Yeah, I'm sure it will blow me away now.
The video didn't look like the game is much different or better to me.
Sorry, but this thing just doesn't impress me, maybe someday it will.

The P^3 is definitely innovative, but the problem with it is the same problem that appears to be with the P-ROC and the other modern technology: there aren't enough polished examples of the technology to show its full potential. The first glimpse we had of this tech was with the Bride of Pinbot project that was proposed years ago by some European group that seems to have stalled. I hope to see at some point in the future, ways to upgrade existing games with the P-ROC to dramatically expand their capabilities. Right now there's lots of light but no heat.

The P^3 has a lot of potential too, but someone has to crank out a really engaging game around it. And when/if they do, and it really is a hit, it's probably going to have half the community hating it - that would be a sign that they're breaking into new markets when the old-guard enthusiasts are like, "That's not real pinball."

P3.....Zzzzzzzzzzzz

This is doable if you think about it. Remember the Comet ramp on Cyclone? If the ball didn't make it all the way around, instead of coming all the way back down the ramp screaming towards the flippers, it fell into a hole that dropped the ball into the pop bumpers. It wouldn't be insanely difficult to do something very similar but vertically instead of horizontally; a hole or a gap at the bottom of the tunnel that normally the ball would skip right over and keep going, but if the ball didn't have enough momentum to make it out, it would fall back down into that hole/gap which would redirect the ball to a VUK.

Just came across this post and I agree and feel what the OP is saying. That is why my first game is from what got me started back in my day TFTC and not a new Stern until something different is done.

To the dude who keeps yelling, "go play on location!, your killing pinball otherwise!" what you are failing to understand is thats not an option for some of us. Id love to go play on location, as a matter of fact, i wasted a half a tank of gas driving around looking for somewhere to play. All i found i one beat up machine here and there. Im not going to dump my money into a game thats unplayable just for the sake of "supporting pinball", thats rediculous..

I might as well mail the operator $20 and save the wasted gas money and frustration of playing a machine that barely functions.

My sentiments about rulesets exactly

Playing on location, when you can find one, usually, means: overly loud horrible arcade with driving games, shooting games and dance dance fever blaring at incomprehensible volumes so you cannot hear anything from the pin. Dark playfield because of blown bulbs, often dirty playfield because of neglect. Broken toys. Uneven playfields common. For something that weighs 280 lbs. a pinball machine can feel like a cheap pos if not belanced properly. Wiggly legs suck! Weak flippers, except when, as happens way too much, one or more is broken. Regardless, key shots cannot be made at all. Frequent issues with scoops, where ball get stuck and requires a ball search. Etc.

No thank you. Properly maintained Pinballs on location where the atmosphere is conducive to enjoying all the bells and whistles of these modern games is rare. I go when I can, and spend accordingly. Otherwise, I want them in my basement, where I can immerse myself in the game and enjoy all that these wonderful machines are meant to be. My goal is to own 4 or 5 as long as I can afford too.

I wouldn't expect you to. If you want to help the hobby though, please let the business know that the games are in poor condition. Business owners want to know how they can make more money. Granted, some locations that cater to casual players never respond. But if you pick your spots, you can get repairs made. I once even called a restaurant owner over to show him exactly what was wrong with each game. He understood and a couple of weeks later, all the games were clean and working again.

For the record, I'm not accusing anyone of 'killing' pinball. All I'm saying is that if you don't play on location regularly, you shouldn't expect much innovation. The home market isn't big enough to get back to the innovation levels we saw in the 90's.

In my case, I became a collector because games on location had disappeared, not the other way around. Becoming a collector and discussing to forum members actually helped me to locate the locations that survived. The Pin map is really helpful and I try to update it whenever I can.

I am fortunate since I moved to Bordeaux to find an arcade with 3 pins in mint condition (currently ACDC, AFM and TAF). During summer, the beach resorts reopen with 8+ pins, mostly recent Sterns. So I do not really feel an urge to buy these ones as I can find them nearby. But none have my holy Grail(s): Banzai Run, Black Hole, Target Alpha...

I tend to agree that playing on location is great. "It's more fun to compete". On the other hand, having games at home helps spreading the virus! Organizing tourneys is fun as well.

Am is missing something? If a pin is "making money" why would the business let it go to hell? Are you sure its actually making money? If I had a business and my pin was making me money, I sure wouldn't let it fall apart! Maybe the reason its falling apart is because it is NOT making money?

Pretty much the same here. I have a better pinball arcade in my basement than any I know of in the city.

id Say most Operators dont really care to maintain an pin, and then they blame the machine for their bad income? when it desperate needs to be fixed?

maybe it is also because of the fact the Ops maintenaince crew doesnt give shit about pins too..

so i say pinball is not failing from an customer point of view,. but from the ops point of view! and if they then decides to stop operating pins,. who is taking over?? no one.. and they will be gone everywhere, which unfortunally allready happened

im thinking to start to be an operator myself,. but it needs some serious money,. and that is holding me from it.. that sucks. and given the bad economics, no one (banks/investors) is willing to give u the necessary credits to start the business up. for the love of the game, and pinball believer

Same thing with me.

If games still earned on location, they wouldn't be for sale all over the place like they are. And where I'm at they have video poker in the bars, that make $500/month per machine, and the laws on the books don't favor low-income pinball games so it's not viable to operate them commercially, so almost all of them are gone.