Quoted from anathematize:
to instantly dismiss a game because you didn't like the sounds that you heard on a stream/video/etc while you weren't even playing the game is a bit premature at best.
I dunno about dismissing the game, but sound is definitely a deal breaker for me if I don't like it. I can ignore bad art, but I just can't ignore bad sound. There's no "it blends into the game" for me.
Like, I bagged on the Wonka logo, because it deserved it. Someone did a real hack job on it, and that stuff bugs me. But it wouldn't stop me from buying the game. I wouldn't glance up at the backglass in the middle of a ball and sigh about the H and stop playing.
But you can't escape sound. I like to put game streams up on a second monitor and kinda half watch them while doing other stuff. I don't have the attention span to WATCH a pinball stream closely, if it's not like Bowen giving a lesson or some kind of competition where I'm invested in the outcome. New game like Maiden or Black Knight gets an announcement stream? Yeah, cool, put it on the second screen, half pay attention here and there, kinda get a sense for it all.
I tried that with Wonka. Couldn't do it, sound just rubbed me the wrong way. Closed the stream after a few minutes. If you dig how it sounds that's great, I honestly wish you happiness with your game. I'm sure JJP will sell however many to people who feel the same way. But if I were them I'd rethink where to go now that David Thiel is gone. That's a big hole to fill. Maybe the new guy can do it, I'm not trying to take personal shots at him, just take a different path next time.