Do you have a link? I thought Stern's official reasoning was they were saving money on programmers and layout design people.

For what reason would the pro ever play *better*? There are 3 features:
- Night crawlers - don't negatively impact game play. Are neat
- Moving ramp - if you dont like it, disable it then you got same play as pro
- Spinning disk with magnet vs no disk and just magnet - again if you don't like this, just disable the spinning disk or unplug it and it plays the same.

In no way does the pro have an opportunity to play *better*.

Well that's a good observation. Will the ramp on the PRO jiggle every time a ball moves down it?

Will the ball not have to cross a night crawler holes or spinning disc lips?

The pro may end up being more smooth

It wont break as much haha lol. No need for e clip or aux driver board woes pffffft.

After playing both side by side one after the other. And this is just my honest opinion so please no one get offended I am not stating this as fact just an opinion. The Pro was (for me) smoother with Wolverine placed in the proper position in no way blocking the beast shot (on both Pros I have played so far). The Magneto magnet had much more affect on the ball on the Pro throwing it much faster around the field without the spinner slowing the balls momentum and while I did not see NC it seems like this would be an element that will stop the flow of shots. The moving ramp was a very forgettable feature for me. I actually preferred the art package on the pro as well. So I was stoked when I realized I preferred the pin that cost a lot less then the other it was like hitting the jackpot for me. I loved both and again my opinion is not aimed to anger anyone, pinheads are not all going to agree on these type of things.

Sorry I saw this late Smokedog. Yes when you hit the lock the magnet flickers to throwing the ball around.

_{Post edited by The_Dude_Abides : Reply to smokedog.}

Would love to play X-Men....just waiting for someone in Jersey to get one....

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I have not played a pro yet but I did play a LE and I had the same thoughts as you did.
Thank you for confirming what it seem like playing the LE. I really like the Pro art work but I am an avenger fan so...

In that case I'm sure we're due for Raven II.

Is the spinning disc slow and doesn't have much grip? Surprised to hear the magnet on its own is more effective than magnet + disc.

No it is not slow (although it could be quicker) but it is rarely spinning in the exact direction the magnet would be flinging the ball so the magnet throws it and the disk seemed to slow the momentum down a decent amount. And it is not set up like in tron where the ball would be slowed down (after hitting disc shot) and then fall slowly back to disc to be whipped back to the playfield. Usually on X-Men the ball is moving at a decent clip when it reaches the disc (except for mutli-ball of course). The magnet when left to it's own just whips that ball in a single direction really quickly without any obstructions or hesitation.

Didn't want to derail the thread anymore then I have Baiter so I posted my reply up here:

It is a definite plus not to have to alter/cut into a toy on a brand new machine to get it to play as it was designed to. As far as the spinner affecting the ball from the magnet it is physics. Without any obstacle the magnet will quickly redirect and instantly throw the ball in a certain direction. If a magnet is trying to fling the ball and the disc spinning it will inevitably have an impact on the ball impeding the throw somewhat as well as redirecting it a bit. If you played them side by side I think you would see clearly what I am talking about. It is noticeable and I don't think it has anything to do with the magnets power being different. It may not be a bad thing some may prefer it that way.

_{Post edited by The_Dude_Abides : Reply to Baiter}

Thanks for the explanation so it sounds like one is far better without the other, disc is neat when the magnet doesn't get involved and the magnet is good when the disc isn't trying to squeeze in on the action at the same time. Hopefully going to get to play an LE and Pro soon enough, I'm told stern are well behind on there shipping schedule to us ever patient folk in the UK.

Thanks for the hones review. I would tend to think all in all the Pro may play better based on the play on my LE

Hell the Tron Pro plays a hair better though I'd rather own the LE.

Back to what's next?

Better yet is Lonnie doing the code? As that's a deal breaker for me

Wolverine can be adjusted to match the pro position on the LE. I thought I had also read that the magnets were toned down in the v1.2 code? Maybe it was just enabling the Wolverine magnet less, but the disk's purpose is to affect direction, having a hard time understanding how it would slow the ball down a significant amount...

Who is doing software for the next Gomez? Can someone confirm?

BLT multi

Bacon, Lucky, and tomato sandwich

I have no interest in KISS, but I know a few people who would so I am pulling for them. Just as long as they don't "waste" a Steve Ritchie design on KISS...

I am assuming Avengers is next and I sure hope SR gets another whack at Star Trek after that!!

I hear rumors of this game being a similar layout to MB. What are peoples thoughts on the layout? will this be another fan layout, who is doing the software, will it have a 3rd flipper? After all the hate on TF from the pin community will this make stern and gomez push that much harder to make a truly incredible game?

That rumor is based SOLELY on the fact that it will be a Gomez design.

And yes, that is a perfectly valid basis on which to make that assumption.

Ropp. Factions have been assembled and the players have their pawns.

Seinfeld pin? Master of my domain wizard mode??

Boy I sure hope it's Kiss

One question. Currently on the LE, when you hit one of the green 'lock' stand ups near Mags, the disc spins, adding some uncertainty to where the ball is going to go (makes hitting the targets risky). Does the Pro instead engage the magnet as the ball is coming back down the play field, or does nothing happen?

Avengers....Hopefully a Hulk LE will be developed? To go next to Wolverine LE!

The ramp is stable and the night crawlers don't impact the ball movement at all. These were quite a stretch

Going off topic, but USC has a chance to dominate this year...

Shit! Avengers with Ropp programming well that's gonna be a snorfest, wizard mode hit every shot twice?

So is Stern going for a color LCD/DMD and new chipset?

That's a kick-ass idea! Unfortunately, calling that highly unlikely is probably an understatement

Rob

How about a NCAA Football pin? Pick a position, then school, and take your team to the BCS title game and maybe winning the Heisman.

Would look great next to a copy of NCAA 13.

Would need to have a very punitive tilt penalty - you get caught tilting, it goes back and vacates your previous high score.

Oh my glob, if they did a Hulk LE, my little son would probably jump right through the roof he'd be so ecstatic. He LOVES the Hulk, which is part of why we didn't consider getting X-Men. The boy and I just like the Avengers character set more.

So... I hope it is Avengers, and I hope it is announced soon!

Damn I want a Tony Hawk game so friggin bad

Enough music & superheroes already

But it takes sales & money for Stern to live

I'd have to get the Hulk or Captain America LE

So do I. Imagine SR + Radical! + punk rock + Tony Hawk = complete awesomeness

I would still like to see a "Offshore Sportsfishing" theme pinball! Fish on mb. Get the gaff skill shot. A chum bucket mb. Palagic fish only! Deep drop lower playfield and a trolling upper playfield with art of the tuna/marlin tower. Big blue marling being caught with Sportfisher in background with a nice looking lady catching it in distance for backglass...Bumpers are 3 types of sharks (Mako, Bull, Tiger shark)

Please not a FT!!!!!

The more I think about it, I'd prefer night of the living dead to resident evil. "brains! More brains!!!!"

I am with Naf. A fishing pinball would be fantastic.

I am from europe and all those superman like nonsense... dont know why that is so popular in the states.

Musicpins i am not a fan off too. But strangely i think ac/dc is one of the best pins ever, and i am not even a ac/dc fan.

But ok, a fishy one would be great. Add Jaws mode please.

Brains!....Return of the Living Dead...

Love that movie. I think a zombie movie themed pin needs to be campy. Humor + Zombies = Awesome.

Could not agree more. The more I think about it the more I think resident evil will be too serious. Resident evil would be good for the LCD game though as it has a huge library of movies now for clips. Huge.

Just give me a sci fi pin with monsters, aliens, girls, spaceships and ray guns that will kick the crap out of AFM....and I'll be happy!

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Agreed. An original adult sci fi theme loaded with humor for the win! Just don't let Gomez do it. Give us Borg on that theme.

I'm IN!

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New systems with LCD screens will make original themes even less likely. Licensed themes come with characters, sounds, music and most importantly art and/or video. It is a win/win for Stern because money spent on the license is more than made up for in money and time developing the software and art package for the pin.

Back in the day of EMs or Alpha Numeric pins, original themes made a lot more sense. A static art package is infinitely easier to develop than high res video and graphics. I'd much rather have the development and BOM money spent on the playfield and toys.

I totally agree. This is why I am really hoping for another original theme before the end of the dmd era, which is coming to a close.

I'd love a small tease from stern soon I'm starting to get burnt out with the wildfire level of talk on xmen and I have a pro on order. Would love to know what is next as if it's nothing I'm interested in I might get an xmen le, buy a new cabinet and some pro decals and make my perfect le.

I think this is why Stern gives such little notice of their releases. They don't want to discourage people from buying what's out now due to the buzz of an upcoming release.

Bingo!

I'll go with Lloyd on this, The Avengers with the subtle comic twist would be awesome, who the hell didn't love watching the Hulk toss around Loki like a rag doll!

For me... Blade Runner Stern Pinball Machine!!!!