I hope whatever the next game is it has physical drop targets. Whenever I play my collection the newer games lack that satisfaction. It would be a good way to stand out in the crowd of manufacturers. Heck I'll pay another $100. Also I haven't seen a game with pop up targets in the playfield in a long time like all the classics,cactus canyon ,medieval madness, and circus voltair. That simple effect changes a game entirely.
After owning Oktoberfest and seeing the premium quality and support from AP I am already saving my money.

Still havnt played that one. Hard to find on location. I hear its great.

Oh yeah gost busters. Havnt seen a JP premium yet but glad they put that in to an already fun game.

Fake or not. Thats a cool original title that doesn't need a license to back it up. The backbox is an unusual shape for AP. I love sea ships and treasure. Maybe I'll hold off on getting a Black Rose.

Well shucks. I was hoping for a Balcer black rose type of game.

I did weeks ago and it has changed my life and attitude. Listening to hate and tyrants over and over again while at work would put me in a bad mood. Never looking back. Especially coming from a guy in a closet with a microphone who really doesn't have a say.

Your the only one I know of. I'm curious what your favorite is? Just 1.

I say stick with non license themes. I know its an unpopular view but I am creative and enjoy coming up with my own interpretation and not whats already been told. The same reason I go to an art museum, it would be boring if it was nothing but Pop art.

Dr.Dude 2.

I was thinking the same thing. Makes sense to have these talents who are used to non-license. Now if only they could get Barry Oursler to join and make "Space X"!
Sell like hot cakes.

I really hope they continue the swapping out toys to change the game up and customize it. HW I think was the first ever? I can see action figures etc if they did another license.

I played Legends of Valhalla yesterday for the first time including zepplin,GnR,rick and morty. It beat all those games, it just needs a pop bumper someplace to go with the theme. My only complaint on the game that would hold me back from buying one.

Can we get a multi-level playfield? They are extinct in pinball unless you have more than 9K. Joe Balcer your my hero!

They didn't create the animations in Hot wheels,they were supplied. The easy stuff that is hard to mess up like track connections and game rule explanation they did.

Had a great idea the other night playing Houdini. Stick with another victorian era theme and make Titanic. Who's not going to buy that? Another deep story line and rules with a nautical theme. I want to hear ship bells ringing and a horn.

Funny everyone seems to know the next game for Ster,Haggis,Cgc. AP will be a surprise. The way it should be.

More of a sherlock holmes aboard Titanic. You have to solve mysteries on the ship before it sinks. There was a great video game done on this 25 years ago similar to Clue.

I was wondering if it possible to come out with a Gorgar 2? A 2020 version with something innovative like the original. Are there royalties to sequals of old games? Seems like an easy way to skate around licenses and still have a popular theme.

"We come from the land of the ice and snow, from the midnight sun where the hot springs flow.
Hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new land. To fight the hordes and sing, and cry, Valhalla I am coming.
Always sweep with, with threashing oar. Our only goal will be the western shore."
"Ah, ah"

It would be perfect for the game reveal video. Unfortunately Stern got it first.

Run dmc is rap, not hip hop.
They probably werent referring to music?

Neither do I? I don't remember the term being used till the 90's after MTV was dead.

SmartSelect_20210603-235828_Chrome (resized).jpg

I found the podcast very informative. After listening to it I think it would be cool if they put there admiration and aspirations into a pin for the 250th anniversary of USA in 2026 as a thank you. Call it American Pinball. Great no license theme.

Hey Bally did Freedom in 1976 for the 200th?

SmartSelect_20210609-012453_DuckDuckGo (resized).jpg

I just hope the next game is integrated well. Not designed and then a theme thrown on it. Then another theme that is totally different than the prior theme thrown on over top of that. It becomes very obvious to some of us who played awhile.
I like all of Nordman's game and the themes never really mattered to me.

6 months left with the promise of 2 pins. This is going to be interesting!

Wrong thread, but yeah the sandpaper powdercoat is a bit too much on AP games. I can tell an AP game blindfolded. Not a deal breaker but feels a little too mechanical and boutique for my liking. I think for houdini/steampunk it works when I figured out what it was.

If Dennis designs a game as good as any of the Elviras', I'm in.

I used to like him but now I can't stand his art unless he starts to change it up. If you lined up all his games and I took my glasses off I would sware they were all the same. He uses a quarter of a color pallet for everything no matter what. Godzilla was the last straw. Totally doesn't fit the classic movie feel, there was so much oportunity to do an old time japanese cinema theme. Instead more melted crayons.

SmartSelect_20210915-230418_Gallery (resized).jpg

SmartSelect_20210915-230726_Chrome (resized).jpg

I want a Dennis Nordman game with Franchi on art. Theme doesn't matter.

Call me crazy but LOV wasn't the sort of game that you really had to have animations and a monitor on the backglass. It was easy enough to understand you didn't need visuals to tell the story or get throught it. I would love to see someone try and bring back DMD with these rules and sell it for 1k less undercutting the competition. With non license pins its easier to do and makes sense.

Notice no one, I mean no one, has Sherlock Holmes on their most wanted listed. Such a stupid idea for a theme.

As I've said, Jack the Ripper would make a way better pin if you were going with a Victorian investigator theme. Or Van Helsing. Paying 7k + for Sherlock Holmes is not going to happen but it does sound better than Toy Story. Another title no one asked for.

Sounds like your an expert. How would a pinball game in the theme of Sherlock Holmes be done well in order to be amazing? I havnt read all the books or seen every movie. I am most familiar with the hounds of the Baskervilles, yawn. I just keep picturing a game like who dunnit. Sherlock Holmes is fictional unlike Houdini.

Murder mystery theme game.
Sherlock Holmes or Scooby Doo?
I wish there was a vote button.

I'll be over when you order it. We can both sing Randy Newman's "you got a friend in me" over and over and over while we play....

I was a teenager when it came out and like all of them except part 4. No Pixar movies would be a good idea to make a pinball out of except maybe Cars? There just isn't enough going on, like you said the main song is like a minute. Name another one? The plots were all very similiar with rescuing a friend, I'm not sure if I remember what sequal was with who for a mode in the game? I see a great playfield filled with a toybox of cool toys, casino slot sounds, and not much code to go from. We'll see.

Welcome Barry Oursler! Glad you found a new home to continue your craft. You are like a god to me. Now lets blast off and complete the trilogy, "Space X 2023".

I agree totally but this month I'm making an acception. Who dey! Tampa then Cincinnati.

Having great designers under their name past and present goes a long way with unlicensed themes. Who wouldn't buy a sequal to a Nordman game like White Water or an Oursler game with a space theme? Why invent new unlicensed themes when you can cash in on the classics people want more of. I think you can hit it out of the ballpark by reviving old Balley and Williams titles. Gorgar's Revenge or Pin-Bot Millenium anyone?

I don't know. I too would dream of a scooby doo game bit if it was americas most haunted layout no way in a million years. Amh suffored not because of the title.

Sonic pinball? That would look great next to someones collection of other arcade pins like Super Mario Bros and Street Fighter 2. It's never worked.

The Nordman and Chris Franchi on art. I sense best game of 2022.

Take me back to the era of clear ramps and slides and I'm in! Thats what I'm looking for in my next game. I miss that in pinball. Metal rails are not fun and the new style. Something about those bright clear ramps that you find in all the classics!

I sort of agree with you but it beats Data East drawings. What else is there? The new Halloween by that artist is done the same way? There is a fine line between photoshop, photorealistic drawing, and cartoon. I like the middle.

Did you all get this in your mailbox? Its for Great American Pinball. Sounds like there may be something cooking on the stove for tomorrow? Any ideas what this is? They are usually the first to get inventory from AP.

SmartSelect_20220614-002636_Gmail (resized).jpg

Scratch that

I figured that out after posting. I havent been in that thread till now to see what is going on.

Dear pinside member. Stop talking like you know everything and making statements like they are fact. Fake news
Hot wheels vs Houdini. "I drink your milkshake. I drink it up."

SmartSelect_20220703-005007_DuckDuckGo (resized).jpgSmartSelect_20220703-005127_DuckDuckGo (resized).jpg

I wish I did too but I think it will be a Nordman. Hot wheels is not the best game they made,Houdini is where it is at. I had high hopes for hot wheels with the mode structure of building track etc but the shots aren't there for me to play it again. Got old quick.

I definitely go for stop and go games which is why Valhalla appealed to me. Since you make a variety of games mind filling us in, if the next game will be flowy or thoughtfully?

American Pinball. I've called them up myself with a problem and the tech stayed late to help me out before the long weekend. I will never forget how nice that was. I am glad to hear Spooky would do the same.

If its a space theme it is very likely the Oursler designed game to finish the trio like roller coasters.

If they announce the newest AP game at Expo which is most likely, it has been 2 years and 7 months since Hot Wheels was unveiled by the American Pinball team! Stern has announced 8 games since then. Let's pick up the pace here a bit pretty please.

Technically I don't count this as an AP designed game. They manufactured it and made refinements so it could be mass produced. Riot pinball deserves the credit. I started out playing the Prototype before it was in production so thats where I'm coming from.
Hotwheels was the last game designed and developed solely by AP.

Can you imagine how the new Bond game would have looked with Franchi on art? I hope this next space tank force game has tons of metallic flecks, like the wonka playfield or a backglass that reminds me of those mirrors from carnivals in the 70's. A fleck cabinet instead of butter! I only wish, they used it in the bumper cars on Oktoberfest.

Dear Fixx,
If you release this game this year you most likely will have "Best Artwork" award for 2022 in the bag. Do not delay.

If call outs are with a Cylon voice like Largo's game in James Bond I am in. It wouldn't cost anything to run someones voice through an 80's synthesizer.

SmartSelect_20220928-074642_Chrome (resized).jpg

I thought TPN said this week said the reveal was cancelled and talk at expo was scratched. I think Zach said most likely 2023. Listen for yourself to be sure.

"The next american pinball"
This thread was started 3 years ago and we find out it won't be ready till next year? This thread reminds me of DeepRoot with people leaving. I mean a lot like DeepRoot.

Haha! Yeah I've noted the names. I like how I'm an owner, my avatar is AP Oktoberfest, yet get downvoted by people who don't even own their games. I guess you can only say positive things on this thread and can't complain. Fun.

Where do you get your information? Who are the tons of people that were swindeled? They didn't take anyones money for a pinball machine? They took from 2 investments.
The second claim AP produces unique pins on a consistent basis? Do you mean 3 games in 7 years? The last game they developed was Hot Wheels that came out nearly 3 years ago? Am I suppose to clap because 5 of them get made and are loaded on a truck every week?
High quality yes, no one is disputing this but I would have to say it has more to do with the quantity. Pincinnati last weekend had 1 AP game. Just 1.

Let's not forget about Sonic Spinball

Am I the only one seeing the connection here with the art, theme, and odd title?

SmartSelect_20230226-085504_Chrome (resized).jpg

I hope so, I am so pumped for this game after watching that trailer.
"It's fun for the entire family!" Can you believe it!

The reason for the 4 month delay was because they had to figure out all the complicated engineering. No one has ever made a pinball machine look like a tank before when its ready to be transported!

Where's the PINBAR?

SmartSelect_20230308-001916_Chrome (resized).jpg

Good thing about AP games there is no FOMO. You can still buy any of the games they have ever made. Try before you buy.

Going by all the typos on flyers maybe they meant 200 games?

I have to totally disagree with you on this. Name me one artist famous today and I can name you 5 from the 80's. Music and movies today are absolutely terrible compared to the 80's. Name me 1 and I can name you 30.Everyone knows that,look at the tshirts people are wearing. The 80's were way better than today and I would do anything for its return. The internet is great today though,although that is debatable at times?

I agree with you and one of them. However the game needs to be good and appealing to a wide audiance. Also if you aren't paying for a license than the game should be much cheaper to buy or throw a ton of things into it to make the difference.

Remember when they were going to focus on the gameplace market and made that cannon?
Everything changed since getting rid of Joe Balcer. I think his last game of HotWheels he was forced into designing a flowy game. It is not his style at all. If you know his games you will know it doesn't fit into his portfolio.

Thanks for clarifying this Josh. Hot Wheels was so out of the norm for Joe and not his usual stuff. He does strive to change things up and push the envelope in every game but didn't see it in HotWheels. I guess the 180 scoop but that was done in Hurricane? I think what makes HotWheels so special is your work in coding, not the mechs.

I saw the virtual tour that was recorded for pinball expo last year. I couldn't get this comparison out of my head. I love you all at AP though. He-Man is going to be the game that skyrockets if there is good marketing.

SmartSelect_20230827_215544_Chrome (resized).jpg

GTF wasn't rushed. It was way behind schedule. It was supposed to be done by expo in October and took a longer 4 + months to release. No one else had anything out to talk about and could have taken best artwork of the year.

Just imagine what He-Man would be like if Franchi did that too!

I've said this before but an awesome no license game for them to make should be called just "American Pinball" and is announced in 2026 for the 250th anniversary. The creativity and freedom designing a game of this theme would be endless. It's a good way to the market the company.

I agree, here is the problem though. AP wants to be a family game manufacturer for games played in Dave/Busters etc. Think little toy racing cars and ice cream. Caddyshack is a definite no or anything Spooky makes. However that Looney Tunes was a great idea and another missed opportunity!

This has to be David Fix's account?
I don't buy this argument you have to open your own pinball company in order to comment? So I can't complain about my favorite football team because their coaching sucks and I don't play?
The fact is everyone here really cares about AP and are frustrated because they don't like to see it flushed down the toilet with poor choices! So you know I'm an Oktoberfest owner and have some "steak" in what can be commented on Mr.Beef.

Does anyone remember the Flying Dutchman game they came up with for amusement arcades? For like a Dave n Busters? I don't think I have ever seen that in public? The precursor to the tank!

Barry Oursler, my favorite pinball designer, "The Man who saved Pinball"
1. Comet
2. Cyclone
3. Hurricane

1.Pinbot
2. Bride of Pinbot
3. Jackbot

1.Space Suttle
2. Space Station
3. ??????
No brainer on what this last non licence trio theme needs to be!

This is sort of Nordman's intuition!

SmartSelect_20240229_010612_Chrome (resized).jpg

Steamboat Willie is now in public domain. How does this sound for non license compared to BBQ?

It's already been done very well on virtual pinball. I know nothing about the theme but it is one of my favorites with a nostalgic steamboat willie feel. Here the actual game I didn't know they made.

Might as well use Steamboat Willie theme though at this point, would sell more. If they made this game I would consider buying it, however Oh Nellie Watermelons and the rest didn't sell well with tiny flippers at that price.

The problem again is Cuphead is a license I believe. They won't do it.

Do you think they would do short flippers? Knowing Fixx and Nordman it is a sure bet!

Last I heard Nordman was the lead designer with someone under his wing. I didn't know he left! That just leaves some no namers. Hopefully they make a name for themselves.

OMG. These germans turned a pinball machine into a grill like AP turned GTF into a tank!