Quoted from twenty84:I feel bad about it this thread and wish I had checked my results better before posting. I think probably when I originally tested AFM the ground wire lost contact on the opto board. That was a difficult connection on pins that were close together and I had to put the connector back on after I hooked the wires around the pins. When the coil fired it pulled enough power to make it look like the opto was firing at the same time once the ground was lost.
I've updated the original post to say the original claim that AFM did not have a delay were in error and both games have a similar variability. Like many I still think the originals have a different flipper feel than the remakes, but with respect to the flipper timing they are similar. I have changed the title of the thread to "Remakes and originals have similar flipper delays"
I think this has spurred some interesting discussion, and I thank all - no almost all - that participated.
Great thread!
Not only a great illustration of the scientific method at work, including the importance of repeatability of the experiments, and the ability and willingness to change your mind regarding the results when new and improved data appears, but also a fascinating example of "confirmation bias" at work, with people who were already of the opinion that the remakes shoot differently feeling vindicated by the early, incorrect results.
If only rational thought and experimentation made up the bulk of online discussion...
Hats off to CGC for their quick and transparent response as well, their willingness to look into the issue in a completely public manner when there was a possibility it would result in a potentially negative outcome, and cause them to incur associated additional costs, is commendable. They've gained my respect.
Now, can someone run the same measurements on a P-Roc system, ala TNA?
I think all new pinball board systems should be tested for technical precision when they are introduced - fun stuff!