Here's one of the photos that Santiago Ciuffo took of Mark Ritchie's game designs. As mentioned above a set of 5 postcards will come free of charge with the orders of those who order early. www.pinball-magazine.com/shop/ The contest is also still running . . .

Indiana Jones (Photo by Santiago Ciuffo 2016) (resized).jpg

Just got confirmation that the printed magazines are printed and will be delivered to my office by the end of this week Plan is to package all incoming orders during the weekend ans ship the first batch of orders next Monday.

Hi JM,
Since PM03 Ive been using improved cardboard packaging. In addition each magazine is also packed in a bubbly envelop inside the cardboard packaging. As far as I understood that improved the condition of the product when arrived a lot. See the feedback on PM03 on the Pinball Magazine website as well.

Pinball Magazine No. 4 is here! 244 pages of in-depth pinball articles! First batch of orders will ship right after the weekend, including the limited edition set of free postcards. For all (ordering) info visit: www.pinball-magazine.com/shop Pinball

Pinball Magazine No. 4 is here (resized).jpg

As I just sent out a newsletter with an image of the postcard set I'm closing the competition as it would be too easy to enter now. The games featured on the postcards are Taxi, Diner, Sorcerer, Police Force and Big Guns.

Mark Ritchie postcard set (photos taken by Santiago Ciuffo at Museum of Pinball, Banning California) (resized).jpg

That's what I noted as well.

Been busy packing magazine orders all day First few copies have been shipped to several Dutch parties like Dutch Pinball, Jean-Paul de Win and Pinside HQ. The big main first batch will ship early next week.

Pinball animation artist Jean-Paul de Win (WoZ, Hobbit, TBL and more) was the first to receive a copy of Pinball Magazine No. 4. JP posted a short video of his article on his Facebookpage: https://www.facebook.com/jpdewin

Also an important note: due to popular demand the Limited Edition set of Mark Ritchie postcards that comes free with every order of Pinball Magazine No. 4 will only be included on orders that come in prior to Monday November 28 2016. So only the very first batch will have these postcards included. You can still be in it, but after that the postcards are no longer available.

So there's good news and bad news. The bad news is that packaging all orders of Pinball Magazine No. 4 is taking a lot longer than I anticipated, meaning an extra day of packing orders. The good news is that this allows those who didn't order yet still can make it into the first batch and receive the limited edition set of free postcards that will only be included in the first batch that ships

On the pic below the hardly exciting view of the first boxes with orders waiting for pickup. IN the mean time the number of boxes has grown to 20 and we're still not done.

PM04 batch1 in progress (resized).jpg

First batch is almost ready to go and will be picked up tomorrow For those who missed this topic completely: I may be able to squeeze in a few more packages, so order now and you may still be in the first batch! www.pinball-magazine.com/shop/

First batch of orders just shipped out. Happy to see it's the biggest batch I ve ever shipped Thanks for the confidence in the product

First ordes have arrived in Germany and Netherlands First feedback is also in: "the new pinball magazin arrived today - i was really looking forward to it and its a great magazine :-) the weekend entertainment is safe ;-) thank you very much for doing this. you can see that youre in it with your heart." - Jan (Germany)

If enough orders come in to justify another shipment I will ship out such a batch this week. The magazine may still arrive prior to Christmas. www.pinball-magazine.com/shop/

Just finished refunding the overpaid postal costs to those who ordered a Pinball Magazine No. 4 and one or more other magazine/book related products that shipped in the first batch. Will keep doing this for future batches until a new shipping module is implemented on the website that should make it easier for me to add products and package deals.

Some of the feedback that came in so far:

“If this issue is anything like it's predecessor's, it's a must have for any enthusiast! So far the other issues have been far better than any softcover book... they're huge like a full color catalog AND chocked FULL of information and photos which have far outweighed the advertising!!!” – Twin Cities Pinball Enthusiasts

“Ordered! Thanks again for an excellent mag ” – Tony C.

“If you've ever enjoyed Fish Tales, Diner, Indiana Jones, Taxi, Big Guns, Police Force, Kingpin or all of Mark Ritchie (pinball designer)'s pins then PinballMagazine ISSUE 4 is a lock! Just look away when the exchange rate on the Euro pops up & hit 'CONFIRM ORDER'!” - Rod

“Received the magazine this afternoon, including the set of postcards. Quickly leafed through: I will enjoy reading this a lot!” – Jeroen

“Very good first impression of Pinball Magazine No. 4. Like it more than issue 3, which I was also very impressed with.” - Richard

Thanks for the feedback

The second batch of orders of Pinball Magazine No. 4 (and other orders) will ship Friday December 9th, 2016. Orders coming in prior to midnight December 8th will still ship in this batch. There's a few sets of postcards left, so I will include a set while supplies last. First come, first serve. www.pinball-magazine.com/shop/

More feedback:
"It's great!" - Mark Ritchie

"Bonjour Jonathan, I received your magazine yesterday. I spent at least 15 minutes just to browse it, looking at the titles and pictures.
it's just AWESOME and the postcards are a nice add-on, especially during this upcoming Xmas period. Hence the reason why I did not ask if you were doing fine, because I had no doubt about it " - Pascal Janin, FLIPPP

"When I heard the drop of the package being delivered I figured it would be something special. Outstanding job on both the magazine and the packaging." - Gary

"Thank you for a great pinball magazine/book. Well worth the wait. Thank you so much." - Andy

"I just received Pinball Magazine No. 4, thank you very much! Thanks for putting so much energy and dedication into Pinball Magazine which is always a pleasure to read." - Kaspar

"Just got the copy in todays post. Well, I'm very impressed such a lovely publication and so nicely packaged - you should be very pleased of your work. i might have to purchase the previous editions now!" - Bob, Pinballtoys.co.uk

Tomorrow's batch of orders is ready to ship. I'm leaving 1 box open for additional orders that may come in later today.

The second batch just shipped out

PM04 batch2 (resized).jpg

So the second batch shipped out earlier today, but if orders keep coming in at the current pace I may ship another batch after the weekend www.pinball-magazine.com

A small batch of orders is likely to ship the coming week. Not sure whether they will arrive in time for Christmas, but at least you'll still be enjoying the 2016 postal rates. Trust me that many won't like the 2017 postal rates that were offered to me earlier this week by Deutsche Post. Still trying to negotiate a better postal rate, but currently USA orders are likely to see a postal cost increase of about $2 per magazine as of January 1st 2017 . . .

Pinball Magazine will ship another (small) batch of orders tomorrow. Orders that come in up to midnight (Central Pacific Time) are likely to ship in this batch. www.pinball-magazine.com/shop/

The smaller 3rd batch just shipped All new incoming orders will ship in Batch 4. As I'm facing increased postal rates in 2017 (about $2 up for a single magazine), this 4th batch will still ship in 2016. So here's you're chance to still order at the 2016 postal rates: www.pinball-magazine.com/shop/

I got confirmation that packages came in in Australia yesterday. USA orders should be delivered any day now. I guess December is a busy month for the postal services. Let me know when your order arrives.

Python is currently scheduled to be issue 6. What I'm working on to be issue 5 (if it doesn't end up in a different form) is focusing on Wayne Neyens, the oldest still living pinball designer with 180 games on his resume. I figured that issue should be out while Wayne is still amongst us.

First copies have surfaced in USA
Some feedback that just came in:

"@PinballMagazine Your magazine is a work of art married to a plethora of useful and interesting information- great job! #TakingItHomeToRead" - Jack Guarnieri (JJP)

"The magazine came in today's mail Jonathan... looks great and can't wait to read all about Taro! Thanks for being a force for good in pinball. Hope to see you in Texas sir! Take some time off over the holidays and play some pinball." - Charlie Emery (Spooky Pinball)

"my magazine arrived in perfect condition." - Marc

"Pinball Magazine No. 4 is here! Thanks and congratuuulationssssssss for this wonderful "Book" nr. 4! BIG ))) Highest Quality I love it!" - Guenter (Pindigi)

"Just got the magazine. Interview and pics are great! Thanks Jonathan..." - Nicolas

Charlie Martin with Pinball Magazine No. 4 (resized).jpg

If it seems a bit quiet on Pinside, that's probably because many are enjoying reading Pinball Magazine No. 4 As is has 244 pages, this may take a while

Thanks Bryan The answer to your question is very simple: Adding a hardcover will cost more, so make the magazine more expensive, and it will also be heavier, which results in higher postal costs. When I did Santiago Ciuffo's PINBALL book it became clear that the more expensive the publication, the less copies will be sold. Maybe it would make more sense to produce special hardcovers where the magazine can be placed in and make these available for those interested.