Okay, new files off to printer for final test print! The translite was lighting up beautifully, but it was a little on the dark side, so I brightened everything. As I mentioned before I added a streetlamp to the background where a flasher is, so it will have something to light up when it goes off. I did some other minor stuff, like shifting the moon just a little to again line up with a flasher, little things like that. Should all pop and feel a little more integrated now I think.

Here's what the updated design looks like (click to enlarge and see in full quality):

translite-revised.jpg

Haha, thanks, no plans to tackle another one of these any time soon, next priority aside from getting these all shipped out is finishing my Elvira restore so I can get my car back in the garage!

I talked to the printer already, he's got my files and is putting a priority on getting them done so we can get this project out to people.

It's tough to work with the existing light pattern, there are things I wish I could have lined up with better, but it's a compromise juggle. Flashing in the sky looks good, kind of lightning-ish, but that lower left corner was bugging me, it really needed something.

Can do, I'm going to reach out to the maybe people soon, probably next week, to get a commitment one way or the other. Just gonna wait until I can post a pic of the final test print so everyone can see what's really going on.

If I didn't have a real life (job, family, crazy amount of commitments) I'd just tour the country checking out this translite on people's machines.

Tell you what, I'm actually humbled by some of the collections this is gonna be in, some really nice machines in the same room!

I honestly have no idea. I'm not opposed to re-running it, but I'm also just a hobbyist who did a personal project that kind of snowballed. I can't stock inventory or order one at a time etc, it's just too much for me to handle. I'm gonna basically spend a weekend just contacting everyone to finalize the order process, and then at least that much time packaging everything up to send out. It's super important to me to provide good communication and service and I gotta block that out to do it, free time isn't something I have a ton of between work and kids and soccer blah blah.

If there was enough interest in a second run I'd do it, there's no artificial "this is the only time!" restriction, just being honest about my time and abilities.

I'll say this, the reaction to this has caught me off guard, and orders are still trickling in even now, so it seems totally reasonable to think a second run could happen, but no promises.

I cannot promise that my translite will make the game stop kicking your ass.

Agreed, and this is still gonna be darker than the OEM one, but if it's too dark it's just not enjoyable; the backglass is the ad for the game, you want to see it in a lineup with the others. It was also really dark when off. This will still be dark when off I'm sure, but hopefully a little more visible.

Thanks! It's a great game, you should get one. If my translite makes people want this game then I'm super happy, it's a title that isn't appreciated as much as it should be just because of good ol' Alec.

Thanks dgoett.

Just had the first person ask to be moved from maybe to definite, I didn't even have to ask first. Love it.

Gotta be lighter on your feet. Jab, jab, PM!

Missed this post last night, sorry. To be honest I haven't thought of that, I basically have no idea what I'm doing. People do keep trickling in, I guess I should probably consider it, but I'm not really set up to keep an inventory or anything, this is just a little hobby project. Maybe some of the regular modders here know what to expect in terms of orders and response, I sure didn't!

Anyway, the last thing I would want is for people to really want something I did and not be able to get it to them. If nothing else if there's demand I can set up a second run. But you're probably right, I should at least order a handful of extras. The number of orders has hit the point where I'm going to actually have to pull in cash from some outside accounts just to pay for it! (Don't worry I'm good, plan for when to charge people isn't changing.)

Oh, if you guys want to work something out I'm happy to work with you on that. Anything that lets me fill out less customs forms!

Cool, just give me that address when the time comes then, I won't mark you as international in my notes.

I'm hoping to tell people I'm ready for orders early next week, just waiting for the last test print to make sure we're good. I'd really rather not sit on 90 print sets that have problems!

Update: New test print should ship on Monday, so figure I'll have it around middle of the week, coming Priority Mail. As long as everything looks good and there are no issues I'll post up a last photo or two and then start working my way through PMing everyone for the actual order.

I'll ping everyone on the "maybe" list for an answer too.

Heh, you're #2 on the list!

The closest I came to that is the way he's kind of "ghosting" through the border at the bottom, I did want to incorporate the whole "clouding mens' minds" theme in a bit, but I think as a central figure it's too important that he be distinct and clear, too muddy otherwise without enough to focus on. Your thought would require a different design and feel I think.

Thanks! It's funny, I honestly don't hate the originals, but so many people do that I guess I kinda got motivated to roll my own. It was just a personal project really, but I figured I'd share it, and it sort of snowballed a bit from there.

I still have the most recent test print installed on my machine, and it's starting to feel pretty natural to me. I'm not even playing that much, my garage/gameroom time is mostly sucked into my Elvira restore right now, but it feels good. Hopefully the revised print is even better.

Just added #80 to the pre-order list. Maybe list is at 14, no idea how many of those people will want in still or not (if they were just waiting to make sure it lit up well I think they'll be happy!). I know I've said this before, but I was thinking I'd maybe move 10 of these, and now I'm slowly creeping up on 100. Kinda humbling really. Thanks for all the positive feedback, really hope to get the order in for everyone next week so we can get these into machines.

Heh, don't get too excited, I probably wouldn't do this again unless I bought a pin that needed it. It's a ton of work, and honestly I don't think there are many opportunities out there for bad translites on really good games. Someone's gonna bring up Demolition Man I guess, but I have no interest in that one.

I'm not a "professional modder" or anything, just a hobbyist who likes to find creative solutions to things. I love playing, but working on things is half the fun. Right now I'm masking off my EATPM playfield, going to try and reshoot all the green on it with a pearl flake. PITA to cut some of the detailed masks, hopefully it comes out okay.

Waiting to hear that the test print has shipped, will update when I know more. In the meantime I think I've found the right box to ship these in flat, just have to see if I can get it locally or if I have to order them.

Looks like I'll have the new test prints on Thursday. I'm basically planning on verifying they look good ASAP, then putting in the full order and sending everyone info on how to Paypal me and get me their address. Unless something is wrong or there's a surprise or the like it's basically go time at the end of the week. Finally! Thanks for the patience.

I've just contacted everyone on the "maybe" list to see if they're in or out. That gives those people a couple of days to ponder, catch up on the thread if they want etc.

I also just ordered the mailer boxes, so everything will ship flat, no rolled up tubes to trash things.

I'm happy to fit anyone who wants in, but just FYI my plan is to get the order finalized quickly once I have the test print, I don't want everyone who's on the list to have to wait any longer. The test print it hopefully just a formality, I've already done one and know the quality, this is just one last test to ensure the changes all came out right. Which I fully expect them to.

Anyways, all I'm saying is decide quickly once you see it if you want to make sure you make the run.

Shipping mailers.

image.jpg

Heard from the printer today, translite test print is going out and will be here tomorrow hopefully. Speaker panel was delayed slightly (day or two, not a big deal) so we decided to not wait since it didn't change much and the translite is what's important to test. So I'm almost ready to actually take everyone's orders.

Cool. You've got a few days, so don't stress, just wanted to make sure all my "maybe" people know they gotta decide soon one way or another. I'm slowly either taking people off the list because they're not ready, or moving them over to confirmed.