Agreed...the balls are spinning more and hanging on the disc longer for a better effect!

Gerry I've got my coil pulse on Normal and it's fast and snappy as all hell. Mark may be right about the coil being a bit more chill on the scoop kickout...but honestly the slings, pops, and flippers feel the same to me.

I will try it both ways..

I know, but if it had a submenu that said "iceman ramp", then I could say it's complete. But instead its a top menu "xmen tests" then all the sudden two options unexplained. Again, if they just removed that menu item altogether, I would be ok with this and still call the SW complete. This is the only thing going against it - lol.

I definitely notice the pops not being as aggressive. The slings are a totally welcomed change also. It could be that the ball isn't in the slings as often because of the magnet not tossing it around as much and that's why I just don't notice getting screwed by them as much.

Can't wait to see update.

A little edit ? Lots if discussion on how the rules have changed greatly ; )

One minor complaint: they did away with the normal sound/music at the very start of the game and I LOVED that music! I wish they didn't do away with it.

I completely agree with this.

Easier in terms of getting to more modes...exactly what many of us were asking for. Completing the modes are still difficult regarding the villains. So many modes! Even if they aren't that hard to beat, there are so many of them that beating them all will take a great game. I'm trying to concentrate on the heroes to begin as that will be the best chance I have of getting to a wizard mode.

This pin did not have that "just one more game" pull to it with the old code. Now it does.

Could be an unintentional side effect of ditching the mandatory Magneto...let's ask for that music back as Ball 1 music!

Thank you Mark, I thought I was going crazy. Normally if I held the left flipper button when the ball would shoot out the scoop, it would ricochet over to the right flipper. With the new code if I do that, it simply stays on the left flipper.

Shots are actually different now. I used to be able to shoot shots like Iceman on the fly from the left flipper when the ball came out of the scoop, now I can't even do it with Cyclops.

Ball times are definitely longer for me as well. I very quickly doubled my prior high score and this wasn't just because of the scoring fix, but because the ball is more controllable now, and I was having longer ball times.

I'll say it again: This is a complete game changer! Much more than just the rules. The game actually plays differently. Time to learn this one over pretty much from the start.

Found my USB stick. (And there was much rejoicing.)

I agree. Nothing feels the same. It is somehow tamer. Particularly the scoop. I kind of miss that railgun shot out of the scoop. lol. Well, not really. It is much more controlled now.
I noticed in the settings all the mode times are shorter by 15 secs. Haven't had time to mess around and see if they reduced shot numbers in the modes to account for this.
The one thing I do not like is the scoop awarding its own blackbird lane. And don't say this is what we were all asking for, because it wasn't. How hard would it be to have the iceman ramp switch award a lane? As it is right now, I just have to spam that scoop until I get an extra ball, 6x bonus, etc... Not that is any fun, but it is now a strategy.

True, and I wasn't asking for an additional blackbird lane either.

How do you increase the bonus multiplier? I did get 6x from the scoop, but how else do you increase it?

This is by far the best code update I have witnessed as a collector. To be honest, the reduced coil strength and slowed scoop kick out makes the game playable for me. I personally like to be able to play deeper into the game having an average skill level. This was one game that was destine to leave my collection on the fast track sans the update.
The initial release seems to account for about 1/3 of the games new code. Anyone drinking that Kool-Aid was definitely giving themselves a world class HJ of delusion. No one likes to think that something they just dropped a boatload of cash on sucks, however, it sure did. Now we got pin that is playing as good as it looks!!! Great job Stern!!!

Ditto.

I am now about ready to rate this game. And it will be receiving a high number from me. Quite high.

I needed a pick me up today from work. Awesome!!

This ranks up there with SM and it's first code update. Really solid. They also changed the initial voice introduction for Juggernaut mode - no longer "you mean the unstoppable juggernaut" now it's professor X telling you to remove his helmet. Also, I actually like the Beast mode now some funny quotes. I can't recall what mode I was in - juggernaut or sabertooth and the ice ramp kept moving. I ht the ramp and it sent the ball over my left flipper. Wonder if intentional to have the ramp keep moving like that.

Overall, the update is terrific. Weapon X multiball is a great mode and I love I don't have to beat Magneto to start the modes. Great variety of modes, cool sound, I'm digging it. I still have lights by the blackbird inserts that sometimes light for no reason then go off - not sure what's up with that. Anyone else?

+1

The only time I had stray lights on that shouldn't be on was on version 1.1 and it was at the very beginning of the game, almost like it was mistakenly programmed into the pre launch light show. It was the Villain insert. I haven't noticed it since the update.

The pre Jugs quote you mentioned is still in there...it just switches off with other opening quotes.

I think it was probably Sabertooth mode that had the ramp moving on you. I think it may change positions depending on what shots are lit (and can be changed by hitting Wolverine).

A stroll through the menus lets us anticipate an update down the line that implements combo scoring. Lots of Combo Award and Combo Champion, etc...options in there now, that aren't active yet.

Kind of makes sense for Stern to make a deeper, long ball type of game as there have been plenty of fast, short ball times recently. So, this is the LOTR of the hero type games maybe?

They also changed the initial voice introduction for Juggernaut mode - no longer "you mean the unstoppable juggernaut" now it's professor X telling you to remove his helmet

I am real glad that that quote is gone... to be honest I hatedtht quote to no end...

Its the one quote that sounded like total MR. Microphone clip, from a prepubescent teenager...

Bravo STERN !

You guys did great......

Alathough not quite done, you guys nailed it.. a real great effort.

Nah the fix is to have it stay locked in Magneto and launch it from the shooter lane. It does not make sense for Magneto to drop a ball or balls when you just locked a ball. What I see happening is it releases one ball and when it pops back up it launches another ball into the air. A solution would be to launch from shooter lane and then at the end of the ball release one from Magneto. Basically if that messes up then you do not disrupt the game you just switch to a virtual lock.

The mode with the ice ramp moving is weird.

What do you do? If you hit Wolverine ice ramp moves over and if you hit him again it moves back. IS this the case that you control the ramp by hitting him?

Same here

It's actually not gone. I got it today. Perhaps it randomly chooses from a couple different clips?

If that happens a pro is coming home with me!

So for everyone with the game already, ball times, mode accessibility and depth are similar to say SM?
I have 3 kick your ass fast games and only SM as deeper longer game so Xmen should be real nice addition to my collection, although its getting a little Borg heavy!

Jus wonder how the pro is going to play, find out in 2 weeks I hope before buying!

although its getting a little Borg heavy!

Borg heavy is OK then..If he is making the games you love then roll with it

Version 1.2 Code currently released and updated to my xmen le. currently loving weapon x multiball. Liking the changes!

Is anyone else's auto fire in the shooter lane weakened? Mine doesn't fire the ball hard enough now and it rolls back down to the plunger. I end up having to plunge it to get it out.

Seems to be a little weaker but not enough to have to manually plunge it.

Man.... I can't believe I have to wait until Monday to try out this new code
Sounds fantastic!!!

Stern being responsive and putting out a quality product again... Who'd have thunk it?

Sounds like your game isn't quite level or the body is twisted a bit

I've got the lanes wide open and my ball times are still relatively short.

Fantastic update! XMEN is a top ten game.

WHERE IS THE JACKPOT CALL OUT DURING A MULTI BALL MODE, REALLY MISS THAT. DOES ANYONE ELSE AGREE??? STERN CAN YOU PLEASE UPDATE THIS IN THE NEW 1.3 VERSION!

WHAT??? COULDN'T HEAR YOU!

I think Mags multiball is good the way it is.He talks smack and you hear and see him shield when you hit a jackpot.The best part is when you defeat him and he begs to join your team.The only change I would like is for the Mags life meter to stay on the screen.

I would like not to have to start a mode over from the beginning when I cannot complete it. The user could choose easy to do this and medium or hard to make you start over. Damn Wolverine magnet has given a lot of SDTM drains in those modes.

Also why is the ice man ramp moving back and fourth so much now. In modes the ball barely clears the ramp before it moves back and i'm still in the mode.

New code is good though it still has several issues that need tweaked

I think Stern is onto something with this game. With everyone talking about ACDC (which is good but needs the update and it will come) and looking forward to Avengers, and the fact that no Premium XMEN Le's exist. This thing may have some star power. Very fast, tough shots, nice modes, sound package etc. This could be the sleeper of the year. It will be interesting to see where it's popularity with players/collectors shakes out in 6-12 months. I am not an Xmen fan, (neutral theme to me), but the play is very challenging and I like it a lot. Just my 2 cents.

You mean STERN decides to cater to the home buyer, produce a deeper rule set, complete the programming on a pin (few weeks late but pretty close), not base pin on a movie franchise and to incorporate some rule suggestions and you guys are loving it? Way to finally get with the program Stern, we have been saying it for at least five years on here. Helps to have Gary out of the decision making process.

My ramp occasionally gets stuck in the middle...is this happening to anyone else? In other words, it sometimes goes back to the spot other than where it's supposed to.

It never did this with 1.1.

It's deeper then SM but doesn't flow as well. And way more problematic at this point.

Is flow determined by the ease of figure-8-ing two ramps?

Spiderman is more than that and you know it. I actually don't think xmen is deeper than spiderman either.

Every shot can flow into the other with the exception of doc Ock and even with that one you can double flipper to skip the animation. Are you really trying to make a case for Xmen having more flow then SM?

+1 million. There is probably no pin that could even remotely have more flow than Spider-man.

Think about it:
No kick out hole - don't see that too often. (I guess Sandman, but he is covered by a 3 bank target)
Only one magnet with animations that can be suspended.
Virtual ball lock- No mech that captures it causing the next ball to load.
Quick looping ramps that are easy to get going.
No subways - which no new Sterns have anyways.

The only thing that "stops" the pin is the pop bumpers which 99% of all pins have.
VUk which can be quick if you flipper skip. Once again common feature.

I really knew X-men could never achieve this, as SM is one of the top flow games ever. If it is 80% with the great rules, then it will be considered a classic.

Stop being naughty Greg hehe

Any news regarding big update for X-Men? Rumor was end of Oct. Just curious...

It depends how you play it. Either game can have infinite flow. Spidey if you hit the ramps back and forth. X-Men if you shoot Cyclops-Storm-Iceman-Beast-Storm-Iceman repeat. Spidey can have less flow if you hit Doc Ock or Sandman all day long, or if the ball is diverted into the Sandman VUK for a lock. Honestly it's just a stupid argument..."this game has more flow than this game" ...it's all about CONTEXT. NO game will have a ball that never stops. You're gonna miss a shot or hit a target or hit a saucer or VUK. So...yeah, I don't get arguing about flow. It's stupid.

Anyway, Spidey is awesome, even with its stop 'n flow gameplay (LOL...just pushin' your buttons, maniacs...calm down!) - it doesn't need to be defended.

X-Men needs new code, that is certain. Physically, though...it's flow city! ...and sometimes not. Just like any game with combo-able shots.

Mid December Xmas present!

I look at it like this. There are 2 shots that hold the ball for any amount of time on SM and one can be double flipped to skip the animation and get the ball back in play. Xmen has 3 shots and a outter loop shot that the pops kill the direct return to the flippers.

Xmen does have 2 very interesting flowing shots you don't see too often though. The left ramp into the inside of cabinet wall and the iceman ramp return over the left Inlane plastic were very satisfying shots. (: