I was thinking the opposite when I walked by at one point and at least 3 out of the 4 machines at the Cointaker booth had their playfields up with people working on them.

And why do I care, you might ask? I'm anxious to get a Queen machine if it doesn't suck. But if it's something that's going to frustrate the hell out of me like Deez 's situation, I'll have to pass. And that will bum me out to no end.

How do everyones' machines seem to hold up otherwise?

After loving Queen as much as I do, I'm seriously contemplating getting an Alien LV...you guys are all still loving yours?

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone!

I sold my Tron because it got really boring. Beautiful game--especially blinged out--but too much of the same thing over and over. My restored AFM is going after I sell TNA because I have STh and I like it better. AFM is awesome, of course, but it's a little dated now and I need space.

So your opinion actually had the opposite effect on me!

I don't play Rush anymore. You tell me.

And btw...I don't know the financials of PB, of course, but these first two titles are really a great start. The support is second to none and I hope they grow into one of the biggest companies out there.

So I guess getting one of those Alien apron mods now is completely out of the question, eh?

That's what happens when you're late to the dance.

Got my LV today, and this may be a stupid question, but did you all get apron cards in your box, or were they somewhere else in the game? I can't find them anywhere.

(And I'm sure I'll have more questions as I go...like why does the ball get trapped in a notch on the side of the shooter lane?)

Nope.

I agree. Their support on Queen is one of the reasons I decided to pull the trigger on Alien.

Yeah...they weren't in there. Shawn sent me out another set. Meanwhile, my apron stickers are spontaneously peeling off.

Getting the apron mod soon so that won't be an issue anymore.

Can anybody recommend the best hypersleep chamber mod? That flat plastic up there is kinda depressing.

Beautiful! I PM'ed him...hopefully he can still sell me one. Thanks, buddy!

This game is really wonderful...and that's not a honeymoon thing. I'm really glad I got it and have a ton of mods coming. Mine works well, but they completely borked the upper right flipper. Overtightened--the bolt is bent--and the spring is screwed up as well. You can't tighten it down so it never returns to its resting position. Can't finish some modes without the hypersleep ramp. I put in a ticket.

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It was in resting position when I got it. First game, it wound up not returning to the resting position. I just figured it wasn't tightened all the way down...until I saw that it was overtightened and likely stripped because I couldn't tighten it anymore and it kept moving. PB is sending me a replacement flipper link and springs. I'd just really like to hit that hypersleep ramp once...

Got a link?

Yep...I'm a little pissed off at this, having bought my NIB LV last week. No inkling this was happening. I still love the cabinet artwork on the LV, so the artwork (on this and Queen) are the only things that are concerning me. I hate when you support a company only to learn that they made it better for those who didn't initially support them. That's bullshit. I'm hoping they make the topper available to all owners as well. Those Lior mods are REALLY high-priced, so getting those a la carte may be a real kick in the wallet.

This is my favorite line:

So this model comes at a special price, mainly to celebrate our collab with Disney!

The only thing I can read into with that is buyers are going to take it up the @$$ with the pricing. You KNOW that doesn't mean it's going to be cheaper if it's a collaboration with Disney... Let's all "celebrate" the special price.

Well...that's not really it. It's buying something without knowing all the facts, and having that knowledge hidden from you to make a sale. That's kind of bush league. I may not even like the new model, but it would have been nice to at least have the opportunity to choose.

No...they just never sold out of it.

So...UNlimited?

I'm assuming it'll be another LV since that's reaching the end of its run. And I'm only whining because I just bought mine a week ago. I would've held out to see which one I liked better if I had the chance.

Unrelated note: Chances are the topper won't fit with the bigger beacons that come with the apron mod. Ugh.

I'm with you. I bought the LV in part because of the cabinet art and color scheme.

Yeah...I'm feeling a lot better about the whole thing now. Maybe they'll make it yellow armor to match the loader and art...in which case I'm happy I got the LV. Don't need to see Ripleys face everywhere either.

Ha! I love it. Different strokes...

I don't think they said the playfield changed...or did I miss something?

Agree. I don't need pictures of her or the big loader outfit everywhere. It's enough for me that she's in the movie clips now. And they're making available the stuff you don't have to put into previous versions. Cause for celebration.

I'm already on the list, but I'm gonna buy the damn thing and Ebay it if nobody gets production started by signing up.

...and if you can give us any tips as to which LED kit you bought or how you ran them inside the backbox, it would be much appreciated since I'm getting mine next week. And did you use auxiliary power for it?

You, sir, are a God amongst men. Thank you!

(And I owe you a frosty beverage at TPF, too!)

I know some of you have had this problem so I figured I'd ask here before I bother Shawn:

My hypersleep lock isn't functioning correctly. All the optos work in test, and the coil works as well. In game, the game registers the first two balls, then begins hypersleep multiball...and it never releases the balls. Furthermore, it never releases the balls at the end of the game, either.

I know some have had opto alignment issues or binding issues on the coil, but this doesn't seem to be that. Does anyone have any ideas why this would be happening? Thanks in advance!

Nope. But the optos were all registering and they registered during the game...just never released the balls. I'll try that and report back. Thanks!

Yes. Ran the chamber lock test. Have 3 balls up top and it reads 3/3. Keeps throwing another ball in the trough and even though I don't take it out, if I hit enter it'll keep counting thinking there are 6 balls in play. I keep getting that annoying 2-tone sound during the test but not sure what the enter/exit prompt means or what it's supposed to do if functioning properly. Balls are still locked up there and won't come out. I'll double check wires but they all looked fine and optos were lit.

Thanks. It actually was binding when I was trying to unscrew the plastics to get access to the optos. But I corrected that, and it works fine when I test the coil. Just so strange that everything works until you trigger multiball. I'm going to check the lock 1 opto again to see if it's flaky.

Thank you SO much! Shawn (the best tech support guy in the business, IMO) got back to me last night and told me to increase the coil strength and add some grease to the moving parts. It didn't occur to me until he said that that the weight of the balls would affect how the mech moves or doesn't. I did know that playing with the screws on top changes how much binding the mech has, so I'll play with that some more as well. I'm going to give this a shot tonight, but I do appreciate everybody's feedback!

An update as promised: increasing the coil strength 30% solved my hypersleep lock problem.

Now my right Eddy switch in the revive outlane isn't registering. So...another ticket.

So yes...there have been a few annoying things on this game, but the service is so wonderful it's not a major hassle. Stern still has way more problems than this game has given me.

Yes.

Distributors have been lowering their prices due to having too much stock. Prices are actually maxing out now (finally!), and I JUST bought my LV for below MSRP. Should people who paid full price feel burned by that? Probably...but it's a simple law of economics. I'd rather see a company do well at the expense of a few butthurt customers--and continue having competition and more options in pinball.

I completely understand your frustration...I felt the same with the recent JP, STh, and even the new Alien announcement (I would have liked to have known before making my decision). But sometimes you win and sometimes you lose...and in the end this is a hobby where it's expected to cost you something for your enjoyment. And after all--you enjoyed your game for the months/years that you had it, and that certainly should be worth something!

Exactly my point. Win some, lose some. Glad you have a positive attitude. If it makes anyone feel better, I just dumped 2k into mods on the damn thing, so...you know...so much for any discount I received.

Love the topper...but I'm glad you don't look at it from the top when you're playing. It looks like an elephant, not an alien.

I'd love the beacons, but I have the Mezel truss mod, so that's out.

I got an LV on October 5th. It didn't have the apron cards...big deal. Shawn shipped them to me in 2 days. The upper right flipper was stripped and the spring damaged. Shawn shipped me a new flipper and springs in 2 days. Currently, I have one induction switch out on the bottom left side and they've already shipped me a new board.

Buy with confidence...this is a great company. I bought a Queen, loved it and loved the support, and because of it bought the Alien.

Just get it direct from PB. I take my steak medium rare, like anybody with good taste should.

https://pbusasales.com/add-ons/alien/

No. You don't. I beat you AND I tried to inform him about other goodies he could buy while he was at the site.

PS - You can have my steak.

I did. And I didn't even need a martini.

On an unrelated note, how the hell do you make THIS shot? I don't think I've made it once but I'm guessing it's off the upper left flipper. Is my alignment correct?

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Thanks! Can't do it from the bottom flipper but only did it once on a lucky shot from the upper left flipper. I appreciate the answer!

Not if you suck.

This can't be said enough. If they gave out TWIPYs to best service department, they'd win hands down. And not even close. Unless Kaneda was nominated.

Buy with confidence; any issues you may have will be IMMEDIATELY rectified by Shawn at tech support. Really the best in the business in my experience.

So here's a weird one: my left wireform to the right turnaround ramp is longer than the right one...and my ball keeps getting hung up on that left wire and can't be shaken loose. Is everyone's wire forms of unequal length there, or did I just hit the lottery?

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Ah! Thanks...optical illusion. It looks longer because it's bent up. I'll do that tomorrow...thanks so much for your help!

I'm assuming yours isn't under warranty? Because you shouldn't have to spend anything.

Except for the fact that Stern toppers that used to be 600-800 bucks are now being sold for between 2-3k. So once toppers are discontinued, when people buy machines on the secondary market, they sometimes want the topper and are willing to pay a premium to get it. (Full disclosure: I own a few of those Stern toppers and haven't sold them--they go with the machine when the machine goes. But if someone doesn't want to pay the premium, I'll just sell the topper separately.)

I removed the wireform and it wasn't bent...it actually was a bit longer on the left side. I ground the left side down to even it out and it works like a champ now...so well that the ball flies off the wireform now. Hoping to get that mod soon that limits fly balls. Thanks to all for their suggestions, and happy to hear it's not just me!

I don't think they stuck it to anybody. The game is great at every level and price point. Glad I got my LV...and the MSRP was right in line with other LE games. Glad I got mine, and I'd recommend the LV to anybody looking for one.

(Deleted post.)

Just busting your balls...guys just can't do mods like that because it takes so long just to develop the ones they have. Plus they usually print in batches to get a good price on it and actually make a profit. It's way more work than people realize. Didn't mean to rub you the wrong way!

Fair enough. I'll shut up...with apologies.

Yeah, I missed it the first two times. Could you say it again? Thanks in advance...

You come off as rather intolerant and abrasive sometimes. That's why I was mocking you. And your inability to laugh at yourself a bit proves my point. But carry on...

...and back to Alien talk.

(And PS - You do you...I'm not criticizing how you approach things at all. Sorry if you read it that way.)

Sorry to hear it but REALLY glad to know you're having the left outlane 2 inconsistencies...and it's not just me. I've been back and forth with Shawn about it, but I have to play with it some more to see if it's a connector issue or what. Also...I LOVE the apron--but I wish the acid holes glowed a little more green. It's so subtle you can barely see it, even in my dark basement.

Not out yet. Supposedly by the end of the week.

Same...first it asked me to get authorization. They must've taken it down for some reason.

They should change the link to "Hey! It's Christmas already! PSYCH!!!"

Code request: Put in an option for a physical knocker like Stern has, so that one can be available through PB or from a secondary source like PBL. I hate the fake sounds...

My knocker goes off with a match or if I set it to free game for a high score or special. No knockers? That's always boring. And take that anyway you like.

How did you guys hook yours up to this game? I usually use the Pinnovators card to install them on my Sterns, but it's no bueno with PB games.

Stupid question: How do you guys most effectively get the ball to the upper right flipper for a jackpot shot or a hypersleep shot? That shot is hard enough...getting it up there is half the challenge for me. I've tried a pass from the upper left or just shooting it around the orbit to the pops...but sometimes it just goes around the orbit, of course. Frustrating.

Oh, okay. That's what I thought...so I just suck and can't make that shot.

Just played a bunch of games on 4.0 and had no problems. Go figure.

SO many jokes I could make about this post...

I used painter's tape...didn't want goo all over everything if I ever took it off.

I did a separate power supply for the backbox lighting (the translite mod), then bought a 5v USB charger and tapped off the power supply AC in to power the deflector and stasis chamber mods. A pain in the ass, to be sure, but now I'm done and can rest easy knowing I didn't tap into any of the game's power...

...until the topper comes out.

I loved it so much I bought an Alien LV...and they're both great. A lot of closed minds around here...

I got my balance due notice, too...but it was for somebody else.

Yes, but check your junk mail. That's where mine--or some other guy's, I should say--was sitting.

What he said ^^^

I have both games. Alien is terrific and everything about it is satisfying. It is, perhaps, a little more shallow in the code than Jaws will be, but having a straightforward path to the wizard mode isn't necessarily a bad thing. The support from PB is second to none. I think both games are great, but if you're an Alien fan, then get the machine and don't let any possible issues that may arise stop you from deciding on it. The only downside is that the value of Alien MAY tank a bit more than Jaws on the secondary market, but that's just because some stubborn people on Pinside listen to naysayers and don't give new companies a chance. PB and their games are wonderful.

PS - The shots in Alien are quite a bit more difficult than Jaws, FYI...

Agreed...that drink holder looks terrific!

You know what would be awesome? If they sent me the topper that I paid in full for last month. I don't mind putting deposits down for stuff and waiting a while, but when you request final payment, I just think that the product should be ready to go. Maybe I'm wrong...

Deposits are fine and I'm a patient guy. Waited a year for Queen. But when I submitted the final payment, I had the game within 1 or 2 weeks. There's been no word about the toppers. I know...first world problems.

...but I don't. That's the point. And I'm on my second year of waiting for a custom Martin because they screwed up my first one. And they have enough money for me to buy a small car. But they deliver when they say they will after final payment is made. Don't say two weeks then not deliver without any public updates on the delay. That's where I get frustrated.

I really don't care how long it takes; just be up front about it.

Everything is correct, but you misspelled LV.

They're made in Israel, which is a problem right now with getting parts in and shipments out. That's causing the holdup...nothing we can do about it.

Yep. The topper is being held up by only a couple of parts that have to get from China to Israel, then from Israel to here. Nothing you can do about it, and it's not PB's fault that they fully expected it to ship by now. It's a topper. I'll play my game and be patient.

Doesn't seem to have changed anything support-wise in the last few months, and with Abba on the way, it doesn't look like they're going anywhere. But you never know...

I didn't realize this was a "thing"...and here I just bought a set at TPF for my game. So I, too, am looking forward to any feedback from people who have done this with their game.

I'm beginning to lose hope in the topper (that I've paid for in full). Between Lior's health problems, the war in Israel, and God knows whatever is holding up parts from China, the delay after pre-payment is getting ridiculous. I want the health problems to get better soon, the war to stop, and the parts logistics to clear up...but at this point I'm feeling like I may have lost a bit of cash on this deal.

Let's hope that's true! Thanks for the update.