Brian said in the Stern podcast interview that he wanted his first game back in pinball to be a nod to his 90's games. I don't think that's a bad thing. I bet his second Stern game is different.

This is very typical of designers getting back in the game.

Nordman’s POTC was reminiscent of dr dude.

T3 was similar to t2.

RAZA / magic girl complete fucking messes like most jpop stuff.

It’s natural that these guys want to return in their comfort zone.

Nothing surprises me when it comes to pinball and pinside, and clearly everyone has the right to dislike something and change their mind, but it really is interesting to see guys in on an LE change their mind after watching one stream of a pro.

Careful Tom, stop "trolling".

All valid points Amigo. I’m a fan of RaM, so passion for theme comes into play, although I can see the callouts getting old.

Also a fan of STrT, I’m hoping my anger towards Stern on the Playfield-gate isn’t clouding my judgement, but it probably is. Yet another price increase doesn’t help.

I get your anger towards Stern Rick. Let it out brother! At least you don't whine and cry and report me for "trolling" if i make a few observations on the RM pinball machine that represent my opinions.

We are just discussing differences in the games here. That is what a discussion forum is regardless how some want to characterize it.

There are currently 87 different abbreviations for this game. Well, 88 now with yours.

FOMO going down big with all these new pins RIGHT NOW. i'll pass on everything, wait a year or 2 and consider buying 1 of probably 6 new pinball machines available.

Of course the smartest way to go here!

Yep, that 60 second video said it all didn't it! TNA #2?

Exactly.

Imagine he he had tried something completely different and it ended up being a clunkfest.

Pinside - OMG Eddy has lost it!

The one thing no one has to worry about on this game is how it shoots.

With Stern, it isn't really the FOMO. There isn't a rush on Stern LE models anymore since they priced the flippers out of range. More just like the "gotta have the new shiny" pinball.

SEGA wins it anyway!!!

You sound slightly biased.

Not sure what I was expecting but def let down. Hearing eddy explain the Pro and the 5 features. Drop targets, a ball lock, center bash toy, etc. just seemed very uninspiring especially for 6 k. From a dollar standpoint you can get tons of great games for a lot less

Why are so many people down on this pin? Honest question. I'm not calling it the best Stern ever but it's far, far from their worst. It's Brian Eddy and some similarities to what many consider the two greatest classic pins from 90s. It has some interesting new features and pro looks to play almost exactly same as premium. Looks like a fun shooter without cheap drains, pf design flaws, and stupid tight shots. It's Stranger Things. Immersion looks better than average and it's not like you get hillbilly callouts, walmart toys on springs, clip art animations, and terrible pf art. Price has gone up but big surprise. Pinball is expensive and everyone else still charges more. Price will go up again in the future. Makes no difference you bought WWE for $500 a few months ago. We all know Stern has had quality issues in the past. That didn't stop JP from being a great pin. Great thing is you don' have to buy one. I'm not and it's great. I look forward to playing one since I enjoy Stranger Things, Brian Eddy games, and most Stern pins.

You can please some of the Pinside all of the time, you can please all of the Pinside some of the time... but you can’t please all of the Pinside all of the time.

Not at all. You are betting 9k on a stream. If it doesn't capture you, why would you drop 9k? It makes more sense than just buying it anyway. It will be around, buy it later after you've played it.

This is a premium/LE game in my opinion.

If you listened to the podcast it's clear he started with a vision/desire to be able to "change" the playfield and immerse the player in the different settings of the ST things world...Hawkins lab, the school, the quarry, Will's house, the basement, etc...

He's also proud of the magnetic ball lock that can hold balls indefinitely. The demogorgan also shakes in the premium/LE.

Eddy is obviously known for mechs/toys. I don't think he's a pro designer kind of guy.

I also agree with @crazylevi. He's returning to roots for his first game...that was intentional. I bet his next game is different.

I'm getting an LE. I look for 3 to 4 cool things in a pin.

- This has the demogorgan toy, which is a way above average overall feature in my opinion, with the drops, saucer, ramp coming down, shooting it in his mouth, and movement.

- Projector. Will likely make or break this pin.

- Magnetic ball lock.

Other than those main features, the game has 4 ramps, 9 ball paths counting the demogorgan shot, custom callouts, assets from the show, main music theme from the show, And a nice art package.

I like fan layouts. I like non fan layouts. I like fun and variety. Every game shoots and feels different. MM feels different from AFM when I shoot it, and I love both and both are keepers for me. If you don't like fan layouts that's cool...we all don't have to like the same things.

I also love TZ, Congo, IMDN, JP2, Tron, TWD, WW, CFTBL, etc..

I’m in on the LE as well.

You’re telling me we’re getting stranger things theme that shoots similar to AFM with a few cool new things?

Mmmmm, that sounds good.
I’ll have that.

That about sums it up perfectly.

Stern is sometimes a victim of their own success. They hire Elwin and Eddy and Elwin pops out two great games, one being one of the best games ever in JP. Ritchie, Borg and Gomez. Behind the scenes video, coding and marketing talent.

I too buy games from everybody, CGC, AP, Pinball Brothers (Alien), Spooky and have a Deeproot game paid for via jpop.

Choice is a great thing and its the best of times right now for pinball across the board.

We should start a pool on which designers Stern sheds first when the economy explodes...

Regarding the killing the demogorgon being a bit of a non-event - I agree.

I'm sure there is a lot they can do with lighting and sound on the Pro. Also, on the Prem/LE recall that there will be "power actuated shaking" so that hopefully helps a lot.

That said, would have been cool if they took a nod from MM and had the demogorgon fell apart when you killed it... (then got put back together when the screen was back up).. or else have screen pop up in front of the demogorgon that twinkles with lighting to look like the pixelation and falling apart that is happening on the screen.

Maybe the projector can add some cool effects to sell it.

We can wait another 5 years or so for that poll! #nottiredofwinningyet

I just bought a Super Chexx hockey game and SRTLE for my xmas presents. Told my wife and kids, this what you got for me. LOL

Like RockyTop said, this is a "premium/LE" game for the projector, magnetic ball locks and active Demogorgan. Pro is not the way to go imo.

Same, hoping the good times keep rolling for much longer!

I noticed that as well, and was really concerned about it since I was on board to make a purchase

There was voice on some of the clips. They also talked about how voice was being cutoff on some and would be addressed.

^The jackpot callout kinda got old after a bit.

I think due to the very early code most of the sound/music is still very early and placeholders. That can all be fixed eventually. Same with the lighting. One of the things that stood out to many was the lack of any visual indication you were in upside down. We are crossing fingers, this is all just due to code not being ready.

When you enter the Upside Down, all the shots go dark except for the Upside Down shots. The game seems to get darker also. You know.

With all this code talk, will the anticipated code update be the long wait that we GB owners had to endure? Who's taking the over/under on this?

im natural, you use Grecian formula

I think your right, how many great sterns started off with these same mixed reviews. DP and TWD did and both are great.

I don’t think the direct audio of the stream is a fair representation. When you’re playing the game in person, even if the sound is cranked, you can’t hear most of these annoyances people are having.

I bet the projector takes care of the ash effect too.

I agree and hope the projection mapping would be added to the demogorgon.
It could have had its mouth animated....open, closed, attack...hell we had Rudy ages ago.
The balls hitting his body would project differently then the head, and this would make it a target
that would be a damn joy to battle.

JEEEZ, thought I was being cranky. It was just 2008 man, too soon.

3BAA1AD3-4A80-4FA8-8E77-F5BFBDAE1572.gif

At this point, I'm good with an Elwin and a Borg...

This game was clearly designed as a Prem/LE first, and I bet that’ll reflect in the code. This pro seemed to be lacking personality...every time they shot one of the kid shots, there was a still graphic & info...but no clip or callout. I bet you that on the Prem/LE, that same graphic/info will be on the LCD while an actual show clip of the boys doing/saying something will play on the projected screen.

This is very typical of Ken Hale’s pinball music. It’s almost always very boring & lacks that pinball energy and punch.

What happened to Jerry Thompson? He had been killing it with the recent games.

Absolutely. Some pins translate fine to a Pro when features are changed and cut...JP’s T-Rex doesn’t move, but it’s still a big ass T-Rex. In this case, the screen, which is fundamentally required for this new projection effect, is just a giant wall with a sticker. A wall with a sticker is an embarrassingly odd thing to have in a pinball machine. I’m shocked so many people here seem cool with it. Has it not been a result of having to alter a Prem toy, no game would ever be designed with a sticker wall.

Thanks to everyone for hanging out with us last night!
Here are the VODs from last night.
We also hit a pretty big milestone... our show has been see over 4 MILLION times!
<3 <3 Thanks for the support, Pinheads

TWITCH: (if you like to see the live chat)
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/525565847

YOUTUBE:

yes but at code 0.62. not really ready. a box of lights basically.

I wouldn't call it that, but yes it is not done. Watch the stream. Far from a box of lights.

True, hardly any light show at all. But it does have BALLS IN HOLES!