.

Thanks for the suggestion and I’ll give them a try. Didn’t mean to hijack the thread like this so I’ll disappear for the next 9 months again and see how things go. Play on.

Haha no sweat man, that’s what these threads are for. Make sure you get the “low bounce” they have a few different types.

Don’t feel too bad. I consider myself a fairly good player, and I’m finding TI2 to be really elusive. When I get frustrated with the chapter modes, I play a lot of Demogorgons and Demodogs to see how far I can get with those.

Your messages were a refreshing break from the usual posts about tweaking shit to get the premiums working right.

Balls to the wall!

I find I have my best games when I focus on tearing through all the modes to get to TI2 and making sure I get 5 way combo along the way. Ramps and outer orbits all day, qualifying Demogorgon modes on ricochets as an after thought. If I shoot Demo straight on with intention it’s just begging for drains

Was this ever answered? I have the tournament button installed but no way to start one. Thanks.

Got my TK lock dialed in last night. Thanks to chuckwurt for the tips! I think the key to getting it dialed in was getting the ramp pushed away from the wall and closer to the player. It catches 100% of the time now. Such a cool mech/lock.

I was trying to do this on mine and going to shim it in back but got frustrated cause there was little access to put the shim in — do more things have to be removed to do that? Still having issues on mine

Anyone heard from Cointaker on TopperGate? I am guessing Stern will release the last batch of toppers with the UV kits, but I was told early June from Melissa when I ordered, figured I would see if anyone else had the latest news.

First time I got to spend real time on my friends LE.
The whole machine just feels more solid than the Pro ? Hard to say what it is might be different. The lockdown bar and flipper buttons feel really substantial if you get what I mean.
The projector I like but I still really dislike the acres of blank white that is showing much of the time ...the ramps mainly. TBF we weren't playing in total darkness but light was low.
Found the TK ball lock thingy a bit underwhelming if I'm honest. It cries out for some gee whiz light effects and dramatic stuff as its almost easy to miss it .
Obviously in an ideal world I'd like a Prem/LE ....but it also made me think I'm perfectly happy with my Pro

Last i heard from a different distro was building in July and shipping late July/Aug on Sth toppers.

Contemplating picking up a Pro. For those who have owned for at least 6 months, how do you feel about the game as it is now? Long term, does it have lasting appeal? Thanks everyone.

If you bring it home and you accomplish everything in the code within a few weeks of owning it, then sell it and buy something else. It won’t last in a small home collection. If you find yourself struggling to get to total isolation one you can probably keep it for the rest of your life. I see you own JP...if you can reach Escape Nublar then don’t buy STH. You’ll get real bored real fast.

I have owned my pro for over a year and it’s still fun and challenging. The code is fun, the shots are challenging, and the sound package is pretty awesome. If you enjoyed the series then that’s just icing on the cake. The one thing that usually helps a pin stay longer(in my small collection)would be the mini wizard modes and main wizard modes. This pin hit home runs with all the wizard modes so that helps its staying power for sure. It also helps they are not that hard to reach…at least the first few mini Wiz modes. So I say this pin is a great pro to own…but again that’s just my opinion.

Need to replace the mylar tape on the pf (middle demo ramp). Wich mylar tape i must use?

It's funny, I feel like I can get so much farther on JP and I've only ever played it on location. I have yet to see any of the chapter wizard modes on Stranger Things but I have completed everything else. I'm obsessed with completing the modes though for the really high scores. I suppose if all I wanted to do was see the wizard modes I could do that but the score would be bleh.

Interesting, the wiz modes are where all the points are. What’s your high score?

No doubt, I play for completion most of the time as I like to see everything the game has to offer. Playing everything available in the code typically results in pretty large scores. I also try to complete all shots in every mode but I always fall short (plus there’s no real reward other than score to finish modes) Anything under 1bil at this point I consider a weak game...I have plenty of them but I always push to beat myself.

The real beauty of this game is that there are many ways to crush it. I call it a “broad” game, rather than a deep game. You could win a tournament just stacking Demodog with a multiball. Or you can decide you’re just gonna play Demogorgon modes. The Chapter modes are just one way to play it.

I’m probably different from most collectors. The first thing I ask myself is: “would this be good in leagues and tournaments?” Stranger Things is top 5 for me, by that measure. It’s not a long player, and the rules have some good risk-reward built in.

Alrighty then.

2.1 billion mostly off bonuses and demogorgon modes.

Most definitely, I mainly bought the game for location/ tourney play. It’s perfect for that.

Thanks for the input guys.

Yes, I said no benefit outside of score meaning you don’t unlock a super wizard mode by collecting them all or anything so the drawings are not important in regards to game completion. They definitely bring huge score rewards in Final Showdown and boost end of ball bonuses.

If I got hung up on completing games, I wouldn’t enjoy pinball at all. But at the same time. I do like to have some kind of mini-Wizard like Cherry Bomb or Total Isolation or Bloodbath to keep me motivated. Aerosmith, for example, is great - but doesn’t have any mini-wizard modes, which makes me a little sad.

Arerosmith has 1 mini wizard mode achieved by playing all the songs without completing them all.

Hung up? Isn’t it the kinda the entire point to beat the game? I have a blast beating the shit out of these things haha.

My rule is I won’t sell a game unless I’ve accomplished everything in the game at least once. That being said I’ve had IMDN for quite a few years now haha. Still can’t get to the super wizard mode...I’ll prob be buried with it. Same with TSPP...that Super Duper extreme wizard mode is a real BETCH.

Ha, I guess I suck. I think of that as a wizard mode, since I’ve only gotten it once in 2 years. But I don’t time out modes, I play them out.

Agreed. There don’t seem to be any obvious exploits on this game as far as I can tell and the risk/reward is pretty solid. Upside down is a pretty valuable hurry up right off the bat but somehow those drop targets seem extra drainy when it’s running. Same with Demodog. Lots of points there but the targets aren’t very friendly on my game.

Right? When I finally scored a billion I was moonwalking and doing the running man haha.

I was looking at those 3d printed coil coolers and was wondering if the power source has them running only during gameplay, or on all the time. Anybody know? Same with Pinmonk's?

Well said, and I think this is definitely one reason that people are coming around on this pin (as can be seen by the increase in values...I saw another LE sell for nearly $12k which is pretty crazy).

The rules on STh are underrated for sure. When you combine that with everything else the pin has to offer, it really is great.

I think the huge rise in market value on the premium/ LE can be attributed mostly to that fact that Stern stopped making premiums. So if you want the project you’ve gotta buy the prem / Le on the secondary market. Also prices of all LE’s went through f’n roof over the pandemic. Just insane.