Now we're talking. New Predator thread and a finished machine. I want to get some of those glow in the dark pinballs. I'll send you some extra money if you throw a set of those in with my machine when it ships Kevin. Cool video btw. Great job getting it together a lot sooner than I anticipated.

Someone needs to mod some knarly hooks out the side that holds those spines instead of those rods.

Ah ok, I ordered the two myself, how could I not? They are just badass and you dont see that kind of stuff on pinball machines.

Now I just need a gruesome topper to tie it all together.

Are there no lights in the pops intentionally? I agree with others that the lack of a plastic on the return lane looks unfinished same as the pops.

+1 for the alternate. Great idea

Well that sucks if it's true. Hope they didn't have a falling out.

Hey Kevin if you read this think of coming up with a alt translite for the early payoff people thats made with backlight colors. Just a suggestion.

Well I hope Im not dumping 5 large into a dud

I may just end up dropping it and getting something else.

I doubt he has two built already. My guess is thats the game from the finished video. Im back on the fence about staying in on this game. I also already paid in full, I hope I can get a refund if I have to.

Please anyone who's attending the tpf take as high definition video and pictures as you can. Also anyone playing predator on the list or not please give your unbiased review of the game, from speed of play, difficulty, rules and how they tie into the game, sound, lighting, and dot matrix display. Also overall impressions of the game from artwork to hardware and feel(if it feels solid like Williams pins or kinda light and cheaper feel like Stern pins. This is probably the last chance I give the game before I ask for a refund.

Things I'm really wanting in the game: this game needs to be difficult or at the very least easily set up more difficult by ways of coin door settings. It has to have replayability. Sound and light show are very important to me. It needs to have satisfying shots I do not want a game where the shots are easily mastered in a few plays. Also I don't want a linear ruleset where if I master one or two shots I can obliterate the game. This games needs to feel like 5 grand. It sounds a little pushy of me but at the end of the day the money I've spent on predator meant I had to put up with a lot of bs at work.

So please anyone rating the game be as honest as possible and if you don't feel comfortable being completely honest in a post because you're afraid to get flamed send me a private message I'd love to hear your take.

Youre easy to please

I watched the interview video and I feel a lot better about staying in on the game. I still really want to hear some more reviews though and see a nice hd video of gameplay. I think I may come up with a better place to put the dual skull and spines though. Im intrigued about the second game by skit-b. Also kevin if you read this get some sleep man you look exhausted. Im really digging how mmr has come out too.

Anyway, anyone that's puts some time on the game chime in with a review when you get some free time, ill love you long time lol.

I still think the inlane guides need plastics. The plastics could be the same section of artwork that is below it.

Why couldn't there be slots cut into the front of the apron and add uv tubes there to shine up the playfield then the side uv could be changed back to what it was?

Was a video supposed to be posted by kevin this weekend or next?

Ah, okay, thanks for the heads up.

I thought Kevin was gonna be at some Pinball shows? How is it gonna start production today?

Ok with that being said what are the actual gameplay problems in your eyes? I'd really like to know cause im about to be out on the game

So are you gonna mod your mods?

Very good review Whysnow thanks for taking the time to post it. One thing I will note as a buyer is that the things that need addressed (plastics, uv, and lighting) in my eyes should be taken care of before production. Sure I can change or mod these things but that is just giving companies a pass to make these machines so-so (aesthetically speaking) and making the end user have to pump more money into something that very likely wouldn't change the price of production. I don't want to have to strip a new game down and change all the lighting on my own dime and figure out how to have plastics printed or add a new uv layer. Do I think these things are the be all end all on whether the game is successful? No.

I'm sure others feel the same way.

If we get an official video from Kevin I'll be making my final decision on whether to stay in or not when he releases it. If we don't get a video and answers to a lot of the questions I'm more than likely out and that will let someone from the wait list in. I shouldn't have sent full payment, it was a knee jerk reaction that I feel silly for doing and if I ask for a refund I hope Kevin if you read this, aren't offended. I still believe Kevin is doing the best he can but I have a gut feeling on this game that keeps telling me to back out(or maybe it's just gas).

My questions, I hope they get answered. Are you going to address the issue on the plastics? GI lighting? Uv Lighting? Are you going to shoot a thorough video of the finished game with all things working as intended and show more of the game play and sounds and also dmd? When is the deadline on refunds? Thank you Kevin and I'd appreciate a response when you can get some time.

I'm kind of seeing it this way also. The only uv paint I've seen was with the black light maybe two inches from the playfield, this game doesn't have any toys or gimmicks, the uv was supposed to be that. I'm sure a game can be good without those things but games that have a gimmick of some sort is what draws you in then the rest take over. As it stands it has 6 maybe 7 shots. That's similar to bsd, but bsd has the ball moving by magnet across the playfield and pis an awesome gimmick. What does predator have to offer? Here is the reason the uv absolutely has to work, it's part of hunt mode, that predator face needs pop out at you to draw you in to the hunt, black lights making ramps glow doesn't do it for me. Pinball needs to tell a story or adventure, I hope Kevin hasn't just kinda thrown in the towel with predator and said screw it just build them as they are and let's get past this game, I hope the thrill isn't gone.

Rai I think you posted a very valid question. When we don't get a chance to play predator we are gonna ask all the tough questions. They may come off as negative but I think the questions are more constructive. I wouldn't have used lotr as an example instead I would use afm because that is the game that predator strived to be as good as(was from Kevin himself). So my question to anyone that has played predator how did it stack up against afm? I'm talking whole package. I thank all you guys that have played the game and take the time to post your reviews.

They remind me of the Marilyn targets on taxi but they are drop targets on taxi. I always feel like those targets on taxi are gonna snap because they are so close to the flippers but they never do.

I'm still waiting for a "good hd" video from Kevin for the game and also some answers to previously posted questions.

Where did you see this at. Also was it seen from just the lighting from the game, or was an alternate light source used?

Thanks Jetzxi. So I'm guessing complete darkness and no other games on? Sorry for so many questions.

I love this idea.

Well this has me officially worried, I hope I can get a refund since I paid in full. I was hoping to see a video but it hasn't happened.

I already emailed him directly, I'm sure Kevin is the nicest guy in the world but when I've already paid in full you can bet I'm worried about that money. I have no way of knowing this game feels or plays good, I've gotta take people's word for it since I can't attend any shows and so far it's been very mixed reviews and subpar video. We all know Kevin doesn't seem to reply in a timely manner to email or posts on pinside and I don't know him from any other stranger. I never implied anything except worry. You may part with 5k easily but I don't so we will leave it at that, as for the game we've seen shaky video with no way to know if the game is anything special. All I want is a good hd gameplay video pinpointing the features and show clips of how it shoots and sounds and a little look inside modes.

The fact that Kevin is asking for half the money before releasing a video that he has been saying he'd shoot for months(and not the project finished video, looked like an ad for globalls) has me and I'm sure others a little apprehensive. I'll chill once he responds to my email I'm sure.

Still on the fence but anxiously awaiting a well shot video.

I'm with you ninja. I need to see this thing in a well shot video to make an informed decision.

I think the thing that makes me hesitate the most isn't the game play or game itself, it's the question mark surrounding tech support. Kevin needs to hire a staff, if my game breaks who can I call, text, email that's gonna help me troubleshoot it? This seems to be a deal-breaker for me if we don't have proper tech support. I'm not gonna rely on the Pinball community to help me fix predator when problems arise.

Where did I say hire tech support? I said he needs to be more than a one man crew, someone who can handle finances, questions, email or whatever. Not a team. To expect tech support is not far fetched here. 4750x250 is 1.18 million dollars, that's not chump change. If I cant get some sort of tech support I am out.

To add to that it doesnt matter if its a boutique pin this is the first pin to start up a pinball company, im not saying Williams here but the guy is building pinball machines not Tonka toys. Pinball machines break and im sure im not the only one worried about a 5k paper weight when shit hits the fan.

Thank you Kevin for at least hinting around to there being some type of support. I dont need my own personal in home tech just someway of knowing I can call or email and you could point me in the right direction. For me it wouldn't be a very wise purchase tech wise if I didnt have some sort of tech support, not everyone is an electrician or pinball op/tech. I try and fix my machines but I also know my limitations.

Kevins making a nice gameplay video and thats all I really wanted at this point and about making a snap judgement, some of us wont have a chance to make it to any shows to play it so we need whatever we can get to make an informed decision on spending 5k and im in the first 80-90 because I got the pay half email although im already paid in full. Yes even though im paid in full im still on the fence, this is by no means a slap in the face to Kevin, the guy has done a very good job and certainly better than I ever could have but this is also 5k of my money and at the end of the day thats what matters for me, its has to be fun for me and my family. Im sure ill be blown away by the video, cant wait and thanks again Kevin and crew for taking the time to make a video.

How much assembly is Kevin gonna do? I assume he is just supervising it? If that's the case then production can start.

The last production order email I got was in August 2013 and I was build number 96 and I received the payment email. I'm not sure if or how much I have moved up.

Are you wanting to move up or down the production line oldpinguy?

I doubt you're bumped out, if you sent Kevin an email he'll probably get back to you. I'm assuming he will email people before he bumps them off the list.

No use in arguing, a video is coming. The only thing I dont like is the lack of communication. I believe and this is just me that Kevin is in over his head. Im guessing he's running around like a mad man trying to move forward but this is not a job for a one man crew.

Man this thread jumped the shark. Kevin are you still alive out there?

Well the no response to emails regarding refunds has me worried. I sent an email also a while ago and received no response. I wanted to see the final video before making the decision but I'm starting to think I need to just get my money back unless Kevin wants to come on here soon and give some type of time frame for when a video is gonna be released.

Kevin responded to my email sent about 3 weeks ago. We've known all along that emails aren't his strong suit. Anyway on the video he wrote today: "at this point a high-def video in a controlled
environment would probably do much more for you than an email ever
could.  The video is coming along, and I expect to post it sometime in
the next week or so"

Next week or so could be a week to infinity but it's somewhat of a timeline. He responded so I'm pretty happy about that and just think he is super swamped.

Oh I get how you're feeling. I'm just happy he responded not happy about how long it took or the current state of affairs. It really doesn't take but 2 minutes to give us an update here and that doesn't mean Kevin needs to stay here for a couple hours and answer our questions. It could be as simple as "we are in the process of shooting a video and it will be released sometime next week, I'll log in next week when the video is released and answer questions about the current payment situation and expected build time and release. Thanks for your patience"

That took me about 30 seconds. Not so hard.

Yes in the original predator thread Kevin mentioned refunds would be less the PayPal fees. As for being posted anywhere else I have no idea. So by that if you paid in full it will cost close to $150 to get your money back. I'd have to look on when I made my payments but I know half of what I paid was less than 6 months so I could get a break on the fee if I decide on a refund.

Edit: I just saw that the fee is added after 60 days so I would have to pay full fees. It is what it is, I don't expect Kevin to eat that money since he's pretty much building these machines for no profit but I could see how some would be bothered that they weren't made aware of it.

I dont want to sound negative but why would Kevin allow this? Your bonus for paying early is quite a bit of extras and jumping ahead of people isnt one of them.

Hopefully it's today.

Well I got my hopes up for a video yesterday, crossing my fingers that it's today with followed info on production and shipping.