It's become so legendarily bad, I'm looking forward to being disappointed when I eventually get hands on it.

I was thinking more of a F minor.

"G"ot some hesitations about how the code looks right now

I had the same on the upper playfield (left habbit trail rail). Am planning on contacting support to see what their suggestion is.

And yes on the topper blade for me too. Lol...it actually fell of as I turned off of Spooky's street when i was picking up my game. Not a big deal though and easy to re-attach/tighten.

No other issues though. Really good experience with everything so far. Looking forward to watching (and experiencing) this game grow!

People are bowing out now because they are Fickle gotta have the other shiny thing or shit happened and they need a lifeline out.
FOMO marketing works in this industry for sure and certainly brings some stability for the Distributors and Manufacturers. Though
maybe not such a good idea for the buyers who are stuck.

Game code.. hell look at Stern.. and JJP.

I think what people want to see is a Roadmap for Game code. That would be OH SO DAMN NICE from all manufacturers.

I know when I develop things that I know precisely what I have to do for the next month and can even tell you what is being promised for each release.

Game Code should be like that.. People submitting Ideas and companies communicating when and if they'll get to it.

If my memory is correct you may just want to bend the metal guide outward the little bit.

Sure, roadmaps would be great, but that would be NEW for all manufacturers. Typically, the only info is in the "README" in the release notes.

The difference between Spooky and Stern is obvious. Stern has a relatively large, battle tested software engineering group. Sure, it's not always pretty, but the games almost always come together. The R&M team of Danesi/Priepke/Kerins was special. If they were working on this title, I'd sleep better.

Who is working on this title? I've been busy and only check in randomly...sorry if it's the dream team

Game unfortunately isn't ready for location play, with the current code.

Ouch. Gotta believe this game will get all the software help it needs going forward.
This title has so much potential.

Tons of potential

Looking forward to EVERYTHING being polished and some things updated to get us back into the wow factor, lots of dull things needing polished to a shine, I almost fell asleep during some of those call outs from the dull announcer, and the many seconds of waiting on the ball to come back into play while waiting on cut scenes and mode changes.

I feel like there needs to be some modernization effects of some sort to help bring things together, even if they’re cheesy

What I am certain of... the playfield design is amazing.

Holding tight to my machine, looking forward to updates.

I’m not on this pin but love my TNA and R&M got a lot of little or big updates over time.

I’m just curious is Halloween and Ultraman the same code, I mean same basic architecture hit ABC shots to start XYZ mode? That’s something that kind of turned me off this dual release that it was going to be slanted towards one title and just shoehorn in the second title just so it’d be less work than two separate games.

I’d have been happier even if it was the same layout if it had two distinct codes heck some people might have bought both with different code but I’m not sure if it’s the same code rules or different.

They do have the same code, but I would disagree that Ultraman is playing second fiddle. Look at Baltan vs Hedge. Baltan is an alien that can clone itself, so it makes sense that there are multiples that pop out during the multiball. I think that mode works better on Ultraman then it does on Halloween. Pestar is one of the quick battles. Pestar is a kaiju who has been attacking oil ships. You have to defeat the monster before it gets to the ship. The rules are written with both games in mind and they will have the same updates, perhaps a few weeks apart. Ultraman has many more clips, which is why I think there is more discussion about the animation working being done to improve Halloween.

Ultraman was the original theme. Halloween came later. They are giving Halloween a lot of attention because there are more units sold and I imagine a much harsher contract/timeline with Universal Pictures than Tsuburaya Productions.
If you know the Ultraman series, you can see the potential that has only been touched on. The Baltan splitting into three makes much more sense than Michael's Hedge whack-a-mole.
I fully expect Halloween to get priority but Ultraman to be the better game in the end.
It sounds like Spooky has a lot of freedom and access to the Ultraman catalogue compared to what they can do with Halloween.
Halloween owners can guinea pig game code for a few more months. That's fine. Once the groundwork is solid Spooky can really polish up and tweak that in the Ultraman code.

AMH is also rare as is Houdini, Mustang, TNA and they aren’t shooting up in price.

The point to me is buy whatever you like best not what’s rare. I’d rather have a common popular pin like ST, JP or DP than another game just because it’s more rare.

But if you are equal on two pins than I’d go to more rare to break the tie.

I've heard the same thing from someone with a Halloween on location.

SpookyBug any idea on when the Ultraman update is taking place?

This is why I am happy to be in the 900's. I expect some tweaking, but hopefully all of the heavy lifting will be taken care of by then. R&M is amazing and thats why I FOMOd on Halloween.

Technically this layout was designed as John Wick and Ultraman was acquired in lieu of Godzilla (which Stern Swiped) Then Halloween was acquired because Spooky didn’t think they could move 1200 Ultraman to US buyers.

Well...half truths. The theme started as John Wick, yes. Appearantly several elements changed before becoming the final Ultraman/Halloween layout though.
Halloween has nothing to do with how many UM units they thought they could sell.
There was so much demand for Halloween, it would have been foolish not to take their money.
I do think if Halloween had been acquired first, we may not have seen UM (in this way) though.
I had zero interest in Spooky's next game when everyone pretty much knew it was Halloween. The Ultraman announcement was unexpected and drained my savings lol

rai As a proud Shrek owner, I think two different themes with the same code "architecture" can be super successful.

Maybe not the best example
As long as you like it though

I had both FG and Shrek for years.

Most would see they share the same layout, but 9/10 .. make that 99.9% … of average people would have no idea they have the same rules outline.

rd

I haven't played Shrek. I was just teasing because I dislike Family Guy and mini pinball.

It's not bad, but even someone that tolerates Smash Mouth like me is going to get utterly SICK of hearing that stupid song. That's the worst thing about Shrek, hands down. Way worse than a well-tuned Donkey/Stewie mini-pinball. Also, I'd argue that the mini-pinball is much BETTER than things like the stupid lower playfields like on AC/DC where you have 3-4 standups and maybe an orbit if you're lucky. Even TSPP managed to fit a small ramp and ball lock on an upper playfield, but lower playfields in general are just TRASH. The only great ones I can think of are Elektra and Black Hole.

I'd take an AC/DC lower PF with a full-size/full weight pinball all day over a Shrek/FG/Munsters one with a mini ball. I *hate* the ones with the tiny balls because the physics are just completely messed up and it's not fun.

Oh God. I had no idea it played that song. That's enough to never pop a coin in for me lol

Just got the email about mine getting ready for production. I am officially excited again!

#94 - Just got the email from Spooky this afternoon!

Well, I guess it's a good thing that Stern agrees with you then, since they've never used that concept since, and I very sincerely doubt we ever will see it again. Personally, I'd throw BOTH of them in the fire as "things that should probably never be done ever ever again in pinball", but if I have to save one kill one.... I'm saving mini-pinball for that specific game ONLY. Fire for the rest.

96 just got my email ...butter or not butter

Well, for the record, I'm not a fan of mini-lower playfields in the first place. If you're going to do it, make it a big lower one like KRULL with a full size pinball. For mini upper playfields, JJGnR is one of the better implementations. It's not an afterthought, and key to the game.

TheBeefSupreme What number are you?

Haven't had a chance to play it...probably won't until TPF I would imagine. = \

I had to forgo the butter option, I got it on ACNC and its awesome but just dropped $ on Godzilla Premium

No butter for #93
I'm broke and considering putting in a local brewery in the spring anyway.

#81 invoice paid last week. Waiting for the shipped email. This is where it gets tough.

95

They are moving along but #388 is still going to be a long wait. Hopefully by then the code will no longer be an issue.

How long did current owners wait between getting their build email and getting their invoice? Time to move my funds around.

About 2 weeks for me

Phew lol

Just got an email to choose butter cab or no butter cab. No invoice yet. I'm #102

I finally got to play some Ultraman tonight and I have some mixed feelings. It’s shoots well and looks amazing but…. The code needs some updating for sure. You find yourself shooting shots that don’t progress to anything. It would be nice to have some sub objectives to work towards like in Iron Maiden’s cyborg multi ball. The modes seem fun enough but some callouts telling you anything would be nice.
The music and callouts need some help for sure. I know the game has to have some music from the show but having something playing that gets you pumped up or some callouts that keep things going is a must. I found it quiet at times and dull compared to some other games.
I know it’s early and they needed to get this out before Stern’s Godzilla but dang that code needs some work. I do look forward to seeing what this machine will become.

Sums it up.

Bowen is on it though...

I don't think Bowen is on it at all. I haven't read anything saying that he still is involved more to the contrary.
TPN Final Round Pinball was talking as if he was off the code entirely.. Would be nice to know whats up.

tbh this is what I like to hear. I want to know a machine shoots well because it's that primary design infrastructure that can't be fixed by code updates.
The last decade of new pinball machines for me has been this same constant cycle: play a game the month it comes out, be underwhelmed, play it a year later, get blown away.
We have a word for that: Stern.

You must have not noticed the "nose growing" emoji.

Think that's a joke notice the growing nose emoji

I sure hope they know what they are doing with th code maybe having a 19 year old with no experience running it was not the best move ? Time will tell , I'm hopeful.

Except Stern's gotten their act together on the last 5 games, and people forget/forgive quickly when you pump out games that quick. I think it feels particularly bad right now because Godzilla is the obvious competitor to UM (theme-wise) and the code in there is already feeling pretty polished, with the promise of more stuff on the way.

Meanwhile the only real communication we've had regarding Ultraman's code is confirmation that we were mislead about Bowen's involvement.