Magneto has a big insert in front of him that says "Magneto"

Any idea when the next update is coming? The one with the combos and combo champ etc

And dark Phoenix (or is she in now?)
And dead pool

Based on history of the game. I'd guess 6-8 months

Dark Phoenix is there, but no graphics, just a mode that displays "Wizard Mode" or something of that nature.

Question for anyone who might know. Since the update, my left NC seems to fire stronger and triggers the magneto opto if a ball is locked. I haven't looked under the hood yet, but anyone else have this? I'm thinking either adjustment needs to be made under the pf at NC, the opto needs adjusting, or maybe just reducing the coil power to soft. I haven't had much time to look at it, but pondering it in the back of my mind. Thought I'd post and see whatcha you all think.

So I had a few minutes to diagnose the problem. It's caused by the center lock switch that the locked ball rests on. When the left NC fires, it nudges the ball just slightly enough for it to trigger the switch. Gonna play with that switch this week. May raise the level of my pitch. Xmen is the only game I have at the factory 6.5deg. May raise it to where all my others are at, 6.8 and see if that keeps the switch from triggering on a fired NC coil.

I'm still on the fence with this game. With the recent update would you say that the depth to the game is comparable to LOTR and TSPP? Overall XMEN looks like a blast to play.

Thanks!

Yes great depth and a blast to play!

Awesome. Think there are any NIB LE's left out there?

I am really digging the pro! It is a HARD game, that is for sure. It does have a lot of depth, but not as deep as LotR or (especially) TSPP. I think that it could be closer as (if) the rules develop more. As it stands, I enjoy playing it more than Tron and LotR; really good music and animations. The modes are fun, challenging and nicely diversified.

Kinda hard to say how deep the game is..to compare it to those 2 as I don't have wither

It certainly isn't shallow

I've only seen Danger Room twice (software 1.21...didn't install 1.23) and haven't seen it in 1.24

I'm no where near seeing Dark Phoenix (maybe half way at best) and know nothing about Dead Pool

In the games I have to compare it to...right now I'd say its deeper that SM. I've been to Super hero a few times (2 years owning the game). I also think it deeper than RBION (also 2 years). I've seen Atlantis at least 6 times and twice in one game.

I've never seen Sperm MB (FGY.. owned for 6 years) or got through WPT (3 years) software

All my stuff is set to factory except free play...including scoring replays and not EBs. The only change to Xmen is I increased the Ice Man to 30 second over the default 20 seconds.

Right now the game is at least on par with the deepest game in my collection

I am really enjoying XMEN. Its tough, but now we can see so many more characters and all the work that was put in to the excellent DOT animations. I really hope they continue to work on the code as its so close to being amazing I can feel it.

Does anyone know if work continues on the software or are the guys pulled to work on Metallica?

I'm digging the new software. Having the heroes stack with villains was a huge win. I still get surprised when running a villain and a hero starts, yes! Otherwise I'll probably never see Dark Phoenix since I'm just not that good, I'll have to get lucky. But looking forward to finally making Danger Room, almost did it last night. Also saw Hellfire multiball for the first time last night, I must say a very cool mode. I have my game setup easy; narrow inlanes, all extra ball opportunities turned on, 5-ball games and default slope.

I find my biggest problem with my own play is that I feel compelled to hit everything on the fly, rarely cradling. And I never nudge.

Looking forward to the next few updates that hopefully integrate combos, more high score categories and Deadpool mode. My personal wishlist would also include a more graceful integration of the Nightcrawler feature, after X number of completed this and that's seems kind of arbitrary.

But I agree with the sentiment that this should have been version 1.0. I like that Waison or whoever has some vision to try something different with the way the first version made you attack Magneto first, that was thinking outside the box a bit. And I wouldn't mind seeing that as some kind of future Magneto Attack mode, but now I'm really pipe dreaming.

Thanks for the feedback guys! Now to just see if I can still find an LE and if so at what price.

I had a TSPP and I would say close, but it is not there yet. I never got to the final wizard on TSPP, but did pretty much everything else. I would say XM is harder as it is more random and harder to control the ball. 2 magnets (spinning disc on LE) + posts with rubber rings make ball times shorter than TSPP. Very frustrating having a good ball and a magnet causes a quick drain.

Once they finish, I can see it getting the deep game reputation, it just took a long time getting there.

I realize this is a "rookie" question, but how do you light the "Villain" light? Is it just completing the blackbird rollovers after "blackbird" is already lit...?

Thanks,

Brannon

Completing the lanes awards Blackbird, completing again lights Villain. This goes back and forth. Someone will correct if I have that wrong, but that's my understanding.

Noticed that the LE has moved up about 10 spots along the top 100 since the update, hope it keeps getting better and keeps climbing; not just because I own one, but because I want to see it redeem itself for all the flack its been getting since it's release. What an amazing transformation. More please!

It has "content depth" but not "nuance" depth like TSPP and LOTR. Tons of modes, Multiballs, 2 wizard modes, mini-modes.

Thanks Dug, that is an excellent strategy! Now that I think about it, I have noticed the Villain light illuminates after hitting a qualified HF or BH target! I will take advantage of that for sure.

Got any more playing strategy tips?

I am impressed with the "Xavier" mode. I wonder how many mutant possibilities there are? It was fun to figure out the strategy without any help on that one.

- Start Xavier mode by hitting his last qualifying shot (I love the left-to-right search pattern using the playfield lights!) "I've discovered a new mutant..."
- If you know which mutant is silhouetted, go for that shot. If not, don't waste time and hit Xavier again where he gives a "clue" by flashing the required shot.
- Hit required shot. I love that sometimes the required shot is a HF or BH target - that makes sense! And I really love that it tells you the NAME of the mutant and shows his/her picture.

Which brings me back to... I wonder how many mutant possibilities there are?!

Brilliant mode! Please correct me if I have it wrong, or let me know if there is even more to it!

Speaking of the Xavier mode, I think I had to hit the Phoenix shot to locate Colossus. What on the playfield should have told me that if I wanted to find Colussus I should have shot for Jean? Still trying to figure out all the Xavier shots.

If you don't know what to shoot (based on your recognizing the character's silhouette), you just have to shoot Xavier again and he will show you what shot to hit ("I'm sending you the coordinates now").

I am not sure, but now that you've discovered it, I assume that Colossus' shot will always be assigned to Phoenix's shot. I'm thinking the more you play this mode, the quicker you will be able to finish it because you will remember what shot finishes the silhouette.

It *could* be that there is a random factor, but I don't think so.

The Xavier mode mutants are static, the shots will always be the same for that particular mutant

With the new 1.24 X-Men code out for only a couple weeks, it's probably premature to start comparing games. We are still discovering the rules, Stern is still tweaking them.

However, if you want a to-date opinion, I feel that in playing the new X-Men 1.24 code for 2 weeks and comparing it to LOTR and TSPP (what are we at-10 years now of those pins), the current 1.24 code is not in the same league rulewise with those pins. The rulesets in those games are something special.

I think the complexity and rule integration of those pins is superior to almost all games with an objective nod to TSPP for sheer stacking capability and intense wizard mode requirement but my personal ruleset preference between the 2 is LOTR.

We'll see what happens with X-Men in 9 years

Excellent point, I agree. Let's hope Stern agrees as well and updates this mode accordingly!

The rulesheets of both games might be more complex, but X-Mens options are also very widely ranged...

X-Men - kind of hurry up modes....
Villians - more complex modes...

Stacking X-Men with Villain is great.

Magneto MB has to be well prepared... light some X-Men before starting it, start another X-Men und i.e. Sentinels, light Blackbird to add-a-ball... if you beat your third X-Men, Night Crawler will also start... tons of action - i like it!

Also the two Villain MBs are nicely implemented, like also Wolverine MB

Plus at least two not so easy to get Wizard Modes...

Personally i think, this is quite a challenge and also the way to a wizard mode is fun and not necessarily repetive.

I had a TSPP in my collection but it was always so much work to do to make a game a fun game. Stacking, Stacking, Stacking (right loop, couch, right loop, couch, ...). Once you had AI and all the others things prepared... TSPP is huge, but as I said, so much "work" to do...

I would rather compare X-Men with Spiderman in terms of action loaded pinball. And although SM is really one of my all time favorites, I would say at this time, X-Men rules are much more flexibel and engaging.

LOTR is a league of its own combining action and rules, but a this time it doesn't attract me too much.

The only thing missing (X-Men) right now is an implementation for Combos...because there are so many nice combos on this machine... they should be rewarded

After starting Nightcrawler 10 times in one game the other day, I can no longer play this until there is another update. He just blocks everything you are trying to do, it's ridiculous.

If this code was tested at all, no thought was given to anyone that can complete more than 6 modes in a game.

Lotsa sellers on X-men lately with Tallica announcements, i thought with 1.24 code many would be more likely to hold on. I've waited less than NIB buyers of x-men who have owned the game since day 1, but i've had the game since a few months pre "power pack" and am pretty pumped with the new code. Obviously x-men is on the backburner for stern, but i figure they've got a few more updates in store over time to address dark phoenix, deadpool,combos and any bugginess. only 500 LE's out there so i'm holding on for now and having lots of fun playing.

didn't feel like making a new topic but whats your favorite thing about your XMLE?

I actually was close to getting villains wizard mode yesterday. Completed all heroes in two balls, by the end of the extra balls I had all villains done. Never did get the Super Jackpot from Magneto though started him 3 times. Herores are all so short and easy, only problem with completing them is if you get hung up in the pops or the scoop with animations going and wasting all your time. Happens to me with Xavier Iceman and Pheonix seems I'm pushing the clock on those.

Also sucks the Iceman ramp moves during the mode, you don't have much choice but to go for the shot when you have the chance whether the ramp is moving or not. My one ball lost completing hero modes was entirely from hitting that ramp while it was moving and sending the ball over the flipper. That's a BS ball loss imo.

It helped a lot figuring out why Nightcrawler was always in the way, so now if I having a good game and its playing out in my control I can avoid him.

Good news is Waison is still working on the code. Added more blackbird modes, combos, Dark Phoenix, etc.

I totally agree requiring you to achieve Mags multi-ball jackpot to get to Dark Phoenix is absolutely dumb. I'd like to see anyone do that with the glass on with the current code. Good luck with that. I've completed all but 2 villains and completed super jackpot but that was one of those games not sure I could repeat it.

I think the current requirements for DR are ok.

I agree that to qualify for DP, you should have to defeat all 7 villains that have lights on the bottom of the playfield.

My thought for Deadpool, is that you have to defeat Gambit, Nightcrawler, and Magneto (in any order). Then it auto goes into Deadpool mode. Sort of a hidden mode where you have to beat characters that do not have lit inserts.

That way, there is a specific reason / goal attached to defeating / collecting all modes.

I've been having a total blast with this game since the new code's out. I think my favorite aspect is when I've got both a hero and a villian going and without relizing it, Nightcrawler starts. Surprises me all the time. Love it.

that sounds like a Great idea.

Glad to see some life left in the x-men "camp"!
i've been having lots of fun lately as well, most villians i have BEAT is 3, although i often find myself worried about completing those last couple heroes to get to danger room and stacking in villians that i think will work out well in combination with certain heroes.
Has anyone beaten the danger room? I got (to what i think) was pretty far into fighting the danger room, the nc's were blocking shots and it was pretty crazy intense. only made it that far once, but have started danger room and blown it twice more...
glad to hear waison is still putting some time in on x-men too, hopefully dark phoenix is a good beefy wizard mode, especially with the effort it'll take to get there. combos and deadpool are other question marks that could really introduce new strategies and play stles too. oh well, my hopes are high and i'm having fun with the new code. love to hear how far others are getting.

I can maybe complete 1 or 2 villains. I have a number of times gotten 7 heroes done but I suck out and miss the last one. But I am not a great player either. Still loving the journey.

Here is what I would like to see in 1.25 or 1.3 (whatever they call it):

1. Combos implemented. What I would do would have certain combos stand for certain X-men (good and bad guys) that are not a part of the main group. For example, hit Beast-Storm-Cyclops and you "collect" Mystique. Or Iceman-Xavier-Phoenix for "Collosus". Once you "collect" enough combo X-men (e.g. 30), there is a combo multiball mode like in SM.

2. Finish DP mode. Make it as complete and cool as DR. And you only have to complete all villains to get to it.

3. Deadpool mode. As I said, finish Gambit, Nightcrawler and Magneto.

4. Make the HF/BH targets active in all modes except for multiballs. Still keep the ability to change the difficulty in how many are needed to first qualify the MB. But the 2nd time, you have to hit them 10 or 9 times, but let hits to them count when they are made in modes (at LEAST hero modes). And please, for the love of God, just have 1 DMD screen that shows the number of hits left for HF targets (i.e. like the one for BH). Stop showing the text screen "hit HF targets to start multiball". Show that once at most and then never again. Then just show the graphic screen with the number of times we have hit them and how many are left.

5. Make the Gambit pop bumper hits low priority to be shown on the DMD. Lets see the other cool shit, not that over and over again.

6. Fix the callouts. I am fine with just sound effects when you hit a hero the first time (and not starting a mode). That's cool. But when many hero modes end, they give the wrong callouts (when you lose the mode its a positive callout, and when you win its the opposite).

7. When you beat a villain, make it a big effing deal with lots of sound effects. Bang! Boom! Crash! Yeah!

8. Fix the Xavier/Nightcrawler but (where NC is the hidden mutant in Xavier's mode, and then he stays up in other modes and won't go down even when hit). Allegedly Lyman already looked into this and fixed it for the next update. Lets hope so.

That's all I can think of right now. Love to hear other people's thoughts.

IMO, if they implemented these suggestions this would be an amazing game.

Not that I think my ideas are super or anything, but if Stern wants to borrow any of them, feel free. I hereby waive any intellectual property rights to them.

Actually no, I did terribly on Danger Room this time around. I usually get pretty far in it, and have beaten it in the past, I think? Made the chick appear and then hit lit shots forever, but they keep relighting every so often. I never figured out any rhyme or reason.

Yeah, for some reason either I have a good game completing heroes and villains or I have a bad game but actually get the Magneto Super. Not often I do both in the same game which is weird. It's just an odd thing to get. Sometimes he goes down fast and sometimes it seems like I'm playing the mode forever and can get him down to the final shot.

I'm glad to hear Waison is still working on it as well. I really liked his ideas on the very first original code. Many things since then just homogenized the the rules to make it like other games and appease people. I wish it would have stayed true to the original idea it could have really been something unique. But being such a tight shot shooters game on top of such a different type of ruleset might have been just too small of a group of people who would appreciate it to run with.

I liked having to collect the heroes and battle Magneto before opening up any modes. It would have been cool if the scoring for the rest of the game was affected by how well you did there. If you drain just move on for the remaining balls so everyone gets past it. Or make it a free ball if you drain during that portion, not that big of a deal.

If nothing else, leave the damn iceman ramp put! The playfields tight, you can get stuck bouncing around the pops or struggling to get the ball to the left flipper to hit the shot. Not to mention now Nightcrawler could be in the way, villain multiballs could get in the way. You have so little time to complete the mode, at least leave the damn ramp put so when I take the shot because its the only chance I'll get I don't drain because the ramp was moving and the ball flies over the flippers! Really annoying. Wish they would have figured out a way to make the ramp shorter and it wouldn't be a problem at all.

How do we know this?

Why do you people think mnpinball is the only one that knows people?

Great news that they are still improving the code! I love this pin, play it as much as I do Avengers LE and ACDC Prem. Just go back and forth and love them all!

Multiple sources have confirmed it, including Borg himself.

-Wes