My game is also unplayable after the update.

Wondering if it has anything to do with the protection added to prevent changing between Halloween and Ultraman.

My guess is many had zero interest in ever taking ownership. They bought after seeing the resale prices of Rick & Morty.

I don't think I've ever heard Jackpot, but I did have one issue where I had an unlimited ball save during Baltan multiball. I tried to recreate it to report it as a bug to Spooky, but I've never been able to recreate that error.

My guess is many had zero interest in ever taking ownership. They bought after seeing the resale prices of Rick & Morty.

The base code between the two games is identical. In terms of polish the biggest thing for me at this point would be larger video assets during the battles and perhaps a better display system for the progress during the Pigmon modes. Something like heath bars would be ideal. I'd make it like Deadpool where the modes are timed and your health goes down over time and the kaiju's heath declines as you hit shots. Based on the updates for Halloween it looks like that's in the works.

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I do prefer those overlays with a larger video display. Perhaps add something to track mode progress, some detail to the background, and maybe a super thin "old television" bezel as shown below.

PS: I don't need modes for all of the episode. I'm a quality over quantity when it comes to modes. I'll take one super fun mode over five mediocre modes. Perhaps why I'm not a huge fan of Batman 66.

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I don't think many people are selling because Ultraman is bad. It's not. There are two main factors. First, there are just a lot of good games coming out. Second, many people bought the games with the plan to flip them. They saw what happened with Rick & Morty and didn't want to miss out. Personally, I think Ultraman shoots better then Rick & Morty. The call outs and theme of Rick & Morty are amazing though.

Yeah, I do think Elwin is rocking it at Stern. If it wasn't for him they would be really hurting after losing Lyman. I think any company Elwin works at would be pumping out great games. You also have Chicago Gaming doing there thing and remaking Cactus Canyon...perhaps with new code from Layman. So much great pinball. That said, Ultraman is a great game too.

Super quick fix. Drop targets are held in place with some wing nuts. They probably vibrated loose during transit. Loosen, set the height, hand tighten, and give them a final squeeze with a pliers...problem fixed forever...for-ev-er.

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I don't agree with everything you said, but I agree that hurry-ups are needed. My only hesitation was it feeling like it's stealing from Deadpool, but they really needs that "final blow" to rewards the player for defeating the kaiju. Not shooting the correct shots should also trigger more negative consequences when fighting the Kaiju: building being destroyed, people screaming, scores decreasing, etc. I would also agree with more Japanese touches. Even just some new fonts could go a long way. I mocked this up for Zumbolar.

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It was the same thing for me with Lord of the Rings. It shoots like butter, but every single shot feeds to the inlanes, so ball times were very long. Ultraman does have quite a few shots that feed to the inlanes, but you also have a traditional orbits and the drop targets are used more then the Balrog. With that said, it does play much longer then any of Spooky's previous titles. There are also some rule similarities: 3-book multiballs vs 3-kaiju multiballs, 6-scene modes vs 6 quick battles, and Gollum multiball vs Science Patrol multiball. I almost talked about those similarities during one of my video reviews of the game, because Lord of the Rings was the first game that came to mind when I started playing Ultraman...which was a huge surprise to me.

Yeah, I think it could work well in a few different areas. I also like seeing the Japanese text. I can't read it, but it just give me the Ultraman vibe.

I think it's his method, not his message, that rubs people the wrong way. I generally don't disagree with his message, but almost always disagree with his method of delivering said message. Spooky has always done an amazing job of being receptive to feedback regardless of the method and is aware of areas that still require improvement. There are some unique challenge with being located in a town of under 1,000 residents.

Give it time, you'll be slapping them around left and right. It's a fun shot on the game for sure.

It's a bit of a shame that people are always going to be comparing Ultraman to Godzilla. Beyond theme, they are vastly different game styles. I don't think Ultraman was ever trying to shoot like a modern Stern. Stern is already doing a great job of making that style of machine. In my mind Ultraman was designed to feel like a 90s era game with some added bells and whistles. I think it plays a lot more like Twilight Zone then Godzilla.

...or us it as a super realistic bash toy with battle damage.

I don't have streaming gear, but I borrowed a tripod from work over my lunch break.

Zero issues since switching USB drives.

I would double check to make sure your shooter rod isn't rubbing against the auto launcher. If it's rubbing it will drastically reduce the power of the plunger. I thought I needed a new spring on mine until I realized that was the issue. There is some play in where the playfield sits, so the fix would just be sliding it over the touch.

It's true. I was a customer while making the videos, but in 13 days, I'll be an official employee. I'm going to do whatever I can to help Ultraman and Halloween becomes the best games they can be. It's still a little hard to believe.

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First, I guess I now have to say stuff like, this is just my personal opinion. I'm not sure what I think about making the physical ball save much easier. The game already plays quite long. With so many shots feeding the inlanes, I'm not sure there needs to be changes in the default settings to make the game play any longer. With that said, I'm always up for giving the player control in the menu to make their game play the way they want it to play. I also would be in favor for rewarding the player in other ways. Maybe a unique mode.

It will be a mix. I will be doing final inspections plus working with DJ and Fawzma. I believe the idea will be to free up SpookyBug to do the same.

Airballs are almost always caused by flipper rubbers being too hight or too low.

Sorry, my answer may have been overly simplistic. I was referencing airballs from the flippers. It's possible I misread the OP. I thought that was the issue. It was the issue on my Ultraman.

Hey guys. That was my game for sale...not SpookyLuke. I just started at Spooky and purchased this game before taking the job. I really am a pinball fan...from all companies and all eras. I playtest this game at work for +5 hours per day, so I'm thinking after months of doing that, I might not have as much fun with this game at home. Maybe if I had space for more games I would feel different, but I have room for exactly six games. I wasn't thinking it would cause much drama, but since this is the reaction, I just pulled the ad. It's not that big of deal to me, but I can see how that may come off as concerning to other current or future owners. I certainly wasn't trying to feed into any Christmas drama.

Yeah I think most people would get it. I don't buy games my friends have either, but if it's going to cause drama it's not worth it. Going to enjoy the rest of my Christmas Eve with the family.

PS: I felt the exact same with Deadpool.

Oh, now that I'm an "insider", I can confirm for you all that the team at Spooky isn't just giving you all lip service. Ultraman / Halloween code is being worked on every single day...Oh, and "pinball is hard".

What issue are you having? It should feel nearly identical to all of the other qualifying shots. If it doesn't I would try some tweeks. If it's working one way but not the other the first thing I would check is the positioning of the diverter. Remover the upper plastic and go into the test menu. There is a servo test. Make sure that upper servo looks smooth in both directions and is not blocking the entry. While the plastic is removed I'd also adjust the little flap at the top if the ball happens to make it up, but bounces off.

Edit: The diverter is held on by the back screw.

They are a standard drop bank with a single coil. Lights are possible as highlighted in the Zembolar mode, which is still my favorite mode in the game.

Oh, it's just super low on the flipper. Shouldn't take a hard shot at all, but it can be tricky.

If it's the right side (top) every time, your flipper is probably too high. Dialing in the upper playfield can be tricky, but is super important. Before doing that, I would tweek the spinner on the right. I find they shoot better with the flipper bent almost parallel to the backbox.

There are a few alternatives, but the main way to start Jirahs multiball would be as follows...

1) Shoot the center ramp 5-times, which will cause the diverter to turn. The spinners on the upper playfield should be purple and the drop target should be red. You should also see health bars on the screen for Ultraman and Jirahs.

2) Rip the spinners on the upper playfield to lower Jirahs health. Hitting the drop target will hurt Ultraman. If you end up hurting Ultraman, the targets on the middle playfield will light green to restore his health.

3) Once Jirahs health is down the center drop will turn purple. Shoot this and then the crossing ramp shot to start Multiball.

If that is not happening, there is something wrong. If needed, send me a PM and I'll call and walk you through the game.

I might be able to type something up. We will also try to do a bit of our own streaming to highlight the changes in the code updates.

I would try some testing with the glass off. Put your finger down in the Beta Capsule scoop and drop a ball from the middle playfield. Try position the ball in different areas and see if you can get it stuck. Is it hitting the scoop protector? Is it catching the hole for the opto? Is there a misrouted wire? Something must be blocking the pathway.

Can you post a picture with the metal cover where the jet sits removed? There should be a lot of clearance between the wire guide and ramp.

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Loosen the posts that hold the flap down. Then press down on the flap while you are tightening them back up. This will eliminate any bowing that might be occurring.

Noted and we'll have a fix on the next update. Should only be seeing that now if you hit the crossing ramp (pausing the timer) with exactly 3-seconds left on the timer.

This post makes me super happy. Glad it was an easy restore for you. I will say that every game I've updated in the factory has been done via the extender cable, but going directly into the CPU would eliminate that as a variable. I do think we may have a fix in the works that will help.

Just pull any slack in the rubber away from the opening.

Actually we started to have freezing rain, so we ended up not going. Hopefully tomorrow.

Looks like that metal slope is just a little too high. You probably just have to push down on the front right side of it to bend it to sit below the wood on the upper playfield.

We're all working super hard to push out games while maintaining quality. As you can probably imagine there are always new challenges, but we are finding solutions to those challenges on a daily basis. Exciting things are coming.

PS: I prefer a lighter roast. You get more caffeine that way.

If you are talking purely about high score strategy, starting with Jirahs would be the way to go. During that mode focus on ball control. You want to be able to collect those jackpots on the lower playfield to build up your super jackpot value on the upper playfield. Ideally you will then trap balls on the left flipper, so you can play the upper playfield with the right flipper...unless you are really good at using the staged flippers. Personally, I've been focusing on completing all of the Quick Battles. Starting them is pretty easy, but actually completing them is a real challenge for me. My favorites are still Zumbolar and Pester. Completing these battles will also help you to start a forthcoming sub-wizard mode...hint-hint.

I'd push back on this a little bit. I purchased Ultraman #5. Even back then there were six modes, three multiballs, plus incedentals like combos and add-a-ball. Some of the initial feedback received was that the game was too hard. Personally, I think most just wanted to see more assets, which were shown only after certain acheivements within modes. Spooky listened and the game was made easier with future code updates. Around that time the game was recorded by some higher tier players. On the new, easier code, they were able to show off everything. Now the game comes across as shallow and not challenging.

The game will find it's balance. Content will continue to be added and menu settings can be increased, so players of varying skill levels can challenge themselves at their own skill levels.

EDIT: The game also needs to be dialed in. There are three levels of playfields, plus an extensive subway system. It reminds me of dialing in a Twilight Zone.

Yeah, I'll see if I can start one this weekend.

PS: The mode he was in is Jirahs. I didn't watch long enough to see if something was stacked with it, but for base Jirahs you have to hit the spinners on the upper playfield. It didn't looked like he was getting great returns on that upper playfield. I would check to see if the game or upper playfield is slopped a bit to far to the left or if the guide rail need to be bent a bit. The return should feed back to the flipper.

I may have to go back and reread what "The Other" SpookyLuke posted, but I think it's safe for me to announce that more content for Ultraman is coming.

Setting switches is always a bit tricky. At home I set all of my switches super close, because I want them to register any touch. Especially, spinner switches. During game testing, I tend to leave them at the manufacturers default, unless there is an issue. The reason for this is that things tend to move a bit in shipping. If they are set to close and close, new we've got a stuck switch.

Your lifter switches are all optos. I would tend to suspect something physical blocking the ball, but if you are having any issues call or text support. They can walk you throught the switch test menu to see if there are any electrical issues.

I should be more clear. Every single game is played and adjusted...multiple times over. I test every single switch by hand, throwing the ball, and during gameplay. I just don't set the switches as tight in the factory as I do when I adjust them at home, for the reasons previously mentioned.

Just be a little bit careful with switching out the drop target springs. During our testing with the heavier springs it was noticed that there were instances of the targets were not resetting consistently, causing the coil to overheat. Not saying don't change them, it's just not a change that we'd recommend as a "set-it and forget-it" solution. I have another shipment of springs on order and will be doing some additional testing next week.

It's not an either/or. Testing is an ongoing process that starts with development and continues throughout the entire run of a game. Naturally, multiple springs were tested during the development process. The springs that worked the most consistently were chosen for the production game. That will continue to be the case.

Today was a good day folks. Not sure when they will be fully implemented, but many great things are coming for Ultraman.

I do. But seriously, since Bug added more context I'll just say...I can't decide if I'm more excited for everyone to see 1.06 or 1.07.

The space in that is important. This is the first time I've ever worked with or went to school with another Luke.

"was" ...

Edit: A part of me thinks a play flight online could be fun, but another part of me thinks some could think it's serious. I'm okay with "lpeters82" ... for now.

Trial by combat!!! If only there was some other form of competition a PINBALL company could do instead, and no, you can't have Bug as your champion.

I would check to see if your guiderails are hitting either the coinbox or lockbar latches. Those are the two most common areas it can catch. They can be bent a bit, but don't push too hard or you will likely rip out the #8 screw. Also probably best to avoid moving them to where they touch a coil mounting bracket.

Damn...I'm super surprised that a ball falling from the middle playfield had enough force to pull multiple screws from the playfield. That's a lot of force. They are standard #6s, which we use in areas where the ball is not taking a direct shot. Direct shot areas like standup targets use #8s. If you have a raiser on the right side of the subway, perhaps try a #8 in there. Obviously, just don't go any larger then that, or you will poke a whole though your playfield. If you choose to go with repositioning, make sure you maintain a decent downward slope where the ball crosses the opto under the Quick Battle scoop. If it's too flat you can end up with a ball trap.

In terms of the metal post holding down the lifter flaps, make sure you are holding the flap flat as you are tightening. In general I see them buckle up a lot more when they are super tight. They get pinched. The other thing to look out for is that they are not catching on the sling rubbers. I tent to have to set them towards the outlines.

I think both modes are better for their perspective themes.

I'm going to be working on all of that. I'd like to get a much more uniform look to the text. There will be larger popups in English and Japanese for the things like Battle Start, Jackpots, Extra Balls, Tilt Warnings, etc. Then the smaller text will be designed to look like subtitles, that will mostly be the directional text that tell you what you need to do next. While I'm excited for the progress that has been made, it's nowhere near final. As we mentioned on the stream there is a new user interface in the works. Because of that I felt it was more appropriate to focus most of my efforts in other areas for this update, since a new UI will likely mean reworking a lot of the text anyway. Good things are coming.

Thanks.

The center ramp is used at times, but for the most part it's due to how modes stack with multiball. Ideally you want to start a mode and then use the shots you are referencing to start a multiball.

You can move the opto, but there shouldn't be a need. Go into the test menu and drop a ball through the subway, see what switches are triggering. The holes are pretty much just there if the subways get really-really dirty. Also if you widen the hole too much that can create a ball trap.

Seems like you are running into some code bugs. We're squashing a lot of them with the forthcoming code update. One thing that really helps is to preform a reset after making changes in the menu. If you happen to be able to recreate the start button issue, please send us an email.

Yes...hint, hint, hint...1.06 code update is coming very soon. I want it badly to be out now, but coding is one of those iceberg type things. For every 10% you see there's 90% more under the surface. That said we already have a lot planned for the next-next update.

Honestly, anything in the standard 6.5 to 7.5 should be fine. Our test stands are 6.5. The main variable on the center ramp is the drop target height. If you've tried everything there you might want to peal off the mylar around the drops. I've seen that little variation cause some rejects. It's crazy how much of a difference a small tweek like that can make. Beyond that really look what's happening. Sometimes ball marks on the ramp can give you clues where things are rubbing.

Poor, poor Pigmon. He might have it worse then any of Michaels victims in Halloween. Not only is he killed at the end of Red King, now he's brought back only to be stomped on by Dorako at the beginning of the new Pigmon sub-wizard mode.

The fonts for jackpots, super jackpots, and multiballs will likely remain the same style as the Ultraman logo. For the more instructional fonts that's something we'll be updating along with the new UI. I think I've posted this here before, but those will end up looking like captions from the show. It will be a clean simple font with a contrasting text color and boarder.

We suggest 5A slow blow fuses for the solenoids. If a fuse is blown the LED beneath it will be out, also I would suspect each of your solenoids that are not working are have the same color wiring. If a fuse is blown, you replace it fuse, and it blows again; then we have to dig a bit deeper. Don't just keep replacing the fuse, at that point the fuse is just an indicator of a problem elsewhere in the game: bad transistor, bad diode, something shorted, etc. There is a service number inside of the game if you require someone to walk you though anything.

We still have changes planned for the Jirahs Battle. I think most will be happy with the final result.

There's going to be a LOT of new owners next month.

It just takes time. The next update will include the first wizard mode.

Here's what 120 games looks like. All should be heading out to new owners by the end of next week.

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We're working on code every single day. The next update will have the wizard mode and bug fixes. New animations are coming, but they will not be in the next update. That's going to be a HUGE update.

PS: I may try and provide a sneak peak at some point.

Just a tiny allen wrench, like removing a door handle.

You have to hit only the individual drop target for the 1.5 million points.

Looks like a code bug that was introduced with the latest update. I'll make sure it's squashed in 1.07.

SST was the last game I sold. I still think is one of the best Sega games.

Right now I'd think about it as a physical ball save / extra ball. The goal is to lock the ball and not release it. Then when you drain it releases and you are still playing.

I agree. I was shocked this game didn't even make the finals for Best Artwork.

I wouldn't consider moving anything until you test the optos in the switch test menu. When we walk up to a new game on the line that's among the first things we do. Enter the menu and drop a ball from the middle playfield. I don't remember what they are all called, but you should see three optos trigger as the ball makes it's way down the subway. I've fixed quite a few issues in that right subway on final testing and it's rarely the opto positioning.

Edit: That said, if your scoop is not registering shots that is the opto you should be checking. Obviously, in game, it will only be registering for things like mode start, extra ball, spacium store, etc. If you are not getting to those things, it's 100% that opto. It should be labeled near your Pinotar (red board). Give us a call on Monday if needed. We'll get it working or send you a new opto pair.

The middle opto is not registering. That is showing the drop off the middle playfield going on, then off, and finally your ball at the lifter.

That's great to hear. I'm glad those videos are making a difference.

#TheRealSpookyLuke

Were on it. I likely has to do with cache settings on individual computers. If you haven't already, please be sure to try this link.

https://new.spookypinball.com/game-support/

That's the check that was built into 1.06 and later code. The game is looking at the drive and files on your USB and seeing that something is not correct. My best guess is that your Mac has reformatted your USB. There will be a new image for non-Windows users later today or tomorrow.

The Mac update always going to be a bit more convoluted. It follows the restore process, just with updated code.

The focus of 1.07 was the Wizard Mode and Hurry-Up. The next update will focus more on refinement of the modes. I hinted at it awhile ago, but I think most will be happy with the future integration of the health bar / timer.

There is a counter on the screen that counts down the number of shots needed to get the ball to the upper playfield to battle Jirahs. During the battle the spinners damage Jirahs.The right does the equivalent of 1% damage per spin. The left does the equivalent of 5% damage per spin. When his damage reaches zero the drop target will turn purple. When it's purple hit it will stay down and you can hit the crossing shot to start multiball. While the drop target is red it's actually doing damage to Ultraman.

If your talking about the middle playfield you need to hit the ball into the scoop to qualify Bemular. From there bash the shots surrounding the drop target and then relock to start multiball. During multiball, shoot all of the red targets on the main playfield for Jackpot. Once you collect all of the Jackpots the drop target will lower for a Super Jackpots.

When you select a Kaiju take a look at the lights that are lit. There will also be a description of what to do on the screen. Based on what you are describing, my best guess is that you are stacking one of those quick battles with Jirahs. In Jirahs the spinners will be lit purple. If the drop target on the upper playfield is red, it's going to fire up every time you knock it down.

Baltan Multiball is 'Baltan Bash'. You need to reveal and then bash each of the exposed Alien Baltan invaders in order to light one final shot for Super Jackpot.

Each of the multiball is similar. You have different objectives to complete followed by a Super Jackpot. As you progress through them the inserts will change from yellow (started) to red (complete). When they are all red that's when you will light the scoop for that first Wizard Mode.

I would double check both coils in your test menu. During a ball search there will be a coil firing to pull it down and a coil firing to push it back up. A twitch during ball search is not necessary a sign that the down coil is trying to fire. That could just as likely be the up coil firing to return the drop target back to the up position. If the coil is already up that would probably look like a twitch.

It will not work. License holders are much more stringent then they used to be, which has a lot to do with the copyright of the on screen assets. The computer and Pinotar inside each game is locked in as a specific game. If you try to load the opposite code on the game it will pull up a screen that says to please contact Spooky Pinball.

I'm currently sitting next to a Rob Zombie that has some crazy pop bumpers. Personally, I like them, but they do tend to take up a lot of real estate.

We appreciate the support. I find it the same when I'm playing games in the wild. I'll pass up on playing quite a few games, because they seem to be routed everywhere or they play so similar to other games, but when someone has a less common games like Radical! or Time Machine; I'm immediately drawn to them. Different may not always appeal to everyone, but these different games always seem to find their way into the hands of those who cherish them.

Here is the link to my video on adjusting the upper playfield flipper. I would suggest putting a peice of cardboard between the playfield and armor. When you know what you are doing it really is a 2-3 minute job, but plan on 15 minutes your first time.

The one thing that I didn't go over in that video is the importance of the ball guides past the right flipper. That metal guide should be sitting on the inside of the post and bent in a way where the the ball continues backwards slightly before bending around. I hope that makes sense.

In terms of the ball trap. I would simply reposition that peice of foam on the backside of the ramp. I can't see it in on my phone, the picture is too dark. If it fell off send me a PM.

I can confirm that they use the same powder coat color as the game shipped.

Thanks for the kind words.

Maybe, but our whole team that clears games is great. We all take it personally when we see something we missed or something happens in shipping, because we truly go through these games light by light, shot by shot, switch by switch. She's not on Pinside, but there is a woman named Tori that goes through every game before they get to final testing...she's been making us look really good lately. It also frees up more of my time to squash bugs and wright new rules.

Just got off the phone with the user above...he's good to go.

I walked him through resetting the Molex connection and testing continuity on the right flipper, but I think actual issue may have been simply trying to select one of the expert modes that only unlocks after you play one of the other modes.

Edit: "Walked him through", might be a bit strong. He seemed well versed in pinball. We basically just discussed what was happening and checked the basic stuff together.

The first thing I would check is if the plunger is hitting the auto launcher. There is some left to right play in the positioning of the playfield, a quick slide one way or the other may fix your issue.

Your not wrong, they are underutilized with current code. They represent Pigmon, Science Patrol, and Kaiju Multiballs. The Science Patrol will play a greater roll in the future. At that time, those inserts will become more important for quickly tracking what is currently stacked.

Good discussion about the pretzel shot. As the user above posted, not every shot that clears the first spinner is going to make the second spinner...period. Personally, I like that the pretzel is completed on super clean shots, but you can set it up so that it will complete the loop at slower speeds. Looking at a picture might give you some idea, but the exact setup is dependent on too many variables. It's probably best to just take the glass off and start shooting the shot. There is an "enable flipper" settings in the test menu that you can enable to practice. Shoot it a bunch and see what you prefer.

We started the rumor.

Oh...I hope not.

While, this update will feature the first glimpse of the new Ultraman user interface, there are also a number of tweeks and fixes that will be released for Halloween.