Without any planned dates and content of the updates this actually means nothing. They could put out this same message every month and we would not be any wiser, therefore I do not understand the positive reactions. Obviously this IS communication from their part, but actually as informative as no communication.

They could even use this as a vehicle to promote sales on an older title - Oh wow, we have an update planned on old game X - and then the update is like correcting a spelling error somewhere.

Take the update description of the BM66 as an example. That could mean anything. A cliffhanger is something in my mind that wants to keeps people interested for something as long as there is nothing at all...

PW79 yes

I don't know. Me personally like to see more new designers, guys that know the possibilities of today and tomorrow, not just use the experience that they have. Some of the best games of the older designers are what they did when they were younger.

I think JJP is going the right direction with that, let new guys try their hand and passion at a machine. That way we will get more innovative products. Let's be honest, who wants to have another MM ? You could just get AFM

If I hear in the interviews how Eric Meunier thinks about ball returns and different ways the ball should flow, I think he knows exactly what he is doing. The old designers go by experience, the new ones by passion, you can hear that in everything they say and do.

Look at the programmers. No doubt Lyman and Keith are great, but at the end of the day their respective games have a similar feel to them. Now Josh Kugler is a new programmer as is Ferret here from the forum and look what they think of. Pinball needs that, not every time the same same.