Is that exactly the same playfield as from three years ago? Because both Ben Heck and I thought the geometry in certain areas of the original seemed way off.

Is there a third mini-flipper under that Pharoah head? I keep getting the impression there should be, but I know John hates them.

It's prettty abstract-looking as a playfield, in that as nice as the art is, the detail that catches your eye is all at the bottom, and the rest is colour flashes and zaps that are being overlaid by physical elements that don't represent anything very clearly. Clearly a ton of work went into it all, but all his WMS games contain a greater number of recognisable thematic elements in a more organised way. TOTAN in particular has way more physical stuff present but is clearer to read and leaves more illustration room. John's Houdini just isn't as appealing to my eye, as it manages to look more cluttered, yet emptier at the same time.

The trick is to be both canny and lucky in finding that untapped vein that people *don't know* they want yet - again, see Scott Danesi.