I noticed the multiple LEDs in the arrows in one of the videos, it is cool how it gives the arrow some sense of motion and highlights those shots when lit better than just flashing or being lit. I tried to determine if this is the first game to use this, anyone know of a previous game that did the same?

That was my assessment too, it would have to be at the very back of the machine where there is maximum distance between playfield and glass. With it back there how do you ensure enough momentum to make the loop unless you build in some kind of accelerator via magnets and the two would take up too much space. Balcer is their designer and I assume this is his design, he's come up with cool toys before (Trunk / Roller Coaster / Couch lock etc.) so I can't believe he and the mechanical team didn't try to come up with a loop somehow. It could also be because they wanted to trim the BOM on this to lower price so they can market more to operators.

EDIT: Josh beat me to it by about 30 seconds!

Yeah, I doubt an actual HW car would last long if it's blasted through a loop over and over again a thousand times a day.

I don't know that a designer should be taking any cues from Hurricane.

That's actually a 180 scoop though, a real loop d loop HAS to be 360 so the ball keeps going the same direction, well unless your Hot Wheel setups were completely different than mine. If AP put that type of mech in and called it a loop everyone would be criticizing the hell out of it and rightfully so.

I am hoping the wizard mode is to battle the castrated monkey!

Good point but it is enclosed at the sides and you can't really see the ball so that would not really give you the same Hot Wheels loop d loop visual.

And it's on a Gottlieb System 80.

Looks like the "loop" VUK has a bend at the bottom to send the ball down the ramp towards the flipper faster than just dumping it up there like a normal VUK. Cool idea and should help speed up flow, looking forward to seeing the whole thing in action and actually playing it.

Isn't there one that blocks the shot to the VUK too?

Because "adult" themes like "how to survive a global pandemic" and "my credit card debt is out of control" are major letdowns and we need some escapism?

That's very typical, everyone says they want something different until they get it then they complain and go buy another fan layout game. I have nothing against fan layouts and own / have owned several of them that I think are a blast but in a collection some odd shots and different geometries are great to have IMO. They said that they purposely scaled HW down to get a lower price point and to try to appeal to operators and more family friendly places so it makes sense that the layout is simplified. I doubt I'd buy this game but I sure as hell do want to play it and would certainly dump some money in one on location.

I've never seen any reports of playfield issues on either of their games, the one in my Houdini is absolutely perfect with very minimal dimpling. Build quality of the cabinet is very solid and they use WMS / WPC style mechs for flippers, it feels a lot more like one of my old WPC games than it does a new Stern for sure. Electronics are primarily built using P3-ROC on the first two, not sure if HW does too but I suspect it does. So far the only consistent component issue I've seen reported is with the pressure switches they use for the beer barrel locks in OKT.

It's a Hot Wheels car that rumbles and shoots mode-specific colored flames out the side pipes, price TBA.

We never did that but we would build big, detailed encampments in the yard for Army men and then throw firecrackers and other fireworks into it for hours on end until we had completely destroyed it. May have placed a Hot Wheel or Matchbox car / jeep / Army vehicle in there from time to time. Ahhh the good 'ol days!

It wasn't before, I started to watch it but had to pause it for work (dammit). First couple minutes were pretty entertaining! Perhaps there's an embargo that Zach didn't know about to allow DeadFlip's stream tomorrow night to be the first official look at it.

The AP team has said it's about a 50/50 split between assets they were supplied and ones they created.

Number 17, that qualifies as "early production"! Congratulations.

Edit: asked and answered.

Kinda nice to see positive reactions and people excited about a game around here.

Yelobird has his and his comments are in this thread, I saw on the Helicon thread that they have one at the brewery and people have been in to play it as well. I'm really looking forward to getting a chance to play it, sucks that all the pinball shows have been cancelled this summer.

It's like Balcer finally made an easy to hit version of the Crystal Ball / Milkcan shot and moved it to the other side of the Playfield.

That sounds a little too much like the steins in OKT.

It it great of OKT but rosh has said they didn't want to repeat themselves that way on HW. It can become overwhelming and time consuming when someone stands there flipping through all the options trying to make a decision on location as well.

And to help remove any confusion that remains the "TG" in "LTG" transcends all manufacturers, individual games, etc. What a great asset to our hobby!!

I spent a lot of time getting them as active as I'd like on Houdini and the biggest thing was just cleaning the hell out of those switches then adjusting them even when brand new. I feels like the centering spring in these are just really, really strong but I didn't want to take the whole thing apart to cut a section out or anything like that yet, they do break in after a while.

It's really easy to tell if you have power to the PD-16s mounted under the playfield as they have an LED right next to the power inputs. If you don't see those lit make sure to pull out the interlock switch if the coin door is open.

There are high voltage power indicator LEDs next to the power inputs (brown / black wires) on both sides of both boards, if those aren't lit you don't have 48V to the boards. Double check the coin door interlock switch but I'm sure Dave can get you back up and running if that's not the problem.

Did you try raising the back legs up to about a 6.5 degree playfield slope to see if that resolves it?

On my Houdini there was a washer installed on the shooter rod between the housing and the spring, once I took that off it has been very smooth.

He was nice enough to give us Houdini owners a setting to only use the female voice for the movie announcements when he added his.

Great pics robotron and out of COVID induced boredom, experience and idle curiosity I'll say that it appears that all Hot Wheels games I've seen pics of are apparently using Bader playfields. Man, I have got to find somewhere to play this game!

Finally got to play this on location last night, man is it fast!! Unfortunately the one I played must have had the flipper strength too high because shots to the targets near the left loop entrance would airball all the way back to or over the flippers! We only played a few games because of this and it was under a flourescent light that caused a lot of glare on the glass. My wife did get some good stuff going including a Red Line Mania which looked to be a ton of fun. Hopefully I'll get to play it again soon with a better setup.

I just keep hearing the deep "Shift gears" call-out from HS2 in my head when I read this.

Love that Tempest car!

What kind of electrical inspection? Surely the game is certified for the Canadian versus of U.L.?