So hard to decide, so I didn't! I have one of each on order.

That is for sure a sick looking Apron and one of the best usages of the IP I could think of. That being said, I just want to play this bad-boy for a month or two to make sure I'm in love before committing the $745 to it. I assume you will do a few rounds?

I think the difference you're dealing with here on your marketing analogy, is two-fold. One, we're dealing with a limited-edition collectable, which is a totally different market than a car. Second, no one put down a dollar for an unidentified product, people put down a dollar for a place in line.

It's not that I don't understand what you're getting at, but as a guy who is also buying a Godzilla table, I just witnessed what happened with the LEs for that table, and it was far more chaotic/insider-dealsmanship than cointaker did with the LVs.

Right now Pinball is the 2020s version of beanie-babies when it comes to the limited edition aspects of things.

Hey Guys -- I'm hoping my table is one of the ones being shipped this week to the states, but in anticipation I'm looking at VooDoo glass. I'm pretty sure it's widebody for this table and not standard, correct?

Q3 here as well, and haven't heard yet. However, I emailed with Melissa at Cointaker and she said they were expecting 1/2 a container to leave Italy this week, but instead it turns out it's a full container. So that's hopeful news.

Looking forward to seeing Queen tables arrive some time in 2036

Got my invoice today as well, and I was an August Q3 order. Must be a ton of these coming in.

I might have missed something while searching the forums, but is there a built in or mod way to add an external sub to PB's Alien?

Thank you for the response. Outside of Alien I only own Stern tables, which I've hooked up using pinwoofers. Is it the same method here when you say "same with other games". Sorry for the newbie question.

Thanks yes, this is what I was looking for. I think I'll see what the stock sub sounds like first, I think it adds a ton to my other Stern Spike II tables.

I'm going to Live Track this thing all the way -- just stare at it until it docks.
https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:152344/mmsi:218355000/imo:9450416/vessel:VIENNA_EXPRESS

Oh boy, I want that Dropship mod. Any leads on where to find one?

Sold! Got one on the way. Thank you!

What's this nonsense? ETA went from 11/11 to 11/12??? I can't take this waiting anymore

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I'm seeing 11/14

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:152344/mmsi:218355000/imo:9450416/vessel:VIENNA_EXPRESS

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This helps maximize the chances of package damage en-route, as a bunch of hot young punk newbie delivery employees learn the ropes. This supply chain crisis sucks I have a Godzilla table on the way too, and I heard today that shipments to distributors are being cut in half and delayed. The waiting never ends.

You have to keep an eye on these guys. Otherwise, who knows. Maybe the shipmates discover a crate of Alien pinballs, and they just circle around out there in the ocean and play them until they run out of food and turn on each other. This shit takes oversight.

Sweet! I wonder where the info came from that it was delayed until 11/17? It's still showing ETA of 11/14 to me:

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For what it's worth it is "at anchor" --- just looks like anchor is off the coast. It has arrived, but perhaps the 11/17 is when it will dock? I'm with you -- I would LOVE to be shooting by Thanksgiving.

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Speaking of boat watching, that Vienna Express is still anchored, and not yet moored. Who was offering to go out there and pick them up off the boat? I'll take you up on it!

Who cares whether the game works or not or the bugs are fixed or not. The ship is moored!

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Someone had previously posted a delay until 11/17 for that boat, but it's 11/16 and it's moored and presumed offloading. Don't know what that means for customs holds and inspections, but I would assume we could see a delay on that too... but it's quicker to dock than expected, so that's a plus.

I'll drive the truck and bring a gas generator, so we can play en-route!

It's on it's way back to Europe. Everything must now be in dock and waiting on customs or someone to come put it on a truck or rail.

Ferret -- this is great info! I really appreciate the interaction. Thank you!

I feel like there is a tongue twister in there somewhere.

Once the shipping notices start coming in here, to avoid some people getting discouraged, someone said there was a second cargo vessel coming in behind this one about 2 weeks later. Is that still correct?

Did you happen to see mine there?

Sweeeeeet! The last part of the wait is always the hardest

I pinged Melissa. I'm in the December shipment, coming into port any day now. Not quite as woohoo as Wednesday, but Woohoo none the less!

Oh man! I'm experiencing all the no-no emotions of 'envy' and 'jealousy' Has anyone heard more info on the second shipment to cointaker yet? Has the second boat landed? Anything? Being on that first boat is first class -- like Dallas, Kane, Ripley.... I feel like Parker and Brett being on the second shipment. You guys with your tables are like "Don't worry, you'll get your full shares"

Last I heard was a week ago with the thought it would be in port "any day now". All I want for Christmas......

Crossing my fingers.

Nothing on my end. Paid in full a while back, I supposed to be on the current wave coming in "any day now" as of 11/29. I'm hoping we see something before end of week... but we'll see.

I don't have any info. Last I heard from Melissa was on 11/29 saying it would be any day now the boat would be in. I don't want to harass her, so I figured I would wait until next week to ask if there is any new news. If anyone knows details, boat names etc. that would be awesome. I would love it if it were coming over on Boaty McBoat.

It seemed like last time it was about 1 week from port before people started hearing about shipping... So maybe pretty quickly! Start crossing your fingers!

I took the plunge and emailed Melissa. She's out until Wednesday. Hopefully some news then.

You guys that are now getting your games, are these the games that landed at Cointaker in November?

Yea same here. It was 21 days ago that the boat was slated to be in any day. After a while you start to wonder if there is a boat coming in at all, or it was just an assumption.

I did email last Wednesday and heard that the second boat has not yet landed for what it's worth.

Yea, if anyone knows a universal message that would be awesome. I heard on 11/29 that the container would be in "any day" and then last week that the container had not yet showed up but they would let me know.... But nothing about a February delay. I wish I knew what to expect.

As a customer, all I really want is baseline communication. This is a crazy world we live in right now with delays and supply chain problems. If you're being told that your machine is all but on the way, and then something goes wrong, a quick email with "we're very sorry, but there has been a delay due to X reason. The new expected date is now X." would be fantastic. What kinda sucks is thinking it's going to be any day now, and then the forums, not the distributor tells you that it sounds like there is a delay. Things happen... but here I am making sure I don't go out of town for the next few weeks based on knowledge that is possibly incorrect. It's all good I suppose.. it just brings back bad memories of construction workers that stop mid-way through a project and don't come back. Not saying that's the case here... but paying in advance causes us to worry when the communication isn't there.

I'm not upset with Cointaker, but it's a stretch to give them a hats off for "putting up" with inquiries from their customers. Whatever business you're in, you need to keep the focus on customer satisfaction, or you will lose business to someone else who does a better job. There is no "putting up" with customers. Customers are the point of the business. I think Cointaker could do themselves a favor in this department by being proactive in communication. Keep a distribution list of people who have placed orders for machines, if something changes send out a BCC email to them with a heads up. Keep the lines of communication going and you won't be in a situation where customers are emailing you because they are unclear of what to expect.

At any rate, I understand this is a fast moving and oftem changing landscape of business right now. Added in there are all these supply chain issues that continue to throw a wrench into business-as-usual. I'm not pissed off at Cointaker at all, I'm empathetic. But as a customer who paid in full for a table months ago with the expectation it was going to be at my doorstep in short order, giving them praise for "putting up" with periodic inquiries from me is a little insulting. Hope you understand.

It is clear you don't understand how free market economies work, and that's fine. First distributor offering the same game that offers a portal you can log into that shows expected delivery dates and emails changes in those expectations takes all the business, doesn't have to deal with "endless emails", and provides a loyalty based customer experience. I'll take choice over "buy it or don't" all day long.

Again I'm not pissed off at Cointaker. It's just very clear that there is a missing hole that needs to be filled in communication. The "endless emails" are merely a symptom of the problem. Cointaker should do themselves a favor and fix it.

I'm sorry I haven't been around in pinball long enough to become cynical and accept that this is the way things are. I suppose after many years one might become complacent in what they accept. I'm not new to business. You don't need to be Microsoft, or any more than a 1-2 person mom and pop shop to handle this situation however.... And listen, I'm not trying to be a dick here. But if it's considered a "problem" that customers are asking where their product is, than it's a problem with the distributor, not the customer, hands down.

Two low-tech, low-time solutions I have in mind, given that each distributor is selling possibly 10 different machines at any given time....

1) Create a web-page per machine with expected delivery dates and update it daily. Anyone emailing or calling could be directed to check this page whenever they want.

2) Create a distribution group per machine and email with any changes to expecations.

Both of these solutions would (a) drastically reduce the incoming emails, (b) drastically reduce time spend emailing customers the same thing over and over, (c) increase customer satisfaction.

Being new to this whole thing doesn't mean my opinions should be discounted. In fact, as someone who is relatively new to this whole thing, I'm a little disappointed that some of the guys who have been around for a while are so happy with a "buy it or don't" and "it is what it is" mentality. Pinball keeps advancing, why doesn't the market and distribution service as well? It's a shame really.

We are lucky that PB has taken on rebuilding these games. We are lucky Cointaker has taken on distribution of them. I'm not "wah wah wah" crying -- I'm pointing out that endless emails are a symptom of a need for better communication -- that is all. I'd appreciate it if we didn't all make this some personal attack on me because I have that viewpoint.

Totally fair point -- I get it. All that being said, I guess I see opportunity here more than anything. Someone could really capitalize... But in the meantime, I just don't want to be painted as annoying or a problem for emailing every few weeks for a status update. The only thing I took issue with was the original comment that Cointaker is somehow deserving in praise for "putting up" with inquiries. I'll shut up now

For sure! Your thoughts on their participation in the pinball scene are spot on too. I've done most of my business with Game Exchange in Colorado and the team there is fantastic, helpful, giving, inclusive and awesome! I've also done a small amount of business with Cointaker on parts and been quite satisfied. Melissa has been good at getting back to me on email inquiries as well. I do think they would do themselves a service by being proactive on communication when things don't come in as planned, but it's all good.

We're 102 days out from paid in full, for what it's worth. Hanging in there...

I've been doing the same... I even stopped watching the videos lately. There is part of me that thinks that only once we've all completely forgotten we even ordered it will it show up. And of course, I "think" we're all running off of the rumor that they're already in port and just need a truck to deliver them. Has anyone confirmed this, or know if what is in port is enough to satisfy the orders that were paid in full in Oct?

And for the LV guys thinking they're on a boat, I hope they come soon, but from the PB post on Facebook today it looks more like they're still working on them as opposed to shipping end of January. Tomorrow is Feb 1, and my guess is they're not on a boat for a while still... I could be wrong, but I've been driven to cynicism.

Alien will be sitting right in between Godzilla and Black Knight Sword of Rage here. Can't wait!

Not trying to be the squeaky wheel here, but for anyone thinking that there is a container of SVs that has been waiting to be delivered out of port from New Jersey since December... it looks like the average wait time is more like 4.75 days as opposed to 1.5 months. Unless someone knows something different?

https://safety4sea.com/port-of-new-york-and-new-jersey-faces-containerships-backlog/

That is great news. Thanks for sharing -- it is much apprecaited!

I'm appreciating the news from RussG, and it is great news to hear they (hopefully) are just days away.

So news that they're expecting them this week, possibly next week is not an update? What would constitute an update to you? If you're that cynical then I don't know what anyone could do to please you, but it's all good. I'm happy to hear the news.

Well the week isn't over yet but no. The point I was making was just that they had updated that they "expect" them and that was good enough for an update for me. I mean, eventually I'll get to where I believe that I'm just being straight up lied to, but I'm not quite there yet.

Again with the worst possible way of looking at a situation. The "assumption" is that once CT has the money they actually don't care whether the customers ever get the machines or not? Don't forget to post again in a week so that you can "prove" to everyone that CT doesn't care because we don't yet have our machines.

Huge thank you for the update. With everything going on in the world I completely understand all the different things that might go on affecting the ability to get these games out to your customers. This helps me set my expectations and ease worries. Of course, I would feel even better if we had firm delivery dates from a transport company, but again, totally understand. Thank you again --- the touch base check in is invaluable.

Got my tracking number here too! Now just hoping this game is going to be a straight up fight, and not another bug hunt Woohoo!

Zablon, when you say "the updates" do you mean anything beyond the 2.4d code?

Joined the club officially today. Had a little damage on the box which had me worried, but 100% nothing wrong. Lots of padding there around the legs. Had a couple of screws floating around on the inside as well. Did a good survey and can't see anything missing. She looks and plays great! Added a little facehugger dude down by the launch button for extra effect!

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Quick rookie question here... Angle should be set to 6.5?

Yea, checked that marker for sure. It has something fall on it, as opposed to falling itself (and landing upside down). I was a little worried when I saw it, but it was right where the legs were stored and had tons of Styrofoam around it. If it was going to get dinged, that was the place to do it. All was well.

Hey Guys -- I hate to ask another rookie question, but here goes. I've got an external sub pinwoofer kit. That kit has a black wire and a red wire, but the Alien pinball machine sub has two other colored wires (I want to say green and purple). Anyone know what to connect to what? AKA, does black go to purple?

I would love it if you could share what the fix is when you find it. I'm having the same issue.

I'm somewhere around 6.5, 6.6 and it's playing great. The only issue I'm having is with the kick out of the scoop. I'm level 0.0 left to right in the front and the back, and still many of the ejects wind up going SDTM. Is there a way to adjust kick-out angle from the scoop at all?

I did reduce it -50%. Should I amp it back up?

Awesome and congrats! Did you ever find out what the FexEx "emergency" was?

Hey Guys -- Pinball Rookie Year guy here... I just had to adjust the switch just to the left of the Airlock scoop. It bent a little left and had jammed to where it was always firing. I've seen people getting replacement switches. Is this due to the need for newer switches or do I just need to tighten a screw or two down to stop that from happening in the future?

Also -- had my first go-round with sentry guns multiball today. This game is a lot of fun!

$20 in the drivers hand got my pinball delivered to the garage.

I asked my driver if he was going to deliver to the garage or the curb, and he kinda let out a long "Well eh....." and I cut him off and offered the $20, which quickly turned it into a "Yea, we can get it to your garage." For me its like you said, $20 is really nothing in the grand scheme of things. With today's inflation $20, is the $5 of yesteryears. Plus it feels like some weird karmic payoff to the universe to throw a tip at the guy delivering you something that serves no purpose but to bring you joy. We're all very fortunate to live in a world that allows us such luxuries as pinball.

So... I notice that on this game, unlike a lot of other pinball games, there is no easy/medium/hard post holes on the outlanes. Mine is an HUO and I feel like those damn outlanes are too greedy for me, and I want to modify -- anyone have any recommendations?

Oh sweet! To move it do I need to unassemble the right ramp sitting over the top?

Hey everyone. Thanks for the info on the fact that the outlane posts DO in fact move. And also thanks for the tip that you can set revive to extra easy. Played a few games tonight with both adjustments. I think the extra easy revive might be a little TOO easy for me, but adjusting the outlanes makes it just that much easier to make it challenging for me but not frustratingly challenging. I finally rescued Jonesey!

Hey Zablon, since I'm a rookie here (and have not yet had the results I want bending the scoop) what do you mean by foam? I bent mine quite a bit and have got it to about mid to 3/4 down the left flipper, as opposed to SDTM, but not where it really needs to be.

Yes, double-checked and it's flat. Thank you for the repost on this though!

Thanks Zablon, I'll give it a shot