I feel this is overly nitpicky. The "wait for it" comment suggests it is an expected result as if every other game offers this "basic feature."

At what point does a player need a reward for every combination of things that can be done? Should a player get a special reward for:

Hitting every shot in the mode without missing?
Fastest completion? (Bumblebee does that to an extent)
Defeating the robots in order on the grid top to bottom etc.,
Defeating every one first time through?
Defeating the robot without using the Allspark add time function?
Lighting all the X shots before engaging the mode?
Lighting the X shots left to right, right to left?
Defeating the robot with a multiball, without a multiball
Making it to Sentinel Prime on ball one?
Cybertron on ball one?
etc etc etc.

The possibilities of awards for super special accomplishments are literally endless and are going to cater to a select few and in general do not add to the excitement since most people won't even see it. (Defeating the robot is the reward-seeing the solid light makes the player say YES!-I did it). The better players (such as you seem to be) get rewarded by reaching goals later in the game, earning GC scores, bragging rights for wizard modes. The problem was too few people were getting the "YES! I did it" satisfaction from beating the main robots. That has changed.

I was thrilled to make it to Roll Out and All Hail Megatron under the old rules, but I knew many people would not. The game should not cater to only very skilled players.

The multiball progression is a HUGE PLUS and will make the game so much more enjoyable for players and owners. I am thrilled for the TFLE owners.

That there are not more special secret awards will not matter. The joy will be in more folks reaching Sentinel Prime (AHM, RO) and Cybertron.

And lastly, congrats to defeating OP and Megatron first time through with progression installed. I did it as well and found it highly ironic and laughed.

Enjoy

Again, I understand completely. The way you post, you are obviously very, very good at this game and are hoping for more to do. It is possible this game is just too easy for you. You are describing things that most people just will not experience on a regular basis, if ever. At least now with the progression, people have more hope.

Think about it-how many of us were posting about Sentinel Prime and Cybertron under the old rules. Not that many. The lack of progression was CRUSHING players.

People are still excited when they reach LITZ or RTU which is great, but these games are almost 20 years old. Seasoned players may not post about those wizard modes, but it is not reasonable to think that people were going to reach SP and Cybertron with a *yawn* been there done that attitude. We will read about it more now, but it still will not be a gimme on factory settings.

I think it is important to look at it from the perspective of what most players are likely to do, not what the upper echelon of players might do. That is why the code is modified.

A few notes:

1. A player will not get as many specials if the scoring thresholds are changed. On factory they are at 30K. That is too low once the minipf scoring meter increases. Use the menu to change it to the desired scoring levels.

2. Change the award in the mini pf to award Special = Extra ball (amount of specials awarded changed in menu). Granted it is not factory, but it gives the player a *reason* to play the mini pf.

3. Many games are better played on settings that are NOT factory. There is no perfect factory setup of code, so the end user can tweak it; experience will be the guide. Some settings should be harder, some easier. I have cited BDK as a perfect example. Lucius on factory is so unbalanced compared to the rest of the game. I feel it should be set on an easier setting to make it more in line with other goals. The game is more enjoyable. (And yes, I beat it on factory first, but it was a grind)

The same things can be done in TFLE. I seem to recall you were disappointed the TFLE v1.8 code added multiball progression. So, go to the menu, and turn progression OFF for Optimus and Megatron. Now you should be a happy player and those who want progression are also happy

The mini pf awards cycle through the tiers: spinner, pops, special, then repeat cycle. They get pretty easy to achieve when the switch value keeps increasing in value.

Also, special is NOT the same as replay. Special is lit at the spinner/right orbit. It is NOT related to any replay threshold(s).

And yes, I understand the feeling of the *cheating* concept. The point was: there can be a reason to play the mini pf that appeals to folks. I still think there should be a mini-pf GC score table The extra ball can be set to exactly one special=extra ball. That allows for only one more extra ball over factory (1 at 5 robots, 1 at Starscream, 1 random at Allspark (rare), 1 at mini pf)

For the die hard player, take off all the extra ball awards. That is how IFPA tourneys work. But for the home use, have some fun

"Damning remarks"? LOL

Just observing and responding, my pinball friend

All Hail Megatron!

Of course!

I know internet discussions do not always convey tone.

I also know we'd rather be playing than posting, but we are addicted to playing and discussing, hence we play for a while, and run to the boards to talk about what we found out or research things we don't understand.

I love discussing this stuff. I like rules, strategies etc. I just love playing these new games and discovering what is in there.

FYI-Other games prior to TF have the shot multiplier feature. S-M and BDK for example. S-M does not have a moving 3x shot (3x can be lit at every major shot by winning a mode. You choose what is 3x by making the shot you want). BDK has the 2x and moving 3x shot (after all 2x shots lit) much like TF.

On BDK, the X (looks like a mine and says mini-mine multiplier) in front of all the major shots is the shot multiplier. Solid = 2x . When all are lit, the blinking one moves and is worth 3x. The shot multiplier is in addition to the multiplier that can be running for Joker, Batmobile or Scarecrow available at the skill shot, which can be worth 2x based on your shot timing or 3x for the super skill shot (hold left flipper in and launch ball. Then try to quickly hit Joker Batmobile or Scarecrow)

I appreciate your thinking I have, but for the record, I have not made it to Cybertron. Under the old code I had only reached Sentinel Prime (both AHM and RO)

I suspect Cybertron will be in my future. The irony for me is that I am more frequently earning the SJPs in one try. Go figure

Not that I can tell. Seems to be the same basic rules to earn the SJPs. I have never had so many one and done trips before. Maybe because there is less mental pressure knowing it can be finished later.

Wish I could chat more about Cybertron but that will have to be a later discussion. Maybe soon

Yes under the new code, SP playing as both factions, but no Cybertron. I had also been to SP playing as both factions under the no mb progression code. The new code definitely allows for more opportunity to reach SP.

And keep at it, you'll get there!

Let us know how you like it

All Hail Megatron!