Thanks for the analysis, I too support Stern, he deserves a lot of credit for keeping pinball alive, Woz doesn't have to change pinball forever, just take another step forward and hopefully it will be a great game...

Ummm you realize pricing it up to the operator and adjustable right?

Thanks for the comments but do we really need a new thread..?

Sure, why not...please post more reviews of first impressions..

Agreed the more opinions the better. Thank you for posting.

To me, this is like saying (20 years ago): "I wish DMDs were narrower and just displayed alphanumeric characters."

Excellent review IMHO. I am about 90% with you on most of this and I have a WOZ on order. The code is in such infancy, its really shouldn't be out there, but that's not my decision. I am staying on, but I do not see this game in my house for at least a few months.

From Jack's talk this past Saturday there are supposed to be 14+ modes, etc, etc. Right now, there is a taunting witch and one multiball. Two of the magnets are not really programmed and the controlled lighting just came into place this past weekend (which is a huge help when trying to play the game). Its just way too early.

I noticed this too. I played WOZ last Saturday and noticed the same thing. It seems there are just not enough GI lights. Right now all of the inserts are flashing so it's really not much of an issue. However once the inserts get programed and they are not all on, the game will be dark. At least that's the way it looks now.

Pappy

And to think he was going to send these to people in March with no modes is silly.

The game, GI-wise, is much better now that all of the insert lights are not cycling and waving around during gameplay. In a dark setting, the game was extremely hard to play because of this. Now, with the newest code, the GI seems fine. Also, the guidance for what shots to make are starting to take form and they are pretty cool effects using mixes of colors for the LED's.

Again, it is really too bad that this game is getting bad press for some of these issues that basically go away as features start to appear. Imagine trying to play AC/DC or any other modern game while in attract mode? Again, I understand the criticism as it is warranted.

I agree. However, the code really seems to be picking up speed. I am quite optimistic.

I played the same WOZ on saturday (and tied for first place with my son in the B div of that league final... how awesome is that?).

I'm going to take a slightly different direction from the OP. I am not nearly as interested in WOZ the game as I am the JJP platform. That is what I focused on while playing it.

He's right about the artwork. It's gorgeous. It isn't just a collage of movie images like the recent stern games. It isn't an overload like AC/DC. There is a coherence to the playfield that makes it really pop. I dig it.

The lighting control is where this platform shines. The software isn't there yet but the potential is obvious. Full RGB control of every insert. Full intensity control of every insert. It was hard to tell if the intensity changes are going to be smooth. They did look a little choppy at times but that may be a software issue. They weren't using the LEDs in an intuitive way but that is definitely a software issue. If they dial the light show in well this is going to be a gorgeous game. It is at least a level above Avengers in capability and design.

I'm not a huge fan of the LCD but to be fair I'm not a big fan of DMDs either. The LCD is going to be all about how they use it. It's too early to tell yet. At this point it's not a detraction but it's not a major plus either. It's just sort of novel until we see how they plan on using the LCD once the software is further along.

The game did not do much to show off the audio. It has very few callouts and the music is pretty basic. Still pending, I guess, so I can't give much opinion here. The volume was not that high so no idea on the quality of the amp.

I was a bit nervous about ramps at the very back of the playfield and the flippers' ability to hit them. The flippers were adequate and were hitting those ramps just fine. They weren't hitting them hard, though, so I wonder a bit about those ramp shots after a while on location. Are the flippers still going to be able to hit those distant ramps after 10,000 plays?

IMO the platform has some serious potential. If they can make it to games two and three we could see some very cool stuff. This is an impressive start.

Any comments on the invisiglass? I have not heard many of the reviews touch on how the glass looks.

I have it on my POTC. It is very nice. Expensive upgrade.

It is pretty much a must on WOZ with the reflection of the large monitor.

Probably makes little difference on a brand new game. I didn't notice anything different about it other than that it's a new sheet of glass.

I disagree with your disagreement. The point is, each new generation of score displays (bulbs-->reels-->alphanumeric-->DMD-->LCD) offers qualitative advances. To want to limit LCD to DMD size (basically, a higher-res color DMD) would be an incremental advance and not take real advantage of what the display mode has to offer. (Stuff like full-size movie clips, all player scores visible at all times, real "instant info" display--DMD versions aren't really "instant" are they?, simultaneous display of progress toward various goals, a useful set-up/diagnostics mode, tutorials, etc. None of these would be as effective (and most not possible except with too-small-to-read text) on a DMD-sized screen.

And why insist on a small display so you can have more static artwork on the backglass, when you can have full-sized static or dynamic artwork? (Please, just turn the damned thing on if the artwork means that much to you when it's not being played! )

Pinball 2000's OS features are a good example of what can be done with a full video display rather than a couple of buttons and a DMD.

I'm an RGB-nerd via another completely unrelated hobby, programmable outdoor light displays: THIS is super exciting to me as well.

I can barely look at upper playfields during chaotic pinball play , so I KNOW I'll never be able to see the LCD in its glory, but I'm also excited for this- mostly from a spectator standpoint.

There are 31 GI lights on the machine. Right now for testing
purposes, I have them running at minimum power. In fact,
all the LEDs on the machine are running at 36.5% of their
maximum capacities.

JRD

You really should bump those things up to 37%. Don't cheap out on people paying $1.50 a game!

I personally love PIN2k, wish they would incorporate the LCD in gameplay like they did with PIN2K
that would have been awesome

This is reassuring. Thanks for letting me know.

Pappy

When i heard about that woz would have lcd i thaught this was the plan. And like you i was very excited about that.

I am a bit disspointed with what we have seen so far regarding the use of the lcd on woz.

Pins near me cost 1.75 or 2 bucks

NC State for sure...

Stick to defending every criticism of WoZ- you're much better at it than the personal insults....

Hehe...stick to the Rgp Woz bashing, over and over, the "best pin ever", and why is NC State an insult?....my cousins went there...

Rule #1 of Pinside - Be nice, you guys are not being nice and it is not welcome.

eh..... you're right.

I have a sarcastic sense of humor that if oftentimes indistinguishable from looking like being an a-hole

There's too much good info/support/etc here to crap it up with petty bs.

I apologize.

I find this to be far from true. When I am at a collectors house or a show and there is invisiglass next to a game with regular glass, its night and day. It looks like there is no glass on at all. If this glass was on a bay window, you would need to dig a whole for the birds.

I was at a guy's house a couple weeks ago and there was Invisiglass on one game and regular glass on the left/right games beside it. It was only a minor difference over the scratch free regular glass in those games. Yes, it was better, but not by much over new standard glass.

I didn't even notice it was abnormal glass when playing WOZ on saturday. It looked like new glass on a new game usually does.

Have you seen the new mode progress screenshots? That seems like a good use (along with the diagnostics/setup screens). Pin2k was cool, but a regular large hi-res display can be great for a deep game. I wonder how much tutorial stuff they'll add in for WOZ.

The mode progress status was too far up onto the head to be usable unless you stop play to look way up. IMO they need to move that into at least into the bottom half of the LCD or it becomes useless to a lot of players. It's a good idea but as of now is in the wrong location.

My style of play has me looking at the playfield all the time. I hardly look at the DMD unless there is a video mode, it's the end of ball, or I have captured the ball with the flipper.
When I played WOZ I found myself doing the exact same thing. At first I found myself wanting to look up to see what was on the screen all the time, but then I realized if I played it like a DMD, I was fine.
So, for me, it's status quo. Capture the ball with the flipper, look up and see the score, and what I need to shoot for next. With this new shot screen, all you need to do is capture the ball, and then hit the other flipper to see the shot screen. Brilliant.

I hate to even perpetuate this discussion, but I had a chance to play to same machine tonight.

First off, it's just gorgeous. But we all knew this. I walked in the door and the owner, right away said that if I waited, she would have 9.4 uploaded in a minute. My kids and I tried a "before" game, but unfortunately, there was a glitch uploading, so we play the same game everyone else did last week.

My humble impressions: The flipper controversy is ridiculous. The long shots just need to incredibly clean. Touch anything on the way up, and you're not going to make the shot--it's that simple. My skills are minimal, and I managed to hit the ramp 5 times in a row, using both flippers. My 8 year old son did the same.

Aside from 3 other pinheads at the arcade, the rest of the customers were strictly general public. What was really cool is that the game pulled in at least 2 families that I saw, and definitely attracted the attention of women and kids. I can't remember the last time I saw kids other than mine hanging on the rails. The game definitely has potential to expand the hobby.

Oh yeah--everyone playing had a stupid smile on their faces the whole time. Was fun to see.

Oh yeah--pricing was down to a buck a game.

It's all how it's set up. I've played one that easy to hit the ramp...played another it was very hard.

But in the end, he is right, the controversy is ridiculous, because if its just how it is set up, that means the machine has the capability to be fine.

I played the game yesterday at Pin Wiz, it was still at .90. Sarah said she would get the .94 update today. It was set at a buck for 3 balls.

Game played great, and was a work of art to look at. My father and I played about 12 games of it and loved it, even in it's infant code state. I'm really looking forward to getting my game in a few months.

I can't wait to play one of these with the new code. *paging doughslingers*

I think this method of "public beta" for pinball machines that Jersey Jack is employing for the zardoz has some obvious drawbacks. The negative press on one side comes from the lack of features implemented (natural for a beta but it still leaves impressions on people) and on the other side you have much negative feedback coming in regards to the long delays and perceived lack of progress in development. It is somewhat of a catch 22 for Jersey Jack, they can keep things closer to the vest and keep excitement building but get flak for lack of updates or they can put unfinished games out for public testing and underwhelm and deflate the bubble around the release of the game... I do not envy them right now and wish them much luck with this project, I can't wait to play the finished product (even if it's a dollar fifty).

Are there any pins in Idaho Springs? Noticed the micro brew on the way up last month...

not since my place has been closed for the past 4 months. Re opening as a bar restaurant arcade concept w/ 18 pins (the ones in my profile) and around 12 classic vids. Otherwise no there are no pins at all on location in town.

Are those shirts ready yet Corey?

Working with Sarah to get .94ut installed on the game today. It has a bunch of new stuff in it As soon as she is done, swing by and play again Take video.

Pinchroma can you take a video for us?Thanks

I'm out for the day. Soon as I get home later ill take a quick vid of a few small features.

Any video?

video, picture , drawing