Paul Stanley (or a sound-alike) does the callouts you're talking about.

Lyman actually did the last code update on KISS. I'm hoping its Lyman who completes it.

It cracks me up how polarized people are on this title. I think the game is fantastic. I agree it needs at least one more code update to be complete but I have a blast playing it now. It's a real shooters game with some tight shots and killer flow. I replaced my ST with the Kiss and couldn't be happier. My issue with ST was that in a home environment it was just too easy and repetitive. Kiss has you shooting that right ramp pretty frequently and it's tough as nails if you don't have it dialed in.

I'm pretty confident Lyman will come thru and make a code masterpiece where all the big points are centered around slamming that right ramp. Risk vs reward. All I think of is how everyone complained about TWD until the code was updated and now everyone raves about it. It just takes time to polish a machine and although Stern is slow, they don't seem to just abandon games very quickly.

...often.

Wheel of Fortune. Never forget.

And for the record, I think KISS will end up being a great pin. With the last update it went from "meh" to fun. All we need is some Lyman magic to get it to great.

I still think it's a very fun pin as is now and will only get better. I have no horse in the race as I don't own it anymore. Just don't like waiting on code so will wait in future before purchase.

I have faith Lyman will shore it up. It definitely needs the cities to DO something, and it should definitely have a unique song for KISS Army Multiball - especially with all you have to do to GET there. The last update moved the ball a LONG way toward the goal. I'm hoping the next code update at least gets it into field goal range.

While I like the game fine, I'm sort of confused regarding the above comments of Lyman stepping in to clean up the code/make it a masterpiece. This is a Lonnie game, right? Has Lyman stepped in on other games that weren't his to clean them up?

Re: the example regarding TWD above - TWD started out as a Lyman game. While I think it would be great if Lyman stepped in to work some magic on this, I can't help but think is wishful thinking on some KISS owners behalf?

I like it as it is. Fun game.

1.28 was Lyman cleaning up the underwhelming original code, at least according to the post here:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/where-is-the-kiss-code/page/32#post-3108016

Also, Lonnie and Lyman are often credited on the same game, so it's not like it's never happened.

Just like Dwight stepping in on ST.

It's fun, but the code updates are too far apart. It's clear that kiss is not a priority.

Plus the lack of songs to select is meager.

Didn't Keefer get laid off when Stern was about to go belly up?

Talk about a blatant smack in the face as you scroll through cities and they do nothing. UUUUUUUGH Is it me or does Kiss seem like the most incomplete game out there?

Wheel of Fortune. Never Forget.

That said, there are things that are unfinished (Kiss Army multiball doesn't even have its own song currently), but the last update did move the code forward a LOT from where it started.

It's a real shame KISS has been left behind ? I sold my pro and the new owner has since moved it on. To me a great theme but poor code spoiled it for me. Fingers crossed a new and great update isn't to far away.

I agree that it would be nice for Kiss Army mini wizard mode would have its own song to set it apart! Can't wait for another update, It's my favorite modern stern.

Need More Lyman's !!!!!!!!!!!!! Clone him

Good game, update will come eventually.

for what i remember > TRON
was Lonnie, than Lyman did the final touch

!?

There's no guarantee the cities will ever do anything....

Rob

Code is coming ... i know it

OK. So I looked at my sales receipt. I received my Kiss in August of 2015. We are reaching a one year anniversary of receipt of this pinball machine with only one update. Stern... Please update the code and finish the cities. This game has a lot of potential and needs to be completed right.

The more I play this game the more I like it. I know everyone is getting restless for it to be finished but what keeps my patience in check is remember how Metallica used to award 500k as the mystery award everytime for like 2 years. Stern maybe slow, but I think they just take their time to do it right.

These are my thoughts exactly. I can see me owning one of these in the future. Everyone forgets about Metallica being terrible for the first year or so.

I just sold mine, so it shouldn't be much longer for an update.

That's funny! LOL

We should start a thread on who hasn't sold their KISS yet! In the meantime I'm working on incorporating some sounds from the classic Bally. I lowered the music volume for the video so you can hear the spinner better.

Added over 8 years ago:

Do you also have the original versions of the songs on yours?

Yes all original recordings except for Deuce. Sonically it fits in better with the other songs.

Haven't sold mine. I think the last update did wonders for the game play. Much more to work towards with the multipliers and added Heavens On Fire mini wizard mode.

I still love mine le and have no plans on selling,the code will come in time

funny thing is the code update was the way the game should have shipped (at very least). i am in for the long haul as i love the artwork, the topper light show and actually like the music. the art and sound package is a 10 the actual gameplay/ current code is a 5. i still feel i was screwed by stern on this one and have gone a different route and got a tz pin to fill a spot (passed on spiderman ve, got le because of this). looking for tom, adams family, totan, cftbl on future purchases. i did get in on gb le but from what i hear the code on release is pretty decent. still waiting anxiously for new code. i think it was one of sterns best releases and for them not to get the code out on this one is a mistake on their part. i am hoping next code can be a big change and get the pin back on track. right now kiss pin is thought of as a turd. i have seen sales of this pin linger on threads at low prices. not good.

Why? Game shoots great, has decent rules and gorgeous art. Just needs polish in the code. To me a turd is a game like avengers where the physical layout sucks.

I agree. Also KISS is a great tournament game IMO.

I love jamming on the demon targets to double jackpots in demon multiball during ball save. Also like to complete two songs before multi ball so I have a couple of 4x multipliers going on shots.

I'm so scared to drain on this game that I always go for MB first and try to complete a song during MB. That would be awesome to be two songs deep before MB though. That or start super ramps after completing two songs.

Isn't super ramps a random award? I play rock and roll all night then shout it out loud as my two songs before multiball. Usually if I get thru those multi ball will be lit.

I love the sound effect when you hit a super ramp!

Yeah. Just saying if I am in single ball and I have a couple songs done, and backstage is lit, I will dump the ball in there just in case I get ramps. Can be huge points.

Why do you pick those two songs? I've been deuce all day as it seems to be pretty valuable.

The shot pattern is easy for me to complete. Then I change to detroit rock city for multi ball since all shots are lit. At least thats the plan. Usually doesn't work out that way!

Thanks for the tips. I'm always looking for a better way to attack this game. I'm pretty terrible at it and I have to play it regularly in competition.

most people that come over and play it for first time thinks its ok. they always say ohh its not as bad as people think. i personally think the gameplay is ok like you said the the ramps are smooth. needs to be fine tuned some more.

Rock and Roll all night followed by Deuce (which is a breeze to finish as a side effect in a multiball due to the shifting shot markers) is the way I usually go. Then Lick it Up followed by Hotter than Hell if I'm doing really well. I hate Deuce as a song (it makes no sense, and I keep imagining he's saying "so drop a deuce"), but it's really good as a strategic pick.

Yeah Deuce is pretty good. Why do you do hotter than hell? I like the song but the drops are hard for me to not end up draining and consistently light the shots. It seems to be a lucrative song though.

I only do Hotter then Hell as a "qualifier" song to get me to the next multiplier lever, and as soon as I start it, I try to get into a multiball to finish it off quickly. For me, it's easier to polish off as a side effect of multiball than laboring to actually hit specific shots interleaved with target hits in single ball. But I always use it as the song before the next multiplier lever, so either 2nd or 4th song, never 1st or 3rd.

I hated that sound effect the most in the game.

Rob

I love the super ramp sounds also but the heart beat slings could go

Does anyone have a code file that I can just upload that already has the original songs added to it? I just don't have time to mess around with this myself and it would be very cool to do.

I guess if I could take the time to learn how to do it it would be better.. but, until then..

It's a freaking awesome theme. When I think of pinball, I immediately think of the Bally version. Bally KISS was probably my ultimate holy grail pin. I ticked off all my other "grail pins", but the Bally version always seemed out of reach. Then I started collecting Stern games and it went off my radar. When Stern released a KISS pinball, I thought this would be the title I had to have....but it seemed kind of lacking. I would still love to own Stern's KISS, but each time I play it, I keep feeling a little underwhelmed. Most notably at the moment: I didn't know what the cities do (they do nothing?) and compared to AC/DC and Metallica, I thought the KISS song choice was limited. I'm not a KISS fan, so I just seemed to be picking Rock & Roll All Night, Detroit Rock City and Shout It Out Loud mostly. Hoping that the next code update puts the cherry on top of the cake. It's a beautiful looking machine, but I think the Walking Dead is calling me before I put KISS in my line up.

Where's the kiss code? One year since release!