Game number 11 arrived at my friends house a couple weeks ago. Very fun playing machine. Really like those server delivery systems. This may have been addressed, but I noticed a couple items in the menu that were not accessible . I do not know what version software it is offhand.

They aren't staged.

Ah yes I see exactly what you mean I sure hope they fix the code to do this ,it would make the multi balls much more meaningful and you would have to earn them and I love drop targets that 3rd upper playfield shot is why I am buying the game . Thanks again for the tutorials on the game best ones I've seen so far that make sense.

Yea there has been talk of adding it but I am not sure if it is definitely coming from Spooky. I don't have a pic of the playfield underside. But wouldn't there need to be a staged ball at both inlanes?

I imagine if they do this it would end up being an option in settings to turn it on/off, as the 2 additional balls would need to be added, including to machines already shipped. They may even just say, turn it on and add your own balls.

Assumption: You have balls.

This pic shows undercarriage and should suffice for subway location.
Zoom in to see the left and right subways.

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I'm good with being able to turn on this setting that would be fine! This should be able to be done without adding balls to the game ,kind of like a wash and repeat until you get the multi ball , but if there is one thing I have is balls! I do not mind added them if necessary.

I'm glad you like them. They are the first gameplay videos I've ever recorded. The upper playfield is great. I don't think you will be disappointed either way, but I obviously have some proposals that I think would make even more exciting to shoot.

I believe very early on (shortly after the reveal), someone in this thread suggested staging a ball on each lifter, and Luke or Bug said it might be possible and they'd look into it. I can't find the comment back but maybe someone else can.

I don't think it was confirmed in any way though, so I wouldn't assume it's coming until we hear otherwise. It definitely was not their original intention like it was with Rick + Morty.

Hard to tell from pictures, are there optos/ball switches at the bottom of the lifters?

Oh man, look at that mess under the upper playfields. I pray I never need to work on anything in there.

SpookyLuke has mentioned in the past they were not yet ready, but we have not heard when they will be shipping those out as far as i know.

There are seven optos in the left subway. One under each scoop and four lined up by the servo lifter. There are three optos in the right subway. One under the drop from the middle playfield, one from the scoop, and one right on top of the servo lifter. Staging on that left side will be easy. Staging on the right side is a bit more complicated. If the game ever misses a ball entering the scoop, there is no backup to tell the game that there are two balls at the lifter.

I wasn't actually checking on the optos about staging. I was investigating if it was an intentional choice to start and end the quick battles when the ball falls off of the middle playfield. My preference would be to only start or end the modes with a direct shot to the Beta Capsule. Seeing that there are independent optos for each entrance to the subway, I hope that is something that will be added as an option in the menu. Right now I'm guessing half of my modes start and end with an accidental drains from the middle playfield.

They could add a few more cable tiedowns, but other then that I don't think you would have a problem. It's just different having all the connections under the playfield versus split between there and the backbox.

I know this if those shooter rods light up! Would be even better!

I spoke with Bug at Allentown and asked about staging a ball at the lifters and he said yes they were looking into it. I'm pretty sure there was also talk of this early on during a podcast or somewhere? But more recently, Luke mentioned (here on pinside) that staging at the lifters could be added in a future update but it was lower priority.

Yes - from a software perspective this wouldn’t be very difficult.

First subway shot to either side would become the staged ball for that game. When the game ends the lifters would push the balls out and the cycle repeats for every game - like a physical ball lock.

I don't know the right answer, but I'm interested in the conversation. Do you have any concerns about this type of staging creating more confusion for new players? Right now the game is consistent. This change would mean the first ball into the left and right scoops would come from the shooter lane. The second ball from each scoop is going to come back instantly from the inlanes.

Absolutely love to hear this stuff! That's what we want on every game out of the box! Thank you!!!

I'm assuming they won't come that way from Spooky, but I'm sure some modder will.

There will be an Ultraman code update coming in the next couple weeks here with a lot of the same treatment that the October 1st Halloween update came with. Sit tight!

Was wondering, so thanks! I dig a lot of the little touches you guys added on the Halloween code. Just made things look a lot more polished, like the leaves falling and the mode select.

Yeah, thanks Bug!
Everybody sitting patiently to hear about this.
Looking forward to what you have been brewing in the Spooky stills.

Can't wait to be able to choose the modes like in Halloween. That will add an extra layer of strategy with mode stacking.

If anyone is looking for one, UMCE spot #193 for sale: https://pinside.com/pinball/market/classifieds/ad/122330

Boooooooooo :p

Not to necro this thread, but how are folks with their numbers? I'm 294 so basically waiting until the heat death of the universe.

Uh yeah, okay.

GTFO of here with that, and come back to me when you're in the 400-500 range.

Hahaha.

So it looks like happyclan is looking at early summer '22.
It took 1 year (exactly) from the date of order to date of build for my R&M.
It was worth the wait, and I suspect Ultraman will be equally worth the wait for any numbers.

What is the latest number delivered so far? I'm #102. Wondering how far off I am.

Frax Ouch. I will stop whining!

Morinack Thanks for the estimate. This is my first Spooky so good to know. I guess I'll watch the twitch videos and pretend I have it.

And by the time I get it, we'll have that annoying sling noise fixed. And yes, it's a "noise" not a sound.

They have not shipped anything beyond the first 50 AFAIK.
I am #56 and have sent my build info in, but not received an invoice yet.

#17 arriving here Friday

Must’ve just got the call!! Longest three weeks of my life. #16 coming Wednesday.

Elektra is headed to the basement. She will be amongst friends!

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Interesting............I'm #51 and I am invoiced out. Maybe you missed an email Morinack ?

And stoked that games are getting shipped! Morgoth00 & paulbaptiste right fn on! Nice way to start the week with news like that!

Uhoh. I did order a butter cabinet.
Just the same I'll ping Squirrel in the morning.

Ah, well, in looking at the posts below it seems that there is reasonable hope for them to be staged in future code releases, but that this is not a guarantee.

I’m pretty enthusiastic to watch this game develop through the code. Who is doing the code? It is not the same fellow that did R&M?

Nope, that was Eric.

This is being done by the person that did RZ.

I asked playfield-protectors.com about the UM availability for a protector. Frank said 4-6 weeks to start making them. But they're still getting their hands on a machine.

Please no debate on protectors! This thread is so civil.

This is a bit misleading. He was all alone on RZ. He also did ACNC with the help of Bowen and that pin has fantastic code. I have the same optimism for UM/Halloween.

Hopefully this goes well like that. I've never played ACNC, but pretty much every RZ owner (myself included) feels pretty abandoned on multiple levels.

ACNC's code is good, but I won't consider it to be fantastic until it receives (if ever) the final polishing needed for weapons use, multiballs, ball save, misc ongoing bugs, etc.

Updates have been comparatively slow to be issued too. I hope UM is an improvement.

Is Bowen helping on UM/Halloween as well?

The man that did R&M code is one of the best coders I’ve seen in pinball. I hope they have him consulting or something as well on UM.

When i asked in an email, squirrel replied...

Design was Karis Borloff lol
rules & code are Bug (Corwin Emery) & Fawzma with Bowen Kerins advising.
Thanks!
Morgan Emery
Spooky Pinball LLC

Agreed, fantastic is a bit of a stretch. I do really enjoy the whole package when I get a chance to play it, which isn't all that often.

Definitely. Code isn't perfect by any means but it's a blast to play. I just wish there was always something to do in every room. Eg, weapons tied to rooms instead of active monster and can be collected as you pass through at any time. Or get waylaid by random monsters, etc., similar to the fly.

Arrived today! I think it ties the room together nicely!

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Dude ... your phone's ringing.

Agreed. For the record, I love my ACNC's vibe - which is the bottom line for me with any game. But its code is not its strongest attribute.