This isn't as high res as you'd like but its a bit better....
http://pinballhead.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Stern-TF-Board1-e1353514177753.jpg

Anyone got pics of the driver board yet?

Nope unfortunately that doesn't mean that at all. Linux != Source Code.

I've Been doing it longer then that

I'll guess it's the same as 'the pin' but i haven't seen those either.

I didnt see this posted, but heres a YT video of a pinch of info as well

This is interesting:
" using modular design that relies on a profusion of LED lights and four computers connected by standard CAT5 cables"

4 computers? We know there is one in the head ... do they consider the underplayfield driver boards computers or are they "networked"?

My guess is they are counting driver boards. I am highly doubtful there are networked in the Ethernet / IP sense.

I've worked on games running "spike beta" aka "The Pin" system. It has a lot going for it and will mean big changes for service. Replace instead of repair will probably be the norm. The multiple driver board architecture is similar to what mmr is doing. Game code is on a insertable compact flash card. The impact to ease of manufacturing and ability to outsource sub assemblies will be significant IMO.

Some may not like the change but this is a logical and necessary transition me thinks. Smart.

'The new technology reduces product complexity and simplifies manufacturing'

Ah! Good to hear.

Wrestling pin 500$ more then twd?

I'm pretty sure they're using CAN over CAT5 to talk to their modular driver boards. This is exactly what we've been doing with the P-ROC and PDBs for a couple of years now, except we're just using the RS-485 physical layer with a proprietary protocol running faster with less overhead (8mbps vs 1mbps), and we're not using CAT5. "computers" is likely a label for the microcontrollers that provide the CAN stack and interface functionality. It's nice to see they got rid of the "flex" cables from their 'The Pin' trials.

I'm actually surprised at their choice for SMT FETs. The large SMT FETs take up more board space than their through-hole counterparts and force most customers into replacing vs repairing bad boards. This is less of an issue if their protection circuitry eliminates most failures, though that remains TBD.

- Gerry
http://www.multimorphic.com

Is the code actually played directly off the SD card in real time? If so are we going to require certain speeds of SD cards, or is the read speed of the average modern SD cards so high it's a non-issue?

the link of the CES video sows 2 really bad hotspots for the lights.

Not at all.

Neither SMT nor through-hole are really susceptible to vibration-induced failures when installed properly. The only real reasons to go SMT vs TH for these commonly replaced parts are for potential cost savings (component costs and MFG costs). Given that the boards have other TH components on them (ie TH connectors), the MFG costs are minimal (the boards likely go through a solder wave regardless), and the SMT FETs probably aren't any cheaper than the TH ones.

There's nothing wrong with using SMT parts. In fact, most parts *should* be SMT. I'm just surprised they went SMT with the FETs.

- Gerry
http://www.multimorphic.com

And Spike Lee sues in 3...2...1......

The new system looks like a great step forward, any idea if the boot up times will be different from SAM?

Have a feeling it will be Tron since they already did a second limited run of LOTR, but still with the new tech. Yummay!

spike!.jpg

Modular is ok as long as the boards are independent of each other.

In the AC/DC at Modern Pinball NYC one board is out and it takes out 3 others as they are daisy chained similar to JJP LED boards.

One major problem is that the particular AC/DC board has been back ordered from Stern for the last 2 months. In other words the game is really out due to one board.

Board mount LEDs are also a problem as one led out means having to replace an entire board.

Not the ideal solution for owners or operators this only helps the MFGs.

Sockets for LEDs on boards is really the best way to go as far as game lighting.

Not sure if Modern will be getting the new Spike based game soon but if and when we do lets see how the system holds up in there.

Less wiring than a Ford Falcon.

Any rumors regarding network connectivity? Add some wifi and join online tournaments sort of thing?

That would be pretty sweet with a built in Wifi connection to link to your router. Ultimate global competitions from your gaming den.

Back to the drawing board for our power taps.

Guess I just make a mute button for the tournament hole lol

I think it'll be OK. Probably save some money over the large 15 pin taps.

I made 40,000 hand solder joints last year. I wouldn't mind reducing that some

This is the issue. An ACDC i looked at 18 months or so ago to repair had this system, and there was one fault, and due to the fact they were all daisy chained, everything was taken out.

2014-03-01 11.02.51.jpg

Here is a snag from the vid. A few interesting visual things I am seeing. There is a bonus count like the EM early SS machines. Same with the Bonus multiplier. That's interesting.

The two curve returns look very minimal. If they are stil rigid and don't allow balls falling off, I'm in favor of that.

The right ramp looks like it has a ladder decal. Wonder if that one will drop the ball into the ring somehow as opposed to just rolling it into the side.

I'm excited to see the underside/rest of the electonics. Harness making at the scale Stern does it seemed like a very timely process. Subbing the segments out to CAT5 looking cables and connecting them that way is probably a huge time saver in manufacturing compared to fully harnessed machines. Geek mode activated...

WM PF pic.jpg

The other thing I noticed RE: wireforms is that I don't think the ball will stop at the end to 'drop' into the inlane. Due to the two-wire track, it's seemingly more a free-flow setup.

Capture.JPG

If the ball builds up enough speed it will hit the end of the wireform. The 2 wires look more spread apart than other rails so the speed may be slown down a bit.

I thought that too at first, but if it builds that much speed (which I doubt based on these things seemingly feeding from a stopped ball off the upper PF) I would think the ball would occasionally fall off the wireform either due to inertia (as I've seen happen on something like WoZ) or by impact at the end of the wireform, both which would be unacceptable imo. I think the ball falls right off the end as though that end loop isn't even there. Interested to see.

But as I type this I realize this is the SPIKE thread and this has nothing to do with that. So I shall stop the digression here

I was thinking that a ramp with no end, or one that deflected the ball down (but not slowing it much) would make for a very quick inlane return. Almost like what you get in High Speed or Monopoly with the habitrails that return in front of the sling with nothing slowing the ball down. Something for the fast action junkies.

These all sound like good things to me.

nobody talks about the fan?

In the one photo, it almost looked like a PC-style power supply was mounted in the backbox. No idea what was up with that, since other pictures lacked it.

I hate the pc ventilators...
after a while it's always noise
Very bad choise mr stern

I wonder if the new SPIKE system emulates both SAM and Whitestar which would make it easier to reproduce the entire Stern catalogue of games?

It's PC based, so this means it will have fans installed?

That can't be a good thing.

Edit: what Ibarakuru said.

Just a power supply. Normal for those to have fans. I doubt it will be any kind of issue. Only time it will be running is when the game is active, and pinballs are a hell of a lot louder than a fan, even without the speakers cranked.

This only reinforces how important it is to skip this title and wait for the next one. Bad theme, new technology, better wait to see how many bugs need to be worked out. If it was a good theme, maybe I'd want to be a guinea pig for the new tech. For WWE... not a chance.

Stern Pinball Initially Knowingly Excites Everyone!!

Chad

Stern
Pinball
Incorporated's
Killer
Electronics

It's like how WPT was introduced as the first game on the SAM board system. Another game with an unpopular theme and hideous art package.

Flipper coil says FL-11722.

VERGE2015-01-04_08-42-46CES.0.jpg

_{Post edited by pinBilly: credit to o-din}