It’s a non issue and yours is mild anyway. Sounds like an overly anal customer who’s not serious anyway or one trying to drive the price down. Don’t listen to him. In today’s market you won’t have trouble selling it - stand your ground.

^ this - I had a sticky pop bumper switch that was triggering all the time and would cancel the skill shots.

Hawkeye is such an unreliable feed for me, it’s near impossible to win one Challenge let alone 3. Is there a fix for this?

Not with timing - it bounces randomly - never consistent.

I might take some slow-mo footage and see whats going on.

Are you human?