Quoted from konjurer:warp shot on ST
Warp shot feels twice as wide as some houdini shots...
(Topic ID: 251803)
Quoted from konjurer:KISS's right ramp and the warp shot on ST come to mind. I would hope that every game has some difficult shots. The reputation that Houdini got about too hard is unfounded based on the trunk lock shot. I had a KISS and the right ramp is way harder to hit consistently than the trunk lock shot.
lol you can back hand the right ramp on KISS if the flippers arent shit.
you can make 5-6 warps in a row on star trek until the ball gets going too fast or falls into the shooter lane haha.
Wheaton, IL
Quoted from konjurer:KISS's right ramp and the warp shot on ST come to mind. I would hope that every game has some difficult shots. The reputation that Houdini got about too hard is unfounded based on the trunk lock shot. I had a KISS and the right ramp is way harder to hit consistently than the trunk lock shot.
You're hilarious I'll checkmate that Warp ramp with Oktoberfest's long 3rd flipper ramp shot. I've done 2, 3, 4 in a row on the Warp ramp.
Quoted from CrazyLevi:It’s about time those guys figured that out. Everybody says they want innovation and unlicensed themes and then they don’t buy them.
I don’t think too highly of either AP games but if either one of them were Back to the Future they’d be huge sellers. If AP wants to make a run of it the next game needs to be some group of idiots’ “grail theme,” not Huck Finn or whatever public domain property is probably in the pipeline over there.
I am a huge Houdini fan, but I guess I have to agree with this. The original theme needs to be SO good that it transcends the lack of a known property ( a la BTTF). Houdini is really amazing in the rules and mech department but the community is so quick to turn on a game, they started out in a big interest deficit with the theme (and which could be argued was not even their choice), and the JPop stain only further hurt. The fact that they proved everyone wrong and put out a game before the end of their first year (hey DR!) may not have translated into sales.
It’s funny - it does seem spot on that the buyers out there say they want innovation, but they really just want LCD screens on the same old game they played as a teen. That’s totally fine - but the company who gets that will have the most sales.
Quoted from Rdoyle1978:I am a huge Houdini fan, but I guess I have to agree with this. The original theme needs to be SO good that it transcends the lack of a known property ( a la BTTF). Houdini is really amazing in the rules and mech department but the community is so quick to turn on a game, they started out in a big interest deficit with the theme (and which could be argued was not even their choice), and the JPop stain only further hurt. The fact that they proved everyone wrong and put out a game before the end of their first year (hey DR!) may not have translated into sales.
It’s funny - it does seem spot on that the buyers out there say they want innovation, but they really just want LCD screens on the same old game they played as a teen. That’s totally fine - but the company who gets that will have the most sales.
Nobody asked for the funky cabinet head, 90s computer style opengl graphics looking produced art, tight shots and or a Houdini theme. Funny that many more want Theater of Magic huh?
Quoted from HighProtein:Nobody asked for the funky cabinet head, 90s computer style opengl graphics looking produced art, tight shots and or a Houdini theme. Funny that many more want Theater of Magic huh?
Not really "funny" at all, this hobby is largely about nostalgia and nearly everyone considers the B/W games to be the pinnacle of what was. If you really play TOM much though you realize it's pretty repetitive and lacks depth. I would argue that AP could have done a generic magic-themed game and it would have faced the same issues as Houdini because "it's not TOM". You mention graphics but are the dots on TOM that much enthralling or entertaining than the LCD animations on Houdini, I would argue the answer is no (especially with a plasma DMD) if you really remove nostalgia from the equation.
FWIW I'm not sure how many people would really give a f@#$ about the different backbox design, it's not like you need a prop-rod to transport the game like Starship Troopers or that it's extra wide, it's just scrolled. Whoop-de-do Basil! Tight shots are good for a home use game in my opinion but I get it that it could / does turn people off when you're dropping $1 or $.50 per game and you drain all three balls in one minute, game should have shipped with more generous ball saves to address that IMO.
Quoted from HighProtein:Nobody asked for the funky cabinet head,
Quoted from bobukcat:FWIW I'm not sure how many people would really give a f@#$ about the different backbox
I actually think the Backbox Head looks great with the theme, steampunk style. I like the swoop and reminds me of some SS Gottlieb of mid 80's.
Now Oktoberfest head feels big and bulky. Larger than the Houdini head and larger than Bally/wms heads of the 90's.
I wish AP would have stuck with the first design. As odd as it sounds, I lost intrest in Oktoberfest because of the head. Well cabinet art and backglass didnt do it for my either. But that large OKT head would have felt awkward lined up in my collection.
They should have stayed with one head design as a trademark head look for all there games. The Houdini head would look great on a Sherlock Holmes.
I like AP's backbox too. It looks cool.
John's Houdini wasn't a game. Shots to nowhere, targets in places you couldn't hit, static laser cut "toys" that did nothing. It was a proof of concept built like a final product whose only goal was to trick a company into bailing out Magic Girl.
Quoted from bobukcat:Not really "funny" at all, this hobby is largely about nostalgia and nearly everyone considers the B/W games to be the pinnacle of what was. If you really play TOM much though you realize it's pretty repetitive and lacks depth. I would argue that AP could have done a generic magic-themed game and it would have faced the same issues as Houdini because "it's not TOM". You mention graphics but are the dots on TOM that much enthralling or entertaining than the LCD animations on Houdini, I would argue the answer is no (especially with a plasma DMD) if you really remove nostalgia from the equation.
FWIW I'm not sure how many people would really give a f@#$ about the different backbox design, it's not like you need a prop-rod to transport the game like Starship Troopers or that it's extra wide, it's just scrolled. Whoop-de-do Basil! Tight shots are good for a home use game in my opinion but I get it that it could / does turn people off when you're dropping $1 or $.50 per game and you drain all three balls in one minute, game should have shipped with more generous ball saves to address that IMO.
Yeah Sega showcase backbox is brutal logistically (the locks are trash too in it, I screw it in place with a bracket). I'm in the small group that likes the appearance of the showcase backbox but it was a failed project.
To me the Houdini backbox is silly as hell but unique, in a 1 game collection it looks so so, but looks strange as hell in a standard pinball lineup.
Quoted from benheck:I like AP's backbox too. It looks cool.
John's Houdini wasn't a game. Shots to nowhere, targets in places you couldn't hit, static laser cut "toys" that did nothing. It was a proof of concept built like a final product whose only goal was to trick a company into bailing out Magic Girl.
Its really a wonder how a designer who has made good layouts basically forgot how to be a designer?
Quoted from benheck:I like AP's backbox too. It looks cool.
John's Houdini wasn't a game. Shots to nowhere, targets in places you couldn't hit, static laser cut "toys" that did nothing. It was a proof of concept built like a final product whose only goal was to trick a company into bailing out Magic Girl.
“Box of lights” if you saw the original reveal. It wasn’t even in a cabinet. I’m sure AP would prefer to forget that fiasco
Quoted from Rdoyle1978:“Box of lights” if you saw the original reveal. It wasn’t even in a cabinet. I’m sure AP would prefer to forget that fiasco
It was a funeral home viewing.
Unfortunately there are many that don't like short game times and tight shots. They just want their pinball machine to tell them a story.
Quoted from frolic:I’m certain I remember deeproot mysteriously suggesting that they might still yet make a Houdini.
But why? To sell a couple hundred units?
Quoted from frolic:I’m certain I remember deeproot mysteriously suggesting that they might still yet make a Houdini.
Is there ANYTHING they haven’t suggested they still might yet make?
Quoted from frolic:I’m certain I remember deeproot mysteriously suggesting that they might still yet make a Houdini.
We don't even know if they plan to make ANY pinball machines. Right now they look like a very very slow art factory.
Quoted from Rdoyle1978:“Box of lights” if you saw the original reveal. It wasn’t even in a cabinet. I’m sure AP would prefer to forget that fiasco
Oh I remember. Expo 2016 I believe. Got a good long look and had an amusing chat with Joe about it.
The ironic thing is John is a very good art director something AP desperately needs but I think they just wanted him gone.
Quoted from frolic:Found Robert discussing it[quoted image]
That is legalese for “we’ll make a game based on his DESIGN but it won’t be called Houdini”
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