I would like to know the production numbers of all Stern pins.

I would ask..."How sucsessful do you think WOZ is?"

My question for Keith: For a game like WOZ, how many lines of code are involved? How does that compare to TSPP's code?

Been there, done that .

Jim

don't have a horse in the race, didn't really have anything to ask him

What and when is the second game?

How many new themes do they plan on making a year once they get settled in with the routine of making machines.

Jack/Keith

What is the airspeed velocity of a Swallow while gripping a coconut husk?

Kim

European or African?

And I would like to know when Jack, Keith and the gang want to sit down and design my Air Traffic pin? It will make Airborne and F14 seem like a day flying Cessnas and ultralights.

Kim

That was funny!

JACK

WOZ needs black siderails, legs, lock bar and hinges. Any chance you will offer the regular version like that some day?

Would they ever consider an unlicensed theme?

What (if any) theme ideas were originally considered before WOZ was chosen, and then why was WOZ selected over the other themes? If there were other theme ideas that got scrapped, are there any conceptual mockups that can be displayed on Pinside?

^ At his talk at the MI Expo in April, Jack stated that the machine that he originally wanted to make was the Three Stooges. After inquiring about the rights and being told "no", he asked his lawyer to obtain a list of all of the properties he could get rights to. Upon perusing the list, Jack said that he instantly saw and knew that it was WOZ that he wanted to make.

At least that's how I remember his story....

Later,
EV

I think Jack has answered that and said basically not likely. So much recognition with a license to take advantage of.

Pappy

Send them to me, I'll take care of that for you.

I thought that was Gary Stern that said that. JJP is rumored to be developing a Haunted House or some other unlicensed theme as #3 or #2.

Great thread!! Love it!

I can't find the actual quote from Jack but from my memory, Jack and Gary actually agree on this subject. Go figure.

Pappy

Jack has told me they are very much so looking into this.

I could be wrong...but I think the non LE version is going to have black trim. I thought the trim color, topper, invisiglass, removeable signed wood cover over the apron and numbered plaque (maybe shaker too) were the only difference between the LE and standard.

Jack already said nothing will be announced until early 2013 at best. He may jump in and change that.

I am fairly sure that the non-LE will have stainless steel trim.

Its standard B/W style stainless.

And how does it compare to a flying monkey gripping a pinball?
Too slow and you lose the flow.

Too bad they can't do The Haunted Mansion. That would be a killer pin (if done properly). But I know Disney is the worst as far as licensing. The pins would be $15,000 each lol. So, yeah... generic Haunted House would be the unlicensed equivalent

Are they hiring???

I want to know a lot more about the platform. Whats the hardware? What programming language?

Alex has eluded to it being Linux, but I can't imagine its a full distro. Is it a RTOS?

Also... same question as kwiKimart.

I am happy with my job, but I think I could do some cool stuff engineering pinball toys/mechs. Anyone know around what designers and engineers get paid at a pinball company?

I would like to know the interplay between Balcer and Keith as to design and rules. Did Keith give ideas/input to physical design? Is Joe giving input on rules or is it a complete handoff? How did Nordman shape the game or contribute? What design challenges were presented by some of the new technology they are using? What was the hardest unforeseen design problem? Can Keith have others help with coding or does he personally need to write every line?

This is all Expo fireside chat material.

I've had this thought also, not just about WOZ but in game development of the past. Knowing very little about software, I always imagine there's a lot of grunt work involved to writing code(copying/pasting, rearranging, debugging etc) which could be delegated and overseen, while the lead software guy continues with the writing and creating, speeding up the process.

I would like to know how far along in the production process the games are and when they realistically plan on shipping the games. Also, when will the standard versions get underway?

DITO, surprised it took this long for that question. Should get a few thumbs up for that one.

It's a full distro however obviously it's a slim down package set and a performance optimized kernel.

I really would like to know when a pay-to-play (test) pin is expected to be on location in New Jersey now that JJP knows what it knows about the delays that have been encountered. I would schedule a trip to the shore area to see and play it.

Expo will be too crowded and a two ball free game iwon't be the same as playing the real McCoy.

Apologies to McCoy Brothers/McCoy Global in Edmonton, Alberta.

I would like to know if a WOZ pinballmachine is 6000 euro. What would the same machine cost me when there are zero licences involved?

I would like to know this so i know i stand any chance of buying a nib jjp unlicensed one day.

Just one:

Why on earth did you not go with fliptronics flipper mechs? That was the only (hardware) area where WMS technology was clearly superior.

I suspect there's multiple good reasons why they didn't. Damb shame though. I have no doubt the flippers will be just fine, but nothing beats snappy WMS fliptronic flippers.

It is using double wound coils, All Williams flipper parts from the baseplate on, you sure it isn't fliptronics or a form of it ?

LTG

In Clay's video, the game showed standard flipper button switches. No opto boards. No interrupters.

If that was just for the test game, that would be awesome. But I don't think so. As I said, I have no doubt the flippers will be just fine. Making them adjustable is huge. Was just hoping to feel that WMS snap with parts that aren't more than 10 years old.

You do know flipper button switches ( points ) are used in TAF, some Getaways, and can be used in any fliptronics application ?

There are good things about either way to fire a flipper coil.

LTG

Even in fliptronics 2? If so, that horrible!

True. Hell, I played an AC/DC this summer more than once with a flipper rubber missing and had a blast. Snappiness is preferred, but if I can hit the ball where it needs to go, I don't really care what parts make it possible.

It works, game doesn't know the difference. Wires are in each connector for flipper button opto boards, just don't use the ones for opto power.

LTG

I know some players can tell the difference. Not saying I could, but I can think of at least one friend who can. 99% of players wouldn't be able to tell the difference, but some can.

Double shot, 80 proof

Honestly I think the leaf switches work better than the optos. The optos are way more expensive, get dirty, the dreaded Sticky Flipper Syndrome era... I don't know that I "get" the benefit of the flipper opto switches.

Is this a fact? Crap! I would rather have Stainless over painted. I guess I could always trade my LE for a regular version if all the other LE elements do not impress me enough. I would think that Stainless would be more expensive then painted. Unless they are painting over stainless, and no one would do that. .... I have thought about taking the painted trim off and adding Stainless, but It seams like a lot of Money/work for something that does not matter all that much.

It was obvious that Williams went to painted steel on RFM/SWEII to cut costs with the new size trim pieces being lower quantity with that different cabinet. Stern (Sega?) did it to cut probably$20-30 per machine. And the beat goes on...