Paul, Stern has had real machines for previous reveals, and the LEs shipped within 30 days. All we have for this one is computer generated photos and video clips of a white wood. This is not Stern's normal MO.

Pros are coming off of the line next week supposedly.

The fact that they even have a whitewood LE to show is different. Most of the time we don't get LE footage until well after the announce.

The sword isn't the actual ball stop, it's just timed with the white post that actually does all the ball manipulation.

Never said it was their normal MO. I suggested the reason there are no real shots yet is because they aren't ready. Why aren't they ready? Dunno. Ask Stern.

That's a really cool ball lock, no denying that.

Neat mech, bet it uses a single coil too.

Think we should all play this game before we're too much harder on it.

Who will be the first modder with vinyl blood-splatter for the blade?

I saw that differently. The sword knocks back the other balls before the post then releases the first. So it does look like it changes the movement of the balls.

Agreed. The horse has been beaten, the clubs are bloody, and Stern has obviously hear the message.

I think most people actually agree. In fact, 95% or better of the griping is about the art. And even then, I've only seen a handful say that was reason enough to discourage a purchase.

This is what I see:

3 balls are stacked up, with the white post holding them back. The sword comes down between balls 1 and 2. That pushes 2 and 3 back, and the post drops so ball 1 rolls down.

So the sword itself isn't the thing "holding" the balls, it's the post. But it does hold 2 and 3 back when the white post drops. It's functional, just not the ball stop itself when you're locking them, which is why the white post is there.

I think we're saying the same thing though.

Either way, it's a clever mech.

I agree with Ben, both are controlled by a single coil. Pretty good design that assures only a single ball is released at a time.

Edit: The sword is the physical ball lock. When the sword is down it stops the balls. When the sword and post are raised all balls roll forward until the first ball strikes the post. When the sword and post are lowered the first ball is released with the remaining balls again being held back by the sword. The ball will only be held by the post for the "beheading".

~"The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword."

According to this article, they are shipping the first overseas shipment next week. If that is true, then the game is done and they'll spend the next month trickling out little tidbits and building up hype until the official release.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/09/08/game-of-thrones-pinball-machine-first-images-details-and-release-window

The old ball lock on ZOMBIE PINBALL worked like that - release the one in front, block the one in back, but it wasn't nearly as cool!

BTW aside from the gradient shield, I don't mind the PF look. Steve likes bright games to help people see the ball.

Cab art never gets seen in a collection, and backglass can be changed.

I think you're right. Sword stops the locked ball (s). Sword and post work together to serve up one ball at a time.

I'll bet the mech can raise the sword and lower the post at the same time to let balls pass (sort of like LOTR). It would have to when "ball lock" hasn't been qualified.

Stop making so much sense!

that's pretty cool, i'm surprised it's not removed from the pro with a virtual lock.

it will probably slow down the flow a little bit.

I think Ben is making a lot of sense, from the viewpoint of a designer. In the end, it doesn't matter if Steve likes bright colors or if the crappy art cab art can be hidden and the translate will be changed. I wouldn't have been in on this regardless and i'm not here to further stomp on the game. I'm just thinking that for people who are thinking they may spend over 7K on these machines, they have every right to demand that the art package is a home run.

Ball lock looks great. No accidental double ball releases like on Woz.

Well Expo is around the corner. So if they are running pros for Euroland next week. I would think that by the time they hit the boat and they land over there it would be time for EXPO here.

So maybe in the larger plan based around EXPO.

chris

Except Stern didn't need to show GoT to raise money like the other companies you infer... It's unlike Stern from the recent history to show games that don't have a single model near production ready.

So does that mean you can buy a 'I don't care about Stern's choices model...' for a cheaper price? Instead you get the luxury of paying a premium for something you don't want, and having to buy the replacement as well. No this isn't fatal, but it sure sux from a pricing point of view.

JJP has Keith Johnson and Ted Estes which are two of the best pinball programmers in the industry. Also, Keith always comes up with unique and interesting modes that other programmers don't implement.

Overall I just think there is more detailed and uniqueness put into Keith's rules then other games I play.

I think you are inferring meaning from my post that was not intended. All I am saying is:

There are no pictures yet. Most likely reason there are no pictures yet is because Stern doesn't have a machine ready for pictures yet. It has only been four days since it was first announced. Given how long it takes other companies to show anything, perhaps only waiting four days is a bit impatient.

Lopping off heads sword ball lock.

As much as I hate large figures on the playfield, I was kinda hoping to see some animated version of The Mountain beheading his horse with the locked balls then flying out of the horse's neck.

So given your assumption... why should Stern make announcements for games it doesn't have ready? Stern had built up quite a reputation of late for their efficiency in having games production ready and actually shipping games. Given the competition's struggles.. this is a huge experience feather Stern should be wearing proud.

Giving them a pass based on other people's struggles doesn't change how this failure impacts Stern. It also makes you ask 'why now?' - it's not like HBO is needing to advertise the show yet.. the only thing I can understand is the claim that the Pros are starting to ship. So that means the factory is ready and needs to be fed.. the business is waiting to be fed with sales... but the game development itself is way behind. Not showing the premium could be because of the desire to let the LEs sell..

It just shows Stern is cornered here to do the launch.. yet the game isn't ready. what other companies do really has no relevancy here. We are comparing Stern to Stern...

Arr but wait: This will come out from $TERN as a $500 mod upgrade.....

Oh god no, please don't reuse that 'Microsoft spelled with a dollar sign' plague here. What if that catches on!? The horror!

I Still hope for a more lotr style fantasy graphics on the playfield for the LE.
This will sell like hotcakes.

Maybe STERN should listen to its customers like JJP did with their Hobbit playfields, and go back and address the artwork.

HBO won't let them!
HBO had the final say!

I think that ship has sailed.

Literally, to Europe.

I'm looking forward to, "Well, at first I thought the artwork was a piece of dog crap, wrapped in childhood cancer, that was directly responsible for the death of my parents... But now it's kind of growing on me!!"

Again... In Ritchie I trust! I'll wait to play it. Then I'll play it with mature code.

Haha

Little known fact: it was the art on a Stern game that created Batman.

JJP started fixing there game 11 months ago still no game.When Stern drops a turd I want them to move on to the next game look forward at all times

Steve Ritchie didn't draw that art. It isn't some undiscovered masterpiece that will get better with age. We're allowed to think the game looks cool even if the art sucks

This is a opportunity for some creative genius like Aurich to come up with a cool looking PF for people to swap this ugly one out with

Does anyone else see Legend of Zalda (SNES) when they look at the playfield or is it just me.

The first one for Atari with the aweful graphics?

This is a game (might of been said already, maybe not? lol) that is a cross between Medievil Madness and Lord of The Rings..
2 of the best games of all time....And let's add a Video mode for the Super Win..
this game takes makes #1 in short time.
Easily best Stern ever, and now finally takes over #1 pinball overall since 1997.

What?

Where did you get that shit your smoking. I want some.

Hahaha...
Finally will take over the #1 spot....Hehehe.

After I got out of work, I took a quick stab at what would have made me excited for the GoT cabinet. Obviously it's not going to appeal to everyone, and I'm sure lots of people are going to prefer Stern's effort compared to mine, but according to Stern's Facebook rep they spent months nailing down their look whereas I gave myself a handful of hours. And everyone's tastes are different of course. Not everyone wants a black cabinet, but I've owned TZ, TAF, HS2, RFM, and SC, and I'm a little fond of them. It won't offend me if you don't like it.

I'm going to try the playfield next, but I can't promise to finish that. Huge project.

cab.jpg

For the translite, I imagine it having a mirrored backing, so where you see the flourishes around the logo, and the logo itself, would be reflective. The character montage is missing some key players, like a Baratheon, a Tyrell, etc. I just took what I could quickly find on Google that fit the brooding look I wanted. I don't think there's anything wrong with having a montage of characters on backglasses as long as they are well composited and interesting looking. Like I said in another post, the way the actual translite is setup reminds me of a medieval group photo shoot at a Sears.

The gold T-molding is replaced with mirrored T-molding. Instead of another character montage on the side of the cabinet, I just went with the house motto and sigil. I imagine the opposite side would be House Lannister since the LE model is Targaryen themed. Kept the front of the cab simple. Instead of two random characters, I just have the logo and some flourishes.

I would buy that LE! Now get to work on the pf.

Solid effort but get rid of the HBO logo on the back glass